Thankful November:  Part IV

November 19:  I am grateful today for black lights.  They make everything so fun!  We celebrated a birthday for my little man today with his sisters and friends and the indoor course had black lights all over the place.  They had used what looked like special black light paint to decorate the place and of course everyone had a least one thing glowing on them.  So cool.


November 20:  I am grateful that I have discovered I am an alto instead of a soprano when singing.  Why I haven't known this sooner, or at least done something about it, I don't know.  I've only been singing alto for maybe 2 years now and like singing in the choir because it helps me find my new notes!  (I sang today in church)  A lot of times if I have a hard time finding the notes I still just sing soprano because I'm more use to hearing it.  It's like learning a whole new song when I sing something in alto that I've been singing all my life in soprano.


November 21:  Today, other than birthdays for special boys, I'm grateful that our town has a recycling program.  We fill our big trash can full by the time two weeks rolls around (they come every other week) and I feel so much better knowing that the trash is going to be reused instead of just tossed in a large hole somewhere and buried.


November 22:  I'm thankful for the 2 little kids I babysit, one boy and one girl.  As soon as we moved here I started looking for some part-time work I could do, preferably at home, that offered little enough hours I wouldn't be stressed.  I've found I really enjoy doing babysitting because it allows me to feel like my time is better spent, essentially because I end up playing more with my own kidlets too.  This opportunity came up kinda out of the blue when I was just starting to give up thinking I could find something.  It's only an average of 5 hours a week and my youngest is getting along great with the two kids and I feel great about it and really enjoy the sweet kids.

November 23:  I'm grateful we started birthday lunches with the kidlets.  Big J said his family use to do this when he was younger and at first I thought it was cheesy but then once the kids started school I really missed eating lunch with them every day.  This is a chance for me and one of my kids to have fun one-on-one time.  And we go out to eat so little that it is a treat for them.   Little J and I went to Cracker Barrel, because he wanted Mac N Cheese--go figure.  We had lots of fun together!

November 24:  THANKSGIVING DAY!!!  The culmination of the thankful season.  There are so many things that I am thankful for.  I am thankful for my parents and siblings and my extended family and  a whole added family of brothers and sisters in law, parents and grandparents in law, new uncles and aunts and cousins of J's family, new nieces and nephews and especially my own children and husband.  They are so amazing!!  My hubby and kids just put up with a 7 hour shopping/lunch marathon with me!  I'm so grateful for a husband who sees his duty as providing for his families needs, and I help by trying to make those needs minimal.  :)  He has always worked hard to provide for us and I feel his sense of duty is a lot of what compels him to do that.  My kids waited patiently since January until a few days ago to get a Wii.  At the beginning of the year we all decided to put half of our birthday money toward a Wii and after the last birthday of the year we could get it (November!).  I was blown away when the kids would mention it throughout the year without whining or asking why we couldn't get it sooner.  Such incredible patience!  I also have to include here the wonderful friends I've had throughout my life.  Those who have helped lift and inspire me.  Those who have believed in me and cheered me on.  Those who have at least attempted to understand me (I'm very complex) by getting me to open up, rather than judging me.  And I must also mention being thankful for the gospel and Jesus Christ and my Heavenly Father.  I've not always been the most faithful member of the church but I'm thankful I have the gospel.  I'm thankful for the people I've gotten to know, for the source of strength I draw from each week at church and the ways in which I've grown and developed from challenging callings and from challenging myself.  My heart swelled on Thanksgiving day when I thought of all I have to be thankful for throughout my life!