Give Thanks!

So I have been blog surfing lately and noticing on Facebook how everyone is kind of taking on the whole "thankful all month long" type idea... and frankly I don't think I show how thankful I am for everything very often.. so even though I am starting a little late I decided I am going to do the same thing. I looked back on my Thanksgiving post from last year and I am amazed at how much my life has changed since then. I don't necessarily want to say that I was unhappy back then but I felt like I had more bad days than good. My life has taken a 360 turn around and alot has changed for us. I feel bad I had such a bad attitude last year but I am not even going to begin to try and explain it or excuse it to anyone because no one really understood back then so why would they now? needless to say... it was a hard time in our lives and we have moved past that and are doing much, much better this year!! some things that have changed: we moved into our town house that we love- wish it was in a different city but oh well. I have a new job that I also love- my co-workers freakin ROCK!! I finally bought my Mazda that I have been wanting for like 5 years! yay! I started going to school again and am doing pretty good with it actually- excited for the next semester! McCall started applying for some jobs in his career field- no luck just yet but we have definitely learned alot from it and are better prepared for that perfect job to come along! I finally am getting my hand issue figured out- surgery doesn't sound very good but if it's what must be done- then so be it! I'll just be glad to have it over with. I got my wisdom teeth out- finally! now I get to have my teeth straightened again! can't wait! and I know I shouldn't necessarily be happy about this but we definitely have some awesome friends this year- not that we didn't before but McCall has found some co-workers that are his good friends now and they are really great to him- he seems alot happier these days- and I know I am alot less stressed out about it all. I love having a drama free life right now! hm... can't think of much else.. I'm sure there are a million differences between this year and last year.. but we are definitely doing great- and lovin life alot more this year than last! one of the many things I am grateful for right now! so here's my list for the last ten days..

1: by far the first thing on my list I am grateful for is my husband. I am so lucky we found each other and get to be together forever. He is sooo good to me and I couldn't ask for a better life than the one he has provided for me. We are more in love than ever and our relationship has grown so much this last year and I look forward to every second I spend with him!

2: a few things meshed into one: the gospel, the temple, being sealed in the temple etc. just the gospel overall. It brings so many blessing and teaches so much. I can't imagine growing up or being a part of any other church.. we have the true church and the gospel has enriched my life so much!

3: Family... Although my family can be frustrating sometimes I wouldn't want it any other way. We both have such great families- I am grateful to have a better relationship with my mother in law this year as well.. both of our families do so much for us and I am grateful for the influence they have on our lives.

4: I am grateful for my health. I haven't had the best luck in that department for the past few years and this year it hasn't been too bad for me actually. I am not as stressed out and so I think that has helped alot right now. I also found a good family doctor in case I need anything- I actually have a place to go!

5: I am grateful for the gift of music. I love love love music! I don't take advantage of my piano talents as much as I should and if I could I would just be constantly learning new songs to play.. but life kind of gets in the way of that. Music just calms me and makes me feel so much better and I am glad I have that in my life.

6: I am grateful for a roof over my head and a wonderful place to call home. I don't love our neighborhood and I kind of complain about it alot but I love our house.. it has so much more space for us.. and I love to decorate so it has given me alot of projects to work on.

7: I am grateful for our employment. I hate McCall's work sometimes.. they frustrate me... but I am grateful for it because it gives us money of course so that we can live comfortably.. It has given McCall some great friends.. and I know ALOT of people that would kill to have his job. So I need to be better and be more grateful that he has it. I LOVE my job as well.. I have so much fun at work with my co-workers and clients.. I get to make other people feel better all the time and I love that I can have a positive effect on other people's lives.

8: I am grateful for great friends.. we have such awesome ones... and have made some new ones recently in the most odd of situations too. We hang out with the Eddy's alot and they never get sick of us.. at least not yet.. we have some interesting conversations and some fun sunday afternoons.. I am just glad we have someone to spend our time with that share our values and can stand our personalities. and ones who will sit through a Nascar race and take interest in the things that McCall loves... not many people would do that- thanks guys!

9: I am grateful for technology... weird I know.. but there are so many things I use every single day that without our modern day technology -my life would be very difficult. I definitely could not have lived in the pioneer days.. I am way too attached to my electricity.. my computer... my AWESOME bed.. microwaves.. ovens.. just everything that makes my everyday life easy. :)

10: I am grateful for school- especially right now. Education is so important and I love that my husband sees it as such a high priority.. our lives will be so much easier later on once we are done. It is so hard right now and I just wish we both could be done and get on with life.. but I know that it is a very important part of our life and will be very worth it in the end.


ok that is all for now... sorry for my rambling.. more to come later though! :)