21 Dec 2010

1) I'm thankful for the fact that the Christmas season is at least a month long.  This gives a nice opportunity to try and focus on Christ and the long term outlook on our lives.  Instead of a one day or a weekend-long holiday, Christmas gives a month to try and enjoy the blessings we have been given.

2) I'm thankful for a knowledge of Christ and His ministry.  I believe in Christ, and that belief gives me joy and happiness in this world.  When I hear of people who think that religion is a crutch, I often wonder how happy they are in their lives.  I get the impression (perhaps erroneous, perhaps not) that they are, in general, less happy and satisfied with life than those who have religion.  This makes me wonder why they don't choose to believe anyway.  It can't hurt if there really is nothing after this life, and it gives you the possibility of preparing for the next life if that turns out to be true!  Of course, it IS true, and it is because of the many gifts Christ has bestowed upon us that we have the chance to return to our Heavenly Father.

3) I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost, the comforter, the one who confirms the truth of all things.  It is because of the Holy Ghost that I can say that I know that Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and not just that I believe that He is.  The plan that God has created for us to be able to know and follow His will is truly amazing.

30 Nov 2010

1) I'm thankful to be in a relationship as wonderful as the one my wife and I have.  I can only hope that she feels as blessed to be married to me as I feel to be married to her.

2) I'm thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who watches over me and my loved ones and blesses us so abundantly.

3) I'm thankful for all those who freely give of their time, talents, and energy to help and serve those around them, in whatever capacity it may be.

24 Nov 2010

1) I'm thankful for a loving wife who is constantly giving of herself to benefit others.  I can't image a more wonderful wife, mother, and friend.

2) I'm thankful for the chance to take my entire family to a basketball game tonight.  I'm not a big fan of camping and many other traditional family activities, but I AM a fan of the fond memories that come from spending time together doing something different.  I'm glad that my oldest son will be able to come and share in these particular memories with us today.

3) I'm thankful for the continued guidance and help from my parents.  It's been just over a year since we lost my wife's dad, and I've missed him many times.  In addition to the wonderful people my parents are, experiencing this kind of loss has made their continued presence all the more precious to me.

22 Nov 2010

1) I'm thankful to be able to post another gratitude post to my blog.  Life has been pretty busy recently at work, at home, and at church.  Things have had to be cut, and my blog posts were one of them.

2) I'm thankful for kind, uplifting words.  I try to make sure that I feel good about myself, that my wife feels good about me, and that God feels good about me, and I try to let the rest go to the side.  That's pretty helpful (but hard) when criticisms come.  When praise or a pick-me-up comes, it's like finding $20 in a jacket pocket that you had forgotten about!  I just have to remember it's only $20, not a million, so my head doesn't get too big!

3) I'm thankful for the wonderful feeling that life was pretty much back to the way it was supposed to be, at least mostly, that I enjoyed Saturday evening and Sunday as my oldest son was able to spend the night with us.  His progress in his program continues, and he and the rest of us loved having him home with us.  We're looking forward to more of those in the near future!

28 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for creative children.  My second son came up with a very clever choice while we were playing "I Spy" while driving home the other night.  He said, "I spy with my little eye / something that is flying."  Several guesses by the rest of us came up with nothing, so he gave us a clue that it was pretending to fly.  We still couldn't figure out what it was until I glanced over at him and saw him flapping his arms up and down.  Yes, he had chosen himself and given the clue that he was flying.  :D

2) I'm thankful for spiritual children.  A few days ago, my daughter was telling me that she had a dream in which Jesus saw her and came down and gave her a great big hug.  She then said, "I'm going to try to not make any more mistakes so that it can really happen!"

3) I'm thankful for loving children.  My youngest son was very excited that he was awake before I left for work today, so he played peek-a-boo with me by hiding behind the door, then opening and closing it so he could see me.  As I was getting ready to put my shoes on, he wanted to sit on my lap.  When I told him that I couldn't have him on my lap while I was putting my shoes on, he waited patiently for me to finish and then asked me to hold him.

4) I'm thankful for diligent children.  My oldest son has seemed to respond well to the challenge of having to pick himself up and keep trying after his recent struggles at his program.  He was asked to give the opening prayer at an activity that we were able to attend last night and gave a heartfelt prayer.  He earned his way back to full privileges after losing all privileges due to his struggles, and he seems to be willing to do whatever it takes to move forward.

27 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for the power of the priesthood and the chance that my dad and I had to give my oldest son a blessing last night.  I felt God's love for my son as I tried to speak the words that He would have my son hear as he deals with his struggles and trials.

2) I'm thankful for those people who give so much of themselves to help others.  I try to do as much as I can to pull my own weight and be self sufficient, but we all need some help sometimes, and I appreciate those who are so willing to give help where needed.

3) I'm thankful for the talents that God has blessed me with.  They make my life more enjoyable and fulfilling, and they also give me opportunities to offer assistance to others in need.

24 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful to have my wife safely home from her cruise.  The kids were all excited to see her too, and we have all enjoyed being reunited again.  The kids were all in my spot in bed by the time I was done showering and getting ready for work this morning so they could spend some more time with Mommy.  :D

2) I'm thankful that my wife was able to get some productive business work done while on the cruise.  That was the stated reason for the trip in the first place, and I wondered how that might go with flaky internet access on the ship, but they were able to get a lot done in the time they spent because they weren't interrupted.

3) I'm thankful for the good feedback I've been receiving about my work contributions.  I'm trying to do the best I can for the projects I work on, and it's nice that people are noticing that.  It helps the project, and that in turn helps me support my family.

22 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful that things have gone so well during the time my wife has been on her cruise.  We've certainly missed her, and life will be a lot easier and smoother when she returns, but we haven't completely fallen to pieces either, so that's a victory!

2) I'm thankful for the many people who have played an important part in making these last few days work as well as they have.  You are all wonderful!

3) I'm thankful for the chance to speak with my oldest son on the phone last night from his program and learn that he has been working hard to earn back some privileges that he had lost due to poor behavior over the weekend.  We all fall down in life - it's the getting up again and continuing to work that separates success from failure, and it makes me happy to see that he's doing that.

21 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful that my kids were open to the idea of helping me with a semi-large project that we're hoping to get done before my wife gets home from her cruise in a few days.  They were good help to me in the first part of it that we tackled last night.

2) I'm thankful to work for a company and in an environment where I was able to work extra hours over the summer to save up time off, and that I'm now able to work fewer than eight hours a day while I'm trying to take care of everything with the kids for my wife.  I really enjoy working for my current company, Software Technology Group.

3) I'm thankful for the improving financial position my family is working toward, especially as this has been happening during a recession.  When I first met my wife and saw that she was an only child of parents who appeared to have little financial education, I assumed that there would never be an inheritance worth much of anything and thought I had planned accordingly.  I'm thankful that my wife's father showed his true dedication to his daughter by keeping a life insurance policy in force in spite of the many financial difficulties he faced before his passing, and I'm thankful for the humility that has come to me as I realize that my supposed financial education had me in the same position that I was looking down my nose at my in-laws about.  I hope I can stop being so judgmental about people.

20 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife has the chance to be on a cruise with friends for the next few days.  I think a chance to relax will be very good for her.

2) I'm thankful for the chance to spend quality time with my children.  They are great people!

3) I'm thankful for the people my wife lined up to watch the kids while I'm at work so that I can get a few hours in!

16 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for a good night's rest.  I always function better if I've slept well.

2) I'm thankful for my health.  I am very overweight, but I'm fortunate that the medicines that I am taking are holding off some of the effects of that for now.  I need to do a better job of losing weight while I have the chance.

3) I'm thankful for my wife's overall good attitude in the face of her health problems.  I can't think of very many days in our married life that she has been pain free.  Her positive outlook on life is an inspiration to me to keep going on in spite of difficulties.

14 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful that God made me in such a way that I will NEVER tire of looking at my beautiful wife!

2) I'm thankful that God made me in such a way that I will NEVER tire of touching my beautiful wife!

3) I'm thankful that God gave me such a beautiful wife!

4) I'm thankful that God gave me a wife whose incredible outer beauty is exceeded by her amazing inner beauty!

13 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for a productive and enjoyable weekend spent with family.  We were able to sell our minivan, even if it was for about 20% less than we had hoped for.  We went to Logan, UT for the Utah State University Football game (a 38 - 17 victory that wasn't that close), and we got to take the whole family to visit our oldest son at his program Sunday night.  He is making good progress the last few weeks, and we are all enjoying the rewards that come with his progress.

2) I'm thankful for the good message that was presented at the devotional that our family attended last night with my son.  Dr. Michael Ballam gave an enjoyable and uplifting presentation on keeping our focus on benefiting others through our efforts in order to receive divine assistance.  When we focus on building ourselves up instead of others, we are left to our own power rather than receiving extra help.  When we have the extra, divine assistance, we can accomplish anything that we truly set our minds to.  I thought it was a great way to show that taking responsibility for ourselves doesn't just mean that we accept responsibility for the wrong things that we do, but that it also means that we can truly make our lives whatever we want them to be by taking responsibility for making them what we want.

3) I'm thankful that my parents were able to attend the devotional with us to give my son additional love and support.  It has been so wonderful to have them so close by this past year as they have served as missionaries.

09 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for the joys of parenthood.  There are certainly a lot of struggles involved with being a parent, but the joys are very sweet indeed.  My heart is warmed each day when my children come running up to me when I get home from work to get a hug.  My youngest son enjoying his birthday presents immensely, yet remembering to be very polite and thankful to those around him, was both cute and heartwarming.  My second son's humor and twinkle in his eye when he knows he's just said (or about to say) something funny is a pleasure to behold.  My daughter's enthusiasm for pretty much everything always makes me smile.  My oldest son's quick wit and yet deep thinking is a blessing to me as well as him.  The list goes on and on.

2) I'm thankful for having extended family nearby.  We still don't see them as often as we would like, but at least we see them.  It was a strange time when my parents were serving a nearly two year long mission in New York and we never got the chance to go visit them.

3) I'm thankful for the daily reminders I receive that demonstrate God's love and knowledge of me and my family.  Each time I think of the great good He has brought to us, I feel such gratitude and wonder, and it's nice to feel that every day.

08 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful for my youngest child, now three years old, and the joy he has brought to our family.  Our family would certainly be incomplete without him!

2) I'm thankful for the blessings that we can receive from God through His priesthood, which has been restored to the earth.  My wife and I are able to attend His temples to participate in the eternal salvation of ourselves and all of His children, the entire family is able to receive blessings of healing and comfort, the sacrament is administered, and we are baptized by the same authority that Christ was, all because the priesthood is on the earth again.

3) I'm thankful for the traditions that my family is creating as we raise our children.  It's strange how a fun, seemingly one time act suddenly becomes a family favorite, and over time turns into a family tradition.  A few examples in our family is having brownies as a treat on Sunday evenings and having donuts for breakfast on birthdays.

07 Sep 2010

1) I'm grateful for the family experiences we had yesterday as we spent some time working together in the morning before loading up and heading to Lagoon, an amusement park, for a reward to our children for helping out around the house.  The kids really enjoyed their time there, and my wife and I enjoyed spending time with them making memories.

2) I'm thankful for the perfect weather (for me) yesterday.  There was hardly a cloud in the sky, yet the temperatures remained in the low to mid 70s.  There was an occasional small breeze and plenty of shade to be had, and it was pretty easy to warm up a bit by stepping into the sun and cool down a bit by staying in the shade.

3) I know I say this a lot, but I am thankful for the amazing woman that I have the great fortune to be married to.  She perseveres through trial and tribulation with a kindness, generosity, and humor that are unique and wonderful.  I couldn't be more blessed in my choice of companion.

03 Sep 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife tries to enjoy the things that I enjoy.  She likes to spend time with me, so rather than resenting me for having interests outside of the things she already liked, she tries to learn about the things I like as well.  I need to make sure that I do the same for her.

2) I'm thankful that my wife and I both understand that there are things that only one of us is going to like, and that it is okay for her to have a girls night to watch chick flicks or okay for me to have a football party, as examples.  We try to support each other by making sure we have everything in place to allow the other to participate, and we also try to make sure that we don't let ourselves do so many things apart that we end up not spending enough time together.

3) I'm thankful that my wife and I have found common interests that neither one of us were aware of beforehand.  As much fun as learning something new is, it is even better when you can share it with your favorite person in the whole world and learn from what they are doing with it as well!

01 Sep 2010

1) I'm grateful that, at least sometimes, I'm able to recognize that being tired is affecting the way I interact with those around me.  I try to either be what seems to me as extra nice (in hopes that it's not too much less than my normal niceness) or get some rest when that happens.

2) I'm thankful for good examples in everyday life all around me.  I see family members pulling together, friends helping friends, and strangers reaching out to become new friends.  The only downside is that I can get to feeling that there is even MORE I need to try to squeeze into my life.

3) I'm thankful for being able to recognize that there are many things that I spend time on during my days that are of lesser importance.  Now if I can just start getting myself to stop spending time on those things and more time doing the things of greater importance, that would be a step in the right direction!

31 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful that I'm able to recognize, at least sometimes, when I'm starting to "get inside the box" toward people (see "Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box").  Maybe someday I'll be able to do more than just recognize that fact.

2) I'm thankful that my daughter, who is just over 3 months away from being 6, is FINALLY getting to start school today.  She's been so excited for this day for a long time now.

3) I'm thankful for the chance to take some time to focus on feeling gratitude.  It makes a difference in how I feel about life each time I do it.

30 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful that my oldest son got to call us on the phone yesterday because he is doing well enough in his treatment program to have earned that privilege.  It was a joy for each of us to be able to talk to him, and I'm proud of his progress to this point.  He's a great kid!

2) I'm thankful for the opportunity to work and be able to improve my life situation through my efforts.  The USA is far from perfect, but I am aware of other countries with fewer freedoms and liberties, and thus fewer chances that someone who is not already near the top of the heap can work their way to a better future for themselves and their family.  I know from my experiences of not being able to do anything to help my wife in her physical pains just how demoralizing it is to know that there is NOTHING that you can do or control or influence that can make a difference in the situation.

3) I'm thankful for the joy that my wife and I share in the company of the other.  We're not always joyful, and we certainly have many of the same struggles as any other couple, but it is so comforting and relaxing to be able to know that the person that holds your heart has given you theirs to hold as well.  It makes it fun to talk, tease, play, work, and just be together.

26 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance I get each week to visit with my oldest son in his residential program.  We enjoy getting to see him, and even though I think it seems to him that we spend a lot of time talking about things that went wrong and how they can go better, it is good to see the progress that he is making.

2) I'm thankful that my work client introduced me to two books by The Arbinger Institute, "Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting out of the Box" and "The Anatomy of Peace".  The concepts that are presented in those books are simple, but they are put together in a way that I have found to be very eye-opening and enlightening.  I have enjoyed reading them.

3) I'm thankful that God has blessed some good friends of ours.  They are having twins, and one of the twins had a very serious condition that the doctor expected would lead to her death in utero.  This family and many friends have been fasting and praying on their behalf, and God has granted that her condition should improve.  The doctor went from giving her a 1.5% chance of surviving until birth about 4 weeks ago to an 80% chance as of yesterday.  Also a blessing is that the other twin has not had any problems during this time.  It is truly a miracle!

24 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful that my kids are excited about the first day of school and yet sad that they will be spending less time with our family.  We've had a rough year, but this past summer has seen a lot of lightening of the load, and it has been enjoyable to pull together as a family and enjoy each other during that time.  I believe we can continue to enjoy our family time during the school year as well.

2) I'm thankful for my education in regards to my career.  I know many people who have been very successful in their work without having a bachelor's degree or higher, and I've also seen some of those people struggling recently to either move from a bad job situation to a better one, or to get hired in a new position after downsizing.  I don't claim to be any smarter or more talented than these people, because I'm not.  I do have a bachelor's degree, and I believe that it is helping me during this difficult economic time.

3) I'm thankful for a loving Heavenly Father.  I know that He knows me personally, and that He loves me more than I can imagine.  I'm thankful that he provides me opportunities for growth and development in all areas of my life, and that He is a perfect role model for me to try to emulate as I deal with my children.

23 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for an enjoyable Saturday spent in Logan, UT at the Aggie Family Fun Day.  We got to play some games, win some prizes, buy new Aggie gear, and watch the football scrimmage.  I'm realizing more and more that good memories with family come from doing things together.

2) I'm thankful that something that began as just "hey, this will be fun" has turned into the beginnings of a family tradition.  We have taken to making brownies on many Sunday evenings as a fun treat to have, and the kids are starting to ask for them if we don't start on them.  I can see this becoming the type of thing that they look back on with fondness as they grow older.

3) I'm thankful for a wonderful wife.  Even though she's been feeling sick, and even though she hardly slept for more than an hour last night, she still is out and about taking care of the errands that have been weighing on her.  I admire the way she keeps her spirits up most of the time even in the face of near constant pain, discomfort, or illness.  I become the world's biggest wimp when I'm sick (I'm only the fifth biggest wimp when I'm not sick).

19 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for people who volunteer their time and efforts to help out with community activities like Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, musical productions, etc.  These people are being very generous, and the benefits to those who are able to participate because of their generosity are numerous.

2) I'm thankful for a wonderful world to live in.  It is a great blessing to have beautiful and varied environments, flora, and fauna to work with and enjoy.

3) I'm thankful for the political freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of the USA, and I recognize my responsibility to do my part to help maintain those freedoms for future generations.

18 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful that I get to visit with my oldest son again today, and that he has been making progress over the past month.

2) I'm thankful for the chance to spend time with my family each day and enjoy their love, personalities, and enthusiasm.

3) I'm thankful for the lessons that I have been learning over the past months.  These lessons have helped me to try and focus on maintaining good relationships, because people are more important than things.

17 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for the time I get to spend with my wife and children each day after work.

2) I'm thankful to have a good job that helps me to take care of my family.

3) I'm thankful for the chances for education that are so readily available to me.

16 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance my wife and I took on Saturday to do some needed work, then take a nice long date and enjoy the company of the other.

2) I'm thankful for the lessons I'm learning as I strive to become a better father to the three children I still have at home and the one who is currently in residential treatment.

3) I'm thankful for the support my wife gives me as I pursue my dreams, and I hope to be able to be supportive of her dreams in the same way.

13 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for balance in life.

2) I'm thankful for diverse opinions to learn from.

3) I'm thankful for the good inherent in mankind.

12 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful to have made it through a very busy and tiring day.

11 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful that I took the time to take my three youngest kids on a date last night.  We saw a movie, ate popcorn, got milkshakes to take home, and in general had a very fun time.  My nearly three year old son kept saying "That was a good date, daddy."

2) I'm thankful for access to the internet and the good information and opportunities to learn that I am able to take advantage of.

3) I'm thankful for loving, wonderful parents who raised me well.

10 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful to have spent an enjoyable evening with family celebrating my the birthday of my oldest son yesterday.

2) I'm thankful that my wife and I have been able to pay off significant amounts of debt recently to help us get out from under that weight and be better prepared to face the future, whatever it may hold.

3) I'm thankful to have gainful employment at this time when so many people struggle to have the same.

09 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for being done with the estate sale for my father-in-law's belongings.  It is bittersweet to be closing out these kinds of things, but that is much better than having the weight of them hanging over us.

2) I'm thankful that my oldest son is having his birthday today, and that immediate and extended family will be able to celebrate it with him at his program.

3) I'm thankful that God allows me to repent and try again each time I fail.  I try not to fail, but it's a part of life than can help me become better if I will learn from it.

05 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for my wife, who cares so much about others and is always willing to try to lift them when they are down.

2) I'm thankful for my children, who are wonderful people that teach me a lot.

3) I'm thankful that my oldest son has been doing amazingly well in his program since we saw him at his camp last weekend.

04 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful to be able to start working on issues that have been unresolved for quite some time and be able to actually resolve them soon.

2) I'm thankful that my children are having a good summer and being good for their mother.  I am blessed to have them in my life.

3) I'm thankful for the opportunities to serve and help others in addition to the service and help I have received.

03 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for a good friend who is also experiencing some family difficulties right now but is willing to help us get ready for a big estate / yard sale we hope to hold this weekend.

2) I'm thankful for being able to find the energy from somewhere to do the work that needs to get done.

3) I'm thankful for the faith of my wife and her initiative in encouraging us to read 5 pages of the scriptures every day as a family in an effort to find extra faith and blessings through our study.

02 Aug 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance to spend a good weekend with my oldest son and see how wonderfully he is doing to this point in being able to control his impulses.  We were very worried about how his two week camp would go, but it went very well.  Now we'll see if he is able to follow through after camp as well.

2) I'm thankful that, after having a long break before seeing my oldest last weekend, we will get to see him 3 times in the next 9 days, and that the other kids will get to see him on one of those days.  Both he and they were disappointed that they didn't get to go see him this past weekend, but only parents were invited.

3) I'm thankful for a job with the flexibility that I have been able to take off as much time as I have needed to recently, but that also allows me to bank time for that when I work more than the normal amount of hours in a day.

29 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that we get to spend a few days with my oldest son in his program this weekend after not seeing him for two weeks.

2) I'm thankful for the kindhearted and loving extended family members who will be watching my younger children since they aren't allowed to come with us.

3) I'm thankful for the good inherent in mankind.

28 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the many ways God directs and helps my family.

2) I'm thankful for the joy that comes from serving others.

3) I'm thankful to know the gospel and have a reason to live right.

27 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the wonderful children God has blessed me with.

2) I'm thankful for a good commuter car.

3) I'm thankful for being able to pay off debt.

26 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance to pull back from the details of life and focus on the big picture each Sunday as I attend church.

2) I'm thankful for the empathy that comes with experience and the chance to help share the burdens of others as my burdens have been shared in the past.

3) I'm thankful for the examples of those who have gone before me in this life.

23 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for 12 wonderful years with my beautiful wife!

2) I'm thankful for 12 wonderful years with my beautiful wife!

3) I'm thankful for 12 wonderful years with my beautiful wife!

22 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the power of open communication to maintain good relationships.

2) I'm thankful for a 2 year old who randomly comes up to his parents, gives us a hug, and says "I love you!"

3) I'm thankful that my children still want to spend time doing things with me.

21 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that, in two days, my wife and I will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary!  Thank you for sticking with me!

2) I'm thankful that I'm taking the time today to write a gratitude post even though today, like this whole week and the end of last week, has been extremely busy for me.

3) I'm thankful for God's continued love and guidance in my life.

14 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the energy to do what needs to be done.

2) I'm thankful for the simple joys of life.

3) I'm thankful for clean fresh water.

13 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that a difficult situation with a neighbor is being put behind us thanks to the blessings of the Lord.

2) I'm thankful for the beautiful sights and sounds of nature.

3) I'm thankful for the ability to record and remember life through photographs and videos.

12 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that I am given the energy to get up and keep going even when I got far less sleep than I'm supposed to get.

2) I'm thankful for good reasons to postpone going to sleep.

3) I'm thankful for God's plan of happiness for His children.

09 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife got the chance to spend some time with good friends that she hadn't seen in years last night.

2) I'm thankful that, despite the many health issues my wife has faced to this point in her life, none of them have been terminal.  I don't know how I would get by without her.

3) I'm thankful for the wonderful children God has blessed me with.

08 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful, in a silver lining to the cloud sort of way, that we will be able to pay off significant amounts of debt after settling my father-in-law's estate.  This will help us pay for my oldest son's treatment program, and I'm thankful that Papa had life insurance to help those who remain behind without him.

2) I'm thankful for learning, yet again, that patience is a virtue.  When I allow myself to work on God's schedule rather than my own, things work out for the best with a lot less stress.

3) I'm thankful for love.

07 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful that my younger children will get to visit my oldest son at his program today for the first time since he was admitted almost two months ago.

2) I'm thankful, yet again, to be married to the kindest, most generous, loving, beautiful woman in the world!

3) I'm thankful that I can still use all five of my senses, even though some of them are declining from what they once were.

06 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for an enjoyable weekend spent with family and friends celebrating the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

2) I'm thankful for a generous cousin with automotive knowledge who saved me hundreds of dollars (again) yesterday.

3) I'm thankful that God is my Father in Heaven, that He loves me, and that He manifests His love for me in so many ways each day.

4) I'm thankful for the daily opportunities to show my love to God.

02 Jul 2010

1) I'm thankful for the many blessings and privileges I enjoy as a citizen of the USA and for those who work to preserve and maintain them.

2) I'm thankful that additional progress has been made in working toward resolving my father-in-law's estate.

3) I'm thankful for a holiday weekend this weekend.

30 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance that I got to visit Logan, UT, home of my alma mater, Utah State University, and interact with some of the students there as part of a work assignment yesterday.  Ah, memories!

2) I'm thankful for the chance to visit with my son again today.  It's sometimes hard to try to explain something of value to him and feel that he isn't really getting it yet, but getting himself to the point that he recognizes the importance of what we're teaching him is part of the process that he needs to go through.  I'm glad that he is getting to go through the process in an environment that is safe for him and the rest of my family.

3) I'm thankful to be gainfully employed in a position that has lots of work to do.

28 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the wonderful weekend I enjoyed with my wife at a marriage retreat.  We reviewed many things we can and already do to keep our marriage strong, and we enjoyed our time together.  She is so wonderful!

2) I'm thankful for the good friends who watched our kids while we were gone, and I'm thankful my kids had a fun time with their friends.

3) I'm thankful for cute children who hear that we are still awake and come to see us with excuses like "Mommy, Daddy, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I can't go to sleep because I tried and I couldn't fall asleep."  Last night, it was probably valid since the little girl in question had gotten up from an unplanned nap at about 7:00 pm, but she was so sweet and cute when she came in so politely that we let her stay up with us for a little while.  :)

25 Jun 2010

1) I'm grateful that good friends have stepped up with little notice to take care of our kids overnight this weekend so that my wife and I can attend a marriage retreat we have been planning on for quite some time.  Our previous babysitting plans didn't work out, and I appreciate the generosity of good people in helping us out.

2) I'm thankful for divine guidance.  Sometimes it is really hard to know what the best thing to do in a given situation might be.  It's nice to be able to run the decision by the Lord and get His input before making things final.

3) I'm thankful that my wife still not only puts up with me, but loves me in spite of my stubborn nature.

24 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful that I remembered to call to check on jury duty before midnight last night, because this time I was supposed to show up!

2) I'm thankful that, since I didn't have to be at the courthouse until 9:00, I finally had time to get the blood draw that my doctor had requested done.

3) I'm thankful that, when I showed up at the courthouse, I found out that the trial had been dismissed, and that since I had to show up, I would not be summoned further during this session.  I appreciate the opportunity to do my civic duty, but I also appreciate that I make more than $30 a day at my normal job, and we could really use the money right now.

22 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for a functional body.

2) I'm thankful for scientific knowledge and research that allow us to better understand our world and how it works.

3) I'm thankful for the way every thing seems to go a little better in my day when I have a thankful attitude.

21 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for a family so wonderful, they make being a father the most amazing experience ever!

2) I'm thankful for childish exuberance for opening gifts.  My kids already knew what my presents were, because they wrapped them, and they still could hardly wait for me to open them.

3) I'm thankful, yet again, that the most incredible woman in the world agreed to marry me.  The longer I know her, the better she becomes!

18 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for bedtime stories.

2) I'm thankful for hugs and kisses.

3) I'm thankful for grins with gaps where the adult tooth has yet to replace the child one.

17 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the lessons of life.

2) I'm thankful for the ability to choose to be happy.

3) I'm thankful for clean water.

16 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for receiving mail from my oldest son while he is in his residential treatment program.

2) I'm thankful for my wife picking up the slack for me when I'm tired.

3) I'm thankful for my children wanting to be around me so much that my two year old followed me around the lawn as I mowed last night.  He didn't say anything, and he just grinned at me when I looked back at him.  He just wanted to be nearby.

15 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the ability to communicate nearly instantaneously to nearly any place on earth.

2) I'm thankful for those who do a much better job than I do at keeping in touch.  :)

3) I'm thankful for the ability to store knowledge beyond the lifetime of a single person.

14 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife loves me as much as I love her.

2) I'm thankful for the good examples I see all around me.

3) I'm thankful for those who have gone before and prepared the way so that I could be where I am.

11 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for my family.

2) I'm thankful for my job.

3) I'm thankful for my education.

10 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful that we've received so much moisture so far this year.  I thought that it was a lot until I visited a waterfall over the weekend and saw that the water level is still low due to past years of drought.

2) I'm thankful for the good that can be accomplished by many people doing small and simple things.

3) I'm thankful for people with expertise in areas that I have no ability in.

09 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful to be able to listen to the scripture on my mp3 player on my way to work each day.

2) I'm thankful for the spiritual uplift that I receive each day from pondering the scriptures.

3) I'm thankful to the prophets and others who worked to preserve the scriptures for all of us to learn from.

08 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for everyone who came to celebrate my son's baptism with us and for those who came to participate in the event.  It was wonderful to spend time with you all.

2) I'm thankful that we were able to attend the wedding of a dear friend of my wife.  As an only child without her parents, these people are her family from her growing up years, and I'm thankful that they feel the same about her as she does about them.

3) I'm thankful that the medicine my wife has been taking for her depression and, off label, her fibromyalgia pain, is working so well on the pain.  We know it is helping with the pain because we forgot to take it out of town with us, and she was hurting quite a bit more.  Now that we're back, her pain is diminishing again.

04 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance to celebrate my second son's decision to be baptized.  It will be good to have him be the center of attention for a little while.

2) I'm thankful for the wonderful person that my second son is.  He is a charming, helpful, considerate boy when he wants to be, and he's learning how to be a better person every day.

3) I'm thankful for all of our family and friends who have been so helpful and supportive recently, and for the chance to have them celebrate something good with us.

03 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful that my son is doing so well in his residential treatment program.  He looked and sounded good yesterday.

2) I'm thankful that something as simple as a good haircut can help my wife feel so good about herself.

3) I'm thankful that I am not being affected too much by allergies right now, even though many others around me are.  I hope they are able to get relief soon.

02 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance to visit with my oldest son in his residential treatment facility today as part of a family counseling session.

2) I'm thankful for a wonderful wife who continues to amaze me with the hard work that she does in spite of her pains and physical illnesses.

3) I'm thankful for patience.

01 Jun 2010

1) I'm thankful for the unexpected and interesting opportunities God provides to me.

2) I'm thankful for the men and women who serve and protect my country and their families for the sacrifices they make.

3) I'm thankful that we have my father-in-law's grave close to our home, even though my wife often wishes we could have interred him in the far away town where he grew up.  It's been just over six months since he died, and we've only visited the grave site three times so far, but that's three more times then we would have been able to do otherwise.  We miss you Papa, and we're glad to know that you are in a better place now.

28 May 2010

1) I'm thankful that we got to take our daughter to her first variety show concert last night.  She was enthralled and loving it until close to the end of Act I, when she needed to use the bathroom and get a drink.  She was tired the rest of the way, but it was so fun to see her enjoying herself with that.

2) I'm thankful for my wonderful parents who bought tickets to the show for us and other family members.  Mom even stayed back to watch those kids who wouldn't be attending.

3) I'm thankful for my beloved wife.  Yesterday, in spite of her emotional and physical pain, she decided to get the lawnmower out and mow our back 40, which was 6 to 8 inches tall and fairly wet.  It was far more work than I wanted her to have to do, but she did it while I was at work so I didn't have much say in the matter.  *grin*

27 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for marriage.

2) I'm thankful for service.

3) I'm thankful for pizza.

26 May 2010

2) I'm thankful for humor.  "I'll give you three reasons.  If you don't mind, I'd like to start with number two."  -Kim J. Darling, "Dudley Do Right"

1) I'm thankful for creativity.

3) I'm thankful for love.

25 May 2010

1) I'm thankful to be driving fewer miles per day, on average, now that things are starting to settle down a little more with my oldest son.

2) I'm thankful for modern medicine and research.

3) I'm thankful for my children.

24 May 2010

1) I'm thankful that, the more I focus on being thankful, the more I notice things to be thankful for.  I see God's hand in all aspects of my life.

2) I'm thankful to be able to spend my time on this earth working with the most inspiring and wonderful woman I know, my wife.

3) I'm thankful for the work God can accomplish through us if we allow Him to utilize the abilities He has given us.

4) I'm thankful for the help of all involved in getting my oldest son admitted to the residential program that he needs over the weekend.  I'm grateful to know that this next step in his progression has begun.

21 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for a comfortable home to live in.

2) I'm thankful for the nice people who, without my knowledge, have mowed my lawn while I have been away from home so much recently.

3) I'm thankful for the blessings of the temple, made available through the priesthood.

20 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for the wonderful family that has been taking care of our children while I'm at work and my wife is taking care of our oldest son this week.

2) I'm thankful for a caring bishop that has taken time out of his already busy schedule to work with us on trying to get the arrangements made for my oldest son to get admitted to the residential care program his therapist recommends.

3) I'm thankful for the way God gives us strength to keep going when all of our personal strength is exhausted.

19 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for family and friends who watched our kids for us so that my wife and I could enjoy a date together.

2) I'm thankful for my parents example of Christ-like living in all that they do.

3) I'm thankful for the good in people.

18 May 2010

1) I'm thankful that God knows and loves me enough to give me the very situations I need to help me become the man He would have me be.

2) I'm thankful that God knows and loves me enough to give me the strength, ability, and assistance I need to get through the situations I'm faced with.

3) I'm thankful that God knows and loves me enough to forgive me and give me another chance when I struggle with the situations I'm faced with.

4) I'm thankful that the refiner's fire does not destroy the good, but removes the bad, leaving only the best behind.

14 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for patience.

2) I'm thankful for perseverance.

3) I'm thankful for macaroni salad made just the way I like it!

13 May 2010

1) I'm thankful to have a legal system with the ideals that we have, even though the implementation is sometimes flawed, and even though it will be a little inconvenient for me if I end up having to do jury duty tomorrow.

2) I'm thankful that our remodeling project is going so well that it's already half a day ahead of schedule after only one day.

3) I'm thankful for the amazing woman I am lucky enough to be married to.  She is a great example of perseverance and love.

12 May 2010

1) I'm thankful that the home remodeling project that we are undertaking is going well so far.

2) I'm thankful that we know good people that we can hire to do this project correctly.

3) I'm thankful for uplifting music.

11 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for food.

2) I'm thankful for water.

3) I'm thankful for life.

10 May 2010

1) I'm grateful for the wonderful mothers that I know and love.

2) I'm thankful to be at a point that I can recognize that God's commandments are not restrictions.  They are step by step guides for obtaining blessings.

3) I am thankful that my second son is excited and preparing to be baptized.

07 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for the freedom to choose my own path, both that given to all by God, and that given by the laws of my country.

2) I'm thankful for the chance to learn from history.

3) I'm thankful for modern medical practices.

4) I'm thankful for not getting called out when I express my gratitude for something I've mentioned previously!

06 May 2010

1) I'm thankful to have a better idea of what my oldest son will need over the next several months to get him the help he needs.

2) I'm thankful for the good examples of righteous people.

3) I'm thankful to live at this time in the history of the earth.

05 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for love.

2) I'm thankful for the beauty of the earth.

3) I'm thankful for the Constitution of the United States.

04 May 2010

1) I'm thankful for technology that allows us to communicate over great distances almost instantaneously.

2) I'm thankful for good music and the good influence it brings into my life.

3) I'm thankful for the priesthood, the power of God, being on the earth again.

03 May 2010

1) I'm grateful that my oldest son, who now has to be admitted to an institution (we don't know for how long yet) for his safety and ours, is going to be able to get more help than we were able to provide him at home.

2) I'm thankful that God's ways are higher than man's, and that He is bringing His plan to pass for my son.

3) I'm thankful for the opportunity to have gratitude in the face of trials.

30 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for my parents and everything that they have done and continue to do for me.

2) I'm thankful to be a parent and learn so much that I wouldn't have understood without being a parent.

3) I'm thankful for the way the Lord lets us cast our burdens upon Him, and He sustains us.

29 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance I had to get a college education at a university that I truly enjoyed, Utah State University.

2) I'm thankful for the extra opportunities that having a college degree has opened up for me.

3) I'm thankful for fresh air.

28 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the good work that is done when people are communicating well and understanding each other.

2) I'm thankful for the chances I get to work at becoming a better communicator.

3) I'm thankful for the creativity mankind was given by God.

27 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful to be a man.  After seeing what my wife goes through just because she's female, I'm glad that I don't have to go through all of that!

2) I'm thankful for laughter and the contagious positive effects it has.

3) I'm thankful for weather that is neither too hot nor too cold.

26 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for each time I relearn the basic lesson that people are more important than things.  Relationships are more important than to-do lists, and the work we do to nurture the relationships that we have is not something that we will regret in the eternities.

2) I'm thankful for the opportunity each week to be forgiven again of my sins and renew my covenants with the Lord through partaking of the sacrament.

3) I'm thankful for leaders who realize the value of relationships and seek the best guidance that they can get from earthly and divine sources in order to provide the leadership each person they lead requires.  I'm also thankful that they devote the energy and time required to provide this kind of leadership.

23 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful that I was able to attend the temple with my wife last night even though we had a software release coming up today.  We were able to get the critical items taken care of in time for me to go with her.

2) I'm thankful for the guidance and inspiration a loving Heavenly Father gives to his children, individually and to his prophets for the whole world.

3) I'm thankful for living prophets on the earth today who are truly lead by God to teach us what He wants us to know in these days, and for the prophets and others in previous days who have made the scriptures available to us now.

22 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for temples and the blessings they provide to both living and deceased.

2) I'm thankful for experience, my own and that of others who are willing to share.

3) I'm thankful for good music.

21 Apr 2010

1) I'm grateful that my wife is not a quitter.  She has faced far more tribulation in the last year than in any other year in her life that I am aware of.  Even though it is extremely difficult, and some days she just can't go on, somehow she manages to "just keep swimming" the next day, to reference Finding Nemo.

2) I'm thankful for the chance that my oldest son and I take each morning while I'm driving him to his day program to listen to and read the scriptures and discuss how we can apply what we have read to our lives each day.

3) I'm thankful for the chances that I get to try to help others.  I get more chances than I'm able to accept right now, but it's nice to be able to help someone else to show my gratitude for the many times I've been helped.

20 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the chance to choose what I will do and who I will become in this life.

2) I'm thankful for the people who defend my rights with their service.

3) I'm thankful that, with the help of a kind neighbor, my shed roof is finally on.

19 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for repentance and second chances.

2) I'm thankful for washing machines and dryers.

3) I'm thankful for electricity.

18 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the human body's ability to recuperate and even become stronger after hard physical exertion.

2) I'm thankful for my wife feeling as lucky to be married to me as I feel to be married to her.

3) I'm thankful for weekly church meetings to refresh my spirituality.

16 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful that my oldest son is getting some extra help with his struggles and Asperger's Syndrome, and that he is doing so well this week.

2) I'm thankful that I can type by touch at 60 words per minute or better.

3) I'm thankful for the Holy Ghost and his role in my life.

15 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful that our taxes are already done.

2) I'm thankful for the right to vote.

3) I'm thankful for those who went to the effort of recording what, to us, is history, that we might learn from it.

14 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for a small, gas-efficient commuter car, especially during these times of high gas prices.

2) I'm thankful for a peaceful night's sleep.

3) I'm thankful for the health improvement my wife is experiencing by having her neck and spine being properly aligned by an Upper Cervical Chiropractor.

13 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful that our insurance company is going to cover a needed provider that is normally out-of-network as in-network due to their in-network provider being over booked.  This decision is going to save us thousands of dollars.

2) I'm thankful for a wife who works so hard through the pain she is constantly feeling.  She looks for ways to lighten my burden just as I look for ways to lighten hers.

3) I'm thankful that God is omnipotent, omnipresent, AND that He loves me.  How can I fail when I do His will with Him helping me?

12 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for a wonderful neighbor and cousin who worked so hard with us over the weekend on #2.

2) I'm thankful that we were able to get the last of my father-in-law's belongings moved to a storage shed in town rather than being over 200 miles away.

3) I'm thankful for my cousin's boss who loaned us a truck and trailer to help us move the stuff so we didn't have to rent a huge, drive-able U-Haul.

09 Apr 2010

1) I had a wonderful date with my wife last night.  Dinner and a movie, but it's always fun to be with her.

2) My second son, who will be getting baptized in early June, surprised my wife yesterday with the news that he was going to have a personal fast, at least skipping breakfast, to help with some of the problems our family has been facing recently.  It was completely out of the blue for us.  He is a wonderful person!

3) My oldest son has been struggling with telling the truth recently.  Last night, while we were gone on our date, he again got himself into some minor trouble.  He didn't wait for us to find out, though.  He told us about it right away, without the babysitter requiring him to do it.  I'm proud of him for doing that and hope he will continue to communicate rather than hide things.

08 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the availability of the scriptures in my native language.

2) I'm thankful for a comfortable bed.

3) I'm thankful for water heaters.

07 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for divine protection and blessings.

2) I'm thankful that my wife is so capable in the many areas that I am not.

3) I'm thankful for friends and neighbors who care and are always so willing to help out.

06 Apr 2010

1) I'm grateful that we had the money available to pay the nearly $1000 it cost to get 2 of our children their first pair of glasses, another child a new pair of glasses, and new contacts and glasses lenses for my wife.

2) I'm grateful that we finally were able to get these eye appointments made and taken care of.  We've known that our daughter needed to get glasses for months, and we've finally taken care of that.  She should really start to take off in her education and knowledge now that she can see clearly.

3) I'm grateful that we were able to drive home safely in a strong snow storm.  There were a few scary moments, but overall the travel was safe and problem free.

05 Apr 2010

1) I'm thankful for the Savior and for his atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

2) I'm thankful for LDS General Conference, a great way to learn all of the things I need to be doing better in life, usually in an uplifting and helpful rather than critical way.

3) I'm thankful for increased knowledge throughout the world, and the increasing availability of that knowledge to the world's inhabitants.

02 Apr 2010

1) I'm happy that we got a good deal on tile at Home Depot yesterday to fix up our bathroom.

2) I'm happy that we know a good handyman to come and fix up our bathroom.

3) I'm happy that I'm able to mostly keep up with the things that I need to be doing.

01 Apr 2010

1) I'm happy that the snow yesterday and today only caused my commute to be a little slower than normal and nothing else.

2) I'm thankful for good examples to model my life on.  I need to do more of that.

3) I'm happy that my wife is so much fun to be around.  We're best friends, and we enjoy hanging out together.

31 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that the fires close to the main roads that lead to my home town were mostly under control by the time I needed to use the roads yesterday.  My delay in using those roads was far less than the over 2 hour detour would have been.

2) I'm thankful that my wife and I both can't imagine life without the other.  It's a great blessing to have someone that you love with your whole being who loves you the same way.

3) I'm happy that we decided to stop watching "Dancing with the Stars" due to the show becoming overly focused on the sensual.  We were uncomfortable watching it, and we certainly didn't want our kids to see it this way, so we have stopped recording it.  Home should be a refuge and a place of comfort and safety, not a place where we feel uncomfortable with what is being presented.  It has become that safe haven again.

30 Mar 2010

1) I'm happy that my wife is a good cook.

2) I'm thankful for reliable cars.

3) I'm thankful for the many great teachers I've had in my life.

29 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that my company pays me mileage for the extra distance I now drive that is farther than my commute to their downtown office used to be.

2) I'm thankful to be able to listen to the scriptures on my iPod during my drive to work.

3) I'm thankful that my wife was willing to let me sleep so I could get to work on time while she stayed up with our youngest to help him deal with his breathing problems due to asthma and either a cold or allergies last night.

28 Mar 2010

1) It makes me happy that I can watch kids movies with my children and, 9 times out of 10, enjoy the movie as much as they do.

2) It makes me happy to hear my young children spontaneously say "Let's Go Aggies!" in support of Utah State University, and for them to ask me every time I turn on a sporting event, "Are you watching the Aggies?"

3) I'm thankful for the chance that I have to give service, in part because it makes me feel good, and in part to show my gratitude for the wonderful service that has been rendered to my family over the past year.

27 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful for forgiveness.  I was pretty hard on my oldest son last night when I was disciplining him.  When I was more calm, I went in and apologized to him, and he freely forgave me.

2) I'm thankful for repentance.  I am trying to repent of being overly harsh on my son, and I hope his is trying to repent of his reasons for me disciplining him.  It's pretty standard hiding-the-truth-to-avoid-punishment stuff.

3) I'm thankful for love.

26 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful for date night and the chance to reconnect and catch up with my wonderful wife.

2) I'm thankful to have our taxes done.  It's been a lot harder to do this year with everything we've had going on, and it's nice to be able to check it off the list.

3) I'm thankful that I don't feel overly tired so far today after going to bed around 2:00 am due to the taxes and getting up at 6:30 for work.

25 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that my youngest son likes to go for "a little ride" with me whenever I'm leaving the house when he can't come.  He gets into the car with me and we back out of the garage, and then pull back in.  I then help him out of the car, and he is so excited that he got to ride with me.  He'll say goodbye and run cheerfully into the house.

2) I'm thankful that my daughter will come crying and running down the stairs to try to catch me before I leave for work in the morning if she hasn't seen me yet.  She just wants a hug and a kiss before I leave, and I'm happy that I forgot something and so headed back inside from the garage in order to hear her coming.

3) I'm thankful to have a wife who is my best friend.

24 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife feels that the first appointment with the upper cervical chiropractor went well and will lead her to improved health.

2) I'm thankful to have my parents nearby, and for their willingness to come to my oldest son's school play, even though he only had 3 small parts.

3) I'm thankful for a working hot water heater.

23 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that my wife was able to get an appointment with a doctor that we hope can help with her pain the very next day.

2) I'm happy that I was able to drive safely to work today through a small snow storm, and that no one on the route I traveled appeared to have any troubles either.

3) I'm thankful to have a new laptop battery that lasts over 3 times longer than the worn out one it replaced.

22 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful that some days, I get so many things done that I forget to update my thankfulness blog until the next day.

2) I'm thankful that God knows each of us individually, and that He cares about us so much.

3) I'm grateful for prayer and for answers to prayer.

21 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful for intelligent children who love to learn and explore.

2) I'm thankful for a comfortable home to live in.

3) I'm thankful for sleep.

20 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful for extended family that enjoys getting together when possible, and to live relatively close to many of them.

2) I'm thankful for business and educational opportunities that have presented themselves in my life.

3) I'm thankful to live in a country that has the rights and freedoms that I currently enjoy.

19 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful to have the ability to telecommute when my family has extra need of me at home.

2) I'm thankful for whoever it was that gave my wife and I the concept of making sure we have date night every week in order to keep our marriage strong.  We've seen several friends and neighbors struggling with their marriages recently, and we're grateful that we continue to try to work hard at making our marriage great.

3) I'm thankful for babysitters that allow us to be able to go on a date and be comfortable that our children will be well cared for in our absence.

18 Mar 2010

1) I'm happy that the USU Aggies will be playing in the NCAA tournament tomorrow, despite having lost in the WAC conference tournament championship game.

2) I'm happy that I have a cousin who is a good mechanic living nearby to help me with my car problems when they come up.

3) I'm happy that my oldest children still want me to come see their school projects and aren't embarrassed to be seen with me.

17 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful for modern medicine and food preparation techniques.  Our health is better than that of our ancestors, though with all of the additives we have available, we still need to make good choices to take advantage of this.

2) I'm thankful for good friends and neighbors who provide support and love that family members sometimes can't, no matter how hard they might try.

3) I'm thankful for indoor plumbing, especially in the winter!

16 Mar 2010

1) I'm thankful to know the gospel of Jesus Christ.  It has helped me every day of my life, some days so much that it's the only way I've made it through.

2) I'm thankful for the education I've received and the educational opportunities I continue to have.  The internet has really made the spread of knowledge far greater than it ever has been before.

3) It makes me happy that my 5 year old daughter likes to try to get up before I leave for work around 7:00 am to make sure she gets a chance to see me and have me help her get some breakfast.

4) It makes me happy that my 2 year old son called me yesterday while I still had over 30 minutes to drive to get home, and when he found out I was on my way, he told me that he would go watch for me out the window.  He didn't grasp the concept of it being half an hour until I got home.  While he wasn't at the window when I pulled up, he is always very excited to see me when I get home, and he runs up to me shouting "Daddy!  Daddy home!" and gives me a big hug.

15 March 2010

I have been pretty grumpy recently.  I was reminded of hearing that many people can have a positive change in attitude if they keep a happiness journal or thankfulness journal, so I am going to try to write down at least 3 things each day (at least, each day that I'm online) that make me happy or thankful.

1) I'm happy to be married to a woman who loves me as much as she does despite knowing me as well as she does.

2) I'm happy to have a job that not only helps me take care of my family, but is actually a good paying job, especially during this economic downturn.

3) I'm happy that my high deductible insurance plan includes prescription coverage so that once that deductible was met, the prescriptions as well as the doctor visits for the rest of the year are covered.

4) I'm happy that, ever since my car went through a state inspection and tune up and the tires inflated to 37 psi instead of the 32 they had been at, my gas mileage has been over 40 mpg again.

2009 Year End Summary

I've been very busy recently, so here is an abbreviated summary of the end of 2009 for my family.

As previously noted, my father-in-law had moved in with us in November, and then he suddenly passed away the week before Thanksgiving. His funeral went well, and I spent one day before the funeral going through some of the things he had left in his old place that he had intended to move looking for financial paperwork. Then, my wife and I spent another day with a lot of help from friends and neighbors of his moving things out of his place and into storage before the November rent ran out. Each trip was 3+ hours each direction, so we tried to get as much done as we could each time. Sadly, the passing of my father-in-law lead to yet another straw on the camel's back of my wife and her remarried mother's relationship, and combined with the many other straws that had been piling up as my wife and her mother tried to build a new relationship, it has lead to my wife realizing that her mother is emotionally abusive to her and is not changing. We have cut off all contact again to protect my wife and children from further abuse.

In December, my oldest son had some difficulties at home and at school due to missing his grandpa. They were very close. We were afraid that he might try to start another fire, but instead his former obsessions with water and electricity manifested themselves when he took a radio power cord at school, filled a sink in the girls bathroom with water, and then connected the wires for the water faucet sensors to the radio power cord and dropped it in the water. Fortunately, he then went to the office to report that "someone" had done all that. We got him into his counselor, and he's been dealing with the grief and loss better since then. He's been helped a lot by having good family and friends around to spend time with.

The week before Christmas, we had my youngest son start wheezing due to some kind of cold combined with his asthma. We went to the doctor's office, and the PA who examined him did a strep culture, which came back negative. He then told us that it must be the flu, and the only flu going around right then was the swine flu. My youngest was put on Tamiflu, along with myself and another of my children since it was thought that we would have the most severe consequences if we got swine flu too. I started working from home so as not to infect anyone, and by about the third or fourth day we started thinking that it was a misdiagnosis. Thankfully, no one got very sick from whatever it was, but it was a pain to lay out $150 for all the Tamiflu. Still, that's better than what it would have cost without insurance.

It turned out to be a blessing that I was working from home that week. A few days before the "swine flu" incident, my wife started feeling sick to her stomach and having a lot of diarrhea. The week of Christmas, her pain intensified and became so severe that I had her into the ER early Wednesday morning, then again Christmas night, and then again the next morning. All of the tests were coming back negative, but the pain was so severe that she was admitted to another hospital so she could see a GI doctor before the next week. She was in the hospital for 4 days, and all of the tests still came back negative. She's been home for a week now, with little change. She can consume fluids, but anything very solid causes intense pain and vomiting. The best guess as to the cause has been an allergic reaction to some mineral supplements, but I'm doubting that guess now because she has stopped taking them and still isn't getting better. We are grateful that at least she can be home and rest in more comfort for the time being. She is scheduled for further testing next week, and we are considering what other options we might have in finding the cause and treatment for this condition.

Christmas itself was a very wonderful occasion, with both Santa AND a Secret Santa making an appearance at our house. We received a great outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and neighbors, and our hearts have been and continue to be touched by the kindness and generosity and love we have witnessed. My parents and youngest sister came out for a visit, and we had a wonderful day together (until about an hour or so after they left when the sudden pain for my wife came on).

So much for a brief summary! I just can't let this post end without pointing out that I think I understand the phrase "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" now. Even though we have had a rough several weeks, I find myself generally happy and feeling more grateful than angry or upset. God has heard and answered our prayers. His Son provided a way for us to return to live with Him again, and we celebrated his birth into this world. His children on this earth have been amazing examples of His love as they have so willingly stepped up and sacrificed of their own time and resources to assist my family. How could I feel anything but gratitude in the face of so many blessings?