Gratitude Challenge

10 Physical Abilities I Am Grateful For:

1. Walking/running so I don't have to be confined to a wheelchair or bed
2. Hearing my children laugh
3. Speaking so I can tell other people my opinions . . .haha!
4. Tasting so chocolate can make me happy
5. Driving so I can be independent and let my kids be involved in all their activities
6. Sleeping.  I've always thought insomnia sounds like the worst thing ever.  I've never had it.
7. Laughing!  Last night I laughed so hard at Book Club that I cried.
8. Seeing the beautiful world around me
9. Singing so I can annoy my kids so badly
10. Uh, using the bathroom.  After my brief incontinent issue, and being in the recovery room next to a girl who had just had surgery to remove most of her intestines (thus leaving her with a colostomy bag for the rest of her life), I am extremely grateful that all that "stuff" in me knows it's job and does it.

10 Material Possessions I Am Grateful For:

1. My white-trash van.
2. The computer that relieves my stress by letting me blog.
3. This warm and comfortable house that is fun to decorate.
4. Ryan's amazing job
5. Airplanes that take me to fun places I wouldn't usually get to see
6. Delicious, healthy, clean food
7. Books that also take me away (in my mind) to fun places I wouldn't usually get to see
8. Cute clothes that make me feel better about my wrinkled, flabby body
9. My soft, warm bed with clean sheets and lots of blankets
10. The TV that can be an awesome waste of time

10 Living People I Am Grateful For (oh, this is going to be hard to only include 10):

1. My Mom, who overcame a rough childhood to raise 4 responsible, honest, independent children
2. My Dad, who has always been the best listener
3. Ryan, my sweety that I met exactly 16 years ago today!!
4. Tiffany, my favorite person to "therapize" with!
5. Kara, who would drop everything anytime I needed her and makes me laugh so hard I pee myself
6. My Brenda, who still struggles to know why she was guided to move to Missouri, even though I think it's obvious that God knew I needed her in my life.
7. Brevan, who is so patient with being my guinea pig.
8. Brynlie, who loves to shop with me and is so kind and mature.
9. Lindsey, who makes me smile every time I see her, and has such a sensitive and tender heart.
10. Logan, who has the cutest laugh in the world and lets me baby him. 

10 Deceased People I Am Grateful For:

1. First and foremost, Jesus Christ.  Although he still lives.
2. Joseph Smith, Jr.
3. Gordon B. Hinckley
4. Marjorie Hinckley
5. My Grandma Springer
6. The Founding Fathers (all of them are going to count as one!)
7. All the heroes of the past wars
8. Alma the Younger
9. Eve
10. Emma Smith

10 Things About Nature I Am Grateful For:

1. The sun that warms me
2. The stars that twinkle and make the world feel magical at night
3. The bright colors of the flowers in the spring
4. The striking colors of the leaves in the fall
5. The lake I get to boat on in the summer
6. The ocean waves that help me ponder the eternities
7. Trees that remember to obey the powerful One who created them every time the seasons change
8. Animals - yes, I'm not an animal person, but I can appreciate their existence!
9. Thunder, lightning and strong rain that make the world feel new again
10. The human body - it's a wonder anyone stays alive with all the things that have to work properly.

I will finish my list later, when my littlest boy doesn't need me to read him books!  :)