30 Days of Thanks #7

Getting myself ready and on time for 9:00 a.m. church is hard.

What's even harder?

Getting myself and four little kids ready and on time to church.

What's even harder?

Substituting for the Ward Chorister and getting myself

and four little kids ready and EARLY to 9:00 a.m. church.

This morning, as I am

arguing with a 10-year-old who is refusing to wear tights,

pleading with a 7-year-old who (on Sundays only) want to sleep in,

and exasperating over a 4-year-old who can't decide which cereal to eat,

I'm

SO THANKFUL

to realize that today is Daylight Savings.

30 Days of Thanks #6

I am thankful for in-laws.

They say that when you marry someone, you marry their whole family. Boy that's the truth. Look what I inherited for all time and eternity when I said, "Yes":

And that's they best deal I ever made.

I was only 19 when I got married, and I marvel at the fantastic choice I made for being so young and blinded by love. But even as a young, immature college student, I recognized how special the Stevens family was.

They smiled all the time.

They hugged all the time.

They glowed.

But most importantly, it was apparent how much they loved their sons and how much their sons loved their family... and I wanted that for my own future family. The smiling and hugging and glowing... it was all real. It's still real.

The Stevens family is fun, talented, hard working, creative, happy, supportive, and so giving. I'm pretty sure any member of this family would give me a kidney if I needed one. They have taught me so much. It's impossible to not become a better person when you're around their constant goodness. Marrying into this family was the single best decision I have ever made, and I am so proud and THANKFUL to now share this name.

30 Days of Thanks #5

I'm searching my gratitude bank for something deep and inspiring... but tonight, all I can think about are these gorgeous cupcakes sitting on my counter... for which I am truly grateful! I am equally grateful for the one day a year that I can have a truly sublime chocolate experience without feeling guilty about it!

Guilt-free cupcakes, I am thankful for you!

30 Days of Thanks #4

Thirty-three years ago, a foxy, feisty mother of six headed to the hospital to deliver yet another Luke daughter. On my birthday, I give thanks to the most important woman in my life, my favorite girlfriend, and my most trusted confidant. My Mom.

My mom, Jacqueline Luke, is a woman you don't forget. She'll make you laugh, gasp, and blush within five minutes of meeting her. I've always wished that I had even just a quarter of her confidence and spunk! She can often be found shopping for her 43 grandchildren's birthdays, drinking Diet Pepsi and nibbling on dark chocolate, chasing rabbits out of her yard, practicing organ, reading, laughing on the phone with her daughters, and cuddling her dog! She's incredibly disciplined, dependable, observant, thoughtful, and fun.

How do you properly thank someone who has loved you from the moment you were born and shaped your entire life? I'm not sure how. But until I figure it out, I'll just say, "THANK YOU MOM" for being the first person to teach me about kindness, compassion, hard work, responsibility, traditions, respect, perseverance, and love.

I am thankful for you today, and always.

30 Days of Thanks #3

I am thankful for the internet!

We all know that like all other forms of media, the internet can be evil, addictive, and dangerous. However, if used for good, it can be an amazing blessing. I can honestly say that in that last few years, the internet has changed my life. I do so many things differently. Here are just a few ways the internet has blessed my life:

* CONNECTION. I now have near instant communication with almost anyone. I rarely make phone calls, but strangely feel more social than ever. As of this morning, I know what my second cousins's child wore for Halloween this year... and the last time I saw her was when we were 5 years old... yet we are connected.

* INSTANT INFORMATION. Maps, weather, movie times, recipes, phone numbers, news, church lessons... all within the click of my mouse. Just this morning, I found an answer to McKenna's math homework, helped an old friend find a preschool in Pocatello, downloaded a song for Kenna's lip sync, and watched lip sync videos on you tube to get ideas for choreography. I think we have forgotten how AMAZING that is!

* One of my favorites...FREE DOWNLOADABLE SHEET MUSIC!

* ENTERTAINMENT. Endless options.

* SHOPPING. So many online stores now have free shipping. Why, oh why would I ever fight the cold and crowds when I can shop while wrapped up in my Snuggie and sipping cocoa?

* BUSINESS. Is it even possible to run a business that is not online?

* WEB MD. I now diagnose myself and tell my doctor what to prescribe.

* FAMILY HISTORY. I preserve my photos through an online site and journal through a blog.

How has the internet blessed your life?

30 Days of Thanks #2

I'm thankful to live in a place that has four seasons.

I can't imagine living in a place that doesn't change. I love the hope that spring brings. I love mild summer nights. I love the smell of fall. Hmmmm... what comes next? Oh, how could I forget? It's the season that lasts longer than any other season in Idaho. Winter. Well, I don't love running for my life through wind and sludge as I exit the car. I don't love gripping the steering wheel and feeling exhausted after driving through white outs. I don't love the layers of wet clothes on the floor when the kids get home from school. I don't love pneumonia. I don't love getting high-centered in my mini van... (JoLyn! This is about GRATITUDE! Remember?) Oh yeah. I do love a few things about winter. I love the thrill in my husband's eyes after the first snowfall. I love my kids' muddy snowmen in our yard. I love seeing sparkles in vast areas of untouched snow. I love that winter gives me permission to drink lots of Hot Chocolate.

30 Days of Thanks #1

After Halloween, I have a tendency to want to mentally skip Thanksgiving and jump right into Christmas. After all, it's just a dinner, right? Well, during one of Justin and I's car discussions the other night (the only time we seem to be able to really 'talk'), we decided that we should focus more on gratitude... so here goes 30 days of gratitude... blog style. (Thanks, Molly, for the great idea!)

Day #1

I truly am thankful to live in the 21 Century, and to be blessed with all sorts of marvelous inventions... like indoor plumbing for instance, or electricity, or dishwashers, or mascara... but there's one invention that I think I love more than any other. It's one that I'm willing to pay $5.00 a container for. One that I can't image life without...

Clorox Wipes. Oh, Clorox Wipes, how did I ever potty train a child without you? How did I ever clean a toilet seat without you? How did I ever prepare raw meat without you?

Today, I am thankful for you.