A cemetery plot

My brother passed away when I was 5. At that time my parents bought a plot in the Kaysville cemetery for him and 2 more for the two of them (my parents). Today we had to go buy a plot for my sister. The area of the cemetery where Wesley and my dad are buried is old and very full. We were not expecting to get Sharon in the same area, just as close as we could. We looked at the map they had on the wall and all the plots close by were taken. The lady looked some things up and then told us the most incredible news! The plot RIGHT NEXT to my brother and my dad was available. Sharon will be buried right next to Wesley. We really are being looked out for, even during this incredibly hard time! 

The United States Air Force

Today I'm so thankful for the Air Force. My brother is deployed in Korea. He is just about as far away from us that he can possibly be. I had to tell him about Sharon on the phone. It was awful. But, thankfully, the Air Force immediately started making arrangement to get Chris home. We need him here. He needs to be here. And I'm thankful that this afternoon he will be here!!

Tender mercies

Tender mercies are everywhere. Sometimes, especially during hard times, they're a little easier to see. Maybe its because there are countless people praying for our family. Maybe its because the veil is a little thinner at times like this. I don't really know. Today I'm thankful for one tender mercy in particular. I'm thankful that Alex was not at home with Sharon when she passed away. I'm so thankful she was with Jared. 

Eternal families

Today my heart is broken. My sister passed away. It still hasn't sunk in and I still have processed what that really means. But today I am thankful that my family is eternal. 

Hail

Today I'm thankful for the hail and the sweet memory that came to me as I drove through it. My dad was a great man. I never heard him swear. He just didn't do it. He was very selective about his words. But anytime it started it hail, he would yell from his office (or wherever he happened to be), "Well, HAIL!!" And still to this day when it starts to hail, I can hear his voice saying that! I'm thankful for sweet reminders like that. 

A short board meeting

I have to conduct a board meeting every month for work. They're usually about 2 hours long. It makes for a very long day! Today I'm thankful for a board meeting that was only an hour! I was ready to go home before it even started. I'm thankful I made it home by the time the meeting is usually ending! 

Life long friends

Today I'm thankful for the handful of friends that will be my friends forever. I chatted with one of them today. I haven't talked to her in a few years. Our lives just went different directions. But today we chatted. And it was great! 

The bus

Today, we finally got our new bus at work! I'm so excited for that bus! It's been an awfully long time coming! I'm thankful for what that new bus is doing for the moral of some of my fantastic employees. I'm thankful for the new possibilities and offerings we can explore with that bus. I'm thankful (after months of talking about it) that the new bus is finally in our possession! 

Batteries

Who knew that thermostats were powered by batteries? The thing is attached to my wall, I really thought it would have some kind of power supply. Nope. Batteries. And mine died. A few days ago. That means my heater hasn't kicked on in a few days. Luckily it hasn't been very cold lately. I'm thankful my brothers had some batteries I could steal. I'm thankful my heater is currently running! When I got it all plugged back in, it said it was 64 in my house. I like my house cold, but not that cold!! 

Becky

Today I'm thankful for Becky. Becky is one of my awesome physical therapists. She invited me to go with her my other physical therapist Trish to dinner tonight. I don't think most people are blessed with physical therapists that also get to consider friends. I'm so thankful for everything they do for me. Not only do they help me heal physically, but they make me laugh. They ask about my life. They listen me ramble about work and school and boys. They're good at their job and they're good people! My insurance company is only going to pay for one more visit for my hip. I told Becky and Trish tonight that we need to plan some kind of regular get-together so I don't have to be injured again before I see them again! 

Homework time

Today I'm thankful for some extra time to get some homework done. I have a pretty big project due tomorrow and today my teacher basically told me the draft I turned in was crap. It was true. The draft was half-hearted. I left class crying - not because of what my teacher said, but because I was completely overwhelmed with the thought of revisiting the project. But I (thankfully) had quite a but of time tonight to put some real effort into it. I'm thankful for a couple good friends on Facebook who were willing to read through and edit the paper for me. I will be SO thankful next Friday when this class is over!! 

Brown hair dye

I dyed my hair today. Well, I had someone dye my hair today. It did not turn out well. I've been wanting to get a rich red color for a while. Tonight was the last time I will try. Tonight my hair turned red. Fire engine red. The color red. Not red hair red. Red. It was bad. The only fix was to dye it again - brown this time. Now my hair is purply brown. Very dark purply brown. It's not my color. But, I'm thankful for the brown dye that made it at least a little better than fire engine red. I hope we can do something soon to lighten it up. A whole bunch. 

A hearing test

I got my hearing checked today to make sure my BAHA is working the way it should be. I'm thankful that it really is working the way it should be! That thing is such a blessing in my life, I can't help but be thankful for it. 

Interviews

Today I'm thankful for the comfort of knowing that I don't have be interviewed for a job any time soon! I was part of an interview board today. As much as I don't love conducting interviews, I'm so thankful to be on the interviewer side of the table! 

Creamies

Today I'm thankful for a freezer of left-over creamies. I was in charge of bringing snacks to my class tonight. Unfortunately I didn't have time to plan ahead - that's what happens when you don't remember until Sunday and class is on Monday! I planned on stopping at the grocery store real quick on my way to school, but then I remembered all the left-over creamies we have from the half marathon last summer. I'm thankful I didn't have to stress about making it to the store. And I'm thankful they were such a hit with my class. 

Sunday dinner

Today I'm thankful for the wonderful Sunday dinner I got to have with Aaron and Jamie. I hung out with them yesterday. They fed me dinner last night and then invited me to dinner tonight. I'm so thankful for them. I hope they don't get too sick of me because I really like to hang out with them! 

Salsa

I rediscovered my love for chips and salsa today. I tried so hard, but I could NOT stop snacking on chips and salsa. I'm thankful for the salsa we have from canning last year  I'm thankful that my brothers let me spend the afternoon and evening with them. I know getting out of the house was the only thing that kept me from finishing off the bag of chips (that I opened this morning)!

American authors

Today I'm thankful for American Authors - the band, not literally authors who are American. I bought their CD a few weeks ago and I've been listening to it nonstop! It's such a peppy, fun CD. I'm thankful to have some good music to look forward to in the car. I'm really sick of everything on the radio right now! 

A hole in the wall

There are some really awesome things happening at our rec center. I am so proud of my employees and the incredible job they're doing. And I am so thankful to be able to push a project through that they have been waiting years for! We are converting some if our men's locker room into a classroom. That room will serve so many purposes and everyone is so excited about it! Today we cut a hole in the brick wall. It was loud and dirty and I loved it! I'm thankful for that progress! 

Attitudes

Today I'm thankful for attitudes and the fact that they can change! I'm having a bad attitude right now. I'm going to bed early and hoping I can change it by tomorrow! 

The URPA conference

Today I'm thankful for the opportunity to come down to St. George for the URPA conference. It's been great to hear some new ideas, meet some new people and reconnect with some old people. I'm so thankful for my job and the experiences I have with Sandy City. I really feel extremely blessed to be where I am in my career. I'm thankful for all the steps that lead me to where I am and I'm excited to see where the future leads. 

Lunch with the guys

I'm at a conference for work. When we had a break for lunch, I took off. It's a little tougher to find gluten options, but since we're in St. George I knew my options. I got about 5 minutes away from the convention center when my boss called. He and the other 2 parks guys who are also here wanted to go to lunch with me! I'm thankful for that time and that lunch. I really do work with great people!! 

Carrier fun

Today I am thankful that the Carrier crew let me come hang out with them in Zion National Park. We did a couple hikes, drove out to Hurricane for lunch, played a few games, played ping pong, swung on swings, attempted tennis, and a new game David made up called tennis baseball. I laughed until I cried and nearly peed my pants. And I got some sun. It was one of those days filled with so much fun that you can't help but smile when you climb into bed, completely exhausted!! 

My moms new house

Today I'm thankful for my mom's new house. She moved after Christmas and this weekend was my first time seeing it. I'm thankful to finally see so many things that feel like "home." I'm thankful my mom has found a place of her own. 

A completed observation

I have to evaluate a youth program for one of my classes. You would think it would be a piece of cake since The program I'm evaluating runs every day at my center...but it has definitely NOT been a piece if cake! I was supposed to have 2 observations and a director interview done yesterday and I didn't have any done! Today I am so thankful for one completed observation. I'm thankful for the opportunity to connect with one of my employees a little more and learn more about the program she and another team member run. I was very impressed. Hopefully I can get caught up on all the other requirements for that class during spring break next week. (Spring break is overrated when you still have to work!)

BS

I had to "teach" my class today. But, it's been a crazy week and I'm kind of in survival mode. So my 1.5 hour lesson was literally 1.5 hours of me BSing my way through it. It was fabulous. I'm thankful for the knowledge, skills, and experience I have in teaching that allowed me to at least survive the class! 

The Sandy Tourism Committee

Today I'm thankful for the Sandy Tourism Committee. I get to be a part of their meetings every once in a while. It was in that committee that the idea for the half marathon I'm in charge of took hold. I'm thankful for the opportunity to run shoulders with such great people. 

My car

I had take my car into the shop today. It was rough. $400 later, I now have new rear brakes, new brake fluid, new transmission fluid, new oil, and rotated tires. I hate spending money like that! I know it's important to keep up on the maintenance of cars so they'll last a long time, but man alive!! $400!!! And even though that was a lot of money, I'm thankful I have a good car. I'm thankful that runs so well and has been so dependable! And I'm thankful the maintenance is now current so I don't have to worry about it for a while!! 

The end of this day

Today was rough. I had to make a very hard, necessary decision at work that will result in some hard times. I hated every minute of it and I still feel pretty awful. But, it needed to happen. I'm thankful that Eric showed up at my house. (He was actually there when I got home). I'm thankful for the laughs and distraction he provided. I'm thankful for a good end to a complete bummer of a day! 

Piano music

Today I'm thankful for the music that was present in my home growing up. My mom is an incredible piano player. She has a gift and I'm thankful I got to benefit from that gift. I'm thankful for the peace and calm that her playing brought to our house and the peace and calm I still feel when I hear piano music. I haven't heard my mom just play the piano for years. I'm so excited for the day she will be reunited with her piano. I'm excited to find somewhere in her new house to lay down and just listen. 

The Relief Society lesson

I get to teach the lesson in Relief Society tomorrow. I'm thankful for the opportunity. Just like most teaching opportunities, I feel like preparing for this lesson is something I needed. I hope at least a few of the girls in our Relief Society will benefit too. I know our Father in Heaven has a plan for each of us. Nothing that happens in our life ever comes as a shock or a surprise to Him. I'm thankful to have had that reminder every day for the past few days.