Day #37 - The Beach (again)

Liana's hula sand woman.

Anna and Grandma's Hula Girl.

Siope's Sand Man.

Another reason why I am grateful for the beach: it is a natural place for families to play together.

Day #36 - Good Friends

This trip has been very special for us. Not only have we been able to introduce the beautiful things in Hawaii to Lily. We have also been able to introduce Lily to many of our treasured friends. Seeing all of these wonderful people has made us miss living here terribly. But it has also made us feel grateful that we have had the influence of each of them in our lives.

As a side note: our old neighbors threw a little dinner for us the other night. It was so nice to see everyone and to remember the friendships we had.

Day #35 - The Temple (again)

Joel and I were finally able to attend the temple (thank you Liana & Siope for babysitting). We really enjoyed being able to see all of the changes and renovations that were made over the past year.

Day #34 - Caterpillars

I have always been fascinated by caterpillars. I remember walking home from school as a kid by way of a Crown Flower tree, just to see if I could find a caterpillar or a chrysalis. The caterpillars' stripey, colorful, wiggly little bodies are so beautiful, and their transformation is so amazing. I think that caterpillars are one of those beautiful things in nature that teach us about our own potential for change and growth. They also show us how miraculous God's creations can be.

Well, the other day we were on a walk and found a Crown Flower Tree. I had to show my girls.

Since then we've decided to raise a caterpillar in a jar. Eryn has been the most interested, checking on it every day. Our caterpillar has already turned into a chrysalis! Hopefully he will change before we go home. If not, grandma will have to send us updates.

Day #33 Lily's Eyes

A stranger stopped me today at the mall, just to tell me how beautiful Lily's eyes are. I agree. The color is so clear and the shape and size are also very unique. Beyond those features, I admire the wise and sweet expressions she makes with them.

Day # 32 Laie, Hawaii Temple

Lily enjoyed wheeling around in her chair on our walk. She is posing here next to some of the many beautiful yellow hibiscus that line the temple grounds.



I am grateful today for the Laie, Hawaii Temple. We took a walk there today and let the kids explore the grounds. It always feels like such a gathering place for the whole town. Today was no exception. Lots of people were there milling around and there were so many familiar faces! I love the temple. I grew up in its shadow, blessed by the peace and beauty it brings. Joel and I were also married there!

Day #31 The Beach/Ocean

Present opening was happy and full of cheer this morning. Lily was determined to eat all of her chocolate and that of anyone else willing to share. She is also a professional present-opener now (after having a birthday and christmas so close together).




We spent a portion of our Christmas on the beach today. As I was sitting watching Anna attempting to boogie board in the surf, I felt great gratitude for the beach. I don't think I always appreciated it when I lived here. Here are some of the reasons why I feel grateful:

It is always beautiful to look at (no matter what the weather).
The sounds are so calming and peaceful.
The colors are so vibrant and ever changing.
The sky feels open and close to you.
My bare feet touch the sand and the water, bringing me closer to nature and the earth than I ever get doing anything else.
On a sunny day, the sun feels so warm.

I know that I am not a poet, but I feel the need to express my appreciation. It was such a beautiful Christmas Day for us. One that will provide many "warm" memories for the coming months of winter.

Day #30 Jesus Christ

The Christmas Season is a special time for us to reflect on the birth of Christ. I love this time of year, because my thoughts turn more often to Him. Leading the ward choir has really helped me ponder the true meaning of Christmas. The words of many of the songs have been running through my head all month long. Lines like:

"What can I offer, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would give a lamb. If I were a wise man, I would do my part. But what I have I give Him, give Him my heart."

or

"Come and follow, one and all, come see Him lying in the stall. For He is born the Child Divine."

For the past month I have sung the choir songs to Lily as lullabies for my own pleasure and practice. It has really made my Christmas meaningful.

One of my favorite portions from the Luke 2 story is where the Angels proclaim Christ's birth. I sang these lines as a solo in Handel's Messiah when I was in college. At the time I remember that I felt it wasn't the best solo part. Too short and not much difficulty in the music. Now I treasure the music and words. After having the experience of singing them, they are in my heart forever. Handel's music is so perfectly paired with the words that I can't hear the words now without singing the music in my head:

There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And lo the angel of the Lord came upon them. And the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, "Fear not. For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying: "Glory to God and on earth peace, goodwill towards men."

Thinking about Christ and his birth fills me with a great deal of JOY and HOPE; hope that I can always change and be better, that we can receive forgiveness for the mistakes we make and the sins we commit, hope that through Him we can all be made whole again (including our sweet little Lily).

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Day #29 Grandparents

Clapping for the dolphins with Grandpa.

Last time Joel's parents visited us, Lily had a hard time warming up to them. So, this trip we were hoping she would do a little better. To our pleasant surprise, Lily is already letting both grandparents hold her. Here she is with each of them at Sea Life Park.

I don't have many memories of my own grandparents, except for my Dad's mom who is still living. Growing up in Hawaii, so far away from everyone made having a close relationship more difficult. So it is a great treasure for me to see my own children interact with their grandparents. What a special relationship!

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day # 26, 27, 28

Day #26 Monday - I am grateful for full circle moments.

I have had a family from my mission visiting with us for a few weeks. It has been very busy, but WONDERFUL to have them. Their youngest daughter was 3 years old when I knew them, but even at such a young age, she and I had a friendship. I would come into their home and talk to her and ask her about each of her stuffed animals. We ended up choosing Barney as a favorite. So every time I came over I would ask, "Where's Barney?". Then after a while, I would come over and she would just run directly into her room and bring me Barney.

Now here she is, this beautiful 14 year old young woman, in my home, playing with my three year old. I can't believe how fast time flies and how sweet friendship can be.

Here is my sweet friend at the door of the SLC Temple. She has been loving her visit to Utah.

Day #27 Tuesday - Humidity!


We made it to Hawaii! Stepping off of the plane felt sooo good. The humidity hits you immediately. I know not everyone loves it, but I am a total fan. :)

P.S. If any one is thinking of breaking into our home while we are gone, think again. Our house is full of guests the entire time we are gone. :)

Day #28 Wednesday - Bare feet and Blue Skies


It might be hard to believe, but I was having a hard time feeling gratitude this morning. Being back in Hawaii makes me feel so happy, but also makes me feel so bitter. Instead of enjoying watching my kids play on the beach, all I can think about is how I wish they could have this all year long. I am so glad that I am doing this gratitude blog, though, because it is helping me pay attention to these feelings. I am really trying to just appreciate these moments for what they are. I think that too often we tend to wish for what we don't have. These feelings get in the way of appreciating what we do have. Today couldn't be more perfect in terms of sunshine, blue sky, warmth, cool breeze and feeling carefree. For this day I am grateful for each minute of the present.

Day #25 Cousins

I am grateful for cousins. Cousins make the best instant friends. Betsy and her family are here visiting for Christmas and her girls are so sweet and lovable! Anna and Eryn are especially enjoying their company.

Day #24 Thoughtful Gifts

I really appreciate it when people put a lot of thought into a gift. This is something I often try to do myself. It gets difficult for me to be thoughtful with every gift at this time of year (sometimes you just want to get the job done!). But, anyway, this is something I really value and appreciate. As an example, Lily received a pair of tiny pink biker gloves this year for her birthday. The size must have been very hard to find, but how useful and thoughtful, right? Can't wait to use them in Hawaii!

Day #23 Lily"s 2nd Year

I am grateful for Lily's 2nd year. This year for Lily has been an AMAZING one. She has really come so far. Last year this time she could not move independently at all. Now she is a force to be reckoned with. She is such a strong and inspiring soul. Here are some of her achievements this year:

13 mos. Began crawling backwards (pushing herself on her tummy)
14 mos. Sat up on her own (I call it tri-pod sitting, because she props herself with her hands)
16 mos. Finally strong enough to pull herself forward!!
18 mos. Started "walking" in her Kangaroo apparatus.
23 mos. Got her first wheelchair!!!!

Beyond her physical growth, she has really grown in other ways as well. She has become very social. She loves nursery and she is also finally talking a lot more. What a year we have had! I can't believe she is 2 years old!!

Day #22 Prayers Answered and Wishes Granted

I believe in the power of prayer. I have seen and felt it in my own life on many occasions. There have been times where the prayers of others (on my behalf) were so strong that I could feel them, thick around me, bearing me up.

I remember, during my pregnancy with Lily that I was in so much need of peace, wisdom and comfort. It was a time when I felt I needed the prayers of others desperately. I was so sure of their power that I couldn't help but desire that support. After a time I began to realize that because of my deep belief in the power of prayer, I could not allow myself to be so selfish and self-centered in prayer. How could I help others? Who could benefit from my prayers? It really was a deep realization for me, that my own prayers had value for someone else, just as others' prayers were such a palpable support for me.

I prayed this year for one little boy. His mother is my dear friend from college. I am pleased to share that he is cancer-free today after an intense summer full of trial and difficulty. Today I read this about him getting a wish granted. I just had to share.

Today I am grateful for prayers answered and wishes granted.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #21 Our Christmas Tree

Joseph plays with my phone regularly and I often find photos he has randomly taken. This is one of them. I thought it was pretty.

I am grateful for our real Christmas tree. It is beautiful and bright and brings a great deal of JOY to our home. It is drying out a little bit (since we bought it the day after thanksgiving). But because it is drying out, it smells so good!

Day #20 Modern Conveniences

Having my friends from my mission visiting has been wonderful. They are a sweet presence in my home and I have loved my time with them. The mother is so helpful. I swear my house has never been more clean or organized. Because she wants to help so much I have had the pleasure of teaching her how to use the vacuum, the washer and dryer and the dishwasher. She washes clothes and dishes by hand every day in Guatemala, so all of these conveniences are new to her. I am grateful that I do not have to do such hard labor on a daily basis. But more importantly I am grateful for the time that these things give me to focus on my children.

Day #19 The Magic of Christmas

Christmas is a pretty stressful time of year for me. On top of all of the business that naturally comes, we have two children's birthdays during the month of December. If I don't prepare months in advance, I'm guaranteed to have a little break-down. That being said, there are certain things about this season that I love and enjoy and wouldn't miss for the world! Here are two things that have brightened my holiday season (moments of magic that I feel gratitude for).

This year we bought a train to go around our christmas tree. Joseph is crazy for trains and we knew that if we were ever going to do it, this year was the year. The day the train went up, Joseph literally spent the entire day next to the track, controlling the train's every move. What a sweet memory!
For the first time, we have an elf visiting our home for Christmas. He showed up December 1st and every morning he can be found in a different location up high in the house. He is watching our children to see if they are being naughty or nice and reporting regularly back to Santa. Eryn has been especially enamored by his visit. She has even brought multiple friends home from school, lining up at our door to see the "real elf" who is visiting us this year.

Thank goodness that among all of the stress and busy schedules we can enjoy the fun and excitment of Christmas with our children!

Day #18 My Calling

Joel and I are the Choir Directors for our church choir. We LOVE it! Today was our last practice for the Ward Christmas Program and so we were pretty excited getting everything put together. It should be a nice program including choir, piano, narration, flute, cello and soloists.

I am grateful for my calling for a few reasons.

One of the main things that has always brought my husband and I together has been music. We met in High School choir and have always sung together since. So to be able to do this together brings us closer and makes us happy.

I studied music and voice in college. So to be able to use my skills feels good.

My dad was a choir conductor as a profession. So, I have many memories of him leading music as well as memories of singing under him as my conductor. I feel closer to him when I am leading music and I remember his example well. It also brings back a lot of great memories for me.

I LOVE working with the families. There are so many great and supportive people who come out and sing week after week. We have encouraged parents to bring their children with them to sing and it has been a joy to have the children take part in the choir experience as well.

Singing makes me happy.

I may not always have this calling, but for the time I am in it, I will love and enjoy it and feel grateful for the opportunity to share my talents.

Day #17 Little Experience, Big Lesson

I wanted to share two experiences, one funny one from about ten years ago and another that happened today.

When I returned from my mission I remember being over at Joel's house. He was showing me a video of some new opera singer that was very popular. I watched for a little while, then I remember saying to Joel, "I hate it when singers close their eyes. It's so lame." Joel's sheepishly turned to me and said, "He's blind." (Yes. It was Andrea Bocelli) Ha ha.

Today a friend and I were in a locker room. The way the lockers work, there are three per changing stall. So if your stall is occupied, you have to wait. Well, my friend's was occupied, so we had to wait nearby. We were waiting quite a while for the other woman to change and leave when I started to make very quiet remarks like, "what could she be doing in there" and "who knows why she is taking so long." You know, just between friends. Not trying to be rude. Just making remarks. Well, the door opened, but the girl remained seated inside. Again, I couldn't help but think, "Gee. How irritating that we have to sit here and wait." Well, a few minutes later, a girl came out of the next stall and pushed opened her friend's stall door and helped her stand up. It became very obvious that she could not walk on her own.

Of all people, you think I would have had the understanding heart to give her the benefit of the doubt. Lesson learned: Give people the benefit of the doubt. You never know what may be going on in their life. I sure hope that other people will do the same for me, for my daughter and for my family.

Day #16 My first child

In the hospital, a few hours young (both of us).

Anna at 4 weeks old.

About 3 months old with Joel in our TVA apartment.

Since Anna had a birthday recently, I thought I would share some gratitude for her, my first child.

I am grateful for Anna's forbearance. Anna has had to bear the brunt of all of our inexperience as parents. For example, when she was a little baby we hated to hear her cry. So we labored to help her to sleep. We did this as long as we could until we could figure out some new trick until she was almost two years old. In our defense, she was a colicky baby and cried A LOT. But we really catered to her because we didn't know any better. Now her younger siblings have the blessing of following Anna and their sleeping habits have all been much better based on our experience. I fear that in most areas we are learning by trial and error with Anna. Not to say that we are bad parents, just that we are still learning.

I am grateful for the sweet way Anna looks after her younger siblings. Here are a few examples: Every day after school, Anna walks through the school to her little sister's class to pick her up and walk her home. She helps push Lily in her wheelchair and keeps her from getting into too much trouble at places like walmart. :) She carries Lily up and down the stairs regularly based on what Lily wants or needs (Lily usually says "up" or "dow"). She helps Joseph reach things he can't reach, or makes him a piece of toast or grabs him a glass of water when he needs it.

I am grateful for her unconditional love. Anna and I butt heads some times, but she is ultimately a very loving child. She is also forgiving and seeks to please.

I am grateful for her patience during this trying year. This past year has been one of the toughest for our whole family because of her sister, Eryn's health problems. Anna had to watch her younger sister come and go from the hospital regularly, visit her sister in the hospital and then watched Eryn deal with all kinds of medical drama at home. She also got to see all of the gifts and attention her sister got as a result as well. Beyond that, she has had to deal with the stress and the worry that comes with all of that. She is a worrier, so I know it wasn't an easy time.

There is a lot more I could say about Anna. We are lucky to have such a wonderful girl as our daughter.

Day #15 Speaking of Mothers. . . My Mother

This picture was taken when they were in the MTC before their first mission to Brazil.

Happy Birthday Mom! I am grateful for my mother today. She is on her second mission with my dad in Texas and we miss her! She always made us (her children and grandchildren) a priority in her weekly planning and helped me a great deal. I have been blessed to have her support in the past. And now that she is living far away, we miss it! But more than her help, we miss her presence in our everyday lives. I am proud of her for going on a mission and grateful for the positive force and great example she is for me in my life.


**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #14 I am a Mother

I count being a mother as one of my greatest blessings. When I was a teenager a large tumor was discovered growing in one of my ovaries (sorry if this is TMI :) ). At that time doctors were saying that before surgery there was no way to know if it was cancerous, but that they believed it was, because it grew so quickly. They also said that it was possible that it had spread. So, at age 15 I watched my mother sign a paper that gave the surgeon permission to remove anything he saw fit during my operation. This meant I could come out of the operation with a hysterectomy. I could not bear the idea that I might not be able to bare children. In fact this is what bothered me most about going into surgery. Many people fasted and prayed for me going into the day of my surgery. And as a great blessing I only lost one ovary. Everything else remained in tact and the tumor was not cancerous. I have always considered this a miracle in my life! And now here I am a mother of four.

Here are some of the things I enjoy about being a mother (so far):

Reading with my children.
Going to the library and bringing home stacks of books.
Singing together (anything).
Baking cookies.
Sharing a chore around the house.
Hugs and kisses.
The "I love you's" they say spontaneously.
When the children sing with the primary on Mother's Day! (One of my favorites)
Nature walks or hunts when the weather is good.
Walks.
Swimming together.
Joseph climbing in my bed at 1am.
Rocking Lily in the rocking chair before bedtime or naps.
When my children ask me questions about the gospel.
Walking them to school (when we lived in Hawaii)
Playing together on the beach or by any body of water.
Watching them grow and change.
Comforting them and advocating for them in the hospital.
Having their friends over!
Making things together (arts and crafts).
Loose teeth.
Trips to the zoo.
Feeding the ducks.
It goes on and on. . . .

I am sure that there could be an even longer list of things that bug me about being a mother including stretch marks, wider hips, grey hair, vomit etc., but the point is that it is all worth suffering through. Some days I think, "my house would be so clean if it weren't for my kids." But then I make myself really think what my life or my home would be like without children. Do I really want a life without them in it?? NEVER! They are the light and life and spice and meaning to my days. Despite the mess and the noise and the work, I LOVE being a mother and I love that I can be at home with them.

In the Bible many scriptures talk about the importance of feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and clothing the naked. I am blessed to do this for my children. :) It is truly a gift.

Day #13 A Good Neighbor

http://www.nataliedee.com/073108/

I don't mind taking out the trash. In fact I look forward to it, because it means that we will have more space in the can for more trash. :) What I don't like to do is bring it in empty. Call me lazy. I put it off most of the time. Then, like magic. . . it's often been brought up to my house. My next door neighbor brings ours in with hers regularly. The other cool thing is she lets us put some of our stuff in her can (like this time of year, when we have tons of bags of leaves). I am thankful that I have a good neighbor. And yes, today was trash day.

Day #12 A Support System

I just want to say thank you to the sweet bloggers who have joined me in my big goal to express gratitude daily. It is so nice to have your company and support on this year-long journey. I look forward to reading every single one of your grateful posts. Already each one of you has touched me in some way and inspired me.

Take a look at each of them: Kahi, Destiny and Adrienne.

Day #11 The Kindness of Others

Today, I accompanied one of my guests from Guatemala in Young Womens to help her get the gist of what the teacher was saying. Ultimately I left feeling a great deal of gratitude for the kindness of others. The lesson was about how to give of yourself this Christmas. As the lesson went on I began thinking about all of the things people did for us at Christmas time last year.

We took Eryn into the ER and spent a full day there. Then she was put into the hospital for a few days for problems with her kidneys. After that we were dealing with her medical care at home and taking her to other appointments and for testing at the hospital. It was a heavy load for me. And I remember wondering how I was going to manage Christmas. So many people ended up stepping in and giving us support at this time. So during this lesson it gave me a great deal of joy to remember all of the wonderful things people did to help out. Here are a few:

A neighbor shoveled our driveway and walks.
My visiting teacher wrapped all of my kids' Christmas presents.
A friend did some Christmas shopping for me.
A little girl Eryn's age in the ward brought Eryn "secret friend" gifts every night leading up to Christmas.
The Relief Society brought in meals.
Joel's sister stayed with us in the ER almost all day and visited Eryn regularly whenever she was in the hospital.
A member of the bishopbric visited Eryn in the hospital and helped to give her a blessing.
Friends from Joel's work also visited the Hospital and brought stuffed animals.
Other sisters in the ward who are nurses helped me by answering questions and even came over to look at tubing or to help me resolve problems.
My parents pitched in at my house with the children and the cleaning.
Joel's parents took their turn when they visited helping as well.
The Primary made Eryn a pillowcase with all of their little messages written on it. She took this special pillow to the hospital for her surgery the week after Christmas.
The list of kindnesses goes on and on.

I felt so overwhelmed by gratitude during this lesson that I burst into tears. It was not pretty. :) But honestly, it feels so good to have Eryn so healthy a year later. And now we can look back with joy, remembering all of the good things people did for us.

Day #10 Every word of Spanish I can remember!

We have some visitors from Guatemala staying with us for the next few weeks. This is the first time I have ever seen anyone from my mission (aside from missionaries). It feels so good to have them with me and to let them get to know my family. This family is one of the most special families I met on my mission. They took great care of me and gave me many opportunities to share my talents and to share the gospel. They have strong testimonies and understand (and live) the gospel on a deeper level. I feel so grateful to be able to host them. We took them to Temple Square last night to see the lights and they LOVED it. The mother felt like she was living out a dream to be there.

Speaking spanish all day for the next few weeks is going to be interesting. I feel a little like a greenie again. But I am loving it and feel grateful for every single word I can possibly recall.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #9 A Good Hostess

Anna turns nine next week. In an effort to space her birthday from Christmas we held her party today. I rarely do friend parties. In fact the last friend party I did for Anna was when she turned four. She threw a huge fit in the middle of the party and created a lot of unnecessary drama. I have pictures and video to prove it. After all of my hard work, I felt so disappointed. This time around things went much better. She had a great time with all of her friends and there was no drama. Tonight I am grateful for a happy birthday girl who acted gracious the entire party.


Here she is at her 4th birthday party throwing a fit.

Day #8 Kindermusik

These are pictures of Lily in May of this year with both me and her teacher.

I was at Kindermusik today with Lily and felt so much happiness inside. I have always been a fan of Kindermusik. Joel and I took Anna to one sesssion (four months, once a week) of Kindermusik in Honolulu just before Eryn was born. Then I did Kindermusik with Anna and Eryn together when we lived in Provo. That was such a fun time for me to be with my girls, dancing, singing and playing. Now I have been taking both Joseph and Lily separately to their own classes and have loved the bonding time. Lily thrives in the class and gets extremely excited when the car pulls up in front of her teacher's house. Her teacher is amazing and has exposed Lily to so many great things for her brain development and all-around development. I feel sincerely grateful for the opportunity to take my children to these classes and for the one-on-one time we get, doing something I love.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #7 Joel's Job

Joel is on another trip to Colorado right now. When he's gone we miss him a lot. He works out of our home when he isn't traveling, so he is a big part of our everyday lives. Joel does a lot to keep in contact with the kids when he is gone, though. In fact, we video chat just about every day he is gone. He also calls to say goodnight to the kids and I send him lots of pictures and video. On average he has been gone about two or three days a week over the past few months. One day he sent a video to us where he kissed each person one at a time. It just tickled the kids so much. They laughed and kissed the video back. Lily loved it so much that she begged to watch it over and over, kissing him back each time. This is the picture we sent Joel tonight just before the kids went to bed.


Despite the fact that Joel has had to travel quite a bit, his job has been a great blessing to us. What is Joel's job anyway?? Joel facilitates partnerships between Imagine Learning and school districts. Imagine Learning provides language and literacy instruction (teaches English and reading) to children via computers and smart technologies. Schools implement the program during the school day and/or after school. Joel is very good at what he does and he loves his work. The best part about his job is the fact that it ultimately, positively impacts the lives of young children and makes teachers' and administrators' lives easier.

Take a look at the videos of some kids in Colorado whose lives have been affected for the better. My favorite is Khalid.

I am grateful for Joel's job. It is a great blessing to him and to our family.

Day #6 Lily's Wheelchair

Lily is almost two years old and a few weeks ago, she got her first wheelchair (see more pictures and video here). A lot of people (including some of her doctors) have expressed doubt as to the need for her to be in a wheelchair at such a young age. We can still carry her and push her in a stroller, so why bother? Joel and I have felt strongly that any kind of aid that would make Lily's quality of life better is worth pursuing and using. In my mind I compare it to my three year old using a stool to reach the sink in the bathroom. Yes, we could lift him up every time he needed to reach it, then one day he would be tall enough to reach it on his own. But why not give him a tool that will allow for him to be more independent now?

It only takes seeing her in the wheelchair one time to realize what a gift it is for her, even at this young age. Her personality really comes alive when she is in it, I think because she is able to feel more confident and capable. She also is able to have a new independence in new surroundings (like church, the mall etc.). All of these things, in my opinion give her an opportunity for more normal experiences and lead to more normal development.

I am grateful for Lily's wheelchair. Joel and I can't help but beam with pride as we follow her around and encourage her to explore in it.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

BONUS: Watch Lily bowl. Isn't this so precious?

Day #5 Still trying to appreciate the snow. . .

I got up this morning and it had snowed . . . again. Hmmm. . . I am really going to have a hard time being grateful every day of the winter if I can't get over my dislike for snow.

In an effort to find a way to be grateful for the snow, I have been thinking about it all day. I got up and shoveled the snow, and I thought about it. I shoveled it from our front steps and then our driveway before the girls went off to school all bundled up in their boots and coats. The shoveling turned out to be great exercise; the first exercise I've gotten in a while. I felt grateful for that. I continued to think about it later in the day as I was running errands. I got out at the post office with my two little ones and helped Jojo hop over the snow in the parking lot. At Costco I parked as close as I could to avoid more slushy snow. Lily's hands still got wet and dirty from pushing her wheelchair in the parking lot. I went through the drive thru at Wallgreens, McDonalds and D.I. and felt grateful for the fact that there are so many drive-thrus in Utah (doesn't everywhere have a drive-thru here?). Then as I was on the road home a thought came to me, that has really made me feel sincere gratitude. I remembered a scripture from the New Testament:

Isaiah 1:18 ". . .though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. . ."

Wow. What a wonderful way to look at it. If the snow can be a reminder to me of the cleansing power of the atonement, then, I think I can make it through the winter okay. I am grateful that today I have been able to change my attitude and turn something I dread into something that can turn my heart to Jesus Christ, my Savior.

Day #4 Shelter

I took this photo almost two years ago on the day we were moving in. It just so happened to be a snowy day like today.

It's hard for me to feel grateful on a snowy day. . . But, today when I was praying over our Sunday dinner and I was thinking about the snow, I felt grateful for our warm shelter. Honestly, since we bought this home, I have felt grateful every day for the beautiful shelter it provides. I never imagined I would live in such a comfortable and spacious home. Looking at what we have I can't help but feel happy and grateful.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #3 Joel

This is an old picture, but a cute one of Joseph and Joel at the 2009 Fathers and Sons Campout.

Our son, Joseph has asthma. For him any kind of a cold can throw him into a two or three week "episode" where he coughs and really struggles to breathe. Usually at night it gets worse. Last night was one of those nights. Joel and I have learned to recognize the sound of that scary cough in the middle of the night that needs attention, and we heard it. It's all a little bit of a blur to me, because I got to stay asleep, but Joel got up and took care of it. He gave him his puffer, laid down with him, and helped him get comfortable. This is typical for Joel. I don't let him do all of the hard work, believe me. But Joel has never hesitated to really pitch in and help with the kids.

I am so grateful for Joel. I count him as one of the greatest blessings in my life and I am thankful that I have him as my eternal partner.

**I'm sharing gratitude every day on my blog for one full year! Read about The Gratitude Project and join me! It's not too late. :)

Day #2: The Place I Grew Up

Areal view of Laie, Hawaii

Laie, Hawaii Temple

Chinaman's Hat

BYU Hawaii

These pictures could be enough to explain why I will forever be grateful for the beautiful place I grew up. I just want to share I few thoughts on the subject.

When I served my mission in Guatemala, I became very aware that the world is a big place. People I came into contact with there were in difficult circumstances: poverty, lack of good medical care, low education, etc. Many people would say to me, "You are lucky. You're from America. You're rich." That bothered me a lot. I never saw myself as "rich." But over time, as I thought about it, I realized that I was. I had running water, heated water, a beautiful home, a complete education, good medical care and so on. I loved the people of Guatemala so much and saw them as equal in the the eyes of the Lord. So, I asked myself, why was I so blessed to be placed where I was? It was then that I realized the blessings that were right in front of me that I took for granted all my life. It was then that I took my happy childhood in a beautiful, safe, carefree place as one of my greatest blessings in life.

Laie and Hawaii and BYUH have all become stores of memories and beautiful places I can go back to in my mind during difficult times. In fact I remember as a missionary closing my eyes at night after a long, hard day, and imagining myself walking up or down the path to BYUH with the palm trees swaying and the trade-winds blowing. It was not because I was homesick. It was a comfort to me. And to this day I can still feel the wind on my face, smell the air and hear the sounds as I would walk down that pathway.

On a final note. I was determined to raise my own children there in Laie and if not Laie, in Hawaii. But it was not meant to be for our family (which has ultimately been another blessing in disguise). One thing I have come to on this subject is this. Instead of feeling sad or bitter about not being able to raise my children there. I can feel a great measure of gratitude for the fact that I had so many years there. This brings me great joy and happiness.