God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say "thank you?" ~William A. Ward
I truly have so much to be thankful for and this year has made that clearer than ever. With all of the trials and obstacles we have overcome to watching the trials and obstacles others have faced we are nothing short of thankful for where we are. So I thought it was appropriate to list something I was thankful to be blessed with for each day of November. Lord knows that I could go on and on but here are the ones that have really touched me lately.
1. God - He has blessed me with everything that I have. He is my provider and my rock. He never fails me and gives me more love then I deserve.
2. Family - We have the most amazing and supportive family. They have made it possible for us to come back home (Utah) on many different occasions and continue to do so. They have agreed to finish our basement for us. They drove me out to be with my husband again. They gave us a more reliable car. I could sit here all day talking about what they have been doing for us but just know they are all AMAZING!
3. Spencer - He has been working so hard to be successful in school and at the same time has been so amazing about trying to balance that with his family. He is always so willing to put his books down to spend a day driving around with me or even just to give me a break from caring for everyone. He always hurries home to feed Ethan and give him a bath before bed.
4. Ethan - He has been such a blessing! He is such a happy baby and is progressing so well. From sleeping through the night after only the second week of being home to sleeping until 8am each day. At two months the doctor was saying that he had mannerisms of a four month old. Though he hates taking naps during the day he sleeps for nearly 12 hours at night. He began rolling over at only 5 weeks and is currently starting to 'talk' like crazy. I am so blessed that he is healthy. I have watched so many friends this year that have had so many scares with their new little ones and knowing that I didn't have to worry about that has been a blessing I appreciate more and more with each passing day.
5. Miracle - She is truly our miracle. I picked her name with the thought that it would be a miracle if my mom agreed to us getting her. However, Miracle has lived up to her name proving that she is nothing short of a miracle. I am so grateful for her and her loving personality.
6. Faith - My little cuddlier! She has such a playful and unique personality. Its hard to imagine loving a pet like your own children when you first get them but Faith has for sure won over my heart. Our family just would not be the same or feel complete without our little rat dog. (That was for you mom.)
7. Friends - Both Spencer and I have had so many amazing people come into our lives. Each have been a blessing for one reason or another and we grateful to have such great people surrounding us. I have had people setting up and really working to build a relationship with me and it has helped me realize that I want to work that much harder at being close with them as well. Spencer has had some INCREDIBLE friends that have been more than supportive of him both in Utah and Connecticut. I could really make this blessing go on forever and I would start listing names but I would hate to leave someone out because honestly as I said before each have been such a blessing for one reason or another.
8. Finances - WOW! Each time I look at our 'situation' I think "We should be sinking right now!" It has not been easy to find a job and I just keep getting more and more information of how bad the job market/unemployment rate is here. However, we continually have been able to pay all of our bills here in Connecticut AND all our bills in Utah including our $15oo house payment. I praise God every day that he gave Spencer and I parents that taught us how to manage our money. I also praise God every day that he has supplied us with the resources when we thought that we had nothing left.
9. Transportation - Spencer and I have something that is very rare for college students who are married... 2 cars! It has been so nice too. Spencer has been able to get up and do his thing and I have not been trapped at home. Though I often don't go anywhere because I don't want to be 'wasting' gas, I know that I have the ability to get out of the house. I have the ability to go job searching, I have the ability to go to interviews, and I have the ability to run errands.
10. Education - The more and more I hunt for a job the more and more I realize that something I would be able to apply for in Utah with just a high school diploma or an associates I cannot apply for in Connecticut unless I have at least a bachelors. Pretty much I am realizing that I can't apply for anything really unless I have at least a bachelor degree. Knowing that I graduated in April 2010 with my bachelor degree and then moved only a few short months later makes me realize what a blessing it was that I finished before I left.
11. TWO Homes - So I know that we didn't buy a home in Connecticut but the fact that we are renting a home here and we have held onto our home in Utah is amazing! To think that we could be living in an apartment is hard to stomach. There is nothing wrong with living in an apartment and had it been just Spencer and I, we would have done that in an instant. However, having a baby and knowing that there is not the possibility of someone banging on the walls or yelling and waking up the baby is amazing. Knowing that I didn't have to leave my dogs in Utah because we "weren't allowed to have them" or couldn't find something nice that also allowed dogs is great. Also the fact that I can open the door and they have a yard to play in (though small, it is still a yard). Then the fact that we have somewhere to go 'home' to once Spencer is done with school and we are 'done' in Connecticut is a huge relief!
12. Technology - Our families get to actually see us as often as they want and all because of technology. Having the ability to Skype with Spencer's family and iChat with mine has made it feel like we aren't so far away from everyone. Plus, never count out the amazing cell phone.
13. My Health - I am so grateful to not have the added stress of sickness in any form. Watching my brother maintain and pay for his diabetes makes me admire him so much but also helps me realize what a blessing it is to be carefree of those stresses.
14. Healthcare - The fact that I can go to the doctor if something were wrong with me, Ethan, or Spencer is such a relief. I am grateful that medicine has come as far as it has and that I have access to all of it because I live in the United States.
15. State Aid - I have talked about finances already but on a more specific note is state aid. Praise God that the states and government are willing to help students out while they try to better themselves. It is difficult that they do not take into account if you have a family or not but it is nice to have the help nonetheless.
16. Forgiveness - I am grateful that I have been taught about forgiveness and I am blessed to understand the importance of forgiveness. We all make mistakes and we at one point or another need to either forgive someone or be forgiven by someone (or ourselves). Understanding that it makes moving forward possible and easier is refreshing. Knowing that we don't have to forget because that is how we learn but that we can forgive because it is relaxing. No reason to hold onto anger.
17. Patience - What a weight off your chest to know that there is a time for everything. I am not freaked out that I don't have a job because I know that God will supply me with a job when I need it. I am blessed that my husband has patience with me when I have my 'break downs' because I am alone all day. I am blessed with patience when it comes to Ethan not taking naps giving me no time to myself.
18. Compassion - Being in our situation with medicaid food stamps has giving me more compassion for those in similar situations. It has also giving me a greater appreciation for those that have the compassion to work in social services. Its not an easy job no matter what department you work with and I would know, I did it for five years.
19. Empathy - I am grateful that people have empathy for those in rough/tight/difficult situations. I am grateful that there are individuals willing to find a way to help those in these situations. I am grateful that God an empathetic heart to work with troubled youth. I am grateful that people set up a system of food stamps or medicaid for those that are going to graduate school or even just those struggling to find a job or have lower education and can't obtain a job that pays them enough to support themselves or their families.
20. Generosity - I am so appreciative of those that are willing to offer support or services just to give someone a break. Different to me in the fact that you don't have to be in a certain 'situation' to have some help you out. Take for example my mom's uncle. He gives a 'scholarship' to all of the kids in the family to help them with their education whether you need the support/help/money or not. So, though I had a job and was able to pay for my tuition, he gave me $500 for fall semester and $500 for spring semester for four years. There are so many people that are willing to offer help or services just because or to bless someone just because they can. I truly appreciate these people.
21. Freedom - I LOVE that I can get up and put on whatever I want to wear. I can go anywhere that I want. I can make decisions on my own. I don't have to 'answer' to anyone. I LOVE that I can pray anyway that I choose. I can worship my God. I can love who I choose and marry the man of my dreams. I love that I can walk down the street and for the most part do it without fear of blowing up or something crazy. I LOVE that I am free!
22. Nature - One of my most favorite things living in Utah was driving west down a hill that allowed me to look right at the most beautiful backdrop I have EVER seen. Being surrounded by mountains has been something that as I look back on it now made me feel so comfortable and secure. They offered such a sense of peace. Seeing wildlife and the circle of life is so breath taking. The ocean humbles me. It is so vast and so powerful. It can be one of the most calming things or one of the most strongest things. Really honestly, nature just seems to help put me back in my place.
23. Adversity - I find it so rewarding that we have to face adversity in life. I think that we learn so much and better ourselves in so many ways. It is in times of trial and struggle that we grow the most. It reminds us to appreciate the good that we have in our lives and hat we just have to make the best of everything else. In all reality through adversity comes good, so I would say that it has helped teach me to take a didn't perspective on my life and maintain a positive attitude with all else.
24. Diversity - I LOVE that we are all created differently!!! I love that my ideas are likely to be different from yours and though that may cause conflict it allows for growth with individuals. I love that we don't all look alike and that your style is likely to be something I couldn't pull off and vise versa.
25. Faith - Having something so much bigger than anything to believe in is so liberating. I often 'dig holes' and have faith that they will be filled. So often the holes are filled too. My faith, my God ALWAYS pulls through and I am blessed for that. I am grateful that I can pray about something and I know that my prayers will be answered and always with my best interests in mind.
26. Careers - I am blessed to have found something that I want to make into a career but even more I am grateful for what that career offers me. I am grateful that it reminds me to appreciate the family that I have surrounding me, I appreciate the education that I have, and I appreciate that it allows me to do things for others. I also find a career a blessing because it supplies me with a living to offer opportunities to my family that otherwise would not be available to them if I didn't have a source of income. It just makes it that much more rewarding that I enjoy what I do.
27. Internet - AMAZING!!! I can write an email and send it and you will have it within minutes of me sending it. I can talk to someone through instant message that is thousands and thousands of miles away from me. I can locate information on ANYTHING that I am interested in or unsure about or just need to know. Facebook, Myspace, Tweeter... Even if I don't use all of these... the things that they are capable of... INCREDIBLE!
28. Photographs - Its amazing how you can pick up a picture and just in looking at it you can be taken back. There could be a special or important time in your life and any photos of that will be there to help others take part in your moment even if they couldn't actually make it to the event. There could be a moment that was just fun and maybe had no specific significance at all but once you take a glance back at a photo of that moment you are brought to tears just because of the joy and happiness that it brings rushing back to you. It is so true that a pictures speaks a thousand words.
29. Ability to Travel - I LOVE that I can travel and that I have family that LOVES to travel. Spencer and I are always getting the opportunity to go to new places, see new sights, and learn new things about other cultures and traditions or even just our own culture and traditions.
30. Growth - I am so appreciative of the fact that we have the ability to learn and progress as individuals. We are intellectually so amazing as humans. It is incredible that we can go through something in life and then have the capability to look back on it and see where improvement is needed. We have the power to decide if we want to move forward and become better people with each experience we face or if we just want to stay stagnant... what an amazing concept!
The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our blessings.
~Eric Hoffer, Reflections On The Human Condition
