Thankful Me

A glimpse across the valley shows snow-covered mountains providing a backdrop for Utah Lake It's a bit chilly outside, but we are between "atmospheric river events" right now and the sky is blue and the snow is melted in our yard. (As an aside, I need to research the phrase "atmospheric river". Is it a new term for "jet stream" or is it a new creature altogether?) Anyway, the first day of spring is coming soon! I know that doesn't mean that spring weather will necessarily come right away, but it's just so nice to think of warmer sunny days and plants growing and flowers blooming.  It's also nice to sit down and write down the things that I am thankful for this week. Won't you join me? I'll go first and give you time to think, and then you can tell me in the comments or in your own post! Link up with on the Ten Things of Thankful blog , hosted by Dyanne .  1. I'm thankful for little signs that tell me that spring is coming.  A da

  a backyard and mountainside covered in snow Monday, we woke up to more snow on top of the snow we already had. A very snowy Mt. Timpanogos contrasts with a deep blue sky On Thursday, the sun came out and I took the photo above of a deep blue sky above a very snowy Mt. Timpanogos.  Rain is in the forecast at our elevation this coming week, though the mountains should receive more snow. The break in the snow and the sun coming out reminds me that spring will come sometime.  1. I'm thankful for the seasons. Contrast is nice.  While I've been mostly inside this week, I've gotten some things accomplished. 2. I'm thankful to have taxes done and filed.  Have you read the children's book, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"? In it, a mouse gets a cookie, but then needs other things (glass of milk, etc.) Sometimes I feel like that mouse!  3. I'm thankful that we will be getting fiber internet installed soon. It will be faster and cheaper than our current internet.

  A sign that reads: "ROOTSTECH 2023 UNITING FAMILIES FRIENDS TRADITIONS INNOVATORS GENERATIONS COMMUNITIES rootstech by FamilySearch" I've spent the past few days in Salt Lake City at the Salt Palace Convention Center attending RootsTech, a large family history conference. Between the in-person attendees, and the online attendees, the "Find My Relatives at RootsTech" app told me that I had 64,051 cousins joining me (at the time of this writing. The number keeps going up as more people join in online.) One thousand three hundred and fifty-one of those were attending in person. That's a lot of people! I didn't actually meet all of them, of course, as we were all going from class to class, attending lectures and workshops, listening to keynote speakers, browsing through the expo hall, and going down the street to the FamilySearch library, in search for ancestors' records. That's not to say I didn't connect with relatives. I bumped into old frie

  Mt. St. Helens, as seen from an airplane  I love to travel, and I love to be home. This past week, I traveled home--to my parents' home, where so many memories of mine were made. Apparently I took the Utah snow to Oregon, because we ended up being pretty much snowbound most of the week, but the roads were good for the arrival and departure days, so that was appreciated.  1. I'm thankful for my parents, and for their health. Yes, they are older than they used to be, but aren't we all? It was great to just be able to spend time together, talking, laughing, and reminiscing. 2. I'm thankful for shelter from the elements. My dad designed and built their unique home and we were dry and warm, even when the power went out for a while.  3. I'm thankful for plants. My mom has a green thumb when it comes to houseplants. She knows their specific light requirements and carefully puts the plants in the best environment. My dad loves to root cuttings of outdoor plants in his ind

  The sun rises over the Caribbean Sea You might remember that last summer, John and I won a free future cruise  on Holland America. Well, these past two weeks we have been redeeming that free cruise by escaping the snow and cold and hanging out in the Caribbean. We're back home now with snow in the forecast, but sunshine in our hearts.  Dark clouds above a blue sky and green-blue water and white sand beach at Trunk Bay, U.S.V.I. We did have a sprinkle or two of rain, but not much--and what's the problem with rain when you're wet from snorkeling anyway?  A conch shell as long as my foot on the beach The blue bricks that pave the streets of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico The view of the unbelievably blue water and the ship from a bench in Half Moon Cay, Bahamas A replica of John Glenn and the Friendship 7, which splashed down near Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos John enjoying floating in a pool under one of the waterfalls at Damajagua in the Dominican Republic John and I on the tem

  A nearly full moon rises above snow-covered mountains We've had a bit of a reprieve from the constant snow drizzle, and roads are clear (except up near Salt Lake City where though they may be clear from snow, nearly everyday a huge herd of elk shuts down the freeway ) Nevertheless, I'm not surprised by the Groundhog Day news this year; six more weeks of winter sounds about right. I just keep telling myself how nice it is that the drought is being chipped away.  1. I am thankful for snow. (More is in the forecast, of course.)  2. I am thankful that the plants will benefit from so much moisture.  3. I am thankful for the knowledge that spring will come eventually and I will be able to start seeds and plant trees and bushes.  4. I am thankful for a warm dry house. 5. I am thankful for reliable transportation. Knocking on wood with this one; our newest car is 13 years old this year. 6. I am thankful to be old enough to think that of course cars in the 13-20+ year range can be des