Ten Things of Thankful: A Good Exercise, No Matter What

Have you ever read the children's book, Nothing Ever Happens on My Block ? A boy sits on the sidewalk and complains about how exciting things happen elsewhere in the world, but nothing ever happens in his neighborhood. Meanwhile, on each page of the book, in the background, many various exciting things ARE happening. The boy is so caught up in moping and grumbling that he fails to see what is all around him.

It's easy to fall into the rhythm of everyday life and fail to fully recognize the changes all around us. Sometimes, though, dramatic events shake us up and we long for the simple, humdrum, boring days. 

Regardless of whether the week has been boring, or filled with a little too much excitement, I always enjoy taking time to reflect on moments that have made me feel thankful. Living life through a perspective of gratitude makes both the boring times and the too-exciting times more manageable. 

Humans are complex creatures, and we can feel grief and gratitude simultaneously. Though my list this week focuses on my own small world, my heart aches for those affected by senseless tragedies. I imagine that I'm not the only one who feels unsure of exactly which policies would actually help prevent future shootings. I do know, however, that I can, in my own little sphere, support strong families, encourage mental health, do what I can to relieve suffering, and point out what is good.


1. I'm thankful for boring times. Every time I drive north on 1-15 (An aside to my Dad: I'm not in CA anymore, so freeways are no longer referred to as "the" number), I notice an electronic sign that tells me the time required to get to the Pleasant Grove Blvd exit and the Pioneer Crossing exit. The time (in minutes) is always the same, no matter what day or time of day I am driving. Seven minutes to Pleasant Grove Blvd, ten minutes to Pioneer Crossing. It makes me smile every time I drive by that sign. They might as well put up a green wooden sign with the minutes painted on, like the signs that tell distance in miles. 

2. I'm thankful for newly-discovered plants. One of the things I love about moving to a new place is finding out that the previous owners planted bulbs. This week, I noticed daffodils popping up in the middle of the lawn at our new house. I'm curious to see if there are other bulbs that will appear later!

Photo: Short little daffodil plants pop up amidst mostly-brown blades of grass (I'm hoping the grass greens up in the spring!)

3. I'm thankful for continued progress on the house. The kitchen cabinets went in this week, and the granite guys came out to template the counters. Hopefully soon I will be able to show the completely-finished kitchen, but here is the most recent before and after photo:

Photo: The photo on the left shows the kitchen before remodeling. A desk is at the far left of the photo, followed by a sheet-rocked pantry, then space for a refrigerator. Going around the corner, the stove and microwave are next to a window, which marks the next corner of the room. The sink is in that corner, and cabinets follow that wall, then a peninsula juts out into the middle of the room. The photo on the right shows the design of the kitchen after the new cabinets are in. If we start at the far left, we find a build-in pantry, followed by the refrigerator. A set of drawers sits between the fridge and the stove, then cupboards run the length of the back wall to the sink. Cabinets run the length of the right wall, but the peninsula is gone. 

4. I'm thankful (again) for continued progress on the house. I somehow forgot to take a photo of the staircase with the rails back on all the way, but this should give you an idea of what it looks like at the moment. (The risers still need to be painted.)

Photo: The photo on the left shows a staircase carpeted in light-brown carpet. The photo on the right shows the same staircase with the carpet removed and the treads in stained oak wood.

5. I'm thankful that youngest daughter has a job.

6. I'm thankful for music, and talented musicians. John and I had the chance on Thursday night to attend a concert by Jake Shimabukuro, an amazing ukulele player. You might think you know what ukulele music sounds like, but unless you've heard Jake play, you probably can't imagine the versatility of the instrument. 




7. I'm thankful for precipitation. We are supposed to have a snow storm moving into the area tonight and through tomorrow. We could use the moisture, and I am still enamored with snow. (I recognize that after months of the stuff, my feelings might change, but right now, I'm still like a little kid in regards to snow.)

8. Speaking of snow, I'm thankful that oldest daughter is in Alaska right now, having the chance to do volunteer work in a couple of villages. 

9. I'm thankful for the anticipation of upcoming events. At the end of the month, my mom is coming to visit and we are attending RootsTech, a family history conference held annually in Salt Lake City. I'm looking forward to spending time with my mom, and attending the conference together. 

10. As always, I am thankful for John. No matter how much chaos is swirling around in the world, peace reigns in our marriage, and for that, I am grateful. 

What are you thankful for this week? The link to add your own post stays open until Tuesday. If you miss that deadline, another link opens on Thursday. Come join us!