I'm thankful for...

1.  things working the way they're supposed to.

2.  things not working the way they're supposed to,  because it makes me more appreciative of the times they do.

3.  Pete fixing things when they're not working.

I'm thankful for...

1.  something a friend said several years ago that still makes me laugh every time I think about it:

       "If dolphins are so smart, why aren't there more of them in
        management.  If they're so helpful, where were they
        when I was filing my taxes?"

2.  something  I heard in a movie that still makes me laugh:

       "I want to be a missionary.  You know, travel the world...killing
       people for money."

3.  that time that Pete rhymed pimento with flamingo, which still makes me laugh.

I'm thankful for...

1.  the opportunity to have FHE with my parents, Alison, and Oliver last night.

2.  Frank's and George's tenderness with Elaine.

3.  ponytails.  And sorry to those who are tired of seeing me in one.

I'm thankful for...

1.  Pete's crepes.

2.  any meal I don't have to cook.

3.  Double-Chocolate Filled Strawberries.

I'm thankful...

1.  that my brother's home and just a couple of houses away when Pete's at work and I need help with something.

2.  that he's always willing to help!

3.  for new routines replacing old ones as my kids grow and change.

I'm thankful for...

1.  fun finds on Swap Shop.

2.  getting lost in a good book.

3.  instant messaging.

I'm thankful for...

1.  beautiful weather.

2.  a morning spent working in the flower beds.

3.  leftovers.

I'm thankful...

1.  for serendipitous moments.

2.  that Elaine didn't get out of bed once on her first two nights in her toddler bed, and hoping that our good luck will continue.

3.  that our trampoline was able to be salvaged after bouncing off our roof.

I'm thankful for...

1.  Pete scratching my back while I type this.

2.  dinner with my parents tonight.

3.  Kid Snippets.  Especially this one:

I'm thankful for...

1.  George's excitement about playing T-ball.  Love watching him out on the field, and enjoying this beautiful weather.

2. the arrival today of my grandma's old bedroom set, in anticipation of which I re-painted our bedroom on the first day of this gratitude list.

3.  Bill and Natalie's generosity in bringing said bedroom set to us, and their helpfulness in staying to help us get it set up.

I'm thankful...

1.  when my kids have fun together.

2.  for homemade strawberry shakes.

3.  for Frank's new interest in helping out in the kitchen.

Am now listening to Anna Karenina.

I'm thankful for...

1.  quiet days.

2.  good books.

3.  sleeping babies.

I'm thankful for...

1.  book club fun.

2.  early nights.

3.  ramen, because Frank can make it for dinner.

I'm thankful for...

1.  partially fulfilling the relatively short-term goal of attending the temple with Pete twice this year.

2.  fulfilling the relatively long-term goal, set 5 years ago, of being able to fill in during sacrament meeting if a pianist was needed.

3.  the absolutely short-term goal of being asleep by 10 tonight, and really hoping I achieve it.

I'm thankful for...

1.  the prospect of a weekend in Nashville at my sister's house...it's time for Pete's bi-monthly checkup.

2.  great finds at Big Lots.

3.  the exciting news that a friend is expecting!

I'm thankful for...

1.  the beginnings of irises, lilies, rebekiah, hollyhocks, and bee balm I'm starting to see in my flower bed. 

2.  the perpetually soft ground, which means I shouldn't have too hard a time moving the daisies up and the coneflowers back.  Unless the mud sucks the shovel in.

3.  spring.

I'm thankful for...

1.  a newly tuned piano.

2.  mutually beneficial barters.

3.  rainy days when I don't have to leave the house.

I'm thankful for...

1.  this week's episode of This American Life, which in my opinion had a rating of 5 out of 5 schizos.  The more it makes me laugh/cry (and thus the more schizophrenic I appear to passersby on my morning walk), the higher the rating.

2.  the good laugh we all got from Elaine's description of root beer:  "I a little bit sort of like it but it's also spicy right here" (pointing to her mouth).

3.  my wide-open morning since a piano student cancelled, the (barely) dry grass since we haven't had rain for a few days,  and the fair temperature, meaning I can do a little yard work today and make our yard look a little less like Malcolm in the Middle.

I'm thankful for...

1.  clear roads and safe driving conditions.  I'm really trying to be positive here because we've had constant snow for about 24 hours and nothing to show for it.

2.  movie/pizza night.

3.  being done with laundry...for today.

I'm thankful for...

1.  Thomas Hardy, because I love melancholy stories, and Jude the Obscure is among his melancholi-est.

2.  good health. 

3.  Fridays.