The amount of appreciation we have for some sunshine and a little bit of blue sky.  Even though it is still smokey, it seems so clear to us after not even being able to see across the street.

Teaching my primary class today.  I am so thankful that I have taught kids for many years and that I understand that the lesson comes through me not because of me.  I found out yesterday evening that I needed to teach.  Experience goes a long way to controlling nerves.  I like our kids, they aren't very reverent, but they are good hearted and very smart.

The cows are being really loud for some reason today, it makes me laugh. 

My kindle, oh how I love my kindle.

The sacrament songs today were I Stand All Amazed and I Believe in Christ, both if which were sung at my baptism. 

Toby passed the sacrament today.  Four priesthood holders. 

Having the BYU channel and being able to watch the RS broadcast this afternoon.  The music was so beautiful it stunned me.

Having the internet to help prepare lessons for church.

The opportunity to teach primary.

Decoupage and vintage maps

$2 a bag book sales (source of the maps)

A comfort level teaching so that I don't freak out anymore when I find out at 7:30 the night before that I need to teach primary.

We had blue sky today...BLUE!!!!!!!!

Going to the Farmer's market with Shon this morning.

Twice baked potatoes with sun dried tomatoes and bacon.  Yum.

Having kids old enough to like cooking.

My landlord coming and cleaning my kitchen floor on his day off.

Ice water.  Ice cubes...

It rained just a little tonight.  Just a little, but it was wet, and it smelled good.

My mattress.  For the first time in our entire marriage, we have a new bed and it is heavenly.

Ick, no Mother Teresa here, I have sickos in the house, Shon and Alex coughing all over the place.  Uhm, cover your mouth please...so my gratitude thought is that I love whoever came up with disinfectant. 

Toby should be able to go back to school tomorrow.

Our dinner of fresh corn, and roasted root veggies with crumbled bacon.  Dessert was an apple.  Yum.

Pipes are fixed!!!!!! (fingers crossed) Four loads (many more to go) of laundry run through.  Yay. 

The decision to have the kids wash their own clothes.  I still check to make sure that they are putting them away properly.  Today I taught Toby how to do his own laundry.  Sorting, checking pockets, how to set the machines, proper amount of soap...the whole shebang.  :)

Internet. 

My MIL who listens impartially and either lets me know I am being a brat or Shon is, she doesn't show favouritism.  I appreciate being able to vent and then move on with life.

Friends of the Library book sales.  Found some great maps from the 40's-60's.  Awesome graphics, totally free.  We also found some fun books. 

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant,
To enact gratitude is generous and noble,                                                                        But to live gratitude is to touch heaven.                                                                               
~JA Gaertner
 

Good thought to try to live by.  My mom always encouraged us to remember that everything good comes from God. I think that giving thanks to Heavenly Father should be as natural as breathing.

Things I am grateful for today?
*The beauty of the shell I was looking at this afternoon.
*Fun with Joan this morning.
*Going to lunch with my husband.
*Being able to go online everyday now.
*Having a peaceful afternoon \putting items away and decorating my house.

So very happy to spend time with Wayne and Joan!  We have missed them so very much.  We loved living by them and although we are happy for Amy and Colett, we wish they lived here. 

Trawling through antique stores and craft stores with Joan. 

Laughing at the scary garage sale we stopped at.

Introducing Joan to the Treasure Chest store which reminded both of us of Zims. 

Seeing Shon and Wayne together.  Shon misses his dad so much it hurts.

My great kids who can be glad that I got to go with Joan all day, and that Shon was able to fish with Wayne all day.  They didn't once complain that they didn't go and were just happy for us. 

Smoke

Sometimes the smoke gets in your eyes....I remember hearing that song when I was younger.  With all of the fires surrounding us, the smoke in my eyes is a constant reminder of how grateful I am that even though the fires are only a few miles away, that we haven't had to evacuate.

Our quirky little farmhouse.  I love it.  It has it's moods and I would love to know how old it is.  The plumbing is strange, old clay pipes.  Because of this, tree roots have grown in and they are replacing some of the pipes in the ground.

I am so glad that we are renting and that we don't have to pay for those pipes. 

Shon's strange little office.  It makes me claustrophobic, but he loves small spaces, and it does have a charm of it's own.  It is kind of like a bat cave and a tree house all in one. 

The kids take a bus home....Hallelujah!  It was funny, they have images on the bus's here instead of numbers, so my instructions to Lissie were, take the penguin shuttle from the high school to the middle school where you and Toby will take the pig bus.  The look on her face was priceless.  With a raised eyebrow she replied, "let me get this straight, I need a penguin to take me to a pig to get home? I guess we do live in the country now." 

I love, love, love Hamilton, smoke and all.