December already?

I cannot believe how fast these months fly by! I didn't really ever get to post in November even though I had a thankful thing for each day. So although it is late here is my gratitude list for all the days:

1. I AM THANKFUL FOR ADORABLE BABIES AND FAMILY. Tonight I got to spend some time with Tristen. He is such a bundle of sheer cuteness and he let me take some pictures of him and played a little. Very grateful for the moments he lets me share with him especially now.
2. I AM THANKFUL TO HAVE MY JOB. It has been pretty stressful and lately pretty exhausting but I am thankful to have the security of knowing my job is there. I am reassured that there will always be ignorant, careless people who will get hurt and will need medical help. It is job security for me!
3. I AM THANKFUL FOR AMAZING FRIENDS. Today was a tough day for several reasons. It was a significant day but it was also that day I had hoped to take out my endowments. However due to not getting my call yet it was canceled. I had many friends who called and texted just to brighten my day today and I appreciated their thoughtfulness.
4. I AM THANKFUL FOR HONEST PEOPLE. There is just something about being able to trust somebody completely and know they have their integrity no matter how terrible the news may be. It is something I value very greatly in other people. Things would be a lot different if everybody was honest with one another. It is unfortunate that so many are not.
5. i AM THANKFUL FOR THE FALL SEASON. Fall is my favorite time of year. It is beautiful! I love the smells, the memories, and the colors! This year i was worried with the snow that we would be skipping fall altogether but I am glad to see we get to enjoy it this year as well.
6. I AM THANKFUL FOR QUOTES THAT JUST SEEM TO FIT IN OUR LIFE. Tonight was a tough night. However when I was in my room going through some stuff I found a quote by Marilyn Monroe that made me smile because it just seemed to be perfect for the evening. "I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best."
7. I AM THANKFUL FOR SORRYS AND FORGIVENESS. I am so thankful that we are able to fix our mistakes. That we have the opportunity to erase the events of a bad night with a sincere apology. I am also grateful for those who can put their pride aside to say they are sorry even when they weren't in the wrong just to ease the tension.
8. I AM THANKFUL FOR GOOD MOVIES AND CHICK FLICKS. P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DANNY! As I had stated above it hasn't been the most fun couple of days. Tonight I watched Bride Wars and I loved it. I love how a good movie can make you completely change your attitude and help you to forget a fight you had or an event that occurred. I just love movies that make you laugh and feel good.
9 I AM THANKFUL MY PARENTS TAUGHT US HOW TO WORK. My dad always told us, "It is not summer vacation it is break. It is not spring vacation it is break. You are not on vacation you are on break." In otherwords if you had a day off of school think again if you think it is going to be relaxing. Whether it was cleaning, leveling out the yard for sod that never grew, replumbing the downstairs to reroute the plumbing to the new bathroom site, cutting sheetrock, reframing new rooms, etc. We all got to enjoy helping. My least favorite was leveling out the yard. Infact I remember making a comment that it was hardwork. My dad responded by telling me that yeah it was hard but it was work that had to be done. That stuck with me. I am grateful we were taught how to work. It was something I took for granted until I had to work and learned the work ethic of others, and am ever so grateful that we were taught right.
10. I AM THANKFUL I WAS BLESSED WITH SUCH GOOD HERITAGE. Tonight I am especially grateful for my Auntie Pearl. She sounds like quite the lady. I have never met her except when i was first born but I love to hear her stories. Grandma always speaks kindly of Auntie Pearl and I learned she is the closest sister missionary to me in my family. She was a charitable woman especially towards the missionary work of the church.
11. I AM LEARNING TO BE MORE AND MORE THANKFUL FOR THE MILITARY. Happy Veteran's day. I am very grateful for those who have brought freedom to the country and have made so many sacrifices for all of us. However this year I am also grateful for the spouses and families of those men and women who gave up so much for all of us. Sometimes i don't think they get enough credit themselves and they have also paid a big sacrifice to us as well.
12. I AM THANKFUL FOR PRESIDENT HINCKLEY. I know President Monson is our prophet today but today I read a quote from President Hinckley and it made me miss him. What an incredible prophet! He guided me through my teen years and I still remember his six b's talk when I was 12. He had such a respect for all women and tried to make us understand how important we are as daughters of God. He had a fun sense of humor and his testimony was always so beautiful. I loved to listen to him as his words poured out with so much love. What a dear man and an honor it was to have him to guide us.
13. I AM THANKFUL FOR GOOD FAMILY TIMES. We went to Banff tonight and I am just always so grateful for the times we get to share as a family. I love my family dearly and am so grateful to have the relationships with them that I do.
14. I AM THANKFUL FOR MY TESTIMONY. I had a dear friend this last year ask me concerning my beliefs, "If you were the only one fighting for what you knew to be right would you lose confidence and want to give up?" I answered this person with a definite no. I know what I believe in. My testimony isn't based on what my neighbor thinks. I feel it is a partnership with God in that case. He is the mentor in teaching what is right and when you know and you gain that witness, then you know. I just feel blessed that I was able to decide for myself what I believe in because it really is a strength and a guideline with my life.
15. I AM THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO SERVE DILIGENTLY IN THEIR CALLINGS. When one person serves diligently it makes all the difference and when one slacks off it also makes a noticeable difference in how things run. I am grateful for those who are responsible and reliable.
16 I AM THANKFUL TO BE SO CLOSE TO GRANDPARENTS. I have both sides of grandparents in the same town and i think i am a very lucky girl. I love to visit and hear their stories. Those visits are times I will always cherish.
17. I AM THANKFUL FOR SUNDAY DINNERS. I am thankful to be able to visit with all the family every other week and although it gets very loud on Sundays I am so grateful to have my family so close knit with one another.
18 I AM THANKFUL FOR GOOD HEALTHCARE. Tonight I was talking with some of the nurses I work with and hearing the different procedures they practiced. I am amazed people survived with the lack of sterilization and cleanliness. I am grateful for the technology and the education that is available that we are able to have the surgeries and help we need to remain healthy.
19. I AM GRATEFUL FOR PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR LIVES AND INSPIRE US. I love the feeling when I meet somebody and I come away a better person having met them. I thought of some of the patients I have taken care during my time in the hospital and there is still one woman who will always be a favorite!
20. I AM THANKFUL THAT I KNOW MY FAMILY HISTORY AND HAVE A DESIRE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT IT. It isn't just a Mormon thing. It was something I took for granted I think but recently while trying to get a friends geneology put together and not having much cooperation with the only living sources of that line, makes it very frustrating. I am grateful for those who know their family lines and their ancestors. i have many great ancestors and I am so proud of them as I hope they will be of me. I look forward to meeting them someday.
21. I AM THANKFUL FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SURE I AM SAFE. Last night Jarom volunteered to go to Walmart with me as it was after midnight and there are weirdos out then. He was a sweetheart to be my protector. My family is also very good at calling to make sure we are okay. I remember this one time I called Mom to tell her i was working late. She called back and asked me if I was telling the truth or was that just what my kidnapper told me to say. Haha! I am also grateful for Jacob Dean who never misses a day. He will stay up sometimes very late to call and make sure I made it home okay after work. I am always grateful for his kindness there.
22. I AM THANKFUL FOR PRIMARY. Primary program was today. They did wonderful. Landon and his mom sang a song that made you tear up for sure. I was so proud of him. I was proud of all the children for their beautiful singing voices and their sweet spirits! I am going to miss them but they have surely brought some fun memories into my life!
23. I AM THANKFUL FOR SUNDAYS. Sundays are my only day off work and I have grown to love them. It is always nice to have a quiet day and that is what Sundays are.
24 I AM THANKFUL FOR MORALS AND STANDARDS. I am so disgusted with the generations of today. The "You owe me", free sex, lazy, uneducated, overly opinionated generations. Haha. Sometimes I wonder if society could really shock us anymore or if the standards could get any lower. Then I learn I have spoken too soon. I am thankful my parents taught me good morals and standards and also instilled the confidence to stand my ground. I am also grateful for other people around me have strong values.
25. I AM THANKFUL I WILL GET TO SPEND THIS THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY WEEKEND WITH MY FAMILY. I am grateful for those who worked with me so that i could have the weekend off and spend it with my family on Mom's side. Ihave missed them the last couple years and I look forward to seeing them.
26 I AM THANKFUL FOR THE SCHAAK, IKARD, LAMONT, STROM, AND KELLY FAMILY. I had a nice surprise today at work as Jake showed up all dressed up with a plate of turkey dinner. My family is in Billings already so I didn't have a Thanksgiving dinner and due to my work schedule I couldn't go to his family's so instead he surprised me with food! He also brought a piece of pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream--my favorite and a camera so I could scrapbook the event! I am thanking all the family because I am sure all of them pitched in to make the delicious food! thanks you guys! love ya!
27. I AM THANKFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO GIVE REAL HUGS. I love hugs--well unless they are unwanted or coming from some creepy guy. However from family I am always receptive. Today I have learned that some people don't know how to give hugs. Half hugs (one armed) do not count and nor do lazy hugs (the ones where there is no return of the embrace) also the suffocating hugs or the ones where they act like you are contagious if they touch you don't cut it either. Sometimes I give hugs because I need one too. However I have also learned throughout the years that if you need a good hug there is always one waiting for you from my mom, Jacob Dean, and my brother Jordan. Those guys give the best hugs!
28. I AM THANKFUL FOR A GOOD CAR. The prius has been a great car for me. I am so grateful I can do my trips and not have to worry about not making it. It is so nice to have a reliable car!
29. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE CRAZY MEMORIES. I had a great time in Billings and I loved shopping on Black Friday. It definitely brought good times to my memory! Love you guys! Benny joined us this year and he was funny!
30. I AM THANKFUL FOR THE MARRIED COUPLES THAT PORTRAY THE EXISTENCE OF TRUE LOVE. Sometimes it is so nice to know a man and a woman can really love eachother for years! Marriage seems to be degraded and lose its importance more and more. Instead of being something sacred it has been seen as a burden. I am so sick of hearing people talk about how horrible their spouse is or how their life has ended when they said I do and blah blah blah. If it is that bad why did you marry them in the first place? Anyway I love seeing the couples who have been married for many years and they still love eachother. My patients sometimes show me that true love really does exist. I love watching my elderly patients walking in the hall hand in hand. Or seeing them give eachother a kiss because the one who is a patient has made progress. The other day I had a patient who has been with his wife over forty years. He was holding her hand and just looking at her. She asked him what and he said, "I just want to hold you my sweetheart." It was so adorable! I just love it!