Giving (random) Thanks 2010

In no particular order of importance...

...family in our home for Thanksgiving * living in the Northwest * the restored gospel of Jesus Christ * the spirit of peace in my home * clean water * the gift of a turkey * Holly's apple pie * two turkeys this year * good vision all my life, although I am farsighted now * toes that help me balance and hike * fingers that can sew and type and hug a child * my husband's kind patience * singing alto * living in the same home for 30+ years * working with teenagers * the Pacific Crest Trail * the car is paid for * U.S. citizenship * abundant food * the furnace in the basement * going back to college when I was 35 * Julia * Polly * Kendra * David * Katie * Angela * Joshua * Nathan * Maleena * five healthy pregnancies * nursing all my babies * the Snugli * a garage * room to park the car in the garage * good neighbors * the blueberry bushes * cherry trees * scouting volunteer for 30 years * assistant scoutmaster for 5 years * teaching the Gospel Doctrine class now * my hearing is still pretty good * orthotics so my feet don't get worse * yoga class * losing 21 pounds this year * my friendship with my mother * my father's "can-do" attitude * my grandfather's "quality folk" values * my grandmother's sewing machine * Effie May Crawford * climbing Mt. Saint Helens with my husband * hiking 50 miles by myself * love of reading * my current trials * the big yellow sink in my kitchen * the maple tree out back * digital cameras * laptop computers * getting to work with my husband * the Atonement * repentance * quiet hours in the night * telephones * dandelions in my lawn * blackberries along the fence * mowing the lawn * produce from the garden * Dorothy * Sheila * Annemarie * Jill * Mark Kelley * adopted grandchildren * Christina * Andie * Joshua P * Sarah * Kat * Katie C * Audrey * Sam * Abbi * Seth * Charlie * Arora * Caitlyn * Rebecca * Maddy * Blake * Ethan * Olivia * JJ * Kenadi * Ender * Lilly on the way * Baby Burns on the way * a second chance at marriage * a strong heart * remodeling the house with Mark * plumber Dave * growing up in Morro Bay * Rainbow Girls * Camp Natoma * girls camp * goofy camp songs * camp fires * views of Mount Hood * the Clackamas River * walks in the pioneer cemetery * favorite books on my bookshelf * taking classes at PSU * Craigslist * email * fir trees on the horizon * Jack Lundeen * Roxanne Scott * Thermarests * my good mummy bag * backpacking with grandchildren * marching band in high school * pet cats over the years * Goat Mountain Gallop * good roads * city water supply * cheap electricity * automatic deliveries of heating oil * the family's blogs * Skype * my cousins * Mike K * Eric * Chris * Holly * Bryan * Tim * Hillary * Ashley * Max * good in-laws and their extended families for my children * working on my thesis * being a visiting teacher * our home teachers * my visiting teachers * the bishop * the stake president * a prophet on the earth today * the temple * the temple so nearby * spell checker * fleece * recycling * forgiveness * a l-o-n-g weekend * summer vacations * learning Spanish in Central America * books made by Kendra * Polly's quilts * The Skinny with Katie * my bicycle * my backpack * my running shoes * lakes and waterfalls and forests * hymns * singing in the church choir * Joshua's corny jokes * a good lawnmower * Mark's sense of humor * Julia's courage and tender heart * Polly's persistence in all things * Kendra's compassion and yen for travel * David's nonjudgmental attitude * Katie's quick wit, delightful poems, tender heart * Angela's acceptance * Joshua's support of Hillary * Hillary's patience in suffering * Nathan's love for his children * Maleena's yearning for family * good hiking boots * thick hiking socks * snow shoes * snow tires * online shopping * elevators * lunchtime conversations at work * sharing ideas with colleagues * flexibility in my job * democracy * elections * my dad's heart fixed in surgery * my mom putting up with my dad's recuperation * all of my children happily married * health insurance * retirement account * tithing * fast offerings * missionaries * prayer * free agency * sunshine * clouds * rain * the water cycle * photosynthesis * gravity * salmon returning up the river * no self-serve gas in Oregon * time to think and write * men and women who serve in the military * my brother * Aunt Mary Anne * Uncle David * living on a dead-end street * Grandma Jane * tow trucks * double-paned windows * insulation * tenure * faith * hope * charity * holding hands with Mark * Mark's warm feet at night * board games with the children * vacuum cleaners * dishwashers * washing machines and dryers * satellites * talking with Mark in the middle of the night * sleep * hot showers * mapquest * the internet * the Eagle Creek trail * refrigerators * grocery stores * debit cards * a good credit rating * freedom to choose * the foreign exchange students who lived with us * Ms. J * middle age * my great-grandmother's coral pin * getting up every morning and trying again * the assurance that, even when I am alone or afraid, Heavenly Father knows me, loves me, cares for me...

...you are a blessing in my life.

As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)