"An Attitude of Gratitude"

I don't know if my dad made up this saying "An Attitude of Gratitude" or if it is just permanently engrained into my head from him... but I wanted to do a quick post of a few things I am grateful for.

1. Good friends and neighbors who are willing to share their fantastic recipes with me!

2. A digital thermostat that keeps my house exactly as warm or as cool as I like it

3. My daughter, Abbey, that is so willing to help out with the boys any time I need her to.

4. Braxton's willingness to make lunch the other day for Landen and I. He made us peanut butter and honey sandwiches. He must have known I needed extra energy that day cause my peanut butter was a half inch thick on each slice of bread and served with an award winning smile on his face!!! THANKS BRAXTON! :)

5. Bryce getting up before me to shower in the morning. It gives me a few more minutes of sleep and a minute to slowly become accustom to the fact that I will have to get moving soon.

6. Mason's gummer smile and snuggles when you get him out of his crib.

7. Sentsy candle warmers that make my house smell so delicious!

8. My mom making us do Saturday chores each week so I could learn how to clean and take care of my own home.

9. Mr. Clean's magic erasers for SO many different incidents that seem to happen around the Christensen home!

10. Disposable diapers. Enough said. :)

11. Cell phones so I can chat with Bryce multiple times a day as he travels all over the United States.

12. My sisters who can empathize and sympathize with me in so many ways, make me laugh, pick me up when I am down, shop with me!!! and everything else that they magically do!

13. MONEY!!! I love money! I love to spend money! I kindof like saving it too. :) That probably sounds weird but mostly I am grateful that we are able to take care of our needs and many of our wants. We are VERY fortunate and I am aware of that.

14. Healthy kids. There seems to be a million different things that kids have to deal with these days and I have four beautiful healthy kids that can run, jump, think, talk, be overall emotionally stable and so independent for their little ages.

15. My awesome husband! Bryce works so hard for us and is always so sweet to tell me how beautiful I look, give me lots of hugs and kisses, bring me sugar cookies and let me have my way on almost everything. :) He is also great to snuggle with me at night to get me warm even though he is roasting hot himself.

16. My grandma, Mary Bezzant. She inspired me to make things beautiful and instilled in me a love of the hot glue gun, the smell of peat moss, a love for EVERY holiday, the importance of family gatherings and the need to "tuck my clothes COMPLETELY" inside my dresser drawers.

17. My testimony and the happiness that the Gospel brings into my life when I do what I know is right. And for my savior, Jesus Christ, who makes exaltation possible.

18. Treats! Treats of all kinds! Homemade, store bought, chocolate, fruity, etc... I love them death!

19. Landen's imagination, his ability to play by himself so I clean up the house a bit, his willingness to always watch out for Mason and pick up Mason's toys in a jiffy.

20. My mom. She is the epitome of patience and love. I wish I had a few more of her kind bones in my body.

21. Paper calendars. I would be lost without mine on my kitchen door!

22. Electronic calendars that sync with Bryce's so I can schedule dates with him!

23. My "in-laws." They have all been so great to pull me in as part of the family from day one. They are the BEST!

24. Carpools so I don't have to drive for kindergarten or afterschool pickup and can get a thing or two done in the day.

25. Hot baths that practically melt my skin! There is no better way to relax.

26. My dad who worked multiple jobs and went without while we were growing up so we could buy school clothes, have Christmas presents and a nice house. He also taught me a thing or two about yardwork!

27. My "Better Homes and Gardens" magazine subscription that supplies me with monthly inspirations.

28. Warm cozy socks in the winter (since my feet are eternally cold) and flip flops in the summer so I am not stuck having to wear "real" shoes.

29. My short hairstyle that has changed my life. I miss my longer hair (and maybe one of these days I will find a style that works again w/ that) but for now I get to keep up with the more important things of my life which all seem to happen outside of the bathroom vanity. :)

30. My life. I truly have it easy. I always worry about what and when my real trials will come. So many people have to deal with so much more than I do and I am truly grateful for all of my many blessings.

31. A living prophet that leads and guides me in my life and the church as a whole. He is truly a beacon for righteousness and happiness.

32. Naps- some days I just can't live without them!

33. Styling products (hairspray, gel, grid-lock putty, etc...) since I like my hair to be a bit sassy but not budge a millimeter!

34. Brothers. I am a tougher girl because of them... literally! :) They have also been great strengths in different ways. Dave helped me stay sane throughout high school as we wrote each other weekly letters while he was on his mission. And Joe saved our bacon with our remodel job on our first home.

35. True friends that are there with me through the thick and the thin.

I could go on forever but I need to be able to function tomorrow since I get to play the single parent again this week. Lucky me! I guess I should be grateful that it gives me the whole bed to myself for a few nights... but I would much rather have Bryce there to snuggle with.