Mini-challenge: Gratitude list

I'm slipping behind on my wellness challenge...sick kids and all that have kept me from exercising as much as I should. At least that's my excuse. And the fact that my stomach is growing at an alarming rate, and my hips don't enjoy bending, jumping, moving, climbing, even laying down. But this is supposed to be a grumbling post, so I'm not going to think about that and here's my mini-challenge to complete today:
At the end of the day, write down ten things you are grateful for.
Which is really kind of daunting. Only ten things? Farris did this challenge today, too, but he did ten categories of things. So I think I'll be general in my list, and add my explanations. Because I always make my posts as wordy as possible. Sorry about that.

1. Family. Of course, of course. I'm thankful for Farris, that he works so hard and still comes home to play with the kids and help me and do things around the house. I'm thankful for my kids. They're still cuddly, they're growing and learning so much it's amazing, they make me laugh and remind me to slow down. My family and Farris' family: my best friends are my sisters and sisters in law, they are all fun to hang out with, they teach me things, inspire me, help me, laugh with me (and sometimes at me, but so do I), my parents and Farris' parents are amazing and fun and love my kids and are good sounding boards (all that wisdom!), my brothers and brothers in law, every one of them, would all come help with anything at anytime, they are all good, honest, hard working, loving fun guys. How amazing is that! My last grandparent passed about ten years ago, but I inherited some wonderful grandparents from Farris. His grandma Rachel is how I want to be for my future grandkids. She's gracious and beautiful, hardworking and loving and still has the guts to de-pants her grandson when he was wearing his baggy pants too low. My nieces and nephews? Only the smartest little (and big, too!) whips on the planet, and good for a dozen funny stories a week. It'll be wonderful to see them and all they accomplish in their lives. Then there's my extended family...how can I even begin! My aunts and uncles and cousins are incredible people. Love 'em. My Aunt Ellen is dripping with creativeness and talent for everything art and is my mom-on-call if I need one before mom or Judy can get here. There's more than ten blessings all just from family!

2. The Gospel of Jesus Christ. Don't even know how I would get through a day without it. Knowing that I can pray to Someone who knows everything about me and what I need to do, how I need to be, how I can become better, and He still loves me! Marvelous. Just tonight during scripture study Joseph asked what Repentance was. We explained, and then talked about how Jesus made it possible for us to repent, and how He wasn't forced to do it, He did it just because He loves us. It's amazing being reminded of that and seeing the kids understanding it.

3. Our home. It might not be the cleanest, it might occasionally (ok, more than that) have screaming and yelling and not sharing going on inside it, and it's definitely not going to be featured in the Parade of Homes, but it's more than just shelter to us.

4. The outside world. Growing up, we'd probably spend only about an hour inside all summer long, sleeping, eating, and playing outside. "What are men to rocks and hills?" That's my massacred quote from Jane Austin. Sure, Elizabeth was a little bitter when she said it, and I do appreciate the men in my life, but I love being outside.

5. Modern conveniences. No running water? No running hot water? Couldn't be a pioneer, sorry. Medicine, cars, phones, internet, pens that we don't have to pull off a chicken, I enjoy all these things.

6. America. Everyday there is something else I hear about on the news or where ever that makes me glad I live in this country. I know, there's craziness here, but at least our president was elected cleanly and he doesn't walk around with umbrellas during riots, ordering death to anyone who opposes him. Grateful for the freedoms and that people still care about the freedoms--no matter how pessimistic you feel sometimes about how people here don't care any more, really, they do. We do.

7. Our physical bodies. I hear scientists saying how our bodies aren't designed very well, the legs and the back and the organs fall apart and age. I complain about pain and how I'm getting old. But you know what? Our bodies are amazing. Every time this baby kicks inside me, I am reminded how truly awesome our bodies are. Combined with our minds and spirits, Heavenly Father has created the most wonderful things in the universe.

8. Friends and neighbors. We live in the coolest neighborhood. Before we even moved in we had two people at different times stop by to introduce themselves and see if we needed help. We have people watching out for our kids and we watch out for theirs. If a kid wanders, everyone drops what they are doing and looks. I love our friends here, and I love the friends from my past. I've known some great people, and none of them are famous, but they are the salt of the earth and give savor to my life.

9. Music and art and literature and the beautiful things people create. I know why science and math and geography are important, and I support them wholeheartedly. But I can't forget about what people create, where would we be without Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Monet, O'Keeffe? Austin, Twain, Hugo, Lewis? Handel, Beethoven, Mozart, Pachelbel, even Elvis and the Beatles? We need to create to remember and to share and to feel. I know, I'm getting touchy-feely now, but even President Uchtdorf says we need to create.

10. Sleep. Need I say more? Oh, one more word: goodnight!