"Baby, You Can Drive My Car"

Because I can't.  Yet...

Yesterday my mom brought me a huge surprise...a wheelchair accessible van!  Thanks to the generosity of my amazing parents, and my Mom's cousin Kaye,(pictured above, and the previous owner of the van,) I can now take my power chair anywhere, and I have a lot more freedom.  The van is fully equipped to meet all my needs.  Now all I need is a driver's license...

Today At Church...

     One of my sunbeams ran at full speed; with her arms outstretched, from the front of the chapel to the back, just to give me a hug.
     In junior primary we learned the story of the "ten leopards."  And a five year old informed us all that we would go to hell, if we didn't read our scriptures.  (His words, not mine).  All in all, it was a very entertaining day for the teachers.
     I love being in primary, and feel especially blessed to be able to teach the the three year olds.  Those kids have an endless supply of love to share.

"Please Don't Squeeze The Charmin"

      Did you know that my parents almost named me Sharmin?  Yes, it's true, I was close to being named after a well known brand of toilet paper.  Thankfully, my brothers and sisters saved my life from going down the toilet, by nixing the name.  
     Lately, every time the Charmin bears appear on the TV, I am grateful that my name has no connection to the brand.  Especially since the newest Charmin commercials promote the slogan, "Enjoy the Go."  Wow.  I obviously owe my siblings big for helping me dodge that bullet.
     Just to give you an idea of popularity of this type of TP, at the time of my birth, here is the info taken directly from the Charmin website.
1978—Mr. Whipple was named the third-best-known American—just behind former President Nixon and Billy Graham.

"Please don't squeeze the Charmin!" is named by R.H. Bruskin Associates as the most recognizable advertising slogan among those tested—being identified by eight out of 10 persons.

Charmin bath tissue distribution was expanded across the U.S.—it was available in all 50 states. The Charmin Plus 6-roll package was introduced.
           ***Yes, I know the formating is off on this post.  I got tired of trying to fix it.

In A Gentle Way

• I am grateful for the knowledge that my life has an impact on others for good or bad according to the choices I make.  I am also grateful for the gift of free choice.   Here are some good quotes by my favorite Mahatma.

“Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will."

"Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.
In doing something, do it with love or never do it at all."

"In a gentle way, you can shake the world." 
- Mahatma Gandhi

The Silver Lining

• I am grateful for trials, struggles and hard times.  Once you actually make it through a tough situation, and are on the other side of things it's much easier to see your blessings and growth earned through the trial.
• I am grateful for my defective body that makes it impossible to deny that God is real, and is watching over me.  My disability is a blessing because I constantly find myself in situations that require me to ask for help and remind me that I am nothing without God.
• Lupus has been a blessing because it has forced me to exercise and live a healthier life.  I have also learned to more fully appreciate the good days, when I don't ache or have much pain, and I don't feel like sleeping all day.

Sunday Is The Best Day Of The Week

• Tonight I am grateful for home and visiting teachers.  It's just nice to know that certain people are thinking about you, and watching out for you.  It is also nice to do the same for others.
• the Atonement.  Wow.  Through repentance, tomorrow really can be a new day; no matter how big or small the mistakes of today, or how many times we make the same mistakes.
• The temple, and the eternal relationships and covenants we create there.
• The wisdom of children
• Modern day prophets 

Right Now

• I am grateful for education, and the great minds, past and present, that have given us knowledge and great inventions
• I am grateful for books, the internet, and the many other ways we can achieve life-long learning 
• I am grateful to be living in this time, and no earlier in the history of the world.
• I am grateful to be "well rested" today
• I am grateful for budgets 

Just Say No...

• I am thankful that I did not venture out into any of the Black Friday chaos today.
• and warm slippers

My Desire Is Bigger Than My Stomach" Or...The Thanksgiving Edition

I am so grateful that my life is filled with LOVE.  I have so many people that I love, and so many people that love me.  Love is a wonderful blessing.

These are just a few of my nieces and nephews (out of 25,) in random order

I love many people, (you know who you are) unfortunately all cannot be pictured here:)

Smelly Gratitude

• Good smelling laundry detergent--At the moment, I am using a non scented detergent.  My clothes come out smelling like nothing, and I have the urge to wash them again.  I am comforted by the fact that the bottle is almost empty, and I can buy some of the good stuff soon.
• The scent of baking pies.  I don't get to eat them, but I do get to smell them, and that makes me happy.
• Clean kitchen
• Clean bathroom!  (It has been way too long since I cleaned my bathroom...)
• Energy--(Again, way too long since I've had much energy)
• I am grateful that the poo man, (don't you wish that were your job title?) came today.  He was two days behind schedule this week, and Olivia has been enjoying quite the feast.  No more late night snacks for her for a few days.  
• .94 cents.  I am .94 cents rich.

Thankful Thoughts

Two Days Of Gratitude Are Better Than One

I know soooooo many people were disappointed when I didn't post yesterday, but I was very sick this weekend.  I'm not good at being sick, I whine incessantly.  Luckily, I'm the only one around to hear my moaning, so I don't feel too bad.  Sometimes it's hard to be an adult, and when I'm sick I just want to be taken care of, and that is what I whine about, in case you wondered.

Yesterday, I was grateful for:

• my daily gratitude list that I write here, because it forced me to at least think of gratitude, on a day I normally would not
• A queen-sized bed, that allows me to just roll to the other side of the bed, when one side gets dirty (sorry, but it's true)
• patient dogs with amazing bladder control
• Hymns

Today I was grateful for:

• Bleach, I love the smell of bleach
• Clean clothes
• Good friends (by that I mean friends who are also good people)
• and health
• A toothbrush and Listerine (there is no substitute for Listerine)
• lots of pretty new bruises to look at because of an adventure I had in the middle of last night
• Chap Stick

P.S.  I am also extremely grateful that my life is not the basis for a movie on Lifetime, or a documentary entitled "Six Hundred And Fifty Pound Virgin: The Weight Is Over."   Why, why,why, would anyone allow such a thing?

Oh, The Blessings of Today....

• A nap
• The water damage in the bathroom has been fixed, the toilet secured, so that it no longer has the ability to move five inches to the right or left,  and the bench attatched to the wall.  Thanks, Mike!
• My aides, family and friends: everyone who helps to facilitate my independence
• A new shoe rack, that accommodates all of my shoes, and even encourages more shopping...just kidding 
• dinner at In N' Out, which means I also got out of the house today, wahoo!
• A warm and soft Alpaca poncho to keep me warm, and is much easier to wear than a traditional coat.
• Conditioner- at last!

Because Women are Wonderful, and Hold Everything Together!

• I'm grateful to be a woman, and thought I should record this feeling since it doesn't occur on a regular basis.
• I'm grateful for art and the beauty that surrounds me everywhere I look
• I'm grateful for a working washing and dryer
• I'm grateful that I'm not responsible to pay for a new washer in the rental apartment that I manage
• I'm grateful to know that money isn't everything, even though it does affect every area in our lives.  Love, friendship, family, eternal knowledge and dreams are priceless.
• And, I am grateful for two new followers to read my ranting!

Late Night Musings After A Yucky Day

Today I am grateful for:

• Simplicity
• coloring books
• A big heart
• Chocolate Oranges (the best treat of the season)
• The return of rational thinking
• Good examples
• Having my sister in town for Thanksgiving

Awkwardness!

• Do you like American Music?  I like American Music, especially today.  I think I have listened to that song about twenty five times today.  The right song at the right time is a powerful force for good in my life.
• I’m also grateful for well meaning people who are trying to be nice, but the sentiment comes out all awkward and horrible.    Some days, these comments can really get to me, while on other occasions they just make me laugh.  I’m grateful that my reaction was laughter today.
• I’m grateful for a good roommate, and that our home is a peaceful place, at least for me.

...So I Decided To Challenge Destiny, And Unload The Dishwasher Anyway...Part 1

       Today was a really awesome day, but I'll have to tell you about it some other time.  I have so many thoughts that I would like to explain tonight, but I  feel limited by my powers of expression, the words aren't available to me quite yet.  But here is a little truth to consider in the meantime.

"Everything is going to get lighter, Even if it never gets better."

-The Mates of State

      In other words, life is hard.  Some trials are short-lived and others hang around for a lifetime.  But if we keep trying, some burdens do lighten over time.  We gain strength through experience. There is always hope.

Cheese Makes Everything Better

• A tasty dinner
• Warm boots- boots are fantastic.
• Children's laughter
• Having the scriptures on my ipod so that I don't have to read when I have a migraine
• Two dogs to love me
• going to bed early
• Seditives

Gratitude: The Medical Edition

• Sleep-I actually got a little last night with the help of some extra medicine
• Afrin  one of the best over the counter medicines ever created
• A hard head-literally-which seems to be immune to concussions after a lifetime of falls
• The opportunity to teach the 3-4 year olds at church tomorrow.  I get to be surrounded by Sunbeams, and have an excuse to color.  I am looking forward to it!
• A warm dress to wear to church in the morning.
• unexpected and kind text messages and emails that let me know people are thinking of me.  Thank you:)

Gratefully Grouchy

Today I felt grateful for:

• 40 years of Sesame Street which has given us the muppets, songs like "Rubber Ducky" and "C is for Cookie", and celebrities singing different arrangements of the "ABCS"
• Oscar The Grouch, who was created to teach kids that they don't have to be happy all of the time. As long as you stay in your garbage can,  you are aloud to be grouchy from time to time.  
• This picture  
  see more Epic Fails
• Podcasts
• The weekend
• The view from my office window
• Any product made by Febreze
• Prayer