This year, a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving we had a lesson in Family Home Evening about gratitude and tried really hard to focus on those things that we were thankful for. I was grateful for a Relief Society lesson that focused on a talk from General Conference by President Monson entitled “The Divine Gift of Gratitude” in October 2010. I was able to tell the story he told, and the Spirit was so strong. I love FHE lessons like that-it makes us feel so much closer as a family. The kids are all attentive and actually listening for a few minutes, and there are even a few tears shed. I love to see their sweet spirits be touched.
We decided to write down things we were thankful for until Thanksgiving. I gave them the challenge to not write down the common things we think of-though we are all VERY grateful for those, like Family, God, House. I wanted them to be very specific and also try to add a WHY to the thing they were grateful for.
Our goal was to see if we could make a chain that went around the whole house. Even though we didn’t make it all the way around this year, we sure came up with a lot of things. On Thanksgiving day we added a few more, let my brother Mitch add in a few, and then stapled them all together. Even though the kids were having fun spouting out the funny ones as they were stapling, I didn’t get a chance to read them all until I typed them up. I was touched by some of the things that they wrote, laughed at quite a few, and really saw each of us individually as I read them. Everyone’s list really paints a picture of where they are in their life right now, their personality, and those things that they feel are important.
I tried to type them just as they were written because some of the little kids writing was so cute, and the older kids humor was just too funny to change. I love the idea of taking the time to really reflect on those things that we are so grateful for, I know for me it made my heart feel so much closer to our Heavenly Father and really see all that we have been blessed with.
Aaron
- I am thankful for an iPhone to help me communicate with my calling and decrease my time away from home
- I am thankful for a bed that is comfortable instead of a hard cot or a sandy floor
- I am thankful for Austin who teaches me teachability and meekness
- I’m thankful for Erika for teaching me an easy going nature
- I am thankful for Heavenly Father giving me Brooke who is an Ephraim’s child who is so steadfast
- I am thankful for Brianna who helps me see myself
- I am thankful for Monae for loving me despite my faults
- I am thankful for pencils so we don’t have to use quills or engrave
- I am thankful for the ability to have children
- razor-sure beats a sharp rock
- I am thankful for medical knowledge I have to bless my family and others
- I’m thankful for illness to help me be understanding and compassionate
- toothbrush-beats no teeth
- diapers-oh how grateful instead of a cold stream or reusable ones
- I’m thankful for shelter to protect me from cold, heat, rain
- I’m thankful for clothing that keeps me warm and modest
- I’m thankful for Jesus Christ who loves me no matter what
- I’m thankful for water to drink and keep me alive, when others suffer
- I am thankful for central heat to keep me warm in the winter
- I am thankful for Abby for teaching me to include everyone
- I am thankful for a car to drive and get easily wherever I want
- I am thankful for Scott who teaches me to be creative and crafty
- I am thankful for a job that helps me provide for my family
- I am thankful for my ring that reminds me of my eternal marriage
- I’m thankful for hair gel
- I’m thankful for modern medicine that provides sanity
- I am thankful I can watch Monae work (and she sometimes lets me)
- I am thankful for Simon who is obedient and teaches my children to care for another living thing and responsibility
- I am thankful to read stories to my kids
- I an thankful for air conditioning to keep us cool in the summer
- I am thankful for a spouse who supports my desire to worship God and be a spiritual leader in our home
- I am thankful for being healthy with only mild illnesses on occasion
- I am thankful for Ryan who runs and gives me a hug when I come home from work every day
Monae
- I am thankful for a GPS so we can not get stressed out when we go on a trip
- I am thankful for the “curly’s” in my life and the fun that they bring into our home
- I am thankful for nail clippers when I have an uneven nail that would break low and bleed
- I am thankful for my cozy comforter to keep me warm and cozy in my bed
- I am thankful for my wedding ring to remind me of my loving husband
- I am thankful for an indoor toilet so I don’t have to go outside in the middle of the night in the cold to go to the bathroom when I’m 9 months pregnant
- I am thankful that Mitch and Michelli (my brother and sister-in-law) live close to us now and we get to see them often
- I am thankful for the color blue because it calms me and makes me feel peaceful
- I am thankful for money to buy groceries
- I am thankful we live in a country where we have a variety of foods to eat
- I am thankful for a dishwasher so I don’t have to stand and do dishes for a long time
- I am thankful for clean hospitals to be able to have a safe place to give birth to my babies
- I am thankful for a hot shower when I am cold and my back hurts
- I am thankful for good health (specifically not throwing up)
- I am thankful for toothpaste so my teeth don’t hurt and I can feel a clean mouth all day
- I am thankful for binkies to calm my babies when they are sad
- I am thankful for my beautiful kids because they remind me of love every time I see them
- I am thankful for the ocean because it smells good and is calming to watch
- I am thankful for cars so that we don’t have to walk everywhere
- I am thankful for refrigerators to keep our milk cold so we don’t have to have warm milk on our cereal
- I am thankful for chocolate because sometimes I’m grumpy and want something sweet to eat
- I am thankful for the piano and kids that know how to play to fill our home with beautiful music
- I am thankful for a husband that willingly and is able to work for our family
- I am thankful for a written set of scriptures that I can read each day and not have to rely on only having someone read them to me on Sunday
- I am thankful for the internet so I can get information about friends and family quickly
- I am thankful for pretty things in my house that make it feel comfortable and make me happy when I look at them
- I am thankful for the ability to have children and feel their love for me
- I am thankful for my kids who get ready on their own each morning so I can rest
- I am thankful for our noses that let us smell and be reminded of good memories
- I am thankful for words that can be written for us to read when our memories aren’t so good
- I am thankful for my parents who faithfully taught me the gospel
- I am thankful for cameras to take pictures that help us remember memories
- I am thankful for the good memories I have from our Europe trip
- I am thankful for windows in my house that let in beautiful light and have the power to change a room from dreary to bright (okay, I so didn’t mean to be so rhymey with that one)
- I am thankful for the warmth of the sunshine on my skin in the summer
- I am thankful for shoes to wear so our feet don’t hurt on the pavement
Brianna
- I am thankful for a mom who shares her clothes with me
- I am thankful for gel because it limits my hair to low minimum afro status
- I’m thankful for soccer because I’m able to do something I’m good at and express myself as an athlete
- I’m thankful for makeup because it makes me feel pretty and special
- I’m thankful that mom is pregnant with a healthy baby brother Ethan (she was trying hard to influence this little guys name)
- I’m thankful for Oreos because they satisfy my need of a yummy chocolate w/milk milkshake
- I’m thankful for seminary because I can learn and prepare for my mission and to be prepared for day to day missionary experiences
- I am thankful for the ability to play the piano because I can play and feel accomplished and feel happy or the Spirit
- I’m thankful for braces that made my teeth nice and straight
- I’m thankful for mom’s Christmas decorations around the house that help my mood and make me happier
- I’m thankful for my purse to help hold and carry all my stuff
- I’m thankful for hair ties to keep my hair out of my face
- I’m thankful for Sister Meadows and the time she takes to teach us seminary on top of everything she is going through
- I’m thankful for flip flops so I don’t have to wear closed toe shoes that suffocate my feet
- I’m thankful for mom when she makes my lunches
- I’m thankful for mechanical pencils that make life better instead of wooden pencils that you have to sharpen
- I’m thankful for Elizabeth when she drives me to school in her car
- I’m thankful I only have to take care of Simon 1 day a week
- I’m thankful for a mirror because I can see myself and make sure there isn’t anything weird on my face
- I’m thankful for shin guards to help protect me
- I’m thankful for a light jacket to keep me warm when I’m inside or outside
- I’m thankful for creative movie creators that made Catching Fire to entertain me when I need a brake or a good time
- I’m thankful for a pillow to lay down on instead of the bed so my head is elevated and not down below the rest of my body to create a weird angle that’s annoying and rushes my blood to my head
- I’m thankful for my own bedroom so I can have something of my own in this big family and to spend time by myself sometimes to think and ponder
- I’m thankful for country music so I have something I connect to and is mine and personal I can listen to
- I’m thankful for our family motto “no empty chairs” to help remind me of my ultimate goal
- I’m thankful for Sister Meadows my seminary teacher so I can have someone as an example and someone always there for me
- I’m thankful for my ability to play the piano so I can play Christmas music
- I’m thankful for Wanelo, so I can interact with a good wholesome activity and look at clothes for cheap
- I’m thankful for Nutella to help me when down and keep me pumped up
- I’m thankful for friends to help me keep moving through hard times, support me, help me make right choices, and help me enjoy myself and have a good time
- I’m thankful for mom who does my laundry so I don’t have dirty clothes
- I’m thankful for jewelry to help my outfits to look cute and me to feel pretty
- I’m thankful for games so I can spend time with family
- I’m thankful for our family traditions of ding dong ditching people because I get to spend time with family, help others, and have a good Christmas season time
- I’m thankful for a good book to be able to sit down and read
Austin
- I’m thankful for the internet so I can do my homework
- I am thankful for an oven mit so I don’t burn my hand
- I am thankful for BYU because I can watch it whenever I want because my parents attended there
- I’m thankful for the UPS guy because he brings Christmas gifts and other wonderful things
- I’m thankful for people I can say “chill out” to
- I am thankful for Simon because he is cuddly, soft, and always there for you even though sometimes he chews stuff up
- I am thankful for legs because I can play sports and walk
- I’m thankful for a dresser to keep my clothes in
- I’m thankful for a stove so we can cook food and not eat raw stuff
- I’m thankful for my book bag so I can use it to carry home my many books
- I’m thankful for water so I can keep hydrated
- I’m thankful for the old Chinese people that invented soccer
- I’m thankful for a fan to keep me cool during summer nights
- I’m thankful for the fan in Ryan’s room so I can’t hear him at night (funny because the loud fan is actually so Ryan can’t hear us being so loud and will fall asleep)
- I’m thankful for the Atlanta temple that it is so close
- I’m thankful for a dad’s who’s a doctor so we aren’t poor
- I’m thankful for Halloween so that we can get lots of candy
- I’m thankful for Ninjago (Lego cartoon on Netflix) so I can keep the boys busy when I am babysitting them
- I’m thankful for an alarm to wake me up
- I’m thankful for Oreos because they are almost every treat we have for FHE
- I’m thankful for chairs so I don’t have to sit on the ground
- I am thankful for my fellow youth because they are there for you and give you hugs when you need and they bring treats to BYF
- I’m thankful for a computer so I can play Minecraft
- I’m thankful for this book I’m using to write this on
- I’m thankful for a lamp so I can read at night
- I’m thankful for Mrs. Harris (my bus driver) because she takes me to and from school
- I’m thankful for clocks so we can tell time and be on time
- I’m thankful for glue so that I can do some of my school projects
- I’m thankful for my teachers because they teach what I need to know to get into high school and later college
- I am thankful for my little brother Ethan (another hopeful for the name Ethan)
- I’m thankful for food that provides me with strength
- I’m thankful for the Wright bros so we can now fly to different places and see family and other places
- I’m thankful for mirrors so I can see myself and fix how I might look
- I’m thankful for shower mats so my bathroom doesn’t get wet
- I’m thankful for rubber duckies so I can play with them in the tub
- I’m thankful for fire because without it I wouldn’t be here
- I’m thankful for flowers because they bring color to the world
- I’m thankful for family so we can have fun family reunions
- I’m thankful for a shower so I can be clean
- I’m thankful for towels so I can dry off after a warm shower
- I’m thankful for toilet paper so I don’t have to use my hand like in India
- I’m thankful for dog treats so that we can train Simon
- I’m thankful for underwear so I’m not loose in my pants
- I’m thankful for soccer because if I didn’t I wouldn’t be fit
- I’m thankful for Axe so I can smell good for my lady friends
- I’m thankful for this pen so I can write the things I am thankful for
Brooke
- I am thankful for hot/clean water to help me not get sick with dirtyness.
- I am thankful for hairclips/brushes/pins to make me look pretty at school/church/stores etc.
- I am thankful for food that help me not have a stomach ache
- I am thankful for the use of shoes so my feet won’t get cold or num up because of cold winter or hard ground etc.
- I am thankful for decorations because it makes my home more satisfactory
- I am thankful for photosynthesis because it is the proses of our living breath
- I am thankful for showers that keep me clean so I don’t get sick from dirtyness
- I am thankful for a bed so I have a comfy, soft place to sleep
- I am thankful for my life and all the blessings you gave me. Because I would be nothing without everything around me
- I am thankful for no school, weekends, the summer because I get my rest
- I’m thankful for this roof that is able to be over my head to protect me
- I am thankful for deodorant so I won’t smell over gross to nature
- I am thankful to be bored (written by Aaron-pretty sure there was some “I’m bored” complaining happening at that time)
- I am thankful for toys so I am occupied during boring situations (written by Brooke)
- I am thankful for a dad and mom. Dad-earns money for my belongings. Mom-to provide, clean, and protect
- I am thankful for school/church etc. bags to carry my things so I won’t have to carry in my hands sooo much stuff
- I am thankful for school so I won’t seem dumb and because math is life
- I am thankful for purses, bags, etc so I don’t have to carry my things
Erika
- I’m thankful for Heavenly Father because He gives us blessings
- I’m thankful for my DS because I’m able to have whatever I want (she bought it with her own money and seems to find great pride in that)
- I am thankful for my life
- I’m thankful for my bed because it’s a soft place to sleep
- I’m thankful for trees
- I’m thankful for a life
- I’m thankful for a TV
- I’m thankful for a phone to call people if we’re in trouble
- I’m thankful for dictionaries
- I’m thankful for Simon because sometimes I get bored,so I like to play with him
- I’m thankful for a family because I am be able to play with someone and they take care of me
- I’m thankful for food, because some people don’t have enough food or don’t have money to buy food
- I’m thankful for my toys
- I’m thankful for electricity
- I’m thankful for a clean bath and hot water
- I’m thankful for a car to take us places
- I’m thankful for the world
- I’m thankful for shoes so I’m not barefoot
- I’m thankful for blankets to keep me warm
- I’m thankful for deodorant so I don’t smell BAD!!!!
- I’m thankful for towels
- I’m thankful for money!!!!! I love dad because he works for us
- I’m thankful for a toothbrush to keep my teeth clean
- I’m thankful for trees and plants
- I’m thankful for books, so I will learn
- I’m thankful for Simon
- I’m thankful for games
- I’m thankful for the Magic 8 ball to tell me what I got for Christmas
- I’m thankful for my house because it protects our family in bad weather
- I’m thankful that the American Girl store is nearby because it’s nearby and some people don’t even have a AGS nearby
Abby
- I am thankful for a toothbrush to clean my teeth
- I am thankful for a bed so I can sleep on it
- I am thankful for trees because it gives us exingene (oxygen)
- I’m thankful for rectricite (electricity) because if we didn’t it would be dark
- I’m thankful for my toys to keep me active
- I’m thankful for clothes to wear
- I’m thankful for alarm clock to wake me up
- I’m thankful for a brain cause if we were thinking of a story we could not even think of storys
- I’m thankful for a table to eat my food on
- I’m thankful for money to buy food
- I’m thankful for a teacher to teach me
- I’m thankful for scriptures to read when I’m bord
- I’m thankful for Ethan because he’s cute (yet another vote for the Ethan name)
- I’m thankful for a table to eat on
- I’m thankful for a sink to drink water
- I’m thankful for Thanksgiving because there is a big feast and ower aunt and uukle come
- I’m thankful for a mom and dad to love us
- I’m thankful for a shower to keep me clean
- I’m thankful for rain for flowers to grow
- I’m thankful for holidays because I can sellebrat them with my family
- I’m thankful for medosen to feel not sick
- I’m thankful for blankets to be cozy for bed
- I’m thankful for a brothers to play with
- I’m thankful for brothers and sisters to play with me
Scott
- I’m thankful for our house so I can live in them
- I’m thankful for towels so I can dry off after a bath
- I’m thankful for a light bulb
- I’m thankful for bubbles
- I’m thankful for the swing set
- I’m thankful I can run super fast in a circle so I don’t have to use crutches
- I’m thankful for snakes so they can die
- I am thankful for snacks at preschool like chips they are good
- I am thankful for pencils so I can draw
- I am thankful for my Spiderman laptop
- I am thankful for Legos because I like to build tall buildings
- I am thankful for my scooter to ride around the whole house
- I’m thankful to go jogging
Ryan
- I’m thankful for building blocks so I can play with
- I am thankful for Jesus
- I am thankful for Scott’s birthday cake
- I am thankful for the swing set
- Ryan is thankful for me (I think he meant Brianna who was helping him write)
- I’m thankful for my friend Ann
- I am thankful for a whistle to blow
- I am thankful for mom’s phone to watch it so mommy can rest
- I am thankful for daddy. I kiss daddy
- I am thankful for school
- I am thankful to play games as a family
Mitch
- I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Atonement in my life
- I am thankful for family, and being so close to the Starbuck family to visit often
- I am thankful for graduating from college and having a job
- I am thankful for Facetime to be able to talk to the princess in the city far,far away (his wife Michelli was visiting her family back in Brazil during Thanksgiving)
- I am thankful for my health and strength
