Thanksgiving

(The view out my back door this morning)

In honor of Thanksgiving this week I wanted to share a few of the things I've been thankful for lately. I compiled a list of 30 things; one for each day of this month. It's sort of like doing the whole Blog Everyday In November deal, but in one concise post. (Yeah, it's the easy way. Call me a cheater if you want, I'm cool with it.)

In no particular order, here are the first 30 things that come to mind when I'm feeling grateful this month:

1. The amazing sunrises and sunsets I can see from my house each morning and night. The mixture of various hues of pink, orange, red and purple serving as a backdrop to the clouds, mountains and trees is breathtakingly beautiful.

2. My amazing family. This whole process of being a good mother and wife is ongoing and I'm thankful that they are patient with me as I continue to work at being the best I can. They make me laugh and cry. They teach me to love unconditionally and deeply. They make me proud. I am one blessed lady when it comes to my family.

3. This talk. It serves as a wonderful reminder of making the things that are really important my priorities - and without making me feel guilty.

4. Living in a place that has 4 seasons. I'll admit that I wish autumn was a bit longer and that winter was much shorter, but this is where I chose to live so there's really no point in being a whiner about the snow. Besides, the snow is really quite beautiful to watch outside my window from inside my warm, cozy house. I love watching the seasons change on the mountains and in the giant tree at the end of our road.

5. My health. Despite the various maladies of pregnancy that I've been experiencing this time around, I am so thankful to be in good health. I can see. I can hear. I can walk (okay, sometimes I waddle) and talk and dance and sing and drive and eat and sleep and... the list is endless.

6. I am so thankful for the family that I married into! I have a whole second family that loves me, quirks and all, as a daughter and sister. Being compared to my mother-in-law is one of the greatest compliments I can receive because she is AWESOME. I'll admit that sometimes I get gripey about dumb little things - but when it comes to things that really matter, my in-law siblings and parents are an amazing support system and some of my truest friends.

7. Writing. I love being able to express myself and use a whole variety of adjectives and descriptions to try to put my thoughts in some concrete form onto paper (or, more commonly, the computer screen). At times I have even had people suggest that I write a book - this makes me happy.

8. Being almost completely debt-free. The only debt we have is our home! We don't own any credit cards and we are able, with patience and saving, to pay cash for our purchases. Allen's company sponsored a program for their employees a few years ago to encourage debt-free living and we have lived it and loved it.

9. Having a marketable skill. If anything were ever to happen which made it necessary for me to help support our family, I could jump back into being a sign language interpreter anytime. It is something I love to do and it pays well. What a blessing to have been born into a family where ASL was my first language!

10. Awesome friends. If tried to name them all individually - from casual acquaintances to those friends that feel more like family - I'd have the rest of my list filled in no time. There are those who have been around since my childhood, people I've met as a married woman and some who have only been a part of my life for a short time. Regardless, I am thankful for such a dynamic group of people who I am lucky enough to call my friends.

11. Socks! If I see a unique pair for a reasonable cost I have a hard time passing them by. If I see a pair that screams my name then I come up with some reason to justify their purchase despite the cost. Knee-high socks are my favorite but anything at least calf-length is good. Flowers, stripes, skulls, plaid, argyle, polka dots - even socks made to look like shoes are in my collection. I am thankful that socks allow me to express myself in sort of a quiet, hidden way that makes me happy.

12. I am thankful for photographs. The ones I take and the ones I see. They allow me to capture moments that words can sometimes not adequately describe. They let me peek into the lives of others - their families, their adventures, their perspectives of nature and architecture and so on. Pictures allow me to vicariously travel to places I have so far only dreamed about going (Australia, Europe, New York and Disney World to name a few) and to enjoy the beauty that others enjoy.

13. My crock pot! I am so thankful on busy days when I am not sure if I will have time to make a decent dinner that I have my trusty crock pot. I just set it on the counter in the morning, fill it with the required ingredients, then enjoy the delicious smell of my house all day. I periodically look over at that little kitchen miracle and think, I love you, Crock Pot. Because I do.

14. Laughter. My kids know a secret about me. If they start laughing, I must laugh as well. I can not remember when this started but my children's laughter is contagious. Even at inappropriate times, like during maturation class in the 5th grade. Even at times when I am angry and want to stay in that miserable state. Laughter always has a way of bringing me out of a funk and making my heart a little lighter.

15. My siblings and parents. I would not be who I am without their influence in my life. The things we experienced together had a huge impact on what has shaped me into the person I am today. I think it is safe to say that I would not even change some of the tougher times we had as a family because the memory of those trials have taught me some lessons in compassion, generosity and kindness.

16. MUSIC. It can transport me to places in my past. It often expresses my thoughts and feelings better than I can myself. Over the years music has held the power to transform my thoughts, my attitudes, my emotions and even my clothing choices. I think there are certain people who are very moved by music and I count myself as one of them. Music has the ability to work its way into places in me that words alone can not reach. Music is powerful and I am thankful to have it in my life.

17. Star Wars. Kind of strange to see on a thankful list? Not for our family. Everyone, from my teenage kids on down to Little O, can not get enough of it. Just mention Star Wars to Little O and he'll start singing you the theme song. The kids even suggested dressing as Star Wars characters for a family picture this year - but where can you find an authentic looking Chewbacca costume at a decent cost? Star Wars just makes me smile.

18. The good in people. It seems that the best in others comes out during the holiday season more than any other time of year and I love reading and hearing about random acts of kindness and charity and brotherly love. These kind of news stories are so much more uplifting than the kind we usually see. I am thankful for kind, generous people who give unselfishly of themselves.

19. Thrift stores. I am glad to have quite a few stores nearby which offer secondhand goods for sale. I love shopping for and finding amazing bargains. It makes my day to discover the perfect clothes or books or serving dishes or toys at a fraction of the actual cost in the aisles of one of my favorite thrift stores.

20. My metabolism. I always tell people that this is one of the greatest gifts my parents ever gave me. When someone asks how I am able to bounce back to my pre-pregnancy size so quickly or how I've stayed so thin while having a whole passel of kids, I always credit my awesome metabolism.

21. Teaching and teachers. I really miss being a Sunday School teacher at church. I still get sweet little notes from my cute class with hand-drawn pictures and phonetically spelled words. I am also thankful to be able to teach my own kids the things that I think are important. On that same note, I am thankful for great teachers. The ones who really 'get' my kids and their quirks. The ones who go out of their way to present my kids with a challenge. The teachers who love my kids enough to overlook their shortcomings. The ones who are not afraid to contact me when one of my children needs some parental involvement. They are not paid nearly enough but I am thankful that these exceptional teachers choose to continue to teach.

22. The internet. I can remember life before the internet. It consisted of many trips to the library to look things up in encyclopedias and other books of knowledge. But now? Just this morning while still in my pajamas I typed in 'How to keep apple slices from turning brown' (because I forgot, okay?) and learned about some ways to accomplish this that I had never heard of before. (Lemon juice was what I was looking for - but did you know you can also use any lemon-lime soda or apple juice? You're welcome.)

23. My religion. What can I say, really? Words can not express the gratitude I feel to be a member of my church. It has helped define who I am and what kind of choices I make. I am a better person because I try to live what is taught and do what is right. It makes me think deeper. It makes me a part of something bigger than myself. It teaches me to love and serve others. I will forever be thankful to the missionaries who taught my family 30 years ago and introduced us to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

24. My church congregation. Once I left the congregation where I grew up I never really felt like any other congregation that I attended was like 'home' - until now. The people are not perfect (they never are) but we care for each other and look out for each other. Our congregation has become an extension of our family.

25. Allen's job. Allen has worked for the same company for ten years now. It was a company started by our next door neighbor and Allen was hired as one of their first full-time employees. I love that Allen is happy with his work environment and enjoys what he does for a living. The company is family-friendly and loyal to its employees. They put out a magazine which featured an article this month about Allen and 2 others who hired on 10 years ago. I love this company so much that the article made me cry. I know, I'm a total sentimental baby. But as I read I couldn't help but think of all the ways this company has blessed our family over the years and how thankful I am that our neighbor saw potential in Allen and offered him the job.

26. Our home. I am often asked when we are moving because of the size of our family in comparison to the size of our house. The truth is that if circumstances allow, we will be content to live here forever. Our neighborhood is awesome. The location is perfect. Where else can you live within a 5 minute drive of a shopping mall, schools, and grocery stores but still see mountains out every window and be surrounded by pastures and farms? There are goats and horses next door. Cows and chickens down the street. Mules and sheep around the corner. Our neighbors share their fresh eggs and garden produce often. And none of that even accounts for the actual structure which we live in but I am thankful for it, too - for the protection and comfort it offers us.

27. Good books. I am thankful for books that are well written and engaging. I love getting to know the characters and feeling like they are my friends by the time I turn the last page. I am thankful for stories that make me think and change my attitude and perspective. I love the books that create mind-pictures as each scene unfolds. I am also thankful that my kids love books as much as I do.

28. My naturally curly hair. Most people I know who have curly hair complain about it but I really love my hair. All it takes is a little spritz of water to get the curl back if it's going frizzy or flat. It can be worn in a variety of ways - although I am pretty much a creature of habit when it comes to my hair. The other great thing is that I can straighten my hair if I ever want a change. I never do this on my own, but every time I go to get my hair done Raylene (call her, you won't be sorry) straightens it for me and I feel like Giselle when she gets made over in Enchanted (minus the dress and shoes).

29. Unique restaurants. My favorite kind of food is the kind I don't have to make myself. Well, most of the time that's true. But when I find an all-around great restaurant (food, service, atmosphere) that is quirky or offers something different from the norm I quickly become a loyal customer. I love it when people tell me about a great place they've tried, too - so feel free to share the love.

30. Packages. All packages are awesome, but unexpected ones are the best. There is nothing that makes my day quite like getting a package on my doorstep or in the mail! And it's not necessarily about what's inside - it's the idea that someone was thinking of me and put those thoughts into a concrete way of showing me that they were thinking of me. And the most amazing packages are those that remain completely anonymous. I am usually pretty good about discovering who the giver was, but someone once left a box which contained several pair of new, unique, high-quality socks on my doorstep and I am still guessing on that one. Another someone left me a box of donuts once. Long story, short: I am thankful for packages and the happiness they bring.

There's my 30. But I guess I could add here that I'm thankful you would take the time to read my list through to the end.

Thanks for being who you are - and have a safe and happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

Saying Thanks

"Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone." ~G.B. Stern


I love Thanksgiving. It is one of my favorite holidays because it reminds me to recognize the many things I have to be thankful for.

And, well, the pumpkin pie doesn't hurt, either.

Come join me at Four Perspectives and share what it is that you're grateful for today.

Happy Thanksgiving

Can you spot the girls in this picture?
(The Royce kids, circa 1979)

I will never forget the anticipation of Thanksgiving as a child. For us, it was almost as exciting as Christmas.

We lived much too far from most of our relatives on both sides of the family, but Aunt Jan lived close enough that we would occasionally make the long journey to her house. The six of us would pile into our little Volkswagen Bug with an ice chest full of sandwiches at mom's feet and off we'd go.

My favorite part was always being able to sit, knee-to-knee, with my younger brother in what we called the 'very back' seat. We felt bad for our older siblings who had to share the roomier seat in front of us. Funny thing is, they never seemed to complain.

We would pass the time trying to be the first to spot a certain letter of the alphabet or license plate, guessing how many miles we had remaining before reaching our destination and doing our best to annoy our older siblings in as innocent a fashion as possible. Our arms would be sore from playing Slug-Bug and our throats would be raw from the stifled laughter produced by inside jokes. We'd sing the songs learned from Sesame Street and The Electric Company as well as theme songs and commercial jingles.

For me, getting there was half the fun.

Once we arrived at Aunt Jan's place we'd stretch our cramped legs, run around like wild Indians for a bit and then immediately look for Aunt Jan's dog, Toby. I always got some secret delight from the fact that this little poodle shared a name with my oldest brother. Poor Toby (the dog, not the brother) would usually be cowering in the corner beneath the couch, not looking forward to our visit. Aunt Jan would have him all dressed up in a striped sweater and finally he'd come crawling out, resigning himself to his fate over the next few days.

I don't recall any specific dishes that were prepared but I do remember that mom and Aunt Jan would spend hours in the kitchen preparing our feast while we played outside in her yard. When we were called in to eat the aroma of turkey and stuffing blended with potatoes and hot rolls was intoxicating. I also remember there being such an exorbitant amount of food covering the table that I'd wonder whether we would be able to actually sit around it.

Well, times have certainly changed, but most things remain the same. We now occasionally cram our family of 11 into our suburban with an ice chest full of snacks to enjoy on long trips. Our kids sit in the back and sing songs, play traveling games and try to annoy their siblings in a way that allows them to feign innocence. When we reach our destination we all pile out and enjoy the freedom from the car's confinement. There is still too much food and plenty of visiting... but no Toby in his striped sweater (the dog, not the brother).

Memories, road trips, family, good times, food, laughter...

There is much to be thankful for - and not only at Thanksgiving.

Autumn Leaves

Today I am thankful for kids who love autumn as much as I do.

In Utah autumn is just a blink between summer and winter so we try to enjoy it fully while it's here. We play in the leaves, bake up pumpkin-infused treats and eat them until we almost turn orange, and marvel over the brilliance of the changing colors on the mountains that surround us.

The photo above is by Thumbelina, taken a couple of weeks ago just down the road from where we live. It is our favorite local tree, towering over a vacant field. In the autumn it transforms from green to the brightest of yellows and then slowly creates a blanket of leaves at its base until the winter winds have blown every last one away. The day Thumbelina took this picture she was admiring the sunset and suggested we see how it looked behind this tree. The word breathtaking comes to mind.

And then this morning I found a little orange booklet on the table, a Halloween book which All-a-Boy has been working on in his class at school, containing the following poem which he authored:

Leaves jump from the trees,
Diving into a suicidal fall,
Autumn has arrived.
Autumn brought its cold winds,
Autumn has brought its gray skies.
I hear the wind knocking at my door,
Like an anonymous guest,
Waiting to be let in.
Clouds hang overhead,
Threatening me with their ice and snow.
I smile.
Autumn is amazing.

Amazing, indeed.

Giving Thanks

I'm jumping on the bandwagon and posting every day for the month of November. I will post about something I am thankful for everyday until Thanksgiving... but for the days after Thanksgiving, it's free game.

Actually, the whole month is free game, but I promise to try. If I post everyday, I am going to give myself some sort of award or something because frankly, I'll deserve it.

Today I want to tell you how thankful I am for unintended humor. It's something that happens a lot in our home, and today was no exception.

I went downstairs to get the kids up from their Sunday nap so we could head over to dinner with some cousins. All-a-Boy was wearing shorts so I reminded him that it was no longer summer and told him that he needed to get some pants on. He grumbled and griped because his one pair of favorite jeans without holes were grass-stained. I pulled out a brand new, never worn pair of khakis from his drawer and told him to wear those. He grumbled and groaned and pulled them on to just below his buttocks and proclaimed that they were too big. I made him pull them up... a perfect fit! He then admitted that he hated khakis and would never have let me buy them when we were school shopping except that he just wanted to make me happy. I told him that if he just wanted to make me happy then he needed to wear the pants to dinner.

In true All-a-Boy fashion he rolled his eyes, gave an exasperated sigh, and asked, "What, am I going to see the President of the United States or something?"

"Yeah, All-a-Boy," I answered. "All 10-year-old boys in their t-shirts and khakis are ready for a formal evening with the president." Then I could no longer contain my laughter over his remark... and he rolled his eyes and tried to hide that he realized how silly it was, too.

In the end, he wore the khaki pants to dinner. If the President decided to show up, I'm sure he would have been pleased.

So Thankful

Tomorrow is that day of the year where we give thanks for our blessings. I have been thinking for the entire month about what I would write today. I had all kinds of great ideas which included stories from my childhood, Thanksgivings now past, unanswered prayers, extended family, wonderful friends and the generosity of others. But, when it comes down to it, this is what I am most thankful for: my family.

I am thankful for a husband who works hard for the money (so hard for it, honey!) to support our family. For his ability to do pretty much anything house or car or yard related. Thankful he is as frugal-minded as I am and that we are on the same page when it comes to our household and finances. I love how service-oriented he is and that he is OK with my own whimsical desires to serve others - that he understands my need to do so. I am thankful that he loves kids as much as I do and that he's willing to support and love a whole houseful with me. I am especially thankful that he loves me enough to put up with all my weaknesses and imperfections - and I have a few. He's one of my greatest blessings.

I am thankful for kids who are nothing short of amazing. Are they perfect? Of course not. But when I hear others complaining about their teenagers' attitudes and unwillingness to contribute to their families, I realize how great we've got it here. I am a tad bit overprotective of my kids (yes, I know this and can admit it) because I love them so much. I want them home, with me, all the time, because can anyone really appreciate them like I do? (For the record, I am learning to loosen the apron strings some...) I am thankful that they know how to make good choices and that they are not afraid to do what they know is right - or to tell others what they think. I am thankful that they love each other and are loyal to each other and look out for each other. I am thankful that they put up with the crazy chaos that we call our home and that they all contribute to making it our own little piece of heaven here on earth.

Really, words cannot describe what I am feeling. Language is not sufficient to explain the emotions in my heart. Love? Thankful? Amazing? Words don't seem adequate. The thoughts of family that I hold in my heart, that float around in my head like a beautiful melody, seem to come out in a jumbled muck of words when I attempt to voice them. It is frustrating. So, let me just say again:

I am thankful for my family. So thankful.

I am thankful to have so much.

Thanksgiving Songs

Hello, everyone. I have resurfaced from my sickness fog. It is good to be back and fully functioning. Did you miss me? I missed you.

The final playlist for my Thanksgiving CD is complete. Thanks for your ideas and suggestions! Don't be sad if your songs aren't included - I may not have been able to find them.

(Or one song may have had a couple of lines that I didn't want to have to explain to my kids. Don't think I didn't love hearing that song again, though! It's been a long time...)

I also did not want a whole CD full of just instrumental music - I like to sing along. So a few were excluded for that reason.

When I played the songs for my kids, if they said anything like "That sounds weird" then I left it out as well. I mean, they're going to have to listen to this until after Thanksgiving, too.

A few songs were thrown in even if they just said "Thank you" in them because I wanted a little variety. I also opted to throw in a few songs about eating and home, because (hello!) where do we go and what do we do for Thanksgiving? And how else could I include Michael Buble?

Why do I feel the need to explain myself? Because I love you all. I do not like hurt feelings. And I especially do not like secret hurt feelings that come across as "No everything's just fine and I am not at all offended that you didn't like my song choices" but really mean "Why do I even bother reading your blog when you obviously hate me and all that I suggest and stand for?"

I really love you. Really. Really!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for (drumroll, please...)

Here's the playlist: (UPDATED! I forgot one! See #15...)

1. Thankful - Josh Groban
2. Thanksgiving Theme - Vince Guaraldi Trio (think Charlie Brown)
3. Colors - John McCutcheon
4. Prayer of Thanksgiving - David Tolk
5. Eat It - Weird Al
6. Thanksgiving Day - John McCutcheon
7. Thank U - Alanis Morrissette (who doesn't love singing along to this one at the top of their lungs? THANK YOU, SILEEEEEEEENCE!!)
8. When Fall Comes to New England - Cheryl Wheeler
9. Take Me Home Country Roads - John Denver
10. Thank You - John Mellencamp
11. Happy Thanksgiving - Debbie Friedman
12. Home - Michael Buble
13. Thanksgiving - George Winston
14. Celebrate Me Home - Kenny Loggins
15. Thanksgiving - Jim Brickman

Now I need to start working on a "Winter" CD for the day after Christmas...

We Still Have Thanksgiving

First of all, let me just say that I LOVE Christmas. I especially love how it brings out the best in so many people. But you know what? I also love Thanksgiving. And I wish people would stop acting like it doesn't exist.

Have I mentioned that I don't want to hear Christmas music until after Thanksgiving? Well, I don't. You can listen now. That's all fine and good, and I'll still be your friend. But I don't want to.

So, in the spirit of my desire to recognize Thanksgiving for the fabulous holiday that it is, I am creating a compilation CD with Thanksgiving music. But here's where I need your help.

I only have one song in mind so far.

Thankful by Josh Groban

Do you know of any other great songs that talk about being thankful? Please, enlighten me, and I'll share my final playlist later.



Save me from the Christmas music.