Day 30

Being able to see the good. I don't always do this, but for the most part I try to look for the good. When I don't I am unhappy - I wonder why! As I look to my depression issues, often times not seeing the good has brought me down. Looking for the good has brought me out of it. My dad says that just because you feel something strongly doesn't make it right. Sometimes those emotions of self doubt overpower me. They are not right (see looking for the negative in myself). Sometimes I can't see the good in those around me because they have said or done hurtful thing. Not seeing the good. I truly believe I am happier when I see the good in others. I thank my Heavenly Father for helping me to see the good in tough situations, and pray He will help me see it more often!

Day 29

Primary - there is not much better than primary. I love to be with those kids - sometimes they drive me a little crazy. - but mostly I just love them. I love their funny comments, I love when they sing out, I love when they share their testimonies. I just love and thank my Heavenly Father for primary!

Day 28

Today I am grateful for fun. I love to have a good time. I love to do fun crazy thing with fun crazy friends.

Day 27

Good friends and surprise visits - I got to spend a good part of my day with good friends.  Some in the morning crafting and visiting.  Then my crazy friends in the afternoon learning all about the crazy holidays that are on my birthday (national squirrel appreciation day and national hug day to name a few).  Then my SIL came over to drop something off and stayed for a bit.  I love having visitors!  People is where it is at.  I love being surrounded by great people!  Plus on the kiddos front, my girlies both went to the temple with friends - awesome they have friends that care about that and that they desire to go themselves.  They are truly surrounded by great people too!

Day 26

The promptings of the holy ghost. Sometimes you don't know why you do something until later when (if) you find out it made a difference. Tonight I found out some things have made a difference to Missy. how grateful I am that he Lord has given us a way to feel or know his will. The more I follow His will, the happier I am.

Day 25

Today I am grateful for good teachers, both at school and church. My kids are definitely surrounded by great people who want them to improve, grow and learn.

Day 24

Today I am grateful for Corry. He is my best friend, my lover, my sounding board, shrink, handyman, spiritual adviser, partner in crime, personal comedian, chef, father of our children, and so much more. How did I get so lucky to have you. I only hope I can't be everything you want and need. Thank you Father for giving me the best gift I could receive!

Day 23

Today I am grateful for snow.  I have ben concerned about the absence of snow this year so I am so grateful we have had some the last few days!  Hooray for fluffy wet goodness!

Day 22

Tonight I went to the 100th year commemoration for the seminary program with Missy. So, it got me thinking about my seminary experience. I am grateful tonight for my seminary experience. I made enough mistakes in high school going to seminary, I wonder what would I have been like without having seminary everyday to help me stay more on the right path. There is a reaon that the seminary program exits during those formative high school years. I am so grateful that I got to go and that my kids have the chance to go as well. Hooray for seminary!

Day 21

So much to be grateful for! Family and friends calling and stopping by to visit for my birthday! Donuts for breakfast, swimming, a husband who tried all day to go out of his way to do things for me and make me happy. Wonderful children! Snow - finally! Going to stake conference and being spiritually fed. There is much to be grateful for!

Day 20

Today I am grateful for good friends, nights out as a family, laughing, sports, skirts, shopping, furry comfy boots, jewelry, shoes, contacts and so many other things!

Day 19

Today I am grateful to teach dance. Sometimes I think it is a bit overwhelming and too much, and other times I think I am so grateful to have something to do. I tend to have depression issues and I do better when I stay busy. I have struggled with my kids growing up, so this not only keeps me busy, but keeps me active in my teens lives.

Day 18

I am grateful for Dr. Scott.  We have a doctor in the family and it is so nice to go to him and know we are getting great care, love and support.  He is fantastic!  We love him!

Day 17

Today I am grateful for Missy.  She is 14 - and can act like a teenager sometimes... moody, disobedient, thinking she knows better than everyone else.  Well she came in my room, sat down on my bed, and told me thank you.  That doesn't happen very much.  We had this great conversation last week about her life and the choices she is faced with for her future.  I felt so strongly I needed to say the things I said.  Apparently for once I said the right thing at the right time!  Thank you Missy for letting me know!

Day 16

Today I am grateful for athletics!  We cleaned the church and then stayed and played some basketball in the gym after.  Fun night.  I love sports.  I am not very good at them, but I love to watch and really love to play!

Day 15

11 am church! I love that we got up at 7ish - Corry's meetings start at 8. Love that so much better than him out the door for 6 am meeting!

Day 14

Today I am grateful for music.  Last night I was faced with a decision to say something in anger or to pray for help and be more the person I want to be, slow to anger.  I was STRUGGLING.  Then one of my favorite artists came on the playlist, Jenny Phillips, I can't even remember the song.  My soul was calm, I was able to pray for help and the anger left me.  I listened to some of her songs again today as I drove home.  My heart was so full, I couldn't sing along anymore.  Music has always been a source of peace for me.  Thank heavens for beautiful composers and lyricists that write beautiful music that soothes my soul!

Day 13

I had problems writing this one because I was too tired to get on the computer last night and my ipad wouldn't copy and paste.

So, I am grateful for the scriptures and the insights they give me.  Today I read 2 Nephi 4:26 which says, "O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?"  I SOOOO feel this way sometimes!  I know Heavenly Father is there.  I have had too many experiences that tell me He is there and is watching over me, but sometimes my "soul lingers in the valley of sorrow" and so forth.  Nephi, a great prophet felt that way sometimes!!!!  I cannot explain the peace that overcame me when I read that.  In fact I read it that morning and then when I went to the temple, I reread it because it was so powerful to me.  The best part was yet to come though.  As I continued to read, verse 31 says, "O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?"  I WANT THAT.  Lord please help me shake at the appearance of sin!  Heel my soul and deliver me from me biggest enemy, myself.  I am so grateful for the scriptures that fill my empty bucket and give me so much peace and happiness!

Day 12

Today I am grateful for the sun! There are so many reasons to love the sun, it makes it so earth works. But that is not why I love it. Today I was so cold driving in my car when the suns rays hit me and warmed me. I loved it!

Day 11

I am grateful for games. The last few nights I have had a chance to play games with Scotty and Alli while everyone else was busy. I love playing games, laughing and giggling with my kids!

Day 10

Today I am grateful for my mom. She is so strong and positive! I am so amazed by her positive attitude dealing with her cancer. She sees her Heavenly Father's hand in every detail of her life. I love who she is and who she helps me to be.

Day 9

Today I am grateful for "bests". One of my favorite things to do is ask everyone what their "bests" were for the day. Usually I ask this in the car, or while we are cooking dinner, but tonight it was while we were having dinner. Here were everyone's bests. 1- Alli's best was playing dodgeball with another class during PE today 2- Corry's best was having more than a months worth of overhead received today into the bank. It is only the 9th!! 3- Missy didn't have to dress out at PE today and they got to play volleyball for fun 4- Scotty got to hang out with me today 5- Fuzzy got new point shoes and got to hang out with me I live hearing their bests. I had too many to just have one, so here are mine: I caught up on my family blog and my Peterson family blog I got to exercise I got to help in Scotty's class Scott wasn't feeling well, so I took him to Dr. Scott's where I got to talk to my cousin for awhile Scotty and I had smoothies together and played a wii game together I got to pick up Alli from school My cousin Jake came over to help me with some life insurance and we got to visit a little bit I got to spend some time with Fuzzy and Corry's mom sewed her point shoes for me! I came home after 6pm to Missy having dinner all ready for the family We had a great FHE with NO fighting! I loved it!

Day 8

I fell asleep last night before I did this.  Anyway, I am grateful for music.  I get to be the senior primary chorister for my church which means I get to teach gospel music for 20 minutes to the 8-11 year old children.  Music is such a huge part of my life.  I love to listen, sing, dance and participate in music in whatever way I can.  It lifts my spirits, it calms my heart, and sometimes it just plain makes me happy.

Day 7

Today was a really cruddy day so you would think it would be harder to find something to be grateful for, but actually today was almost the easiest. Today I am grateful for Alli. You see today was my break down day. I mean total break down. I have been struggling for over a month and today I really lost it. At one point I was just huddled in the corner of my room crying when Scotty came in, gave me a hug and told me he loved me. Then Alli followed. She didn't leave though. She sat and held me for a long time. Then she grabbed her special blanket and wrapped it around me and held me. Then she brought me a pillow to lean up against. Then it was her favorite stuffed animals she brought me with more hugs. Then you know what she said? She said she wished everyone in our family treated each other that way when they were sad. Then I thought about when I was a little kid, all I really wanted when I was hurting was a hug and a reassurance that everything was going to be ok. Isn't that what I still want and what I got from a 6 year old today? Maybe that is how I should treat my other children too - especially Alli whom I already know wants to be treated that way too. Thank you my Alli for the big hug and the love you showed me today. I love you tootsie!

Day 6

Today was an interesting day with much to be grateful for. First, good friends. I got to spend a few hours with great friends, eating great food, and playing games. Love that! I am also greatful my house isn't full of smoke, but I am sad my neighbors house is full of smoke after their 14 year old son left the electric blanket on and it almost started a fire, but did fill their house with lots of smoke. I am grateful Corry has a job and grateful that my next door neighbor that was laid off on Tuesday has a job offer today with 3 more interviews next week. The Lord is watching out all of us. Not always the way we expect or want, but he is watching over us.

Day 5

I didn't get to this last night because I didn't feel well, so I am going to say good health is what I am grateful for. Sadly sometimes it takes loosing something to realize how grateful you are for it. I am also going to add soft tissues! My nose is red and sore, but how much more would it be with scratchy tissues!

Day 4

What I found interesting today was there were too many things to be grateful for to write them all (plus I still want to save some for later in the year).  So I will just comment on a few things I found to be grateful for:

1. My body - I walked on the treadmill, I taught dance and I played tennis.  I am lucky to have a body that allows me to do those things
2. Good Friends - my good friend's husband lost his job yesterday and I thought about how much we have gone through together.  My friends have been there for me through all sorts of trials, and I have been there for them.  I am truly grateful for my good friends.
3. My kids - I got to go on a date with Scotty.  I love hanging out with my kids, especially one on one.
4. Corry - I didn't hardly see him yesterday or much today.  I love days when we get to be together.  They are way to few and far between.  We hit real life again after the break with everyone going their different directions.  I am grateful to have him in my life and grateful for the time, little though it may be, that we get to be together.

Day 3

Today I am thankful for the Temple.  I got to go today and it was so nice to get out of the world for 2 hours and just be at peace.  Nowhere else I should be.  I love to be in the temple.

Day two

Today I am grateful for Corry's job.  It has supported us a long time now and we have had our ups and downs, but we have always had what we needed even if that meant a savings so we could go without a pay check for a few months.  I went shopping with the kiddos today and I had money to pay for the things we needed along with a few wants.  I love that!  I am so grateful for a good job!

Day one

I am grateful for books. I love to read and last night was no exception. Only the book I read was about a little boy being abducted from in front of his home at the age of 5. It made me really grateful for my family coming home safely from all their New Years Eve celebrations. I was a little worried about that while I read and am so grateful we are all together again.