How Did it Get to be the LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER Already?

Before this month passes by, I need to get in at least ONE "Song of Gratitude".

I am so grateful for my husband.

                           
He is everything I AM NOT.  Patient.  Optimistic.  a Peacemaker.  (all fabulous things to have in a marriage!)   ;)
Sometimes he is THE ONLY ONE I can talk to about certain things...when I am so full of concern about something that I feel I am going to burst - or at least throw up - he is my confidante.

I am grateful for these 5 children of mine.

I love the "moments" I have with them.

We have this Little People Nativity set that plays "Away in a Manger" when you push a button, which Brookelle LOVES to do.....I caught her "leading the music" to that today.  Melt my heart & made me smile.
I had the Young Women over to my home for mutual this week making pumpkin bread.....well, it ended up taking A LONG TIME, so Ryan returned home from young men's before we were done.  He joined in talking with us all....and we were all laughing in no time.  At one time, I was doubled over, hoping I didn't pee my pants!!  Love his "fun-ness."  He stood in as a "Witness" at Katelyn's baptism last Saturday.  As I looked over from my vantage point in the "wings" of the font and saw him standing there reverently, dressed in his suit.....well, THAT was a GRATEFUL moment for this mom!
Katelyn brings me in breakfast while I am working in the morning -- scrambled eggs with bacon bits & toast and some fruit, with a cut out paper heart on the tray with the words, "Hers ur brekfus.  I love you." written on it.  So thoughtful - especially since I don't even have time to eat some mornings!  AND when one of my [unnamed] children decided to "run away" but really was just hiding out in the shed, Katelyn took out cookies & crackers to her sibling - and asked it we had any "take out" boxes, so she could take care of them at dinner time, too!
Kyle doesn't say much around the whole family - or at home in general....he sure listens to everything that other people ARE saying around him, though!!  Sometimes he responds with a slight smile, a shake of his head, or a roll of his eyes depending on how "amusing" he thinks we all are....but he "gathers" all this info that is surrounding him and keeps it all in his heart....AND THEN when I get him in the car with me alone, he let's loose!  All of a sudden, he's got PLENTY of things to talk about.  He brings up all the questions, comments, and discoveries he's been holding onto recently and we have quite the delightful 1:1 conversations together - on the road!
SShhhh, don't tell anyone, but Haylee is all for having her parents "tuck her in" at night still -- AND scratch her back, of course.  Who wouldn't be able to fall asleep with that?  I also find it charming that she likes to "spy" on the Young Women when they are over, or hang out in the "fringes" of the group and admire them - trying to throw out a clever comment whenever she can.  I'm grateful to have her join me with any of my Young Women preparations and deliveries to their homes.  She is always willing to help me when it involves the Young Women!  (I hope the Young Women feel HONORED that they are such a "Rock Star" in her mind, but I also hope they feel RESPONSIBLE - as she is viewing them as an example - good or bad!)

I am grateful for books.

This is one of my little "mommy tricks" I use.  This is one of those things I have always used to cure a cranky child.  Stop.  Sit down.  Cuddle up with them & read a story.  Magic.  Everything is good with the world again!  I was in a bookstore today, and I was lovin' it....it made me almost GIDDY to be surrounded by books, so many I want to read to my children - or have them read on their own.  This love of Children's Books started at a really young age for me - I remember our "reading alcove" in the house where I lived in California (ages 2 to 5).  It had a bookcase full of all our children's books and a padded rocker where my mom would read to us, or we could sit there and "lose ourselves" in a book, too.  (Sometimes I pretended to take my nap by sitting there looking at books real quietly instead, but my mom was not deceived when I came down and told her I was "done with my nap!")  My Grandma knew what THE BEST books were since she worked in the schools, and she gave us some of the "Classics" for gifts.  She always wrote our name & date in the front cover of the book and then signed her name.  Some of them still exist [lovingly used] at my mom's house, and whenever I see them, I get extremely sentimental!  When I've picked out books for my children, I pick those SAME ONES from my childhood!  This "magic" of children's books now spreads across four generations (at least that I can remember).  Tomorrow, on the first day of December, we will start our Christmas storybook tradition each night.  And I love that they only want ME to read them the story - word is that Dad or Big Brother just can't pull it off the same way!  If I'm gone one evening, they will just skip that night since it's "our thing."  And, contrary to the "code-of-cool-conduct" my teenagers still gather round for this ritual.  Another "moment" I am grateful for.

I am grateful for church callings.
Namely those people who are serving well in their callings.

I have always thought "the most important calling in the church" was the calling(s) that currently has stewardship over MY CHILDREN.  So, right now, that would be the Young Men's President and Priests' advisers, The Young Men's 2nd Counselor, Deacon's Advisers, and Scoutmasters.  The Primary Presidency, the Valiant 9 teachers, the Valiant 7 teachers, all the Activity Day Leaders, and the Sunbeam teachers.  They are helping and teaching my children so much.  And they LOVE them and make things ENJOYABLE for them.  Right now - and over the last several WEEKS - the Primary Organization is planning our ward Christmas Party....and that is a TON of work.  They are making a "movie" of the Primary Children by filming them "in action" and "interviewing" them - with the skills & services of our local professional film editor.  What an exciting & fun project!  I'm thankful for all the people who put in some much time and effort to carry out the work of the Lord.  (I, myself, have been in charge of activities before and I KNOW how much work it takes, so I'm ESPECIALLY grateful when someone else is doing it - and I'm on the receiving end!)  :)  I, too, have been blessed from serving in church callings -- remember that virtue of patience I don't have?  I'm sure getting a lot of LESSONS in that category while doing my calling!  :)

The list could go on, but these are the things that come to my mind the quickest here on this last ditch effort to express my gratitude before the month is over!