Gratitude Challenge Day 7

Yeah, yeah, I know. I too was hoping for a more exciting post. However, my camera battery decided it did not have enough power to even let me download pictures. So you will have to wait to see and hear all about my truly entertaining week! But I will give you a sneak peek and tell you that BOTH my sisters had babies on the very same day (they were due 2 weeks apart). I am so happy for them! And I am excited to have 2 new nephews. That makes me an auntie 28 times- 9 times from Dan's side of the family and 19 from mine. Yep, we like that "multiply and replenish" stuff! But today's gratitude list is not about families or sisters or babies, or nieces & nephews. Instead, you get to know the

10 Places on Earth I am Grateful For:

And yes, while I KNOW this is suppose to be an exercise to get me thinking about the other 500 places or things I am grateful for, I have a hard time writing lists like this. Since there really ARE 500 places I am grateful for. How do I narrow it down? Do I go with places that have personal meaning? Specific places or general ones? Places I have lived (cuz there are at least 10 of those!)? Places that are beautiful? Places I want to go? I certainly am grateful for them all. And I feel that some order is ... er.... in order. Maybe I'll just be daring and go completely random. Yeah, that'll throw them off!

1. The Mara. I think that was the single most beautiful place I have ever been. I could not get over how gorgeous it was. I wanted to move there just to see that view every day. I think I could come up with 10 different places on the Mara alone that I am grateful for! Kenya was amazing. I am grateful for Kenya, and especially grateful for the Mara.

2. Colorado. I liked Colorado, but the church there was pretty awful. I am grateful I lived there because it showed me that I can be happy wherever I am and I will go to church no matter if I am alone and no one else cares if I am there. I am grateful for the things I learned in Colorado.

3. An I'm going to cheat, and piggyback off Colorado. I am grateful for The Garden of the Gods. So beautiful! I got to run (and hike later) through there at our family reunion a few years ago and it was humbling and amazing. I am grateful to see something so impressive.

4. BYU. I am grateful I had the chance to go there. I believe every LDS youth at some point needs to go or visit. It is so great to learn that you are not the only one trying to live righteously. I am grateful for BYU and the strong LDS students that go there. And fine, I'm grateful I got my Mrs and my BS there, although it was not an easy road to either!

5. The ocean. I'm not a huge fan of the beach or swimming in the ocean, but I love the majesty of it. And I am incredibly grateful that my in-laws organized a get together for us all 2 years ago at a beach house. My children still remember how much fun they had and they rated it waaay above Disney World! I am grateful for the beauty and memories the ocean has given me.

6. Okuma. For you non-military, Okuma is the "resort" on Okinawa. Going there with my family when I was a teen has special memories. It kind of represents the fun that being together was for us- painful and squabbly, but so much fun! I am grateful my parents dragged us there and we got to watch horrid movies because it was raining!

7. The Temple. Pretty much any temple. I have a special fondness for Los Angeles (you know, because because that's where we got married), and Provo (because that's when I had the chance to go every week for a while). But I love them all and am grateful we have so many. I am also grateful we are less than 2 hours form one right now.

8. Mom and Dad's house. I am so grateful that I can always go home. I am so grateful that I always feel loved and welcomed whenever I go visit my parents, whether it is for a week or a holiday or a summer. I am the kid who keeps returning and every time I show up, they seem happy to have me.... and whatever grandchildren I have with me!

9. The Thrift store. I am definitely grateful for the thrift Store! Do you know that when we moved here, I discovered that I could pay $12 a piece for school uniform shirts brand new.... or I could go to the thrift store and pay $2?!! Sorry, no contest. With 3 kids needing uniforms, $2 is the clear winner! I love saving money. Dan might argue that with all the stuff I lug home, we may not be saving money, but its good for my soul as well! I love having a place I can bargain hunt and find things cheaper.

10. Wherever Dan is. As Dan teases, "Wherever you are, it will be Zion to me!" And it is true. I can go wherever the Marine Corps sends us and I can be happy, as long as we are a family. I am grateful to have a home, and to have Dan. And maybe that doesn't count as a place, but its my list and I say it does!