36 Things I'm grateful for

Today is my birthday.  My sweet husband got the kids all off to school and cleaned up the kitchen before he went to work and let me sleep in.  Then my awesome friends took me to lunch.  I can't think of a better way to celebrate my birthday than to spend a little time making a list of 36 of the amazing blessings in my life. So, here it goes...
1. Travis of course.  He is my best friend, he is an amazing husband and father.  He's kind and spiritual and serves without a second thought.
2. Baylee.  Wow, what an amazing human being she is.  She is patient and so considerate of others.  Also the most forgiving, nonjudgemental person i have ever known.
3. Tori.  She is a little spit-fire, full of energy and ambition!  She is driven, she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go after it.
4. Kade.  He tries to be such a tough guy but he really is so caring and kind.  He hates for people to be upset. He loves his friends and family.
5. Cole.  Oh my gosh our family would be so boring without this kid!  He keeps us laughing all the time.  He is such a sweetheart though and loves his mommy :)
6. Olivia and Sadie.  My cute dogs are such a pain, but they love me and make me so happy.
7. My wonderful friends.  I am definitely not a "social butterfly", but the friends I have are some of the strongest most amazing women in the world.  They love me and set such great examples for me.
8. The gospel.  That's an easy one because it helps define me and helps me in every aspect of my life.
9. My nieces and nephews.  I love teenagers, and the majority of my nieces and nephews are in that stage of life right now.  It is so much fun to see their talents and abilities and the people they are becoming.  It's also kinda cool to see family traits in them that remind me of myself or my brothers or sister.
10. My parents.  I'm grateful for their love and support and their health right now.  I am so grateful for the relationship they have with my kids as well.
11.  My in-laws.  My other parents are such amazing people.  A lady told me last night what "a gem of a person" my mother-in-law is.  And she was absolutely right.  My in-laws are loving, kind, caring people and I'm so blessed to get to be a part of their family.
12. My brothers and sisters.  We aren't the family that talks every single day, but I know that they are there if I need them.  And the last few months, when we have really needed help they have been there to help us.  The love and generosity that they have shown is something I could never be grateful enough for.
13. Las Vegas.  I love living here.  And I definitely love that it doesn't snow here!
14. I am grateful I get to be at home when my kids get home.  I can't say I'm a full time stay at home mom anymore, but I am so incredibly grateful that I don't have to work full time either.  I can be here when the kids get home and I can make my work schedule fit around whatever is going on in my life at the time.
15. Zion's Youth.  It is a youth symphony and Chorus that Baylee is a part of and that I am fortunate enough to play a small role it.  The spirit that is felt as the music is performed is indescribable.  It's lots of work for 2 weeks each season, but the blessings from it are far reaching!
16. My calling.  Stake callings are hard!  But I love that I am getting to know so many more of the youth in our stake.  I love getting to go to the other wards and seeing the amazing things their leaders do and accomplish with their youth.
17. The women I serve with in Young Women's.  Holy cow, can I just say they are some of the most spiritual, talented women I have ever had the opportunity to be around!
18. The priesthood.
19. My bed.  It's my favorite place in the world to be :)
20. My heritage.  I come from strong, hard working people that sacrificed so much for the things they believed in.
21. Music.
22. The Temple.  What a blessing that place is and one more example of how much our Heavenly Father loves us, to give us someplace that we can go and remind ourselves what this life is all about.
23. Sand.  Funny I know, but nothing is more soothing to my soul that sand between my toes :)
24. Facebook.  Because it allows me to keep in contact with friends and family I otherwise would never get to talk to.
25. Texting.  Yup, so grateful for it because I really don't like talking on the phone!
26. Parentlink!
27. Our trailer.
28. All the different programs available to help build and strengthen my kids' testimonies.  Like EFY and Retreat for Girls
29. General Conference.  I love sitting in our pajama's and being taught by the Lord's messengers.
30. Date nights with Travis.
31. Great restaurants to choose from in Las Vegas.  We never run out of good places to eat here.
32. Repentance.  Because I mess up so much!
33. All the places we have had the opportunity to travel to.
34. Books.  I love to read!
35. And I'm incredibly grateful my kids love to read as well.

36. The future.  Things have been tough around here for a while, but I'm grateful for a future that I have faith will bring new adventure and blessings.