Thanksgiving thoughts 2011

I'm baking pies today. I have the bread for the dressing ready. All of tomorrow's meal ingredients are in the fridge or on the counter. The table cloth and decorations are ready for the table. The rolls are ready to be picked up at Shirley's this afternoon. And the house will get cleaned today, well, presentable enough for guests tomorrow.

Before the real hubbub hits where I am actually doing the things on the to-do list, I want to list some things I am thankful for this year, in no particular order.

My mom. I love my 82-year-old mother. She has suffered some life setbacks the last three years but she is still here, still happy and still a joy to be around.

Riley. He is my best friend, my anchor, my favorite person to spend time with, my sweetheart and eternal date. He makes me laugh, holds me when I cry, makes life interesting and sees things in the world I don't see unless he points them out. He truly has a sense of wonder.

My children. I love being a mom. I love the memories I have of each of my children as they've made their way through life. They are remarkable people with gifts of intelligence, humor and love.

The gospel of Jesus Christ. The older I get the more I love the teachings of my Savior. I have a believing heart and know that even though we don't have all the answers here, we will someday and I will remain true and faithful so I can receive all the blessings that are in my personal little box on a shelf in heaven's closet.

My sister, or sissy. We have lots of memories during my lifetime. I'm glad I had an older sister to play with, borrow clothes from, laugh with and love. We've been through hard times and good times together, each making us stronger women. She is my friend.

My brothers. Although they live in different states, we talk or email several times a month. They check in to see if I am still sane. They offer support and listen to my occasional rants. Each holds a different place in my heart with different memories through my life. I love each of them.

My brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, my nieces and nephews and their kids. I love being an aunt and great aunt to so many cute kids! I love that some live nearby but that others stop through on their way to someplace else or that we keep in touch by social network or snail mail. My life is blessed by each of them.

My job. I love working at The Daily Universe at BYU. It's so fun to work with bright, young minds. It's wonderful to feel the spirit of each student as they decide what to do with their lives. I have more than 500 new friends from my years in the newsroom - some just brushed my life for a moment, others have become lifelong friends. And my co-workers are easy-going, helpful, humorous people who I enjoy being around. I'm blessed to have a job, or another home, to go to every day.

Food. I love food. I love it so much there's more of me to love these days. Sigh. I love the pecan pies that just came out of the oven and the pumpkin pies that are baking now. I love turkey and dressing. I love sweet pickles and rolls. I don't love vegetables but I like them and will eat them because I know they are good for me. I love bagels, strawberry jam, Hawaiian pizza, enchiladas, chocolate, licorice, ice cream, taco salad and omelets. I love eating out. I love when people feed me. I love potlucks. And most of all, I love eating good food with friends. Maybe that's why I love food so much - it's not really the food itself but the venue and company that goes along with it.

My home. We've lived in this home for more than 12 years now - the longest we've ever lived in any home. We've owned two homes during our marriage (not counting the mobile home which I loved too) and as soon as I walked into both of them, I knew they would be ours. I loved our Texas home on Bill   Hughes Road where we lived from 1992-1999. This home in Provo, though, is probably where we'll spend the rest of our days. I love the airiness of the kitchen, living room and sunroom. I think it's an inviting place, a great house to host parties. Eleven years ago we hosted Thanksgiving the day after my dad's funeral. We had 36 people that year! And the kitchen opens up onto a patio where we've had birthdays, graduation parties, barbecues, scout and young women activities, neighborhood get-togethers and more. Riley and I enjoy our TV room with the 52" TV and dual recliners - some gifts we gave ourselves the past few years. I like our Tahitian-themed bedroom and my Wizard of Oz kitchen. Our walls are adorned with mementos of travels to Taiwan, Mongolia, Sweden, Denmark, Paris, Argentina, Australia and Tahiti. Whether there is a group of 36 or just me, I enjoy being in my house.

Memories - I am thankful for so many wonderful memories. I love my childhood - it was magical. I loved being a teen-ager and the friends I had in high school. Kelly and I played a few shenanigans back then and we still reminisce and laugh. I'm grateful for friends I made at college - we get together with a group from our days in the early '80s at USU twice a year. We lived in Provo from 1983-1988 and made wonderful friends in Rivergrove 3rd ward - another group I call once a year or so to have lunch and catch up with. Our years in California and Texas brought more friends into our lives, especially our 10 years in Texas. I have memories of meals shared, trips taken, traditions started, church events and our children growing up with good lifelong friends made in Texas, some at my old job at Purchase Power. Even the years here brought new faces and fun to my life - girl's camp, our neighborhood, having family nearby, having friends who are really more like family nearby, getting reacquainted with my great aunts and cousins and those I've worked with at Canyon Crest Elementary and BYU. My cup floweth over!

I could probably write many more paragraphs about other things I am thankful for - having an organized mind (could be a curse too ...); loving to make indelible, sometimes crazy memories; being able to make things happen (like the SHS band playing for my mom's 80th birthday); winning contests; my dad who I miss; warm jammies; Riley's amazing job and our opportunities to travel the world; being close to mountains and desert; knowing I'll be a grandma in 2012! So many blessings, so many things to be thankful for.

Now for that to-do list ...