Grateful In December

Something I read this morning inspired this post. It was this month's First Presidency message (by Henry B. Eyring) about choosing to be grateful. I love that this message came in December. After President Eyring's message was a separate "gratitude challenge" by John Hilton III and Anthony Sweat (?) that I liked. It's 100 things to be thankful for, broken down into ten sets of ten. Here it is:

1. Write 10 physical abilities you are grateful for.

2. Write 10 material possessions you are grateful for.

3. Write 10 living people you are grateful for.

4. Write 10 deceased people you are grateful for.

5. Write 10 things about nature you are grateful for.

6. Write 10 things about today you are grateful for.

7. Write 10 places on earth you are grateful for.

8. Write 10 modern inventions you are grateful for.

9. Write 10 foods you are grateful for.

10.Write 10 things about the gospel you are grateful for.

Here are just a few things I am thankful for: 

We, the People of the United States... 
Blessings of Liberty to Ourselves and our Posterity.
I think our government seeks to promote the general welfare 
and we enjoy the blessings of Liberty --
we're still working on the more perfect Union part.

Give us this day our daily bread...
I  have more than enough food every day.
Beautiful friends helped me learn how to make this good bread.
I have a shiny red Kitchenaid that does the heavy work for me, and each time I bake
I am grateful not to have a tiled countertop with grout lines to clean out!

My kids go to good, safe schools. I am very grateful.
The vastly different schools I went to in 7th and 8th grade 
educated me in more than one way. Although I appreciate the perspective gained, 
I would not necessarily choose the same learning experience for my daughters. 
When you think about it, any school is a blessing, especially for girls.

I married a lasagna-making man.
It is a beautiful thing.

Luke 2: A light to lighten the Gentiles...
The greatest gift. 

Merry Christmas!

PS I am not happy about the formatting for this post, but will gratefully walk away now.