Merry Christmas, Love the Fox Family

Sorry we did not send out Christmas cards, so here ya go!

Gratitude

Glenn and I were ‘lucky’ enough to give talks the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The Branch President had so much confidence in us we were the entire program, no youth speakers, musical numbers, just the two of us! No pressure right! Glenn gave an amazing talk on patience, and I spoke on gratitude. I have been pondering this topic ever since and just wanted to let my family and friends know a few of the things I am grateful for.

I have an exercise that I like to do on life’s rough days. To be honest it’s an exercise my husband makes me do because he knows by the end I’ll be smiling. I have to recite out loud 10 things that I’m grateful for. I may roll my eyes and start out reluctantly. Those first few thankful items on the list take more time to think about. Then they just start flowing, naming one thing on the list just starts a chain reaction of what I’m thankful for and I want to go even higher than ten. Without fail I have a smile and feel better by the end of the list. I highly recommend trying this.

This has been a necessary action recently. I have been so homesick. I have been missing my family and friends like crazy! I have even been missing my own husband because Glenn works so much overtime. I really hate my job, the catty girls, and not enough hours, and being frustrated that with all my efforts I still haven’t found a new job yet. I get angry whenever I look at our mountainous pile of laundry because we have no washer and dryer. I get angry at how quickly two people can accumulate so many dishes. Needless to say I have been kind of a mopey girl and need to snap out of it. So here is my gratitude list!

1.   My amazing husband!! Glenn makes me laugh and smile every day, he always knows what I need to cheer me up, and he works so hard to take care of our family. I’m a very lucky and happy wife!

2.   Plane tickets!! The fact that in 12 days we will be in California for Christmas!! I wasn’t sure that this was a possibility for a while and I am overwhelmed with excitement to spend my favorite time of year with our family and friends.

3.   My kind and generous parents!

4.   My sisters.

5.   My new extended family, the many in laws, and nieces and nephews I accumulated when I married Glenn.

6.   Friends – the ones we miss, and the new ones we have made in New York.

7.   Rocky and Lexi, our sometimes naughty, always cuddly, sweet, playful, silly puppies.

8.   Kitchen cabinets – Finally after two months we were able to unpack our kitchen boxes!

9.   The San Francisco 49ers!! Their 10-2 record and a clinched spot in the playoffs.

10.      Starbucks holiday beverages.

11.      I am thankful when it rains and when it snows.

12.      I am thankful for the cute winter coats, comfy sweaters, snuggly scarfs, boots, beanies, and gloves that keep me warm.

13.      Movies, Netflix, Books, and Music.

14.      Skype

15.      Date nights.

16.      Chapstick.

17.      Chocolate Milk.

18.      Toaster Strudels.

19.      Stars.

20.      Christmas decorations. I love our beautifully decorated tree that is so perfectly symmetrical someone actually thought it was fake. This is a home filled with Christmas spirit!

This list is such a small flicker of the blessings in my life. By counting our blessings ALWAYS we will be happier. We will be more of a joy to those around us, and hopefully be an example to them. I read somewhere once that gratitude is the path to more gratitude. I loved this and believe it to be true. My mom challenged me to find ways to serve everyday up until Christmas. I think this is an excellent way to keep my Christmas spirit up, and keep perspective on the importance of gratitude.

Oh and I didn’t take too many pictures over Thanksgiving, but I do have these two.

We drove to Virginia to spend Thanksgiving with Glenn’s oldest brother and his family. It was a super quick trip! We arrived Wednesday night and left early Friday morning since I had to work Black Friday sales. We were so grateful we were able to spend Thanksgiving with family, even though it was a house filled with Ravens fans.