I'm grateful for homemade candy and how in my family, it goes right along with celebrating Thanksgiving. My wonderful little sis suggested we roll caramels in chocolate just like we did when Grandma Callister was still alive. It was a fun experience to create with our kids and in a special way honor my Grandma. I sure miss her. 
I'm grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord in my life. Yesterday I slammed into a parked car and destroyed the side of their car. I felt awful. seriously. awful. Luckily, the children and I were safe, but I've worried about it since the moment it happened. I prayed that they would be forgiving and understanding. Because we only have liability on the van, Wade and I have been freaking out about how much we're going to have to pay of our own money. $1000? $2000? more? Since we hope to move in the spring, we need all our savings intact for the down payment. I was afraid that this and a few other big expenses that have come up may signify another year or two delay in moving. I felt so discouraged until the insurance company called me today and surprised me with the news that they would cover 100% of the damages! What?! I was shocked and immediately called Wade who had me repeat the news a few times till it really sunk in, and we were elated and so grateful! 
I'm grateful for teeter totter swings. Watching these two cuties swing on this for hours every day over the Thanksgiving holiday reminded me of the teeter totter swings I shared with my cool cousins back in the day. Ah, memories. 
I'm grateful for my little pianist in training (all 3 of them!) I've had pictures of the baby with our old keyboard before, but it's especially fun to see her plunking away on my parent's baby grand in St. George. Music is so important to our family, and I truly look forward to watching my kids develop their music skills through the years. :)
I'm grateful for Better Than Almost Anything Cake. it. is. heavenly. As I mentioned yesterday, besides THIS beauty, I really prefer pie over cake. You can tell I kind of like it a lot when it's all I asked for my birthday last year. Kim, one my best buddies, came through, and made me some to share at my Girl's Party. Yay! I think I had thirds. Shhh! It was my birthday, don't tell.
I'm grateful for pie (like REALLY grateful!) Since our first Relief Society Pie Making Marathon in 2009, I practiced and practiced at home and now feel quite comfortable whipping up a pie for dessert. In fact, I'm thinking of going into business to begin selling my pies (totally kidding). I've always preferred a good fruit pie over cake, besides ONE very special cake I'll post about tomorrow. ;) For Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, I made two pumpkin pies and one apple pie. At home in my freezer, I have 3 more homemade pies waiting to be cooked and shared with friends. Anyone want to come over? Johnny, you know we're already saving one for you, buddy.
I'm grateful for Thanksgiving and the chance we have to gather as family and reflect on our many blessings and enjoy yummy food together. The WHY behind this special holiday makes me smile. I love American history. Maybe we could focus on it more rather than this crazy obsession with Black Friday sales the day after. haha ;) It's felt like Thanksgiving EVERYDAY the last 6 months as I've shared thoughts of gratitude daily. This gratitude blog, "Sunshine in My Soul," has been and will continue to be a happy creation that blesses my life is so many ways as it keeps me in a constant space of gratitude. There is soooo much to be grateful for! 
What are YOU grateful for?
I'm grateful for the Sonju girls and how they bring me soooo much joy! I have never met a child with Down Syndrome that didn't bring a smile to my face, but these two in particular are really dear to my heart. I spent some time with Macey, Madi, Halle, and Andie today, and it felt like coming home, just like when I used to nanny them several years ago. This photo was taken in May of 2008, and they have grown up so much since then so I wish I would have brought my camera so I could post a photo of them from today. I love these girls and am grateful to have them as my friends and my teachers.
I'm grateful for the footed pajamas that keep my kiddos toasty warm on cold nights in the winter. I kind of want one for me...what do you think? ;)
I'm grateful for My Sunshine, Brandi Wilcox. There are only a few really special ladies in my life I nicknamed Sunshine, and Brandi is the one who first inspired the idea. Julie Kohler and Lindsay Keith Hamilton are the other two because they also radiate joy whenever I see them, just like Brandi. :) Whenever I travel to St. George to be with my family, often it's a short enough trip that I don't have time to visit many friends, but I always, always stop to see My Sunshine. She's been one of my best friends for 8 years, and she just lifts me up and sees the best in me. I love this girl so much and am very grateful to have her sweet friendship in my life.
I'm grateful for my ninja kids with their wicked awesome moves, thanks to their Ninja Master, Matteo Neil. Who ever would have guessed a teenager would have so much skill, discipline, and positive influence to be a Ninja Master for my kids? Thanks Matteo. You rock my friend.
I'm grateful for the Neighborhood Block Party we host in our home every fall. As you can see our baby somehow convinced her big brother to share his chocolate cream pie with her at the party, and she was delighted! Oops! Every year, we invite 100 families all along our block, and about 30 - 40 usually make it. It's been a fun tradition for the past 4 years, especially since most of our neighbors on our block aren't members of our faith, so we don't see them every Sunday, and this gives us a chance to meet new neighbors. It's neat to have the diversity that we do so we can connect with and learn from so many different types of people. 
What are YOU grateful for?
I'm grateful for Taylor's mad skills of busting the doorknob apart so he and Kelsey could use their bathroom again. haha Taylor and Kelsey rent our basement apartment and keep us laughing all the time. Unconsciously, Taylor had locked the bathroom door, and we didn't have a key for it, so Kelsey and I had no idea what to do besides pay $100 for a locksmith to come. When Taylor got home from work tonight, he spent almost an hour, but finally demolished the doorknob and broke the lock so we could get in again. We were cracking up, especially at Taylor's serious face posing for this photo.
I'm grateful to watch my kids jump in the big pile of leaves just like I did when I was a kid (and when I did it yesterday, too.) haha It's pure joy.
I'm grateful for my little girl's haircut that is cute and stylish, and will be much easier to comb through now!
I'm grateful for the POWER of our THOUGHTS! My daughter has had a picture of a pillow pet on her VISION BOARD for 6 months now. For those of you new to that concept, a vision board is a place on your bedroom wall where you post pictures and words of the things you want most. Sometimes she does chores to earn what she wants and other times, it comes as a hand me down or gift from someone else. As a family, we talk OFTEN about the power of our thoughts and how if you truly focus on what you want, you'll receive it.
I'm grateful for new hats. They are sensational on bad hair days and are just fun to wear. :)
I'm grateful when Grandma and Papa Lang come to town. We always find something extra fun to do. They took us all to see Puss in Boots, which kept us laughing for 2 hours straight! Hilarious! Even my baby kept pointing to the big screen and saying, "Kitty!"over and over.
The next morning, my mom and I went shopping for birthday and Christmas presents while my dad was at the Republican Convention in Ogden. Thanks Grandma and Papa for spending time with us and bringing a smile to all our faces. We love you!
I'm grateful for my Girls Night with Cynthia tonight. We ate Papa Murphey's pizza and watched While You Were Sleeping just like we used to when we were teenagers. We missed having Katie there, and it wasn't quite the same without her, but we still had had a great time. Katie, next time will you bring the game of Life and some churros? That would really make it like old times. :)
I'm grateful for Halloween year round at my house thanks to my imaginative son. If he's not dressing up in a dozen different costumes, then he's dressing down to just his underwear, running around the house as Tarzan or a tiger. He's always playing pretend, and I can't help but wonder what he's going to come up with next. 
This photo was taken this morning when his best friend came over to play. Then he changed into his Batman costume for our Mommy and Me Music Class. It was there that another mom asked him if he thought it was still Halloween. Yep! ALL YEAR ROUND! And I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm grateful to have spent an hour with the children at the homeless shelter tonight. I don't think ANYTHING humbles me more and helps me recognize my many blessings than spending time with kids like that. They have so little and are cold and hungry so much of the time, yet their spirits are pure and beautiful. While the young women of our church group played games with the majority of the children, I noticed a shy little girl in the corner. She resembled the very essence of her name, "Angel." She and I spent most of the time together pretending to cook at the play kitchen, eat a banquet of delicious food, and care for her baby doll. Angel and I became instant friends, as I often do with children, and I magically brought a smile to her lovely face with my silliness. She magically brought a smile to mine, as well. It was precious to share my joyful energy and gifts with her and receives her unique gifts likewise. I didn't want to go when it was time to leave my new friend. When I met her mother, I took her hand in mine, and said, "Thank you for sharing your daughter with us tonight. She is so special." The mother teared up and Angel just beamed up at me. 
I'm grateful for fall! The colorful leaves, pumpkins, fun home decor, stylish boots, pies, candles, Christmas music, family and birthday celebrations, and newly sharpened pencils (name the movie anyone?) all remind me of my favorite season, fall! Ironically, just as our delightful yellow leaves fell to the ground and covered our entire backyard, it snowed here days later. Such typical, crazy Salt Lake weather! At least I appreciate both fall and winter, so bring it on, as long as I have my cozy slippers, hot chocolate, and It's a Wonderful Life. :)
I'm grateful for Manic Mondays that help me DEEPLY appreciate the other days of the week. It's not like every Monday is a Manic Monday where I want to pull my hair out. But today was, and I'm ready for it to be over. Catch you tomorrow, my friends! Hopefully, I'll have a better attitude then. ;)
I'm grateful for Daylight Savings Time. I know it can be obnoxious when our clocks spring forward in the spring, but when they fall back in the fall....ahhh, so nice...one more blessed hour of sleep! And I adore the sunshine in the mornings now! It felt so dark before. Maybe it is a good idea. What do you think?
I'm grateful for our exersaucer that was given to us 6 years ago as a hand-me-down and has provided hours of entertainment for our babies through the years (not to mention an opportunity for mommy to finally get some chores done while they're occupied for 15 minutes!) The other day, I got the exersaucer out to let my sister borrow it. And it was hilarious to put my one year old in it just for fun. I couldn't help but remember her enjoying it earlier this year when she still looked like a baby and not a growing toddler like she is now.
Only 3 more days to enter the GIVEAWAY!
I'm grateful for my little basketball star, with his own unique skills and definitely his own unique look. He's just an awesome kid. He wanted to look like Troy from High School Musical so he found his sister's headband, and check him out! I laugh every time I see this picture. :)
I'm grateful to watch both my daughters develop the innate motherly instinct within them. I found my baby the other day holding this baby doll in her arms and giving her a bottle to drink. It was so adorable! And I've mentioned before how she takes good care of our kitty, giving her lots of gentle "pat, pats" on the back. Two thoughts came to my mind: One, that these little children truly do watch us all the time, modeling our actions and words. And two, there is an undeniable motherly and fatherly instinct within all of us, even when we're young, to care for one another. This continued caring is what I think makes the world go round.
I'm grateful for my son's ability to bring joy to others. He is just a ball of energy and happiness and can make anyone smile within minutes of being around him. One afternoon, he was making his baby cousin laugh out loud for longer than my sister has ever seen him laugh. It was precious!
I'm grateful for my friend, Harmony Williams, and how she motivates me to live a healthy and active lifestyle. And since it's the FIRST day of November, Harmony is sponsoring the GIVEAWAY this month!
