2-4-6-8, Who Do We Appreciate!

Not grammatically correct, but saying "Whom" would ruin the whole effect of this timeless cheer.

I'm feeling overworked and underpaid. No, that's not a request for flattering comments. I figure that it's probably selfish of me to want to be told that all of my offerings are acceptable, even when I feel like I've done the best that I can (or really feel like it, anyway, because let's face it, not all of our efforts are our absolute best).

President Hinckley said, "The antidote for selfishness is service, a reaching out to those about us--those in the home and those beyond the walls of the home" (quoted in Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 1997, p 583).

And having heard frequently that an "Attitude of Gratitude" makes all the difference, I looked that subject up, too, in President Hinckley's Teachings book. I found at that at least I'm in good company, although I suspect that President Kimball probably wasn't feeling as selfish as I am today:

Although I should not have been, I was surprised at something President Kimball said on one occasion. I quote: "I find myself hungering and thirsting for just a word of appreciation or honest evaluation from my superiors and my peers. I want no praise; I want no flattery; I am seeking only to know if what I gave was acceptable."

If President Kimball needed a little of that, how much more do these [others]? (Teachings, p 247)

So, with that thought in mind, I am making a list of things for which I am grateful today.

1. My mom, because (among other things) she helped me fix the holes in my fence and plant my pansies, and she came all the way from Texas to watch the baby so I could go to a doctor's appointment.
2. Caleb, for doing his homework after school today right away.
3. Sariah, for giving people hugs when they are sad, and for laughing when she's tickled, and for carrying around 3 pacis because they make her happy.
4. Pansies, because they are cheerful and happy and make me smile, especially the yellow ones.
5. My neighbors, for giving me a hand with the kids when I need it.
6. I'm grateful that we didn't buy more house than we could afford, way back before the housing crisis.
7. I'm thankful for $3.19 gas. In 1993, when I bought gas for $0.88/gal, I would have never guessed I would be grateful for that.
8. And thanks to my hubby for not letting us move into a more expensive house or a great big gas guzzler. Now we're just getting by, instead of dead broke. ;)
9. I'm thankful for naptime. Sometimes, it's the highlight of my whole day.
10. I'm glad for the library. I love the library.

Ok, everybody, what are you grateful for?