I'm thankful for my talents.  I have many talents that I have been able to use in my life for entertainment, to help others, or for my own pleasure.  Here are a few of my talents I am thankful for.
- I can play the piano.  I may not be perfect at it, but it is so enjoyable and such a stress relief to be able to sit and play a song. 
- I work well with kids and those with special needs.  I have an easier time talking to them than I do adults.  I am going into elementary education because I do have the patience and ability to work well with kids.  
- I twirled the baton for several years.  It was so much fun to be able to do something hard that not many other people could do.  I won miss Fiesta Bowl Model Queen when I was 12. 
- I danced for a long time and was on the Torgete team for my high school and Envision college winter guard team while I was still in high school.  
- I love taking pictures, it is one of the talents I am working hard on.
- I love doing hair I have been doing hair for over 7 years now and I love it! I love changing people's lives! It is a talent I am constantly trying to keep up with and work on.  
- I love singing.  It is one of my hidden talents that I don't like to share.  It is hard to share it because I don't like how harsh people are these days.  I'm scared to death, I won't even sing in church.  
I have several things I like to do that aren't necessarily talents yet.  I am working hard to perfect them, but I will never quite be there.  
-sewing
-cooking
-cleaning
-scrap-booking
-decorating
-and finally talking to people.  
Hopefully I will be able to continue working on these things to 

I'm thankful for the examples I have in my life.  Without them I would be lost.  

This is my parents.  They have always been one of the best examples in my life.  Both of my parents hold a stable job, earning their own living, have strong testimonies, love each other very much, and take care of others.  My mom is amazing.  Growing up she was able to work, take care of the family, cook, clean, do the laundry, and do all the extras for us.  My dad has always been able to provide for our family, he got a good education and always taught us how important it was for us to get an education as well.  
Both my parents have taught me many life-long lessons.  Here are a few of them:
1.  Never give up- I can do anything that I put my mind to.  If I want to be an astronaut all I have to do is work toward it and keep going until I make that goal.  My parents did everything in their power to help make my dreams come true.  This includes in my relationship with Ryan.  My parents had their trials, but they always work through it.  I know it is possible to work through my trials with Ryan because of the examples my parents are.  
2.  The golden rule- treat others the way you want to be treated.  This has been so important in my life! I was made fun of when I was younger.  It was really hard for me to make friends and trust people.  I never wanted anyone to be treated the way I did.  When I saw others alone I wanted to make sure they were okay and comfort them.  I want to do for them what I wish others would do for me.  
3.  Get a good education- My dad was an awesome example of someone who got a good education.  He went far and because of that he was able to take care of his family.  My mom also got a good education.  They both taught me how important it is to get a good education.  I learned that it is important to get an education so I can help take care of my family.  Even if I don't use that education until the kids are out of school I have it and that is what's important.  If something were to happen to Ryan I have an education I can fall back on.  
4.  Agency- My parents always taught me that we do have free agency.  How we use that agency however, will decide if we are actually free or not.  I will never forget the "lecture" my dad gave me one time about school.  He told me that if I work hard now I will be free later.  If I don't work hard and don't get good grades, I will lose my freedom.  How? Well, If I work hard and get good grades I will have the freedom to choose which college I want to go to in the future.  I may not get into every college, but I will have more options than I would if I didn't do well in school.  If I didn't do well in school I wouldn't have near as many options for college.  I may not have got accepted to a university, or would have had a harder time being accepted.  I would also lose the opportunity to potentially receive scholarships.  
5.  Respect/Manners- My parents taught me to respect others.  Respecting others means not just respecting them, but respecting their property.  Because of this I believe that respect and manners go hand in hand.  I was taught when you are at someones house you are polite and use please and thank you, by doing this you are showing them respect.  Another simple lesson I learned by the example of my parents is to not walk across other peoples property.  It may not seem like that big of a deal, but it is good manners to use the side walk when walking up to someones house.  It also shows them respect.  
I love my parents so much and I'm so thankful for their example.  

The Savior is another example I have had in my life.  He has taught me so much.  I learn from him everyday.  He is the strongest example I have because he loves me so much that he gave his life for me.  That is a love that I wish I had.  He always had time to stop and help those in need, forgive, teach, care for the ill, making sure each and every person was found, and my favorite care and show love for the children.  Somehow with all he had going on he still managed to talk to his Heavenly Father through prayer and study.  How can my life be so busy today that I don't have time for half of what he did, the things that really matter? He is an amazing example! I only hope my life can be half of what his was.  

These amazing girls were the best example to me when I got out of rehab.  They got me going to church with them, attempted to do roommate family home evening, showed me love by taking me to work, bringing me in, and treating me with respect.  We had our moments, but these girls mean so much to me.  They showed me how to have good clean fun whether it was on a date or hanging out with one another. I love these women and respect them so much! 

I'm thankful for friends.  I have some of the best friends on earth! Over the years I have been able to find out who my true friends are.  It is sad to see those who have that "I'm better than you" attitude.  Even recently I have had "friends" who I have texted or tried to gt a hold of and they never contacted me back.  It is really sad.  I try not to get my feelings hurt, but I just remember that I am loved by others and the ones who don't care about me don't matter.  

I'm grateful for the beautiful outdoors! I love being outside hiking, canoeing, rock climbing, 4-wheeling, walking, jogging, swimming, hunting, fishing, and just about anything else outside that you can think of.  
I'm so thankful that I am able to enjoy the fresh smell outside, the wind in the trees, the warmth of the sun, blue skies, clouds, the smell of rain, snowboarding down fresh white snow, and the peace and quiet that the outdoors brings.  I love relaxing next to the water waiting for that fish to bite the line, or listening to the busy river as we wade down it.  I love the peace of sleeping under the never ending stars, not one town light nearby.  I love the sound of the birds chirping first thing in the morning.  My husband and I have joked many times about going to the mountains and becoming a mountain family.  I just love being outside, it is so peaceful!   

I'm so grateful for my camera.  I am able to capture moments that I would never be able to remember.  My brain doesn't hold as much information as it use to.  I love that my son sees my love of photography and therefore loves it too.  This is a picture I took with my phone of him taking a picture.  I love it! 

I'm thankful for all the law enforcement officers and their wives. I never knew how hard it was to work in law enforcement until my husband started working in it. I appreciate all that officers do to make my home a safe place to live in. I'm also grateful for the patrol officer who came to my house at 4 am when a drunk person tried to get into my house thinking it is theirs.

I'm so thankful for the many men and women who fight to protect me and my family.  Because of them (the past and present) I am able to teach my kids what I want, how I want, and where I want, I can choose my religion, go to school, marry who I wanted to, have as many kids as I want, celebrate whatever I want to celebrate, carry a weapon, and so much more.  
My family has a long line of servicemen.  I wish I knew more information, but that is one of the greatest things about living in this country at this time, there is genealogy.  I know I have a great...... something grandfather who lost his leg in the war, but I don't know much else.  My grandfather was also in the military, served for many years, and was deployed several times.  I also have several family members who are currently serving including uncles and cousins.  I have many friends serving too.  I appreciate their service and sacrifice.  
I am also so thankful for the families of those who are separated from their loved ones for their service.  I have seen how difficult it is to be at home attending to kids, keeping the house in order, while staying sane.    My heart aches for them, but I appreciate them so much! 

I'm thankful for music of all kinds! Music is a way to express oneself.  My favorite music includes hip hop, country, rap, reggae, church music, Christmas music, and much more.  I'm grateful for those who put their time and energy into appropriate music that my family and I can listen to together.  My children love to listen to the family music station on Pandora.  I have so much fun dancing and singing with them.  Our favorite times to listen to music is while making dinner or cleaning.  I'm so thankful for all the great music we have the opportunity to listen to. 

I'm grateful for my home.  It may be small, cluttered, old, and unfinished, but it is MY home! I love the warmth and shelter that it provides.  I love that my family can be a family here, we are squished, but that make us closer. I'm thankful for my yard that my children can play in.  I'm thankful for my fireplace.  We have a wood burning stove.  There is nothing like it! I love being able to wake up in the morning and know that I can heat up my house without it costing a fortune. I'm so thankful that my children have a place to lay their heads at night, bathe in the morning, eat meals, play with their toys, and make memories.  I'm thankful for my home! 

I'm thankful for my extended family.  I have two wonderful parents who would do anything for me.  I know they love me, and I love them.  They have helped me through so much.  Friends aren't forever, family is.  I learned that the hard way.  The only people who came to visit me in rehab was my family.  My grandparents, mom and dad, brothers and sister/sis-in-law.  They have all supported me when I lost everything else.  I hurt them so bad, but yet they still showed me love.  I have the most AMAZING family in the entire world! 
I also married into an amazing family.  My mother-in-law is an amazing woman.  She is so selfless, doing things for everyone else and never expecting anything in return.  She makes all of her own food, including canning, and makes quilts for those in need.  Every year she donates several quilts she made to the hospital and police department.  I love her and her example.  My sister/brother-in-laws are all wonderful too.  They have all been so nice and welcoming to me.  My nieces and nephews are all so smart and beautiful.  Each and everyone of them has helped me in one way or another.  
I love my family, I couldn't have a better family.  I am so blessed for that!