Megan's Green Beans

Megan makes the green bean casserole for our Thanksgiving and they are so good, here is her recipe from "thenovicechefblog"

The Best Green Bean Casserole Recipe:

serves 8 (megan doubles this)

Ingredients:
2 Tbslp kosher salt
1.5 lbs fresh green beans, rinsed and ends trimmed
2 Tblsp butter
1 small onion, chopped
2 gloves garlic, minced
2 large portabello mushrooms, chopped
1/2 to 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 Tblsp all purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half and half
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
6 oz french fried onions

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375, grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish and set aside.
Blanch the beans: In a large pot bring about a gallon of water and 2 Tblsp of salt to a boil.  Add the green beans and boil for 5 minutes.  Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain and set aside
Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat.  Add garlic and onion, stirring occasionally, until the onions begin to soften, about 4 to 5 minutes.  Add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine.  Cook for 2 minutes.  Add the chicken broth and stir to combine.  Then add the half and half and simmer until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in all of the green beans.  Transfer the green bean mixture to prepared casserole dish.  Top with bread crumbs and then layer the french fried onions on top.
Place casserole in the oven and bake until bubbly, about 20 min If the onions start to brown too quickly then cover casserole with foil. Serve immediatley

Turkey Gravy

I am not good at making gravy, so I had to find someone who cooks good and I could trust them. 
Here is the recipe that works for me!
Turkey Gravy (for a picture go here:)

Source: Center Cut Cook

1/2 c. butter, cut into about 8 pieces
1 tsp. coarse black pepper
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
4 c. turkey pan drippings OR 4 c. turkey stock

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper. Slowly add flour to create a roux, constantly whisking to combine. After a few minutes, the flour will be well incorporated into the butter. Slowly begin to pour in drippings and/or stock into the pan, constantly whisking. Allow the gravy to cook for several minutes, the longer it sits the more it will thicken up. Serve immediately, or keep on very low heat until you’re ready to serve.

[My 2 Cents] From Yvonne from triedandtasty.com
If using drippings from a chicken or turkey: Pour drippings into a gravy fat separator. I specifically made a special trip to the store to pick up one (I LOVE OXO products) and it worked like a charm. I have not idea how exactly it works, but it did! You’ll want to allow the drippings to cool a bit so that the fat rises to the top, then pour out your gravy and leave the fat. If you don’t have enough drippings to equal 4 cups, add enough turkey stock until you have 4 cups.

Because I brined my turkey, my gravy was INSANELY salty!! So, I just kept adding water until it wasn’t so bad any more. I probably added a good 4-5 cups of water to help balance it out. If you haven’t brined your turkey in salt water, you will be fine.

Cranberry Jello Jubilee

This recipe was given to me by my mother in law Beth who is a great cook. She served this at Thanksgiving and Christmas!  I love it!

Cranberry Jello Jubilee
1 large raspberry jello
1 cup hot water
1 cup cold water
2 cups whole cranberry sauce (canned, not raw)
1 (4 oz) can crushed pineapple
3 mashed bananas
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
1 pint sour cream

In large bowl, dissolve jello in 1 cup hot water and 1 cup cold water.  Chill and set until thickened, then add cranberry sauce, pineapple, bananas, and chopped nuts.  Put half of mixture into pan (can be 9 x 13 pan or smaller) Put one pint sour cream on top, then add the other mixture on top and set till firm.
Yummy!

Thought for the day:
Sometimes we try too hard to solve our own problems, and we forget to ask for help from our Heavenly Father.  The gospel is so simple, as is found in 1 Nephi 15:8  where Nephi says to his brothers  "And I said unto them:   Have ye inquired of the Lord?"
May we always remember to ask Heavenly Father for answers to our problems, He loves to hear from us and help us and He wants us to be happy! (He wants us to learn patience and trust and many other things as well, so sometimes the answers take longer, but we must keep asking!)

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

It is Thanksgiving time and Jenna asked me for the recipe for our Strawberry Pretzel Salad and I said "it is on the blog" to which I just realized it is not on the blog.  This is a traditional jello salad we make every Thanksgiving, you can use strawberries or raspberries or any kind of berries!  
I got this one from Sherene Keith from my Sandridge Ward Cookbook!  Yay for Ward cookbooks!
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
2 cups coarsely crushed pretzels
3 Tbsp sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1 (8 oz) cream cheese
1 cup sugar
1 (8 oz) Frozen whipped topping (cool whip)
1 6 oz Strawberry Jello
1 1/2 cup boiling water
2 (10 oz) pkg. frozen strawberries, thawed
Mix pretzels, butter, and 3 tablespoons sugar.  Press into a 9 x 13 pan (not too hard)  Bake at 400 for 6 minutes only.  Cool
Beat cream cheese and sugar.  Add whipped topping  and mix all together well.  Spread this mixture onto the crust and refrigerate 
Dissolve Jello in 1 1/2 cup boiling water.  Stir in berries.  Mix until syrupy. 
Refrigerate Jello mixture until no longer runny   Pour over cream cheese layer.  Chill until set.
I usually make this the night before so it has time to set.

For my thought today:  There is always something to be sad about.  There is always something to be happy about.  Embrace the sadness, let it fill you and absorb it, then quickly think of the things that you are blessed to have right now, and chase out the sadness by choosing to focus on being happy.  Sing this song by Martina Mcbride, and hopefully you will feel better!  Do it anyway    

Candied Yams

This is our thanksgiving Tradition recipe for sweet potatoes:

Candied Yams (Kristen Funes ) Sandridge Ward Cookbook

cooking note:  Jenna just asked me how to cook the sweet potatoes. Pierce them twice with a steak knife (to vent) do not need to oil them.  I double wrap in foil (as they always leak) and put them on a cookie sheet and bake for an hour and 15 min or until fork tender.  Lately I have found you can cook them in a slow cooker, just put a cup of water in bottom and stick them in and bake for 4 hours and they come out perfect and no mess! (you dont have to prick them in slow cooker, but you could, it wont hurt them. ) Jenna is asking me good questions, hopefully this helps!

3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (or 1 large can)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
Topping:
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 bag miniature marshmallows
Combine yams, sugar, vanilla, eggs, milk, and 1/2 cup butter.  Beat until smooth.  Spoon into greased 2 quart shallow casserole.  Combine brown sugar, flour, 1/3 cup butter, and pecans.  Sprinkle over casserole.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Take out after 20 minutes sprinkle top with marshmallows and put back in oven to finish baking  10 more minutes!

Just a note:  you can add some oatmeal and brown sugar mixture to the topping or the lady below added crushed corn flakes!
YUMMY

In bloggy land I found this recipe as well, I will link it herehttp://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/11/browned-butter-sweet-potato-casserole/  it shows diagonal of  marshmallows and topping!

Thanksgiving Sides Mashed Potato and Gravy Peas

The rest of Dana Days recipes she shared from her Thanksgiving Meal:

Of course we have mashed potatoes.  Those are pretty self explanatory right? Boil potatoes.  Skin, no skins.  Whip them up your favorite way.  I sometimes add a little whipping cream this time of year (since it is normally in the house), or cream cheese, or butter, or whatever sounds delicious.  I don't think you can mess up mashed potatoes.  We eat them probably too much in our house so its second nature.

I Sandee like to make mashed potatoes putting in sour cream and cream cheese, usually if you use a 10 lb bag of potatoes, then you would use 1 pt sour cream, 1 block sour cream. This year in the bloggy land I found this tip to try, so I will link it here http://www.cookingclassy.com/2012/11/moms-mashed-potatoes/

 

Gravy. 

 Another mystery to some.  I think we eat this too often too.  HA! (Remember my favorite FAVORITE meal is Fried Chicken.)  Gravy is SO EASY.  So many people are afraid to make it.  For Turkey gravy I just use all the dripping straight out of the roasting pan.  Add it to a large skillet.  Turn up the heat. In a large cup I add flour (about half way up) and water.  Whisk it really good to get all the lumps out.  Then you just pour it in slowly into heated Turkey drippings.  Stir with your gravy whisk to combine.  Salt and pepper to taste.  If you like milk or cream in it, add it.  Gravy is honestly pretty hard to mess up unless you don't get your flour mixture mixed up well.  Some people use cornstarch for a silky gravy.  I just use flour.  

 

My husband's family loves the green bean casserole.  I won't insult your intelligence by adding the recipe.  Follow the recipe on the box of Onions you buy for it. 

 

I personally like just peas and carrots.  My Mom always just chopped carrots and boiled them and added some frozen peas. and finished cooking.  I think I like this because it is pretty.  With so many other sweet things on the table that is filled with fillers I like this is just simple.  When they are done you just put butter in them and melt it. 

 

Of course we put out the sweet pickles, cranberry sauce, olives. 

Thanksgiving Pies

More recipes from Dana Day on her Thanksgiving Pies, I would like to include them on my blog as well

Here is Jayne Watson's Pie Crust Recipe:

 

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup shortening, chilled

3 Tablespoons water

 

Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium size bowl.  With a pastry blender, cut in the cold shortening until the mixture resembles course crumbs.  Drizzle 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water over flour.  Toss mixture with fork to moisten, adding more water a few drops at a time until the dough comes together (it took me a lot more than 3 tbsp for this to happen.)

 

Gently gather the dough particles together into a ball.  Wrap in plastic wrap or put in a ziploc bag and chill for at least 30 minutes before rolling out. 

 

Roll out dough, and put in a pie plate.  Fill with desired filling. 

 

The hint with pie dough is don't over work it.  I would make each bath separately   That way you are not working with too much and get it just right.  It is easier to me this way too and actually pretty fast.  I just use the same big bowl.  This recipe only makes enough for a bottom filling.  So for apple I did double it.  But I would never more than double it at a time.  It worked fine though for two crust.  I halved the dough that time and patted into round dough balls and put in the bag to chill.  I liked that I could chill it and work on the fillings as we went along. 

 

We made Pumpkin:

My only hint here is I just use the Libby's Pumpkin.  The cream can.  The unspiced can.  Most people grab the brown label because it is already seasoned.  But, in my opinion it taste like barf.  It seriously is not hard to add your own spices and follow the recipe.  It is worth it.  I told Megan NEVER ever pick up the dark brown label, ALWAYS buy the cream label.  Make your pie crust.  Follow the recipe and pour into the unbaked pie shell and bake.  Normally takes around an hour.  To test if it is done I just stick a knife in the center and when it comes out clean it is done.  I don't even try testing it for at least 60 minutes.  :) This is the world's easiest pie.  If you are worried about the crust burning just do a foil tent over the top for the first half .

Don't buy them.  This is so much better. 

 

Apple Pie:

 

Here is the recipe for that:

 

Heat Oven to 350 degrees.

 

10 to 12 large green granny smith apples

1/4 cup sugar (a little more if you have a lot of apples)

3/4 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp. Flour

 

Peel apples.  Slice them into a large bowl.  Add all the sugar and spices and lemon juice etc.  Mix up well.  Pour into pastry crust.  Top with the second crust.  Make whatever cute designs you would like to make.  I always start my apple pie for the first hour with a foil tent.  My college roommate taught me this.  It keeps your crust from burning on the edges.  After about an hour I remove the tent and let it continue to bake.  It normally takes my pie another hour.  I like the apples really soft.  Mmmmmm.  Hint: make sure there is something to catch the drippings in case your pie boils over. 

Bake at 350 degree's for at least 60 minutes.  Mine always takes around  1 and a half hours to 2 hours.  I test it by sticking  a knife in it.  If the knife goes in and I can feel the apples are soft, I know it is done. 

 

Megan's favorite Pie is Lemon Meringue:

Here is my Great Grandma's Lemon Pie Recipe:

(however I will admit here I do not use her filling recipe.  Only because I have always used the way my Mom made it. 

 BUT, I do use her Meringue recipe.) 

 

I use the Jello Lemon Cook and Serve Recipe.  I make a pie crust and bake it.  Then pour the filling in.  Then I whip up my Great Grandma's Meringue Recipe.  Bake it.  I will give you her entire amazing Lemon Pie Recipe.  If you are braver than I you may want to try it.  I hear it is wonderful.

 

Lemon Meringue Pie

 by: Essie Rich Hiatt

 

2 1/2 cups sugar

7 1/2 tbsp. flour

10 Tbsp. cornstarch

1/4 tsp. salt

3 3/4 cups boiling water

Juice of 4 lemons

5 egg yolks

1 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. lemon flavoring

 

Pastry crust:

 

How:

Mix Sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt.  Add boiling water and stir and cook over low heat or in double broiler.  Cook until clear.  Add egg yolks, slightly beaten, and cook 2 more minutes.  Add butter and lemon juice.  cool and turn into cooked pastry crust.  Spread with Meringue and bake 8 minutes in the oven at 450 degree's. 

 

Meringue: Beat egg whites (5 until still).  Add 2/3 cup powdered sugar and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.  Add 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar to keep meringue from weeping. Whip until stiff peaks form.  Spread meringue on pie and make pretty points.  Bake for 8 minutes at 450 degree's.  I actually only baked it at 400 degree's.  I would also check it at 4 minutes.  Mine was done.

Turkey and Stuffing

My Friend Dana Day posted her Thanksgiving Meal and Recipes for her children, and I like that idea, so I am going to copy down her Turkey and Stuffing recipe as that is how I make it as well, except her stuffing did have a special ingredient I hadn't used before but I liked it when I tried it, the dry onion soup mix, and I add two extra ingredients that she didn't mention, but I added them below

Turkey: 
Pick a nice plump Turkey.  
I never get anything smaller than a 20 lb. bird.
 They are nice and juicy and they leave lots of leftovers.  
If you have company you won't even end up with many leftovers.  
(our favorite is hot turkey sandwiches the next day.)

I know there are lots of ways to cook a bird.  Me.  I keep it simple.  I use the Reynolds Turkey Oven Bags.  They are so easy.  I have NEVER had a dry Turkey and they are predictable.  They cook the Turkey perfect EVERY TIME! A 20 lb. Turkey in a bag will take around 4 hours (if it is stuffed.)  Of course do all your prep work first.  Wash it out well.  Take the innards out of the cavity.  Wash it out.  We rub our turkey with vegetable oil and butter (we give it a nice massage).  We then sprinkle salt and pepper and a little poultry seasoning over it.  Then we stuff it.  Then we gently insert it into the bag following the directions. 

Stuffing:

This is my Mom's recipe. 
 I am pretty sure she got it from my Grandma Stephens.  Again, this is not a complicated recipe.  
However, I always get compliments and people tell me it's  some of the best stuffing they have ever had. 
 If you like stuffing at all.  
I have found it is a take it or leave it kind of deal. 
 I think most people like this recipe because it is simple.
No weird surprises.  LOL.  

stuffing recipe:

In a large bowl combine:

Buy a bag of the kind of stuffing you will see out this time of year (hint: NOT stove top. HA HA). 
I use Prestwich Farms brand (it is in a blue bag and I have found it mostly everywhere I have lived, Missouri, Utah, Washington and Texas).  
My Mom uses Mrs. Cubbison's that comes in a box.  
I believe she finds the seasoned stuffing. 

I Sandee Use Mrs Cubbison's stuffing as well.

Follow the recipe on the bag or box of stuffing:

. 

For a 20 lb. bird you will use the entire bag
 (if using the prestwich farms brand).

I believe it calls for 2 cups of chicken broth.

2 cups of chopped celery , 2 cups chopped onion

 The next few steps are the things I add in special.  This is what makes it taste so yummy.

Here is the secret 

about 1/2 cup butter melted

1 bag of dry Lipton Onion Soup Mix 
(this gives it the best flavor.) 

Grate about 2 big carrots (using a cheese grater).  
(It is for really color,  but it makes it pretty.)

I Sandee like to add one roll of sausage (Jimmy  Dean) that has been cooked, and also one box of wild rice that has been cooked to the stuffing, you can leave it out or add it, but it makes dang good stuffing!

This stuffing is really good when it is stuffed in the bird.  I know some people think it's pure evil to stuff a Turkey.

Me, I love the stuffing in the Turkey.  Stuff loosely the cavity and the front.  Oooohhh it is so good when the drippings of the Turkey are in it.  When Turkey comes out of oven let it rest for a bit.  Then take the stuffing out and put in your desired pretty dish.  Mmmmm, you will never have dry stuffing this way. 

For the Nourishing of our Soul:

Since this is most likely a Thanksgiving post and we talk about gratitude, I like the idea of being grateful.  Dana made a long post of all she was grateful for here, but maybe you can take some time today to write down what you are grateful for as well , for your children and posterity to see!  I have always said that my number one thing I am grateful for is my testimony of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, for it is my testimony that makes me who I am, gives me the eyes to see who I really am (a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves me), why I am here (to gain a body, to be proven worthy, to help others, to learn and grow) what I am supposed to be doing with my time (developing a relationship with my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ) learning, helping others along the way) and where I am going (I am going to return to heaven to live with my Heavenly Father and Mother and my family!)

I just realized when I told you to look at Dana's list that you cant get to her blog without her permission, so I copy and pasted her grateful list here:

Whew.  I am tired tonight.  I was up here working on something for a RS Meeting and thought I would check in.  I have not posted in awhile.  Not because I don't have anything to be grateful for.  Infact I have loved reading all the gratitude post this month from others on their blogs.  I have failed to write down for history the things I have been grateful for.  I think I have put off doing it because there are so many things I feel grateful for.  Including those times that stretch us till it hurts sometimes EVEN A LOT.  Having had a few of those times in my life I know however how much one grows during those times and what a sacred ground it almost becomes as  you are tried and tested.  Therefore writing things down seemed harder and harder to do.  But for the sake of my children someday I want them to know I am GRATEFUL for MANY MANY THINGS! 

SOOOOOOOO.........................................................................................................................

Kevin is off to a conference in San Antonio for the week and the kids are studying and doing homework so I thought since I was working on the computer anyway I should at least document what I am grateful for the past year.  At least try to put them down even though my attempt feels inadequate.

Sunday a darling sister in our ward gave a great talk on standards and tied it into being grateful. She mentioned her family having a grateful poster.  They put it up in the kitchen during the month of November and family members can write things they are grateful for when they feel inspired to do so.  What a cute idea.  Then they frame it to remind them of their blessings for the next year.  What a sweet idea.  I loved it.  I felt like it was too late of a tradition to start this year so last night for FHE I had the kids go around the room and talk about things they have been grateful for in the past year.  It was sweet to hear their thoughts.  Many of their grateful feelings were what I also felt grateful for. 

Here is a list.  And trust me there is so much more to be grateful for.

The ability to improve myself. 

The chance to change.

The knowledge that God Lives and Loves me and my family and hears and answers our prayers.

The chance to teach the youth at church.  I have really grown to love my 12 year old class.

Learning about the Prophets by teaching the 12 years olds.

To Listen and know that God is There

Our Home

Freedom to Choose

Freedom in our Nation

Those who have sacrificed so I have this freedom.

The Scriptures

My Patriarchal Blessing

Music!!!!!

Good Wholesome Laughter

Tears (Sometimes a good cry can solve the problems)

Temple and Baptismal Covenants

Having a Temple Close By to attend often

The Priesthood

Living Prophets

Having 3 Worthy Priesthood Holders in my Home

Watching my husband ordain my youngest son a Deacon and my oldest son a Priest able to stand in the circle.  (Pretty GREAT experience.)

A loving, kind, gentle, smart, faithful, loyal, awesome husband.  He is PERFECT for ME! ;) He also happens to be the one person I desire to spend my life and eternity with.

Hearing Kent Bless the Sacrament On Sunday.

Watching Matthew Pass the Sacrament this past Sunday. 

Service

Friends Old and New (So GRATEFUL for this the past year)

Family Near and Far Away (even though we miss them TERRIBLY!)

Airplanes to get me places FAST! ;) This helps to ease the missing terribly part. ;)

Being able to go to UT to see my sweet niece Jenna married this coming weekend! ;) Even if a snowblizzard is in the forecast.  She is marrying the right person, at the right time in the right place.  And that is the most important thing she could do. 

Cars, Electricity, Running Water (Anna has been watching the Little House series and I always think this when we watch an episode.)

Simple Treasures

Family Bonding Time

FHE

Early Morning Seminary and that my son gets up willingly every morning and goes with a smile and

comes home with one!

GREAT Schools!

Great teachers!

Children with a good sense of who they are and security in themselves.  They do not seem to be tossed to and fro in their knowledge of who they are.  Even when the world tries its best to tear that from them.  They seem to be able to stand strong.  It's most important to your parents that we improve each day.  


Awesome Leaders at Church that give of their time freely to help teach my children gospel principles and love them.

Children that have learned the value of early to bed, early to rise.

I love waking up Anna.  She wakes up with a smile every morning.  I just go in her room and sing "Wake up Anna!" She always responds with a little smile in her voice "Okay Mommy." And she is up and ready.  Even at 6am this is the response I get daily.  All four of my kids are good about this.

Listening to Matthew practice his French Horn. Not only is he getting really good but the joy I see it bringing him as he gets better and better.  Anna as well in her starting year of piano.  Will they earn scholarships in music? That remains to be seen (never say never, right?)  But I love they each seem to enjoy music in many different forms.  And I love the sounds of children playing piano, guitar, horns, and so forth.   I love it when we are all singing along to a song in the van.  We may not quite be the Osmonds and I am pretty sure I could never get them to sing in public with me (which I don't get because I LOVE to sing) but we do have fun together.   I am happy Megan is singing in the Catholic/LDS Combined Choir for Christmas.  What a great experience.

Not taking myself so seriously. I am grateful that I have learned to laugh at myself. 

Not worrying about what others have.  There are always those who will have more and those that will have less.  It is what you do with what you have and how you serve those around you and help those in need.  I have learned by watching those serve and being served and serving that in the end this is the most important thing to learn about the things we are blessed with.   I have seen the generosity of people and the goodness of their hearts in these situations.  I have learned that it is a true test of character in what people are willing to give up to help another soul in this life.  And it has nothing to do with how little or how much you have.  It is a gift from God no matter how great or small our blessings and when we impart them to others I believe we are taught more than if we keep it to ourselves. 

Being on Time and learning the value of time and others time.  
(I owe this to my Dad and Mom who were never late anywhere and always on time to all our church meetings.)

Organization

Being Prepared

Preparation in and of itself and what it is teaching me

Work!

Teaching my Children to Work.

Goodly Parents (Both SETS!)

Eternal Perspective

Enduring to the End

Seeing the Path Ahead when you have taken a few steps in the Dark at the start. 

Faith.

General Conference.

Good Literature to Read.

Snuggly Beds

Fall Leaves

Swimming Pools

Kindness and Smiles from people

Handwritten notes with messages of love

Hometeachers and Visiting Teachers

Text Messages (yep even at 40 years old I love hearing from my family this way!)

Christmas Trees

Pumpkins

Trees (I LOVE TREES)

Sharing Hot Cocoa with my youngest Anna.  She hates most all sweets, cookies, cakes.  Yep not sure where she came from??  But, she LOVES hot cocoa.  And she loves to sit at the table and chat with me while she sips on it with her fluffy white marshmellows.

Giving Rides to school to my children.  When we first moved here and we were too close for buses and yet too far to walk I thought this would be a nightmare with four kids to get to and from school.  But over the past year I have really grown to love and cherish the time I spend with each one of them to and from school.  Kevin would say the same about driving Kent to and from Seminary at 6am the past year.  Great Blessings to spend time with them in the car. 

Food/Nourishment

Fuzzy Pets that are constant and loyal (Shadow to be specific.) 

Nature

Dry Erase Marker Love Notes my Husband leaves me on the mirror in my bathroom when he leaves on a business trip.  I don't know why but I am always surprised when I see it after he is gone and I refuse to wash them off until he returns home safely to us. 

Hair Dye to cover my lovely grey hair.  (UGH)

Animals in General (even the bunnies that eat all the flowers in my yard.)

Health

Exercise (well that one has not always been easy for me but I am grateful for it when I feel stronger)

Standing Steadfast and Immovable

Forgiveness

Hugs from Children

A Clean Home

Kevin

Kent

Megan

Matthew

Anna

I wanted to name them each by name. Because they really are that important to me. 

Trials - Why would I be glad to have had these? Because great and small they stretch us.  And after all that testing if we are faithful we see that we have grown and become stronger and more like Him.   

Chocolate Chip Cookies my daughter Megan makes on a Sunday afternoon.  (I now understand the reason why my Mom stopped baking when I turned 12.  A few years later I passed the torch to my little sister.  Cookies always taste better when someone else gives you one.)

Faithful children that are doing what the Lord would have them do.  Seeing their testimonies grow.  Watching them be stretched and learn they can do things they thought they could not do.  (LIKE MOVE.)

Having my children home with us.  I love nothing more than when we are all together at home.  And they have seemed to really love being at home the past year instead of looking for friends to fill that need of friendship as much.  Although I am also grateful for the good friends they have made here.

The Savior and the Knowledge that He atoned for the sins of the World so we can return to live with our Father in Heaven as a family someday. 

There are so many more.