Day 7

Stephanie: I am so thankful for the education I have been able to receive at Utah State University. I have the most amazing major professors, peers, and advisers. It's hard for me to believe that I will be graduating in the spring, these past four years have gone by so fast! Of course, the only way for me to graduate is to survive student teaching. I'm sure I'll do fine with student teaching, I've had some pretty amazing professors train me. Go Aggies!!!

Nathan: Tonight I am so thankful for our pets. They really are a source of happiness in our lives. Most people don't understand us and our love for our cat and dog, and that's okay. We take it upon ourselves to take the best care of them that we can provide, and to make them feel comfortable. I feel that when you take in a pet you make a promise to that animal to provide for it and protect it, and I don't take that lightly. Addi literally thinks she is a little human. She sleeps with us, she eats with us, she gets sad and pouts in the mornings when I'm about to leave. But she forgives me instantly; every time I come home, she acts like it's Christmas. That's the beauty of pets, they love unconditionally and forgive immediately, I know I could learn a little from them.

Day 6

Stephanie: Today I am very grateful for the country I live in. As a woman, I can't believe how lucky am I to be able vote and have a say in what I want my country to be. I'm glad that I can get any job I want, not one the government told me I have to have. I love that I can marry whoever I want, whenever I want. I love that I can own anything I want, say anything I want, practice any religion I want, and go to school anywhere I want for whatever degree I choose. I've had enough of people's complaints about how tonight's events went. I don't agree with most of what Mr. President does or wants to do, but he is the president of my country. I will do my best to stay positive for the next four years; there's enough negativity in the United States right now. I get to call this beautiful place home, I am so wonderfully blessed.

Nathan: Tonight I am that person Steph is describing above; I am terribly upset about tonight, but this is a Giving Thanks post and I shall honor my wife's wishes. The one thing that I can honestly be thankful for is my Father. Leland Richard Whipple is the greatest man that I have ever known and I owe him so much for the things he has taught me. He taught me how to work hard and how to be a man. He was an example of how a man should treat the woman he loves, and that nothing worth having in life comes easy. I'm not the type that sits and waits for things to come to me, or fall in my lap. I can definitely credit that to the way I was raised. I love you Dad very much.

Day 5

Stephanie: I am grateful for the good, steady job that my husband has. Without it we would be in a lot of trouble! I also love that my man is willing to work so hard and long for us. Nathan has a fantastic work ethic,  I admire him for it.

Nathan: I am grateful for my loving mother. I sure haven't made the last 22 years easy on her. She has loved me through thick and thin. Thanks for getting up early to make me French Toast in the mornings before school and driving across the state to watch me play sports, you are a great! I love you to Mom!

Day 4

First of all, happy birthday to my sister-in-law Tonya! I hope your day was superb!

Stephanie: Today I'm grateful for flowers. I know this seems silly, but flowers truly make me happy. They're so beautiful; they make the world bright and happy. Someday I hope to have large flower gardens where I can sit outside and read a good book.

Nathan: I thankful for my sister Tonya and for her being an amazing example. She was an amazing sister and an annoying younger brother couldn't have asked for more! ;)

Day 3

Stephanie: I am grateful to have such a great house. We have a wonderfully cheap and homey place to call ours. The best part about our house is that we can have Addi and Clover. I wouldn't change that for anything.

Nathan: I'm thankful for today's technology that allows us the quality of living that we can have now.

Day 2

Stephanie: I am so thankful for my mom and all that she has done for me. My mom is one the most selfless people I know. She has sacrificed beyond anything that I can imagine to make sure that Aaron and I had food, shelter, and a loving home.
The biggest thing she ever gave up for Aaron and I was finding a husband. She didn't want random men in and out of her children's lives. Now that I am married and know how absolutely wonderful it is, I cannot believe she was willing to give that up and do it on her own. She hasn't been on a date in nearly 15 years; I hope that changes and she finds someone. I love you, Mom!

Dancing on my mom's 18th birthday

 Nathan: I am grateful for my job. Because of it, I am able to pay the bills and provide for my wife.

November a Month of Gratitude

Wow, it is already November!

Nathan and I both love Thanksgiving and feel that this is a very exciting time of year! Every day for the entire month of November we are going to post something we are grateful for. There are so many things we have been blessed with, how could we not come up with 30 things?!

Day 1

Stephanie: Today I am thankful for my little family. I can't believe how lucky I am to have such an amazing and loving husband, a good dog, and a (somewhat) behaved cat. It truly is amazing to know that whenever I come home, it's to a warm and loving home.

Nathan: I'm grateful for my loving wife who supports me and doesn't make fun of my crazy ideas. I love how she puts up with me even when I get to feeling crazy.

(Nathan really did write this)

Happy November!