161. Today I am grateful for facebook

Sometimes, I wonder what life was like before facebook. I am not a facebook addict but I do check my facebook almost every day. Although, sometimes it feels good to go a day or two or more without checking facebook, I am grateful for this tool. It allows me to keep in touch with family and friends despite distance and busy schedules. It`s great to be able to keep up on what people are doing with their lives and celebrate marriages and the birth of babies. I love looking at photos of my nieces and little nephew and watch them grow. I also like how it helps me to be involved with the things that interest my siblings. For example, through my little sisters facebook I can see how much she loves horses and Justin Bieber.

160. Today I am grateful for this quote

I continue to come across insprational quotes on gratitude that remind me why I continue to do this. Here is one that I love which was shared by an LDS chuch leader, James E. Faust in his talk, "Gratitude as a Saving Principle".

“A grateful heart is a beginning of greatness. It is an expression of humility. It is a foundation for the development of such virtues as prayer, faith, courage, contentment, happiness, love, and well-being.”

- James E. Faust

These are characteristics that I hope to continue to develop throughout my lifetime.

159. Today I am grateful for the colour pink

I love the colour pink! It has been my favourite colour for as long as I can remember. Heading into the month of love I think it is appropriate to share my love for the colour pink which, along with the colour red, is associated with valentine`s day. I am grateful for the happiness that this colour gives me and its association with things being pretty and girly.

158. Today I am grateful that the weather forcast was wrong

The weather forecast predicted cold temperatures today but instead we had abnormally warm weather. In fact Environment Canada issued an apology for predicting colder than normal temperatures for this winter when it has been one of the mildest on record, despite a few freezing cold days here and there. That`s ok, we forgive you. J

157. Today I am grateful for a soup exchange

Earlier this month a few coworkers and I decided to have a soup exchange which we had today. Each or us made a pot of soup and placed into four containers to share with the others in the group. Now I have four containers of delicious soup, including a few containers of the Sweet potato and butternut squash soup I made as I went a bit overboard. I think it`s a great (and healthier) alternative to the traditional cookie and square exchange. I am looking forward to yummy bowls of warm soup to enjoy over the winter.

156. Today I am grateful to be Canadian

I saved the best for last! J I am grateful to be Canadian! I love being Canadian and everything that being Canadian stands for! I love that we are seen worldwide as a country of peacemakers. I also love the diversity that we have in Canada, it is truly part of the promised land of the America`s. My Mom, Grandpa and a set of 2^nd Great grandparents and a 3^rd great grandmother saw Canada as a land of opportunity and I am grateful for that as it became the country of my birth and the land that I love.

 I love seeing Canada`s flag wave and hearing our national anthem! ``God Keep our land Glorious and Free``!

155. Today I am grateful to be German

I love the fact that I am exactly half British and half German, with both grandmothers of German descent and both grandfathers were British. However, it feels a little strange to say that I am grateful to be German or proud of my German ancestry because of Germany’s role in the world wars ... but I am grateful to be German and proud of my German ancestors. My grandma has often talked about her father’s hatred for Hitler, how her brother refused to fight and was put into a consecration camp, and that her boyfriend at the time did fight and was killed. It was not a good time in history to be German as German’s in North America, such as my other grandmother’s family, also endured persecution so they mainly kept to themselves in their secluded communities. However, some, including my Great Grandmother’s husband, fought in the war on Canada’s side.

I am grateful to see Germany become tough on hate crimes and to see forgiveness among countries that have seen much turmoil. I love to see friendships develop between Germans and Polish, Ukrainians, etc. My grandma also told me how her sister’s daughter went missing when the family was forced to leave their home as Poland had claimed the land. Sometime later her sister returned to the home to look for her daughter and found that she was being cared for by a Polish family. Great love and friendship developed between them. I love inspirational stories like that!

I am also grateful to have Germany to cheer for during the Olympics and world Football tournaments when Canada is not competing.