In November, I posted eight things I’m grateful for. Yesterday, I posted about my parents. Below are all nine posts.

2020 has been an interesting year, to say the least. But what I’ve found is that everything this year, from COVID-19 to an earthquake, to working from home, to increased stress and anxiety is that it’s given me so many opportunities to grow. 

I’m grateful for the experiences, for learning what I can do better, and for so many of you who give me hope for the future because of your wonderful examples. It makes this hermit happy.

Thank you for making this year memorable—in a good way. Since we’re all staying home a lot, take some time this week to give thanks!

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I’m grateful for virtual conferences. I’m generally a hermit who likes to hang out in her Mom Cave. I’ve had the opportunity to attend six conferences online this year. The LUW Spring Conference,  Quills Conference, two Fyrelite workshops with Wulf Moon, the 2020 World Fantasy Convention, and Fyrecon 2020. The various organizations did a fabulous job transitioning from in-person to online. Many of them were global, with attendees from around the world.

Thank you for helping an introverted writer learn and grow while home in her pajamas!

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For the past few months, I’ve been trying to focus on the good that’s been going on in the world. I love the opportunity to share something I’m thankful for every day with others. 

I have been incredibly blessed with a good family. From my parents, to my brothers, to my husband, to my kids, I have always been surrounded by loving, supportive people in my life. They are not only good examples, I like them. This will be the first holiday season I haven’t been able to spend at least some time with them, but I know this year will pass, and I’ll be even more grateful to see them next year.

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I love books, and reading. I don’t remember a time when books weren’t important. Growing up, I’d spend long hours in the library looking for something new. Later, I’d spend time in bookstores. As many of you know, I have a degenerative eye disease. Fifteen years ago, I lost the ability to read books. I am grateful for technology. I have a phone and a computer that read to me, and I have audiobooks that allow me to continue my love affair with books. I still buy print books in the hope that one day technology will let me read them, in one form or another. If not, I have a daughter and daughter-in-law that are more than happy to inherit my collection. Just having books around makes me happy. Having audiobooks that go along with them feeds my soul.

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I’ve always been fascinated by astronomy. Growing up, I considered studying it, but knowing I was going blind I knew it was not the right field for me. Besides, as much as I loved looking at the pictures of nebulae and planets, I wasn’t as interested in the science behind them. The Hubble pictures give me so much joy. I have a poster of the Eagle Nebula in my stairwell. Even though I can’t see it, I know it’s there. What still delights me is that I can see most of the images on the Astronomy Picture of the Day because they deal in contrasts—one of the few things I can see. I am so grateful for the technology to allow me to still appreciate this amazing universe we live in and in its creation.

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I am grateful for washing machines. My grandmother lived in a tiny house near the baseball field in Salt Lake. She used to have an old agitator washing machine in her kitchen. It would wash the laundry, then she’d put it through a wringer and take it into the back yard to hang on a line. 

In college, I’d wash the clothes in the basement laundry room, then hang them in my dorm room to dry. (I don’t recommend this.)

 I served a mission in a country where the women washed clothes by hand and hung them on a line to dry.

Today, I have my own washing machine that can do heavy loads, delicates, and bedding on separate settings. I can start a load before going to bed and dry it in the morning. 

I don’t have to wash by hand, I don’t have to hang it on a line to dry, and I don’t have to wait in a laundromat. I feel blessed. 

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I belong to several amazing writing communities. I get help and support from them at meetings, conferences, and online. I can ask questions and know that someone will have an answer. 

That has been a greater blessing to me over the past two and a half years since my father passed away and I’ve taken back the rights to his books and published them. 

Sometimes it feels like I have to jump through more hurdles learning to do new things while blind. Sometimes it takes me longer. Sometimes I miss the obvious. But I can always ask and there is always someone who will be there with a smile, encouragement, and help. It’s made my transition from a budding writer to a budding writer and publisher so much easier. I still have a lot to learn, but I’m grateful to this amazing community, many of you who are on Facebook, for being there. Not just for me, but for so many others. Utah has an incredible community of writers, and I’m grateful to be a part of them. Especially the League of Utah Writers and the Utah Chapter of the HWA. 

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I am grateful for music. Growing up, I had music for when I was angry, music for when I was sad, music to give me joy, and music to feed my spirit. I got it from my father, who had an eclectic taste in music: The Carpenters, Harry Belafonte, Big Band, The Lettermen, The Chad Mitchell Trio, Broadway soundtracks like Hair and Camelot. He would record the Tabernacle Choir during conference to listen to in his car. Throughout his life, he was fascinated with music. If my brothers listened to something he liked, he’d buy it and play it while painting or driving. New Age, Metal, Classic Rock, Classical, sound tracks, he loved it all. 

To me, music goes beyond the words to the emotions. I love Broadway musicals, movie sound tracks, Classic Rock, Gregorian chant, Andean Folk Music, religious music, and Christmas Music. It lifts my spirits and gives me so much. I’ve had opportunities to sing in choirs and on stage. Music brings me to tears, calms me when I’m down, gives me peace, and fills me with joy. 

I am blessed to have music in my life, and to have a father and husband who share that love with me. I’m thankful for children who indulged us at bedtime and now appreciate the music we shared with them. 

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It’s been 2 1/2 years since my dad passed away and he’s ben on my mind a lot recently. 

I have two amazing parents. I say “have” because although they’re both gone, I know I’ll see them again one day. They were both great examples. My mother was always helping people. She’d make dinner, clean houses, wash dishes at weddings and funerals, and cheerfully help whoever she could. She talked to strangers and laughed a lot. She also loved to sing around the house. She passed away from Alzheimer’s six years ago. Even though her memory was gone, she would still say something nonsensical and laugh, or sing a nonsensical song. She was cheerful to the end. The people who took care of her loved her.

My dad also loved music, as I mentioned last week. He collected tapes, records, CDs and was in a group in college. He was a helper, too. I don’t know how many people he gave free advice, or helped out when they were in a bind. He helped me more times than I can count. But it wasn’t just that. He had a light about him that made you want to be around him. And he always listened and gave encouragement or helped you see things in a different way. My kids could call him any time, day or night, if they needed to talk. 

He came to conventions with me and occasionally gave presentations. He never thought he was worth listening to, but everyone who herd him talk, or stopped by to chat, came away impressed. He supported me through college and when I stayed home to raise my kids. He supported my writing. 

I miss his wisdom. I miss calling him up to ask his advice, or talk over something going on. I miss sharing with him. And I miss his light. The world was a darker place when he left it. 

Both my parents gave Christlike service. Cheerfully, willingly, and with love. I cannot measure up to them, but I hope, in some small degree, to follow in their footsteps. 

We all need people like that in our lives. People who love unconditionally, who are cheerful and find joy in life. They would have found a lot to be grateful for this year. 

This year I’ve seen a lot of places where I need to do better, a lot of ways I can grow. And I’ve seen a lot of good. I thank my parents for that. I like to think that sometimes, they’re still helping me as I keep trying to do and be better.