Happy Thanksgiving eve everyone! I've got Tom the Turkey taking a brine bath and things scattered about my kitchen all waiting to be prepared for the big meal.
So on yet another VERY chilly night, I am Grateful for:
1. A warm home. With a high of a whopping 15 degrees today and a low of 8 degrees tonight, I'm VERY grateful that our old heating system is hanging in there.
2. Clean sheets. I love the smell. The crispiness. How they retain some of the heat from the dryer (if I put them on right before I climb in...) It's pure joy over here tonight.
3. A "no place to go" kinda day. No school. No appointments. No mutual. Just the me & the kids hanging out, working on some projects, playing and getting ready for tomorrow's feast.
4. A great neighbor. We have a super nice older couple living next door that is always looking out for us. It's not uncommon for them to come knocking on the door ofter us treats (or a trampoline) or concerned because we haven't been coming and going. They always check-in with us if they are going out of town and we do the same with them. It's nice to know someone that cares is so close by.
5. The chance to stay home with the kiddos. We are greatly blessed to have Randy work so hard so that I can stay home and raise our wonderful children. I wouldn't want it any other way.
And now I'm off to climb into my warm bed and drift off for the night. :)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Grateful Journal Day 3
Today I'm grateful for:
1. My cell phone. Do you recall the days of cords and not being able to leave the kitchen? OR the big planners that everyone carried? My phone does it all. Less clutter. More efficient. I love it!
2. Love notes. Over the years we've developed a tradition of writing notes in the condensation that collects on the bathroom mirror while showering. Now The Daughter has joined in on the fun too. Recently she wrote: "I love you Der famLee!" I love being surprised by such kind words as I get ready for my day.
3. Warm clothes and lots and lots of layers. It's seriously frigid here. I think it's forcasted to be -1 tonight...Makes me shiver just typing it.
4. My kids think I can make anything. They don't think I necessarily know everything but they sure do think I can create anything. I'm living it up while it lasts. Someday homemade things won't be so cool.
5. Great In-laws. I'm very blessed to have them in my lives. They're fun to be around, love unconditionally, dependable and super supportive. What more could you ask for? We just had great evening talking, laughing, and hanging out together.
1. My cell phone. Do you recall the days of cords and not being able to leave the kitchen? OR the big planners that everyone carried? My phone does it all. Less clutter. More efficient. I love it!
2. Love notes. Over the years we've developed a tradition of writing notes in the condensation that collects on the bathroom mirror while showering. Now The Daughter has joined in on the fun too. Recently she wrote: "I love you Der famLee!" I love being surprised by such kind words as I get ready for my day.
3. Warm clothes and lots and lots of layers. It's seriously frigid here. I think it's forcasted to be -1 tonight...Makes me shiver just typing it.
4. My kids think I can make anything. They don't think I necessarily know everything but they sure do think I can create anything. I'm living it up while it lasts. Someday homemade things won't be so cool.
5. Great In-laws. I'm very blessed to have them in my lives. They're fun to be around, love unconditionally, dependable and super supportive. What more could you ask for? We just had great evening talking, laughing, and hanging out together.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Grateful Journal Day 2
Alright here's day two a little late...not shocking, I know!
At this very late hour I am grateful for:
1. Traveling safely. The roads are horrible and only getting worse. I'm so thankful that Randy made it home safely despite all the wrecks and crazy people.
2. No school today. Need I say more?
3. OT/Speech Therapist. They genuinely care about my son and our family and are always looking for ways to help. I am very thankful to have them be apart of our team. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people that care for my Son.
4. Great Educators. Seriously, my kids have the best teachers EVER!
5. Surprise visitors. We had a surprise visit from my soon-to-be sister-in-law this afternoon. The Daughter adores her just about as much as I do.
And now I'm going to give falling asleep another chance. Wish me luck!
At this very late hour I am grateful for:
1. Traveling safely. The roads are horrible and only getting worse. I'm so thankful that Randy made it home safely despite all the wrecks and crazy people.
2. No school today. Need I say more?
3. OT/Speech Therapist. They genuinely care about my son and our family and are always looking for ways to help. I am very thankful to have them be apart of our team. We are so blessed to have so many wonderful people that care for my Son.
4. Great Educators. Seriously, my kids have the best teachers EVER!
5. Surprise visitors. We had a surprise visit from my soon-to-be sister-in-law this afternoon. The Daughter adores her just about as much as I do.
And now I'm going to give falling asleep another chance. Wish me luck!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Grateful Journal Day 1
Getting a bit of a late start this year on the annual pre-Thanksgiving grateful journal. Better late than never though, right?!
So on this Sabbath evening, I am very thankful for:
1. The knowledge that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and my family. Makes it a little easier to endure the challenges we face when we know there is a purpose to the struggles even if we don't understand them at the moment.
2. The Young Women. As I have served them, faced challenges with them and gotten to know each of them I feel like they have become my own Daughters. I love them. I feel great joy when they over come a challenge, I cry when they are suffering and I pray for them each night.
3. Living close to family. So close that my parents dropped by this evening when they where out & about for no other reason that they had picked up a turkey on sale and thought we could use it for Thanksgiving. I love there generosity and desire to be involved in our lives. I really enjoyed talking with them and plotting our turkey day. :)
4. That The Little Man is loving nursery finally I'm also thankful for the wonderful nursery leaders that have loved him though a very long journey to get him to this point. It has been an overwhelming experience at times for all involved since he turned 18 months but he has finally developed some copy skills and is learning to play with his peers!
5. Those that serve in the church. No calling is more important than an other. It takes all of us to make it work. I know that as we give of our time by serving in whatever calling we have our families are blessed. Thank you for teaching my children, watching over my family and being great examples.
So on this Sabbath evening, I am very thankful for:
1. The knowledge that my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and my family. Makes it a little easier to endure the challenges we face when we know there is a purpose to the struggles even if we don't understand them at the moment.
2. The Young Women. As I have served them, faced challenges with them and gotten to know each of them I feel like they have become my own Daughters. I love them. I feel great joy when they over come a challenge, I cry when they are suffering and I pray for them each night.
3. Living close to family. So close that my parents dropped by this evening when they where out & about for no other reason that they had picked up a turkey on sale and thought we could use it for Thanksgiving. I love there generosity and desire to be involved in our lives. I really enjoyed talking with them and plotting our turkey day. :)
4. That The Little Man is loving nursery finally I'm also thankful for the wonderful nursery leaders that have loved him though a very long journey to get him to this point. It has been an overwhelming experience at times for all involved since he turned 18 months but he has finally developed some copy skills and is learning to play with his peers!
5. Those that serve in the church. No calling is more important than an other. It takes all of us to make it work. I know that as we give of our time by serving in whatever calling we have our families are blessed. Thank you for teaching my children, watching over my family and being great examples.
Change it's inevitable... UPDATE
You know how I was saying that I would more than likely have a new calling? Well I was released........and then recalled as 2nd counselor in Young Womens. Yep, that's the same calling.
I spent the better part of the week prepping myself for a change. Telling myself all the positive things that could come from a non-YW calling because let face it, I've been in 2 different presidencies, what are the chances I'd be called again? I held a class presidency meeting to make sure they had everything planned and prepared for December. I cleaned out my binders and gathered everything up. Basically trying to make sure 1.) everything was organized and planned so that whoever had my calling next wouldn't have to scramble to get things going and 2.) I wouldn't be emotional when I was released. Needless to say it was all for nothing......and I'm okay with that. :)
I spent the better part of the week prepping myself for a change. Telling myself all the positive things that could come from a non-YW calling because let face it, I've been in 2 different presidencies, what are the chances I'd be called again? I held a class presidency meeting to make sure they had everything planned and prepared for December. I cleaned out my binders and gathered everything up. Basically trying to make sure 1.) everything was organized and planned so that whoever had my calling next wouldn't have to scramble to get things going and 2.) I wouldn't be emotional when I was released. Needless to say it was all for nothing......and I'm okay with that. :)
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Change it's inevitable...
Our ward was involved in a split.(insert gasp here) We lost a chunk of our ward to create a new ward. A new ward, full of new friends and possibilities without having to box things up & beg people to help you move. Sounds great to me. However I'm in the minority on this one. Maybe that's just because I've yet to make any great friends in this ward. Don't get me wrong I know lots of people but I've yet to find someone that I feel like I can totally relate to, rely on, hang out with and not feel judged. Maybe if that was the case I'd feel differently......but probably not. I don't go to church to hang out. That's what play dates and girls night out (GNO) are for. The closest friends I've made in the ward are now in the new ward. I'll still see them. They haven't actually moved.
But regardless, change is inevitable. It will happen whether we want it to or not. The fact that our wards have grown to the monstrous size they where is a good thing. It means the church is growing in our area. While talking with an older lady in the ward last Sunday, she shared that she had lived in the same place for the last 60 years and has been in 6 wards (one of them being a branch). That's amazing! 60 years ago the church barely had a presents in the area yet now there is a temple standing tall, church buildings scattered through out, and members living in just about every neighborhood. Truely amazing!
I look forward to the possibility to get to know some of those that have been looked over now that the ward is smaller. I wait in anticipation to find out what callings we will now all hold with the reorganization of the ward. I'll admit if I'm releazed from Young Women I'll be sad, I might even shed a tear, yet life will go on. Who know's what the lord has in store for us. I'm reminded of the 2010 mutual theme: Joshua 1:9
"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
But regardless, change is inevitable. It will happen whether we want it to or not. The fact that our wards have grown to the monstrous size they where is a good thing. It means the church is growing in our area. While talking with an older lady in the ward last Sunday, she shared that she had lived in the same place for the last 60 years and has been in 6 wards (one of them being a branch). That's amazing! 60 years ago the church barely had a presents in the area yet now there is a temple standing tall, church buildings scattered through out, and members living in just about every neighborhood. Truely amazing!
I look forward to the possibility to get to know some of those that have been looked over now that the ward is smaller. I wait in anticipation to find out what callings we will now all hold with the reorganization of the ward. I'll admit if I'm releazed from Young Women I'll be sad, I might even shed a tear, yet life will go on. Who know's what the lord has in store for us. I'm reminded of the 2010 mutual theme: Joshua 1:9
"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Halloween Fun
Didn't do a ton this year on a count of Halloween falling on a Sunday and the Kids and I having a cold. We hit Uptown (a quaint little shopping center where each store hands out candy) Saturday afternoon and then had planned on doing Trunk-or-Treat at our church that same evening but the kids where done so we called a day. The following day (the actual Holiday) we let The Daughter dress up after church. The Little Man wanted nothing to do with dressing up so we let him be. The previous day we had to bribe him with a sucker to put his costume on for the Uptown event and figured it wasn't worth it. We then visited our parents houses for dinner & dessert. It was a bit of a traveling feast. :)
Here are few pictures from our trek around Uptown:
The Daughter & I made her Tinkerbell costume this year. I think it came out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. :) Of course, the pictures don't do it justice. She had sparkly tights, green glitter smeared across her eye lids and glittery hair to top off the pixie assemble.
:
Here are few pictures from our trek around Uptown:
A quick trip west
Realizing that it had been a very long time since I'd visited my grandparents I jumped on the chance to ride along with my parents for a overnight visit. It's a shame that I don't seem them much. It was a super quick trip but totally worth the it. It gave a chance for the kids to get to know my grandparents a bit.
The following are the only three pictures I took while there. (I know...total slacker. My only excuse is that I spend majority of the trip being The Little Man's shadow. Way to many things to get into and a little boy's curiosity can be a damaging combination.)
My grandfather is an avide train collector and has build a railroad in his garage that actually goes out and around his backyard. It's pretty impressive. My parents made the trip to help Grandpa get make some changes to his tracks.
The Little Man was in train heaven and spent every available moment out with Grandpa & the trains.
The Daughter came along too and we actually visited with both sets of Grandparents despite the lack of pictures. Hopefully my mom got a few. I'll have to do a better job next visit.
The following are the only three pictures I took while there. (I know...total slacker. My only excuse is that I spend majority of the trip being The Little Man's shadow. Way to many things to get into and a little boy's curiosity can be a damaging combination.)
My grandfather is an avide train collector and has build a railroad in his garage that actually goes out and around his backyard. It's pretty impressive. My parents made the trip to help Grandpa get make some changes to his tracks.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Excuse me while I vent for a moment....
Bright and early this morning I was greeted by not one but TWO Christmas ads in my inbox pushing this years "must have" toys. Did I blink and miss November? Time has been flying by recently. Has Thanksgiving be completely forgotten? Or has it too, been consumed by the commercialism of the Christmas season?
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season and can be found pull out the festive decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. I've even been know to have a good part of my shopping done before the big Turkey Day. However, Thanksgiving is still a very big deal in my heart. It's a time to reflect on all that we have been blessed with rather than that which we are lacking. It's a chance to gather with our family and friends that we love dearly. Plus, we consume some seriously delicious food. What's not to love about that?
For my house, you will find the Autumn decorations hung with care, Christmas ads being ignored, blessing being reflected on and menus being planned as we wait in anticipation for the Thanksgiving holiday.
I'll now be stepping off my soap box for the moment. :-)
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Christmas season and can be found pull out the festive decorations the weekend after Thanksgiving. I've even been know to have a good part of my shopping done before the big Turkey Day. However, Thanksgiving is still a very big deal in my heart. It's a time to reflect on all that we have been blessed with rather than that which we are lacking. It's a chance to gather with our family and friends that we love dearly. Plus, we consume some seriously delicious food. What's not to love about that?
For my house, you will find the Autumn decorations hung with care, Christmas ads being ignored, blessing being reflected on and menus being planned as we wait in anticipation for the Thanksgiving holiday.
I'll now be stepping off my soap box for the moment. :-)
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