I am thankful for....
1) naptime. Peyton is finally getting used to her toddler bed. I am excited to finally get a shower today (I am still a little behind from a crazy week!)!
2) oatmeal. Yum!
3) Courage Reins. It's a neat horse therapy place by our house that I get to go volunteer at a few hours a month. I wish I could do more! (One day....) They do incredible things there and the spirit of love and kindness there is so inspiring! I love it!
4) double shifts. Wes picked up a double today. Although I miss him and hate it when he works long hours, I am grateful that he can when we need him to. And I'm grateful for his willingness to work so hard to provide for his family.
5) Wes. I just don't feel love from anywhere like I feel from him. It just never stops. No matter what. It just grows and grows. I feel so thankful for him....he is the apple of my eye. ;) I love waking up in his arms each morning. I love being with him. I love knowing that I can always depend on him. I'm so proud of him and feel so lucky to be his wife!
Friday, October 25, 2013
day 20
I'm thankful for....
1) email. It's just so easy and efficient. It's a great way to get things accomplished and I am grateful to live during a time that it's such a common, useful part of life.
2) flexible time. I'm lucky enough to not have to work. Even though with four kids life is CRAZY, I still feel like every day is so flexible and such an adventure!
3) Power of Moms. I've had a crazy, busy year or so of my life, and I haven't gotten to spend as much time with all of the amazing things over at Power of Moms. But, I have been able to continue (with breaks when I needed them) to volunteer my time and be involved with such an incredible organization! I'm so grateful for Power of Moms. I love feeling connected to so many like-minded women, all battling and learning about being the best mothers we can. If you haven't heard of Power of Moms, check them out here.
4) Jonah's school. I am blown away every time we go there. I am blown away by his progress. I am blown away by the love that is there. I am blown away by the talents, skills, knowledge, and support of these people. I am blown away that Jonah got the opportunity to go here. This experience will help him (and us) throughout his life. I feel so, SO thankful for the opportunity he has to go there.
5) my chiropractor. Wes and I got to visit him today and feel so relaxed. I am so thankful for all the knowledge and means to maintain a healthy body.
1) email. It's just so easy and efficient. It's a great way to get things accomplished and I am grateful to live during a time that it's such a common, useful part of life.
2) flexible time. I'm lucky enough to not have to work. Even though with four kids life is CRAZY, I still feel like every day is so flexible and such an adventure!
3) Power of Moms. I've had a crazy, busy year or so of my life, and I haven't gotten to spend as much time with all of the amazing things over at Power of Moms. But, I have been able to continue (with breaks when I needed them) to volunteer my time and be involved with such an incredible organization! I'm so grateful for Power of Moms. I love feeling connected to so many like-minded women, all battling and learning about being the best mothers we can. If you haven't heard of Power of Moms, check them out here.
4) Jonah's school. I am blown away every time we go there. I am blown away by his progress. I am blown away by the love that is there. I am blown away by the talents, skills, knowledge, and support of these people. I am blown away that Jonah got the opportunity to go here. This experience will help him (and us) throughout his life. I feel so, SO thankful for the opportunity he has to go there.
5) my chiropractor. Wes and I got to visit him today and feel so relaxed. I am so thankful for all the knowledge and means to maintain a healthy body.
day 19
Today I'm grateful for....
1) our chickens. I got to run them some treats today (it's usually my boys that go do it). They are just so sweet and beautiful in their own, chicken-like way. I'm glad we got them this spring. We've enjoyed the character and humor they have, the yummy eggs, the pest control, and the lessons in care and responsibility they teach our kids.
2) nice teeth. I feel so thankful for good teeth. I do take good care of them, because I like having good teeth and a clean mouth. :)
3) the pumpkin walk at the big boy' school. It's such a cute event! It gets better and better every year. I'll have to post some pictures when I pull them off my camera, but in the meantime, we sure appreciated all of the hard work and generosity that goes into such a huge project. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the family time. I'm so glad that our school has this tradition!
4) Kolton. My oldest child. He is just an AMAZING example to me of love and leadership and giving. He has been with me through it all, and has dealt with Micah and Jonah's weaknesses more than just about anyone (other than them, of course) and he has done it all with a loving, good attitude. He just blows me away. the other day, I heard him helping Micah take a shower. He walked him through every step so patiently and kindly. He truly does love and enjoy his siblings. He sets a great example and is so obedient and determined to do the right thing. I love that he loves to talk to me. I love that we share that love of quality time and that he tells me everything. I love how sweet he is to his little sister. I love how he can do anything he sets his mind to. He's recently fallen in love with reading and I still feel like jumping for joy when I see him carrying a book around with him (like me) wherever he goes. I feel so lucky to get to be this kid's mom. He brings me so much joy and teaches me so much about love, kindness, and trying my best. He's such a little sweetheart and I just love him to pieces!
1) our chickens. I got to run them some treats today (it's usually my boys that go do it). They are just so sweet and beautiful in their own, chicken-like way. I'm glad we got them this spring. We've enjoyed the character and humor they have, the yummy eggs, the pest control, and the lessons in care and responsibility they teach our kids.
2) nice teeth. I feel so thankful for good teeth. I do take good care of them, because I like having good teeth and a clean mouth. :)
3) the pumpkin walk at the big boy' school. It's such a cute event! It gets better and better every year. I'll have to post some pictures when I pull them off my camera, but in the meantime, we sure appreciated all of the hard work and generosity that goes into such a huge project. We enjoyed the atmosphere and the family time. I'm so glad that our school has this tradition!
4) Kolton. My oldest child. He is just an AMAZING example to me of love and leadership and giving. He has been with me through it all, and has dealt with Micah and Jonah's weaknesses more than just about anyone (other than them, of course) and he has done it all with a loving, good attitude. He just blows me away. the other day, I heard him helping Micah take a shower. He walked him through every step so patiently and kindly. He truly does love and enjoy his siblings. He sets a great example and is so obedient and determined to do the right thing. I love that he loves to talk to me. I love that we share that love of quality time and that he tells me everything. I love how sweet he is to his little sister. I love how he can do anything he sets his mind to. He's recently fallen in love with reading and I still feel like jumping for joy when I see him carrying a book around with him (like me) wherever he goes. I feel so lucky to get to be this kid's mom. He brings me so much joy and teaches me so much about love, kindness, and trying my best. He's such a little sweetheart and I just love him to pieces!
day 18
I am grateful for....
1) my big boys' school. It really is a great school and I feel so thankful that they get to go there. And I love getting to go there and be involved whenever I can. School is so fun!
2) ABA therapy. I am just continually blown away by the progress my boys have made. I won't say it's easy...it is HARD to coordinate and stay committed to. You have to make a lot of sacrifices and work very hard. But, when I see the incredible things I see, it confirms the fact that this really is the best thing for my boys and that it will help them meet their potential and experience so much more joy in their lives. I'm so grateful that they've gotten the opportunity to do ABA.
3) my family. I love that we are close. I love that we love each other. It warms my heart when I see the love my kids have for each other and for Wes and I. I enjoy them so much and feel so blessed to have my sweet family. I love learning for myself how love multiplies. :)
4) Dave Ramsey. I love the things I've learned about my finances and about faith from him. I'm grateful that we have a plan for our lives and for the legacy we are going to leave our family. I'm also grateful that I can flip on his show at night when I pop the kids in the car to go for a drive and settle them down.
5) Wes' job. I feel so blessed that he's got a good one. We are very lucky!
1) my big boys' school. It really is a great school and I feel so thankful that they get to go there. And I love getting to go there and be involved whenever I can. School is so fun!
2) ABA therapy. I am just continually blown away by the progress my boys have made. I won't say it's easy...it is HARD to coordinate and stay committed to. You have to make a lot of sacrifices and work very hard. But, when I see the incredible things I see, it confirms the fact that this really is the best thing for my boys and that it will help them meet their potential and experience so much more joy in their lives. I'm so grateful that they've gotten the opportunity to do ABA.
3) my family. I love that we are close. I love that we love each other. It warms my heart when I see the love my kids have for each other and for Wes and I. I enjoy them so much and feel so blessed to have my sweet family. I love learning for myself how love multiplies. :)
4) Dave Ramsey. I love the things I've learned about my finances and about faith from him. I'm grateful that we have a plan for our lives and for the legacy we are going to leave our family. I'm also grateful that I can flip on his show at night when I pop the kids in the car to go for a drive and settle them down.
5) Wes' job. I feel so blessed that he's got a good one. We are very lucky!
day 17
I'm thankful for.....
1) learning from overcommitting. I've been doing less of it lately, but got myself in a bind this week that I will not forget anytime soon! I'm glad that I know that at least my overcommitting was helpful to someone, and that it taught me a valuable lesson not to say "yes" anymore before thinking about it!
2) my mom. She was involved in the over commitment and is learning the same lesson as me! I'm glad I at least get to share the load with someone, and that we can laugh about it!
3) my Silhouette. It's so much fun to use, and is saving me a lot of time today with this huge project! And it's been a little moody lately, so I'm extremely grateful that it decided to work beautifully all day!
4) the scriptures. I love reading them and realizing the wealth of information there. I feel good knowing that all throughout history, people have struggles with a lot of the same things I have. I guess that what makes is such a great learning experience to read them. :)
5) laughter. It really is the best medicine!
1) learning from overcommitting. I've been doing less of it lately, but got myself in a bind this week that I will not forget anytime soon! I'm glad that I know that at least my overcommitting was helpful to someone, and that it taught me a valuable lesson not to say "yes" anymore before thinking about it!
2) my mom. She was involved in the over commitment and is learning the same lesson as me! I'm glad I at least get to share the load with someone, and that we can laugh about it!
3) my Silhouette. It's so much fun to use, and is saving me a lot of time today with this huge project! And it's been a little moody lately, so I'm extremely grateful that it decided to work beautifully all day!
4) the scriptures. I love reading them and realizing the wealth of information there. I feel good knowing that all throughout history, people have struggles with a lot of the same things I have. I guess that what makes is such a great learning experience to read them. :)
5) laughter. It really is the best medicine!
day 16
Today I feel very grateful for....
1) sleeping in. Wes sure loved sleeping in today! And we loved the soft, cozy beds that we woke up in this morning at this amazing hotel.
2) games. I love to play games. I'm even more grateful that we t least have one kid (Kolton) who has inherited my love for playing games!
3) blogs. I love to be able to read other people's ramblings and thoughts. I love to see the pictures. I learn a lot from the things people share. Wes and I found a blog recently of someone that shares our faith, but also shares a lot of the same struggles with our church that we have. I have totally soaked in the research and opinions he's shared. Reading his blog actually strengthened my faith and lifted so much of the burdens I've felt pertaining to my faith. I feel so grateful that he had the courage to share his thoughts and hope that he continues to do so. I love the gospel and I love the head of our church: Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for his shining example of love, kindness, forgiveness, service, and compassion. I hope to radiate those things in my own life.
I've realized that I'm not alone and felt confirmed in the fact that I am not the only one who shares certain beliefs. I realized once again, that what I feel in my heart is what's right for me. Putting too much emphasis on conforming to someone else's opinion is not right. I hope I can teach this to my children, as well as to emulate the love of Christ in everything they do.
4) the Alpine Slide. We went today as a family. It's a tradition we started a few years back, and it's among our favorites. It's so fun, and the mountains are so beautiful. We made it in this year by the skin of our teeth (on the last day they were open for the season) and we are so glad we did. I got to ride down with Jonah and hear him laugh and cheer the entire time. It was such a blast!
5) home sweet home. There's nothing more I like to come back to. I'm so thankful for a beautiful, safe, cozy home to come back to at the end of the day.
1) sleeping in. Wes sure loved sleeping in today! And we loved the soft, cozy beds that we woke up in this morning at this amazing hotel.
2) games. I love to play games. I'm even more grateful that we t least have one kid (Kolton) who has inherited my love for playing games!
3) blogs. I love to be able to read other people's ramblings and thoughts. I love to see the pictures. I learn a lot from the things people share. Wes and I found a blog recently of someone that shares our faith, but also shares a lot of the same struggles with our church that we have. I have totally soaked in the research and opinions he's shared. Reading his blog actually strengthened my faith and lifted so much of the burdens I've felt pertaining to my faith. I feel so grateful that he had the courage to share his thoughts and hope that he continues to do so. I love the gospel and I love the head of our church: Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for his shining example of love, kindness, forgiveness, service, and compassion. I hope to radiate those things in my own life.
I've realized that I'm not alone and felt confirmed in the fact that I am not the only one who shares certain beliefs. I realized once again, that what I feel in my heart is what's right for me. Putting too much emphasis on conforming to someone else's opinion is not right. I hope I can teach this to my children, as well as to emulate the love of Christ in everything they do.
4) the Alpine Slide. We went today as a family. It's a tradition we started a few years back, and it's among our favorites. It's so fun, and the mountains are so beautiful. We made it in this year by the skin of our teeth (on the last day they were open for the season) and we are so glad we did. I got to ride down with Jonah and hear him laugh and cheer the entire time. It was such a blast!
5) home sweet home. There's nothing more I like to come back to. I'm so thankful for a beautiful, safe, cozy home to come back to at the end of the day.
day 15
I am grateful for....
1) the Rapellas. When Wes and I were first married, we moved straightaway to Nevada so he could go to pharmacy school. I felt so lonely and scared. I wanted to be with Wes, but I did NOT want to leave my family and friends and Utah. All in all, it's one of the sweeter times in our lives...going off and being newlyweds together. And we had a family down in Nevada: the Rapellas. I had the privilege of being the nanny to their two amazing, beautiful, sweet little girls. Very shortly, Ruth became my mom away from home. The Rapellas are some of our dearest friends. They are the kindest, most loving, generous people I know. Imagine how thrilled we were when they decided to move up to Utah! We did all we could to help and we so happy to see them settle in to their beautiful new home. We love them so much and hope that we will be seeing more of them now that they are in the same state. :)
2) family time. Thanks to our friends, the Rapellas, we are spending some amazing family time together in Deer Valley at a beautiful, comfortable hotel that they gifted us a night at for Christmas. It's beautiful up here and I feel sooo lucky to be here thanks to a generous gift and with some of my very favorite people. I can never get enough of my family!
3) our car. I love that it has room for all of my overpacking. I love how comfortable and pampered I feel in it. I love how reliable it is. I am so grateful for our car!
4) forgiveness and reconnecting. I got to have lunch today with my cousin, Tim. We've had some ups and downs in our lives, largely in part of some mistakes and unkind words. I'm so grateful that we got the chance to reconnect and that we were able to forgive (and hopefully forget) the past. It's been one of the great learning experiences in my life. I hope I don't forget the biggest lesson I learned: to love people, no matter what. And how good it feels to do that.
5) cooking. I really have come to enjoy cooking, and I'm thankful that I've gotten the hang of it over the years. It brings me so much joy to cook and share the food I've made with others. I enjoy it as well. And I love that Wes likes to cook as well because I really, really enjoy cooking together.
1) the Rapellas. When Wes and I were first married, we moved straightaway to Nevada so he could go to pharmacy school. I felt so lonely and scared. I wanted to be with Wes, but I did NOT want to leave my family and friends and Utah. All in all, it's one of the sweeter times in our lives...going off and being newlyweds together. And we had a family down in Nevada: the Rapellas. I had the privilege of being the nanny to their two amazing, beautiful, sweet little girls. Very shortly, Ruth became my mom away from home. The Rapellas are some of our dearest friends. They are the kindest, most loving, generous people I know. Imagine how thrilled we were when they decided to move up to Utah! We did all we could to help and we so happy to see them settle in to their beautiful new home. We love them so much and hope that we will be seeing more of them now that they are in the same state. :)
2) family time. Thanks to our friends, the Rapellas, we are spending some amazing family time together in Deer Valley at a beautiful, comfortable hotel that they gifted us a night at for Christmas. It's beautiful up here and I feel sooo lucky to be here thanks to a generous gift and with some of my very favorite people. I can never get enough of my family!
3) our car. I love that it has room for all of my overpacking. I love how comfortable and pampered I feel in it. I love how reliable it is. I am so grateful for our car!
4) forgiveness and reconnecting. I got to have lunch today with my cousin, Tim. We've had some ups and downs in our lives, largely in part of some mistakes and unkind words. I'm so grateful that we got the chance to reconnect and that we were able to forgive (and hopefully forget) the past. It's been one of the great learning experiences in my life. I hope I don't forget the biggest lesson I learned: to love people, no matter what. And how good it feels to do that.
5) cooking. I really have come to enjoy cooking, and I'm thankful that I've gotten the hang of it over the years. It brings me so much joy to cook and share the food I've made with others. I enjoy it as well. And I love that Wes likes to cook as well because I really, really enjoy cooking together.
day 14
I'm thankful for....
1) ice skating. Wes and I got to go together tonight and we had so much fun! I loved when skating was such a big part of my life. I'm glad I had to stop, because I don't think it's a very healthy environment for a young girl, but it doesn't change the fact that I missed it! I love the smell, the feel of the ice beneath my feet, the music...I could go on and on. I love it and I'm thankful that I got to be a kid again for the night and enjoy the ice again!
2) date night. There's nothing that makes my heart leap like time alone with my husband. I love him so much and feel so, so lucky that he loves me back!
3) Shaunie. One of our fabulous babysitters that makes date night possible. The kids love her and so do we.
4) instant mac & cheese. Sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking. I'm glad there are things like instant mac & cheese that make the kids excited that I'm not cooking sometimes. ;)
5) flyswatters. Enough said.
1) ice skating. Wes and I got to go together tonight and we had so much fun! I loved when skating was such a big part of my life. I'm glad I had to stop, because I don't think it's a very healthy environment for a young girl, but it doesn't change the fact that I missed it! I love the smell, the feel of the ice beneath my feet, the music...I could go on and on. I love it and I'm thankful that I got to be a kid again for the night and enjoy the ice again!
2) date night. There's nothing that makes my heart leap like time alone with my husband. I love him so much and feel so, so lucky that he loves me back!
3) Shaunie. One of our fabulous babysitters that makes date night possible. The kids love her and so do we.
4) instant mac & cheese. Sometimes, you just don't feel like cooking. I'm glad there are things like instant mac & cheese that make the kids excited that I'm not cooking sometimes. ;)
5) flyswatters. Enough said.
day 13
Today I'm grateful for....
1) the community at Giant Steps. I love that we are starting to meet other parents who deal with autism. I'm grateful for the support we feel from them.
2) potty training! We had a potty training class tonight for the parent meeting at Giant Steps. I'm SO EXCITED at the thought of Jonah being potty trained! We "potty trained" him all summer and he'd be fine until we'd undergo ONE change of schedule and then he'd completely quit. After doing this all summer, we decided to wait until school. Now, the time has almost arrived and we are excited to get this boy going on the potty again!
3) DVD player in the car. Sometimes, it just gives me sanity to have it a little quiet when I'm driving and know that the kids are entertained. I try not to use it too much, but I'm so grateful it's there when I want to!
4) Clayton Productions. I'm so glad that my big boys get to be a part of this amazing performing group. It instilled in me a love for serving others through music, and taught me how to love music even more. The morale at that place is just amazing! I can't wait to see them perform for Christmas! I hope they love it as much as I did!
5) Lee. My father-in-law has been such a lifesaver helping with our kids lately. They love him so much and he is among the favorite of all babysitters! I'm SO THANKFUL for his willingness to help out, and for the love he gives our little kids.
1) the community at Giant Steps. I love that we are starting to meet other parents who deal with autism. I'm grateful for the support we feel from them.
2) potty training! We had a potty training class tonight for the parent meeting at Giant Steps. I'm SO EXCITED at the thought of Jonah being potty trained! We "potty trained" him all summer and he'd be fine until we'd undergo ONE change of schedule and then he'd completely quit. After doing this all summer, we decided to wait until school. Now, the time has almost arrived and we are excited to get this boy going on the potty again!
3) DVD player in the car. Sometimes, it just gives me sanity to have it a little quiet when I'm driving and know that the kids are entertained. I try not to use it too much, but I'm so grateful it's there when I want to!
4) Clayton Productions. I'm so glad that my big boys get to be a part of this amazing performing group. It instilled in me a love for serving others through music, and taught me how to love music even more. The morale at that place is just amazing! I can't wait to see them perform for Christmas! I hope they love it as much as I did!
5) Lee. My father-in-law has been such a lifesaver helping with our kids lately. They love him so much and he is among the favorite of all babysitters! I'm SO THANKFUL for his willingness to help out, and for the love he gives our little kids.
day 12
I'm thankful for....
1) being able to help in my kids' classes at school. Today was Micah's turn. I love to see them at school, and I love how happy they are to see me. It's so much fun and I feel so lucky that I get the opportunity to be there often.
2) my healing body. I haven't been doing too well, but I feel grateful to be slowly ruling scary things out, and to be more productive with what I've been trying to heal. Today I visited my doctor, who said that I could try a new food every few days. I'm grateful that I can eat normal food on Thanksgiving this year!
3) Celest. She's one of my best girlfriends. I'm grateful for her. I'm so glad that we live close to each other and share so many common interests, as well as a genuine interest in the things we don't share. I'm glad we have fun together and that our husbands and kids enjoy each other. She has really been there for me as a support through pretty much every tough thing I've dealt with in my life since we've been friends. I'm so grateful for that. I feel lucky to have such a good friend in her, and I'm glad I get to be one back. :)
4) my health. We've all been battling awful, awful colds around here! It's made me so grateful for the good health we experience most of the time. And I'm thankful for clean water, soft beds, and movies and books when we don't feel good!
5) Wednesdays. I just like them. ;)
1) being able to help in my kids' classes at school. Today was Micah's turn. I love to see them at school, and I love how happy they are to see me. It's so much fun and I feel so lucky that I get the opportunity to be there often.
2) my healing body. I haven't been doing too well, but I feel grateful to be slowly ruling scary things out, and to be more productive with what I've been trying to heal. Today I visited my doctor, who said that I could try a new food every few days. I'm grateful that I can eat normal food on Thanksgiving this year!
3) Celest. She's one of my best girlfriends. I'm grateful for her. I'm so glad that we live close to each other and share so many common interests, as well as a genuine interest in the things we don't share. I'm glad we have fun together and that our husbands and kids enjoy each other. She has really been there for me as a support through pretty much every tough thing I've dealt with in my life since we've been friends. I'm so grateful for that. I feel lucky to have such a good friend in her, and I'm glad I get to be one back. :)
4) my health. We've all been battling awful, awful colds around here! It's made me so grateful for the good health we experience most of the time. And I'm thankful for clean water, soft beds, and movies and books when we don't feel good!
5) Wednesdays. I just like them. ;)
day 11
Today I'm grateful for...
1) school being back in. As much as I love the kids being home, it was nice to put my house back together today and be able to walk into the kitchen without hearing at least one person saying, "Mom, I'm hungry." I'm glad I can be here when they get home and hand them a nice little snack and have the evening together in a house I cleaned while they were gone. I like having a little routine to my days and my life (and I like not having to be too rigid about them, too.)
2) my kids all have the ability to walk and run. There are so many that don't, and I can't imagine how hard that would be not only as a child, but as the parent of one. I'm so grateful that my kids don't have to deal with the pain and heartache that could come along with that. I hope that they always get to enjoy the use of their legs. They are lucky little kiddos!
3) family nights. I am grateful that we try to spend some time together as a family at least once a week. I've heard before that love is spelled T-I-M-E and I have to agree. I'm glad that we love each other so much and that we have fun together often.
4) the mountains. We live so close to them, and every day I admire their breathtaking beauty. I'm so thankful that I get to live so close to them and enjoy them each time I step outside or peek out of my window.
5) square foot gardening. Ours was pathetic this year, but I still felt grateful as we cleaned them out, picked a bunch of tomatoes (that ultimately got thrown to the chickens), strawberries, peas, and a few squash and pumpkins. I am glad that we all enjoy the garden. I'm VERY thankful that I learned this method that is so productive, orderly, and fun!
1) school being back in. As much as I love the kids being home, it was nice to put my house back together today and be able to walk into the kitchen without hearing at least one person saying, "Mom, I'm hungry." I'm glad I can be here when they get home and hand them a nice little snack and have the evening together in a house I cleaned while they were gone. I like having a little routine to my days and my life (and I like not having to be too rigid about them, too.)
2) my kids all have the ability to walk and run. There are so many that don't, and I can't imagine how hard that would be not only as a child, but as the parent of one. I'm so grateful that my kids don't have to deal with the pain and heartache that could come along with that. I hope that they always get to enjoy the use of their legs. They are lucky little kiddos!
3) family nights. I am grateful that we try to spend some time together as a family at least once a week. I've heard before that love is spelled T-I-M-E and I have to agree. I'm glad that we love each other so much and that we have fun together often.
4) the mountains. We live so close to them, and every day I admire their breathtaking beauty. I'm so thankful that I get to live so close to them and enjoy them each time I step outside or peek out of my window.
5) square foot gardening. Ours was pathetic this year, but I still felt grateful as we cleaned them out, picked a bunch of tomatoes (that ultimately got thrown to the chickens), strawberries, peas, and a few squash and pumpkins. I am glad that we all enjoy the garden. I'm VERY thankful that I learned this method that is so productive, orderly, and fun!
day 10
Today I'm thankful for....
1) days off of school. My kids are on their last day of fall break, and I have to say that I have loved having them home. They are the light of my life and it makes me so happy to have them with me for a few days and play, snuggle, laugh, and just have fun! They are all growing so fast and I love them more than I could ever describe. I'm not gonna lie.....there have been moments that I couldn't wait for school to start. But, all in all, I love these sweet little people and it's been fun to have them home!
2) Micah's occupational therapist. He is great not only with Micah, but with all my children. He's very talented and fun. I'm glad that Micah has someone so fitting to make the extra stuff fun rather than just bearable.
3) KSL deals. It's a fabulous little business out here that's similar to Groupon. Today, we got tickets to a fun little place called "Jungle Jim's" (kind of like Chuck E. Cheese...less games, more rides, and the rides are free with admission) for dirt cheap. It was so fun to do this together on the boys' last day out of school! They were so fun! I loved watching them play together, especially Jonah and Micah (who normally fight like nobody's business, but today seemed to enjoy each other so much). There were endless giggles and funny moments, and since not all the schools were out, the place was not busy at all and they didn't have to wait in line for any of the rides. We had so much fun!
4) fall weather. Its gorgeous and pleasant. I can never get enough of it and the beautiful colors that come with it!
5) prayer. We've been focusing on doing this more as a family. We are far from perfect, but we are enjoying it and feeling the difference it's making in our family. It's amazing how quickly you can feel someone is listening. I'm grateful for that.
1) days off of school. My kids are on their last day of fall break, and I have to say that I have loved having them home. They are the light of my life and it makes me so happy to have them with me for a few days and play, snuggle, laugh, and just have fun! They are all growing so fast and I love them more than I could ever describe. I'm not gonna lie.....there have been moments that I couldn't wait for school to start. But, all in all, I love these sweet little people and it's been fun to have them home!
2) Micah's occupational therapist. He is great not only with Micah, but with all my children. He's very talented and fun. I'm glad that Micah has someone so fitting to make the extra stuff fun rather than just bearable.
3) KSL deals. It's a fabulous little business out here that's similar to Groupon. Today, we got tickets to a fun little place called "Jungle Jim's" (kind of like Chuck E. Cheese...less games, more rides, and the rides are free with admission) for dirt cheap. It was so fun to do this together on the boys' last day out of school! They were so fun! I loved watching them play together, especially Jonah and Micah (who normally fight like nobody's business, but today seemed to enjoy each other so much). There were endless giggles and funny moments, and since not all the schools were out, the place was not busy at all and they didn't have to wait in line for any of the rides. We had so much fun!
4) fall weather. Its gorgeous and pleasant. I can never get enough of it and the beautiful colors that come with it!
5) prayer. We've been focusing on doing this more as a family. We are far from perfect, but we are enjoying it and feeling the difference it's making in our family. It's amazing how quickly you can feel someone is listening. I'm grateful for that.
day 9
I am grateful for....
1) sleeping in. Even though our church starts early and we did decide to go today, I still got to sleep in a little later than normal and it was wonderful. I LOVE my bed!
2) church. Today, we went to Sacrament meeting at church. With 4 little kids and Wes working 1/2 of all the Sundays, it's not something I get to do much. But someone got up and shared something they'd learned and it was so similar to what I've been going through spiritually the past few years that I felt like he was talking straight to me. I felt the spirit so strong and I felt the love my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, have for me. I really needed that reminder today.
3) Pieter and Chris. They are Wes' aunt and uncle who are more like adopted parents to us. They have taken such good care of us over the years, and Wes and I always joke that we want to be like then "when we grow up" because they are so kind, fun, loving, and generous. Everyone around them feels so special and important. They are very amazing people and I feel so very blessed to have their influence and involvement in our lives.
4) my piano. I'm not very good, and I haven't figured out how to make time to play too often, but I still LOVE having a piano in our home. I love music, and playing relaxes me and is such a good emotional release and a lift. One day, I will fulfill my dream of playing well and writing some music, but for now, I'm content and so grateful to have a piano and music in our home.
5) hugs. Especially from people I love. We have a very touchy, feely family (both immediate and extended) and I feel so thankful for that. I love hugs and I love that my children are growing up surrounded by cuddles, hugs, kisses, high fives, tickles, and any and all other kinds of loving touch. I have a friend who worked at an orphanage, and her job there was just to cuddle, hug, and touch those sweet little babies (fun job, huh? I would love it!). They found that it saved many lives because a lot of those little babies were dying from lack of touch. I could go on and on....it's just so incredible to me how important and essential loving touch is. I'm so thankful that I have never suffered from lack of it in my life.
1) sleeping in. Even though our church starts early and we did decide to go today, I still got to sleep in a little later than normal and it was wonderful. I LOVE my bed!
2) church. Today, we went to Sacrament meeting at church. With 4 little kids and Wes working 1/2 of all the Sundays, it's not something I get to do much. But someone got up and shared something they'd learned and it was so similar to what I've been going through spiritually the past few years that I felt like he was talking straight to me. I felt the spirit so strong and I felt the love my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, have for me. I really needed that reminder today.
3) Pieter and Chris. They are Wes' aunt and uncle who are more like adopted parents to us. They have taken such good care of us over the years, and Wes and I always joke that we want to be like then "when we grow up" because they are so kind, fun, loving, and generous. Everyone around them feels so special and important. They are very amazing people and I feel so very blessed to have their influence and involvement in our lives.
4) my piano. I'm not very good, and I haven't figured out how to make time to play too often, but I still LOVE having a piano in our home. I love music, and playing relaxes me and is such a good emotional release and a lift. One day, I will fulfill my dream of playing well and writing some music, but for now, I'm content and so grateful to have a piano and music in our home.
5) hugs. Especially from people I love. We have a very touchy, feely family (both immediate and extended) and I feel so thankful for that. I love hugs and I love that my children are growing up surrounded by cuddles, hugs, kisses, high fives, tickles, and any and all other kinds of loving touch. I have a friend who worked at an orphanage, and her job there was just to cuddle, hug, and touch those sweet little babies (fun job, huh? I would love it!). They found that it saved many lives because a lot of those little babies were dying from lack of touch. I could go on and on....it's just so incredible to me how important and essential loving touch is. I'm so thankful that I have never suffered from lack of it in my life.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
day 8
I am thankful for....
1) my steam cleaner. Peyton pooped all over her high chair today. I was so glad that I could just whip that thing out and deal with it quickly. Yuck!
2) Halloween. Holidays are so fun! It's even more fun now that we have kids. They just make everything so magical and fun!
3) the new phones in our house. They are fabulous! I can connect my cell phone (that gets horrible reception here) to my house phone via bluetoooth and then I don't have to carry my cell phone all over or worry about the cell service in the house. So great!
4) date night. Nothing gets me through a busy week or a rough day like knowing that I get some much-needed one-on-one time with my sweetheart! Date night is my favorite night of the week!
5) sister-in-laws. I am lucky enough to have amazing ones! All of them! I feel so blessed to have each of them in my life. They are fun to be around, fun to talk to, and super fabulous, supportive aunts. It's nice to have them around when my own sister is far away (and my other two are so young...I love them very much, of course, but it's a different dynamic).
1) my steam cleaner. Peyton pooped all over her high chair today. I was so glad that I could just whip that thing out and deal with it quickly. Yuck!
2) Halloween. Holidays are so fun! It's even more fun now that we have kids. They just make everything so magical and fun!
3) the new phones in our house. They are fabulous! I can connect my cell phone (that gets horrible reception here) to my house phone via bluetoooth and then I don't have to carry my cell phone all over or worry about the cell service in the house. So great!
4) date night. Nothing gets me through a busy week or a rough day like knowing that I get some much-needed one-on-one time with my sweetheart! Date night is my favorite night of the week!
5) sister-in-laws. I am lucky enough to have amazing ones! All of them! I feel so blessed to have each of them in my life. They are fun to be around, fun to talk to, and super fabulous, supportive aunts. It's nice to have them around when my own sister is far away (and my other two are so young...I love them very much, of course, but it's a different dynamic).
day 7
Today I want to give thanks for....
1) scotch tape. Peyton loved one of her books a little too much. It has flaps, and they sometimes tear when she plays with it. I'm so glad that I can just pull out the good ol' scotch tape and fix those flaps!
2)Youtube. I love how I can learn so many things by just typing a few key words into a search. I pretty much taught myself to knit and crochet from Youtube, and now I'm starting to learn about quilting. There's tons of great ideas and recipes, fun old movies, tips about parenting and marriage, Ted talks, and of course all those funny videos!
3) homemade granola. I have become very dependent on my go-to recipe for homemade granola on this crazy diet. And I have to say, I have pretty much mastered it and have been able to make quite a few different bars and they have been my saving grace....my dessert at the end of the day, my snack on the run, etc. I'm so glad that I have something yummy to eat!
4) strong, healthy lungs. I've finally gotten a cold this year, and it's reminded me of how beautifully my lungs function. I am so grateful that I can typically breathe easy and that my lungs are healthy and strong.
5) the fact that my kids are healthy. I'm so grateful that our family has been lucky enough to be pretty darn healthy (knock on wood!) and strong.
1) scotch tape. Peyton loved one of her books a little too much. It has flaps, and they sometimes tear when she plays with it. I'm so glad that I can just pull out the good ol' scotch tape and fix those flaps!
2)Youtube. I love how I can learn so many things by just typing a few key words into a search. I pretty much taught myself to knit and crochet from Youtube, and now I'm starting to learn about quilting. There's tons of great ideas and recipes, fun old movies, tips about parenting and marriage, Ted talks, and of course all those funny videos!
3) homemade granola. I have become very dependent on my go-to recipe for homemade granola on this crazy diet. And I have to say, I have pretty much mastered it and have been able to make quite a few different bars and they have been my saving grace....my dessert at the end of the day, my snack on the run, etc. I'm so glad that I have something yummy to eat!
4) strong, healthy lungs. I've finally gotten a cold this year, and it's reminded me of how beautifully my lungs function. I am so grateful that I can typically breathe easy and that my lungs are healthy and strong.
5) the fact that my kids are healthy. I'm so grateful that our family has been lucky enough to be pretty darn healthy (knock on wood!) and strong.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
day 6
I'm thankful for...
1) chicken soup. It's one of my new staples that's gotten me through this super restrictive diet. I learned to make my own broth, and when I make it myself I can be flexible with what I throw in (wild rice, potatoes, extra veggies, etc.) which makes a difference when I'm eating it so often! I'm glad to have a yummy soup to eat on drizzly days like today. :)
2) my husband and all the hard work he's doing for our family. Wes has been so busy with all kinds of amazing things lately. He's kept himself so disciplined and motivated, and become more and more engaged at home with everything that's going on. I love having an involved, dedicated husband. He inspires me to be a better person as well as makes me fall in love with him more and more each day. I'm a lucky girl to be married to him!
3)my bed. I have a little cold today, and it made me appreciate not only my bed, but the darker, drizzly day which led to all of my kids sleeping in. I got some much-needed rest and although I still feel blah, I'm glad that I'm at home and that I have a snuggly, inviting bed to retreat to when I don't feel so hot.
4) the scriptures. I feel like I learn so much about life and about myself from a good story. I feel so grateful that our church has several scriptures that I can refer to in order to find answers, hear God's word, and read about others who shared a lot of my same struggles and also my same beliefs and values.
5)my awesome mixer. I was able to throw together some chicken stew today in about 10 minutes flat! Considering how many veggies I chopped up and threw in there, that's pretty darn awesome. I have this cool attachment that slices things for me, and I used it when I made my soup. It sliced it all up - all of it - in about 30 seconds. Now, my house smells amazing. Yum!
1) chicken soup. It's one of my new staples that's gotten me through this super restrictive diet. I learned to make my own broth, and when I make it myself I can be flexible with what I throw in (wild rice, potatoes, extra veggies, etc.) which makes a difference when I'm eating it so often! I'm glad to have a yummy soup to eat on drizzly days like today. :)
2) my husband and all the hard work he's doing for our family. Wes has been so busy with all kinds of amazing things lately. He's kept himself so disciplined and motivated, and become more and more engaged at home with everything that's going on. I love having an involved, dedicated husband. He inspires me to be a better person as well as makes me fall in love with him more and more each day. I'm a lucky girl to be married to him!
3)my bed. I have a little cold today, and it made me appreciate not only my bed, but the darker, drizzly day which led to all of my kids sleeping in. I got some much-needed rest and although I still feel blah, I'm glad that I'm at home and that I have a snuggly, inviting bed to retreat to when I don't feel so hot.
4) the scriptures. I feel like I learn so much about life and about myself from a good story. I feel so grateful that our church has several scriptures that I can refer to in order to find answers, hear God's word, and read about others who shared a lot of my same struggles and also my same beliefs and values.
5)my awesome mixer. I was able to throw together some chicken stew today in about 10 minutes flat! Considering how many veggies I chopped up and threw in there, that's pretty darn awesome. I have this cool attachment that slices things for me, and I used it when I made my soup. It sliced it all up - all of it - in about 30 seconds. Now, my house smells amazing. Yum!
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
day 5
I'm thankful for....
1) Jonah's preschool, Giant Steps. It's an AMAZING school. We got soooo lucky to even have the opportunity to put him there, and it is just wonderful. He loves it as well, so it makes it even better! Today was Family Day, so some of our extended family got to come and learn about autism and about the school. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic, which confirmed what we already knew: that we made the right decision putting him there. It's been fun and exciting to watch Jonah blossom with all the skills he's learning, and I'm looking forward to watching him continue to thrive as this next year unfolds. I'm so thrilled at how well he's been doing lately.
2) ballet class. My mom and I are taking an adult ballet class through community education here. It is the highlight of my week and I. LOVE. IT. I will definitely continue dancing for awhile. It's been so fun and relaxing, as well as a decent workout for both my body and my brain! I'm so glad that I got the nerve to take it....I have fallen in love with it!
3) school breaks. My kids are out of school for a few days right now, and I just LOVE having them home with me! Time with them is so precious to me, and we luckily enjoy each other so much. We have fun when we spend time together, and I'm excited to have them all to myself (and NO HOMEWORK) for the rest of the week!
4) dishwashers. Mine is running now, and I was just thinking about how much time it would take to wash and dry every dish we used! I feel very blessed to have an automatic dishwasher and all of the other modern conveniences we have!
5) music. I really love the piano music that plays in my ballet class. I love music in general, and don't go a day without singing and listening to it. I feel extremely grateful for music and the way it uplifts, relaxes, and speaks to my soul. I am also extremely grateful for perfectly working ears that can hear it.
1) Jonah's preschool, Giant Steps. It's an AMAZING school. We got soooo lucky to even have the opportunity to put him there, and it is just wonderful. He loves it as well, so it makes it even better! Today was Family Day, so some of our extended family got to come and learn about autism and about the school. Everyone seemed very enthusiastic, which confirmed what we already knew: that we made the right decision putting him there. It's been fun and exciting to watch Jonah blossom with all the skills he's learning, and I'm looking forward to watching him continue to thrive as this next year unfolds. I'm so thrilled at how well he's been doing lately.
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| This is Jonah on his first day of school. He was a little nervous once the bus arrived, but he got over that on the first day. The bus driver and aide are both so darling, and he took to them immediately. He waits eagerly at the window for them every morning and proudly trots right on the bus. He's getting so big! |
3) school breaks. My kids are out of school for a few days right now, and I just LOVE having them home with me! Time with them is so precious to me, and we luckily enjoy each other so much. We have fun when we spend time together, and I'm excited to have them all to myself (and NO HOMEWORK) for the rest of the week!
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| This is how we feel about school being out for now. No homework! Hooray!! |
5) music. I really love the piano music that plays in my ballet class. I love music in general, and don't go a day without singing and listening to it. I feel extremely grateful for music and the way it uplifts, relaxes, and speaks to my soul. I am also extremely grateful for perfectly working ears that can hear it.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
day 4
Today I'm thankful for...
1) my family. Today was just one of those days where I just felt love from all over. I feel so thankful for each member of our extended family (and out immediate, or course!) and the love that we all have for one another. I am very lucky to have such a great family!
2) sunshine. It's been unusually cold the past week or so, and I'm not the biggest lover of cold weather. Needless to say, when the sun peeked out today, it lifted my spirits. I feel like I am pretty sensitive to the weather...I feel sunny inside when it's sunny outside. Lucky for me, today was such a beautiful day!
3)my husband. He's just an incredible person. Nothing makes my heart go pitter-patter like his sexy smile, his gorgeous eyes, the feel of his skin, the sound of his voice....I could go on and on. We have fun together and we work well as a team. I love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. He takes such good care of us. He works so hard and always seems to find the energy to do even more. He's an amazing, involved dad and a great listener (and I'm a great talker, so we do pretty well haha). He is a big dreamer and a very dedicated person. I love how he can find the motivation to do hard things, and he never quits. I know he can do anything he sets his mind on. I feel thankful every day that he's my partner in crime that I get to laugh with and grow with forever and ever.
4) the autism waiver. We were one of the lucky few families selected for a waiver program that funds the ABA therapy that is so effective for autism. It has opened many, many doors for us and has provided so much more than we could have ever imagined. Our boys have grown by leaps and bounds and every time we start to get overwhelmed, or wonder if it's worth it, the floodgates open and they'll make so many strides and we are blown away by how effective the therapy is and how much they are growing. I'm so grateful that we have been given this gift, this gift of helping our children reach their potential.
5)the ability to walk and move around freely. I have a lot of stairs in my house and it drives me crazy! But today I was thinking about how hard it would be to live here in a wheelchair. I can move up and down the stairs without even thinking about it. I am so grateful to have a strong, healthy body!
1) my family. Today was just one of those days where I just felt love from all over. I feel so thankful for each member of our extended family (and out immediate, or course!) and the love that we all have for one another. I am very lucky to have such a great family!
2) sunshine. It's been unusually cold the past week or so, and I'm not the biggest lover of cold weather. Needless to say, when the sun peeked out today, it lifted my spirits. I feel like I am pretty sensitive to the weather...I feel sunny inside when it's sunny outside. Lucky for me, today was such a beautiful day!
3)my husband. He's just an incredible person. Nothing makes my heart go pitter-patter like his sexy smile, his gorgeous eyes, the feel of his skin, the sound of his voice....I could go on and on. We have fun together and we work well as a team. I love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. He takes such good care of us. He works so hard and always seems to find the energy to do even more. He's an amazing, involved dad and a great listener (and I'm a great talker, so we do pretty well haha). He is a big dreamer and a very dedicated person. I love how he can find the motivation to do hard things, and he never quits. I know he can do anything he sets his mind on. I feel thankful every day that he's my partner in crime that I get to laugh with and grow with forever and ever.
4) the autism waiver. We were one of the lucky few families selected for a waiver program that funds the ABA therapy that is so effective for autism. It has opened many, many doors for us and has provided so much more than we could have ever imagined. Our boys have grown by leaps and bounds and every time we start to get overwhelmed, or wonder if it's worth it, the floodgates open and they'll make so many strides and we are blown away by how effective the therapy is and how much they are growing. I'm so grateful that we have been given this gift, this gift of helping our children reach their potential.
5)the ability to walk and move around freely. I have a lot of stairs in my house and it drives me crazy! But today I was thinking about how hard it would be to live here in a wheelchair. I can move up and down the stairs without even thinking about it. I am so grateful to have a strong, healthy body!
Monday, October 7, 2013
day 3
Today I am thankful for....
1)bedtime! It was just one of those busy days with the kids. Nobody napped when they were supposed to, and everyone was grumpy. I am sitting here in a total disaster of the house because I'm too tired to clean up the dinner mess. AND Jonah decided to completely rip a library book to shreds while I was busy trying to get Peyton in bed! But now, I am enjoying the special kind of peace and quiet that comes only at bedtime and naptime. Plus, I LOVE watching my kids sleep...it makes it so easy for me to forgive and forget any annoyances....even when they involve destroying library book. ;)
3)Mind Organization for Moms. It's something I learned at a motherhood retreat I went to, and it's saved my sanity many, many times. Every single day I am grateful for how this method of organizing everything in my life from my routines to my thoughts to my kids' schoolwork to bills to calendars/dates and anything else! Because of M.O.M., I always know where things are, I manage my house pretty well (it still doesn't clean itself, darn it!), and those thoughts about important/fun things are put in a place where I actually see them again and follow through. So grateful for M.O.M.
4)Jonah passing his hearing test! My son has been tested and tested till the cows come home for hearing issues. I really think that after the test today, we can officially say that he hears just fine. Hooray! I'm also grateful for modern technology that enabled us to be sure he hears fine.
5)good books. They uplift and inspire me. They teach me. They help me to learn things and to improve myself in every/any aspect of my life. They tell stories. I'm also EXTREMELY grateful for my love of reading and the ability to do it with ease.
1)bedtime! It was just one of those busy days with the kids. Nobody napped when they were supposed to, and everyone was grumpy. I am sitting here in a total disaster of the house because I'm too tired to clean up the dinner mess. AND Jonah decided to completely rip a library book to shreds while I was busy trying to get Peyton in bed! But now, I am enjoying the special kind of peace and quiet that comes only at bedtime and naptime. Plus, I LOVE watching my kids sleep...it makes it so easy for me to forgive and forget any annoyances....even when they involve destroying library book. ;)
2)extended family. I feel so blessed to really, really love and enjoy each member of my extended family. I got to visit with and talk to some family members today, and it's always uplifting, fun, and good to chat and get advice and learn things. And we always have fun together. I know we won't all be together for too long, so right now Wes and I are relishing in the fact that his entire extended family is here, and most of mine is as well (although we miss my cute sister and her family who live about 4 hours away). Fun times.
3)Mind Organization for Moms. It's something I learned at a motherhood retreat I went to, and it's saved my sanity many, many times. Every single day I am grateful for how this method of organizing everything in my life from my routines to my thoughts to my kids' schoolwork to bills to calendars/dates and anything else! Because of M.O.M., I always know where things are, I manage my house pretty well (it still doesn't clean itself, darn it!), and those thoughts about important/fun things are put in a place where I actually see them again and follow through. So grateful for M.O.M.
4)Jonah passing his hearing test! My son has been tested and tested till the cows come home for hearing issues. I really think that after the test today, we can officially say that he hears just fine. Hooray! I'm also grateful for modern technology that enabled us to be sure he hears fine.
5)good books. They uplift and inspire me. They teach me. They help me to learn things and to improve myself in every/any aspect of my life. They tell stories. I'm also EXTREMELY grateful for my love of reading and the ability to do it with ease.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
day 2
Today I am thankful for...
1) A warm jacket! My hubby and I went out early this morning, and it was FREEZING! It was cold and windy, and we huddled together and shivered (we both hate the cold) like two little wimps. ;) I feel so grateful that we don't even have to stop and think about whether we can afford a jacket, and also for the fact that we had a nice, warm car to jump into as soon as we were done! We are very blessed.
2) My sweet little Micah. My second child, Micah, LOVES to make things out of paper and tape. This morning as I was getting ready, he came in and looked at me and told me that I was beautiful (it's not very often that my kids see me with much makeup other than chapstick and mascara haha). Then he went into my office and proceeded to make me a "hero cape" and was delighted when he taped it on my back. I love this little sweetheart and I love having him as my little boy. He is just so full of love and is just so HIM. He is comfortable with who he is, wears his emotions on his sleeve (which can get hard sometimes when he's upset or frustrated, but I actually LOVE that about him), and just loves to express love to everyone he meets with constant hugs, kisses, compliments, and gifts. He is so much like me that way....getting so much fulfillment out of loving others, and I love how simple and precious a child's love is. I'm so grateful this little sweetheart came to be in our family. His sensitive little soul just melts my heart!
3)General Conference. Twice each year, the church I go to hold's a conference where we as members gather/tune in to listen/watch. They talk about many things, and we as members are supposed to listen with an open heart and follow what the Spirit teaches each of us individually. I know it's a little different, but it's how I grew up, and I have had many personal experiences in my life where I know that a speaker was saying something for me (because I know that the Lord knows my struggles). This conference was one of those particular times where there were actually a couple different talks that spoke straight to my heart. This has been a time in my life where I've really needed a lot of guidance and support spiritually and I've had a lot of different and very meaningful things weighing on my mind. I felt relieved and grateful to hear the messages shared. I'm very thankful to be a part of an organized religion/church where its many members teach me more than almost anything else by their example and by teaching me how involved that Heavenly Father is in my life (in in everyone else's). I'm grateful for the personal revelation that I receive and for the example of Jesus Christ and the love he showed to everyone - no matter what. I feel incredibly grateful and blessed that he suffered for our sins, so that when I fall short (which is pretty much all the time), He can fill in the gaps for me and help me become a better person.
4) Autumn. I really love the seasons we have here in Utah. I'm not so much a fan of cold or winter, but I do love it a little. ;) I love spring, summer, and fall. I love the constant change. I love the symbolism and the excitement that my heart feels each time the beautiful world around me begins to change. I love the traditions and enthusiasm that goes along with each season. I love how it feels like a fresh start. I love the beautiful colors of fall, the crisp, cool air, jackets, soccer games, school getting into full swing, the beginning of holidays and family time, gardening and cleaning up the yard, going on walks and drives to enjoy the scenery, pumpkins, baking, the corn maze....all of it! I love the magic that each season brings. And I love having little kids and sharing the joy and discovery of each season that comes. Fall is such a gorgeous time of year!
5) My camera. I LOVE taking pictures. I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, but I do get in little phases where I can get it out more. I love the ability to see immediately if I got a good picture and if everyone was smiling. I love how with a few little clicks, I can change everything about how my camera works. I love the flexibility of digital. I wish I had more time to dabble in the technology of it such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and calibration (one day!). But I do love my camera, and I enjoy so much the pictures. I love how one look as something can bring so much nostalgia....bring me back to a tiny but very meaningful moment in time. I'm so glad to be able to preserve memories in photos, and that it's become so easy to share them with everyone. I love taking pictures of the little things, such as my daughter's pigtails, baby toes, a note written to me from my son, my children when they are sleeping, etc. as well as the big things/moments. Taking pictures really slows life down for me and helps me notice and appreciate the little things more.
What are you feeing thankful for today?
1) A warm jacket! My hubby and I went out early this morning, and it was FREEZING! It was cold and windy, and we huddled together and shivered (we both hate the cold) like two little wimps. ;) I feel so grateful that we don't even have to stop and think about whether we can afford a jacket, and also for the fact that we had a nice, warm car to jump into as soon as we were done! We are very blessed.
2) My sweet little Micah. My second child, Micah, LOVES to make things out of paper and tape. This morning as I was getting ready, he came in and looked at me and told me that I was beautiful (it's not very often that my kids see me with much makeup other than chapstick and mascara haha). Then he went into my office and proceeded to make me a "hero cape" and was delighted when he taped it on my back. I love this little sweetheart and I love having him as my little boy. He is just so full of love and is just so HIM. He is comfortable with who he is, wears his emotions on his sleeve (which can get hard sometimes when he's upset or frustrated, but I actually LOVE that about him), and just loves to express love to everyone he meets with constant hugs, kisses, compliments, and gifts. He is so much like me that way....getting so much fulfillment out of loving others, and I love how simple and precious a child's love is. I'm so grateful this little sweetheart came to be in our family. His sensitive little soul just melts my heart!
3)General Conference. Twice each year, the church I go to hold's a conference where we as members gather/tune in to listen/watch. They talk about many things, and we as members are supposed to listen with an open heart and follow what the Spirit teaches each of us individually. I know it's a little different, but it's how I grew up, and I have had many personal experiences in my life where I know that a speaker was saying something for me (because I know that the Lord knows my struggles). This conference was one of those particular times where there were actually a couple different talks that spoke straight to my heart. This has been a time in my life where I've really needed a lot of guidance and support spiritually and I've had a lot of different and very meaningful things weighing on my mind. I felt relieved and grateful to hear the messages shared. I'm very thankful to be a part of an organized religion/church where its many members teach me more than almost anything else by their example and by teaching me how involved that Heavenly Father is in my life (in in everyone else's). I'm grateful for the personal revelation that I receive and for the example of Jesus Christ and the love he showed to everyone - no matter what. I feel incredibly grateful and blessed that he suffered for our sins, so that when I fall short (which is pretty much all the time), He can fill in the gaps for me and help me become a better person.
4) Autumn. I really love the seasons we have here in Utah. I'm not so much a fan of cold or winter, but I do love it a little. ;) I love spring, summer, and fall. I love the constant change. I love the symbolism and the excitement that my heart feels each time the beautiful world around me begins to change. I love the traditions and enthusiasm that goes along with each season. I love how it feels like a fresh start. I love the beautiful colors of fall, the crisp, cool air, jackets, soccer games, school getting into full swing, the beginning of holidays and family time, gardening and cleaning up the yard, going on walks and drives to enjoy the scenery, pumpkins, baking, the corn maze....all of it! I love the magic that each season brings. And I love having little kids and sharing the joy and discovery of each season that comes. Fall is such a gorgeous time of year!
5) My camera. I LOVE taking pictures. I don't get to do it as often as I'd like, but I do get in little phases where I can get it out more. I love the ability to see immediately if I got a good picture and if everyone was smiling. I love how with a few little clicks, I can change everything about how my camera works. I love the flexibility of digital. I wish I had more time to dabble in the technology of it such as Photoshop, Lightroom, and calibration (one day!). But I do love my camera, and I enjoy so much the pictures. I love how one look as something can bring so much nostalgia....bring me back to a tiny but very meaningful moment in time. I'm so glad to be able to preserve memories in photos, and that it's become so easy to share them with everyone. I love taking pictures of the little things, such as my daughter's pigtails, baby toes, a note written to me from my son, my children when they are sleeping, etc. as well as the big things/moments. Taking pictures really slows life down for me and helps me notice and appreciate the little things more.
What are you feeing thankful for today?
Saturday, October 5, 2013
the beginning
This is something I've been thinking about for a long time.
You see, I am a big believer in the immense value of gratitude.
Ever since I was young, I've always kept a gratitude journal (off and on). I always notice the times that I don't, because for me, it makes a huge difference to write things down. It's like they become more etched into my brain. And being a big lover of goals and self-improvement, without the constant thoughts about what I'm thankful for, it can become so easy to focus only on what needs to be fixed or changed in my life. My brain starts to move faster. I feel rushed and edgy and completely focused on all that's not right with my life. I know there is a valid time and place for focus on these things, but the place of these things should never take over my gratitude and appreciation of all that is wonderful in my life.
So, one day, I decided to start this blog.
I wanted a more permanent place of reference for these thoughts. I wanted an easier way to share them with people I love, and people who may be uplifted and looking for a little extra reminder of all the good in the world.
So, here I am.
I'm not exactly sure about what I want the format of this blog to be. I am thinking that I want to document 5 things each day that I am thankful for. I may just write down the item, or I may want to explain why I feel thankful that day - I am giving myself license to do both. I want to try to have variety in what I say. (For example, I could write over and over about certain things/people in my lives I am thankful for until the cows come home and it would never feel like enough to me, so I am going to try to spread in out not because I'm not thankful or thinking about those things, but because I want to really stretch and also make sure I'm thinking about things that maybe I take for granted a little more.) I don't think I will share too much about my/my family's lives, because we do have a family blog for that here, and being a busy wife and mom of 4 small children , I don't have tons of time for blogging each day (in fact, I've abandoned that blog the last few years because of how extremely busy I was. I am recommitting to it now because I have learned that it's been a healthy place for me to find perspective on hard things, notice the small - but important - things, and document the lives of our family. I will be playing catch-up there as well as sharing current news from now on.). You are welcome to visit and learn about us anytime you'd like though. ;)
So, without further adieu, here is my first entry:
I am thankful for...
1)my baby girl, Peyton. We had a bit of a rough night last night, and as I laid in my bed, drinking in her beautiful innocence and her innate need to be near me, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her. She is truly one of my guardian angels. She came to me during a time in my life that was extremely stressful and hard. She was a huge surprise (can you say "IUD baby"?) and in hindsight I realize that God sent her to me because he knew she would bring me so much happiness, peace, and joy during a time of trial and confusion. I feel so connected to her and to all of my children. I am grateful that I get to be their mother and that we all love each other so much.
2)my ability to see all the beauty of this earth and all that's in it. It's one of those things that I truly take for granted. I've been thinking about it a lot recently, realizing that if it weren't for modern technology, I wouldn't be seeing so well. I am nearsighted and can't see much but colored blobs without glasses or contacts. I am so thankful that I can see clearly because of those things. There is so much beauty to be taken in!
3)trials. There is nothing more humbling. Even though tough things are never fun, I am so grateful for the opportunity they give me to grow. When things get so hard that they become overwhelming, I notice that most of the time, it's because I am not relying on the Lord and on my heart. I am surrounded by people that love me and by limitless options to make bad things into good things. I am so thankful for the life experience and perspective that my trials bring me. That heightened awareness and humility that I get when things are rough are so fulfilling and beautiful to me.
4)my laptop. I am one of those people that for the life of me can't get technology to work for me the way I want. Partially because of bad luck, and partially because I have no clue. But the truth is, that whether it works like a dinosaur or a well-oiled machine, my laptop gets the job done! I do so many things from my computer. It stores so much valuable information from our budget to pictures of our family and everything in-between. I am grateful to be able to have one place to do/store so many things. It makes my life so much simpler!
5)food! I have been on a pretty restrictive diet lately for health reasons, and man alive I have missed my food! Not only that, but I have whined and complained and just been awful about it! I have NOT enjoyed cooking a nice, delicious dinner for my family and have only been focused on the fact that they can eat certain foods and I can't. I should have been focused on my body's amazing ability to heal with the right nutrition, and made that hunger and craving a good reminder about the fact that I am feeling better every day. I read somewhere recently that less than 1 in 100 people in poor countries will ever even have one in their lives of what we would consider a good, square meal. I hardly ever think about that! I am so blessed to never have to think about where my food is coming from and whether or not we'll have any. Food is such a huge part of our lives in so many ways. I feel so lucky to never have to be hungry or deal with starvation and hunger as a reality in my life.
That's all for today! See you tomorrow!
You see, I am a big believer in the immense value of gratitude.
Ever since I was young, I've always kept a gratitude journal (off and on). I always notice the times that I don't, because for me, it makes a huge difference to write things down. It's like they become more etched into my brain. And being a big lover of goals and self-improvement, without the constant thoughts about what I'm thankful for, it can become so easy to focus only on what needs to be fixed or changed in my life. My brain starts to move faster. I feel rushed and edgy and completely focused on all that's not right with my life. I know there is a valid time and place for focus on these things, but the place of these things should never take over my gratitude and appreciation of all that is wonderful in my life.
So, one day, I decided to start this blog.
I wanted a more permanent place of reference for these thoughts. I wanted an easier way to share them with people I love, and people who may be uplifted and looking for a little extra reminder of all the good in the world.
So, here I am.
I'm not exactly sure about what I want the format of this blog to be. I am thinking that I want to document 5 things each day that I am thankful for. I may just write down the item, or I may want to explain why I feel thankful that day - I am giving myself license to do both. I want to try to have variety in what I say. (For example, I could write over and over about certain things/people in my lives I am thankful for until the cows come home and it would never feel like enough to me, so I am going to try to spread in out not because I'm not thankful or thinking about those things, but because I want to really stretch and also make sure I'm thinking about things that maybe I take for granted a little more.) I don't think I will share too much about my/my family's lives, because we do have a family blog for that here, and being a busy wife and mom of 4 small children , I don't have tons of time for blogging each day (in fact, I've abandoned that blog the last few years because of how extremely busy I was. I am recommitting to it now because I have learned that it's been a healthy place for me to find perspective on hard things, notice the small - but important - things, and document the lives of our family. I will be playing catch-up there as well as sharing current news from now on.). You are welcome to visit and learn about us anytime you'd like though. ;)
So, without further adieu, here is my first entry:
I am thankful for...
1)my baby girl, Peyton. We had a bit of a rough night last night, and as I laid in my bed, drinking in her beautiful innocence and her innate need to be near me, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for her. She is truly one of my guardian angels. She came to me during a time in my life that was extremely stressful and hard. She was a huge surprise (can you say "IUD baby"?) and in hindsight I realize that God sent her to me because he knew she would bring me so much happiness, peace, and joy during a time of trial and confusion. I feel so connected to her and to all of my children. I am grateful that I get to be their mother and that we all love each other so much.
 |
| Here's my little angel the week she was born. |
2)my ability to see all the beauty of this earth and all that's in it. It's one of those things that I truly take for granted. I've been thinking about it a lot recently, realizing that if it weren't for modern technology, I wouldn't be seeing so well. I am nearsighted and can't see much but colored blobs without glasses or contacts. I am so thankful that I can see clearly because of those things. There is so much beauty to be taken in!
 |
| I took this a couple years back at Thanksgiving Point's tulip festival. It's a must-see if you are ever around here! Talk about beauty! |
3)trials. There is nothing more humbling. Even though tough things are never fun, I am so grateful for the opportunity they give me to grow. When things get so hard that they become overwhelming, I notice that most of the time, it's because I am not relying on the Lord and on my heart. I am surrounded by people that love me and by limitless options to make bad things into good things. I am so thankful for the life experience and perspective that my trials bring me. That heightened awareness and humility that I get when things are rough are so fulfilling and beautiful to me.
4)my laptop. I am one of those people that for the life of me can't get technology to work for me the way I want. Partially because of bad luck, and partially because I have no clue. But the truth is, that whether it works like a dinosaur or a well-oiled machine, my laptop gets the job done! I do so many things from my computer. It stores so much valuable information from our budget to pictures of our family and everything in-between. I am grateful to be able to have one place to do/store so many things. It makes my life so much simpler!
5)food! I have been on a pretty restrictive diet lately for health reasons, and man alive I have missed my food! Not only that, but I have whined and complained and just been awful about it! I have NOT enjoyed cooking a nice, delicious dinner for my family and have only been focused on the fact that they can eat certain foods and I can't. I should have been focused on my body's amazing ability to heal with the right nutrition, and made that hunger and craving a good reminder about the fact that I am feeling better every day. I read somewhere recently that less than 1 in 100 people in poor countries will ever even have one in their lives of what we would consider a good, square meal. I hardly ever think about that! I am so blessed to never have to think about where my food is coming from and whether or not we'll have any. Food is such a huge part of our lives in so many ways. I feel so lucky to never have to be hungry or deal with starvation and hunger as a reality in my life.
That's all for today! See you tomorrow!
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