Giving Thanks- Good Weather

My cousin Dondee has invited us to have Thanksgiving with her family this year. I'm really excited because I've never got to have Thanksgiving with her before. Matt got some time off and we've been anxiously watching the weather for good reports as we have to travel over South Pass, Wyoming to get there. (Not somewhere you want to be driving in snow and wind.) Today I'm thankful that there are no storms in the next few days and we can travel on what looks like dry roads.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Giving Thanks- Life's Hard Lessons

A couple of weeks ago some dogs got a hold of the cat that we've had for almost five years. It was a sad day, not only had we lost our cat but she had 6 small kittens in the barn. Britnee took this pretty hard as she loves the cats. So over the past couple of weeks my mom, Britnee, and I have taken turns feeding these kittens and trying to keep them alive. One got sick and after a few days she stopped coming to eat, another one fell in the horse trough trying to get a drink and drowned. We lost another one on Sunday and didn't know what happened. Luckily, my moms dog heard her crying and we found her locked in our neighbors garage.
It has been quite a lesson for our kids, learning about life and death. Today I'm thankful that we have been able to save 4 of the kittens, I'm thankful for the lessons we're learning about caring for others, and that the hard lessons (although still sad) are being learned through animals and not our loved ones.

Gving Thanks- My Church Calling

Today I 'm thankful for my church calling. Each Sunday as Sacrament meeting ends, I race to the nursery room. There Sister Tina and I entertain 10-15 small children for two hours. Since my call in January I've been hugged, kissed, slapped, bitten, and tackled. I've wiped noses and tears, laughed and nearly screamed. Each week at noon, Sister Tina and I each take a big breath knowing we've made it through another week. I can honestly say that this is a calling like no other I've ever had.
But, today I'm thankful that the Lord is teaching me through this. I'm thankful for the times when a child will bring his mom to point me out as "my teacher". I'm very grateful for Sister Tina and her continuing patience with me as well as with the children. And I'm thankful that once in awhile, when all the children fold their arms at once, and say thank you for the treat I hand out, that maybe I'm teaching them a little about the gospel and helping to get them to remember how much the Lord loves them.

Giving Thanks- Overtime

This is kind of a bittersweet thank you. Matt had to go back to work at 3 today and work through the night. It is a little sad because I miss him so much when he's gone, but then I thought for a minute and decided to be thankful that Matt has a good job. He's willing and able to work to provide for our family. I'm so thankful for all he sacrifices for us. And today, I'm thankful for overtime- it's helping out with Christmas.

Giving Thanks- My brothers & their wives

Bret and Heidi and Bart and Michelle came down this weekend. They were only here a couple of days but it was so great to see them. I got to meet Bart's baby Brooklyn for the first time. She is a beautiful happy baby. Today I'm thankful that I got to see some of my family. (And a little sad that Kelly and Tia weren't here.) It's been a great couple of days.

Giving Thanks- Water

Today I'm thankful for water. I'm especially blessed to live in a place where the water comes directly from a spring in the mountain above our home. It's clear, cold, and could be mistaken for Evian.
I'm thankful that it runs right in through my faucets, without disease or parasites. And that I've never had to be without it for very long.

Giving Thanks- Spending Time with Matthew

I love my family. More than anything else. And when I get to spend time with my husband and kids, it is definitely time well spent. But for the last 6 weeks Matt has had Monday's off. Since the kids are in school all day, it's given him and I some time alone that we don't usually have.
So today I'm thankful for Matt and the fun that we've had these past few weeks. Yesterday was his last Monday off for a while but I'm glad for them, and for the friendship I get to have with this great guy I married.

Giving Thanks-The Sacrament

Today I'm thankful for the sacrament. I'm thankful that I can go the church each week and renew my baptismal covenants. I don't pretend to know the entire meaning of what the sacrament means, but I'm glad it's there anyway.
Our family isn't the most reverent during the sacrament, but I've been noticing that each week we are all a little quieter and the kids don't argue quite as much as they used to. Thanks something to be thankful for too. :)

Giving Thanks- Our Wii

Today was pretty cold. The wind blew around us as our family helped Uncle Jim move some stuff out of his barn. After that was done we came home, started a fire, and turned on the Wii. I'm not really a video game fan but this has been fun to have at our house. Tonight the kids challenged Matthew to some kind of Mario game. We had a great time laughing and playing together.
I think that either it or the hard work wore everyone out because it's not quite 8 and I'm the only one still awake. :)

Giving Thanks- Sunshine

Today I'm thankful for sunshine. That amazing little ball of light, warmth, and vitamin D has been shining all day, despite the frigid temps outside. How healing it is to me to have a beautiful cloudless day with the sun shining through my windows.

Giving Thanks- My 4x4 Tahoe

Today my friend Amy and I went to Logan Christmas shopping. By the time we were done and headed home it was snowing. The canyon wasn't too bad but it was slick and the snow was starting to stick. At the touch of the 4 wheel drive button on the Tahoe we were able to get home without visiting any ditches.
So today I'm thankful that I drive a vehicle that will get us where we need to be safely.

Giving Thanks- My Kids

Okay, so if I were putting these in order of priority, this would've been a lot further up the list. But today, I had a good mom day and I'm just really thankful for my kids. I got to watch Jaycee cheer at her basketball game. Then I went and watched Britnee at gymnastics practice. Cody was all smiles and didn't fight me at all getting ready this morning because he got to go play with his friend after school.
I have great kids and there's nothing I'd rather be doing today than being their mom.

Giving Thanks- My Home

Today I'm thankful for where I've been blessed to live. In a land that is free, in a little valley that is safe and sheltered, and in a home that I love. It's not big or grand, but I love to be here more than just about anywhere else.
I'm thankful for the feeling of peace and comfort that I feel when I come home, and tonight, I'm thankful for the fire that is keeping us warm and cozy.

Giving Thanks- Music

Today I'm thankful for music, it's one of my very favorite things. I love beautiful church hymns on Sunday morning, loud bass pounding rock while I'm in the shower, and slow soothing yoga music at the end of a hectic day. Basically, anything with a good sound, I love it. I can't carry a tune in a bucket but I'm grateful that I have ears to hear, and a voice that belts out the lyrics to all my favorite songs.

Giving Thanks- Sunday Dinner

Today I'm thankful for Sunday dinners. Growing up, we always had big yummy dinners on Sunday. Usually roast and potatoes or something like that. When I started going to visit Matt's family on Sunday's his mom also had yummy dinner's. So I've tried to keep the tradition going since we've been married. It's been very handy for us to live by my mom because she still likes to make a roast most Sunday's. Today was no exception and everything tasted so good.
I'm so grateful that I have enough to eat, that I've never had to know what it's like to go hungry, or worse, not to have enough to feed my kids.
And as for today, thanks mom for dinner.

Giving Thanks- Friends

Today I'm thankful for my friends. I spent the afternoon with some of them at the County Library for our semi-annual scrapbook day. We went to lunch at the local Mexican restaurant, then worked on our various scrappy projects.(Of course I didn't stop to take a picture.) But I love the friends I've been blessed with. I'm thankful for the help, advice, and patience that you've all given me. Know that you're loved and appreciated, even if I don't say so as often as I should.

Giving Thanks- Friday's

Today I'm thankful for Friday's. Friday's are always great for me, I get to sleep in because there's no school; I get to hang out with my kids and kinda be lazy; and best of all, Matthew comes home and I get to see my honey. :)

Giving Thanks- Good Photography

We just got our family pictures back. I'm so thankful today for modern photography. And of course, my friend Holly for her amazing talent.

Giving Thanks-Ancestors

Each Wednesday afternoon since school started, I have worked as a consultant at the Family History Center in Montpelier. I have a deep love for learning about these wonderful people who have gone before me. Those who have suffered, struggled, and made difficult choices in their lives so that my life could be better. I truly love learning everything I can find about each one. I know that they are more interested our lives than we would ever suspect, and I can't wait to hug each one, and put a face to the many names that I share a familial bond with.

Giving Thanks- Health

I'm just headed out to work out with my friends and later teach a yoga class. I'm thankful today that I have a body that works, that is healthy, and sometimes feels the desire to exercise.

Giving Thanks- Family Home Evening

This is a hard one for me. Something that is more of a hit and miss than an every week occurrence at our house. But I am so thankful for Family Home Evening. I am amazed at the level of knowledge my kids have about the gospel. I'm also thankful that for the most part, Jaycee, Britnee, and Cody all listen and even ask questions throughout the lessons.
This past couple of months we've taken turns giving the lesson. The girls take this very seriously and present a well planned lesson.
Family Home Evening is a wonderful time in our home and I'm so thankful that each Monday, I get to share in learning the gospel with the most important people in my life.

Giving Thanks-My Testimony

I have been blessed beyond measure in my life and have so many things to be thankful for. So this Thanksgiving season, I'm going to post several things that I'm most grateful for in my life.
This being Fast Sunday, I thought I'd start with my testimony. I don't bear as often as I should, but I do have a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that my Savior lives, that He suffered and died for me. I know that families are forever that I can be with those I love in the eternities. I'm so grateful for the great plan of happiness, for the strong foundation that it's given me in my life, and for the guidance that we receive from the Lord's living prophet.
I'm thankful for and have a strong testimony of temple work. The blessings that are promised in the House of the Lord continue to amaze me.
Most of all, I'm so grateful to be able to know all of this. There are so many who don't have the blessing of knowing. This knowledge brings me peace, knowing that nothing will ever go permanently wrong, if I can only remember to look with eternal perspective.
There is no doubt in my mind that when I pass through the veil that I will see my Savior, whose face I'll remember and whose robe I will soak with my tears.
These things I know and testify of in the name of my Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ, Amen.

Happy Halloween

This years Halloween was fun. We went to the church for our annual Trick or Treat night. The kids got to do a ring toss, make ghosts out of suckers, compete in a donut eating contest, and do all their trick or treating in one warm place.
The kids got to make their own trick or treat bags with pillow cases with their cousins. On a side note, Jaycee got to go to Logan to an EFY with John Bytheway in the morning. She said it was great and hard to describe.

On Friday night Matthew and I went to a party in Montpelier. I dressed up as a saloon girl and Matt dressed up as a cowboy. :) I didn't know too many people there but the games were fun and the food was great.
Well, there you have it. Another Halloween in the books. Sometimes Halloween wears me out worse than Christmas-Crazy huh!