Family is Everything!

Gratitude - Day 30

Today I am grateful for my children.

Particularly, my "home" children, or "the homies" as they prefer to be called :)

Sadly, I don't tell them often enough that they are great kids! 

I forget to tell them that I appreciate their willingness to "play" with the family.

I forget to tell them that I appreciate their willingness to do "jobs" without complaining.

I forget to tell them that I get a kick out of their unique personalities and that they make me smile!

I forget to tell them that I love to hear them pray.

I forget to tell them that I love that they are developing testimonies of their own.

I forget to tell them that I am proud of their willingness to "stand for truth and righteousness" even when it is hard.

So today, I'm not forgetting. And they need to know what great kids they are and how much I love being their mom!  

These two rock!

A great way to end a great month of gratefulness!

 

  
  
  

Gratitude - Day 29

Today I am grateful for technology.

It is a kind of love/hate thing I have going on with it.

I hate that I am not as techno savvy as I wish or as I should be.

I love the things I do know and am able to accomplish with it.

Today my spousal unit taught me how to download a file onto a zip drive.

Don't laugh - it isn't nice to laugh at those of a more seasoned age!

He, and my children, have taught me this talent before. However, it wasn't until last night when I had to save a file all by myself just hours after his re-teaching - without notes - that I got it!

I'm still trying hard not to get frustrated with the stuff I can't make my personal technology stuff (aka computer, scanner, ipod, iphone, zip drive, etc.) do when I want it done. But I'm learning. So old dogs really can learn new tricks, and for that I am grateful!

Gratitude - Day 28

With the end of our actual day of Thanksgiving, I keep forgetting that the month is not yet at it's end and thus I am still supposed to be in thankful mode :)  

So today (Saturday) I am grateful for my married kids.

I've posted about them before.  And I've sung their praises via my blog before.  But it needs to be done again!

I love that they are still living in Logan and that we get to see them ... often!

I love that they are so sweet and supportive of the "homies"!

Today (Saturday) Melanie had BOTH of her brothers-in-law helping her with her calculus! Lucky girl!

I love that they (the married kids) include them (Melanie and Dustin, aka the homies) in their adventures.

You wouldn't think that two teenagers would want to get out of bed relatively early during their vacation to go play football with their married siblings. But they did! And they liked it!

These darlings came all the way to New York just to show their love and support for us while we participated in the Hill Cumorah Pageant!

I also love that they come "home" and eat my leftovers. Really! I am not a fan of leftovers. Thankfully, they are! Or maybe they are just poor college students and are hungry. I don't care the reason. At least they come!

These four have a gift for making any guests we have feel super comfortable and at ease. We often have company. Some are related. Some are not. It doesn't matter to them. They just include them.

I am grateful for the choices my girls have made in whom they have married. We love their "men" and love that they are part of our family!

I just pretty much love the whole lot of them! And I grateful for them too!

 

Gratitude - Day 27

Friday, the 27th day of my gratefulness, I was grateful that I did not feel any urges to go to any stores and do any shopping with the rest of the shopping population!  Hence, I was super grateful for my home!  Which I did not feel inclined to leave. ... There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home!

Gratitude - Day 26

Today, Thanksgiving Day, I am grateful for FAMILY.

I'm especially grateful for my knowledge of the eternal nature of families.

About 22 months ago, my Aunt Shirley, for whom I am named, passed quietly from this life.

Early this morning, her husband, my Uncle Larry, for whom my brother is named, joined her.

 

They are back together again!  This afternoon as we enjoyed our turkey feast, with more of the trimmings than we ought to have enjoyed, we thought of Uncle Larry and Aunt Shirley also enjoying a reunion feast together!  And it made me smile :)

To be honest, I don't really care if I eat turkey or pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving day.  The thing I love about Thanksgiving is being with those you love.  I get a kick out of watching my children interact with each other and enjoy each other.  And then they extend their reach beyond our little family circle to include aunts, uncles, cousins, and family friends. Yup, for me Thanksgiving isn't about the food.  Although we always make certain to have plenty of it!  

Thanksgiving is about family. 

And for that, today, I am truly grateful!

 

Gratitude - Day 25

Today I am grateful for ... Chelsea and Brigham!

My supreme pie making children.

They willingly came over today simply to make pie!

So we can enjoy them tomorrow :)

Two lemon meringue.

Three pumpkin.

One chocolate.

Two apple (with our apple pie filling that we bottled from our very own apples).

 

Greg's nurse, Terry Peterson, taught Chelsea to make pie crust five years ago.  Since then she has been our pie baking expert!  And then she married a dapper assistant!

We will be sitting fat and happy tomorrow night! --- Literally!

Bon appetite!

 

Gratitude - Day 24

Woohoo! Caught up at last!

Today I thought about being grateful for being back on track and up to date with my gratitude posts, but that would mean I would have to overlook something for which I am super grateful at this moment.

So, today, I am grateful for the Missionary program of the church. 

I know I have been grateful for receiving email from my missionary, but I'm really grateful for what these boys and young women learn and become through missionary service. Yesterday I read an email from one of Chase's friends who is currently serving in the Dominican Republic, and I wept.  Then I read my own Chase's email, and I wept again.  Not sad tears.  Tender tears.  Joyful tears.  Grateful tears.

The strength and depth of these "boys" testimonies amaze me. I feel comfort in knowing that these who are now participating in missionary service are the future leaders of the church.  We are in good hands.  They are being well trained.  Their foundations of gospel knowledge and testimony become stronger with each passing day. A blessing for which I am so very, very grateful!

 

Gratitude - Day 23

Almost back on track -- just yesterday to fill in the blanks.

Today I am grateful for Cache Valley.

We are fortunate to live in one of the most picturesque valleys ever.

Yes, it is cold.

Yes, we have to drive 1 1/2 hours to the airport and 45 minutes to the closest Target.

But we do not feel this burden.

We have everything we could possibly want or need right here in our valley.

We have a university.

We have opportunities to attend cultural events.

We get to attend fun sporting events.

We live five minutes from the temple.

We live 30 seconds from my parents (o.k., maybe a whole minute).

My children are happy here.

My girls both found their husbands here.

We have made good friends here.

My husband likes his job.

I like my job:)

Unless you live in Cache Valley, or have lived in Cache Valley, it is a little tough to describe that special something we have and feel.  Maybe it is a special feeling of community. I don't know for sure. I just know that it does exist, and for that I am truly grateful!

 

Gratitude - Day 21

Today (we're on Saturday now, don't be confused) I am grateful for my sweetheart, Greg.

I know he often thinks that the only reason we like him is for his paycheck.

Not so!

I am grateful for his steady and firm testimony of the Gospel.

I am grateful for his dedicated work ethic.

I am grateful that he is a righteous priesthood holder, who does not exercise unrighteous dominion.

I am grateful that he is teachable.  Really.  Old dogs can learn new tricks :)

I'll admit that I am also grateful for his paycheck!  He works hard to provide for our family, which also makes it possible for me to continue to be a stay-at-home mom.

I am grateful that he is my soulmate.

I am grateful that he plays just as hard as he works (beware of his "little" hikes)!

I am grateful that he loves our children.

I am grateful for his sense of humor and that he can still make me laugh.

I am grateful that he loves me!

Without him there would be a huge hole in our family circle.

Without him, we would have no one to keep us entertained and informed on the latest and greatest of every new gadget or technological toy that comes on the market.

I am grateful that he has a twinkle in his eye and a spring in his step!

I am grateful for the love of my life!

I am grateful for Greg!

Gratitude - Day 20

Don't be confused -- this is Friday's post :)

Today I am grateful for music!

All kinds.

But today, I am particularly grateful for the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who together performed Gustav Mahler's Resurrection.

Fabulous!

Inspiring!

I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat!

And as the last note was played I experienced one of those rare moments when I was driven to my feet!

Bravo!

Thank you O. C. and Grace Tanner for providing this year's "Tanner Gift of Music"!