Thanksgiving

I love the message of Thanksgiving.  I love to use this time to reflect on the things I have learned and loved throughout the year.  The things that I am most grateful for.  There is so much to be grateful for and I think sometimes I tend to overlook all that I have and dwell on what I don't.  That is why I am glad that we have a day every year that helps remind me of the abundance I have to be grateful for.  

Jesus Christ

Through Him all things are possible.  I need to remember this more.  This is a year of remembering that for me.  Trials are hard!  Trials are no fun!  Trials take the wind out of my sail...sometimes.  And this year I was reminded yet again that if I would only get out of my own head and ask for His help I will find peace.  He doesn't take the trial away.  The trial is there for my good.  It teaches me to be a better person.  It teaches me compassion, love, tolerance, patience... He is there to walk me through it.  He is there to love me through it.  Each year as I get older I have ahha (sp) moments with my understanding of the gospel.  This year it was at a Laurel retreat of all places.  The mother of a missionary injured by a bus in South America came to talk to us.  She told us about her ability to stay positive through this trial.  She said she couldn't let herself go to the would'ves, could'ves, and should'ves.  As she was saying that a light bulb went off.  There is no such thing as those.  This is the plan all along.  There never was going to be a different outcome.  It was always going to be the way it is.  I just have to adjust me temporal mind to understand that this is what the plan is for me.  I know this is not rocket science but it hit me hard.  It brought me a peace I can't measure.  Jesus knows our path.  He is going to help us find our way back to our Heavenly Father if we can just get out of our own way and let him.  My heart is filled with love for all that the Savior has done for little ole' me.  For this I am most grateful.  

My Family

 There is something so wonderful about knowing your family is complete.  Our little caboose came and we are complete.  I no longer look around for the missing kid.  (Metaphorically is all.  Of course with five I am always looking for a missing kid) They are all here.  Now it is our job as parents to not screw them up.  Haha.  I can't believe how different each of them is.  I love them with all my heart.  Each of them is wonderful in their own way.

Bragging alert.  I am writing what I am grateful for not what I am not grateful for. ;)

JJ is impressive to say the least.  He has a drive and motivation in him that I wish I had had at his age.  There isn't a week that goes by that someone somewhere doesn't stop me and tell me what a great kid I have.  He is a great kid.

Emma is focused.  She knows what she wants and she does it.  She comes home almost every Friday to tell me about a test that was so hard and she thought she did horrible on it.  And before she can finish I stop her and say "but you got 100%" and she ALWAYS smiles and says "yes".

Ellie is happy through it all.  She has one of the most painful things going on with her hand right now.  And she is happy.  When we would leave physical therapy she always gave Papa a hug.  Not just a hug but a hug for him to let him know she loved him.  She just is happy through it all.  It is amazing to me.

Elsie is SMART!  I can't believe this year how quickly she is catching on to things.  I leaned over to her the other day while she was reading and said I think you are smarter than JJ and Emma.  She got a huge smile on her face.  She catches on quick.   She plays games with the rest of us and keeps right up.  It is fun to watch her little mind start to grow.

Emry is the apple of our eye.  All of us adore her.  She is just the cutest little lady.  We all love just about everything she does.  She is my sidekick all the way.  She is my little shadow and I love that about her.  I love her snuggles and will take all I can get until they are gone.  Which I am sad is approaching faster than I would like.

This pic represents three things.  First off My hubby, second the first summertime party, and third my sons awesome art.

1.   I am thankful for my marriage.  My husband is a good man. (again only good stuff)  He is hard working.  He has the odds stacked against him yet he beats them all the time.  I wish he knew how impressive he is.  He is humble.  Jeron is the only person that  I would want to spend my time on this crazy ball with.  He is the one that makes me laugh, smile, and he gets me.  It is nice when someone gets you.  Marriage is hard work.  I am grateful I get to do it with him.

2.  This party was so much fun for me.  I had a lot of people say "she is only one, why all the effort?"  It was kind of my swan song for my babies.  This is the last one year old we will have.  I wanted to go out with a bang.  Plus, it is the first time ever that we have had a party in good weather.  I loved it  and so did all my kids.

3.  I am impressed with JJ.  He came up with this idea and about an hour later we had a Mary Poppins and Bart cut out.  I LOVED it an it made the party a hit.  I think he will have to do this for me at least once a year.  I tried for Halloween but that didn't happen.  Maybe next year.

This year we went to California

Thanks to my parents we stayed here.  It was BEAUTIFUL!  We had such a wonderful vacation.  The kids loved the beach, they loved Disneyland, they loved it all.  We loved getting away and being together.  It was magical.  

Facetime

 This is the best invention ever.  I love taking to my nieces and nephew.  I loved getting to talk to Jeron while he was out of town face to face.  Emry loved it too.  It helps me feel just a little more connected to those far away.

Friends

 I have made some new friends this year and have my lifers.  I am grateful to all of these women and for what they do for my sanity.  My bestie moved away (this is what everyone I love does btw) and it is hard to have her gone.  I am glad we live in a day and age where we can still be in each others lives FB, instagram, phone...  I am just so grateful  to be surrounded by such awesome women.  

Fussy Socks

 Ever since I had Emry and lost all that blood I have been COLD!  And yes everyone these are socks, and yes I wear them.  I have always hated socks but in the last year I have really grown to love these little guys.  I don't like just any sock.  But these are great.

Hair elastic.

 I can't leave home without one.  I am shocked this has not been on the list before.  I always have one around my wrist.  (A little quirk that Ellie has picked up)  If I don't have it I get a bit uncomfortable.  They are a security blanket for sure.  I have to be able to pull my hair back at any given moment.  Emma also is this way.  It is funny what your kids pick up on.

 Grey Walls

 We finally, after four long years,we finally painted our brown walls.  Our house is so much lighter.  It fills so much bigger.  We love it.  Jeron has worked so hard at making it perfect.  It looks awesome.  LOVE it.

Keegan

I am grateful for this little man.  I love when we add new babies to the family.  He is such a cutie. Welcome to this crazy world little guy.   I am so grateful for all of my nieces and nephews.  They make my heart happy.

Persistence 

 I have learned that my persistence is actually a good thing.  This is a much nicer way to say stubborn.  What ever it is this year it came in handy.  Sometimes good things come to those who wait, fight, and DONT GIVE UP!

Piano

 JJ and Emma have been taking Piano for a while now.  The house is starting to fill with songs I love.  It has been fun to watch them grow in this.  They  both do a great job.  Emma plays to help her unwind.  JJ plays to compete.  haha.  The other day I stopped Jeron and said listen.  We both knew the song.  I loved listening to them play a hymn.  It made my heart smile.

Late night movies at Station Park

 This has been a long day coming.  Jeron and I finally can go to a movie without kids.  We love this.  It is our time.  We sneak off on a Tuesday night and go hit a late show.  It is great couples therapy.  I recommend it to anyone.  Especially on Tuesday because it is half off.

 Zupas

Best little lunch spot ever!  I love going with a girl friend or two.  Talk about therapy.  Who needs a therapist when you have a girl friend and a good lunch.  Again it is so close to my house and so yummy.  It is the perfect amount of money and when you combine that with some good ole fashion girl chat it is perfect.

I want you to know if you are reading this I am grateful for you.  I have so many wonderful people in my life and I am just so blessed.  Life is good...If you let it be.