for this blog, but mostly for you

When I started blogging ten years ago, I never dreamed that I'd still be doing it today. But here I am, still plugging along. And I am so happy to still be here! I am thankful for my blog, as silly as that sounds. It has helped me to be more deliberate in how I live my life. Writing here has cemented my beliefs and strengthened my resolve in so many areas. Thank you for reading, and for always being so positive and supportive. You are wonderful people out there and I've never felt anything but love from you. Thank you!

Elliot and I put up the Christmas decorations today. And I think we'll pick out a tree tonight for Family Home Evening. Christmastime is officially here, and that means my month of Thanksgiving has come to an end. It has been great. I hope you feel the same.

Thank you, November!

for the Christmas season

Just as I love the Thanksgiving season because it focuses on gratitude, I love the Christmas season because it focuses on Christ, or it should, at least. I am thankful that this season is upon us. My knowledge of Jesus Christ brings me peace and comfort. Because He was born, when I make a mistake, I can try again. Because He was born, I can live with my family again after this life. Because He was born, I can find relief from whatever pain or sadness or worry is weighing me down.

See more at christmas.mormon.org

for Stella's decision to be baptized

Today was a special day in our family. Stella was baptized. I am thankful for her decision to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized. We believe that baptism is the first sacred ordinance we participate in and starts us on the path back to our Heavenly Father. It is a commitment we make to follow Jesus Christ for the rest our lives. I know that Stella knows these things, and is ready to make this commitment. I am thankful for her sweet spirit and for this happy day.

for a visit from my parents

My parents are in town for Thanksgiving and for Stella's baptism, which is tomorrow. We are always happy to have them visit. I am thankful for the unconditional love they show my children, and for the love and support they give to me and Mike.

for the food!

Mike and I hosted my parents and his parents for Thanksgiving today. It was a nice, quiet day at home. But with lots of really good food! We roasted a turkey with all of the fixings, plus pie, of course. We live in a land of abundance, and I am thankful that I am always able to feed my children. It is a luxury many mothers in this world don't have, and one that I am particularly grateful for on this day that is filled with delicious food.

p.s. I tried this sweet potato casserole this year and it was my favorite thing on the table.

for our community

Our elementary school had their annual turkey trot this morning. So many parents came out to support and cheer on the runners. It was wonderful to see. I was the lucky turkey that the kindergarteners raced across the field. It was fun, but man, those kindergarteners were fast! I love our neighborhood and community. It is full of the best kind of people. I am thankful to live here and to be raising my family here.

for good weather

November is a great time to be in Arizona. I was reminded of this as Elliot and I walked home from school on this beautiful afternoon. The sun was warm on my face, but it didn't melt my eyeballs like it does in the summer. Some of the leaves are starting to change, and the oranges are getting ready to be plucked from the trees. Our windows are open day and night, letting in fresh, clean air. Good weather makes life easy, and I am thankful that we finally have ours. We really earn it here, and I do my best not to take it for granted.

for the end of the day

My favorite moment of every day is the one at the end, when I am climbing into bed to watch a show with Mike. The dishes have been done. The floor has been swept. Prayers have been said. And the kids are tucked in bed. My life is not particularly stressful, but there is still quite a bit of relief in this moment. I made it. We survived another day. I am thankful for this calm, quiet time.

Mike and I are really into Madame Secretary right now. Have you seen it? We're almost done with the first season on netflix. #BessMcCordForPresident!

for the opportunity to speak

I will be giving a talk in Sacrament Meeting later this afternoon. As nervous as that makes me, and as much as I wish it was already over, I am thankful for the opportunity. It has given me time to study and ponder on some things, and has helped to strengthen my testimony.

I wanted to share just a bit of what I plan to say. My topic is how increasing my temple attendance has improved my life. As I thought about the changes I have seen in myself, Elder Richard J. Maynes' talk from our most recent general conference, entitled "The Joy of Living a Christ-Centered Life" kept coming to mind. In it, he spoke of Elder Aoba, a japanese potter and member of the Seventy. Elder Aoba was asked to participate in a youth conference in his area. As part of his presentation, he invited the youth to his pottery studio and demonstrated his ability to shape bowls and cups out of clay on his potter's wheel. He had the youth who were attending the conference give it a try, and without exception, all failed. They assumed they didn't have the talent for it, or that they didn't have enough experience. But, as Elder Aoba showed them, the problem was that their clay was not perfectly centered on the wheel, thus causing their failure. If the clay is not precisely in the center, it can never be shaped into something sturdy and long-lasting. Elder Aoba gave the youth another chance, this time placing the clay on their wheels for them, directly in the center, and this time each youth was successful.

Elder Maynes said, "The wold in which we live is similar to the potter's spinning wheel, and the speed of that wheel is increasing. Like the clay on the potter's wheel, we must be centered as well. Our core, the center of our lives, must be Jesus Christ and His gospel. Living a Christ-centered life means we learn about Jesus Christ and His gospel and then we follow His example and keep His commandments with exactness. The joy we experience in this life will be in direct proportion to how well our lives are centered on the teachings, example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ."

for the plan

This morning Mike and I attended the funeral of a faithful and valiant young man from our neighborhood. As I watched his mother, my friend, who never left his side during his four year battle with cancer, stand and boldly bear testimony of the joy she feels because of her knowledge of the Plan of Salvation, I knew exactly what I needed to share here for my month of gratitude. Friends, readers, I am thankful for the plan of happiness that our Heavenly Father created for us. This plan began before we came to this earth and continues after we leave. It gives me guidance and direction, and an assurance that I am a daughter of a loving God. I was sent to this earth to receive a physical body, to gain experience, and to be tested. Because of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice, after I die, I can live again with Him and with my loved ones. Knowledge of this plan brings me peace and joy, especially when someone I love leaves this life for the next. I am thankful for this knowledge. It buoys me up when things are tough and provides solace when life feels overwhelming.

for Mike's home office

Mike has been working from home for the past couple of months. It has mostly been really great and I am thankful for the extra time we've been able to spend together. Having him home during the day means that we can go running after the kids leave for school instead of waking up in the pitch black darkness of early morning. It means that he can come with me to the temple on Thursday mornings. It means that I can run errands while Elliot is napping. It hasn't meant nearly enough lunch dates, but that's something we can fix. I am grateful for the flexibility of his job, and that he is able to spend so much of his time at home.

for the temple

Once the kids went back to school, I started attending the temple each week. I can't tell you the difference this has made in my life, but I suppose I will try.

When I attend the temple, I feel a great sense of peace--that no matter what is happening in my life or in the world, everything will be ok. Being in the temple gives me an eternal perspective. It reminds me that this life is about family and faith and obedience. I'd never been very good at regular temple attendance before, but making it a weekly event put it into my routine and now it is easier to be consistent. I knew that increasing my attendance would be a good thing, but I didn't expect that it would touch every part of my life like it has. It is easier to speak kindly to my children, to read my scriptures everyday, to be patient in line at the grocery store. I feel like I am more generous, more willing to serve others, and more understanding when others disagree with me. My weekly temple attendance has helped me to focus on what is most important and to feel more gratitude in my day-to-day life.

I am thankful for this change that I made. I am thankful to live so near a temple and that I am in a stage in my life where a weekly temple trip is doable. Mostly I am thankful for the peace I feel there, and for the blessings I've received through my attendance.

for good books

I picked up a load of books that I'd reserved at the library this morning, including the newest in the adorable Little Elliot series. I am excited to dive into them. I am thankful for good books. I might be a minimalist at heart, but I don't think one can ever have too many books. If you are in need of something good to read, here is a list of some of my favorites (I hope you'll share yours in the comments!):

Ahab's Wife

Jane Eyre

All the Light We Cannot See

May the Road Rise Up to Meet You

The Greenlanders

These is My Words

for running water and other things

This morning I did a million loads of laundry with just the touch of a button in my super slick automatic washing machine. I probably washed my hands a thousand times at the sink that is conveniently located right in my kitchen. I flushed toilets and ran the dishwasher. I turned on a hose and water came rushing out and onto my plants. I knew we were having a plumber this afternoon to fix the sump pump in our basement, so I tried to get all of the things that required water out of the way in case he needed to turn it off (he didn't). I spent my day using or thinking about using water and feeling very grateful to have such an unlimited and easy access to it. Today is about being grateful for modern conveniences - things I normally take for granted that many people in this world live without. It's sort of staggering when I stop to think about it. Man, oh man, am I grateful!

for our Stella

When Stella was two, I was convinced that she was my most stubborn child. Boy was I wrong! She was probably just tired at the time, because Stella is the sweetest, most easy going person in our family. She thanks me after each meal and is always the first to give Mike a hug when he comes in the door. She is a friend to Elliot and puts up with the teasing that comes from Mabel and Oliver. When I met with her teacher for parent teacher conferences, he couldn't stop grinning. When she met with the bishop for her baptism interview, she left him teary. Stella quietly glides through life, spreading cheer with her breathless little voice. I am thankful that she joined our family eight years ago today!

for motherhood

Here's the thing about being a mother (and the older my kids get, the more I realize this is true): I have to be my best self or I am failing them. Please don't misunderstand me. This does not mean that I have to be perfect, but I do have to be trying to do the right thing. My children are watching, and what they see me do will form their own habits and beliefs. I believe that life is about shedding my natural tendencies and learning to be more like my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Being a mother helps me to do that, and I am so very thankful for the opportunity. Motherhood stretches and strengthens me. It humbles and teaches me, and it is my highest, most sacred privilege.

for family

We took family pictures with Mike's family tonight. I feel really lucky to live near his parents and all of his siblings. They are easy going and nonjudgmental and so, so funny. We get together often and we always have a great time when we do. I am thankful to live near them and to be one of them.

Also, sometimes I forget that we totally live in the desert. Check out that backdrop! The desert is pokey, but it sure gave us a pretty sunset tonight.

for my turn to volunteer

On Fridays, I help in Elliot's class. I look forward to it all week. Because I've always had little kids at home, this is the first time I've been a parent volunteer. I learned long ago that finding a sitter for my babies so that I could help at school wasn't worth the stress, so I've waited. Now it is my turn to be the mom helper and I am grateful for the opportunity. It has been fun to be in his classroom, to see his interaction with the other kids, and to watch his teacher. (I've learned so much! And kindergarten teachers are total heroes.) While part of me wishes that I could have done this for my older children, I know that there is a time and a season for everything, and I don't regret my choice. I am grateful that I listened to the voice that told me it was ok to say no then, and that now it is ok to say yes.

for quiet days

This feels like the first day since school started where I don't have a list of things to get done. No sewing. No alterations. No housework. And no errands. It feels fantastic. I made a schedule for myself in August so that I would use the time when my kids are in school wisely. But I'm afraid I might have over scheduled myself. It is good to be busy, and that schedule has helped me to be very productive, but sometimes I need to just lay on the couch and read a book for a minute, you know? That is happening today and I am so grateful. I feel weary, and a quiet day at home is just what I need to feel better.

for Veterans and for America, too

I am glad that Veteran's Day falls in November. Because I am trying to make more of an effort to be grateful this month, I give Veteran's Day more thought than I otherwise would. Both of my grandfathers and Mike's grandfathers served in the military, but it is not something I think about often. We went downtown to watch the parade, hoping to feel the spirit of this day a little better. There is something so American about marching bands and small horses and girls with batons parading down the streets. I loved it. But mostly I loved that it made me stop and think about the service and sacrifice of so many families to protect this nation. I left the parade feeling more grateful, for their sacrifice, and for my citizenship in this land.

for piano lessons

On Tuesdays, my older three children have piano lessons. Piano lessons are a luxury I am grateful we can afford. It makes me really happy to hear them sit at the piano and play hymns or other songs they've learned through the years because they enjoy it, and not just because they have to. That is the ultimate goal, I think. We inherited this beautiful, old piano from my parents, and I am thankful for it, too. If there was ever a fire in my house, it'd be the first thing I'd carry out. (Assuming the adrenaline would be pumping and I'd have super human strength.) I am thankful that we are able to help our children develop their talents, and that they have such a beautiful instrument on which to practice.

for my marriage

Mike and I were married almost 15 years ago. I have no doubt that I chose the best partner, but that doesn't mean our marriage is perfect. We're still figuring it out, but we're figuring it out together. I am thankful that we married young. I am thankful for where we've been, and for where we have yet to go. I admire Mike's ambition and his ability to spot a problem and then try a million different ways to solve it. He is dedicated to what he does, and is still the funniest guy I know.

Plus, there's no one else I'd rather dress up in a banana suit with.

for cousins

My sister sent her kids to my house for the weekend, which makes my kids super happy. We are lucky to live near Mike's family, but we don't see my family near enough. It has been fun for Mabel and Oliver, especially, to have cousins their age to hang with. I am thankful for cousins. My kids have been blessed with lots of them, and there is no friend like a cousin friend. No matter how much time has passed, they always seem to pick up right where they left off.

To the rest of my siblings, if you are reading this: Feel free to ship your kids my way. We'll take them anytime!

for health

I followed my friend on instagram as she ran 100 miles this weekend. 100! It was amazing. The human body is a marvelous thing. I might not have run that many miles, but I am grateful for my own body, just the same. It accomplishes all that I ask of it, with strength and endurance, and I am so thankful. Lately I have felt gratitude for my health inch out all thoughts of inadequacy or negative body image, and I am thankful for that, too. It only took me 36 years, but I think I am finally comfortable in my own skin.

for Mabel's choir

For the past three years, Mabel has sung with the East Valley Millennial Choir and Orchestra. It has been a very rewarding experience for her. I was able to be a volunteer at last night's rehearsal, and I enjoyed seeing the intense discipline and effort required of the participants. There were hundreds of 12-18 year olds crammed into a school auditorium, practicing so diligently for their upcoming Christmas concert. It is no wonder that their concerts always leave me breathless. Many hours of preparation are involved, and I am grateful for the lessons Mabel is learning through her participation. She has gained confidence and ability, and because the director places great emphasis on the importance of the text of these Christmas hymns, I know her testimony of Jesus Christ has been strengthened through her experience.


Tickets for the Christmas concert here in Mesa are now on sale. You really don't want to miss it! And if you live in Boise, Idaho, Dallas, Texas, Orange County, California, or Utah Valley, there are local choirs in your area, too. You can find information about their performances here.

for the desire and the ability to create

Stella turns eight soon and she has requested a special dress to wear at her baptism. I am happy and grateful to oblige. The desire and the ability to create are part of our divine makeup as women, and I am grateful for the opportunity to make use of this special part of me.

I wrote a similar post last November (and probably the November before that, too). I love the quote I shared from President Uchtdorf. He said, "Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. The more you trust and rely upon the spirit, the greater your capacity to create. That is your opportunity in this life and your destiny in the life to come."

Yesterday I popped into my local discount fabric store. It has tables and tables piled higher than I am tall with fabric remnants. I only had a few minutes to search, but I found exactly what I was looking for - two yards of the most perfect ivory crepe, just what Stella's dress required. I've used Butterick 3350 more times than I can count. It is a wonderful basic pattern that lends itself well to alterations. I used it most recently for Stella's Princess Buttercup costume. This time, I am adding a few tucks at the bust, a feminine collar, and dropping the waist. I'm keeping the final product a secret from Stella, but I think she's going to love it.

for nice weather

We woke up to cold and wet this morning. After a long, hot and dry summer, this feels like heaven. Every fall I feel like I come alive again, like I have just barely been surviving the summer and now it is time to start dreaming and doing once again. This morning's rain was such a welcome beginning to the day. I am thankful for it, and for the opportunity to slip on some cozy socks, and maybe even sip hot chocolate!

for running

I started running almost five years ago. When I started, I could hardly run one mile without stopping. I'm not going to be running a marathon anytime soon (or ever!), but I am happy to say that I can now run many miles continuously and still feel strong when I've finished. Running is hard, but it feels good to push myself physically. I like that I can step outside my front door and in 30 minutes complete a good, heart-pounding workout. Nothing else is more convenient. Running clears my mind and allows me to be more open to impressions and inspiration. It lifts my spirits and puts a smile on my (very sweaty and bright red) face. I am thankful for running, for the physical and emotional strength it has given me. And I am really thankful that my knees haven't given out on me yet.

If you would like to start running and aren't sure how to go about it, here are some tips:

Wear good shoes. It doesn't really matter what brand they are (you'll find your favorites eventually), so long as they are designed for running. When I first started, I just wore whatever old athletic shoes I had and oh man, was that a mistake! My knees and hips were so sore. I almost turned in the towel right then. But Mike convinced me to try some real running shoes and everything felt better.

Find a buddy (or a really good playlist). As soon as I started running with friends, I was hooked. It made such a difference! Being accountable to a running partner helped get me out of bed and out the door. And having someone to talk to while I ran made the miles speed by. Pretty soon my neighborhood group fell apart and Mike and I became running partners. I can honestly say that it is one of the best things we've ever done for our marriage. I think we are rather lucky that our running speed is compatible. And when one of us just isn't feeling it, the other helps push us along. The time we get to spend together is such an added bonus. (Mike started running a year or so before me with a local running club, which is another really good option for newbies.)

Finally, commit to it. I don't think the distance matters as much in the beginning as does the consistency. Even if you can only run for a few minutes at a time, don't give up. Keep going. Eventually your endurance will increase. Take it slow and steady, but stay with it. I remember the first time I was able to run three miles without stopping. It took me months, but it felt so good!

I am in no way an expert, so if you have some words of wisdom to add, please do.

for my house

Every Monday, after I send my kids off to school, I take a look around my house and it's like a bomb has gone off. The weekend bomb, I call it. So I start setting everything to rights. I pick up and put away, starting in one corner and making my way through each room. Mondays aren't for scrubbing, just for straightening. On some Mondays, this task feels discouraging. But on others, like today, I can choose to be grateful for this home and for the opportunity that I have to take care of it. It is not grand, but it is ours, and it is where our little life happens. It is our refuge, our peace, and our haven, and I am thankful for it.

for inspiration and a desire to improve

Last Sunday I went visiting teaching and I haven't been able to stop thinking about the message since. It was on my mind again this morning as I worked on a pie for Sunday dinner. The message was about charity. I've always known that charity is defined as the pure love of Christ, or the love that we should have for each other, but how can I know if it is an attribute I possess? It seemed so hard to quantify. But this quote from the visiting teaching lesson from President Thomas S. Monson was like an awakening for me:

He said, "Charity is having patience with somebody who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others."

Ah! Yes, these are things I can work on. These are concrete actions I can take to become more charitable. On this first day of November and the first day of my month of gratitude, I am thankful for inspiration, specifically for direction that comes from a living prophet as I try to become more like Jesus Christ.


Another gem from President Monson and a push to participate in a month of gratitude, he said, "My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love." That has been true in my life, and I know it can be true in yours, too.

Happy Sunday!