not procrastinating

I love sending Christmas cards, but I usually don't think about it until December, and then it's a mad dash to get them out on time. But not this year! Hooray! I have already started assembling our cards and will have them ready to put in the mail long before December even starts. It feels really good to be so on top of it, and I am grateful that this year, for once, I didn't procrastinate.


cute personalized stamp from Relish Design Studio.

prayer

As I knelt by my bed this morning to say my prayers, gratitude for this simple act washed over me. What a privilege and blessing it is to pray to a loving Heavenly Father who hears and answers my prayers. I haven't always been the best at it, but as I have made a greater effort to really pray, and not just say prayers, I have recognized a difference in my life. Taking a few minutes to center myself in the morning, speaking to my Heavenly Father, makes my day feel more peaceful. I am more aware of the needs of others, and I am more generous. I am thankful for the privilege of prayer.

If you have a few minutes, here is one of my favorite talks on the subject:

my calling

Every Sunday, I teach the 15 year old Sunday school class at church. Sometimes we have really great discussions. Sometimes we don't. But every week I am grateful for the opportunity to serve them as their Sunday school teacher. Our church runs on volunteers. These opportunities to serve are called "callings". These callings come from our leaders through the inspiration of the spirit, and I am so grateful for them. My callings have helped me to stretch and grow and learn new things. They have caused me grief and joy and everything in between. And through them, I feel like I come closer to my Heavenly Father. So even if my class of 15 year old boys slump against the back wall of the classroom, avoiding my eye contact, I am grateful for the opportunity to teach and testify to them each week.

winter grass

I spent all morning mowing, edging, raking, and fertilizing our winter lawn. It is a lot of work, but I think it's so pretty, so I don't mind. I am thankful that I have the strength and energy to take care of it, and I am thankful for the beauty it adds to our home. It is soft and bright green and feels so good under my bare feet.

Don't mind the kitty. The only thing on Stella's birthday list this year is another cat, so we are auditioning kittens this week. Shh, don't tell our other cat, Inez.

a break

It felt really good to turn off my early morning alarm and sleep in today. Oh man, I am thankful for a day off! And I am grateful for the men and women who made this day, and all of my days in this free land possible. Thank you, veterans! Veteran's Day always makes me feel extra patriotic, and that is a good way to feel this week, I think. So today I am grateful for a fun morning spent with my children at our favorite antique store, and for the freedom to live in this country that I love.

friends

Sometimes I can go days without seeing anyone except my little family, and that's ok. But sometimes it's nice to get out of my house, too. Today was one of those days. It started with a visit to a friend in my neighborhood, where I hopefully lightened her load a little by doing her dishes and straightening her kitchen. Then I ran into a friend at the grocery store, a friend I've been meaning to call for days but hadn't yet. We visited for a minute and I admired her new teeth. And then I spent some time with my good friend, Beth, and her perfect little twin babies. And when I got home, there was a sweet note in the mail from Ellen Patton, friend to the world.

I am thankful for friends, for their kindness and sincerity, and for the brightness they add to my life. I have always admired my older sister, Leslie, who calls everyone she meets a friend. I think the country could use a little bit of that right now, don't you think, friend?

the benefit of the doubt

I have been witness to a lot of love in my neighborhood lately--neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping friends, and family supporting family. I have been awed by the kindness and care that I have seen extended from one to another. And so this is what I know: people are good. In their core, people are good and kind and want what's best for each other, even if we don't agree on what that "best" is. So let's give each other the benefit of the doubt (especially today!). Let's assume the best and focus on the good we see around us.

I am thankful when others extend me that courtesy, and I am happy when I can do the same for them. Looking for the good in others might not come most naturally, but when I make the effort to overlook faults and seek understanding, I feel peace. I feel love. I feel generosity, and I am thankful for the way those things make me feel.

running

Sadly, I've lost my running partner to the rigors of ASU's full-time MBA program. And so most days, you can find me shuffling through our neighborhood alone. Without Mike to push me, I am sure my pace has slowed considerably, but I like these slow, quiet (I never listen to music), solitary outings. After working all morning to get breakfast on the table and lunches packed and kids out the door, it feels good to take a little time by myself to get my heart pumping. I come home, exhausted mostly, but also ready to start my day. I am thankful that five years ago I decided to try running. It provides me with an opportunity to clear my head, seek inspiration, and build my endurance all at the same time. I can't tell you how many times I have received answers to prayers while I've been running. I am thankful that my knees haven't given out on me yet and that the weather has improved so that each morning I can lace up my running shoes and do it again.

opportunities and answered prayers

When we were trying to decide if Mike would attend BYU or ASU for his MBA program, one of the biggest deterrents to moving was leaving the schooling opportunities for our children here in Arizona. I am sure there are great opportunities in Utah, too, but I loved the path my kids were on here and I was hesitant to change it. As I dropped Mabel off early this morning at her high school, I remembered how grateful I am that she gets to attend the school and program that she does. It was a difficult decision to send her there instead of our neighborhood high school, a decision that required lots of prayer (and some fasting). Ultimately, Mike, Mabel, and I all felt really good about it, and I am so grateful. Personal revelation is a gift from Heavenly Father, one that I rely on daily. Being able to pray to Him, and then receive answers to my prayers through the prompting of the spirit is miraculous and wonderful and something I hope I never take for granted.

fast

The first Sunday of every month is fast Sunday in the Mormon church. That means we skip two consecutive meals, donate the money we would have spent on those meals to help the poor, and focus on coming closer to Heavenly Father. Sometimes more than prayer is needed to find the answers we seek. Sometimes we need the combined faith of our family or congregation, unified toward a specific goal or cause. This is when fasting, along with prayer, is helpful. Fasting is something we do to show Heavenly Father that we are willing to sacrifice for needed blessings, to improve our communication with Him, and to improve ourselves.

Today is fast Sunday and I am thankful for the opportunity to unite my prayers and faith with the members in my congregation for a specific purpose. When I fast, I feel like I am more sensitive to the Spirit. I feel like my prayers become more heartfelt and more sincere. When I spend my day focused on finding answers, instead of feeding my body, the answers seem to come more easily. It is a blessing, and one that I am grateful for each month.

(Also, it keeps my kitchen really clean. I am thankful for that, too.)

You can learn more about fasting here.

the plan

Mike and I spent the morning at the funeral for our neighbor, a young 33 year old father of three whose life ended after a brave two year battle with cancer. I have been in a position to help his wife for the past few months and I have marveled at her strength and courage. But today was a hard day. In the midst of sorrow, however, there is hope--hope for an eternity together for this family who was separated prematurely. Hope for brighter, happier days ahead, all made possible through the sacrifice of our Savior. I am thankful for the Plan of Happiness. Death is part of this plan, but I believe that because of Jesus Christ, death is just a doorway back to our Heavenly Father's presence. This belief brings me peace and comfort during difficult times, and I am thankful for it.

To learn more about what Mormons believe about life after death, look here.

Photo of the pretty skies above the Mogollon Rim.

mco and a happy weekend

I know I've talked about this before, but Mabel sings with the Millennial Choir and Orchestra. This dominates our Thursday nights, as we spend our evening far from home, waiting for her to rehearse. The director of the choir requires perfection from the participants, and they rise to it, every time. I am thankful that we are able to provide this experience for Mabel. I have seen her singing ability and her faith in Jesus Christ grow as she sings the songs of His birth, and I gratefully sacrifice our Thursday evenings for it.

If you live in Dallas, Utah, Idaho, Orange County, California, or here in Arizona, you can find information about their Christmas concerts here. This concert is always a highlight of the Christmas season for me, and I highly recommend attending a performance if possible.

I started listening to Christmas music yesterday while I was doing some alterations, and I don't regret it one bit. I love Thanksgiving, and I am in no hurry to get to December, but filling my home with Christmas music just feels right. It definitely put me in a merry mood.

We are looking forward to perfect weather this weekend, time off of school, and hopefully a date night. How about you?

Have a happy weekend!

rain

We woke up to a cool breeze and a ground wet from an early morning rain. I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to have nice weather after so many months of heat. My windows are open and the breeze is blowing through the house, making everything feel fresh and new. I am thankful to live in this desert, despite its difficult summers, for there is no where else I'd rather be. But I am most grateful for the change in season. We are entering into our other season here, the nice one, and it makes me so happy!

all by myself

When Mike decided to go back to school, I was excited for him. I knew he would learn all sorts of important things and have many new experiences. I knew he would stretch and grow. What I didn't realize is that I would, too. I've always been an independent, do-it-yourself kind of person, but I feel like I have to take it to the next level now that Mike is rarely home. Everything that has to do with running our home and family sits squarely on my shoulders. (Minus the finances. Thankfully, Mike still handles those.) The other day, I changed the tube on Stella's bike all by myself. Yesterday, I even braved Costco alone. Ha! I know this is crazy, but I had never been there without Mike before. Costco trips were always a family affair. But our Costco list was getting longer by the day and Mike's load this quarter isn't letting up, so I bit the bullet and wandered the aisles alone.

Sometimes this feels really hard, but I find that if I decide to be thankful for the opportunity to stretch and grow, it doesn't feel so quite so burdensome. I know life isn't meant to be easy all of the time, and I am grateful for this season in my life where I get to learn how to do some hard things all by myself.


I realize there are many women who are truly mothering alone, whether because of divorce or death or military service, or other reasons. These women are my heroes and they have my deepest respect. I am grateful that Mike comes home from school each day (even if it's after the kids are in bed).

a month of thanksgiving

Happy November! It's my most favorite month of the whole year! Not only does our weather improve drastically in November, but today marks the beginning of my month of Thanksgiving. Every year, during the month of November, I focus on gratitude, and then I post here on my blog something I am thankful for, every day for the whole month. I've been doing it for years and it's the best thing I do for myself. It puts my challenges into perspective, makes me more content, and definitely brings me a lot of joy. Plus, feeling extreme gratitude and contentment is a really great way to enter the holiday season. Have you ever tried it? Why don't you do it along with me? I promise you will see a happy difference in your life.

And so, I am thankful for November, for the opportunity it gives me to take stock of my life and focus on all of the really fortunate blessings I've been given.

Here's a quick look at our Halloween:

We had Kip from Napoleon Dynamite and a banana.

And a really sweet Dorothy and an Obi Wan Kanobi.

The kids had a lot of fun, but I am always so glad when Halloween is over. :)