siblings

This morning, Stella and Elliot were complaining that they were bored so I sent them downstairs and told them them to play a game. Next thing I knew, extreme giggling was coming from the basement family room. I am so grateful that my children are friends with each other. I've never been good at setting up playdates for them, and I am thankful that they have learned to play so well with each other instead. I especially love it when Oliver joins in.

We had a really relaxing day at home filled with leftovers and pajamas and naps. I hope you did, too!

stitches

Tonight I am grateful for the nice men and women who missed their own Thanksgiving dinners to show up for work at the Emergency Room, so that when Elliot gashed his leg open at Nana's house, they were able to clean him up and stitch him up. I am ashamed to admit that when I saw Elliot's wound, I freaked out a little bit. It was so big and gape-y and my brain didn't know how to handle what I was seeing. If you need help in an emergency, find Mike. He's your guy. He was calm and patient and helped Elliot (and me) process what was happening. I am so grateful that he was there with us.

After a few hours at the hospital, a couple of popsicles, and 18 stitches, we were back at Nana's for a second round of pie.

Elliot was a trooper through it all, from the moment he quietly walked in the house with his leg hanging open all the way through to the end of the stitches. What a day! I am feeling extra grateful for my little family and our safety tonight.

I hope your Thanksgiving was less eventful but equally pie-filled. :)

plenty

Yesterday I went to the grocery store to stock up my pantry and to get Thanksgiving supplies. This morning I put my turkey in the brine, and this afternoon I will bake a pie. This is the season of plenty, and I am thankful that my family and I have enough. Too many people in this world don't, and I feel very fortunate that I am able to feed and dress and house my children as comfortably as I can. Comfort is a luxury, and I am thankful for ours. I hope acknowledging this will help me be more generous, especially this holiday season. 

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

kittens

Mike caught me at a weak moment on Saturday when I was just coming down with strep throat. He brought home two kittens from the pet store. (Mike has a humongous soft spot in his heart for kittens and he just couldn't choose between the two.) That brings the total number of cats living in our house to three, which is just too many. We've officially crossed the line. We are now the people with all of the cats. But the thing is, I see how much joy these kittens bring to my family (real, pure joy!), and I don't even mind. They are sweet and sort of stinky, but they'll cuddle right up on your lap and start purring and I'd have to be a monster to not let that affect me. And so today, I am thankful for these little kittens (even though they make my eyes itch and my nose run). I am thankful for the joy they bring my family and for the tenderness they bring out in all of us.

a sick day

Stella and I took a sick day today. And so, in no particular order, I am thankful for: the walk-in clinic at Walgreens, the really kind, patient doctor in the walk-in clinic, modern medicine in the form of antibiotics, and sweet pharmacy employees, a nice sister-in-law who made us soup, and the sound of the rushing wind and unexpected rain outside my open bedroom window. Despite the positive strep test and terrible sore throat, this day has been really beautiful, and I am thankful for the kind people and wonderful weather that made it so exceptional.

words from a prophet

The Sunday school lesson curriculum always references recent General Conference talks. I think if you've been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I love General Conference. Today's lesson (which I didn't end up giving, as I was home sick with a monster sore throat) referred to Elder Vern P. Stanfill's talk, Choose the Light, and Elder L. Whitney Clayton's talk, Choose to Believe, which I summarized here. Both talks were meant to help my students learn to overcome doubt with faith. I love hearing the words of our leaders. I am thankful for the guidance they give us, for the things they teach, and for the love I feel from them. I am thankful to belong to a church that believes in modern day prophets. I can't imagine trying to navigate this life without their direction. I believe it comes from a loving God who wants to help us, and I am thankful for the words they speak, and for the opportunity to read their words again and again.

mike

Mike and I spent the whole day together today, which hasn't happened in a long time. We went Christmas shopping and kitten shopping and finished the day with Taco Bell at our kitchen table. (Mike is really good at ordering Taco Bell.) I am grateful for Mike's influence in our home. He is strong where I am weak, and together we make a really great team.

scripture

One of my favorite stories from the Book of Mormon tells how the brother of Jared and his people crossed an ocean in small barges. These barges were "tight like a dish" the scriptures say, with a hole at the top and bottom to let in air. But if the holes needed to be closed to keep out the water, the people in the boats would be left in darkness. Wondering how to solve this problem, the brother of Jared prayed to God, who didn't give him a solution. But using his intelligence, the brother of Jared gathered clear stones and then with quite a lot of faith, he asked the Lord touch them, causing them to shine. These stones lit the insides of the barges as the people spent nearly a year crossing the ocean. The barges were at the mercy of the ocean currents and the winds, but the currents and the winds were at the mercy of the Lord and so they made it to the promised land in safety. There is a lot that I can learn from this story, even though I am not required to spend a year crossing an ocean in a small barge. I feel that way about all of the scriptures. Through diligent study, I can liken the scriptures to my own life, and learn many important things. From the brother of Jared, I learn that if I do all that I can and have faith, I can see miracles (or in the very least, blessings). I learn that if I feel like I am struggling in the depths of the sea (or under the burdens of life), I can cry to God and He will bring me back up to the surface, and that He is guiding my winds. I learn that through my trials, I can give gratitude to Him for the things that He is teaching me.

I am thankful for the scriptures. The small amount of time I spend studying them each day is one of the best things I do for myself. It makes me a better mother, a better wife, and a better neighbor.


You can read the story of the brother of Jared here (the book of Ether, chapters 1-3, 6).

health

Ever since we reduced the amount of added sugar in our diet, our health has improved. Not that we were often sick before, but we are certainly sick less often now. I am thankful that our bodies have the strength to do the things required of them--that we can go to school and complete housework and run and play and serve.

I have been reminded of how fragile life and good health can be lately, and I am thankful for the blessing of health that my family enjoys.

happy birthday Stella!

Of course I am thankful for all of my children, but today we celebrate our Stella, who turns nine years old. If I could describe Stella in three words, they would be: quiet, thoughtful, and kind. I don't know how I got lucky enough to be her mother, but I sure am grateful for the opportunity!

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.