Ugh! Time to catch up...

There's just not enough time in the day... So, now that I'm behind, I get to share three things I'm thankful for all at once. It still counts though because I thought about them the days I missed. I just didn't have time to record them. So, here goes! I am thankful for photography. Looking through pictures recently, brought to the surface really get memories that had been lovingly tucked away. You can most times remember moments, but it's so much fun to be able to see those moments again and even to see some things I missed the first time around. It also makes it possible to share those moments with people who couldn't be there. Remember how I promised to share pictures of my brother in laws open house whenever I got my hands on some? Well, here's a few. The bride and groom, Tyler and Kassie! Steven's eldest brother, Kevin and his wife, Kristi and their little munchkins, Kimble, Karter, and Koltyn. Next in line, Steven's only sister, Julie and her husband, Kevin (yup, two Kevin's!) and their little ones, Kylie, Jacie, Landen, and Avrie. Then, there's Keith and his wife Beverly and their cute Klan, Hailey, Jamie, and Spencer. Then, Steven is next with his wife...me! Then, it goes Tyler and his new wifey, but you already saw them. Scroll up again for your own viewing pleasure, but be sure to come back because next, we have the youngest, the magnificent, the grrrrreat BRIAN!!! ;0) And of course, the ones who started it all...well one half anyway...the parents of this amazing family, Darwin and Sharon. Here's a couple group pictures just so you can see how well we all fit together. I told you they were good, didn't I? Okay, back on track now. Two more things to be thankful for. I'm thankful that God has a sense of humor and blessed...most of us with a little bit too. I love laughing. I LOVE making other people laugh. Again, looking through pictures the other night brought on quite a bit of laughter. Here, see for yourself... For some reason, even now, this picture just cracks me up. I guess it might be because in my head, I'm translating this picture into something funny...do I share? Meh, why not? Sorry Darwin! My interpretation (which is completely untrue to the real situation) is Steven: "Dad did it!" Darwin: "Huh?" Except, in my mind, "Dad did" something else. Anyway... An this one... I'm looking from left to right at each person, thinking "this is a great picture"... then I get to Steven. See what I mean? Thankfully, I happened to marry someone who has a GREAT sense of humor and shares it with me quite often. Lastly, I am thankful for good friends. The ones who love you for exactly who you are. The ones that forgive you when you don't call as much as you should. The ones that know just what to say and when to say it. The ones that are brutally honest even if you don't think you want to hear it. The ones that are kind and caring when you're feeling fragile. The ones that make you feel like you're always welcome and never imposing. The ones that are always happy to see you. The ones that give the kind of hugs that make you feel safe and loved without a single word. A few of these friends in my life are Deidre, Bishop and Marilyn, Jessica and Emily (my visiting teachers)and of course, my Heavenly Father. I have lots of great friends to be thankful for, but for some reason these are the ones that just completely stood out in my mind. Thank-you for being so amazing even when I might not deserve it!

Sunday, November 14th....

Today, I thought about how thankful I am for music. I LOVE music! I thought about it mostly because I am SO excited for Christmas music to start playing on the radio. Music has such an effect on me. It can cheer me up, make me want to shake my groove thing, comfort me when I'm feeling blue. There are songs that come on the radio that really bring back memories for me. Memories of certain time period, like the good ol days before Heather and her family moved away, when we would go to the youth dances. That was so much fun! Or some bring back actual moments for me. I can remember in full detail specific moments through a song. Music can be used as a learning tool. Not gonna lie, I still use a primary song when I'm trying to locate a book in the scriptures. There's one for The BoM and the bible. I use them both. I never did learn the New Testament one very well, but I know the BoM and the Old Testament ones well enough to do process of elimination. haha Music is a blessing and I am very thankful for it.

I am truly thankful for...

Clorox disinfectant wipes. I'm not even kidding. They make cleaning up so must faster and easier! They kill 99.9% of germs...I've never really understood that. Which is the .1% germ? Why can't any disinfectants kill it? Is it bad? Am I wasting my time on all the other germs when that's the germ I should really be worried about? I'm a pretty healthy person though and I think 99.9% is much better than whatever percent a sponge can offer me and it's less work! So, for now, I'll just not worry too much about it. haha Thank-you disinfectant wipes for simplifying at least one aspect of my life!...Oh! And they make things smell "So fresh and so clean clean". I love when my house (especially the bathroom) smells like cleaners.

My Little Family

Today, and every day, I am thankful for Steven, my darling husband and very best friend, Lilly, and Tiger. For now this is my family and I couldn't be happier. I'm thankful that Steven and I chose a temple marriage and for that reason we can be together forever. He truly is my very best friend. We have so much in common that it's just fun to be together. He has such an amazing spirit and love for life. He can really light up a room. He is ambitious and hard working. He has some of the funniest, most endearing personality traits. He never stops amazing me and can always make me laugh. He loves children and is so good with them that I have no doubt that he will be an amazing father when the time comes. He is self diagnosed ADD/OCD. He is constant motion. He's honest. I know better than to ask him if I look bad when I know I do, but would rather hear the opposite. He doesn't really understand girl talk and crafts, but lets me do them anyway...and pretends to appreciate it...most times. He is fit and encourages me to be also, no matter how much of a fight I put up about going to the gym. He chews on EVERYTHING! Now, things are not perfect and I don't want to deceive you into to thinking they are. We have had hard times and still do, quite often. But, through our hard times, we have grown and there is no one I would rather fight fire with than Steven. As for Lilly girl, she's my princess. I'm thankful for the way she greets me at the door no matter how long I've been gone. She'll meow and meow until I sit down to let her jump up and say hello. Or how every morning when she hears me waking up, she gets all excited and jumps on the bed to say good morning. It makes me laugh how she LOVES the suitcase and will lay on top of it any chance she gets. On car rides she's either on the drivers lap or on the suitcase in the back. Or that her favorite pass time is playing with cotton swabs or lounging in the bathroom sink. When she wants my attention she literally says "ma ma." Steven will back me up on that one. She really does. Then, there's Tiger. He is just so stinkin' cute! He's our baby boy. My little pumpkin patch. We got him for Steven because Steven was sad that Lilly was strictly a momma's girl. But, you cannot have a Tiger in your home and not claim him as your own. He's my boy. He is such a snuggler. Every morning he jumps up and will either squish between both Steven and I or if I'm laying on my side, he will snuggle up against the curve of my body. He uses and LOVES the cat bed that wasn't good enough for Lilly. He has a fetish with adhesive. Tape, the sticky strips from the lint roller, you name it. He also likes to carry things around the house in his mouth like a dog. It's cute. He is by far the sweetest cat I have ever had. Separate, I am thankful for each of the pieces of my little family. But, they're even better when you put them together. Jealous? ;0)...........Sorry this is "late". I started it yesterday, so it should still count for yesterday and I'll do the one for today later.

November 11th-Veteran's Day

It being the 11th day in November AND Veteran's Day, I feel it is only appropriate to name two very special things that I am SO thankful for. First, and foremost, my mom. Today is the anniversary of her birth. Without her I would not be. I love her so so much! She is amazing and one of my very best friends. I wish I could have been able to be with her to help her celebrate. I love you mom! Second, our veteran's. One of my most favorite quotes is, "Home of the free, because of the brave." I am so thankful for their continuing sacrifice. Anytime I see anything that has to do with any branch of the military or patriotism it warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. Last night I saw a man in full uniform and I wanted to go thank him...but I didn't. I chickened out. So, I'm doing it now. Thank-you!!! Each of you!!! Because of you and my sweet mom, I can be me. I can write this blog. I can worship my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I can lay my head down each night in the safety and comfort of my home and know that I am free and loved. Thank-you! Thank-you! Thank-you! From the very bottom of my whole heart. God Bless!.............HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

It starts today

I want to blog about one thing each day up to Thanksgiving that I'm thankful for. It will not be in any particular order. So, if you end up being one of my honorable mentions closer to Thanksgiving or right off, DON'T think too much into it. There is no hidden meaning! Also, if you are not mentioned specifically, please don't be sad. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for that there is NO WAY I can mention everything one at a time between now and Thanksgiving. If you're even looking at this blog, that probably means that you are special to me and I love you and am thankful for 1) that I even know you and 2) that you are reading my blog! Hey! That was two things...Does that mean I'm set for tomorrow? Nah! So, without further ado...I'm thankful for modern technology. I knew life before internet and cell phones and I'm very thankful to have them! I just learned the process of dialysis and it is amazing to me what technology is capable of. Not to mention, it is thanks to technology that I get to share this blog with each of you! Okay. I am SO stinking tired. I'll do better next time. For now, good night!