Gratitude Day 30...

A wonderful Month of gratitude. Thank those of you that stuck with me and read. Sorry that I got behind.

Today was a wonderful day...and a perfect way to end the month. Earlier this year my family participated in the give a day go to Disneyland program. They had an overwhelming response. I don't want my kids to think we only do things to get things...and I don't think they do...because we try to share a lot. But I applaud Disneyland for bringing so much attention to volunteering. We had a great time making quilts and a fabulous trip as well!

What a wonderful day...We were so tired (still am!) But let me share all that we did...

We road the train and visited Mickey, Road the rollercoaster in Toon Town, Small World (decked out for Christmas), Dumbo, Merry Go Round, Santa (got that done early for the year ;), Splash Mountain for Darling Daughter and DH, Pirates for the boys and I, Tree house, Tiki Room, Buzz, Autopia, and the Train back to Main Street.... Quite a day!

I miss having passes but at this point in our lives they don't seem realistic. This day was long and hard, but the joy on little faces made it all worth it! I am grateful for opportunities to serve others. I am grateful for the growth and in this case even tangible blessings that can come from service.

Go out and serve someone!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 29...

Today I hit the gym at 5:30am... Then I came home and my sweet husband let me sleep awhile. We got some things done but the day flew by and I often wonder at the end of it...where did it go and what do I have to show for it. Today was no different.

But tonight we had family night. We try to have it every Monday night. We have some Moral or Spiritual lesson (usually short...remember 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1 year olds) ;) We sing and pray together. We laugh and have the best of times. Lately our dear friends have been joining us for family nights and that makes them all the better to be able to share them. I am so blessed with this amazing family of mine. I am so grateful for them!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 28...

A beautiful Sabbath.

The talks today in church were very good. I needed to hear the one on forgiveness...it is always a good reminder!

My lesson was on how we spend our leisure time. It made me think...I do not want my children to remember me unaccessible and at the computer...so I will work on being in that chair a lot less this month ;)

Dinner...we were invited over to our wonderful friends' home. We had a great time, the dinner was fabulous and visiting with them is always wonderful! They bless our lives so much.

Life is so sweet and good. I am so grateful!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 27...

What a wonderful day we had today!

I am thankful for family reunions. My husband is one of 8!!! Wow, that can be overwhelming at times. This was our year to plan and we had a great time. We whittled the reunion down to an all day event instead of a weekend event. But we packed in a lot. There was a small brunch, "Fresh" a family originated game...I would explain it but I remain somewhat confused...even after 12 years LOL, Scavenger Hunt, Soccer Game, Pizza Party, Cheeseburger BarBQ, Minute to win it games, Package for our nephew that is deployed, Short movies my nephew made and family videos that cracked us up. What a tremendous day...and to think we packed so much into it. I owe it to my amazing husband. We have different planning styles. I over heard him on the phone say..."She likes to plan 5 months in advance and 5 days before the activity I say...honey it is fine...we have PLENTY OF TIME! But it all works out." It is true it all does. He is a miracle worker when it comes to bringing things together. Although our darling daughter said to me when I apologized for going ballistic when things were running late... "Mommy, it is ok. I think if daddy wasn't married to you , he would NEVER be on time." We laughed...It is true we are like ying and yang...and I guess ultimately we balance each other. I guess he truly completes me. What a great day!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 26...

Thankful for Black Friday internet sales and NO LINES!

Didn't get everything I wanted...but didn't get trampled, pushed, shoved...or disappointed that I went in the cold to come home empty handed.

Bless the internet...made life so much easier today!!!

Make it a great day! ONLY YOU CAN!

Gratitude Day 25...

Thanksgiving put me a little behind...sometimes first things have to be first... And family took precedence over everything this weekend...including blogging.

Today was Thanksgiving. We had a wonderful day! Our little family ate early and four of our friends joined us. The meal was lovely and we enjoyed the conversation.

I am grateful for many things:

I am grateful for my faith in and blessings from a loving Heavenly Father. I don't always get what I want...like the saying goes...but I get what I need.

I am grateful for the Savior Jesus Christ...he has taught me about love, understanding, patience, brotherly kindness, faith, hope, charity, forgiveness, and redemption...just to name a few things.

I am thankful for my family of origin and the family DH and I "originated"...actually we just gave them bodies that all look somewhat similar...God gave them their amazing spirits before they ever came to earth. They are so amazing, unique and different that you can't convince me otherwise.

I am thankful for a loving, faithful, true, hardworking, honest, clown of a husband. He always makes me laugh, even when I am angry. Which can be annoying, but also is a great blessing.

I am thankful for my education. There are times I think about revisiting that and getting a Master's Degree. But for now I am just grateful I made it through 4 years of college (It only took me 16 years to graduate LOL...But in the end I did it, and lots of work, dating, friends, family and fun were had along the way. I learned a tremendous amount and not just in the classroom.

I am thankful for our warm and lovely home. I would have never chosen to live in a city, but it has grown on me over the years to not live next to horses ;)

I am thankful for my health. I have my hitches, but overall my body has been blessed with tremendous health for which I am eternally grateful.

I am grateful for the gym workouts the past month...THERE I SAID IT! Oh brother, I never thought this would be the case, but my body is feeling much better. I hate to admit my husband was right all these years. I am just grateful he didn't dump my gym membership the years I wasn't using it.

I am grateful to know that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me. I am grateful to know this even though at almost 40 I have experienced an unusually large amount of loss and death of loved ones. Still, I KNOW HE LOVES ME! I feel it, I see it...in the smiles of children, the affection of a true husband, the love and concern of faithful friends.

I am blessed...what else could I want for, what else could I need.

Make it a great day! ONLY YOU CAN!

Gratitude Day 24...

Today Ryan took child #3 for his wellness check. He got some shots...two...and he was a trooper. I think that it bothers me more than my children these days and Ryan is very calm. I am thankful for all the little and big things he does for the children. He has always been a hands on dad. I am very fortunate. I was pretty sure I was marrying a wonderful man when I said yes to the proposal...but you never really know how a man will be with children until they arrive. He has been over the moon with each one. I wasn't sure. He used to only want 2...but each of the five has won over his heart again and again. I am thankful to be married to a man that loves our children so very much. He tells them so often how much he loves them and how wonderful, beautiful, handsome they are. He is a great father and daddy and they are so fortunate. They may not know until he is gone. If you haven't had it rough, how can you really understand how good you have it? I am grateful they don't ever have to "realize" how good they have it by seeing the other side of the coin. I am grateful for men that love children...grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and daddies...they make the world a better place.

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 23...

Grateful for the rain. Do you know how long water levels have been low in California? Everytime I hear someone complain about rain here I want to slap them...not really but you get the idea ;) It is raining. Praise the heavens, what a blessing, we have begged, pleaded, prayed for it. We should be overjoyed. I am thankful for the rain. Thankful that things can grow and be nourished because of the rain!

There is a great song that I love called Sometimes he lets it rain. You can listen to a clip of it on itunes...the link is below just click it. It is well worth the $.99!

Here are the lyrics:

She sees the storm clouds gather
The sky is turning cold and gray
She knows that somethings coming
when she starts to feel this way

She pleads for intervention
But heaven offers no relief
she would understand if she could only see

Sometimes He lets it rain
He lets the fierce winds blow
Sometimes it takes a storm
to lead a heart where it can grow

He can move mountains of grief
and oceans of pain.
But sometimes he lets it rain.

When her heart surrenders
to the master in control
Her spirit learns the lessons
and the tempest in her soul

when it's no longer raging
She can see how far she's come
through the wisdom and
the mercy of the son

Sometimes He lets it rain
He lets the fierce winds blow
Sometimes it takes a storm to
lead a heart where it can grow

he can move mountains of grief
and oceans of pain
but sometimes He lets it rain.

There is no joy without the pain

Sometimes He has to let it rain.

By Katherine Nelson

Link for the itunes song: Sometimes he lets it rain...Check out the sound clip.

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 22...

The last few days have been unusual. My siblings and I all have very busy schedules and many young children. So it is not often we get the time to just chat. And though the conversations were not long I had the chance in the past few days to talk to three of my siblings. They brighten my life so much. Each is unique with their own marvelous strengths. Each lifts and helps build me in different ways. I love all of them. (even the ones I didn't chat with ;) I am grateful for their service and devotion to God and Family. They are the kind of individuals I would seek as friends...lucky me God saw fit to give them to me as family and friends! I feel blessed when I hear of some little event of a niece or nephew...new glasses, dance production, plays, school testing, a little joke they tell, an act of kindness they render. It brings me great joy to love them and to be loved in return. Love is one of God's greatest gifts. Even death can not conquer love!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 21...

We had such a lovely day! Church was wonderful. The meeting was so good. My friend's daughter sang a beautiful song...Keeper of the Faith by Mindy Gledhill. It touched my heart so deeply. Our friends came with us today to church and we are so happy they joined us. I felt the love and peace of worship. It isn't always that way with four little boys climbing on and over me...but today was just a blessed Sabbath. I am grateful. The youth lesson (I am a youth leader) was on having an attitude of gratitude. I loved it and really needed to hear the message. I have so much to be grateful for. This time of year is difficult because it is when we knew my mother was getting bad...and somedays the memories flow even when I don't want them to. But when I think of all she instilled in me...I am filled with gratitude!

Another nice thing happened Sunday. Our good friends were in town and we had the chance to bread bread together...a lot of bread since Ryan always prepares for an army. We enjoyed their visit and sitting around the table together chatting and laughing. Our children all get along and it was just a lovely time! I am so grateful for the many friends that the Lord has brought into our lives from different walks of life. I feel rich!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can! (Go be grateful! Happiness is a grateful heart...that was what we learned Sunday and I heartily agree!)

Gratitude Day 20...

Thankful for the power of prayer

In all its forms

In all its ways

With all my heart

I know He hears!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 19...

I am wondering where the month has gone. Time just seems to fly by. I look forward to Thanksgiving next week. I love the yummy aroma of a turkey in the oven and I can't wait for some cranberry sauce. We are eatting early, DH has to work. It will be nice. My perfect Thanksgiving will be when I can sit around the table with all my siblings and remember...that might not be in this life... But something to look forward to none the less.

I just checked out a wonderful website this morning. My cousin by marriage shared it. He and his partner are amazing and I loved watching the clips. One of my favorite was Scarborough Fair Duet. I hope if you have time to browse you can go enjoy some of them. The bells are beautiful and the organ accompany is so nice. I love beautiful music.

Here is the Link! or for future reference... http://www.crescendopodcast.com/

My darling daughter has been reading about Helen Keller in her biography class. I helped her with her report this morning. I am so grateful for my sight and my ability to hear. Sometimes we don't realize what we have until we lose it, or we know someone who does not have it. I appreciate and find myself feeling deep compassion when someone loses a parent, because I understand the magnitude of the grief. I think it is that way with many things in life. We can have true empathy for those things we understand. May we at this roling in of holidays be both grateful and compassionate, may we find needs, and meet them, causes to serve and give to them...out stretched hands and reach for them. And may the Lord bless us to do so.

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 18...

If I were rich I might get all kinds of fun things for family and friends for Christmas. But I am not convinced that my financial prosperity would make their lives any richer in the ways that really matter. Instead we are...well not poor...BUT NOT RICH for sure. Well, I am rich in marriage, rich in motherhood, rich in love, rich in family, rich in friends, rich spiritually...but when it comes to the worldly definition...I must admit our checking account has...Yes...Gasp...overdrawn...once or twice in our marriage. We have enough and we are grateful. We have some extra and we share. Yesterday I was getting off the freeway on my way to meet our wonderful friend EN...

There was a man on the off ramp holding a sign. As a rule I almost never have cash and it was no exception this time either. I did have something strange. At Halloween I had purchased 4 booklets of Wendy's frosties...(5 small frosties in each booklet). I said I was sorry I had no money. He was so GRATEFUL! Later I stopped at Kohl's to get some small presents for extended family (trying to keep Christmas reasonable this year...no debt!) and Kohl's was having a 50% sale and I had a 30% coupon...which made things...well, what they should have cost to begin with ;) A man was taking donations for a recovery mission. I had no money but I told him maybe he could use these for someone and handed out another booklet. It was a small nothing really, but maybe it will make someone's day a little brighter. I think I will get some $3 gift cards to keep in the car. I want to help and this is a way I could be prepared to at least put food in their tummies. Food can make a lot of difference.

All this started me thinking how grateful I am for my life. So often we are glass half empty kind of people. We want what we don't have and we live in a society that wants MORE AND MORE and there seems no end to some children's Santa lists. With all this wanting...I am grateful for GIVING.

I am grateful my parents GAVE me life! They could have been selfish and not kept me, or had no children and traveled. But NO they gave me life...and then my brother...and then the brothers and sisters that followed they loved life into them, hugged and encouraged each of us...Thank you for my BODY MOM AND DAD.

I am grateful for the faith they GAVE me. Now you can't permanantely give a person faith...but you can foster it in a child. It is their choice as they grow what they will do with it! Thank you for nurturing my faith.

I am grateful for the home my husband GAVE our family. We still owe the bank, but he works hard so we have a good roof over our heads, and I am grateful.

And as we fast approach CHRISTmas...I always think about how celebrating Christ's birth would really hold no significance if there had not been a glorious resurrection. If he had not overcome sin and then death it would just be "another birth"...but because he did, Christmas holds a very special meaning in my heart...

The gift of the wisemen is not the significant gift. But the Gift Christ GAVE, the gift of the resurrection I will forever be grateful for. The opportunity to one day be reunited with loved ones, to wrap my arms around them, could there be a better CHRISTmas present. To the stores and shops I would say... keep your game consoles, your new TVs, your gift baskets, and pajamas...I am going to hug my mommy again, you have nothing on sale that comes close!

Make it a great day. GIVE...the best gifts we can give come from our time. Only YOU can do what Father has given YOU to do...another can try, but they will never do IT quite as good as YOU!

Gratitude Day 17...

Today was a lovely day!

I am grateful for my wonderful time with EP! Thank you for the yummy homemade Hot Chocolate...Ohhhh...just thinking about it makes me want to lick my lips. And the convo was even better than the chocolate. I am so thankful for homeschool so we can get away when we want and when our friends are home. I love you my friend! And the prayers...I am up-ing them! :)

I am grateful for the time I got with you too EN! I know the boys can be crazy...hopefully they didn't drive you crazy! :) I so enjoyed being with you. Thank you for lunch...NEXT TIME...well, you know! :) Thank you for the goodies for the children, they loved them all, they are excited about the books.

Mommy, I love you! I hope that you enjoyed the show the kids put on at the cemetary. It is not easy to go there and know that your body is dust...but I love the feeling of you knowing we celebrate you (we do that every day)...but you always respected your parents by visiting the graveside, so I know it is important to you. The children put quite a show on for you today. I hope you got to watch and know how very much you are missed! While we were there you would have been proud of us. We saw a man just sitting by a grave. We went and asked if we could all hug him. He just loved it! Hugged each child...ate up the love. He told us it had been exactly 3 years since he lost his sweet wife of 57 years! He said, I told the preacher I know about heaven and hell...I lived in heaven 57 years, and now I live in hell without her. I asked if he had children, 2 of his 4 boys are living. I said, they need you. He said that she made him promise her to take care of the boys, go to church and stay out of the bars and he was doing all three. It was a sweet experience...something you would have done! You taught me well Mama!

Grateful to be able to share a funny homeschool story with one of my sisters on my way home and to also reflect on our faith and the love that mom has instilled in us all.

Loved sharing jokes back and forth with my oldest sister tonight on facebook. I could just see her little one laughing :) It made my heart really happy.

I am so grateful for so many wonderful women in my life!!! I am so blessed!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 16...

I am grateful today for realistic goals.

I just posted a new ticker at the top of my blog.

When I had baby #5 I started out weighing 173 pounds and reached 225...I waddled when I walked...so uncomfortable.

My new ticker will tract losing Darling #5's baby weight.

When I reach that goal I will change my ticker and try to losing the 33 pounds between baby #1 and baby #5 ;)

My mom used to say, "How do you eat an Elephant??? A bite at a time!" What was I thinking...I never updated the other ticker because it felt like I wasn't making much progress. Be gentle with yourself. I am thankful for realistic goals!

Love you...go make realistic goals...whatever they are!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 15...

Honestly...

Just grateful that I made it through the day...

On to tomorrow...

Make it a grea day! Only YOU can!

(some days just AREN'T so make them the best you can ;)

Gratitude Day 14...

I am thankful for my faith...

I lost my great aunt age 8(I think...I was little)

An uncle a couple years later

A grandpa at age 14

An aunt at age 19

A grandpa at age 20

A nephew at 22

A best friend at 22

An uncle at 22

A grandma at 22

A friend at 23

then another, and another, and another, and another, and another

A grandma at 30

My husband's best friend at 31

My husband's grandpa at 31

My mommy at 35...

I have faced a lot of loss. I could not have gotten through it without my abiding faith in my Savior Jesus Christ and his father...My Heavenly Father, that loves us all. I am grateful for my faith.

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 13...

DATE NIGHT!!!

It was date night tonight. I love date nights with my husband. Some of the best advice we ever received when we were getting married was from my brother in law. He told us to always make time to continue dating. We have always done that. When the baby is new they come along, until they can be left with a sitter. We have also been blessed with some of the most wonderful people to care for our children which makes it feel safe and peaceful to go out.

Sometimes our date is a Starbucks hot chocolate. Sometimes it is Claim Jumper. There are times we don't even leave the house...we just put the kids in bed a bit early, and my darling husband grabs take out. We sit and talk and talk. I still love talking to him about everything and nothing and our love affair has not gotten dull. We take time, time for each other and really that time away from our children blesses them so much. They have parents that love one another. And when there are bad days, I have told you there are, we can get through them, because our bank accounts are full. Stephen R. Covey a popular motivational speaker says that we need to fill up the emotional bank account of another before we can make a withdrawl. So when things are a little off, it is ok because we try to keep our emotional accounts full most of the time. We can tell if we haven't been out for a couple weeks, things get a little tense. So we get a sitter and off we go. Recently we went to Costco on a date, we sat on the couch and talked for almost an hour, grabbed some things we needed, then hit Golden Spoon for dessert on the way home. Our babysitter laughed...COSTCO? DATE NIGHT? But it worked for us. Don't ever let love slip away because you didn't take the time to nourish it!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 12...

Running a little behind this week.

Today I am thankful for wonderful friends. I am so blessed with so many of them. I have friends that I have known a lifetime and those I have only known a short time. But they bless my life in so many ways. Some of my closest friends are my family. And some of friends have become so much a part of my life they are like family. Some of them are church friends, some are from work, and some friends have blessed my life by sharing "their" friends and blessing me with even more friends. I am so grateful for friends! They don't judge me. They don't talk about me. I feel safe with them. I trust them. I love them! Friends. What a blessing they are to me!

Make it a great day. Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 11...

Today we celebrate Veterans. I am so thankful for all the men and women who have served in the armed forces to protect our freedoms and our very lives. We have the freedom to spout off our mouths, to stand for our religion, to bare arms...thoses are just a few.

There are even Americans (although I wouldn't call them that) that have the freedom to ridicule our soldiers...why do they have that freedom...BECAUSE OUR SOLDIERS provide it for them everyday! If you are one of them, you can stop reading my blog now and turn around. I am a tolerant woman but I have NO tolerance for anyone that disrespects our service men and women. They give it all, they put it all on the line. They don't just line up and VOTE, they line up and say "I will give my life" if that is what it takes. And many of them do. And yet, some sit in their fancy houses, with their plenty of food and things and have the audacity to criticize the very source of their freedoms. Well, don't do it here, don't do it on my watch. I thank them, every one of them from the men in the front lines and fox holes to the Commander in Chief (I may not like his politics...but don't let me hear you complain about his supports for freedom! Don't send me tacky comic strips, don't ridicule him. And I am pretty certain you couldn't do much better.) God bless America. BE AN AMERICAN! A REAL ONE! Stand up for what they fight for. Honor them. Pray for them. BUT DON'T YOU DARE BAD MOUTH THEM.

My Great Uncle, My second cousin gave their lives so that countries like Germany would not be telling YOU what to do. I have a father that was a Navy man. My husband's Grandpa a Navy man as well. Brothers and a Brother in law that served. Friends serving us as I write this. God bless those men and women that fight for us, even when some aren't fighting for them! God bless them, every second of every day! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. YOU ARE THE REASON I CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT!

My Country Tis of Thee

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 10...

This blog is dedicated to three amazing women in my life! KB, AM, and DL... Yes you know who you are. This world is so "here today gone tomorrow." So many people lack the courage to act, to stand for what is right, especially if it means getting hurt or standing alone. Today I applaude the three of you. This life is not easy. Sometimes the choices or problems of others weigh us down or even hurt our spirit or our lives. But if we take courage, we can wrangle our own destiny. NOTHING...I say nothing about our future is set in stone. So we control us...every word, choice or action that we produce. WAY TO GO girls! I love each of you so much! I want to make up cheers, jump around, scream and chant Go KB!!! Go AM!!! Go DL!!! Way to go ladies, way to go! Now don't lose the momentum...OUR mantra...WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN DO THIS!!! Together we can ;) Love you!

Now ladies (all of you reading this) go support someone you love who needs an extra boost, hug, encouraging word! Go...DO GOOD! You know it will make you feel good when you have! I love you all and believe in your power to make things happen and to change things for the good! GO! GO! GO!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 9...

GNO

or for those unfamiliar with this GNO stuff...

Girls Night OUT!!!

Thank you to wonderful friends that I have shared these nights with over the years...both friends and family (family that are some of my dearest friends!) The chance to get away is such a blessing! Tonight it was Claim Jumper...Yum! I have so many happy memories there...

I have memories with most of my siblings at Claim Jumper...My mom loved their food...and it is a popular date choice for my husband and I. So going there is like a retreat and the memories all flood in.

Thank you to some of my wonderful friends tonight for the chance to get away from home and have great food and visit. I love you and appreciate that time together.

Make it a great day. Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 8...

I am grateful for the gym...

I went at 5:30 am this morning.

Ok...REALLY, I AM NOT THANKFUL FOR THE GYM...

But I am hoping to make this a habit...then when I have lost the additional 50 pounds that are holding me down and making me feel sluggish and depressed many days... THEN I will be thankful for the gym...

Dear Gym,

Your gratitude is coming.

It has not arrived yet, maybe it

got lost in shipping. But we

hope it will be there in the next

6 months. Wait patiently!

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Me

Make it a great day. Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 7...

I am thankful for strong women...

If you are reading this you are probably one of the strong women in my life. When I set up this blog I set it up so that it would be open. I set it up hoping to share REAL life. Not the "Oh, my life is frosted cupcakes every day of the week...(yeah right!)" But the life where I live most of the time...on some days that is more like "Oh, crud...my whole tray of chocolate cupcakes just fell face down on the kitchen floor." Remember when this happens I have said before and it is worth repeating...We only have control of two things: How we act, How we react...

I am thankful for women who's example makes me want to react better. Some times I have already acted poorly and I find myself in the kitchen, on the floor, hand mopping up tomatoe sauce after banishing child #1 to their room and telling them "YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO MAKE YOUR OWN MINI PIZZAS AGAIN....DO YOU THINK I LIKE CLEANING UP MESSES?" You know...just a figurative example ;) (P.S. thanks HH for making me feel like I wasn't the worst mom in the world when that happened the other day!)

So If you know me well and are close to me then you know some of my intitials references...if you don't know me, I hope you still get something out of this blog if you are reading it. But for today I want to thank some women. So thank you in no particular order:

TDB (for loving me and teaching me to be patient, even when the Lord doesn't deal the exact hand we want, at the exact time we want it.)

HH(thank you for sharing so much of you with me and making me feel normal and oh so loved. For long talks, hot chocolate and constant encouragement.)

SN (aka the mom...Thank you for your love of the Lord and being a constant part of my life for the past 21 years...I know we have never called each other this...but you need to know...I love you like a sister!)

DP(thank you for keeping it real with me and reminding me that I can love my husband even on the days I don't necessarily totally like him ;) Your strength keeps me going).

DL(Thank you for the course in being a more laid back and fun mom, you have made me a better mom. I know this year has been full of its own stresses for you, plus the help you endlessly give others, but never forget why we homeschool...you taught me...HAVE FUN! :)

AW(Thank you for being someone I know I can count on, who loves everyone, and is without guile. I feel my name is ALWAYS safe with you. I love that about you.)

JW and KB (Thanks for lunch the other day...I am going to read the BOOKS! I love you both, you bring me so much happiness and smiles and joy!!!)

NPM(I don't care what you say, you are feeling and loving and caring and after 28 years YOU WON'T convince me of any less...I think you are wonderful. You inspire me! Thank you for caring about me! I love you!)

PC(Opps...almost called you PH...Thank you for Thirty years of friendship. You are a wonderful example to me. I love you. You are a great wife and mother. Thank you for loving me all these years.)

CL(My Carebear friend, Thank you for being there always, and even though time and distance often separate us, I love that we can always pick up where we leave off).

WV(Strength does not sound like a strong enough word to me to describe you...you are a rock and your faith and testimony have helped mine grow this year...A million thank yous...Oh and a million congrats too)

VF(Thank you for loving me and believing in me. We have been friends for so many years, I am grateful FB brought us back together...your love for your boys strengthens me on my rough mommy days!)

EP(Your little man is one of the luckiest I know...there isn't a child out there more loved. You radiate it in all you have given up to make his world so great. I love you and your example!)

TM(Thank you for loving me always, consistently and unconditionally. You are a true and dear friend. And when your last name is called I will always report as part of the family...honored to be loved and considered such ;)

CC(David's CC)(Thank you for blogging, you inspired me...I have done it for many years, but not until I followed your faithful example of it did I really embrace it. You have been making me a better person like a second mom for 30 years...I LOVE YOU.)

TR (your love for your husband and children keeps me going more days than you would ever know. Though we are "cyber" friends, your support and friendship are a very real blessing in my life and I love and appreciate you and your wonderful example of a good Christlike life! And I think you have a great hubby too!)

HMA(Thank you for your friendship the past 18 months. You bring out the best in people. You make me smile. I love you!)

LAM(You know who you are...I LOVE YOUR GUTS GIRL! My only regret was it took us all the way to the forth grade to find each other!)

KTM(Girl I LOVE YOU AND Your drama ;) Never forget we all have it...the day the drama stops I am 6 ft under...I will take the drama. I love you and love that you love me through everything. You are the best!)

CC(My Italy traveling wonder, your strength and courage amaze me. I wish for every wonderful thing for you).

AR(way on the other side of the US...I don't know how you do it all, to me you are a super hero...someday we will finally be in the same place...brace yourself for a big hug!)

EN(Saving one of the best new friends in my life for last. Remember, there is hope, there is love, he is close, you are being watched over and he left you so much love here! I love you! May you always feel the peace of his spirit close and know that there is a big plan and when it all unfolds it will heal these hurts when we can see him again. I LOVE YOU!!!)

I have so many wonderful ladies in my life I could go on and on...forgive me if I didn't include you this time...My fingers are just tired ;) Love you all for the strength and example you are to me.

Make it a great day. Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day 6...

If you have been reading my facebook status for the month...you know that I am highlighting the many reasons I am grateful for my husband. But it merits repeating. I want you to know that if you have days you think...

What was I thinking getting married?

Or What was I thinking having 5 kids (or however many kids you have...)

Or if you homeschool and you think, "What would I do if I sent 3 of my children off to school and only kept the two home that take a nap..."

If you have thought any of these things...you are not alone...and maybe we were separated at birth. Well, the birth part is unlikely since my birth certificate reads "single birth" but in this crazy world...anything is possible ;)

Anyway, I have my days and I don't want any one to read my status updates or my blog and think...perfect husband, perfect life... we are so far from that. I have even been known on occasion to shout some shameful thing at my spouse and then in the after shock of realization pray that my children never repeat me.

I came from a loud and boisterous home. I love my parents, but there was a lot of contention. I remember getting so sick once from it that I went in the bathroom and threw up. So I was choosy about a spouse. When I was 25 and going away to college after an Associates Degree, and a mission for my church...most of my friends were married. Mind you some were already getting divorced at that point. I remember thinking... NOT ME! When I get to the point I am ready to settle down and I find the right one...it is forever! I will always feel that way. Even when my hot temper finds me sleeping on the couch because I refuse to surrender my will. With all that said...I am grateful for a man that stands beside me. I like the song that continues... "Not in front of or behind me. I want a man who wants to hold me...not own me...and I'll give all the love in my heart...stand beside me." He does just that. Last night he hurt my feelings. This morning I was awaken to breakfast in bed. Well, first to the fire alarm, but breakfast in bed shortly followed. I am not perfect, and he is not perfect and we are not even a perfect match. But together in this world, we have beat all odds and we make sense now, after more than a decade and 5 children. I love him. Even on days I don't like him, and there are a few of those, I love him. Don't worry, I am pretty sure he has some days he doesn't like me either so it all evens out. The good news is MOST of the time...we LIKE and LOVE each other... The Love part isn't optional...the like part is flexible ;)

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day Five...

I am thankful for my children...

Each little face so full of love...

Each little hug

Each little kiss

They are my greatest accomplishment...

I got my B.S. Degree after having 3 of them...and it pails in comparision!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day Four...

I am thankful for the little things. . .

My warm bed

Hot Cocoa in the fall and winter

Peppermint Candy cans that Santa hands out (Yes...I still believe)

Books shared by friends

Journal entries

Old Journals

That funny scrunched up look #5 gives me that melts my heart

Kisses from my puppy that is already too big to be a lap dog, but I can't resist holding

Thank you notes (given and received)

Little get aways with my husband

Hearing my childrens' heartbeats

Chili on rainy days

Mom's Butterfly Promise...Kept!

The grass in our front yard (you should have seen it before we lived here!)

Cars (not such a little thing...but so under appreciated)

Scissors...I use them so often, where would I be without them

MY CAMERA...If you know me you know there are very few places that my trusty cameras (one or the other) and I are apart.

I am thankful for gratitude. It makes me realize on very bad, sad, cold, or difficult days that life really isn't that bad, and that some people have it a lot harder, sadder, or more difficult than me.

Thank Thee Heavenly Father, for every blessing...the big ones...and the almost unnoticeable ones. I am grateful for them all.

Song of the day ;) Click here: Thank Thee for everything

Make it a great day. Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day Three..

Grateful for my eyes.

Darling Daughter is studying a biography about Helen Keller right now. How grateful I am for my eyes. She was such an amazing woman and found joy in every gift from God and made such an amazing life with the hand dealt to her. What excuse to I have. I have none of the physical limitations or struggles she does!

Thank you to my daughter for sharing your studies with me.

Thank you AW and KW for inspiring my daughter. (Her 3, 4 comb class is doing 8 weeks of Biographies...and guess why she picked this one ;)

I am so grateful for my eyes!

I LOVE THIS SONG...CLICK HERE

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day Two...

Grateful for the right to vote! And the free country I live in!!!

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!

Gratitude Day One...

November is the month of Gratitude...Thanksgiving.

My mother used to say, "We should have an Attitude of Gratitude." And would remind us that not being grateful for what we have is a sin, the sin of ingratitude. She said, "Your attitude determines your altitude. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it."

I always tell my daughter you only have control of two things...

1) How you act

2) How you react

So This month of being Thankful, I want to express my gratitude for my many blessings.

First and foremost...I am thankful for God and His Son Jesus Christ. I believe they are the source of my blessings and the strength in my trials. I will be counting off some of those tremendous blessings with you this week. But for now I express my deep and abiding love in a loving Father in Heaven who loves us ALL so much that He provided a beautiful plan and a way back to Him. The plan can be painful as I have learned through experience. But the LOVE and the JOY are forever offered to us...and I rejoice to have all of you in my life NOW and FOREVER!

This is one of my mom's favorite songs...if I did it right, this will take you to an interactive player. :) I am also grateful for music.

Song: Count your many blessings (interactive player)

...Ok...tried it and it works. But if you want to hear the words, you have to click on the button at the top left that says Recorded: Music and words...Love this song! It has helped me through some hard times.

Make it a great day! Only YOU can!