finishing up...

I bet you thought I'd forgotten about this whole "thankful" thing. NOPE. We've had a great Thanksgiving around here...aside from lots of sickies. Our feast was so great. We had Christy and eachother. Great runs through the weekend. Daunting YW lesson taught yesterday = HUGE relief today. I'm happy. I feel lighter than the last few weeks. Not pounds lighter, but peace lighter. Not much to stress about right now.

#25. I'm thankful for Alex. He is a sweet, sweet kid. Crazy...but sweet. He hugs me all the time. ALL the time. He has become so much more confident in his abilities with Margaret. Yesterday, Dave and I both had to teach for the 3rd hour of church. Margaret and Molly were home sick. We didn't know what to do. Alex offered to go home early and babysit. What a great boy.

#26. I'm thankful for Elizabeth. She is always so pleasant and happy. She really is. She is gentle and helpful and obedient. I must have done SOMETHING right.

#27. I'm thankful for Margaret. She makes me smile...a lot. She's funny. You're probably thinking...yeah right, she's 18 months, they don't know how to be funny. She does though. I can't wait until she starts talking to us!

#28. I am thankful for my dad. He is a really good man. A very Christlike man. He always has beautiful counsel for me. He really does love my kids. He is giving and generous. And good grief...he's 75 years old! Just look at that man!

#29. I am thankful for the gospel. I know that sounds trite sometimes. I really, really am though. It brings me so much peace when very little else does. It points me in the right direction. It gives me hope and brings me joy.

*I realized...I really could be finished with my list now. I've got one more post, but let me just say, it is the church and my relationships that I treasure. More than anything else in this world. I don't NEED another single thing.

23rd and 24th...

23. I am thankful for my house. I love it. I wouldn't mind it being a little bigger, a little more fancy, a bigger yard...but it works for us. It's all we need right now. I am so grateful that we found it 4 1/2 years ago. It has been a blessing.

24.
*click twice to see full size...otherwise, no Alex or Lizzy. :)

Once again...I'm thankful for my mom. It's her birthday today...and I love her SO much!

20 & 21 & 22...

20. I think Utah is beautiful. I always have. Only recently though, have I noticed just how breathtaking it is and how lucky I am to live here. A few months ago, I was coming home from a photoshoot up in the canyon. It was September. About 7pm. The leaves were all sorts of colors. I came down past Bridal Veil and saw this. The picture doesn't even begin to do it justice. It completely took my breath away. The mountains are majestic. Another reminder that the Lord loves us.

21. I am thankful for my niece Christy. She is my oldest sister Lisa's daughter. She just graduated from BYU and is now working in Orem. She comes over every week for dinner and babysits every other week. Things just run smoother when Christy is around. The kids love her. She loves them. She helps me. Sometimes I forget they are actually my kids and I still need to tend to them. :)

22. I love my friends. I don't have a picture that shows ALL of them. I would say I have 15-20 DEAR friends. Really. People I can call if I'm in a pinch. People who I put down as my emergency contacts. I have powerful, righteous friends. Funny friends. Kind friends. They enrich my life...every day. Some are far away, some are just around the corner. Each one is a treasure.

17-19...

17. I am thankful that I get to serve with the YW. I am the camp director, so technically I don't really belong at mututal on Tuesdays. I go anyhow. Partly to get out of the house for a bit, but mostly because I love it. I love the girls. I hope I can make a difference in their lives. I am amazed at their potential. I hope they always remember their value, and how good it feels to be good.

18. I am thankful for a dependable running partner. Tara is awesome. She makes me happy in the mornings...the cold, dark, early mornings. She has faith in me. We have great conversation. We laugh (which is hard to do when you're out of breath, by the way). She pushes me. And she's there...every day.

19. I am thankful for my Emily. For many reasons. She is happy. I got a message from the school the other day, telling me that Alex and Lizzy were each going to get an award at the reflections assembly next week. Not Emily. Fine...if the same exact thing hadn't happened for the past 2 years. I was really worried about her and her confidence. I cried about it, thinking of her being sad. I called people to ask them what to do. I ended up calling her into my room after school and telling her I had a secret. She growled a funny little growl showing frustration that she didn't win...again, then she went on with her day. She is excited for A & E. I underestimated her. I really did. She is a great girl.

I had a photoshoot yesterday afternoon and left all 5 kids home alone. I'm pretty confident doing that, but not 100%. Alex and Lizzy spent the time on the computer. Emily got Margaret up from a nap and played with her/carried her around until I got home. I am so proud of her and so grateful for her. She is a helper. She is a sweet, sweet girl.

16...

I am grateful for a healthy body. I just got back a bit ago from a 5 mile hill run with Tara and Kami. It's amazing to me what my body will do. It is strong, and it does what I tell it with very little resistance. I've had a few minor setbacks...bursitis in my knee and some pretty sore quads this last month, but that's it. I feel so fortunate that my body will move without pain. Fortunate that I can see. That I can hear. That I can talk and laugh with my dear friends when we dress up like this for a Halloween 5k!

my 14th and 15th...

14. I'm thankful for perfume. I've always had a thing for it. I used to wear Liz Claiborne every single day. My dad loved it on me, so he bought me lots. My good friend Julie Kohn wore Ralph Lauren. I often wished my dad loved the smell of that one too. Not so. I used to buy all those lame, cheap knock-offs at the drug store. I had a LOT of them. Remember the tiny little aerosole cans? My second obsession started while I was in Jerusalem. I had a cute friend named Erin Nelson. She was fun and crazy, and everyone wanted to be around her. That, AND she smelled good. You could tell she had been in a room, by the heavenly smell she left behind. I can remember heading up to the chapel, week after week, and knowing Erin was already there. I could smell her. In the BEST way. She wore Quelques Fleurs. She got it duty free on the airplane. I REALLY wanted some when I got home and just happened to find it at a fragrance outlet at the beach. Wore it for years. I still do, actually. Along with Amarige by Givenchy, and that pretty little number in the picture. I got that tiny little bottle from my sister Laura for my birthday. I love to get all dressed, hair done, made up...then add a tiny splash of that on my neck to top it off. It makes me feel good...and pretty. As a sidenote, I used to wear Happy by Clinique...when I was pregnant with Alex. Can't even smell the stuff now without wanting to wretch.

15. This one will be much shorter, but much more significant to me. I love my ward. It is a family. It is made up of such good, good people. I feel comfortable at church. Happy. Refreshed. Valued.

day 13...

I am thankful that my mom is silly...and that her dad was silly. Our family laughs a lot. We laughed a lot growing up...mostly because of my mom. She has very little dignity when it comes to making people laugh. If it will get a good chuckle from people, she'll do it! I LOVE that about her. Everyone that meets her does. It's fun to get her going too. She rocks in place with her legs crossed as tight as physically possible, barely able to catch a breath. Belly laughs with my mom can make anything better. I'm grateful that she taught her children not to take things too terribly seriously. And I know that she'll laugh about this picture of her floating around on the internet, too.

the 12th...

Today I am thankful for comfy pants...comfies. I kindof want this pair from Old Navy. I spend an awful lot of time in pants like these. They just feel so good. I don't really love being all dressed up in jeans and sweaters and such. I think it's important to look nice, but the second I am home, jeans come off and a nice pair of comfies goes on. I'm not ashamed to wear them to the store. When I come home from a run at 7:30 in the morning and it's 30 degrees and still halfway dark, you'd better believe these are the first thing to go on...right after a hot bath. Am I an old lady?

the 11th...

I lead a pretty charmed life. I always have. This picture right here is probably the worst I ever had it. We don't look thrilled, do we? Really though...I was dropped right into what I guess many people on this earth would call a dream. I was blessed enough to have been born in this country. That is what I'm most grateful for today. I have so many freedoms, so many blessings, so many opportunities...because of this wonderful place where I live. I'm grateful for the people who have toiled and labored to make this country great.

I was born into a loving, affectionate family. I've never questioned whether or not my parents or my siblings love me. I really never have. My dad had a steady income. I'm sure there were times when my parents wished there was more money, but I never knew about it. I always had food, clothing, shelter. I never had to do without. I've been healthy my whole life. I have a body that has allowed me to bear 5 children. I am strong, and happy, and loved. I could keep right on going, but I won't. I'll save some other good stuff for later.

day 10...

I am thankful for our car. MY car, really. Dave has a little red putt-putt. I get to drive this beauty around. I really think it's a beautiful car. I used smile everytime I came out of a store and saw it waiting for me in the parking lot...until I dinged it at Costco getting gas. I am grateful that it runs so well, that it has heat, rear air, that it's quiet. Yay for our mini-van! (Never, EVER thought I'd say that.)

the 9th...

I am grateful for music like this. Don't just take my word for it, please. Click play and listen. This is from The Mission. A movie that will completely move you. That is what the music does to me. It overwhelms me. I become emotional. For no reason. My heart swells. It feels like it is near bursting. I truly feel that music this moving is not debatable. Noone can contest whether or not is is beautiful. You may not love the oboe or the cello...it is still beautiful. It is inspired. And if it is inspired, then the Lord can speak to me through it. It can dispell any worry, fear, doubt, or sorrow that may be clouding my mind, and fill it with thoughts from my Heavenly Father. Pure and simple.

gratitude...

I know, I know...everybody's doing it. Well, I am too. I like the idea of a running tally of things I am grateful for...the whole month of November. I've got some serious catching up to do. After today, I'll try to post one at the tail end of every blog post. I'm thinking it will really get me counting about all my blessings...and there are A LOT of them:

1. Grandma Bird - I have learned so much from this dear woman. She is Dave's grandma. I love her like she's mine. She is one of the kindest people I have ever known, and you know how I feel about the whole kindness thing.

2. My husband - I'll spare you the details, but he is pretty amazing. He is so supportive of me and my needs. He is patient and loving and awesome.

3. Hot water - my feet are cold today, and all I need to do is go turn a knob, blug the tub, and soak my feet to make them warm.

4. My camera - pictures, mostly of my kids, bring me A LOT of joy.

5. My sisters - my dearest friends in the entire world. I wonder if my parents knew what they were giving to each of us as they had more and more girls. They are treasures.

6. 100 Grand's - I've loved them since camp. I just can't pass one by and not have it end up in my shopping cart.

7. Walmart - I know MANY of you hate the place. Not good for small businesses. Well, they ARE good for those with small budgets. I love that I can get everything in one place and I know exactly where to find it all..with my eyes closed.

8. The Nose Frieda - Look it up online. You suck the babies snot, etc. with a hose...with your mouth. I definitely thought it was gross when it was introduced to me, but man alive...it gets the gook out...and it doesn't come anywhere NEAR your lips.

There we go. This is going to be really fun. See you tomorrow.

rescue...

I needed someone to rescue today. I'm really, really tired. Margaret is sick and not sleeping. I'm waking WAY too early and not dozing back off. I'm trying to run despite my leg pain. My head hurts just a little, all the time. I've gained a few pounds over the last 2 weeks...too many rest days and too much candy. I try to pretend that I have total control over my chocolate intake, but really...I don't.

I put Margie down for a nap at around 10. She slept for 20 minutes (after being up 4 times last night) then sat up and fussed. Her head is hot. Her nose is runny. She can hardly breathe with her pacie hogging up her whole mouth. She was done...and I was angry. Angry at my sick little baby. I had fallen asleep on the couch, but woke to her screeches. I called Dave to warn him that I just may not be able to handle things today. I lose patience fast anyhow, but when I'm tired...forget it.

Just when I thought I just may toss her out the window, I got a call from the school. It was Lizzy. She had gotten hurt at recess. She was sad and embarrassed. I kept asking her if she needed me to come get her and bring her home or if she thought she would be ok. I could tell she was sobbing on the other end. I needed to rescue her. I knew she was mostly embarrassed that kids had laughed at her when she fell. They said she needed to gain some weight. ??? I have a hard time picturing my kids nervous or sad or worried. I want to stop it. Fix it. I have had no control all day over my baby and her grouchiness, but I COULD control this. I could drive over to that school, hug my sweet, tender little girl, and bring her home with me. Something happened to my heart as I was loading the baby and Molly into the car. It softened. I am a mother. That is what I was sent to this earth to do. To nurture. To serve. To sacrifice. To teach. I REALLY needed that reminder today.

one more down...

Another Halloween has come and gone. Yipee! I am recommitting to better costumes next year...made by me. We'll see how that goes. I think we both know. This was actually a great one. Since it was on Sunday, things were all spaced out. Generally we have at least 4 things in one day which leads to a mommy meltdown. This year, the kids had a parade at school Friday morning, trick or treating at Dave's work in the afternoon and our ward trunk or treat that night. My parents happened to be in town for a tiny bit, so that sweetened the deal. GOOD food at the chili cook-off didn't hurt either. Trick or treating was on saturday, after the rain came and cooled things off a whole lot and scattered a few worms on the sidewalks. :( Christy came along both nights, which makes everything better and more manageable for me. Yay!

Molly the daisy...who everyone thought was a butterfly.

Alex the Sultan.

Margie the kangaroo.

Laura Ingalls Wilder ready to sock it to Nellie Olson!

And our delicious cupcake!

Till next year, you silly, candy filled hoilday.