My Wondrous Weekend

Friday I was thankful that I had made dinner enough times during the week that we had leftovers. That made it so I could take that time practicing for my part in a missionary activity.  I was also super thankful to have a couple of nice ladies texting me to see if I needed help, and to distract me from being nervous.

Connor helped lead a group of people around on Friday night at the activity, and helped out Saturday morning without complaining.  Jake was his Dad's working buddy on Saturday and Derek said he did a really good job.  Dan was a little hyper Friday night, but I liked that he volunteered to say a prayer, and was disappointed not to be chosen.

Saturday there was some cheer leader fun with my new puppet.  I got her out and was making up silly cheers for Connor while he ate breakfast.  Dan wanted a turn and had found one of my "cheers" hilarious and so he was the cheerleader saying over and over, "If you won't cheer lead with us, then you should get back on the bus".  It was a variation of what I  had done, and I thought it was funny that he thought it was so clever.

Photo by Dan

I had said that maybe we could do a show where the cheerleader tries to teach the princess to cheer, and the princess keeps goofing, but I couldn't be both the cheerleader and the princess.  Dan said he'd be the cheerleader.  We haven't actually done that yet, but here is Dan with the cheerleader.

Sunday I was thankful for a few things, among them were a nap, and choir practice.  Today, I'm thankful for the energy to be cheerful -- so far :-)

Happy Parts of My Day

Today I got to go to the Provo Temple.  This is the temple I have been able to attend the most, and I love it because of the peace, and gratitude that I find there.  I love it for the chance it gives me to share the ordinances I love with my family who have gone before, and who have not had the chance to know the Savior, or the gospel that means so much to me.  I am thankful for temples.

This is what the temple looked like when I went in summer.
This picture is from Google Images

When I got home from the temple I found a happy surprise.  A gift from my fiend, sitting on my porch, with one of the nicest notes I have ever received.  Meet my new puppet friend, picked because she reminded my friend of me.  I always thought I'd like being a cheer leader!  Go team!

My new puppet friend.  Isn't she cute?
 I should remove the tag though.

The funny things is, on my way home today I was thinking about what one word goal I should pick for next year and I thought, "Maybe I could just pick Encouraging, and try to be even more encouraging than usual."  My friend is very encouraging.  I am thankful for her.

Sunshine Through the Window

Google images -- not my house

Right this very minute I am thankful for sunshine through the window.  It's cold outside, but the sunshine is cheerful, and I enjoy cheerful.

A Quick List

Picture quote from Google Images

I haven't exactly listed what I've been thankful for these last few days.  Here's a quick list that covers Friday, through today.

1.  A date with Derek
2.  A relaxing evening with control of the remote (to the television)
3.  New challenging flute music with a cd that has an accompaniment (FUN!)
4.  Amazon (easy Christmas shopping)
5.  Thoughtful Family
6.  Parent's in law who live close enough to help if I need it, and who are willing.
7.  Dixie (a friend who does my hair for me and listens too!)
8.  Everyone in the family who attends school actually going to school
9.  Fun stories from Tia
10.  Seeing Erin (Derek's sister) and Dylan and Elena at the store.  Fun for me!
11.  Talking to my Kayli
12.  Cheerful Music
13.  A cheerful Jake to practice violin with.
14.  Good ideas
15.  Computers -- to connect to family and write things down -- without using a pen

Some days it is easier to find things to be grateful for than other days -- but there always is something!

Cousins!

My cousin Mike posted on facebook yesterday in memory of our cousin Gene Raymond, who was a good friend to Mike, and who passed away 35 years ago when he was young.  Mike was just reminding us to tell those cousins we love how we feel, because we never know what tomorrow brings.

A young Gene Raymond.  He was older than this when he passed away.  I think he was about 16.
I got this from his sister Juli's facebook post. 

I am thankful to have been blessed with many, many more cousins than most people have.  When I was young I spent a lot of time at my Grandma Fuller's house with cousins.  That was a happy time!  My parents always spent the time and money to drive us across the country almost every year to see the Kentucky cousins too.  Mike is one of those.

Mike and his daughter Brittany
I got this picture from his facebook pics

Here are just a few of my cousins and why I am thankful for them:

I'm thankful for Mike because, of the KY cousins, he communicates with me the most and is a good example of someone who knows the importance of family.  I chatted with him for a short while on facebook last night.  That was nice.

My cousin Juli (the Juli from KY) has become my friend on facebook and is always very thoughtful and kind.  She shares my songs and makes me feel good about me.

Juli and her son
Taken from her facebook pics

My cousin Julie -- not from KY -- was my good friend for many years.  She made a big difference in my life.  We had such fun adventures together!  My face usually hurts from smiling if I get to spend time with Julie.

My cousins Deanne, Rose Ann, Melissa, Julie, and Cristy
This is from Julie's facebook pics.

When I was young, we stayed at Grandma's and we were, as we often did, sleeping on the lawn.  It rained in the night, and my cousin Doug carried me in.  I looked up to him, and thought of him as my tall cousin.  It was a bit of a shock to me when, after I hadn't seen him in years, I saw him and discovered that he is't really 6 feet tall like I imagined!  Still, he has been good to me.  He is a veteran who served in Afghanistan, and he took the time to write to me while he was there.  He has invited me to his kids' wedding receptions and sent me Christmas letters and I love him for it.

This is a kind of old picture of my cousin Dale's wedding.  Doug is at the top in the middle.  Not the one with glasses, that's Glade.  I got this from my cousin Tonya's facebook pics.  Facebook is a useful picture stealing resource.

I have lots of cousins I could mention but I think I will end with my cousins David and Danny.  I have sometimes wondered why, when I really haven't spent time with them for years, and when so many good and bad life events have come and gone without us being together, that I still love them so much.  I think it is because when I was a teenager, younger than them and not feeling very beautiful, or interesting, they were still my friends.  They did not ignore me, they danced with me, did things with me, and when I went to college they came to visit me, and took me for rides on their motorcycles.  When I didn't feel important on my own, I felt important to them.

David getting to be a Grandpa
I got this picture from his wife Rande's facebook pics.  I hadn't seen it before.
I love it!

Cousins have been, and are, a great blessing in my life.  I love having so many people who care about me just because I am related to them!  I love them for the good things they do, and for the good things they have done in the past.  I love them because they are mine.  I am thankful for cousins.

Soup, Energy, and a Pretty Van

Google image.  My soup had no carrots (we were out) or noodles
or green specks.

On Tuesday I decided to make some soup with the things I had on hand.  I used canned chicken, and canned broth, green onions, and some garden potatoes and tomatoes, and some seasoning stuff (technical name for spices).  It really wasn't anything special, except I thought it turned out surprisingly well considering my celery was brown and limp, so I threw it away.  I was thankful I liked it, but more thankful that Dan did!  He had three helpings while exclaiming over and over that it was delicious, and one of only four soups he likes (I have no idea what the other three are).

I am perhaps more thankful for that because my children take after me, and are a bit on the picky side. It's a lot more normal to hear "Ewww", or "Oh darn, not that!" or something along those lines than to hear exclamations of joy -- and for the record, my cooking is not that bad!  I gave my Mom so much trouble over food that I'm pretty sure I don't deserve anything but the "Ewww" comments (or frowns) I get, but it sure is nice when a complement comes my way!

Wednesday Jake was home sick again and I was really thankful to wake up feeling better myself.  I didn't have a headache all day long, and I woke up with a plan for handling a day with Jake.  The day went quite well, and then, when I was tired, I didn't end up having to go to a cold, outside meeting after all.  Hooray for so many tender mercies in one day!

Finally, today we got our white van back.  In June I was rear ended, and though the person who hit me was driving a car that was insured, and the police report clearly put her at fault, the insurance company fought paying for it. (For the record she was really nice, and it was an accident.  Those things happen).  Finally, at the end of October things were worked out, and today the van's bumper looks lovely and new.  My pretty van is pretty again and I don't have to call that insurance company back any more and try to convince them to be reasonable!

This is not my van, but it looks a lot the same.
The collision company even cleaned the inside for me.
Awesome.

Dan Says....

...When I was at Travis' house I watched all of the seasons of Scooby-Doo.  I am awesome!

Hanna-Barbera's Scooby.  Image from Google

The Travis Dan is talking about is his brother-in-law.  I am thankful that Dan still says things that make us all chuckle. We are glad to know it's not as hard to be awesome as we thought!  All we have to do is watch all of the seasons of Scooby-Doo!

When the Clouds Roll In

It is a good time to be thankful for fireplaces, and warm houses, and all of the comforts of home.

Connor and Jake were home not feeling well today.  Derek went back to work even though he's not 100 percent better.  And I am still stuffy and tired.  Still, I was thinking today as I drove home from the store, that this is a good time to be sick.  By that I mean that we have a comfortable house, more than adequate blankets and pillows, medicine to help us feel better, and entertainment at our fingertips. We aren't pioneers having to get up and plod along in a feverish state.  Even when I have to go to the store I get to drive -- and I have seat warmers!  I love those seat warmers!  True, being sick is still not fun, but it could be a LOT worse, and I am very grateful that it isn't.

Daily Bread

Today I am thankful that we got to see Kayli a little bit this weekend.  She was in town for less than 24 hours, and at our house mostly to sleep, but she makes beautiful music when she is awake and is kind, and thoughtful, and fun to be with.

I was thankful that Derek walked Jake home from church early when Jake wasn't feeling well, because it sounded like a long walk to me at the time.  It might have seemed like a longer walk to Derek than to me since he still has his cold too, but he did it anyway.  I am also thankful that, when Jake was feeling better, Derek helped him make bread while I took a long nap.

Finally, I am thankful that we could eat that bread with our dinner while Dan exclaimed about Jake making the best bread he has ever had.  I decided not to be offended even though Dan has eaten my homemade bread before.  The bread was good, and Dan really loves his big brother Jake.

Catching Up

I just remembered that I had planned on writing what I was thankful for every day.  Sometimes things come up, like terrible colds, or pounding headaches, or even nice surprises like phone calls, to mess up the reporting part.  Here's to catching up!

Thursday I was thankful for school counselors and teachers who care about my kids, and try to help them if they are having a hard time.  Helping my kids helps me!

Thursday I was also thankful for a chance to visit with my long time friend Shannon.  I always enjoy time with Shannon.

Dave and Shannon:  I saw him too since I went to their work to pick up Shannon.
This picture was "borrowed" from facebook 

Thursday evening I was thankful for the chance to skip to pack night with Dan.  I don't figure he'll be willing to skip with me much when he gets older, and it was his idea this time.

Friday I was thankful that Tia was able to take a friend and go help my parents move into their new place in St. George.  Since we couldn't be there, it was good to have a cheerful representative and her friend whose big muscles were very helpful.

Today I was thankful to feel well enough to be able to enjoy Super Saturday (a craft activity at church) all morning.  Derek, Connor and I have had awful colds the last couple of days, and mine waited until I got home to hit me again.  We're getting better though, and that is something to feel thankful for!

Tuesday and Wednesday's Thankful Things

Here's what I have been thankful for the last couple of days:

Tuesday I felt thankful to live in a country where we get a say in what happens and who leads.  I was also thankful to go to the polls and find so many friends there exercising their right to vote.  It reminded me that I am blessed to associate with many good people.

My polling place was at our elementary school and was a little, really warm (by afternoon) room
This is not my polling place.  I didn't really take a camera with me.

Tuesday evening I was thankful for music, and particularly for the way good music affects me.  I was able to play my flute for a while, and it helped me to feel less stress and more peace -- not that I have much to be stressed over -- it was late in the day and I create my own stress at night time!

Wednesday morning I was feeling thankful for my girls, and their gift for listening.  I called Trisa and she chatted with me, and helped me feel more ready to meet the day.  I could have called Kayli or Tia too and they would have been happy to listen and to chat.

I need to get pictures of my girls together!  Tia is probably feeling like her Harry Potter pose is stalking her!  Sorry Tia!

I was also thankful for my friend Michele who called.  I had been missing her, and was glad she called to talk to me.

This is Michele.  She's great.  I'm sure she totally won't mind that I stole her picture from facebook!

Wednesday I picked up Connor from school and went up to Garland to help my parents who were loading up a moving truck for their move to St. George.  I was thankful for Connor and his willingness to load heavy food storage as fast as he could so that my Dad wouldn't have to.  I was thankful to visit with my Mom, and to have them both feeling happy to move to St. George.  I was also thankful for safe travel, and for Connor's company as I drove.

This is not their truck, but it kind of looks like it.  You should have seen how tightly packed it was!

I am thankful for a lot of things today (Thursday) too, but this post is clearly labeled "Tuesday and Wednesday's Thankful Things", and so I'll wait until tomorrow!

The Thankful Turkey

I do not know that any of my kids are big fans of eating turkey.  It can be tolerated.  But they don't mind a good "thankful turkey".  Each year we make a turkey, and put feathers on him that all say something we are thankful for.  Here's our lopsided turkey.  We'll write on more feathers as the days go by and he'll start to look less like a half plucked gobbler.

This turkey looks a bit timid!

Yesterday for family home evening we had a lesson on Gratitude.  One of our activities was a treasure hunt of things that I like.  I thought it was funny when the boys read something like "I have lots of keys that don't open anything".  They ran to where we keep the keys to the cars and such.  It took a bit of a hint from Derek before they took off for the piano.

We made the thankful turkey next.  Dan wasn't feeling up to writing his five feathers, but he plans on putting "Bearry" the big bear on one.  I think it's funny that Connor is thankful for "Play Station 4" even though we don't have one.  He was also thankful for bacon, pandas, music, blankets and pillows, and food, "especially bread bowls".  (Guess what we had for dinner?)  

I was thankful for Derek's amused look (which he gets when he thinks he's been funny), my sword, and my princess puppet, along with the more usual things of music and my family.  Jake is thankful for family, animals, friends, exercise balls, and legos.  And Derek is thankful for "Chewy's People, Cedar's Hair Artist, Girl From Snow,  My very own Precious, and My Awesome Ninjas."

Here's one of Derek's ninjas.  Dan in his Halloween Ninja costume.

I am thankful for a tradition that helps us not to turn into ungrateful turkeys!

I'm Thankful For....

...a lot of people, and a lot of things.  But here are some things from this past weekend that I am thankful for.

...my boys and Connor's friends who did a lot of work in our yard the last two Saturdays.  It was especially nice that they helped this week because Derek rolled his ankle and was sitting on the couch with his leg propped up, or alternately, with his ankle being down in freezing cold water, all the while wishing he could be helping get things done.

This is the Saturday before last -- before Derek hurt his ankle.

...my children's 61 cousins.  They are friends that my kids love, and are loved by, pretty much from birth!  Saturday Dan got to go to his cousin Noelle's party.  The other guests were all cousins too. What a blessing to have cousins nearby!

...Derek, who limped around to go on a date with me, and who shared his testimony of our Savior and the gospel on Sunday.  Since I love Derek, and Jesus, and the good news of the gospel, what could be better?

...Dan, who got sick on Sunday, and has been really sweet to have around.  Another thing I love about Dan is that he cares about others.  A week or two ago a girl in Dan's school class broke her collar bone.  I love that a couple of days in a row he prayed that Alexis' collar bone would heal quickly.

...Kayli who was home and was busy chatting with, and trying to be helpful to her friends.  I also love to watch her with her brothers.  I love that my children are friends with each other.  That is a great thing.

Kayli at her college home with her roommate Maddie.  Aren't they beautiful?

...And finally, my Sister Jenny, and my nephew Seth, who came late Sunday night.  It is always so good to have a chance to see them, even if it is for a few minutes before bed, and a few minutes after waking up!