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If i ever have a bad day and need a smile....

Thanks week 3

These are all simple things I am grateful for but I know I take them for granted most the time.  A while ago the country of Haiti had an awful earthquake.  The whole country was displaced, homeless, dirty and hungry.  When I watched the news that showed up close what these people were living like after the earthquake my heart broke for them.  They were without the most basic of needs.  I think about these people every so often. So even though these things are simple- I know there are others that would give anything to have them.

Nov 15- Hot showers and hot baths
Nov 16- Electricity
Nov 17- A soft bed
Nov 18- Grocery stores
Nov 19- Shoes
Nov 20- Vehicle
Nov 21- The ability to see, hear, taste, touch and smell, walk
Nov 22- Washer and Dryer
Nov 23- A full wardrobe
Nov 24- Food in the fridge and cupboards
Nov 25- Toys for my kids

Ella

 

Cute shorts?  Well, they are Parkers church pants.  Yes, my almost 8 year old has the same sized waist as my 1 year old.  A little of Ella being tiny and a little of Parker being big. 

 

 

Ella and her dad had the best date ever.  They went with Grandpa Alley and Uncle Mikey to a Jazz game!  Ella has been wanting to start playing on a basketball team for awhile.  So she LOVED the game.  Dustin said she talked the entire game and asked a billion questions about every single thing that was going on. Now she knows all about the game, she is ready to play.
She also has a small little crush on Gordon Hayward......

I don't like this

Dustin talked me into putting on my wedding dress.  It is the first time since the actuall day that I have put it on.  No pictures taken :)  But then I told Ella that I remember putting on my moms wedding dress when I was little. So she tried mine on.  One day, these are going on her wedding video!  But for now, I don't know if I like seeing her like this.

Thanks week 2

Nov 8- I am grateful for my Ella.  I am grateful for the almost 8 years she has been a part of our family.  Ella is everything that everyone should be; all the christlike attirubutes that would made the world a better place.  I have loved watching her grow up and I would do anything for her.

Nov 9- I am also grateful for my Parker.  I cannot look at him and not smile.  He is so special.  The past year has been amazing with him;  it feels like he has been with us forever.  He is the sweetest little thing.

Nov 10- I am grateful for my testimony.  It is what gives me hope, it is what gets me through trials, it is what brings me joy.  My testimony all stems from one thing that I know for sure; that the Savior lives. 

Nov 11- I am grateful for all the experiences I have had that have stregnthed that testimony.  It seems to grow little by little until something big happens in my life.  I always thought it was corny to say that you are grateful for trials.  Until I had those trials and saw how much they changed my life for the better and strengthened my relationship with my Savior and Heavenly Father.  Every heartache I have ever felt has been competely worth it to get me where I am today.

Nov 12- I am grateful for modern medicine and how far the knoweledge of medicine has come- for friends and family members that can benefit from new technology.  I am grateful for vaccines that save my kids from some awful problems.  Also, I definately can not fathom going through labor and childbirth as it would have been 100 years ago!

Nov 13- I am grateful for good friends.  I had good friends all growing up and through highschool.  They never peer pressured me into anything that was wrong.  We kept each other good.  I also have wonderful friends now that let me have fun when I need grown up time.  This group of friends is also a wondeful support system of ladies in the same situation and time of life as I am in.

Nov 14- I am grateful for music.  Our home always has music playing.  It helps me get motived to work and clean and at times to relax.  Me and the kids love dancing around the house to music.  I love making my own music on the piano and I hope my kids will love to do the same.

Thanks

Yes, I am grateful for so many things.  But I never take the time to sit and think about a lot of them and I especially never take the time to write them all down.

Everyday this month I am going to be thankful for something- because there really are so many things!  I will post one week at at time and these are in no way in any particular order!!

Nov 1- I am so grateful for the right to vote.  Dustin and I went a few days ago and voted early. We have a feeling about how this election is going to turn out, and really, living where I do does my vote really count?  BUT, we are one of the few places on the earth where we have a say and the freedom to choose.  I just finished reading a book about George Washington.  I think that is why I was so excited to vote this year because I learned so many thing about how this country came to be, how much sacrifice was involved in obtaining freedom and I learned so much about what it really means to have a say in the direction of our country.  Our country's independence came to be because of many miracles and direction from the Lord.  It is a wonderful place to live.

Nov 2-  I am grateful for our jobs.  There are so many without jobs and we have been really blessed to both have good steady work.  I complain sometimes to Dustin (sometimes a lot) about working.  Sometimes my job really stresses me out, sometimes to tears.  But I love it.  I am happy that I can work in an area that I enjoy and that I am good at. The fact that I can work completely from home is one of the greatest blessings our family has recieved.

Nov 3- I am grateful for our home.  It took us many years, a lot of sacrificing, and a LOT of patience to finally own our own home.  Since we bought our house, I have loved every single minute of it.  Our home is perfect for us.  I love our neighborhood, I love our ward, I love the valley we live in.  We have a peaceful feeling with where we are and I know this exact spot is where we are supposed to be right now.

Nov 4-  I am grateful for my health.  I am grateful that I have a strong body and strong mind.  I am also grateful for the health of my husband and kids.  My kids are full of energy with healthy bodies and they are both really smart with healthy minds. 

Nov 5-  I am grateful for my education.  Graduating from college was one of my biggest goals in life.  It was not easy.  There were times when I wanted to give up.  (Luckily my husband never let me)  It took so much time and money, was tiring and stressful.  But I loved learning more and more and I am so proud of myself for acccomplishing that goal. 

****I just heard about a 15 year old in Pakistan that was shot in the head.  Why?  She was an activist and an outspoken advocate for education for girls.  So she was shot.  That is disgusting.  I am grateful that I had every option in the world available to me concerning my education.

Nov 6- I am grateful for my mom.  Neither her nor I have any sisters.  That gave us a bond that I think we otherwise might not have had if we did have sisters.  We had to rely on each other for those sisterly things.  My mom got pregnant with me her first semester of college and she never went back.  From that moment on she put everything else in her life on hold.  She stayed home with her kids when we were young.  Now that I know first hand how hard it is sometimes to be a mom, I love her so much for her sacrifice.  And she had double the kids I do! 

Nov 7- I am grateful for our prophet.  Last night our family was disappointed in the outcome of the election.  It was not the path we wanted for our country.  However, our true leader and president did not change.  President Monson is still the leader that we trust, follow and love.  He leads by inspiration and knowing that I feel completely confidant in the direction he takes us. We love him so much!