Thankful #7

My dad.

My dad and I have always been close. I used to love watching him coach baseball. My mom would load us kids up and we would work in the snack bar while my dad coached. That was how I spent my childhood and I felt very, very lucky. My dad taught me to love and appreciate sports, and I do! He taught me to not take the Lord's name in vain. He taught me to speak my mind... and I do! I am thankful for my dad and I love him very much.

Thankful #6

Second Chances.

I'm not sure why, but I don't learn very well the easy way. I have to have it nailed, hammered, screwed into my head over and over and over again in order to finally get it. Apparently, I like to learn the hard way. Eventually, though, I do get it. I do finally grasp the ideas that I should have gotten and lived with much earlier on. I have hurt feelings, angered people, caused my family grief, and failed my children repeatedly. I hope that I do better. I hope that I hurt fewer feelings and disappoint fewer people. I hope that I eventually make people happy and proud. I am thankful for second chances.

Thankful #5

My step-mom.

I sure never expected to have a step-mom in my life. I expected that my parents would be together forever. That didn't happen. Now, I have a step-mom and I love her. She is warm and kind and generous. She is selfless and charitable and loving. She is a great example to me of what a wife and mother ought to be. I am also so thankful that my mom and my step-mom are so civil and warm to each other. They sit by each other at family events and talk to each other and even hug one another. They are great examples to me of how we ought to act, even in really difficult circumstances. So thankful for my step-mom!

Thankful #4

My Mom.

This woman allows us to live in her home, use her appliances, destroy her yard, rearrange her rooms, eat at her table, clog her toilets, and much, much more. She gets up every morning during the school year and fixes the quorum a hot breakfast. She has helped me so much during the sports season to get boys to where they need to go - practices and games. She hugs me when I'm at the end of my rope. She lets me mow the lawn (I really like mowing the lawn.) Her house does not look like she wants it to. It's never clean, organized, completely spotless. There are always dishes to be done, laundry strewn about, stinky boys, and NOISE. I am so grateful for her. I love you, Mom.

Thankful #3

Little Miss.

I love this little girl. She has blessed our lives! She is so clever, so smart, so funny, so quirky, so in charge!, so beautiful, so creative, so brave, so vocal. She is so loved by the quorum. They would do anything for her. And, she knows it! She loves them so much. She has healed their hearts. Brooklyn is going to rule the world, pretty sure!

Thankful #2

My Quorum.

These boys are incredible boys. Jackson is an amazing 13 year old. He has blended into Junior High beautifully. He is good to everyone. He is funny and smart and brave. Braxton has been blessed with the talent of compassion and empathy. He is always trying to fix people and try to make people comfortable. Last night, he stayed up all night sitting on the chair while Jackson laid on the couch. Jackson's concussion has worsened a bit and Braxton is constantly adjusting his pillows and getting him Sprite. Kaydon is feisty. He is driven. He is tough. He is also very loving and is always saying "sorry" or "thank you" or "I love you." Colton is able to make friends with everyone. He loves life and loves to be active. He wants to be involved with everything and everyone. I am SO blessed to be a mommy and to be a mommy to these four studs. They teach me so much. They buoy me up and make me laugh when things are hard. They are so patient with my infinite mistakes. I love these guys!

A Month Full of Thankfuls!

It's November. November is a month to slow down and just be thankful. I am going to blog every single day about things/people I am thankful for. They will be in no particular order, of course, so no nasty e-mails, please! But, I do have much to be thankful for, and I want to mention them.

I am thankful for this guy. This guy is my best friend. This guy is my confidante. This guy never judges me. This guys has never, ever put me down or made me feel bad about myself. This guy makes me laugh. This guy does so many little things that are so big to me. This poor guy had the awesome experience of flying in an airplane with me for the first time. Poor guy! He was a master! He never took his hand off of me. He made sure that the windows were closed. He turned on shows on his phone for me to watch to keep my mind off of being in the air. He never got mad at me for panicking or for asking crazy questions, like, "Is the bottom of the airplane going to fall out?!" I love this guy. I am so thankful for him!