Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving this week I thought about this message and how true it is that sometimes we forget how remarkable the everyday things around us are.  "The more often we see the things around us, the more they become invisible to us." 

I am so Thankful to my Heavenly Father for the many blessings he gives to me.  I feel blessed to have a family to love and be loved by.  I'm so grateful that I can be home each day with my kids, to see them grow and learn.  I am amazed by their minds and their sweet spirits full of love.  I am thankful for hugs and kisses.  I am thankful for the everyday conveniences that make life comfortable and fun: electricity, warm water, cars, microwaves, digital cameras, computers, ipods, washers, driers,...I don’t seem to appreciate these things until I don’t have them, like when the power goes out.  I’m thankful for my body and good health.  I had some dental work done last month and I had a tooth that became so sensitive and I was so worried that I would have a lifetime of toothpain.  Luckily the pain is now gone, however if I hadn’t had that pain for a few weeks, I probably wouldn’t have been grateful for my teeth and being able to eat pain free.  This example is one of many that make me grateful to God for the challenges I have faced, big or small that have taught me lessons, have let me see His hand in my life, and increased my faith.  I am grateful for Jesus Christ, His example to and sacrifice for all of us.  I’m grateful to know that He loves us and has restored His church upon the earth.  I’m thankful for movies, music, nature, and all things that uplift and inspire.  I am grateful for those who serve me and for opportunities to serve others.  I am thankful for life.

Time for a Change

Last week, Natalie and I went and got our hair cut (13” off for me, 11” for Natalie) to donate to Locks of Love. Natalie has always loved her long hair so I was actually a bit surprised that she was willing to cut it off.  She was excited to know that another little girl would be able to use it.   Just days before we went to the salon, Natalie chopped her bangs off really short (they were just starting to recover from the last time she cut them when she was pretending to be Mulan!), so we had to cut some longer bangs to cover up her super short bangs. 

Perfect Snow Day

It’s Saturday and we woke up to a fresh 3" of snow.  There's not much we have to do and so it's a perfect snow day. Jared made bread (so delicious) and we played in the snow with the kids and some of the neighbors.  It was a lot of fun. 

Here are some pictures of Halloween.  This year we all went trick-or-treating, leaving a bowl of candy on our porch with a sign to take two.  We carried Amelia part of the way, and then put her in the stroller, she’s getting heavy.  We didn’t go much further than around our block.  We took the Thomas and Natalie through our neighbor's haunted garage. Our neighbors make this spook alley each year and collect cans of food for the needy.  This was our first year through it and Thomas and Natalie were terrified!!! They were about to tears and wanted to turn around half-way through.  They are proud survivors.  Abigail had her share of screaming as well when we went next door and  the 9year old boy answered the door with a pretty scary mask on.