Thanksgiving Artwork

Every year we have a Family Home Evening lesson focused on gratitude. We talk about what we are thankful for, hear a spiritual message, and then draw pictures of what we are thankful for.

Here is our 2010 "I Am Thankful For" artwork:

I am so very thankful for my family and the love we have for one another. We have been blessed so much.

Gratitude Post #16: My Husband

I woke up on Thanksgiving morning feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude to my Heavenly Father for all of his many blessings, but mainly for blessing me with such a wonderful husband. Being married to Brad has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. He is an incredible partner, companion, provider, counselor, lover, and friend. I am so grateful to have him as my eternal companion. Sharing my life with him has made my life more meaningful, happy, and definitely more interesting. I admire his strength, his diligence, his perseverance, and his faith. He is a fantastic husband and father. I am so grateful to have him in my life.

Gratitude Post #15: My Parents

Today I'm grateful for my parents. My mother and father have always been the perfect example of living what they taught. They are honest, trustworthy, enduring, loving, and hardworking people. When I think of my mother, I instantly think of her selflessness. When I think of my father, I think of his high standards and friendly nature. They give me something to look up to--- to want to be more like. I'm grateful for their fine examples of parenthood.

I am very grateful for my parents.

Gratitude Post #14: My Daughter

Today I'm grateful for my beautiful daughter, Elizabeth. She means so much to me! No one else can put a smile on my face the way she can. She's my daily dose of vitamin JOY. I love the way she looks to me for comfort, entertainment, security, and knowledge. Tonight I enjoyed cradling her in my arms and kissing her sweet, tender forehead and cheeks as she settled herself on my lap. She kept looking into my face with her big, beautiful eyes, studying me, and content to have my full attention. My heart swells with love for her. Sometimes when I look at her, I feel this overwhelming sense of stewardship. She is one of Heavenly Father's beloved daughters, and He has entrusted me with her care. I am so grateful to be her earthly mother.

Gratitude Post #13: My Three "Babies"

Here's a snapshot of the three "babies" in our home. I am grateful for all three of them. They enjoy each others company, and keep each other happy and entertained. I find them very amusing to watch. They have very similar mentalities. They get into trouble together, they play together, and sometimes they have their own disagreements. All three of them like to follow me around the house, curious to see what I'm up to. If I walk downstairs to do the laundry and turn around, most likely all three "babies" will be right at my feet, staring up at me as if to say, "now what?" They keep me on my toes, and bring some comedy to my home as well.

I'm grateful for my three "babies."

Gratitude Post #12: My Faith

Today I'm grateful for my faith. It anchors my life, keeps me focused on what I feel is important, and helps me serve others better.

My parents raised me in a very Christ-centered home. They taught my sisters and me gospel principles when we were very small. We had family prayers and read scriptures regularly, we went to church every Sunday, and we had Family Home Evening every Monday night. My religion has always been a huge part of my life and has definitely contributed to who I am today.

I am very grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I know my Savior lives and loves me. I know that through the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I can repent of my sins and return to my Heavenly Father someday.

I am grateful for my faith.

Gratitude Post #11: My Sisters

Today I'm grateful for my sisters. They were always my best friends growing up, and even though we're so far apart now, they are still very dear to me. My sisters and I are very close in age. Susie and I are about 16 months apart and Rachel is three years younger than me. When we were small, my mother would often dress us up in similar dresses, sometimes even matching dresses, and ladies would regularly ask if we were triplets. We have many of the same interests, despite our personalities being so different. We like the same movies, we have the same standards, and we share the same faith. If someone were to ask me how I would define our personalities, I would say that I'm the quiet, observant, laid-back sister. I love animals, wildlife, family-life, and art. Susie is the stubborn, studious, high-motivated sister. She loves playing the piano, singing, keeping physically active, and furthering her education. Rachel is the high-energy, talkative, extrovert sister. She loves being the star of the show, having fun, and interacting with people.

I love my sisters. I'm grateful to have them in my life.

Happy 10th Birthday, EMMA!

Today is Emma's birthday. When I interviewed her yesterday, I asked her how she would describe herself. "I don't know," was her reply. I asked her what her personality was like, and again she looked baffled. "I don't know," she said again. "I guess I'm quiet." Quiet? Emma? She then asked me, "How would you describe me?"

Emma is a sweet, tenderhearted girl. She's modest, conscientious, observant, and very obedient. Emma wants to do things right the first time. If she makes a mistake, she tries to fix it right away. She wants to be a good girl and please others around her, but mainly so she can be pleased with herself. Emma wears her emotions on her sleeve. When Emma is sad, everyone around her knows. When Emma is happy, everyone around her knows. Emma gets excited about the simplest things sometimes. She finds joy in simplicity. Emma thrives on a routine and a well-structured environment. She loves having one-on-one attention with her parents and she doesn't like to compete for attention. Emma is a very good student in school, not because she's a natural wiz like her brother, but because she is a HARD WORKER. Emma cares deeply about doing well in school. She cares deeply about making her family happy.

Emma's Favorite Things:
Favorite Colors: Purple, black, green, and blue
Favorite Foods: Mushroom pizza, homemade chili, mashed potatoes, homemade Sloppy Joes, hamburgers
Favorite Animal: Cats
Favorite Movies: "Batman Animated Series," "Batman Beyond."
Favorite TV Shows: "Fetch with Ruff Ruffman," "Simpsons," "America's Funniest Home Videos."
Favorite Superheors: Batman, Batgirl, Robin, Nightwing
Favorite Characters: Catwoman, Batman superheros, Blossom the cat
Favorite Books: Babysitters Club Little Sister series, Batman comic books, Warrior series
Favorite Quotes or Sayings: "May the floss be with you!" "Give me some sugar, baby!"
Activities and Hobbies: Playing croquet, soccer, playing with cousins, Batman.
Favorite Songs: "Batman," "Kitty-Cat Man"

Gratitude Post #10: Routine

When I married Brad, I instantly found myself immersed in his world. I had stepped in a new home, a new life, and a new routine. Brad's structured routine began shortly after he gained full custody of his children in 2003. Every morning and every evening he would have family prayer with his children. He read stories, read scriptures, and sang songs to Scott and Emma every night before they went to bed. They would go to the library once a week, have Family Home Evening every Monday, and go to church on Sunday.

Now, 7 years later, the routine is still basically the same with a few minor adjustments. I'm now a part of the routine. I participate fully and pick up the slack when Brad needs some extra help.

Having a routine has blessed our lives tremendously! The children know what to expect every day. Even Lizzy knows what to expect, and she's only 17 months old. She's always enthusiastic about participating in our routine. She knows when it's time for prayer and instantly folds her arms and bows her head. At scripture time, she grabs her own little Book of Mormon, sits on the floor, and turns the pages. She knows what "grab a book" means, too, and she knows when it's time to brush her teeth. This is without ANY coaxing from us, by-the-way. She is modeling what she sees.

I'm grateful for the routine in our home. It makes our lives stable, predictable, and less complicated. I'm especially grateful for my husband who started it all. He's such a wonderful father.

Gratitude Post #9: My "Blended" Family

Family Photo in 2006

Today I'm grateful for my family. When Brad and I got married in June 2006, we immediately found ourselves faced with the challenge of learning how to become a step-family. We did not become an instant family overnight. Brad and I had to train ourselves to be partners, not only as newlyweds, but as parents raising Scott and Emma. We had to pace ourselves and keeps things slow and simple to make sure everyone felt loved and included. Luckily, Scott and Emma already loved me before I entered their family, and they were eager to have me live with them and take care of them. It certainly wasn't easy at times, and there were moments of awkwardness as we tried to define our roles. I am so grateful for the help we received from others, and for the knowledge we gained through study and prayer. We are not your average "traditional" family, but we all have a lot of love and respect for each other, and we are learning how to make things work. I know the challenges we face as a family are far from over, but I know we will get through them together and become stronger in the end.

I am grateful for my family.

Family Photo 2009

Gratitude Post #8: Shredded Pork and Wooden Fish

I will admit, shredded pork and wooden fish is a rather odd and unusual thing to be grateful for. Perhaps I should phrase it like this: "I am grateful for inspired neighbors and witty family members who say silly things." Service and laughter made the ending of our stressful week into something good.

Brad and I needed someone to do something nice for us this week. Our week was full of unpleasant events and unnecessary drama, and we were emotionally and mentally exhausted. Brad suggested that we have a prayer. We were struggling to have some peace and comfort amid the storm of drama. He prayed that the Lord would comfort us and prove Himself as He had done before. He prayed that something good would happen for us.

Today one of our lovely neighbors and fellow church members showed up with a bag of rolls and a Viva Cottage Cheese container filled with delicious homemade shredded pork. Was she inspired to do this kind act of service? I definitely believe she was! It was so nice having someone think of us and do something nice. And the pork was absolutely divine!

In the evening, Brad and I headed over to his aunt's house and we had pizza from The Pi Pizzeria for dinner. We played "Catch Phrase" with Aunt Marian, Uncle Gordan, Tricky, Christopher, Natalie, and Travis. There's something about playing with a group of fun-loving, extremely witty people that make a simple game of "Catch Phrase" into a hilarious night of laughter and fun. One of my favorite parts of the night was when Natalie was trying to get us to guess a particular food. She said:

Nat: "It swims in the tank."
Someone yelled: "FISH!"
Nat: "But it's two words! The second word is 'wood.'"
Travis: "WOODEN FISH!"
Nat: "No, no! It's a FOOD!"
Natalie was trying to get us to guess "Fish Stick."

Another funny moment was when Christopher tried to get us to guess the name of a famous protagonist:
Chris: "HIM!" Pointing to his left at Tricky.
Us: "TRICKY!" "JOHN!" "MAN!"
Chris: "HER!" Pointing to his right at Natalie.
-- we were like, what?---
Chris: "BIG EARS!"
-- oh, of course, DUMBO--
Natalie was not impressed by her brother's joke.

Gratitude Post #7: Special Moments with Scott & Emma

Scott and Emma are the two greatest bonus children I could ever imagine! They are WONDERFUL! I love spending time with them every day, even if it's just for a few minutes. Tonight I had a fun time taking pictures of them playing in the leaves outside. Scott wasn't nearly as enthusiastic about playing in the leaves this year as he used to be, and I told Emma it was because he decided to grow up and turn into a boring teenager. As the evening progressed, however, Scott let his boyish side take over, and I took some great pictures of him playing with Emma.

There are definitely challenging moments being Scott's and Emma's stepmother, but the special moments I have with them far outweigh the drama. Scott and Emma are well-behaved, lovable, respectful children, and they both have their own special bond with me. I am grateful for the way they were raised by their father and their grandmother before I came along five years ago, because it's the whole reason why they are such great kids. I love them very much, and I'm grateful for the special moments I'm privileged to share with them every day.

Gratitude Post #6: Grandpa's Quote

I had to add another post about my grandpa. He's been on my mind a lot lately, especially since I posted that blog entry about my grandparents a couple of days ago.

Brad and I have been going through a lot of stress lately. Not within our marriage or relationship, but with... ummm... outside influences you might say. If you know Brad's story or our family well, you'll probably know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, a few months ago my aunt sent me a quote my grandpa used to say, and I've faithfully put it up on my wall as a reminder when times get hard. Grandpa would always say:

"God makes all things work out for the good guys."
~David Burrows Whitcomb

Simple and short, and yet so TRUE! God will make things work out for us because we are striving to do good things. If we continue to do our part, He will help us through our trials and adversities. I am thankful for my grandfather's quote, because it truly does help me keep things in perspective. Thanks, Grandpa!

Gratitude Post #5: Utah

Today I'm grateful that I live in Utah. While I will always miss and love my home in Long Beach, I am very happy with the choice I made to live in such a beautiful, family-friendly state. I love looking out my window and seeing the tall Utah mountains. I love watching the seasons change every few months. I love going places and seeing families with children. I love all of the free places you can take your family to, and all of the wonderful parks you can spend the day at. I love how the cost of living isn't nearly as high here as in other places. I love how owning your own home is not an impossible dream. I am very grateful to be here.

Gratitude Post #4: My Grandparents

I'm very grateful for these two wonderful people:

My grandparents have been and always will be awesome role models for me to follow. I'm thankful that I knew them while they were alive, and that I learned so much from them. My grandparents taught me to look for the good in people. They taught me the importance of getting an education; that intelligence is one of the most valuable treasure you can take with you wherever you go. One of my favorite lessons they taught me was that it's possible to be "in love" with your spouse no matter how old you are, or how long you've been married, or what physical condition you or your spouse might be in. They were sweethearts for over 50 years and were as affectionate as newlyweds for most of that time. Even when my grandmother developed Alzheimers disease, my grandfather was as devoted and loving to her, if not more so, than he had ever been. When she passed away in January 2005, he only lived eight months without her.

I'm so very grateful for my grandparents' marriage, especially at this time and age when divorce rates are so high and many people have misconceptions about what true love is. Their relationship is one that I refer to as being "happily ever after." They knew what it meant to love someone and be committed to them, and to be happy with the choice they made to be together, even when hard times came. They knew how to pull through and to always love each other unconditionally.

Gratitude Post #3: Rosie

Today I'm grateful for Rosie. I appreciate having her company during the day, and for the way she makes me smile and laugh when I interact with her. She's a constant reminder of what it's like to be carefree, happy, and to find joy in the simplest things. Rosie finds great pleasure in our day-to-day routine, which helps me keep in mind that it's the simple things that really count. Her favorite thing to do is to be near someone she loves, whether it's snuggling at someone's feet or sitting beside them in the car. She's our fun-loving, loyal, clownish companion, and we are grateful to have her in our lives.

Gratitude Post #2: Connected

Today I'm grateful for online networks that help me keep in contact with family and friends who live far away. I like feeling "connected."

I'm also grateful that we have a telephone service that allows us free long distance calls, so I can talk to my parents and sisters on a regular basis without having to worry about extra costs. I feel very blessed to have these everyday conveniences in my home.

Gratitude Post #1: Cars

Today I'm very grateful for our two family vehicles. Sadly, our little Legacy is currently out of commission and may not run again for us. I am grateful we have a second vehicle to rely upon while the other can't be used. We may have to purchase another vehicle in the near future-- hopefully within the next few days. I am grateful that our finances and credit are well enough for us to replace our car without having to take out a loan or borrow money. We are truly blessed. I will miss our loyal little Legacy, but it will be neat seeing what other car we get in the near future.

The Highlight of My Day: October 2010

Something good happens each day. Here's what happened in October:

Fri 10/1/10: Today was a busy day. My biggest task was going to Sam's Club. I had a HUGE list of things I needed to buy. Luckily, I found almost everything on my list, which I hope means I won't need to go back for awhile.

Sat 10/2/10: Kaylie, Rachel, and Jessica spent the night at our house last night, and Emma had a great day playing with their cousins. My funnest moment of the day was watching the girls break out the Halloween boxes and play dress-up. Very cute!

Sun 10/3/10: I loved conference this year. My favorite talks were the ones by President Monson, President Uchtdorf, and Elder Packard. I finished crocheting my General Conference scarf right after the 4th session, and then I worked on Scott's Halloween costume during the 5th session. Keeping my hands busy helped me focus on the general authority talks.

Mon 10/4/10: I'm on Day 1 of the South Beach diet. I did perfectly! No cravings, no cheating, all good! I'm happy to be back on the wagon again.

Tues 10/5/10: I started crocheting my first hat today. It helps finding instructional videos on YouTube.

Wed 10/6/10: Emma's wig for her Halloween costume arrived in the mail today. I helped her try it on, and laughed hysterically when I saw her in it. She looked GREAT! On the side note, I finished crocheting my first hat, too!

Thu 10/7/10: Scott, Emma, Brad, Lizzy, and I had a great time playing with Emma's wig and Halloween hats. I had my camera on hand and took lots of pictures.

Fri 10/8/10: Brad was my highlight. Definitely!

Sat 10/9/10: Brad's dad took us out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner tonight. I ordered the prime rib and vegetables. Soooo good!

Sun 10/10/10: Brad and I drove up into the canyons this evening with Lizzy. We found a great place to park and walked next to the creek. It was so beautiful! Lizzy LOVED throwing rocks into the water. She did not want to stop.

Mon 10/11/10: The scale was so nice to me this morning. I lost almost 7 pounds in one week! YAY!

Tue 10/12/10: Scott and Lizzy accompanied me to Walmart this afternoon. I bought Scott a new coat for only $14, and I bought a bunch of yarn to make scarfs and hats for Christmas presents.

Wed 10/13/10: I LOVED having Brad to myself tonight. Hooray for Fall Break! My husband is the greatest!

Thu 10/14/10: Tonight was Ward Temple Night at the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Going to the temple makes me love my husband even more. I loved being there with him.

Fri 10/15/10: Had an absolutely wonderful, fantastic, spectacular evening with my Bradley! It was our first overnight date without the baby. We had a $50 gift certificate to go to Z'Tejas restaurant at the Gateway from my cousin Nick, so we headed over and had a wonderful meal! Then we went up to Uintah and used our FREE night voucher to stay at a Best Western hotel, complete with an in-room jacuzzi for two. LOVELY!

Sat 10/16/10: Brad, Tricky, and I watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" while eating lunch from Crown Burger (I had a salad). I crocheted another scarf today.

Sun 10/17/10: My crocheting skills have definitely improved! My stitches are better, and I'm a lot faster than I used to be! I finished three scarves today!

Mon 10/18/10: I enjoyed Family Home Evening tonight. It was simple. We talked about the Word of Wisdom and the importance of keeping our bodies healthy.

Tue 10/19/10: Lizzy and I went to Del Sol this morning so I could get a flu shot, then afterward we went with Brad to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch. Mmmmm!

Wed 10/20/10: Lizzy ate green beans tonight! Yay! She does not like lettuce, however. Blah!

Thu 10/21/10: Crocheting hats for Christmas! I love crocheting.

Fri 10/22/10: Brad sang in the Stake Musical Festival tonight. Lizzy liked seeing her father on stage and kept pointing at him, saying "Pa-pa."

Sat 10/23/10: Brad, Lizzy, and I went shopping at Walmart and the Church Distribution Center today. I got my mini-quad that I've wanted for awhile. It was a "half-birthday" present from Bradley.

Sun 10/24/10: I've lost 10 pounds so far this month!

Mon 10/25/10: Lizzy had a blast in the snow this morning! She had a great time stomping in the snow, picking up the snow, and eating the snow. We made a little miniature snowman together, too.

Tue 10/26/10: Tonight was our Ward Halloween Party. I had barely finished Scott's costume in time, and it looked great on him. Emma looked fantastic in her Poison Ivy costume, too, and Lizzy was absolutely adorable as a little white tiger.

Wed 10/27/10: I went shopping for outfits to use for Family Photos next week. I'm pleased with what I found!

Thu 10/28/10: I went to Emma's Halloween Parade today with Lindsey. After the Halloween Parade, Lindsey babysit Lizzy for me while I went to my doctor appointment. I was very pleased with what the doctor had to say. I'm happy and excited, and looking forward to the future!

Fri 10/29/10: We joined the Price family tonight at Andy's brother's annual Haunted House tour. Emma was completely terrified the entire time, which made it all more fun. We were entertained by poor Emma's misery.

Sat 10/30/10: Trick-Or-Treating with the cousins turned out to be a blast despite the icy cold wind and rain. Scott, Emma, and Lizzy enjoyed collecting candy and spending time with their cousins.

Sun 10/31/10: Bruce & Loralee's family came over for dinner tonight. We had yummy homemade chili, corn bread, hot dogs, chips & salsa, and pumpkin muffins.

Goodbye, Ned!

Welcome back, Brad!