A Grateful Heart - My Man

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." — Melody Beattie

I met my husband in highschool. It was a crush in the beginning. I thought he was cute... he thought I was easy to talk to. (Or simply that I made it easy for him to listen and not have to talk much.) We went to dances, watched movies together, studied for classes together and I felt good being around him. Fast forward through 2 more years of highschool, college, a mission, most of medical school, nearly 7 years of marriage and 2 children. This guy that sat one row over and two seats in front of me in English class has become a solid rock in my life. Our times together have been full of joy, romance, absolute bliss and also confusion, pain, struggle and hardship. And through it all... he has been there. Like breathing, I hardly think about his presence in my life anymore. He's just there.... keeping the oxygen moving through my body so that I can think and move and live. But today, when I take a moment to consider what I am truly grateful for.... he is right up there at the top of the list. I know this may be hard to believe but - he really loves me. Even though I "Dear Johned" him on his mission. Even though I disagree with him on many things. Even though I forget 9 times out of 10 to make him a lunch. Even though I can nag and argue with the best of them.... he loves me for exactly who I am. And that.... is the best gift anyone can receive.

So to summarize day one of my Grateful Heart project: I'm thankful for my husband.

Guess what I don't have to buy anymore.

I'm so excited. I'm jumping for joy... right now... as I type.... which is really kind of hard.

Besides...he's so cute in his little dinosaur underpants. I love it.

Smiling to Myself

When I was probably 13 or 14 years old I was walking home from a babysitting job. I didn't know that my brother was watching me as I strolled across our yard. When I reached the house my brother, with some irritation questioned me. "Why are you smiling?"

"I don't know." I said. "I was thinking about something funny."

"Well" he responded, "don't smile when you're all alone... it makes you look like you're crazy."

Maybe that was good advice.... but then again maybe I am CRAZY, because I still sometimes find myself with a big goofy grin.... even when I'm alone.
This is what made me smile today:


All of these library books I'd requested came in at once and I got to pick up a ginormous stack of books. And a large stack of books just gives me a warm happy feeling inside. Just seeing them sit on my bookshelf makes me smile.

This also makes me smile. Yes..... Andrew is learning to use the big boy potty and it makes me very very happy.
Beef jerky makes me smile. I have some downstairs that I could go eat right now if I wanted to. Oh... my mouth is watering... and smiling.

So.... What makes you smile?

One Year Older

On my birthday I woke up to the smell of sizzling bacon. I love the smell of sizzling bacon. Even more, though, I love the man who was exausted, having arrived late that night from an interview in Michigan and had an early morning of work ahead and still woke up even earlier to make me breakfast on my birthday. What more could I ask for? Nothing. I was fully satisfied.

And then... there was one more thing to make the day unforgettable.

Thanks Mom and Nancy. I can't wait to learn how to use this thing. My list of projects is already ridiculously long. What fun!!!

What a Life

I am now entering into my 30th year of life. I think I've had a pretty awesome life. This was a fun list that my friend Rachel posted and so I decided to evaluate my 29 years as well. The things in red I have done and the things in black I haven't.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (Rock Band Baby!)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped (I have no desire to fulfill that one)
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (sort of)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort- (I've built many a snow fort)
25. Held a lamb (I've petted one)
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (Thanks PartyTime)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (I am counting the Killer Dog movie my siblings and I made about 15 years ago)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check...live and learn right?!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt (okay it was a wall quilt ... but...)
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job...
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London (I've seen it at Arlington)
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (My own photo book.)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (does it have to be consecutive?!)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby (x2)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100.Visited Italy
What have you done?!

Winter Wonderland

I'm not sure I was prepared for a snowstorm of this magnitude quite yet. Freezing cold winters in Utah can be daunting. But even the worst critic will admit that there is something magical about waking up to find that the world has changed while you were sleeping.

I don't know where we will be living by this time next year... or the following year, but I hope to be in a place where I can watch the seasons change. Because if not I know I would miss....

Cuddling up in bed together and watching the snow fall. Bundling the kids up in their snow gear.... Watching them play in the snow..... catching snowflakes on their tongues and making snow angels.

Warming them up afterward with big fluffly blankets and drinking hot chocolate.....

As long as I can stay warm and cozy inside... I think I love the snow.... atleast for awhile.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween from all of us!!!