Giving Thanks

Today I gave my first sharing time in Primary. It's funny how those sweet children can be so intimidating. On a casual situation, I am so comfortable with kids, but it must be something about standing up there and actually having all the focus on myself (which I despise, I am so not a look at me type of chick) that pretty much makes me nervous. Anyway, it went well and I feel like the children responded well and learned from me, which is all that matters. Of course it was about giving thanks, but instead of the huge list I could have rambled off for hours of what I am thankful for, I focused on the #1 thing in the world I give thanks to me Heavenly Father for daily, that being my testimony. How scary a world not to have that. I love having the knowledge of what's to come, of what I should be doing, of things to stay away from, what comfort I have in my soul just knowing these things. I'm not saying I'm doing a perfect job of living with this knowledge, but it makes me feel good just knowing and trying.

This next week will be crazy busy for me, and although I would love to post everyday about random things, I will refrain and just post today for the week to come. I have so much to be grateful for. My "cornucopia" is over-flowing and I love my life. (I used a cornucopia for sharing time). My list of Thanks will be so very small in comparison to all my thanks, but I will just give a short version of my Bible sized book of blessings.

I am so thankful for my home. I love my house, this city, country and world I live in, I wouldn't change it for anything.

I am eternally grateful for my parents. The best on earth! They would do anything for me, and always have. My Dad is a friend to everyone (which scared us on several occasions as kids!) and is always trying his best to make me happy. He is definatley a "pleaser" which is where I get my in-ability to say no to anyone (thanks for that one Dad!) He is as freindly as they come and we usually chew him out for this trait, but I know he will be blessed for his need to talk to everyone anywhere. My Mom is a friend to few, but a best to me. I don't mean she is unkind to anyone, she just hasn't ever needed to have girlfriends, she is best friends with her kids, her Mom and her sisters. She is all about her family and has never needed to venture out of the home to feel like she is needed in the world. She would do anything any of us ever asked of her and has always puts her family first. They are both amazing confidants and that is probably why we all live within 15 minutes of them (5 kids,) we would "die" if we lived far from our Mommy and Daddy!

My own children and my husband are my world. I have the best partner on the planet. He supports me in all I do and never bats and eye. We have an amazing relationship that gets better with every breath. I love him dearly. My children are the coolest kids ever! They are beautiful and good and are true examples to me daily. (On occasion Ashton is the wrong example, but none the less, he is an example!) Our family is an example of true love, and I can not even fathom my life with out one of them. I am also thankful for awesome sisters and brother. They are the best and I love them all so much. I am so grateful they are all still my friends after my teenage years and my not so sweet treatement of them. They are also best friends to me.

I am thankful for my body. As unattractive as it may be, I give thanks daily for it. Touching my Jourdan's soft skin, smelling a fresh cut pine tree, tasting a juicy piece of watermelon, seeing my Ashton's contagious grin. I treasure the things my body does for my soul. I love being able to walk, to lie down in my bed and sleep well, to cook dinner with my hands and feed my family. I am so grateful for the things that most of us take for granted, most of the time. Sometimes I just stop and think of little things and give thanks to Heavenly Father for them.

I am most of the time, the most grateful for the things I "don't" have. I am a worry-er by nature. I have worried my entire life about needless issue that I'm sure have taken several years off my life and have given me a few unwanted wrinkles. I have gotten better in that past few years and I try to look at the eternal prospective more, but you really can't change yourself and your deep core issues. I am often aware of the trials and misfortunes that God has so graciously not placed on my plate. Maybe at a later point, I will be faced with them, but for now, I am so thankful for the lack of these in my life. So many people deal with so much anguish.

I seem to be getting a bit long-winded on my short version, so I will end there. But just know that I could go on for hours and type for days the thing I am grateful for. I love life, I love my lot in life, I love you all and I am thankful for my never-ending blessings. I feel like I should end as I would at the pulpit, but I guess I won't, that would be awkward and if you know me well, I am NOT thankful for awkward!

Premature Celebration?

I know it is a "sore" subject of the blogging community, but like I said on my last post-I'm selfish! Most people, I have found don't like to listen to others blog music. I myself enjoy others choice of tunes and look forward to hearing what they are listening to in that period of their life. I personally put music on my play list that I want to listen to when I am reading and posting. With that said, I am prematurely changing my tunes to Christmas music! I know, the wrath of the "pre-Thanksgiving celebration haters" unite against me!! Truthfully, I have been listening to these tasty tidbits in my car for several weeks now, thanks to that cool station that starts on Halloween night with the jingly stuff. I get such a happy and spirited feeling when I hear Christmas music, I feel sad on the 26th that it is another year away. It is a huge part of my holiday's and it truly makes me happier or lifts my spirits no matter what is happening around me. So buck up everyone and enjoy, or hit mute and curse me as you read. Merry Christmas!

I'm Looking Kind of Selfish!

I just realized that my past several posts have been about me. What a jerk I am! My kids are my life and maybe that's why when I sit down with this computer I go to selfish mode, but really, believe me, they are still here, lurking in my shadow every moment of my day. I really wouldn't have it any other way, I love them all so much, they are so full of life and energy. I can't get my Ashton to be quiet for two seconds. Wow is he ever loud and squeely (I think that word doesn't exist, but it fits him perfectly, so I am using it anyway!) Shae is on the edge of little girl and tween- aagh! Jourden is still my very close shadow and is getting to be pretty hilarious with what he says. I have neglected to post any pics of them on Halloween, and we had Halloween at our house for a full week. Shae wore her costume 5 times and it just so happens to be the cheapest costume she has had in her 10 years of life, funny how that works huh? We had an awesome holiday and really enjoyed ourselves.

Cutest Lion Ever!-Jourden

Toughest Ninja on the Planet!-Ashton

Creepiest Dead Bride Around-Shae(I know it's hard to make such a pretty face creepy)



Geoff and I even dressed up this year and went to a "grown-up" party, our friends are so fun.
Anyway, I guess it's better late than never, so enjoy the pictures. I dyed my own contacts and saw red all night, yes I am crazy, and no I didn't know if I would be blind in the morning, but it looked cool!

Deadwood Saloon

Murder at the Deadwood Saloon

Henrietta High-Stakes and El Guapo

The Gang-Everyone looked SO good!

Marshal Dalton questions Billy-The-Bartender, Montgomery Money and Banker Bob

Murder, Mystery and Mayhem at our house! We hosted a murder Mystery party Saturday that was so DARN fun. Geoff and I have been planning and ordering and plotting and scheming for nearly 2 months now and we finally had the big Shindig. It turned out to be more than we expected and we were so pleased with all of our family and friends amazing costumes. Everyone went above and beyond my expectations and made our night unforgettable. We had good food, good laughs and a rootin'-tootin' good time. My house was transformed into the Deadwood Saloon and I must admit, it looked really authentic. Although I was pretty worried about it starting fire because of all the oil lamps and candles I had lit! I ended up having to play two characters because of last minute cancellations, so it kind of made things to difficult to really get into playing the game, but I did win best dressed and I credit that to my awesome wig-so great! Geoff was dressing as El Guapo because we had 21 people for a 20 person party so we added a dirty Mexican bandit to the guest list, but again at the last minute, he had to play the Saloon owner and looked a little out of character, non the less, he looked hilarious. We have the best family ever and my cousin and his wife drove from Ogden to come and Geoff's brother and sis-in-law came from Provo, my three sisters and their husbands, my brother, two of my cousins, and two couples of good friends rounded out the Saloon patrons. There was some great acting going on, lying, cheating and stealing (good job Ryder) and of the 19 of us there, only my Sis Traci was up on her detective skills and won the Smokin' Gun award. I had some old time player piano music downloaded and we all drank from mugs and "beer" bottles (root of course). Geoff had an old time camera under the black cloak an took old time photos. The night turned out perfect and it was worth all the time we put in. Thanks Y'all for makin' it such a hootin' hollerin' good time.

SO Busy!!

I don't think I have ever been this busy in my life. Whoa, the past few weeks, probably about 3 maybe even 4, have been absolute craziness for me. It is still going I must add, I feel like laying in bed ALL day and zoning out everything that must be done. This chaos all came before I was called to be the Primary president last Sunday- yeah I know, believe it! So now I will have crazy all the time. I am really excited, and I LOVE working with kids, they are so much easier to feel comfortable around compared to scary grown-ups. I know life will continue to be chaotic for at least 3 more months, then hopefully something will happen and time will maybe slow down about 10 light years. I still love to blog and read, so I plan to keep it up as much as before, but I guess we'll see. This isn't good-bye, just maybe see ya later, later than I wish!

Child of the 80's

This quiz was totally rad! What really freaked me out was I truly got 100%. I must admit, the 80's were like the coolest decade ever! I saw an exact replica of some acid was jeans in Target the other day. Exactly the same down to the three buttons on the bottom of the tight leg-sweet! Nothing comes close to those awesome synthetic beats from high-tech keyboard. Nothing compares to the music of the 80's. Good Times, Good Times!

You Are 100% A Child of the 80s

There's hardly a moment of the 80s that you missed out on. Was there ever a better decade? As if!

Are You a Child of an 80s?