November 4, 2012

Day 4....
Today I am grateful that my 16 year old daughter's scriptures look like this...

They are marked. They are worn. They are well used each and every day. She knows them. She understands them... and understands that as she faces new challenges in her life that the same scriptures will take on a new and deeper meaning for her. She turns to them when she has questions or concerns because she KNOWS she will find the answers she is seeking. She carries them with her to school every single day and isn't afraid to pull them out and read them. In math class.

November 3, 2012

Day 3:  Today I am grateful for Dan's job. I can't believe we didn't realize this yesterday... but this morning it dawned on us that yesterday was Dan's 20 year anniversary at Metro Group. It is so unusual these days for anyone to stay at their job long term... but he has. It has been an incredible blessing for our family, and the owner, Mark, is the person outside of our family that Dan would consider his best friend. We have traveled together, played together, they have worked very hard together... and 20 years later the company they have built is incredible. I am so grateful for Mark's generosity. I am grateful that I can be a stay at home mom and that we can still do so many of the things we love to do. I am grateful that Metro has survived the last four years and continues to grow and prosper. I am grateful that because of Dan's hard work he went from a "buyer" on the dock... to the Vice President, Officer of the company, and a beautiful new corner office in the facility he designed. It has been an incredible journey... and as we have reflected today over what the company has become in 20 years... we can't help but wonder where it will be in 20 years from now. We are so blessed.

November 2, 2012

Day 2: Today I am grateful for good health. Not even perfect health... because really, who has that? With what we have endured the last 3 months or so, I have gained a greater appreciation for being healthy.
**First, in January having my incredibly healthy mother in the ICU for so long with blood clots in both lungs. It was terrifying to think what could have happened had she not gotten to the hospital when she did. That experience did a number on me... mostly because she is the LAST person I expected to end up in the hospital. (I am grateful she can run 6 miles... and that she is here to be the incredible grandma that she is to our girls!!!)
**Second, losing my father-in-law in August... it was so horrible to watch him as his health deteriorated and he could no longer do the things he loved to do. We miss him terribly and don't look forward to what the holidays will feel like without him. (I am beyond grateful that we spent the precious time we did with him the weekend before he passed. I am grateful he got to see McKenna catch her first fish on a fly rod. I am grateful he was able to catch his last. I am grateful for no regrets.)
**Third, my grandma having a stroke and several other mini-strokes in August. More expected than the other events based on her age... but still alarming. (I am grateful I was able to help take her to some doctors appointments... and that she is improving!)
**Fourth, my Dad's 2 weeks in the ICU in September. It was scary. I was overcome with fear over what we may have to deal with. Again, if he hadn't gone to the hospital when he did we may have lost him. (I am grateful he is doing so well. I am grateful for antibiotics. I am grateful I got to take care of him while my mom was out of town. I am grateful in both this situation and with my mom that I was able to go and be there for them every day.)
**Fifth, McKenna. Need I say more? My own baby girl. She handled it way better than I did. I tried so hard to hide what I was feeling. Not sure how well I did... but I tried. (I am grateful that my OBGYN doesn't think she has my laundry list of female issues. If anyone on planet earth should be a mother, it's McKenna. I am grateful for priesthood blessings.)
** Sixth... this recent cold that we have been suffering through has been the worst cold ever. It pales in comparison to the things I have listed above... but the lesson learned from the last week and a half of misery is the same. Gratitude. I am grateful when I wake up and feel GOOD. I am grateful when I can get out of bed and do the things on my list for the day... and not feel the need to lay down and rest every 20 minutes. I have gratitude that all of the things that could go wrong with my body, don't. I am grateful for my health. I am grateful for the health of my family and friends. And I am grateful for doctors and nurses that have thus far been able to fix most of what has gone wrong for those I love most. I am grateful for medicine and hot baths. And sprite.

November 1, 2012

I haven't ever done this before, but I like reading other people's Thanksgiving posts. I am a big believer in gratitude... and that if we don't show gratitude to everyone in our lives... especially our Father in Heaven for the things we are blessed with... why would he give us more? From the time the girls were tiny I have always had them call Dan when we were headed out to do something fun while he was at work and thank him for working so hard. I wanted them to understand that he was WORKING so we could go PLAY. I hope everyone that I love knows how much I appreciate all that they do for me. I know without the wonderful examples and sacrifice's of those I have in my life, that I wouldn't be who I am and where I am. Today that is what I am grateful for... everyone I love. Thank you for being you... it makes me want to be a better me.

Halloween 2012

This morning the girls both got up early so they could get their costumes on and be ready to go. They look so cute! (I am so glad that my 16 year old chooses to wear such modest costumes!!! She is definitely the exception at her school!) The weather is so warm that it doesn't "feel" like Halloween... and I must make a confession... with the horrible colds we have had this past week we haven't done the things we normally do like go to a pumpkin patch and carve pumpkins... I feel horrible about it. Especially because this is Courtney's last year in elementary and last year to trick-or-treat. I will try to make it up to her today with the class party I have planned....

 McKenna came home early so she could help with Courtney's class party... thank goodness! We ended up needing her help more than I knew. Courtney has 37 kids in her class!!!!! A huge thank you to Kristin Perry for helping me make the carmel apples. That's a whole other story... she went above and beyond to make sure Courtney's class wasn't disappointed today. They turned out great... and the kids were thrilled.

 Playing a few games before we started the party... Andrew made a great nerd!

 The first group decorating their caramel apples... I cut up candy bars and had Skittles and M & M 's. They really thought this was fun...

 The Donut game was awesome. These two were fighting to the end....

 My cute Camo girl Courtney and her caramel apple...

 Kyler was really excited about his glass of rootbeer! He is so cute!

 Lexi and Abbly finishing their apples...

 Look mom... no hands!!!!!

 Kenna did a great job running her game... Grab the Ghost. The kids thought she was awesome!

 Ms. Albaugh's 6th grade class... October 12, 2012.... I don't know how she does it! She is an incredible teacher!!

 Later that evening... the Trick-or-Treating begins... Chris and Andrew...

 Mallory Ferkovich... Hilarious!!!! Their family dressed up like the cast of Scooby Doo. Wish I would have gotten a picture of everyone!

 Courtney and her friend from swimming, Taylor getting ready to go out. Kenna took them...

 Our cute neighbor Tyler in his X-Wing fighter.... glad he got to have some fun tonight!!!

It was a fun Halloween... next year will be so different. We told the girls they can have a huge Halloween party with all of their friends if they want. We are headed in to uncharted territory. New adventures await....

Mom's Birthday 2012

My Dad called me at the beginning of the week to chat and we decided that we should give my mom a surprise birthday party. So, for Family Home Evening we invited she and my dad over for dinner (wink wink) and everyone else showed up about 30-45 minutes later. Her birthday is actually on the 30th, which would have been on Tuesday, but we thought this might work better for everyone. We had a blast! Lots of laughter and good food.

 I can't believe my mom is 64! She is one hot grandma!!!! That's my dream... to look as great as she does and have her energy! What a woman!!! Happy Birthday cutie-pie-sexy-pants mom!

Daddy Daughter Halloween Party 2012

Thursday night... October 26th... was the Daddy Daughter Halloween party. Courtney had originally planned on wearing her "Pirate Girl" costume, but decided to instead wear her camo and be a "bow hunter". Needless to say, Dan was thrilled! This is Courtney's last event with the Activity Day girls as she will be heading in to Young Women's in a few short weeks. They had a wonderful time together tonight!