November 23, 2012

Day 23... Today I am thankful for a fun family vacation. This has been planned for years... and it is finally here! From the first time Courtney saw the San Diego temple in person she has begged us to bring her on her 12th birthday to do baptisms. We are so grateful we can!

 

Friday: Ready to go! Playing a little angry birds while waiting for mom and Kenna!

 Look at my gorgeous girls! Ready for some fun in the sun!

 On our way to pick up Grandma Denice we went through the drive-thru at Chick-fil-a for breakfast... and Courtney pulled the "it's my birthday tomorrow card" to talk Dan into letting them get a peppermint shake with their breakfast!

 Upon arrival at the airport Denice realized that she had forgotten her temple recommend. Travis saved the day by running to her house to get it and brining it to the airport. While we were waiting Courtney was working on her needlepoint... and we realized these scissors would NEVER make it through security! We sent them home with Travis....

 Ready to go!!!! Courtney, Kenna, and Grandma Denice....

 Dan and I...

 We stopped for a little lunch on our way to the hotel...

 After checking in and unpacking, we headed down to Seaport Village to shop and have some dinner...

 Kenna and Courtney with their new boyfriend...

 Nothing like a hotdog hat...

 Today I am thankful that Dan's hair really doesn't look like this....

 The girls loved these hats... wish we had somewhere to actually wear them!

Today was a wonderful day... and we have so much to be thankful for!

November 22, 2012

Day 22... I can't believe I didn't take any pictures... my mom did so I will have to get some from her! Thanksgiving was really wonderful and we enjoyed spending time with family. My parents invited Dan's mom to join us... which was really nice. I know it was a hard day for her. For all of us. Those in attendence: My parents, My brother Brent and his wife Karen and their boys, Tyler and Matthew, (Alex is on his mission in Bolivia), My brother Greg and his wife Angie (Dan's sister), and their boys, Austin and Logan, Dan and I, McKenna and Courtney, and Dan's mom Denice. We all ate way to much food... and lots of pie! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!!

When we got home we packed for our trip to San Diego... and watched a movie before heading to bed. Can't wait! I'm to excited to sleep!!!! This will be a wonderful adventure!

November 21, 2012

Day 21: Today I am thankful for daughters that LOVE the gospel of Jesus Christ and LOVE the scriptures. When Dan and I were ready for bed and went to say goodnight to each of them, this is what we found. These pictures were taken at the same time...

Wow... I sure LOVE LOVE LOVE my girls!

November 20, 2012

"I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness."

—Thomas S. Monson, "Consider the Blessings", Liahona and Ensign, November 2012


This is how I feel. Each day as I have written my post this is what has been in my mind. Searching for things each day that I may have overlooked had I not been looking for them. I hope to carry this with me from this point forward in my life.

And I have to add... I am sooooooo thankful for Courtney's teacher Ms. Albaugh. I just went and covered her class while she attended a luncheon for the teachers at the school. Her class has 37 sixth grade students... wow. How do our teachers do it? Sure do love and appreciate her!

November 19, 2012

Day 19... Today I am thankful for the incredible view outside of our home...

This is one of the biggest reasons we built our home here.... and why we built our deck. Incredible!

November 18, 2012

Day 18... Today I am thankful for being able to attend church and for the Spirit I felt there today. We had great speakers... and I love it when stories are shared that connect to the principle being taught that I won't ever forget. Today one of the speakers shared a story about running a "kind-of red light" while turning left at an intersection when he was late for work. He was pulled over and after talking to the officer he found out that he would have to "pay" the ticket...which was the consequence of a really bad decision... but that if he went to "traffic school" that the "blemish" would be removed from his record and it would be like it never even happened. He likened this to the mistakes that we make in life, and that through repentance, although we are still accountable and have to "pay" the consequence of what we have done, that we can be forgiven and the blemish will be removed and it can be like it never even happened. How great is that?!  

November 17, 2012

Day 17... Today I am thankful for a husband who agreed that we should put up all our Christmas decorations... which we would NEVER normally do before Thanksgiving!

... but we won't have time during the week and will be gone next weekend. The next full day we would even have time would have been the 2nd weekend in December.It literally took the entire day to do it... and he didn't complain once! He is the best!