So far behind

I have had all kinds of posts running around inside my head the last couple of weeks, and I haven't had the energy or time to sit down and craft them correctly. I will say that I have such a grateful heart for my life right now and all the possibilites that are in front of me. Chris is working hard, I am working hard, the girls are growing and doing well. Gradon is a joy, an absolute joy. He makes me think I could do this mom thing one more time...but that is another topic for another post. =) Thanksgiving was yummy, winter is here, and now we are planning Christmas and the holiday season. I am trying to embrace Christmas this year and forget about the STUFF. I find that some years it can be hard for me to really feel the Christmas spirit, not sure why, maybe it is stress, maybe I need to be better about encouraging the spirit in my life. I want to feel that glow this year, a real warmth and joy, not just because my children are happy and excited, but because I truly feel it as well. So, that is where I am...charging ahead into another Christmas season with the goal of feeling peaceful and happy. I have lots of things on my list that I want to do, things I want the kids to experience, more goals I want to reach. I am realizing more and more just how simple life can be when we focus one day at a time on what truly matters: family, faith, love, joy, making a memory. Maybe this realization is the beginning of my joyous holiday. I hope so.

Sweet Six Birthday Extravaganza!

Whew. Saturday was so fun, but it was insane. I threw a party for Ellie's little friends for her 6th birthday. The theme was 'sweet six'. I found the most amazingly cute 3 tiered cake pan, and baked up 14 mini cakes for the little girls to decorate with homemade colored frosting. We played candy bingo. We made our own mini pizzas. We played musical chairs. We had a candy buffet. Chris helped me make an AMAZING banner for the candy buffet. It was a lot of work, but it was so fun, and everything went really smoothly. Chris and I agreed that we are only going to do this kind of massivepartyplanningcraziness every other year. My hunny bunny was an fabulous help, running errands, helping me get things cleaned, organized and ready, and keeping calm when I was a spinning top. It was a great party. Ellie was so pleased. She kept telling me, 'Mama, thank you for making my party so special' she melts my heart. Happy Birthday to my little sweet 6 year old!

                                                         *photo taken by Jeri Tidwell

*photo by Jeri Tidwell

Remembering Italy

Today I am thankful for moments like these.

I just love spending time with these two little ones.

Seasons

Today I am thankful for seasons. It's a lovely time of year right now. The days are bright and cold, the leaves are still falling from the trees, and there is still color everywhere. When we woke this morning, we found that last night gave us the first hint of winter.

Sacrifice

It's Veteran's Day today. I am thankful for all the many men and women who have committed their lives to the service of this country. I am thankful that my husband is one of these great service members. I have watched my husband go off to war, I have waited 10 months while he was far far away ensuring freedom. I have prayed for him, worried about him, hoped he would come home safely. During his time as a fighter pilot, we were always blessed with safety and a homecoming.

Today I read an article online of an amputee who lost his leg in Iraq in 2003. Today he is back in theater, deployed, serving still with an artificial leg. Amazing. Today I am thankful for men like Major David Rozelle who don't give up even when faced with the greatest obstacles, who endure the greatest pains and sacrifice. These heros believe there is a greater work to be done, a cause to fight for, a country to keep safe. Today I am thankful for those that persevere even when the cause is unpopular, the fight has been long, and the road ahead seems dark.

*This photo is an AP photo, taken by Maya Alleruzzo.

Perspective

Several of my blogging buddies are doing a month of thankful posts, writing a post a day of what they are thankful for. I think this is a fabulous idea. I am a bit behind the curve, not writing everyday with a post, but I am going to attempt to write at least a few times a week with my thoughts on gratitude and thankfulness. For example; it is amazing how some days you will be racing around and then all of a sudden something hits you with force, and makes you stop and think about your situation. That happened to me Sunday. Typically, I am a busy mom of three little kids, juggling to stay on top of my home, worrying about my hubby and how hard he works, my calling at church, my hobbies and goals, and my other job, teaching music at home. Sunday my life ground to a halt as I found myself completely run over by sickness. During my down time I have been reflective and pensive. I have seen the laundry pile up, the toys scattered around my bed and watched as my loving husband dealt with the children and day to day tasks. I have been overwhelmed by the love of friends who have called and connected with me and offered their help. I realized today more than ever what really matters, not laundry or a perfectly clean house or even my routine, what matters most are my relationships with the people in my life, especially the ones I love the most: my husband, children, good friends. I need to slow down more often and really enjoy my kids and family. I need to savor the good moments more and laugh and hug and play with my kids and spend real quality time with my hubby, instead of worrying about what I am not accomplishing in a day. Today I am grateful for perspective, for without it, life would not be as rich.

Sunday

I woke at 3 am with my throat on fire. ugh. I stumbled to the bathroom searching for my first of what would be many doses of motrin over the last 24 hours. It took the motrin about an hour to kick in and I could finally fall back asleep. Later Sunday morning woke up around 7 am feeling beaten and sore. Took my temp, only 100. Throat still on fire, decided church was not happening. Made some calls and emails, took another dose of motrin hugged the girls as they headed out the door with daddy to church. I fell into my bed for a fitful three hour nap while the baby slept. By three o'clock my body was shaking and burning up. Swallowing has been almost impossible and very painful. By 7 o'clock that night the fever was 102 even with the 800 mg of motrin was giving myself every 6 hours. Got a blessing from Chris and my brother in law tried to sleep. It was not a good night, but at least my mind was at peace and I knew that Heavenly Father had his eye on me. By this morning I awoke to no fever, but my throat was worse. If that is possible. Chris told me he would stay home from school. Thank goodness he could stay today, I don't know what I would have done. Called the doctor, got in immediately. Doctor took a look at me and my symptoms and called it Strep right away. Sent my throat culture off to the lab and also drew a blood sample to test for mono, haven't had that in 15 years, but symptoms are similar. I have not felt this horrible in years. I am completely overwhelmed and scared that I am going to give this horrible sickness to my baby and my girls. Still trying to nurse, but seems that every ounce of fluid going into my body is NOT going to make breast milk. Hoping this horrible experience doesn't ruin my ability to feed my baby. My poor girls. They just want to sit with me and read me books and draw me pictures. I am glad Ellie is at school today. I am hoping tomorrow I can eat something and swallow without it feeling like there are glass shards in my throat. 

Halloween

First of all, have you ever seen a pumpkin as cute as this one?

We had a fun Halloween season. Ellie loves Halloween the way I do, the costumes, parties, games and sweets. She plans her costumes in advance, last year made the decision to be a black cat, she made a pretty cute one if I do say so. 

Sophia wanted to be a blue butterfly, I found this adorable peacock costume, and she was thrilled with it.  She was so pretty, and loved dancing around in her costume. She loved the wings especially. 

They had a lot of fun this year. We had a fun crazy Halloween party, we carved pumpkins, both girls got to visit a farm and pumpkin patch, and the Friday before Halloween, we enjoyed our ward's trunk or treat. Even Daddy dressed up and joined the fun.

We had a great Halloween.