To Do Today

What did you get to do today?

{2012}

 

Sleep in
Have pancakes
Shop with Greg
Watch The Heat
Relax at home
Spend time with Greg
Fix up things on the house
Eat yummy treats

 

Photo:

Worries

What worries you?\
{2012}

 

I will never get better
I will lose the mobility of my hands
I will fall again
Greg will get sick of taking care of me
Something will happen to Greg
One Direction will split up

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 29. I'm grateful for the people I interact with and meet at work. Some are crazy,  some are rude, some are nice, and some are totally awesome. You just never know who you'll meet. Like the lady I met today who was interesting, nice, and intuitive. I plan on blogging about this interaction and this book later, but it made me realize how grateful I am to be able to interact with others.

Ups and Downs

What have the ups and downs of the past week been?
{2012}

 

Ups:
Thanksgiving Day! No work, yummy food, football!
Getting a new TV
Receiving a gift from a friend
Getting to see Liam (my nephew, not the 1D hottie)
Buying One Directions new album and LOVING it

 

Downs:
Only one day off of work
Spent way too much money
People at work tick me off
Body aches and is tired
Not enough sleep

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 28. Grateful for our Thanksgiving traditions, and for a wonderful hubby who always cooks such a wonderful meal. Grateful we can afford the things that we have.

My Body

My body is...

 

A wonderland. Right John Mayer?

 

But really, it is old and tired and in pain. However, it is still functioning somewhat and getting me around. I am grateful for it.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 27. Grateful for my brother Brady. Even though we spent most of our early years fighting, I couldn't have asked for a more living and supportive little brother. It was fun having him so close in age so we could have some of the same friends and share some memories. Grateful for his example to me, and grateful for the times he texts or calls just to see how I'm doing. I'm also grateful for his wife, and my newest sister Ashbee. She is super cute and sweet and she loves my brother. I'm grateful they have each other. Love you two!

Sounds

What sound do you hate hearing?
{2012}

 

My all time last favorite is scraping sounds. I have to plug my ears when Greg scrapes the windows. I just can't stand it. Or when he scrapes the pan or bowl. I just want to cry sometimes. Really. Like with tears and everything.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 26. I'm grateful for goodly parents. They are great examples of love and service. They are supportive of their children (all six of us) and are great grandparents to their four grandchildren. They are a little weird, and somewhat embarrassing,  but also kind of fun and funny. I couldn't have asked for greater parents. Love you guys. Thanks for all you do and have done.

My Shows

List your top 5 shows right now.

{2012}

 

(In no particular order)
1. The XFactor
2. The Voice
3. The Big Bang Theory
4. Modern Family
5. One Tree Hill (re-runs on SOAP)

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 25. Grateful for thoughtful people. Grateful to know that I'm not the only one going through trials, and there are others who are mindful of me as I go through mine even when they have their own. A sweet sister in my ears who also suffers from an AI disease night this by with a note that simply said, "Thinking of you." It brought tears to my eyes that she would do that. So grateful.

 

Last 3 Things

Name the last 3 things that you used today:

{2012}

 

1) My phone
2) My toothbrush
3) The bathroom

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 24. Grateful for new tires to help us go over these icy roads. Grateful for a car that kept us warm too. Also grateful for a little getaway.

 

Fave Holiday Recipe

What is your favorite holiday recipe to cook?

{2012}

 

I think I said crab dip last year, and I think I'm sticking with it. Or pecan pie. Yummy. I'm excited for Thanksgiving!

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 23. Grateful for technology. I'm grateful for cell phones, iPads, kindles, tv, internet, etc. Technology is amazing and there are all many things you can do with it... including watching a seven hour broadcast of 1D Day on YouTube. (Okay, I didn't watch all 7 hours, but quite a bit of it). Its amazing that you can watch people hundreds of miles away over the internet. (That doesn't sound creepy). Grateful for the many forms of communication technology provides as well.

 

Playing

How did you play today?

{2012}

 

I played by leaving town after work and driving to Star Valley for a relaxing weekend. I also played Candy Crush and some One Direction YouTube videos.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 22. Grateful for my baby sister McKenzie. She is one of the prettiest and most talented people I know. She can sing and play the piano like no other. I'm grateful I had a little sister to dress up and do get hair when we were growing up. She is always happy and so outgoing. Grateful for her cowboy husband Kyler as well. He is one of the nicest young men I've ever met. Seriously, from the first time I met him he was so nice. I'm glad they have each other and can't wait for the day they have babies. (Gotta get my baby fix somehow) love you two!

Last Text

The last text message I received...

{2012}

 

Was from: Greg

and said: For long pentance sessions.

 

Don't ask.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 21. Grateful for doctors (in all their varieties) and modern day medicines. I don't understand how anyone could go to school for a hundred years just to deal with sick people, but I'm sure grateful there are people out there who do. Grateful they are willing to become knowledgeable in different areas of medicine so they can help me when my body decides to shut down. Grateful they will answer my stupid questions and put up with people who have issues that aren't easy fixes. Grateful they are there to try and help. And when I said Drs in all their varieties, I also meant a 'witch doctor' I know who also had helped me. I look forward to seeing her again when the time is right. Grateful for your knowledge and personal insight. It's nice to know I have options, and for that I am also grateful. and p.s. some of those bottles are duplicates. I don't really have a ton of meds.

 

As of Late

This is what I've been up to lately...

{2012}

 

Working
Visiting Teaching (yes before the end of the month even!)
Helping keep score for church volleyball
I'm pretty boring.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 20. Grateful for all the little ways the Lord watches out for and helps me. I can't tell you how many times I've almost dropped things and somehow they land just perfectly so I don't have to bend over, or my reflexes are ninja like, and I somehow catch them. Or like today, he knew I needed a twenty minute break, so when I swallowed my massive pill, it got caught in my throat. Now this has happened before, but it only takes a few minutes before I can get it down. Today it was such for over twenty minutes, so I got to chill in the breakroom for that time, and just when I was on the verge of breaking down, I was able to get it down. These are just a few silly examples, but I know the Lord is mindful of me and my abilities and handicaps. I'm grateful for that knowledge and grateful for his watchful, protective care.

Drive Me Crazy

Name one thing that you drove you crazy today.

 

I can't name it. Its the same thing day after day though. I just don't understand it, and even though I try to just ignore it, it's definitely hard to do.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 19. This may seem silly, but I'm grateful for these gloves. I'm grateful for my hubby who bought them for Christmas last year and they have been amazing. They aren't super warm, but they keep my fingers warmer than other gloves, plus I can wear them while I work and count money. Plus I have received quite a few compliments about them. If you want some they are arthritis gloves. They have been amazing for me the past year, and as you can see from that hole, they been put to good use.

 

Three Things to Buy

What are three things you need to buy?

{2012}

 

A TV. Ours is dying.
A computer. Mine is dying.
One Direction's new CD... even though it's not out yet.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude: Day 18. I'm grateful for the opportunity to go visiting teaching. I've had/kinda still have a pretty negative attitude about it, but once I actually go and get to meet new sisters, I come away feeling better about it. I'm grateful for my partner, we've only been together two months, but she is so sweet and I look forward to getting to know her better. I'm also grateful for the ladies I visit teach. I got a new sister this month and I'm excited to get to know her as well as the other sister I've only visited twice. They are both great and I'm grateful for the opportunity to speak with them outside of church and get to know them. I'm proud is myself for making it out two months in a row!  (And it's not even the last week of the month) celebrating with a creamy!

 

Sandwiches

What is your favorite sandwich and how must it be made so it's perfect?

{2012}

 

Ugh. Can I just copy last year's answer? I'm not a huge sandwich person. I do like grilled cheese it tuna. Or Subway or Quiznos or Jimmy John's. That's about it.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 17. Grateful for the town I grew up in... for the lessons I learned playing sports... for great coaches and mentors who taught the value of hard work. I have never known harder workers than the people I grew up in Cokeville. This week the football team win its 21st state championship, and a few weeks ago the volleyball team won its 20. That's pretty awesome, and I'm grateful I could be part of such a strong tradition. (My dad, and head vb coach, is the handsome fellow in the orange shirt in the top pic...can't miss him. And little bro is somewhere I'm that God looking group of boys. I think I know which one is him, but they all kind of look alike). Thank you people of Cokeville for teaching me all you have.

 

Projects

What's on my home project to do list?
{2012}

 

This will probably never change, but I'd still live to declutter my house. Clean it up a bit. Make it look a little nicer.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 16. Grateful for movie night with the hubs and ice cream.

 

Feeling

Today I am feeling...
{2012}

 

Exhausted...I pulled an all dayer.
Physically in pain
Annoyed
The usual...

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 15. Grateful for my job. I have some great co-workers, who make it more enjoyable. Even with all the stress they cause me sometimes we have a great time. I really love my job and I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful that I can work extra hours if I want, and even though it wears me out, I'm also grateful to know that I can come home at the end of the day and put my feet up.

 

In One Year

In one year I would like to tell myself...
{2012}

 

You survived this long, you can keep going.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 14. Grateful for my other older sister Kandyce and her family. Kandyce has been a great example for me. I'm grateful that she offers to drive two hours just to go to a Dr. appointment with me, and that whenever she is in town she lets me know so she can stop by and visit. Also grateful that she is a good mom to my nephew Liam, who I'm also grateful for. Love that little guy to bits. And of course Clay too. He's a great source of comic relief to our family, and he loves my sister and nephew. Love you guys.

Excess

What do you have too much of?
{2012}

 

Negative energy. Too much anger and resentment towards quite a few people. It's frustrating that I can't seem to let go. Maybe one of these days I can just let go. Its way too much for sure.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude: Day 13. With all the time I spend crying and complaining about what my body can't do, today I am grateful for what it can. I have a healthy heart with only one valve that has slightly elevated blood pressure (I blame it on work), that still beats and pumps blood throughout my body. My lungs are mostly functioning properly. I can still walk by myself, though I have to be careful not to jump off curbs. I can dress myself mostly by myself, I can do my hair well enough that I don't look like I just rolled out of bed. I can see. I can drive, though I have to take corners a little slower. I can still work at my job. And mostly I'm grateful that my hands aren't totally deformed, so even though it's harder to do what I once could, they still can do what I need them. Lots to be grateful for today.

 

I Love You

Who is the last person you said "I love you" to?
{2012}

 

My husband. Because I love him. So I said it.

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 12. Grateful for service...for those that have served me, and for opportunities to serve. We went to the local humanitarian center tonight for RS, and it was great to see all the sisters who turned up to serve. Always be on the lookout for small opportunities to serve, even if it's just picking up something they have dropped. You never know what battle (disease) they may be fighting. Also grateful that my fingers actually worked well enough to help tie a few knots. I didn't do much, but I sure tried.

 

Out of Character

What is one thing you've done recently that's completely out of character for you?
{2012}

 

Hmmm, I cry a lot lately, which maybe isn't too out of character, but I feel like I cry a while lot more than normal. My emotions are totally out of wack. Thank you Chuck Norris.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude: Day 11. Grateful for those who have and who currently serve our country. Those who sacrifice for us and our freedoms...I have so many family and friends who have served in the military. Thank you, and today I'm especially grateful for these guys...my brother in law Ben, who serves in the Air Force and is the best big brother, and a great husband to my sis and father to my niece and nephews. My sister Shari, who is a great mother, and sacrifices by allowing her husband to serve our country, while taking care of the kids by herself sometimes. Love you sis. And of course Lilli, Alex, and Aidan who are the funniest and cutest kids ever. They also sacrifice by letting their daddy serve us. I know they miss him so much when he is gone. So grateful for the sacrifices of these wonderful people. Love and miss you guys so much.

 

Thoughts Before Bed

What did you think about before you fell asleep last night?
{2012}

 

It was probably something along the lines of, 'church sure is early in the morning.' Those are usually my thoughts, something about not wanting to wake up and just sleep in.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 10. Grateful for great in-laws who are so selfless and are always willing to help when we need it they are all so loving and kind, and I'm very grateful that they were willing to take a trip down here just to drop off our new recliner and get rid of our old stuff.

In My Fridge

What's in your fridge?

{2012}

 

The basics really. Eggs, milk, yogurt, apple juice, cheese, some veggies. Nothing too very exciting.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 9. Grateful for lazy Saturdays, and our weekly trips to Hastings (okay, I actually really dislike going to Hastings, but I'm grateful for shopping trips with my hubby)

 

The Weather

Describe today's weather.
{2012}

 

Like every typical Utah November, it's been cold. Not much snow yet, but it's for sure getting colder. I'm not so sure my body can handle it...

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 8. I'm grateful for my baby brother Kennan. He is so sweet, kind, thoughtful, and super talent (both musically and athletically...I mean do you see that text he sent today? Awesome! I'm so proud of him.) Ever since he was little I've loved having him close by, and even though he doesn't cuddle with any of us sisters anymore, he's always good for a hug, and not too embarrassed to ask his big sis to dance. I'm sad I haven't been around much as he has grown up, but I love seeing him accomplish so many great things. Our family wouldn't be complete without him, and I'm grateful to have him as my brother. Love ya Kennan!

 

5 Things

List five things you wish you had with you today.
{2012}

 

1. A blanket
2. A good book
3. Some yummy desserts
4. My computer
5. Can't really think of anything else

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 7. Grateful for those who have supplied us with meals the past month. Even though we don't 'need' them, it is nice to not have to worry about what to have for dinner or make it. Thanks Betty & Kelly, Shaina, and mom!

 

Dear God, Part 2

If you could ask God a question, what would it be?
{2012}

 

I would ask him how I can be a better person. How I can be more forgiving and more sympa/empathetic. I am struggling with that a lot right now, and could really use some help in those areas (among others).

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 6. Grateful that Greg and my schedules are fairly similar so we can continue to only have one car. I don't even mind waiting in the parking lot for a few minutes. The only time it sucks is like tomorrow, when I have to drop him off by 6 am.

 

My Job

Do you love your job?
{2012}

 

You know, I really do. I really do like what I do. Even with the changes, and even though I'd rather just be a 'teller' and not an 'MSR', it will be cool to learn new things. I love the people I work with most days, so that makes it nice.

 

Really though, whenever anyone asks me if I like my job, I say yes. I really do. I will probably be there forever, I love it so much.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 5. Grateful for my calling as Relief Society 2nd Counselor. It came at a time I needed it, and I'm grateful for the women I serve with... even when all our meetings are at least 2 hours long.

 

Best Conversation

What was the best conversation you had today?

 

I don't really know, but I'm sure Donna and I had some good conversations, or Caleb always brings up something random to talk about.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 4. Grateful that I can take a nice,  hot bath at the end of a freezing day, and read my Vampire Academy books for the 1000th time. Also grateful for a strong hubby who can help me in and out of the tub.

 

Beautiful

What is the most beautiful thing you saw today?

{2012}

 

It snowed a little bit, so that was beautiful. One Direction also released their new video, and oh my goodness, it was really beautiful. The number of photographs in it and the way it was set up...so amazing. I loved it!!

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 3. Grateful that my hubby makes me eat healthy, but also lets me have ice cream and other treats.

 

Go to Bed

What time did you go to bed last night? Was it unusual for you?

{2012}

 

It was probably around 10:30-11:00, which is a little later than normal. When you don't have to get up at 7 am, I'm going to take advantage of it. Though I'm definitely not the night owl I once was. I guess that means I really am getting old.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 2. Grateful for a husband who willingly does housework... even when I was more capable.

To Make

What is your favorite thing to make and who taught you to make it?

{2012}

 

I don't really know. I would still have to say anything on Photoshop... scrapbook pages, invitations/announcements, etc. etc. And I taught myself. Love. It.

 

Photo: Month of Gratitude Day 1. Grateful for a husband who will let me start in the car while he runs errands... one even for me.