Extra gratitude

I just have to write down how grateful I am feeling right this very minute. Chris' Mom had surgery today to remove a "mass" from her kidney. They went on a cruise a couple of weeks ago. She fell and broke her hip just after getting on the ship. She ended up having surgery in Alaska and some major drama instead of a relaxing vacation. Well, when they did the CT scan on her hip there, they noticed a mass on her kidney and told her to have it checked as soon as she got home. She did just that. Today she had surgery on that mass and it went extremely well. We went out of town for a week and missed a lot of updates in the process, so we didn't know many details about it. It turns out they were worried about having to take out her kidney and possibly her spleen in the process, making it even more dramatic. They didn't have to touch either one. Instead they were able to remove the entire tumor without any problems. Lucky for her, breaking her hip may have saved her life. She will be in the hospital for a few days to make sure everything is ok and we won't know any results for a few days or even a week. They are pretty sure it's cancer, not sure what kind or how bad it is. She also has a tumor on her pituitary gland and has been putting off having that taken care of as well. She has surgery scheduled for that next month (I believe) and hopefully that will go well also. It will be interesting to see how everything unfolds, but I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that it will all work out. I also firmly believe in the power of prayer and the power of the Priesthood. I witnessed a great family prayer and blessing last night that had a calming influence on everyone. Although, it was hard to see Chris' Mom cry. She never cries.

Gratitude Post #13

1-I am grateful to be home. I mean, I really wish I was still on vacation and all...but there's no place like home. Even if your home isn't really "your" home. I'm grateful for being back with my family. I sure did miss them.

2-I am grateful for the priesthood. Chris' Mom is having surgery in the morning to remove a mass from her kidney. All of the men in Chris' family were able to give her a blessing tonight. It was wonderful. Every man in both of our families is a worthy priesthood holder (as far as I know anyways:)) and it is seriously so comforting.

3-I am grateful for Moms. I am grateful for Chris having a good mother who raised him to be a great man. I am grateful for my Mom and everything she does for me and my kiddos. She spoiled them so much while I was gone and I knew they were in such good hands! She spoiled me too, taking me for a pedicure today and giving me shopping money for my birthday. She is pretty great.

Gratitude Post #12

1-I am grateful, once again, for things that just work out they way I planned. Yesterday we didn't get our wakeup call like we had asked for. We woke up SUPER late. We were so worried that we weren't going to make it in time for something we REALLY wanted to do...the Food on Foot tour. (Not only would we miss our reservation and not be able to reschedule, we would be charged $100.)  We missed the shuttle from the hotel to the subway by about 2 minutes. It added to our panic. However, our meeting place for our tour was closer and easier to find than we thought, so we made it in plenty of time! Looking back I realize that I needed a few extra hours of sleep more than I needed a shower! :) It was one of the most interesting things I've ever done. I am so glad we made it! We also got to use our tour guide's wealth of knowledge to find a great place to eat dinner! It was such a great food day, maybe the best day of eating ever. :)

2-I am grateful for the opportunity to see so many amazing things. I believe Heavenly Father made this amazing world with so much to see and do to prove that he loves us. It is our choice whether or not we want to get out and see it. I am so grateful for Chris' job and for the opportunity it gives us to travel. And whether it is seeing Humpback Whales breeching right next to your boat, the tallest skyscraper with incredible views, or just the diversity of different people and cultures, I feel blessed to be able to see it all. And believe me, we have "seen it all" these last few days. :)

3-I am grateful for my family. I miss my kiddos like crazy and I am so grateful for them. I am also so grateful for my parents and their willingness to watch them for an entire week! Not only have they "supervised" them, they have been going out of their way to entertain them. I am a little worried about how spoiled they have been this last week, I know they are going to expect it to continue when we get home. :)But, my elementary kids are off track and Ryan doesn't start jr. high until Tuesday, so I'm extra grateful that my parents are helping my kids squeeze that last little bit out of their summer vacation!

Gratitude Post #11

1-I am grateful to have 5 minutes to sit down and blog. (I am in New York right now! I just spent the last 2 days in Boston too. It is my birthday present from my awesome husband. I am super spoiled. I know it.) We have been going going going like crazy! I can view my blog on my ipad and iphone but I can't write a post. I was super bummed when I realized that. The last 2 nights in Boston we went to Red Sox games and didn't get back to our hotel until after midnight. We have been SUPER tired, but we are having so much fun. I think we are getting old! We can't go sightseeing and walking all day on 5 hours of sleep or less. :) Anyways, I felt bad not doing gratitude posts for days on end so I'm glad to be able to do that tonight!

2-I am grateful to feel like I am always "being watched out for". So many things have gone my way and I have found myself saying little prayers of thanks all day long. Simple things like making it to the airport on time (thanks to my Dad for the ride at 5 a.m.!), having my flight leave on time and even arrive at my destination early, having my plans work out perfectly every day, etc. Today my Mom texted me saying "stay away from the Empire State Building." It turns out there was a shooting there today and people were killed in the crossfire. Had we stuck with our original plan of going to NY and THEN to Boston, I could have very well been there at the time. However, we changed our plans and we will be there tomorrow instead. When I found out about it, I was so grateful and felt like I was being watched over and protected. I don't know if we were truly inspired to change our plans, but I can't help but feel grateful that things worked out that way.

3-I am grateful for finding my wallet!!!! As we were leaving Fenway Park last night after midnight (the game went into extra innings and we stuck it out!) I went to get my subway ticket out of my wallet. I kept digging through my purse and could not find my wallet anywhere. We stopped, emptied out my purse and my stomach sank when I realized my wallet wasn't in there! Everything in there could have been replaced easy enough, but my driver's license was in there and I needed it to get on the bus early this morning for NY. Not to mention needing it to fly home in a few days. I wasn't worried about my credit cards or the little bit of cash I had in it. I was just sick about my license though. There would have been no way to get a new license between midnight and 9 a.m. in Boston! When we realized it was missing we booked it back to the stadium before they closed it and just got back in as the last gate was closing. (In fact, they weren't going to let us in at all. I'm sure they saw the panic on my face when I said I lost my wallet.) We ran up to our seats because I knew the last time I had it was when I got money out for the kettle corn guy. :) I didn't see it at first and I was feeling a little panicky...but then I looked way under my seat and saw it under a bunch of peanut shells. As soon as I saw it buried under peanut shells I knew it was okay because no one had bothered it. I mean, I'd like to think if someone found it they'd just turn it in or leave it alone...but I was relieved when it looked untouched. I prayed so hard all the way back to the stadium. I was so happy when I found it. I am so grateful for prayer...for the little things and the big things. :)

Gratitude Post #10

1-I am grateful for vacations. Seriously, I love having a vacation planned just to have something to look forward to. :) I am super excited for mine tomorrow!! We have this thing for Boston and NY as a package deal. Besides our cruise last fall it's my favorite vacation ever.

2-I am grateful for Chris. He sure invests a lot in our relationship. We try to go somewhere once a year without the kidlets to remind us of why we even like each other. :) It works too! He is truly my best friend and my favorite person to be with.

3-I am grateful for modern medicine. Last week my Mother-in-Law fell and broke her hip (while on vacation). During the CT scan they found a mass on her kidney. We are still waiting for the results from some tests to see what it is. Then today my cute friend had twin boys! The babies are doing great but the Mom needs some help, and is hopefully on the mend. I am so grateful for state-of-the art facilities for times when you REALLY need them. Whether you're on vacation in Alaska or in Labor and Delivery at the local hospital, it's always nice to know you're in good hands!

Gratitude Post #9

1-I am grateful for choices. Today felt like a big day full of choices. Mostly about Ryan's school situation. I offered to home school him after leaving yet another message for the jr. high principal (who STILL hasn't called me back). I even went to the jr. high to ask about home schooling. Chris wasn't sold on it, but we decided to give Ryan the choice. We talked extensively about pros and cons and what each situation would entail. Coincidentally, Ryan's jr. high class schedule showed up in the midst of the discussions. He got every class he wanted and that may have helped him with his decision. I told him he could sleep on it and we just have to decide by tomorrow what we're doing. (I'm leaving town and won't be back before school starts.) He told me tonight that he decided to go to South Hills. I am so proud of him. I would have been happy to keep him home, but homeschooling would have been hard to get used to, and for such a short time I don't know that it would be worth it. He is pretty awesome in my book. I probably would have chosen home school over being the new kid for 2 lousy months. :)

2-I am grateful that my good friend, Holli, is being induced in the morning! I can hardly stand it! I am so excited! She is having twins and was on bedrest to try to keep them in as long as possible. Of course, as soon as they took her off bedrest NOTHING happened! She has been so miserable and is SO ready to be done! I was worried she was going to have them when I was out of town! She made me so happy by calling me right after her appointment! I think she called me before she called her mom. :) I can't wait to see those 2 brand new babies in the morning!!

3-I am grateful that I have learned to relax. Well, about some things anyways. :) Sophey is going to her 1st day of preschool tomorrow! You should see the outfit she picked out! There is no way any of my first several children would have been allowed out of the house looking like that, especially on their first day. :) They would have gone to school in tears because I wouldn't let them wear what they really wanted to. I had this same issue with Katey when we had family pictures last Friday. I decided that everyone, no matter how small they are, deserves to feel good in what they're wearing. Even if it's not what I want them to wear. Man, I have come a long way...

Gratitude Post #8

1-I am grateful for my brother Matt. He showed me (in depth) how to use my new phone. I have had quite a bit of fun with it already, thanks to him. He has quite the passion for gadgets and iphones are probably at the top of his list. :) I am also grateful for my brother Cory. We had a pretty funny texting conversation today (since Matt taught us how to text some pretty great emoticons). I love texting 'flaming poop' to my family. It's hysterical. Or at least I think so. Nothing makes me laugh like flaming poop. It instantly turns into conversations that include "Don't put it out with your boots Ted" and "Don't tell me my business devil woman!" What's not to love?

2-I am grateful for Nyquil. I have a horrible cold/sinus thingy coming on and I am really looking forward to some sleep tonight! I am also grateful for Vitamin C. When I went to Costco on Wed. I was feeling pretty awful. I grabbed a ginormous bottle of Vitamin C while I was there and I took some right when I got home. It seems to be helping quite a bit and I swear I notice a difference if I remember to take it or not.

3-I am grateful for church. Even if it's not "our" ward, we feel welcome in my parents ward. Every week someone new goes out of their way to talk to us. Today it was the assistant scout master asking about Ry and Tay, Katey's Activity Days leader telling me how much she loves her, someone telling me to sit by them in Sunday School and some ladies in nursery wanting to get to know me better. Plus, the talks in sacrament meeting were fabulous and so was the Sunday School lesson. (I'm sure Relief Society was too, I love the lady who was teaching...but I was in nursery with Soph.) I'm glad that even though people know we won't be there long, they still make us feel welcome! It is so refreshing!

Gratitude Post #7

1-I am grateful I realized this morning that I forgot to do this last night. Can't break my streak after only 6 days! :)

2-I am grateful for simplicity. I threw Taylor a birthday party last night (even though his b-day isn't for a couple of weeks...). I bought 97 cent invitations, passed them out a few days ago, grabbed some cupcakes from Walmart an hour before the party and called it good. Those 12 year old boys had SO much fun swimming, playing basketball & playing night games, you would have thought the party cost me a fortune! Ok, so I suppose my parents' backyard cost THEM a fortune...but they were glad to have it get used I'm sure. :)

3-I am grateful for my new phone. I know it sounds lame and I used to hate (make that TRIPLE hate) iphone people who were so in love with their dumb phones...but I got one yesterday and I love it! Chris gave it to me for an early birthday present so we can take it on our trip this week! Have I mentioned before what a great guy he is!?

Gratitude post #6

1-I am grateful for photoshop. We had family pictures tonight and after a long, stressful week (with multiple "wardrobe" problems and several shopping trips included) my face looked terrible! I have a giant zit RIGHT on the tip of my nose...and several others all over my face. Photoshop is my new best friend. :)

2-I am grateful for an amazing photographer! Missy Segura of 2G Photography is my fave! She totally gets me and we have the same taste. She picked a cool spot for our pictures, was super patient with my uncooperative children & took some fantastic pictures! I love that she gets excited like I do too! A couple hours after our photo shoot I got a text from her with a picture of Sophey that turned out super cute. I can't wait to see the rest of them!

3-I am grateful for my kids. All 800 of them. :) They keep me busy, easily frustrate me and make for lots of work day in and day out...but they make me so happy. I may be biased, but I think they are pretty darn cute too. I am so happy that none of them are ugly. Wouldn't life be sad if you had ugly children? :) I love getting their pictures taken! I am also super happy that picture day is over. Did I mention how stressful it was? :)

Just one...

So, I have been thinking a lot lately about the difference just one person can make. This whole living-with-my-parents-being-new-in-the-ward-changing-schools experience has been a good one. An eye-opening one to say the least. It is hard to be the new person. PERIOD. It is even harder to be the new person when everyone (including you) knows that you aren't going to be there for long. People mentally write you off as soon as they hear you say that you're not sticking around for long. As if you don't have feelings or want friends just because you're leaving soon. I know because I've been guilty of doing it too.

I have really noticed that "one person" in so many situations. Like the ONE lady at church that makes several attempts to say something nice. Or the ONE 6th grade boy that on the first day of school simply says, "Wanna play basketball" and opens a whole new world of friendships for your son. Or the ONE 5th grade girl that asks for your daughter's phone number so she can play after school. Or the ONE 3rd grade boy that wants to sit by your son on the bus. It literally just takes ONE.

I have made a mental note to always try to be that one person. Not just to smile, wave or say, "Welcome", but to really be sincere. To give a sincere compliment or sit by the person who doesn't know anyone, to invite people to do things & introduce them to other friends...it really isn't that hard. I bet the people who have done these things for us didn't even realize what a difference it made! It's not like dozens of people flocked to us begging to be our friends, it was literally one person in every situation. Honestly, the moms that have invited Katey to their daughter's birthday parties probably have no idea how happy they made her. But I know. Katey knows. It matters.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who has smiled at me or talked to me. But when someone introduces themselves and then ignores you after they did their duty, it just doesn't mean as much. Everyone gets plenty of that in the beginning, but the one person who goes the extra mile continually makes all the difference in the world!  I want to be that one person. I want to make a difference to everyone I meet. I know it sounds exhausting, but 1 extra birthday invitation, 1 extra compliment, 1 extra attempt isn't really a big deal...to the giver...but to the receiver it can be life changing. And that is the end of my soap box. It had to be said. :)

Newsflash!

Ryan's jr. high is, in fact, NOT going to let him back in. He went there for 7th grade and was planning on staying there. We will be moving back into the boundaries in 2 months. That is not good enough apparently. They are forcing him to go to a new jr. high until we can provide closing documents proving we own a home in the school boundaries. I just don't understand. They say there just isn't room. How are they going to make more room in 2 months then? It is so bizarre. Apparently they are denying ALL out of boundary permit requests, even for people moving in sooner than we are. I have gone the rounds with the vice principal and the district. It's no use. Poor Ry is going to have to make some pretty big adjustments. I won't lie, I'm happy that the bus stop is literally next door and I don't have to drive him out every day...but I'm sad for him. I guess it will be a good learning experience?

Gratitude Post #5

1-I am grateful for my parents' swimming pool. We haven't used it much lately but it is so fun to just open the pool and let the kids swim when they're bored! I am also grateful that the pool cover opened for us! It has been struggling lately and we almost couldn't get it open tonight. The kids would have been so bummed!

2-I am grateful that I put my kids in the school in my parents neck of the woods. Today Hayden missed the kindergarten bus and I had to drive him to school. It took all of 5 minutes but it made me appreciate the fact that he has a bus and that his elementary school isn't 25 minutes away! The bus has made my life so much easier, it probably deserves it's own gratitude post!

3-I am grateful for progress on my house! We have a full-blown foundation! It is so exciting! We need some suspended slabs installed and then we're ready for framing! Yay! We are months behind what we had hoped for originally, so every little bit of progress is much appreciated at this point!

Gratitude post # 4 1/2

I just couldn't resist. I am grateful for Chris. As I've been sitting here typing he gave Mase and Hayden haircuts, bathed them and Sophey and is currently blow drying Sophey's hair. How cute is that?

Gratitude Post #4

1-I am grateful for steady employment (a.k.a. paychecks). Chris got a new job recently and it just happened to be perfect timing in our lives. His old job and new job are overlapping and it has done wonders for my savings account.

2-I am grateful because I saw a concrete pumping truck in front of my lot today. Man, those contractors sure work hard! Our foundation is sort of tricky and they have worked from sun up to sun down for days on end. I can't wait to see it when the footings are removed!

3-I am grateful that Sophey is excited to start preschool! We went to see her school today and she cried because she didn't want to leave! MY BABY IS STARTING PRESCHOOL NEXT WEEK!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! I have mixed emotions about it. As my friend Katie said, "As mothers this is what we work for." To which I replied, "...yeah, and then we don't know what to do with ourselves when it finally happens!" For the last 13 years I have wondered what I would do with myself when all of my babies go to school. I still wonder. :) Sophey is in morning preschool and Hayden has afternoon kindergarten, so I still have 1 buddy to hang with at least. I am just happy that she's excited to go! Otherwise I'd probably let her stay home. :)

Gratitude Post #3

1-I am grateful for getting a mint truffle from my eye dr. when I picked up my contacts today. Seriously, what a fun thing to have my contacts in a cellophane bag with a bright yellow ribbon and a good-sized chocolate in there too! Totally made my day! SOOOO much better than the creepy eye dr. I used to go to that had the most ill-mannered office staff ever.

2-I am grateful for Taylor. This morning he thought his clock said 8:30 so he got up, got dressed and fixed Mason and himself some breakfast because he thought I had slept thru my alarm. Mason informed him it was only 7:30 and they still had over an hour before the bus came! He was just going to let me sleep and he was going to make sure they didn't miss their bus. I do think it's funny that he didn't bother to wake up Katey, or me for that matter. :) That is just the kind of kid he is. Thoughtful, caring, responsible...I like to tease him about being the "total package". (He said that about a girl once). He is also cute, funny, athletic and brilliant. So brilliant that his new teacher calls him "The Michael Phelps of math". He is ridiculously good at math. I'm fairly certain he did not get that from me.

3-I am grateful for friends. I am so lucky to have so many different friends. I have several women in my life that I can count on for so many random things. I have lunch friends, movie friends, breakfast friends, babysitting friends, gossiping friends, listening friends, shopping friends...you name it, I've got it. I love that I have such a great variety of friends. They are all perfect for different aspects of my life. I hope I am as good to them as they are to me...

Gratitude Post #2

1-I am grateful that I made it to post #2. There is no stopping me now. I am not even being sarcastic. I was dragging my feet about even getting started, I'm impressed I made it to a 2nd post. :)

2-I am beyond grateful that I got Ryan back into his school where he belongs! When we moved apparently the school district found out and instantly kicked us out of our schools. It was fine for the elementary kids because I planned on moving them anyways. Ryan, however, was a different story. He went to Ft. Herriman for 7th grade and was planning on going there for 8th. We were planning on driving him from my parent's house in Bluffdale every day until our new house is done. But, then I got a letter saying he was registered at South Hills! Imagine the shock and horror for my quiet little teenager! 2 months isn't long enough to make it worth going to a new jr. high, getting 7 new teachers, trying to make new friends, etc...but 2 months is definitely too long to have to eat lunch by yourself because you don't know anyone! I went to the school, filled out a "permit request" form and was then informed (after WEEKS of waiting and calling repeatedly) that my request was denied. Their only reason: the school is too crowded. My question: Is it going to be any less crowded in 2 months when, by law, they HAVE to make room for him (when our house is finished and we live in the boundaries again)? I had to go to the district and complain to get him back in. Good news: it worked! He is a happy little camper. He is SUCH a good boy, he deserves to be happy and to be with his friends. :)

3- I am grateful for Ryan. He made me a mother in the first place. I'll always owe him for that one. :)  He just turned 13 (exactly 1 month ago) and hasn't turned into a horrible teenager. He is a good boy. I don't know what I'd do without him! He is calm, patient, caring and responsible. He put Hayden on the bus for me today, he plays with Sophey, he washes dishes and puts away laundry. Tonight he went and tried out for a super league baseball team. Who knows if he'll make it, but if they're smart they'll take him!

Gratitude Post #1

So, every day I think of 3 things I'm grateful for and every day I forget to post them. :) Here is the beginning of my gratitude posts:

1-I am grateful for Chris waking up and taking the kids to church by himself this morning. I had MAJOR cramps and I just had a facial, so I look like a leper. I told him last night that church wasn't going to be an option for me in the morning. He got them ready and took them while I slept the morning away. Of course Sophey opted to stay in bed with me, but getting the other 5 to 9:00 church was a big deal! I don't think I would have done it alone!

2-I am grateful for my little shadow Sophey. :) She is my buddy while the kids are all at school and she was my buddy this morning when everyone else was gone. I don't know what I'll do when she goes to school!

3-I am grateful to my parents for taking us in when we literally had no where else to go. Not only did they take us in, they have been pretty accomodating and patient with us. Our house is taking forever! I'm glad they don't mind that we're still here...or at least I don't think they mind...

inspiration

Wow, my late night inspiration to quit neglecting my blog really carried me quite far. Ha. I keep thinking I need something to blog about without just repeating (or reposting) what I put on facebook. I keep hand-written journals for my kids so I don't feel the need to document everything on here. I post far too many pictures on facebook so re-posting them on here seems redundant (and SUPER time consuming).  So, that is why I haven't blogged in over a year. It's pretty lame to take the time to go to someone's blog and then realize you've already heard and seen it all on facebook. Blah. Anywho...my awesome friend Desiree does "gratitude posts" on her blog and I look forward to them every day (no pressure D-Ray!). She just posts 3 things that she's grateful for. Some are funny, some are sentimental but I believe they are all things that she is seriously grateful for. So, maybe I will try that. Can I copy you D-Ray?