I'm Grateful, even if no one reads this anymore

Today I am so grateful I was able to make a trip to the Temple. It has been way, way too long. I'm even more grateful that I didn't get in an accident on the way there. I came very close -- sliding in snow straight towards a van, but somehow I didn't hit it. I really think it was a miracle. I really think there is no way I should have not hit them, but I didn't. I am more grateful than I can put into words that there was no accident.

Travels and such

Another month has slipped by and I'm just getting back to this blog. I guess summer is just too busy to keep up with blogging very well.

I am grateful for the many things I have to do. It's nice to keep busy. It's also nice to be able to travel to see friends and family. I'm grateful Lil and I had a good trip to Utah and back. I'm very grateful I was able to see my good friend from Alaska. I'm also grateful I was able to spend some time with my great aunt.

I'm grateful Lil has found a job and will be staying with us. It's been so nice to have her here. I love to have my family close by. I know it's a relief to her to have found a good job, too.

Blessings

It's been an awfully long time since I've gotten on here to post. Mostly because I haven't had the time for blogging that I once seemed to have. But I wanted to take a quick minute to post this, because I've been thinking about it constantly and am just feeling overwhelmed with gratitude right now. As you all know, Spencer and I chose to move to Idaho last year for reasons we weren't necessarily sure of. He had a good job there and we both hated to see him leave, but for some reason, we felt we needed to. We took a $10,000 pay cut...that's huge. But since we've been here, we've seen little reminders that we did the right thing. First off, he got a job working in hydropower, which now is the best field to be in as an engineer considering land development has come to a hault and the government is all about alternate sources of energy. Second, a few months after making the move here, his old job had do lay offs. At first it was just a few, but as the year progressed and things got worse, he had more and more old co-workers finding themselves without an income and needing a new place of employment. And now, a co-worker of his that was the same level as Spencer, just told him that he's down to 13 hour work weeks. 13 hours!! I can't imagine how any of them can survive on that! And there aren't many places hiring either, so he does not have any prospects or second jobs. Spencer is one of two at his workplace now that is approved to get overtime, and he gets it quite often. He's always busy and I just am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for watching out for us. He has blessed us with a beautiful home, living near family, with a good job that is able to provide for us and now that $10,000 pay cut has turned into a pay raise, considering where we could have been had we stayed there. I'm just so blessed!

It's Been a Long Time

For a myriad of reasons, some of which were out of my control, I've had a hard time getting to the computer lately. I've still been grateful for things, I just haven't had time to write them all down. Here are a few.

I'm grateful for my grandpa. He passed away last week, which was very hard on all of us he left behind. But I'm grateful he was able to live for ninety-six years. I'm grateful I got to see him just two months ago. I'm grateful for all the wonderful memories I have of him.

I'm grateful for all the family who came to Grandpa's funeral. I'm grateful I was able to visit with cousins whom I haven't seen in years. I'm grateful for the wonderful support system a family makes. I'm grateful I was able to spend a little time with my parents and all of my siblings and their families (we did miss Derek, he was the only one who couldn't make it).

I'm grateful we were able to travel without any problems. I'm grateful Lil rode back with us and entertained the girls so well. I'm grateful we were able to enjoy the beauties of Yellowstone.

I'm grateful Lil is here. She is so helpful and I love having her around. I love that she enjoys spending time with my children. I greatly appreciate when she plays with the girls so I can get something done. I love just being able to talk to her, in person.

I need to stop, but I am grateful for so many things right now.

Organization

I am not an organized person. I really struggle with keeping things neat. So I am grateful for things that force organization on me. With Lil here I have had to empty out the spare bedroom. I don't have enough space to just move things, so I've had to organize. It isn't fun, but I do love the results. It is so much easier to find what I want and to know what I have.

Good Travels

I am grateful to be home. I'm grateful we were able to travel without any problems. I'm grateful we were able to visit family and enjoy our time with them.

I'm grateful Lil came back with us.

Prayers

I'm grateful for opportunities to serve. I'm grateful the autistic boy I babysat for a couple of hours this afternoon was having a very good day. I'm grateful the whole afternoon went much, much better than I expected.

I'm grateful for answers to prayers. Especially those little things that seem like they really shouldn't matter, but for some reason they do. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father understands and even looks after the little things.

Nap

I am grateful things went smoothly this morning so I was able to get myself and the girls to church on time without Ray being here to help.

I'm grateful Ray took the girls outside this afternoon so I was able to sneak in a nap.

Ray

I am grateful Ray was here most of the day. I'm very grateful he took the girls outside so I could actually accomplish something.

I'm grateful I have a large house with lots of storage space. I've been trying to organize things, which I'm not very good at, so it's nice to have lots of space to work with.

Playdate

I'm grateful for a fun afternoon with friends. The girls had a good time. They're really getting better at playing with other kids. I enjoyed having an adult to talk to.

I'm grateful the girls were worn out enough to go straight to sleep once they were in bed.

Participation

In my Primary class is one little boy who, up to this point, has never participated in any activity we do during class. He won't answer questions, he won't even color a picture. However, today he actually volunteered to participate in a little activity and then asked if he could say the prayer. I was amazed and very grateful that he has decided to participate.

I'm extremely grateful the girls took a very long nap, but not surprised since they decided to get up at 6:30 this morning.

Yard Sales

I'm grateful for cheap clothes at yard sales. I don't really enjoy rifling through other people's junk, but the $1 or less kid's clothes make it worth it.

Curiosity

I'm grateful my girls are curious and inquisitive. I don't always appreciate where their curiosity takes them, but I am glad they want to discover the world.

I'm grateful Ray was around to help run errands this evening.

Staying Home

I'm grateful for the very sweet things the girls do. This morning C saw me crying and came over to give me a hug. She was so concerned. She even wiped the tears off my cheek. It was so sweet. It made me realize that I'd made the right decision in turning down a job to stay home with my girls. I'm so grateful I have that as an option. I'm so grateful Ray works hard so I can stay home and raise the girls the way we want them to be raised.

Sisters

I'm very grateful I have sisters to talk to when I have things on my mind. I don't know what I would do without the option of calling them any time I need to talk.

I'm grateful Ray is supportive of what I want to do.

I'm grateful the girls slept fairly well in their new bed.

Transitions

Trying to make the transition from crib to bed for the girls had an interesting beginning. We just started today. I'm grateful the girls did finally take a nap -- about three hours after I originally tried to lay them down. I'm grateful they can't yet open doors so I was able to contain them in their room. I'm very grateful it made for a happier R when she woke up. I'm certain she likes being able to get up on her own much better than having to wait for me to come get her.

A normal day

I'm grateful it didn't rain until after I ran my errands today.

I'm grateful I was able to meet the sister on my visiting teaching list whom I had not met yet.

I'm grateful Ray was around all evening.

Early to bed...

I'm grateful the girls did so well in church. R didn't even cry when she went to nursery today. She wasn't ready to leave when I got there to pick her up, either.

I'm grateful Ray took the girls outside for a good chunk of the afternoon.

I'm grateful the girls went to bed early, so I can, too.

Stuff

I'm grateful I was able to get so much done today. As I was writing in my journal this evening I was quite amazed at how much I actually accomplished. I didn't feel like I did that much, I guess I was just going steady all day.

I'm grateful R was outside when she managed to get her diaper off and then pee (pants, shoes, and socks still on).

I'm grateful Ray gave the girls a bath so I could finish up the stuff I was working on.

My girls

I'm grateful my girls are learning to talk. It's so nice to be able to understand a few things they say. It's also just fun to see what they pick up first. I love to help my children learn. I love being able to spend most of my time with them. I love that I am the one who sees and hears all their firsts.

I'm grateful the girls already love music. C was wandering around all evening singing, "Happy and you know it" over and over. (Granted, most people would probably not be able to tell that was what she was saying, but I think you'd probably recognize the tune.)

I'm grateful my girls get along so well. I love to listen to them jabber and giggle together after we put them to bed.