Blogging Slacker.

It used to be that I hardly missed a day-  now I am practically missing weeks or nearly months.  We have been busy, of course, and that makes it harder. 

We had a great Thanksgiving long weekend.  We made our traditional trip up the mountain and cut down our Christmas tree.  We unfortunately do not have enough snow around yet so no snowmobiling, much to Outpatient's chagrin.

We also made decorated "gingerbread" houses- which really needs its own post.  Especially some of the details, but I do not have the pictures downloaded yet.

That last sentence is a very telling thing-  if you know me at all.  I am sort of psychotic about getting my pictures onto my computer and I have even been slacking at that.

I keep saying I am going to better- but then life happens.

My goal is going to be- at the very least- to post on here at least once a week.

If I don't- please yell in my general direction.

Thanksgiving Extended Weekend re-cap

My patients- Outpatient and O- (still need a name- hum?) arrived safely before the "blizzard that wasn't" on Tuesday- my  baby sis and her family arrived safely on Wednesday and we went to HP 7 part 1 (would gladly pay to see it again!!!).  My mom and dad arrived safely on Thursday morning, and my SIL, her kids and parents arrived safely on Thursday afternoon.

We had a yummy turkey dinner, and delayed pie eating (and ice cream eating).  We stayed up playing cards and the kids got along great.  It was a small group, but that is okay.

Friday- we DID NOT black Friday- well- except for a little online. I headed down to my in-laws to get my family off to their respective homes and to clean and straighten. The DR, Outpatient and O went up on the mountain with the snowmobiles to check out the snow level for our Annual Tree Hunt.  We had family pictures.  NOTE TO SELF:  DO NOT SCHEDULE OUTSIDE PICTURES IN WINTER MONTHS.

We were cold- very, very cold.  Thank you S- for taking them.  And might I say I am glad for photoshop- because between my freezing, Oldest not cooperating, and youngest, oh, and Sophie-  not to mention the DR sticking his head in when it was not wanted, we will have to piece together a picture. Although- this one isn't too bad.

Saturday, we left rather earlier than usual for our tree hunt- the snow was deeper than it has been in quite a few years- so the hiking was hard work- but we were successful.   Now I just need to get it in my house.  We hurried home to watch what we could of the BYU- Utah game- and then the DR, Oldest, and Middle went to do baptisms. We just visited the rest of the night, and Outpatient and O made Brazillian Cake- (heaven help my d-word). Sophie started acting really sick- and had us all quite concerned.

Sunday, we woke to find that the roads home looked rather yuck- so Outpatient and O went to church with us, then gathered up their stuff.  Miss Sophie had started acting better. We had Thanksgiving Dinner part II, and got them on their way.  They arrived safe and sound, while a friend we found out had slid badly in Provo Canyon- so grateful they were okay. We went to tithing settlement, and then choir practice.  Afterwards, we started decorating our gingerbread houses. 

It was a busy but fun and even relaxing weekend.  Love my patients and family.  Even when they don't act all that loveable.

Gratitude is a gift.....

In a recent conversation, a friend mentioned how someone she knows really doesn't know how to show gratitude and appreciation.

I know someone like that too (me- for one; it is hard for me, why is it so hard to say thank you and I am sorry?).  It is that part of each of us that sometimes gets confused and forgets how much we are blessed and how we should not take anything for granted.  Sometimes we are given too much and we start expecting things.

I am grateful for the wonderful family I married into.  The more members who join, the more I realize how blessed I am.  We do not always get along perfectly, but for how many of us there are, we do amazingly well.

We accept each others differences and quirks- even though some may drive us a little crazy at times. We enjoy getting together.  Granted, this one is harder for me because I have such a hard time in large groups.  The DR will whisper to me "you are doing your crowd thing" and it helps remind me to relax and maybe seek out a quiet spot for a minute or two.

I force myself to do things that are hard for me because I know that family relationships are worth it. 

My siblings and I have history, and common personality traits, so naturally, I have to work harder to cultivate  the common bonds with my inlaw family.  Sometimes it is harder than others but it is worth the effort.

As for my family I grew up in.  They can drive me nuts because we are so alike.  They can make me mad because I feel their comments harder and more personally than those of a friend or stranger. But I love them more than life. 

Every good thing in my life comes back to FAMILY.  And since Heavenly Father gave me my family.  I am so grateful to Him for them.  All of them.  Those linked through genetics.  Those linked through the bonds of marriage.  And most especially, those who come from me- my body or my heart.

Thankful for:

thankful: adjective- Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful.


I am soo very grateful to have my children all in one country this year although I miss the blessing of weekly email, I get daily voice communication.

I am still very grateful for technology.

I am grateful for all the sweet spirits that Heavenly Father sent to join our families this year.

I am grateful for Eternal Families- especially for those I am a part of.

I am grateful for the Temple.

I am grateful for the blessing of the Sacrament.

I am grateful for the bloggy connections- it is fun and amazing to connect with you.

I am grateful for good friends- make that great friends- that we have made throughout our travels and life. (You know who you are :) )

I am grateful to be able to take care of my family. It is my eternal calling and I am amazed at the trust the Lord has given to me.

I am grateful for the changes we are making in our home and what I feel the effect will hopefully be.

I am grateful for a new day every day to grow and change, working towards a higher goal.

I am grateful for my home, bed, and the many creature comforts which so often I take for granted.

I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who loves me, even with all my flaws and imperfections.

I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I am grateful for the DR. He is my life. Sometimes I forget that in the grind of daily living. He carries me when I can't carry myself, and I carry him when he needs extra support. The Lord knew what he was doing when He sent him into my life. He needs me. He loves me. He is my very best friend.

The Joy of Saying Thanks

We are counseled by our religious leaders to express and show our gratitude. I have spent the last two days with my family, for whom I am grateful most of the time. :)

My sister posted a bit about our past holidays, which triggered the memories I have of those events. We would always go to my Grandma A.'s house for Thanksgiving, where she and the aunts would cook up a storm while we kids just stayed out of their way. They would extend out the table just as far as it would go, then card tables were added to make one giant long table. Grandma always invited my mother's parents, but Grandma F. would always cook a turkey in her roaster as well. She cooked it longer and longer the older she got. :) As long as three days one time- and no, I am not kidding. I lived in fear of the Aunts and their "No Thank You" helpings, which is what you got to have when you didn't want what was being fed to you. I would try to find a way to sneak my plate to the garbage with those helpings.
It was the time of year we got to spend time with lots of cousins and eating Grandma's cooking.

No paper plates, real dishes! which meant a lot of cleanup- mostly again by the Aunts and Grandma. I remember Grandpa A carving the bird. I remember Grandma had these cool racks that swung down from the bottom of the cabinet that she put her pies on. I remember one of the last years before she died, my dad and uncle being either brave enough or stupid enough to get into a food fight and mashed potatoes ending up on the cabinets.

Now that I am one of the "Aunts", I realize just how much work and effort went into those huge meals, and I am grateful for my Aunts and grandmas who went to so much effort.

Thanks for the memories, even the "No Thank You Helpings".