Freedom of Speach

The last few days I have been very grateful for the opportunity that I've had to share my opinion about a very historic time in our history. I am grateful for blogs and that it reaches out to so many people and helps them to find and share their voice. I am grateful that I am not thrown into jail or beaten for voicing my opinion.

I am grateful to those men and women who fought so hard to make this country what it is today. Our agency isn't free. We fight for it every day of our lives. Sometimes I think we take things for granted when we've had it so long in our lives. I hope that I will never abuse this privilage.

Caring Teachers

One day last week I decided not to make my girls' brush their hair. It was the tail end of my self pity days and I just wasn't motivated to make them look presentable. Well, that just happened to be the day of picture re-takes. We must have been in California for the first ones. When I found out, due to several calls from different children, I was mortified.

Later that day I found out that Isabel's teacher graciously combed Isabel's hair. How sweet is that? I am so grateful for caring teachers who really do take the time with their students. So thanks Mrs. Jurkatis, you are great.

Amy Huhtala

I have been seeing a lot of this woman lately and I am so thankful for that. What did I ever do when she was working full time? I don't know.

Throughout my life I have encountered people who serve me in the most Christ like ways. Amy is one of those people. When my back was out and I literally couldn't walk, she was there for me. While I was at my Mom's she secretly came to the house and cleaned. Sweeping under my coaches, mopping my kitchen and bathroom floors, and made me dinner, twice. It doesn't stop there. She picked me up in her van, drove me to my physical therapy session, watched my kids. The next day she shuttled me to her house so she could again take care of me, my baby and Beckham. She is amazing.

Amy is a great listener, cheerleader, and confidant. She has a light that shines brightly to others, and they can feel it. I am so overwhelmed by her friendship. I am glad that we found each other. I wouldn't be the woman I am today if it weren't for her.

Thank you Amy for helping me find my voice.

Modern Medicine and Practices

I know the pioneers survived without it and their lives were a tad bit rough. After experiencing the worst back blow out EVER, I have never been more thankful for modern medicine and practices. Muscle relaxers helped to calm my spasming back. I have never been to a Physical Therapist before. HELLO, where have I been for the past 15 years. Going to physical therapy has done wonders for my back. The first time I left that building I could actually walk straight and not like a crooked nose. I just have to get over the fact that complete strangers are exposed to my soft and supple love handles. Things reserved only for my husband.

Fall Colors

There are many things in life that I love. On the top of my list is the changing colors of the trees on the mountains. I am so thankful for them. They remind me that change is good, change is beautiful. I love how the colors usher in a new season filled with the chill of excitement. The changing colors also remind me that I have a loving Heavenly Father who created this amazing Earth.

Prayer

Yes, I am thankful for prayer. And up until recently I couldn't honestly say that I have been truely grateful for prayer. I'm sure I have been, I just didn't recognize the power it had in my life until recently.
If you read my other blog you know by now that my family and I took a trip to Disneyland last week. We had a GREAT time. The week proceeding our departure was one of the worst I have experienced. A trip to Disneyland for 7 people doesn't come cheap. I didn't count Grace since she didn't cost anything. The ENTIRE week before we left Isabel, Annika and Beckham were sick. They all complained of a stomach ache, sore throat accompanied by a fever. I became sick with worry. I was on my knees morning and night praying for them to get better before we left. I realize that this might be a very selfish prayer. But it was so important to me. And my prayer was answered. Not one of my kids were sick the entire time.
I guess I always knew that my prayers were answered. But it makes a world of difference when you see them come to fruition.
This is not the only prayer of mine that has been answered recently. There are others that continue to strengthen my testimony of the power of prayer which continues to strengthen my faith.

Good Neighbors

Thank goodness for Good Neighbors. They always come through in a bind. They look past my short comings and my slowly dissolving brain. They help me through a spastic day. They help keep me sane.

I am grateful to them for their help, their kind words, their phone calls out of the blue just to see how I'm doing. I know the Lord sent friends and neighbors to be his helpers. To extend his reach just that much farther.

Dishwashers

And I'm not talking about kids. Dishwashers have to be one of the greatest inventions of our time. They make cleaning the kitchen a BREEZE!!!! I don't have to worry about washing silverware, which growing up, I loathed and still loath. I can shove as many forks, knifes, spoons into the dishwasher as humanly possible, it's GREAT!!! I don't have to worry about my hands getting wrinkling, or getting burned when I forgot to leave the water running at a scalding temperature. It's nice to be able to start the dishes and walk away to do something else and come back to it when I'm good and ready to put them away.

I love technology, I am grateful for Dishwashers.

My Ears

I am so thankful for my ears that I can hear. There are so many wonderful sounds that I enjoy in my life. A quiet house, thunder and lightening, the uneven pattern of rain falling on my roof, the wind wanting to tear down my house, babies laughter, children's laughter, bird's chirpping, drawing a bath, any Coldplay song, My husaband and children telling me they love me, compliments, onions and veggies hitting a hot pan.

Sounds intensify my life.

My knees

I am grateful for my knees and their ability to bend. Bending is what helps me kneel next to my bed and say my prayers. I begin to feel my knees when I have been there for a while, confirming to me that I am having a meaningful one sided conversation with my Heavenly Father.

Despite the fact that I inherited the "Edward's" knees, I don't mind showing them off with a skirt.

I am grateful that my knees bend easily going up and down stairs. Since I have a lot of stairs in my home, knees are very useful.

My heart

I am so grateful for my heart. It's beating reminds me that I AM a live and here to EXPERIENCE this life. I love how it beats harder after running, walking or my new fav., swimming. I love how it pushes the blood to my whole body making my skin tingle and feel that much more a live.

I love how my heart aches for my children. Wanting them to feel safe, happy and loved.

I love how it feels when the spirit testifies of truth. The warmth and comfort that brings to me.

I love how my heart still beats for my husband. How it's grown more and more in love with him.

My belly

Yes, I am thankful for my beautiful belly. No matter how bulbous it is at the moment. It expands and contracts with how my life is currently going. I appreciate every stretch mark that details the 6 miracles I painfully bore. Each stretch mark is a reminder to me of those accomplishments, and that is a beautiful thing. My belly button reminds me of my own mother and the sacrifices that she went through to bring me into this world, to raise me and for the sacrifices that she still to this day makes for ME.

My Feet

I am thankful for my feet. They carry me from destination to destination. Sometimes they are pretty with the help of a pedicure. Sometimes they get worn down and dry and really show the abuse that my feet take. Even though they ache at night, they remind me that I had a good day. I worked hard and now they get to take a rest. I am grateful that my feet can bare my weight and take me on walks, hikes, up stairs, down stairs, and kick in the water. Two of my favorite things in this world involve feet. Walking in cool tender grass and feeling sand between my toes at the beach. I love my feet.

My Arms

I am grateful for my arms. They allow me to hug my children. To hold them and show them love and affection. My arms allow me to cradle my baby, to rock and sooth her when no on else can. What comfort that brings to me. I hope that I will use my arms to hug my children more often. To give them the confidence that they have a loving and caring home to return to. When they walk through the door they have a Mom that will welcome them home with loving open arms. Those hugs hopefully help to melt away some of the burdens of their world.

It's all GOOD

Life is good. All parts of it. The trials, the struggles, the challenges, the good times, the great times, and the times when nothing much happens. I started this blog so that I could remind myself of the things that I am grateful for EVERY day. Something good and great comes in every day living and I am bound and determined to find it. The Lord wants all of His children to be happy and I'm pretty sure he sends us reminders every day.