THANKFUL

Thanksgiving is over and I didn't take any pictures that day. I don't know if it was because I was on my feet cooking all day or because I was looking at all the Black Friday ads all day, but either way, I didn't take pictures. I was sad when I realized that, so I thought I would still do a post about what I was thankful for. I enjoyed the day even though it was different than past Thanksgivings. It was small and quiet. It was also Joe's birthday. Joe and Candy, Sam, and Kyle and Becca were our only guests. Except for Becca, those are all of my quieter kids. There were also no grandchildren here. That was sad. I made our usual dinner and I had TONS of leftovers. The two couples both had other dinners to go to so I don't think they ate too much. Dennis and Everett were not here. That made a big difference in the food consumption. Either way, I want to do things differently next year. The menu included ham, a turkey roast that was delicious (I will probably do that again), stuffing (not so good), green bean casserole, fruit salad, rolls, mashed red potatoes (always good), chips and dip (well sort of...Kyle didn't bring them out of the car), and pumpkin cheesecake and turtle cake. I enjoyed the day visiting with Candy. I don't get to do that often enough. Joe and Sam and Kyle were good sports and went outside with Scotty to shoot his beebee gun. Joe made up a game sort of like horse with the gun. One person made a shot and then the others had to do that same shot. They also tried trick shots with the gun, including shooting behind themselves with a mirror....why they are teaching Scotty things like that are beyond me. We also spent some time skyping with Kaylee and Chris and Shauna and Ben. Kyle won the award for good uncle when he spent probably an hour playing hide and seek on skype with Daisy, Kaylee, and Heidi. How many places can you hide and still be in the view of the computer??? But they loved it and I am sure they will love Kyle forever for doing that. He acted surprised every time he found them too. Becca had to work and so she wasn't around for the fun. She was able to come for dinner though. Sam watched a lot of sports over the few days he was here....big surprise. Everyone left early to get to their other dinners so Walt and I went to Chico and shopped at Old Navy. Then I came home and got online to get all of the important Black Friday items that I wanted. I love the crowds, but I don't love standing in line for things that I really, really want, so I just get them online before the sales start. I got everything I wanted. Then at midnight Walt and I went to Walmart. What a madhouse, but I still loved it. I was able to get everything there that I wanted too and we got home just before two. Then at seven we went to Chico and had fun there. All in all, it was a super weekend. But this blog was really supposed to be about all that I am thankful for so let me begin. First of all, I hate to do blogs without pictures so here are some random pictures. I am so thankful for my beautiful grandchildren. Look at how cute she is...even with the air force jets streaming across her forehead. I am grateful that Than and Erica live close enough that we can see them more often. What fun that has been. I am grateful that we were able to go to her blessing and I pretty much got to hold Gentry the entire day on Saturday.

I am so thankful for my children...all of them. I have three grown sons who are all good honorable men. I have three beautiful daughters who are faithful and strong and good wives and mothers and homemakers. They go above and beyond to make their homes havens. I just love this picture of Claira...she is gorgeous and she cracks me up.
I am thankful for the gospel in my life. I really don't know what I would do or where I would be without it. What a strength it has been in my life. It has been an anchor for me in times of turmoil and in times of craziness. It centers me and brings me back to reality. I love the boundaries that it gives me. I love the peace I feel when I am truly living it. I love the fact that I have a home that is so much better than the one that I grew up in .... still not perfect, but so much better. I look around at my home and my family and I just think....I am a lucky girl. Who would have thought fifty years ago, when I was a scared, lonely five year old girl that I would end up with all of this. How blessed I am. Just look at my posterity.
I am thankful for all of the "things" that we have. We have a lot of things and I hope I never take them for granted. Not having much of anything growing up has probably made me a little more worldly than I should be, but I never take it for granted. I am always appreciative of our things.
This guy. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry. But boy oh boy, do I ever love him. I have never worked harder at parenting a child. I have never done more homework, more reading, more spelling tests, more discipline, more prayer than I have with this guy. Sometimes I lay in bed and wonder..."Now what were we thinking seven years ago????" Seven years ago on Thanksgiving he came into our lives and I will never forget that day. He threw up all over me...ALL OVER ME....and it didn't even bother me and I knew that I could love him. We are so blessed to have him in our home during our golden or silver years or whatever you call these old years.
I just thought this was a cute picture. We didn't have bathing suit for William so he wore Scotty's speedo. How cute is he?? I am so thankful that Kaylee's life is so much better this year than it was last year at this time. What a difference.... a new husband, a new son, and another son on the way. I am so thankful for that.
I am thankful that all of my married children married great people. I am thankful that I truly love all of my in-law kids. What a good group they are. I am thankful that even though Kaylee lives so far away I get to see her once a month. And isn't she beautiful and so cute pregnant??
I am thankful for Walt. It is true that some times he exasperates me. I want to tear my hair out or run screaming down the street..... and some times I actually do. But I am thankful for him. He puts up with me. He hangs out with me. He has been such a help around the house since the twins left. We did all of that shopping on Thursday and Friday and I told him that on Saturday I just wanted to relax around the house. Well first thing Saturday morning he came in the bedroom and said, "Hey let's go shopping today. Let's go to Chico or Roseville." How many husbands are like that? When we shop, he rarely makes me feel guilty about the money I spend. In fact, sometimes when I can't decide what to get a person....like between a sweater or a shirt....he will often say, "Get them both." And I don't argue with him about that decision because he is after all the priesthood leader in our home! He decorated almost the entire house for Christmas by himself. He put up two trees because he loves Christmas. I think that he loves Christmas as much as I do. We are a perfect match when it comes to Christmas. He put up garland and decorations around the house. And.....when we came home on Friday night from shopping, he sat and watched TV and wrapped all of the gifts that we had bought. All of them. He has never helped me wrap before and I really appreciate it. I sat and shopped online and he sat and wrapped. It doesn't get any better than that.
Look at this kid's dirty face. What a character. I am so thankful for my job. I work with a bunch of characters. They are crazy and funny and I really laugh all day long...all day. I love them and I love working with the kids at the school. I love to help these little kids who have hard lives. I have to discipline them, but I also get to show them love. And I only have to walk next door to work. How lucky is that?
I am grateful for the hard times that I have had in my life and times when I have felt like Claira looks. Those hard times have made me the person I am. I made it through them and I am a stronger person for it. I am grateful for my friends and family who have stuck by me through thick and thin. My friends are great. I love that we go out to eat with them every Friday night and then we play cards. It is a great way to end my work week and begin my weekend.
What a great life I have. So thankful.....