Big day for Hannah!

Hannah received her Young Womanhood Recognition and Medallion in sacrament meeting yesterday!  She set a goal for herself that she would have all the requirements done before her 17th birthday.  I'm so proud of her, she has really worked hard over the past few years on the value experiences and her projects.

JOY

We had our ward Relief Society Christmas dinner tonight.  The Relief Society President said something in her talk that Hannah had told me before, but I forgot to write it down, and it is really great.  She said to remember to have JOY and to remember what each letter stands for.  You will have JOY if you think of and serve Jesus, Others and then Yourself.
Katie just came down the stairs and said that Nathan has written that in a letter to us too.  Boy, I must really have needed the reminder:)

Have a JOYful Christmas everyone!

Being Thankful

I saw this today and it really reminded me about being thankful, and acknowledging my gratitude, every minute of the day no matter what activity I'm involved in. I'm so thankful for the life and the blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me.

November 27

I'm thankful that we were able to attend opening night of Festival of Trees.  I'm also thankful for my friend Julie who called and offered us an extra invitation so that Kirsten and Brandon were able to come with us.  I'm thankful too that Thayne loves me and is patient while I wander through the boutique looking at EVERYTHING...for a really long time.  Festival week is pretty fun!

November 26

I'm thankful for my sewing machine! I'm thankful that I know how to sew and create things with fabric.  Today I made some fun pillowcases to send to three missionaries.  Gotta love that fabric!

November 24

I'm thankful that everyone worked together to tidy up the family room so that we could set up our Christmas tree and the decorations.  I love looking at all the tree ornaments we've collected over the years, some are homemade, some represent a family vacation, and some have been given to us by people we love.  I'm also thankful that Kirsten helped me to put together and wrap some little gifts to send to Nathan for a countdown to Christmas package, we'll get that in the mail tomorrow hopefully.  I'm thankful too that we were able to spend time playing a game together this evening, it's fun to talk and laugh together!

November 23

I'm thankful that we were able to go to the Jazz game tonight! It was a super game, the Jazz won 104 to 102! Go Jazz! These are some pics that Thayne and Hannah took.

November 22

Happy Thanksgiving!  I'm thankful to be able to spend the day today with family.

November 21

Oh, I wish you could smell my kitchen today!  Today I'm thankful for homemade pumpkin pie. I'm also thankful for Kirsten and Oliver for helping me make pies today.  I'm thankful for Katie too, she helped throw together a slow cooker lasagna so that we can have dinner tonight!  Hannah responded to my cry for help with the dishes, so I am thankful for that.  Thayne took the girls to their dentist appointments so I could finish up with the baking. Thanks everyone for all your help today.

November 20

I'm thankful for temples.  I'm thankful that my family is sealed together forever, what an amazing amount of peace that knowledge gives me.

November 19

I'm thankful for good books.  At the beginning of the year I made a list of books I wanted to read through the year.  Most have been sitting on my shelf waiting for me to make some time for them.  I've read some from my list, and crossed some off and added new ones.  I just finished the latest Artemis Fowl, it wasn't on my list but when Katie brought it home from Barnes and Noble I dropped everything and got lost in a story I've been following for years.  I'm thankful for a good read.

November 18

I'm thankful that our family loves to laugh together.  Every day there is something to smile about, something that just makes me laugh. Life is good.

November 17

I'm thankful that Katie is so organized!  She is great at remembering...everything...and reminding me about things when I forget. :) I really appreciate that she can create a menu for our dinners in about five minutes.  (That is something I struggle with).  Thank you Katie for figuring out the menu for the week.

This is a homemade French Onion Soup that Katie made for us from her Harry Potter Cookbook.  We were all a little leery about eating onion soup (except Thayne) but it was so good.

November 16

I'm thankful that we were able to attend the Cyprus High school play tonight!  Hannah is playing her violin in the pit orchestra and has spent lots and lots of hours at the school every day for the last month practicing.  They did a fabulous job...and the actors in the play were wonderful too!

I just remembered that I was going to post Hannah's photo from her Sadie Hawkins dance! They were on Kirsten's camera and so I didn't have one to post on the day of the dance:)

November 15

I'm thankful that I was able to spend the morning with Kirsten and Oliver shopping at JoAnns!  We found several things that we need to finish a few projects, hopefully before Christmas.  Oliver slept comfy in the cart for half the shopping trip, probably lucky for him because he didn't realize how long we were there:)  I'm also thankful for coupons, we had about five I think, because they helped me to save some money.  If When I get my projects done (or after Christmas) I'll post a couple of photos of my sewing & crafting projects. A fun day.

November 14

I'm thankful that we had time today to gather some fun things to send to Nathan in a Thanksgiving package.  I'm also thankful that Kirsten created some Fall leaves out of paper, and that everyone took some time to write a message to Nathan on them.  Tomorrow I'll get it in the mail.  Yay! I'm thankful for those "if it fits it ships" boxes from the post office too.  We try to cram as much in the box as possible and no matter how full and heavy it is, it's still the same price!

November 13

I'm thankful that we received an email from Nathan tonight.  No email yesterday because the libraries must have been closed observing Veterans day.  I got a one day a week job, so I was at work all day today wondering if he would email.  Just as we sat down to dinner it came into my in box!  They must have been emailing from a members house or something, but I'm so thankful that we were able to hear from him today (and every week!).  I learn so much from him as he shares his experiences with us.

November 12

I am thankful that I have been able to be involved at my children's schools. This year I am a member of the  High school Community Council and I'm also the PTSA secretary.  I have learned so much from all the people I've met and worked with through the years.  I'm thankful for the many opportunities I've had to volunteer at school! Hannah only has one more school year left though, so after seventeen years of helping at school....what's next??

November 11

I'm thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I'm thankful that wherever in this world that I attend meetings of the Church that I will have the same lessons, the same opportunity to take the sacrament and the same feelings of the Spirit.

November 10

I'm thankful for warm fuzzy sheets and lovely heat coming up through the heater vents in my home.  The snow is beautiful to watch from inside where it's warm.  I'm also thankful that we were able to go to the Hale Center Theater this afternoon and enjoy their production of "Oliver".  To get lost in a play is always a wonderful treat.

November 9

I'm thankful that I was able to get my rose bushes trimmed down earlier this week. These three pretties were just buds and thinking it was going to stay warm long enough for them to bloom I guess. I trimmed them and brought them in and have enjoyed watching them open up all week.

 I'm also thankful for the beautiful snow that has been coming down all day today. Too fun!

November 8

I'm thankful for the LDS Missionary opportunity!  My nephew Mason arrived home this morning from his two years of faithful service in Oklahoma.  I am feeling so blessed that I was able to be there and see him at the airport, there were lots of smiles and lots of tears.  Seven months and it will be Nathan coming off that airplane from St. Louis! I am very thankful for the experiences he has had and that I'm able to learn from him.  Our family has been SO blessed because of his service.  I'm thankful that I am married to a wonderful man who loves his Heavenly Father so much that he knew it was important to serve Him for two years before we were married, and that he continues to serve now.  There are so many blessings that come from missionary service!

Cousins! Nathan & Mason

November 7

I am thankful for the Ensign magazine and the thoughts, feelings and inspiration that come to me when I read it.  This scripture in the article I read today really gave me peace:
          "Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still,
           with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God,
           and for his arm to be revealed"    D&C 123:17
We are never standing alone when we stand for truth, the Lord is always standing with us.

November 6

I'm thankful for the lesson on Gratitude that we had for our Relief Society activity, and for the nice gratitude journal that we made.  Mine isn't quite all glued together, but I'll work on it tomorrow and finish it up.

November 5

I'm thankful for technology!  Katie got her Spring class schedule all figured out last week, the website saved her choices and at seven a.m. this morning, while Katie was on the Trax headed for school, I was able to click "proceed" and get her registered for classes.  What an amazing blessing technology can be if we use it for good.  We have been blessed to be able to Skype with Nathan too!  It has been so amazing to talk to him and be able to see his expressions.  I am thankful for technology like that!

November 4

I'm thankful that I had plenty to do yesterday, enough to fill up and overflow my day clear until about midnight, but I was so caught up in the day that I forgot to post anything about being thankful! Hannah had a Sadie Hawkins date yesterday.  Kirsten took some photos and I will post one tomorrow when I get them from her camera.

(from our vacation in 2009)

Today, I'm thankful for the scriptures, and for our family making a commitment to read the Book of Mormon together every day.  It has made a wonderful difference in my life!

November 2

I'm thankful for my home.  Not too big, not too small, it's just right for our family.  There is peace in being happy with the place we are in and with the belongings we have.  Of course there is always something that needs some repair, or a bit of paint, and clean-up is a given. But I'm thankful to have a place to live and to enjoy my family.

November 1

I had so much fun posting the picture of the day from the list that Hannah found here. There is a new photo of the day list there for November if you want to try it out!  I'm going to follow Thayne's suggestion though and post at least one thing every day that I'm thankful for. You can read his post here.
I'm so thankful for my family!  We love to spend our time together, and I'm very thankful for that.

 

                                                             And our family is growing!

October 31

Happy Halloween!

               For dinner we love to get pumpkin shape bread bowls from Reams. They are so good!

                                                        The jack-o-lanterns are lit. 

                   Our very own Tonks, little Harry Potter and Prof. Lupin. Ready for trick-or-treating!

October 30

The photo topic today is "clothes"...I think it would be great to go shopping today and find some wonderful new clothes!  But, laundry is as close to clothes as I got today. Oh well. At least everything is clean and hung, now if I can just get everyone to put their stuff away!

October 29

                                                     Photo of the day is "The Moon"

                                          Tonight was pumpkin carving night! Awesome!

October 28

"Looking back"...  Time goes by so quickly.  Aren't they darling!

October 27

 "Morning"...
This morning we went to the Festival of Trees workday.  We spent some time talking, laughing, snacking and also making plaster of paris ornaments for kids to paint in Kids Corner during Festival of Trees.
Great morning!

October 26

"People" is the topic for today! We went to the Thorup family Halloween party tonight, everyone looked fabulous!

October 25

"What I'm listening to"...Well a bit of snow today, and a Festival of Trees meeting coming up on Saturday have inspired me to pull out my Festival of Trees Christmas CD's.

October 24

"The weather today"...  It was snowing this morning when Hannah walked out the door at 6:15 am. But it was too dark for me to get a photo. The rest of the day was just a little rainy.  Still, I think we'll count that as our first snow!

October 23

"The view from where I am"...Hannah's tennis banquet was tonight, this is the view from my table when Hannah was called up to receive her certificate showing that she lettered in tennis. Yay Hannah!

October 22

"In my town"...Cyprus High School, I serve on the Community Council and we had a meeting after school today.  I really enjoy being involved at my children's school.

October 21

"Calm"... Making cookies today, it's kind of a no brainer, zen activity.  We're going to share some with a couple of our new neighbors:)

October 20

"4 o'clock"...My photo is of Katie taking her four o'clock photo!  Love, Love my big clock in the kitchen.  It was a gift to me from Thayne.

October 19

"Letters"...My fun banner that hangs in our kitchen.  I love this month of October and all the fun decorations. I love the leaves falling and the wonderful colors of the season!

October 18

"Made me smile today"... Keyki LOVES her frog toy. She lays on it, then she gets it positioned on her face, she is still for a moment, then she moves in for the attack!