Grateful for...K

I've noticed a pattern with my grateful posts...they include a lot of memories.  Unfortunately, this one falls into the same category.

When my parents moved from our house, I had taken a video on one of our last days there but I haven't been able to find it since then.  I got out our small camera the other day and there it was, on the camera and not on the two memory cards.  I was so excited!

This video means nothing to anyone else but I love it.  I love it because it's in our kitchen, where so many other memories took place.  We had thousands of meals in this room, numerous discussions, millions of fights, lots of hugs and kisses, a few broken ribs, lots of rollerskating (when it was raining outside), it's where Indy slept when he was recovering from his numerous accidents, where friends waited for us to finish getting ready, it's the light that we always left on if we were going to come back home after dark.

I think it's a worldwide thing that kitchens are where families and friends tend to congregate the most.  And I can totally understand why.  Who doesn't want to be where the food is?

But even if there's not always food, I hope our family is as fond of and grateful for our kitchen as I was for mine.

Grateful for...J

Shortly after we moved here, there was a knock on our door and naturally, I answered it.  It ended up being two Jehovah's Witnesses, going around the neighborhood, sharing their message.  I always think of our missionaries getting doors slammed in their faces so I patiently listened to what the women had to say, accepted their pamphlet, and they went on their way.

That initial visit has turned into about three or four additional visits.  Each time the Jehovah's Witnesses come over, I end up being the one that shared a message.  I've shared with them the Plan of Salvation, my experiences with family history, our beliefs about what happens after we die, I've shared quotes from Apostles and scriptures from the Book of Mormon.  Our next visit will be about prayer.

I don't know much about Jehovah's Witnesses and their religion.  I had a friend in high school who was killed in a car crash and I attended his memorial service at one of their church buildings.  What little I do know about their beliefs, I don't understand completely.  And I guess I won't any time soon, as long as I'm the one sharing the messages.

I do know that they don't celebrate holidays or birthdays, but can they accept gifts?  I hope so because I'd love to have a Book of Mormon or Christmas DVD ready to go for the next time they come over.

After General Conference, I was feeling the pressure to get out and share the gospel.  I also feel extremely guilty when the sister missionaries strongly encourage us to provide them with a name of someone to teach.  Do you know how hard that is when the only person you interact with on a daily basis is a 3 year old who already attends church?  But when my Jehovah's Witness friends stop by, I have the opportunity to share my testimony and plant a little seed.

And I'd like to think that counts, even a little bit.

Grateful for...I

When I was younger, I got food poisoning from three different items; salami, egg salad, and a green salad.  The only one I steered clear from for YEARS was green salad.

Two years ago, I had In-N-Out for lunch one day and ended up getting extremely sick later that night.  While I don't know for sure if it was the In-N-Out, or just a random bug that only struck me, I wasn't phased one bit.  Want to know why?  In-N-Out is the best when it comes to fast food hamburgers (I might be cast out of my family for saying that).

I remember the first time hearing about In-N-Out; my brother and his friend were on their way back from Omi's house and had stopped at this "new" place they had found.  Unfortunately, there weren't any near our house so we couldn't find out for ourselves how good it was.  Then I remember being at the Oakland Aviation Museum with my dad, at some get together, and this food truck pulled into the parking lot.  Turns out, it was the same place Tommy had told us about...In-N-Out.  And boy, was he right.  It was the best hamburger!

A few years later, one was built about 20 minutes south of where I grew up.  We'd go there occasionally if we were in the area, or if a friend asked what I wanted to do one night and I suggested watching airplanes at the airport and then eating at In-N-Out.  It was also around this time that the Drive-In across the street from our house was torn down and a new shopping center was being built.  And to our benefit(?), an In-N-Out was in the works to be built.

I don't know exactly what it is about the hamburger that I love so much but I do.  The fries are just okay by themselves but when we dip them in the spread, they're taken to a new level.  And I no longer order just a plain shake, it's gotta be a Neapolitan.

They certainly know a thing or two about running a business, and a simple menu.  While I love cheesecake, I hate going to the Cheesecake Factory because their menu is huge!  Way too many choices.  In-N-Out on the other hand is simple and straight to the point.  I like that.

And now I'm discovering that I shouldn't have written this post before eating something because now I'm starving and In-N-Out doesnt open for a couple hours.

Grateful for...H

The last time I had my teeth cleaned was right before we moved.  That means it's been 7 months that we've been here.  Jeepers!

While I do my best to keep my teeth clean (LaVor might say I do too much), I can always tell when I'm due for a cleaning.  Especially my darn wire that keeps my lower anteriors nice and straight.

Unlike when I was a kid, I actually enjoy getting my teeth cleaned.  I think that's mostly because I love my hygienist.  I had a good hygienist growing up, even though when she flossed it felt like my teeth were going to fall out of my head, but the one I've been seeing for almost 8 years is the best.  She's kind, gentle, personable, thorough, knowledgable, outgoing, and did I mention kind?  I always leave the appointment running my tongue across my teeth and thinking, "Ahhhhhhh!  Bliss!" and I'm never in pain (mainly because I floss).

It also doesn't hurt that my hygienist is my friend, and one of my former co-workers that I was SO sad to leave.  I've met very few people that have as big of heart as she does.  She really is one of a kind

I called our insurance today to verify the frequency for cleanings and they confirmed it was four per calendar year.  While our oral hygiene is in check and we don't need such frequent visits, I wouldn't mind seeing my hygienist every three months.  She's just that good.

Grateful for...G

A few weeks ago, on our way home from Apple Hill, we drove by my grandma's place and I asked The Lime if he wanted to stop and say hi.  He said yes so we flipped the car around and made a quick visit.

She was sitting in the lobby, catching up on her Z's.  I gently touched her knee, nothing.  I touched her arm, nothing.  Then I shook her and that woke her up.  While it was a surprise visit, she was still happy to see us.  Especially The Lime.

Although we grew up 2 hours from her, we didn't see her very often.  When we did, she always had little cans of apple, grape, and pineapple juice for us, as well as miscellaneous gifts she collected on her trips.

She was never very lovey dovey with us (my dad and sister say my grandpa was more of that type) but we knew she loved us.  Yet with her great grandchildren, she can't keep her lips away from their cheeks.  And I LOVE IT!

Grandma calls The Lime her Little Hunk and has to show him off to all the ladies in her complex.  When I bring her pictures of him, she asks for extras so she can hand them out.  She always wants to hug him, kiss him, and make sure he's safe (especially when GrandPop is tickling him..."Be gentle!" she says).

I've loved living closer to Grandma and getting to know her better.  Especially when she tells us stories of her youth.  But I need to make a better effort at seeing her more often.  She'll be 88 in a few weeks and I want to soak up the time I have with her. 

And I want The Lime to have bright pink lipstick on his cheeks for years to come.

Grateful for...F

When we knew for sure that we were moving, and started looking for a new home, we knew the thing we both wanted most was a fireplace.

In our old place, we lived in a duplex owned by a couple that owned the two-story duplexes next door.  Those had fireplaces and every time one became vacant, we'd contact the landlord only to be told they already had someone set on moving in.  So for almost 7 years we longed for a fireplace, especially during the winter when our PG&E bills were outrageous and we could smell the neighbors' fires when we went outside.

Most of the houses we looked at had fireplaces, including the one we settled on.  Finally, last night, the weather was cold enough that LaVor (with The Lime overseeing the operation) whipped up our very first fire. 

While it didn't put out nearly as much heat as I'm used to (my parents had a wood burning stove in their old house...that sucker was HOT), it was still fun, toasty, and has made our house smell like Christmas! 

And it'll keep the heating bill in check.

And we now have a mantle to hang our stockings from.

And The Lime is anxiously awaiting to make s'mores.

I love fireplaces.

Grateful for...E

E sort of threw me for a loop. I had a list of things I wanted to mention; electricity, emergency rooms, E:60, eyes, ears, earth, envelopes. Then I read a girl's blog yesterday, specifically her baby's birth story, and it hit me...epidural!

Her entire pregnancy she planned for a natural home birth but after 36 hours in labor and 5 hours of pushing, she ended up having a c-section at the hospital.

My sister has now delivered both her babies au naturel and I don't know how she does it. I do know she goes to a different place and thinks of the ocean, but the ocean scares me just like giving birth without an epidural. But she's Wonder Woman (remember her husband was deployed and she was a single parent for 9 months?) and can do anything.

I, on the other hand, am a wimp. I like things to be easy, especially if I have options. And I realize I've never talked about The Lime's birth and my firm decision to get an epidural.

Light contractions started on Saturday morning, January 16. I had my last baby shower that morning and made some final purchases that afternoon. I had every intention to go to church the next day but LaVor objected. Good thing, because the contractions got stronger on Sunday, but not enough to take action. I hardly slept Sunday night and ended up calling the hospital early Monday morning, letting them know of my progress and we'd be there in a couple hours. I took a bath, we got our things together, dropped something off at LaVor's work, and were on our way. Once I was checked in, the first thing I asked the nurse was when I could get my epidural. I was dilated to a 4 and she said I could get it right away. Hallelujah! The anaesthesiologist was in my room in no time and administered the epidural with ease and I was in heaven!

Feelin' pretty.darn.good!

Once the shakes went away, I was able to sleep for a couple hours before I woke up and the fun began. While I couldn't feel my legs or the contractions, I could feel the urge to push and that was about all I wanted to feel.

So while natural birth might be the answer for some, I was so grateful having the option of an epidural and putting it to extremely good use.