Grateful for: R

Rides with Daddy

When we lived in Livermore, LaVor would usually bring his work truck home every night.  That meant The Lime got frequent rides around the block.

Now that LaVor doesn't go on as many service calls, he rarely brings the truck home.  But when he does, boy, is it a treat!

I'm grateful Doodlebug got a chance last week to follow in his big bro's footsteps and take a ride around the block in Daddy's truck.  Those two boys sure adore that daddy of theirs.  And having a big, loud truck to drive in is pretty cool, too.

Doodlebug - Tally Mark 18

-Loves to give "knuckles".
-Still doesn't like applesauce.
-Loves playing baseball and has the stance down.
-Can officially go to Nursery.
-Waves his arm back and forth in front of his chest when he runs.
-Thinks he owns the iPad.
-Has different grunts for "yes" and "no".
-Has his own way of saying on, off, open, close, doggy, ball, Big Bro, and more.
-Speaking of balls, he can spot a ball from a mile away.
-Waits for you to say "Ready...set...go!" and then he takes off.
-Is just starting to figure out how to blow kisses.
-But still gives awesome lip kisses.

Grateful for: Q

Quilts

I'd say 75% of the blankets in our house were made by my mom.  The Lime has the most, Doodlebug coming in second, and I'm third.

I wanted to snuggle up on the couch the other night so I grabbed my t-shirt quilt she made me a couple years ago for Christmas.  This quilt is by far one of my favorite things.  All of the t-shirts are going the same direction so I never have to wonder if the feet end of the blanket is up by my head and vice versa. And it has a soft snuggly side that keeps me warm but the t-shirt side stays cool for the hotter months.

Now that we're heading into the Christmas season, it's even more appropriate for The Lime to use his Christmas quilt he got for Christmas when we lived in Livermore.  

Last year, she gave us a quilt she'd been working on since we were newlyweds.  Somehow, The Lime has claimed that one even though it was for the family.

I sure don't have the patient for quilting, let alone sewing in general, but I'm grateful my mom does and that she shares her quilting talent with us.

Grateful for: P

Paw Patrol

I'm not ashamed to admit that if I need a few minutes of quiet, I will turn on the television or give the kids the iPad.

Doodlebug, in particular, is all of a sudden a huge fan of Paw Patrol.  He loves dogs, so it's really no surprise.  But he will actually sit still for moments at a time and either watch the show or play the game.  It's awesome!

When we're at Target, or anywhere for that matter, he points out anything Paw Patrol related.  We were at the dollar store a couple weeks ago and he spotted something.  "Dada (doggy)!  Dada (doggy)!" he shouted.  There was a Paw Patrol puzzle on the shelf so I picked it up and handed it to him.  He held it in his lap the entire time we were there so I figured I could spare a buck and buy it for him.  Little did I know that WWIII was going to take place when I tried taking it from him so I could pay for it.  The kid was seriously convulsing in his stroller, he was so mad.  

Sweet Doodlebug thinks I bought him a box with doggies on the outside of it.  He has no clue there's something even cooler inside.  I'm going to keep it that way for as long as he'll let me.

I'm grateful Doodlebug likes Paw Patrol.  It's fun to see him get excited about something, it gives me a moment of peace and quiet, and it gives me ideas for Christmas presents.

 

Grateful for: O

Oakland Temple

I have this picture hanging in our front room so when someone is at the door, it's one of the first things they see.

When I was growing up, any time we drove through Oakland, we'd say, "I'll give you a nickle if you see the temple!"  I don't think anyone ever got paid but it was something special to be able to see the temple, especially if it was lit up at night.

We lucked out when it came to having the Oakland temple be "our" temple.  It's the only one that looks like this.  And, in my opinion, it's the most beautiful.  I especially love the story behind it.

"While Apostle George Albert Smith was visiting San Francisco in 1924 and looking over the San Francisco Bay, he said, 'I can almost see in vision a white temple of the Lord high upon those hills, an ensign to all the world travelers as they sail through the Golden Gate into this wonderful harbor.'"

Four of my five siblings were married there, all of LaVor's siblings were married there, in addition to his parents, numerous cousins, and other family members. 

I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to seal my family together forever in such a sacred place.  I'm thankful for the peace I've felt within those walls.  I'm thankful for the Spirit confirming to me that the temple is the house of the Lord.  I've grateful for its beauty and the hope and happiness the temple offers.

Grateful for: N

Newt & Barbara

I woke up this morning, bright and early, to get ready before everyone else so we could head down to Livermore for a baby shower.  I noticed Doodlebug was sleeping longer than normal but figured it was because he had a busy day prior.  

A little before 8:00, I heard his normal "I'm awake!  Come get me!" crying.  When I opened the door, he was standing in his crib, hair matted down with vomit, and poop leaking out of his diaper.  "We've got throw up!" I shouted to LaVor.  I took Doodlebug into the bathroom to clean him up and LaVor stripped his bed.  

With 3/4 of us congested with colds and Doodlebug having it come out of both ends, we decided to forego the trip and stay home.  Unfortunately, I was one of the hosts for the shower so I needed to get my stuff to Livermore somehow.  

Only a few minutes later, LaVor was on the phone with his grandparents, asking if we could drop the stuff off at their home and they take it the rest of the way.  "Sure!" they said.

I'm not surprised they were so willing to help us out.  They have always been so concerned about the well-being and happiness of their children and grandchildren (and great grandchildren) that they would literally bend over backwards for anyone.

Newt and Barbara (or Papa and Grams) are a light in our lives.  I am so thankful to be part of their family and to be able to witness their many acts of service.  They are prime examples of being a follower of Christ and I can only hope that one day I can be as nurturing, caring, loving, and giving as they are.

Grateful for: M

Mr. Mac

I was blessed, in my 13 years of public school, to have two Mr. McNamaras.  One was my photography teacher in high school, the other was my 8th grade CORE teacher.

8th grade was a tough year for me.  I didn't have a lot of friends (I can count 4 that I felt comfortable with at school but our friendships ended there), I wished that I could have fit in but I didn't know how to go about doing it, I was ugly, I was teased.  There just wasn't a whole lot for me to be excited about.  I never acted on my thoughts, but it did cross my mind how much easier life would be if I didn't have to deal with it anymore.

I was looking through a box of stuff last night and came across some feedback Mr. Mac (8th grade) had written me regarding my Constitution Project (this project was a big deal and everyone dreaded going into 8th grade because of it).

Here's a little background:  One of my "friends" was Emily Chan.  Emily Chan was pretty much a genius.  She was chartered to the high school every day for math because she was too smart for all of the math classes in middle school.  She succeeded at everything academically.  

Emily was in my CORE class, and I felt a huge amount of pressure (put on by myself) to be at her level, even though I knew I'd never be at her level.

At the end of our project, Mr. Mac had us write our feelings about it and I obviously included Emily in my thoughts.

I remember getting my project back, after Mr. Mac had graded it, and sobbing as I read his remarks (sorta like how I'm sobbing now). I've been known to wear my emotions on my sleeve but I wasn't aware Mr. Mac was paying that close attention to my struggles.

His last few lines really got me. "You have so much potential to be 'amazing' in your own right, you just continually limit yourself by hiding behind that facade of indifference. Please don't compare yourself to Emily or anyone else, because you are you and I would take you over just about anyone. Just put your energy to use in a more positive manner. You might surprise yourself."

I find myself not wanting to do things, still, because I'm afraid of failing. I spent 7.5 months in culinary school, and a whole heck of a lot of money, but I'm terrified to bake things for people because I'm afraid they won't like it. LaVor wants me to dabble in photography a little more but I'm scared that I'll look like a fool. I get invited to multiple things but never go because I'm afraid of what people might think of me.

Who knew that his words would still need to be applied 17 years later?

I'm grateful that Mr. Mac saw something in me that I didn't. I'm grateful that he took the time to write a whole page of feedback. I'm grateful that he was concerned about his students and wanted them to succeed in all aspects of their lives.  I'm grateful that he wasn't afraid to lay it all out there.  I'm grateful that I found this random piece of paper tucked away in a box to remind myself just how amazing I am and can be.