Expressing Gratitude - Day 9

I was tired, had a headache, was low on gas, and quite honestly just wanted to stay home.

We had a youth temple trip tonight and I had a list of reasons why I shouldn't go.

But I went and boy, was it the right choice.

I didn't bring any family names this time, which is my favorite thing because it makes temple trips even sweeter. But I loved seeing those that did bring family names doing the work for their loved ones.

The temple president reminded the kids that their ancestors were aware of them and were most likely standing/sitting with them tonight. I love imagining that! I love that there's so much hope, happiness, and excitement in doing work for those that have passed on.

Being able to leave the world for a few hours and relish in the spirit was exactly what I needed. I'm grateful for choosing the harder right rather than the easier wrong.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 8

I try really hard to always have something to look forward to. It doesn't have to be huge, although that helps, but I've found that if I have something to look forward to, I tend to be happier.

Like The Lime's dance performance that was tonight. He's been practicing for weeks and told me the other night that he was dancing to "Playground". That made me even more excited because I danced to "Motownphilly" in the second grade. Gotta love early 90's R&B.

Dancing isn't really The Lime's "thing" but he looked so darn cute up there and did a great job!

Other things I'm looking forward to are The Lime having school off on Friday, no rain in the forecast so I don't have to bag papers for work, the weekend as a family, our first visit at our new dental office, LaVor's parents coming to town, a trip to San Francisco, and Thanksgiving.

When I have something to look forward to, it also helps me to realize how much I've been blessed with. There's so much negativity EVERYWHERE nowadays that I gladly welcome something to brighten my day.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 7

My sister directly above me is 21 months older than I am. That meant we spent two years at each school together. While I found comfort in just knowing she was there, it wasn't until high school that we got to have (at least) lunch together.

I wanted that same thing for our kids which is why we started trying for a second baby when The Lime was 2. But Heavenly Father had other plans for us (because he's way smarter than we are) and we didn't get Doodlebug until The Lime was 4.

I was really nervous that with a 4 year gap between the boys, The Lime would be "too old" to play with his little brother. But Doodlebug has proved he can hang with the big boys. In fact, sometimes he seems like the big brother as The Lime yelps for someone to help him because Doodlebug is beating him up.

These two boys fight like it's going out of style but boy, do they also sure love each other.

My heart nearly explodes when they're sweet to each other and play nicely. I especially love hearing The Lime teach Doodlebug how to do something or helping him out. Like tonight, Doodlebug was having a hard time getting the toothpaste out and The Lime showed him how to squeeze everything down to the opening.

Or when The Lime finished his dinner first tonight and Doodlebug said, "Good job, Dieta!"

I see how much fun they have together now and can only imagine what it'll be like when The Lime is 18 and Doodlebug 14. Oh, the trouble they'll get into!

Expressing Gratitude - Day 6

I got home from work and checked the iTouch to see if there were any messages. My friend's due date was tomorrow and I had an inkling something might have happened over night. Unfortunately, there wasn't a message. I went back to sleep for a couple hours and woke up to a wonderful announcement!

"Lilly Joyce, 0625 this morning, 6 lbs 15 oz"

Doodlebug and I had to get new tires this morning which just so happened to be down the street from the hospital. After our appointment, we grabbed some pink roses (per Doodlebug), a card, and some treats and dropped them by for the new birthday girl and her family.

Is there anything more amazing than a fresh from heaven baby?

It made me think of my fresh from heaven babies and what a wonderful spirit they brought with them.

So pure, innocent, peaceful, angelic. An immense blessing I'm so grateful to have experienced in my own home and witnessed again this morning.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 5

The Lime has a mouth full of loose teeth.  On 10/26, he showed me how loose tooth F was and I was certain it would be out within the next 24 hours so I snapped one last picture with his two front baby teeth.

Of course, it didn't come out that day or the next or the next. He's been wiggling that sucker nonstop and we could even see the permanent tooth poking its way through the gum.

We Skyped with LaVor's parents tonight and The Lime was eager to show them how loose it was. Papa warned that if it still wasn't out by the time they get here, he'd yank it out with pliers.

So as soon as we finished chatting with them, I told The Lime we were getting it out TONIGHT.

Thanks to my mom's technique (as much as I hated it when it was being done to me), I grabbed a long string of dental floss, wrapped it around his tooth and pulled both ends until it snapped the tooth out.

The Lime hardly flinched and was more distraught over how weird it felt once it was out. I'm thankful for that brave boy who lets me inflict pain on him for his benefit.

I'm also thankful I snapped that one last photo of his cute little smile before his chompers come in. Because if his x-rays are any indication, he's going to inherit my huge teeth.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 4

I can't remember what initiated his interest but The Lime asked me who his great great grandfathers were yesterday. I happened to have my laptop close by so I opened up Family Search and I was able to not only show him names and birthdates of these men but pictures as well.

Great Great Grandpa Steenblik

Great Great Grandpa Phelps

Great Great Grandpa Neuenswander

Great Great Grandpa Evans

Great Great Grandpa Warmuth

Great Great Grandpa Siemsen

Great Great Grandpa Trimble

After I took my Christmas decorations down at the beginning of this year, I decided to redo a wall that I'd been feeling not so hot about. A couple of years ago, when I was making Primary visits with the president, we visited a home that had a wall dedicated to just old family photos. I thought it was awesome and wanted to do something similar in our home. I feel strongly about our boys knowing where they came from and recognizing the people who are rooting for them on the other side. So after Christmas, I thought that would be the perfect opportunity to display our family photos.

What an amazing time we live in that we have easy access to valuable information, including priceless photos! When else have people had the opportunity to view century old documents with a click of a button?

I love walking by this wall and seeing the faces of those who worked hard, pushed through trials, immigrated to an unknown land, and built a legacy that I hope my family can continue.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 3

The Lime turns 8 in less than three months and isn't exactly thrilled to be baptized. We aren't sure of his reasoning so we jumped at the chance to attend our friend's baptism so he could see how awesome it is.

As I sat in my seat, listening to the boy's older sister give the talk on the Holy Ghost, this scripture came to my mind:

"Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

What 11 year old girl can stand with such confidence and bare her testimony in front of a room full of adults? And what 8 year old boy can answer questions with confidence and recite Articles of Faith like the back of his hand?

Believers.

I'm thankful for examples of people who hold on tight to their faith, to the knowledge they know to be true, and who aren't afraid to share it.

I know I felt the Spirit on Saturday and I hope The Lime did, too.