Expressing Gratitude - Day 23

When we pulled up to LaVor's grandparents' tonight, there was an unfamiliar couple also getting out of their car. They made it into the home before we did, and Doodlebug had just woken up from his nap and was less than desirable, so I didn't get a chance to speak with them off the bat.

It wasn't until dinner was all done that Grams introduced me to her brother and his wife.

I've known LaVor for 18 years, dated him for 4 of those 18 years, and have been married for 11 of those years, and I never recall even knowing Grams had a brother!

What a wonderful Thanksgiving this was to be able to see them together and finally meet Lane and his wife, Elaine. I snagged Grams and Lane before Lane headed off so I could snap a few pictures of them together. Family relationships are so important and I wanted to document this night for posterity.

My boys were making silly faces.  I love Elaine's expression!

I'm also grateful Elaine was shocked when I told her I'd been married for almost 12 years and had two kids. She thought I was only 18 :)

Expressing Gratitude - Day 22

We went to see "Cars 3" with my parents when it came out this summer. At that time, we saw the preview for "Coco" and have been looking forward to it ever since. When we found out LaVor's parents were coming for Thanksgiving, we were even more excited to share it with them.

As soon as we woke up this morning, we found a theater that wasn't sold out and bought our PERFECT seats.

We arrived about 20 minutes early, found our reclining seats, pigged out on popcorn, and got excited when the "Frozen" short film started.

I could tell the characters were speaking another language but I just thought it was Swedish, or whatever language they speak.

Nope, turns out it was Spanish. And it turned out "Coco" was going to also be in Spanish but nobody in the theater knew that when they bought their tickets (including us).

After reality sank in, everyone exited the theater to speak with the manager, who didn't come out of his office until right before we left.

We were really disappointed that it didn't work out but I'm grateful for second chances and being able to laugh about the situation now that it's been a couple hours :)

Expressing Gratitude - Day 21

Clutter makes me anxious yet I find myself surrounded by it all the time. I never seem to be caught up on chores; there's always clothes to wash, dishes to clean, toilets to scrub, and crap to be put away.

That's why I always only REALLY clean when someone is coming over. And my kids know it. The Lime asks all the time who's coming over, just because the house is clean.

Right now, my house is clean because LaVor's parents arrive tonight. And it'll probably only stay this way until the morning but I'll take it! I'm thankful for the peace I feel and the joy my family exudes when things are clean.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 20

I love cereal for breakfast, as much as it bothers my husband. He's more of a hearty breakfast type of guy.

I hadn't had cereal for a while so I grabbed what we had (Halloween cereal to be exact...don't judge) and started chowin' down. Because the cereal was almost a month old, you can imagine how stale it was. I took another bite and CRUNCH...I chewed on something extremely crunchy. I didn't think it was the cereal so I found a piece with my tongue and grabbed it before I swallowed it.

"Is this part of my tooth?!" I thought.

I put my tongue to use and began exploring for a broken tooth. Thank goodness, I didn't find anything.

But I did find that the bonding to my lower lingual wire chipped off.

Because posting a photo of my actual mouth would have been awkward

I finished getting ready and called the dentist (which we had just been to a week prior! So grateful for that!) and they were able to get me in at 1:00.

It wasn't a huge procedure but I could already start to feel my teeth move. So I was especially thankful they were able to see me right away and the doctor was so nice!

What I wasn't thankful for was that my boys were fist fighting in the operatory while they were working on me. "Um, Mom..." the dentist said. UGH! Thankfully, he followed it up with, "Don't worry, I have two young boys of my own."

We were done in no time and my teeth are squared away.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 19

The Lime had his baptism preview tonight and the invitation said for 8 year olds and parents.  I wasn't going to get a baby-sitter for Doodlebug since I estimated we'd be gone for less than an hour but I also wasn't sure how I'd keep him reverent at 7:00 at night (especially when he didn't have a nap today).

Enter puzzles.

This boy loves puzzles and I couldn't be more grateful. He's perfectly content with doing one, then taking it apart, and doing it over and over. When we were at The Lime's class party last week, he found some good quality floor puzzles and was bound and determined to finish them. I tried putting them away, since school was almost over, and he FREAKED out. So he quickly completed them and was pleased as punch with his accomplishment.

I love seeing his little brain work, his pride when he completes one, and the peace and quiet I get for that brief moment while he's working.

Expressing Gratitude - Day 18

Today was a good day.

My paycheck wasn't ready when I arrived at work so I had to go back at 7:00 to get it.  Doodlebug was already awake (the kid wakes up before 6:30 every.single.day) and The Lime woke up when I went in his room to get Doodlebug's clothes.  I asked him if he wanted to come with us, and that doughnuts were going to be involved, and he said yes.

We picked up my check, grabbed our doughnuts, hot chocolate, and orange juice, and headed back home to gobble up our treats.  I got ready for the day while the boys played outside and then we headed out to run some errands.  We might have stopped by Togo's for lunch where The Lime graciously offered to hold the door open for a woman in a wheelchair but she declined.  Love that he is willing to serve others.

LaVor needed some new work boots so Boot Barn was the next stop on our list.  When we got in the car to leave, Doodlebug asked where we were going next.  Bass Pro wasn't too far so we poked our heads inside for a few minutes.

We worked off our lunch by now and were one exit away from our beloved Taylor's.  Doodlebug asked for a milkshake earlier in the day so it only made sense to make a pit stop.

After enjoying our ice cream and shakes, we walked over to the park next door where Doodlebug played on the playground and The Lime stared at the skateboarders.

The sun began to set and the temperature was cooling off; both signs it was time to head home.

Even though I don't get the weekends off, I'm grateful for the time we're able to spend together as a family.

This next week is going to be just like that times 6!

Expressing Gratitude - Day 17

I was on Facebook one day (shocker, I know) and saw a comment on my sister-in-law's page from a woman in my ward.

"How do you know Robin?!" I asked my SIL.

"She's my mom's cousin," she responded.  "My grandma and Robin's dad are brother and sister."

Since then, I've felt a bond with Robin and her dad.  While we aren't related by blood, I imagine we're related through temple sealings and that's pretty awesome.

Ralph, the dad, passed away last week after 12 years without his sweetheart.  LaVor had a chance to sit down and talk with him once and Ralph expressed how ready he was to die.  Over the course of those 12 years, he handcrafted his coffin (boy, I wish I had a picture of it...talk about AMAZING!).  The detail was immaculate.

The Lime asked me the other day what Ralph was to him.  "Well, he isn't really anything to us but he's Auntie Krista's great uncle."

"I guess I'll have him be my second grandpa," The Lime said.

Ralph was a happy guy and could always be seen with his wooden cane, which he also made.

After his service today, his daughter posted on Facebook that she managed to make it through the entire service without shedding a tear.  "...I am so happy he is with mom. I will miss him terribly. I am grateful and proud to be his daughter."

I don't know how people deal with death without the knowledge of eternal families.  It's so hard to be sad for someone when you know they're jumping for joy because of all the reunions they're participating in.

I can't express enough gratitude for the hope and happiness the gospel of Jesus Christ brings me.  And for the blessing it is to be sealed to my family forever.