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Z = Zeek Braverman

I have a love/hate relationship with Thursdays.  It means Parenthood is on but it also means we're one episode closer to the series finale.

I was telling me mom the other day that I feel so foolish being so upset that a television show is ending but I really feel like I know these people, and that they're real!

Like Zeek Braverman, the dad in the show.  He reminds both LaVor and me SO much of our friends' dad.  The wisecracks, the facial expressions, what he gets upset about, what he laughs at, how he deals with things.  He has me laughing, and crying, in every episode.

At the beginning of this season, Zeek had a heart attack and required surgery.  He's been doing well since the surgery but on last week's episode, he woke up in the middle of the night, barely able to whisper his wife's name.  The last scene of the night was her calling 911.  Talk about emotional!

This is so silly, but I really felt like I was watching a loved one suffer.  So I tried covering my face from LaVor as tears fell from my eyes.  It's so stupid and I don't know why I let fictional characters get to me, but I've grown to love and appreciate Zeek and the rest of the Bravermans.

Now I have to wait until January 8 to find out what happens next.  Eeeeekkkk!

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Y = Youngins

youngin (plural youngins)

1. A young one: a youth, a child

Sometimes, I wish I was still a little kid.  What I wouldn't give for someone to make me go to sleep, for someone to make all my meals, iron my clothes, wash my dishes, pay for everything I need.  It would be so nice to have your biggest worry be that you got your Wranglers dirty (that's how The Lime is).  You could argue with people one second and be their best friend the next.  You are able to forgive at the drop of a hat and are blind to all the negativity in the world.  

I'm grateful for these two youngins and the time they get to be together, being just that...youngins.  Today, they were trying to make a snowman out of mud.  Sometimes they play house or ride their bikes or decorate cookies.

I love that I can learn things from youngins, especially that cute youngin on the left.  He's such a smart, funny, happy boy and he makes me want to be a smarter, funnier, happier mom.

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X = X________________________

"Sign here," we heard over and over and over again.  At the end, I even seemed to forget how to write my name.  I'm not sure if it was the starvation that was getting to me or if I had written it so many times my mind thought it could work on auto-pilot.  Nevertheless, I'm grateful for having to sign at the X because it means I no longer have to drive in fear that my car will break down!

It started back before Doodlebug was born.  My car would randomly overheat and it eventually became a regular thing if I sat in traffic or we drove a long distance.  We chugged along for over six months, making the situation work, said lots of prayers that we'd find a car for our family, and those prayers were answered.

I really can't tell you how grateful I am.  Lots of gratitude prayers have been offered for this blessing and we're so stinkin' excited to be able to expand our driving more than 30 minutes from our home.

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W = Warm & snuggly

For us California wimps, it's cold outside (like in the 30s at night)!  Normally, we would be burning lots of fires in our fireplace but a certain little person discovered it recently so we need to get a gate.  Our house has been in the 60s, and although I find it FREEZING, I refuse to turn the heat on.

So at night, we snuggle up in warm and snuggly blankets.  I am currently sleeping with 3.5 blankets and I wrap Doodlebug up in 3.  LaVor and The Lime sleep super warm so they barely use 1.

I'm not sure how they manage.  I can't sleep if I'm cold.  I do love and am thankful for the warmth and coziness my blankets offer me.  If I could, I'd get flannel sheets for even more warmth and snuggles but LaVor would sweat to death.  

Warm & snuggly Doodlebug!

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V = Venturing out

Our Target is down the street from In N Out and whenever we pass it, The Lime inhales and says, "It smells so good!"

We love In N Out but could not get The Lime to eat anything other than their french fries.  When we went camping last year, we pretty much force fed him one of their grilled cheese.  That was 16 months ago so we thought we'd try our hand at it again.  This time, though, we were moving up to a burger.

He requested just the meat, bun, and pickles which we were okay with.  At least he was willing to try something.

Not only did he try it, he ate every stinkin' bite.  I'm so thankful we can now go to In N Out as a family and have everyone order burgers!  

It's my own fault that The Lime is delayed in eating certain foods but I'm grateful he's willing to venture out from his normal choices.  He's good about trying new things and 95% of the time likes it.  I'm also glad he doesn't have to miss out on this deliciousness anymore!

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U = Uninterrupted Sleep

Joni Mitchell first sang, and then The Counting Crows, "Don't it always seem to go. That you don't know what you got 'til it's gone."  Ain't that the truth!

It has been over a year since I had a night of uninterrupted sleep.  From the second I found out I was pregnant, I was waking up numerous times in the night to go to the bathroom.  Now I have a stinker bug Doodlebug that wakes up (still) every two hours to eat.  Hence why I look like this...

That's my yawn, and extremely fresh hair.

I would love to be able to sleep in, or catch a nap without fear of it being 30 minutes because Doodlebug isn't consistent with his naps.  I also wonder how much happier I'd be and better I'd feel if I actually fell into a deep sleep and didn't have to sleep with one ear open.

So please be grateful for your uninterrupted sleep because I wasn't when I was getting it, but I sure am grateful for (and miss it) now.

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T = Talks

The visiting teaching message this month was to present one of the conference talks to the sisters.  There were so many great ones to choose from but for one of my visits this week, I chose Elder Bednar's.

If I weren't already a member of the church, this talk would have converted me.  The story of his boys' immediately caught my attention.  Just like his son spreading the good news of the band-aids healing power, why wouldn't I want to share the gospel with those around me and testify of the Atonement?  I just loved it.

Another favorite of mine is, again, from Elder Bednar.

One of my favorite quotes from this talk is, "You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended."  

I've been reminding The Lime to stop and think if what he does/says is a good thing or a bad thing before doing/saying it.  I need to follow my own advice and take a moment to remind myself that I have the choice to be offended or not.

This is another one that I love and think of often.  And not just because I have one of his quotes hanging on our living room wall.

It is such a blessing to be able to do a simple search, of essentially any topic, and find a talk that fits the criteria perfectly.