WHY I LOVE THANKSGIVING

This. All of this. Right here. These people. This is why I love Thanksgiving. A time to sit and reflect on all you are truly grateful for. A wonderful and supportive family. Loving friends & cherished friendships. The beautiful city and country to live in. The green grass, changing leaves, and snow topped houses. The smells of a Sunday pot roast and potatoes. Inspirational talks, lessons, songs, and leaders at church. A date night to just sit and talk for hours and hours at dinner with your spouse. Gainful employment and an education. Curling up with a good book and cup of hot cider. I could go on and on. But man, would you just look. Look at all we have to be grateful for. 

Thankful Hearts & Hands

Hurricane Sandy Helping Hands

With it being Thanksgiving & all of us gathering with family and friends, we wanted to make sure we realize how thankful and blessed we truly are. This video is a great reminder of the blessings we are all granted with and how everyone can give a little bit to those in need. 

My Christmas List

Okay, okay. So I have been seeing lots of Christmas lists floating around blog land, and thought it was time to share my opinion.

Some, I find quite practical. For example, not to toot my own horn, but I asked for a vacuum, food storage, and a humidifier. Yep. You know you are an old married woman when those are your top three things you come up with for Christmas. I really, REALLY, had to think hard when Derek asked me what I would like. I find it quite comical when I see some Christmas list "ideas". Now, maybe I am being judgmental, but, are you for reals?! Do you really need a triple digit designer watch & bag? And, I know some of you are reading this thinking, "She is just jealous." Let me answer that for you, I'm not. I honestly believe that Christmas is a time to be with family, enjoy the Spirit you feel during the season, and cherishing and remembering the reason we celebrate. A few years ago, my Mom asked us around the Christmas Eve dinner table, "If you could have the music, the decorations, the feeling, the Spirit, and family time, or all the gifts, what would you choose?" The honest reactions of a then 21, 19, and 14 year old: "The Spirit, feeling, family, and music." So what do I really want for Christmas this year?

Time with my busy husband. A night on the couch snuggling. Visits with family and friends. Sitting in the house with all the lights off by the glow of the Christmas tree reading Luke II. Getting ready each morning listening to Christmas music. Watching "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Singing the Christmas hymns in Sacrament meeting.

Stuff(ing)

Just some stuff on my mind....

• 
• Christmas decor is already up in our house, and I love it. Twinkling fairy lights, bright & cheery ornaments, and my pretty nativity make me happy. [pictures and post soon to come]
• Derek & I are having our "first" Thanksgiving alone. Yep. This means I will be cooking.
• Okay, okay. I'm not cooking everything. Boston Market is providing the turkey, Pillsbury is helping the rolls, and good old Marie Calendar is doing the pie. This leaves me with stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, & maybe a jello salad the man has requested.
• It's in the 60's & 50's at night and Derek is still requesting that the A/C be on. He is a polar bear and needs an ice cave to live in.
• Derek is doing rounds at the hospital Thursday-Sunday morning. We might go visit and see some of his patients later in the day since they might be alone over the holiday. Kinda makes me sad :(
• We found some really fun things to do over the long weekend! I don't know who is more excited about Zoo lights, a picnic in the park, seeing a movie, and Christmas shopping.
• My sissy is presenting a case in front of a "moot court" [a "fake" court of judges and lawyers] and is helping represent BYU-Idaho. She is one of four students in the whole school! We are super proud!
• Aside from our regular DVR shows [New Girl, Raising Hope, Always Sunny, Modern Family], I have added The Chew & Ellen- every.day. Obsessed? Yes. Ashamed? Heck no.
• My baby brother [and by "baby" I mean 16-year-old, 6'4, football star] was moved up to Varsity last week. His team is in the semi-finals and hoping to get far so they can play in Qualcomm Stadium. Needless to say, Dad is beaming ear to ear.
• Our daily "Thankful" board is getting full with great things. Yesterday was carpet. Today was machines of all kind- washing, drying, vacuuming. Basically, thankful I was born in 1988 rather then 1888.

What are you looking forward to this week? Family? Friends? Food?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Golden Ticket

This months VT message is special. We are able to choose a conference talk from the recent October 2011 General Conference and present it to our sisters. I decided to choose President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's talk entitled "Forget Me Not". In his talk, he focuses on ways to help the sisters of the church focus on themselves and what is truly important in life. He uses the classic {and somewhat creepy} childhood story of Willy Wanka & The Chocolate Factory. Instead of focusing on finding our "golden ticket"- which can be anything from a perfect birthday party for a child, impressive Christmas decor/gifts, or even cramming our days full of un-important tasks- we need to focus on the "....beauty and sweetness of everyday moments." For the month of November, Derek and I are writing things we are thankful for down and putting them up on a Thankful Board. It's a great way to think and cherish the moments that we take for granted everyday. I challenge you all to think about the moments in your life that you are grateful for this holiday season and see what happiness and joy it can bring into your life.

{To find out more about General Conference, Visiting Teaching, or President Dieter F. Uctdorf, click the "I'm a Mormon" button on my page}

Karma

I believe in karma. Call me crazy, but I do. Last night, I was helping out a friend with a sick baby, out-of-town husband, and two sleeping toddlers. Yes, she's super Mom. She ended up needing to take baby to the ER (seriously, so sad! I wanted to cry. I hate when babies are sick). My friend and I rushed over to watch her sleeping angles while she headed to the ER. After 4 long hours, a tired baby and mommy came home. We were all relieved to hear that baby was doing better and was fast asleep. When I came home around 1:00 am, Derek brought up the idea of karma. "One day, when we have a sick baby and sleeping kids at home, it's good to know you can have someone to call to come help you out." And it made me think. It's so true. By helping others, we are giving ourselves opportunities to one day be served by others. It made me happy to know that one day in the future, when I'm elbow high in laundry to fold, and over-flowing pile of dishes in the sink, and a sticky floor with spilled juice on it, I'll have someone be willing to help me in my time of need.

So, yes. I believe in good karma...and so should you!

Thankful

Today, I'm feeling very thankful.

Time off from school with Derek.

Happy to see family and friends the next few months.

Adventures in San Diego (temple, Disneyland, Old Town)

New Christmas decorations (especially my new gorgeous nativity)

Kind co-workers & boss who are allowing me time off to visit family for the holidays.

Finally cleaning out my bedroom at my parents house. (I'm excited to see old yearbooks!)

yUmmy food & pumpkin pancakes, muffins, cookies!

Laughing while Derek plays Wii & looses to my 8-year-old cousin Trevor.

Pit: Laundry, packing, and cleaning before we leave.

Peak: A fun road-trip with Derek on the way to Carlsbad!