Picking Strawberries and Raspberries

I'm grateful for the simple joy of picking fresh strawberries and raspberries, especially if I can do so with one of my best friends. Thanks Darcy for the experience and memory we shared. This was a special morning.

What are YOU grateful for?

A week in Idaho with the Lauti's

I'm grateful for one of the happiest weeks of my life. We just returned home after spending a week in Idaho, and we loved every minute of it. We spent four days with our good friends, Tai and Darcy Lauti in Rexburg, before bonding with Wade's cousins in Idaho Falls and a spectacular family reunion with my cousins in Shelley (more on that later).
yes, the girls are brushing their hair with dingle- hoppers just like Ariel on The Little Mermaid.

What are YOU grateful for?

Teeth

I'm grateful for teeth, mine AND the little ones that belong to my kids. While the baby has been getting new teeth, my older daughter has been losing teeth (2 so far...quite the excitement, right?) My little sister gave me the idea for this post, and ever since then I've been reflecting on it at every meal just how grateful I am for my teeth!

What are YOU grateful for?

Clean Water

I'm grateful for clean and cool drinking water. When I lived in Ecuador on a humanitarian mission, I couldn't drink the tap water so we had to pay for clean water that we COULD drink or even use to brush our teeth. Thankfully, it was easy to access that water once we payed for it. I know some people around the world still travel long distances to a well or river to obtain water. All I need to do is turn on the faucet on my sink. Because I have been given much, right?

What are YOU grateful for?

Fresh Paint

I'm grateful for fresh paint. It's one of the least expensive ways to update your home and make it feel warm and cozy. This past weekend, Wade and his friend, Craig, finished painting the old preschool room to turn it into this:

our new Master Bedroom!

We are so excited for these changes we're making to our home. My son now has his own room, and my daughter is thrilled to have a "girls room" to share with her baby sister. The new school room downstairs for the toys and books is heavenly, giving us lots of space and a quieter, more peaceful living space upstairs. I'm sooooo grateful!

What are YOU grateful for?

Washer and Dryer

I'm grateful for a washer and dryer that becomes my friend (or enemy depending on your perspective) every laundry day. I love the smell and feel of freshly washed and dried clothes. Just lovely.

What are YOU grateful for?

Soap

I'm grateful for soap, and if it's soft and smells good, then I really feel blessed. :) Thinking about the pioneers making their own soap makes me really appreciate yet another convenience that I enjoy in this modern world.

What are YOU grateful for?

Faithful Pioneers

I'm grateful for the faithful pioneers who settled the beautiful valley of Salt Lake. I marvel at the distance they traveled in harsh conditions, yet kept on moving forward. I was touched by Dieter F. Uchtdorf's words found here.

What are YOU grateful for?

Flushing Toilet

I'm grateful to have a clean, flushing toilet. There are thousands in this world that don't have that convenience. My good friend, Melissa Sevy, and her brother, Sean, and their team, are in India making a change in the world. They are building toilets in some local slums where people have to "heed the call of nature" out in the open, which leads to a variety of diseases and dangers. These toilets ("Soilets") are cheap, easy-to-build, and actually use earthworms in the holding tank that eat up the waste... so it doesn't smell and the waste is turned into really fertile soil people can use. Here's a video that humbled me and moved me to action. YOU can help, too! Just click on this link. Even $1 would be greatly appreciated! The bucket needs to tip by TODAY or they don't get the funding needing.

What are YOU grateful for?

Local Parks

I'm grateful for our local parks. Man, have we had a fun summer thus far just enjoying our local parks! Today, my sisters and I met up at Liberty Park so the kids could swim and play in the 7 Canyons water area (I love that it's free). Then the kids wanted to ride the Ferris Wheel, Merry Go Round, and Airplane Launch. Why we don't do this every Friday is beyond me. It was so cool! I go running there every week, and sometimes I still forget ALL the many features it has for people of all ages. Love it! Sugarhouse and Sunnyside are also parks you'll find us often. Who doesn't love the summertime? It's the best, eh?

What are YOU grateful for?

Preserving Memories

I'm grateful for the art of preserving memories. I think it's marvelous that there are so many ways in which to help us remember our special moments: journal writing, scrapbooking, digital scrapbooking, online photo books, pre-made photo albums, just to name a few. I print my family blog each year through Blurb as our family scrapbook, but then honestly I prefer good old fashioned scrapbooking when I'm making books for each of my children. It's like sewing, woodworking, or crafting of another kind. It just feels good to work with my hands, cutting and pressing pictures down onto a page, and creating something aesthetically pleasing.

If I'm determined enough, I can set up shop in front of an old classic chick flick and scrapbook for hours on my own at home. But I get so much more accomplished when I'm with a friend. In the few hours I spent with Carolynn, my cousin, on Tuesday and Kim, my best friend, today, I created 12 full pages, each with 4 -5 pictures on them. I was so excited to scrap several months worth of memories and be on my way to catching up. Yay! I know a lot of my friends have switched to digital scrapbooking, which is awesome and a little tempting. But I've been given so much cute paper for free from friends and family for Christmas or just because they've switched to digital themselves, that it doesn't cost very much for me to continue the old fashioned way. Plus, I'm pretty simple and just slap down two matching pages, border my photos (half the time), add photos, journal a caption or two, and I'm done. Easy peasy! The best part is then having my child join me while looking through their own book, reminding me "all about the time when we..." Precious.

What are YOUR favorite ways to preserve memories? What are YOU grateful for?

When my baby eats nutritious food

I'm grateful when my baby eats more nutritious food that just dirt and rocks. The last several months, besides mommy's milk, she has been a super picky eater. She was on a kick for a while where she would only eat squash, then bananas, then strawberries, then green beans, then apricots and always in it's regular form in small pieces, not the typical mushy baby food. She would rotate and ONLY eat that one food and spit out everything else I offered. Sometimes she would refuse even her favorite food. It's frustrating because I just want her to be healthy and strong.

Here's the kicker though, whenever she's on the ground outside, she'll eat ANYTHING and EVERYTHING she sees, especially dirt and rocks. Have you ever experienced that with your little one? So yesterday morning, when she ate tons of my fruit smoothie (strawberries, bananas, spinach, and stevia mixed together), I felt an abundance of gratitude and joy that she was finally getting some good nutrition.

What are YOU grateful for?

Childlike People In My Life

I'm grateful for the crazy...um, I mean childlike people in my life. As part of our activity for Family Home Evening last night, we all went swimming in our kiddie pool. Wade then wrapped the Thomas the Train towel around his neck and ran around the backyard like a little boy. Between my college education and several years teaching preschool, I have a fairly clear understanding of why children do the things they do. This "child" however had me totally baffled. haha I couldn't stop laughing...except for the 30 seconds it took me to snap these photos. I love you, Wade. Thanks for always keeping me on my toes!
What are YOU grateful for?

To Do List

I'm grateful for my "To Do" list. It just helps me be more productive with my work so I have more time to play with Wade and the kids. If any of you know me really well, you've probably seen me bust out a dance move or sing a line of a song randomly. I do that a lot, particularly while cleaning, cooking, folding laundry, etc. Who said my "To Do" list has to be boring? Let's have some fun while we work, eh?

What are YOU grateful for?

Girls Night With My Daughters

I'm grateful for Girls Night Out with my daughter. Last night, we watched Mary Poppins, ate Cafe Rio deliciousness, and then I put her hair in curlers while we chatted together and sang our favorite songs. I love connecting with her. She is such a beautiful girl, inside and out, and she felt extra beautiful this morning on our way to church with her curly locks of hair. :)

What are YOU grateful for?

A Good Deal

I'm grateful for a good deal. Wade and I were fortunate to pick out some awesome classic movies for a $1 from his aunt's collection before she put them in her yard sale. I had never seen The Man from Snowy River, and now it's on my Top 5 Favorites List. Wow, what a beautiful story! Also in the collection was Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story 2, Anne of Green Gables, the Continuing Story, and some others that I'm really excited about.

What are YOU grateful for?

Keyboard

I'm grateful for my keyboard. It was a Costco $120 special, but it's of much greater worth than that to me. Music is in my soul, and my keyboard provides me the opportunity to practice playing and singing as often as I can. And from this picture, you can tell my children have followed suit. :) I've started a tradition of allowing the baby a chance to tap at the ivories every morning. It keeps her entertained while I clean up the breakfast dishes. As much as I long for a real piano, my keyboard is light enough to be taken off it's stand and put on the floor for the baby or even move downstairs in the school room. Today, I used it while teaching Jozette voice lessons. She owns her own spa and is an amazing massage therapist, so we're exchanging an hour voice lesson for an hour massage two times a month. I'm grateful to have my keyboard to assist me in this sweet exchange.

What are YOU grateful for?

Interruptions

I'm grateful for interruptions. I say that because I'm not really thrilled about them, but I need to accept them more in my life. ;) This morning, after my 3 mile run, my hubby went to work, my two older children were playing together, and the baby was feeding herself dry cereal in her high chair. So I wanted to take some time for myself and just soak in a bubble bath and meditate. I should have guessed it...within minutes, the children were knocking on the door and continued doing so off and on for the entire half hour with question after question after question. (Can you believe I was so determined to make my nice bath last that long even with all the interruptions???) haha

I realized those interruptions represent my mommyhood. My children need me. As many older and wiser women have shared, "Appreciate your children now. They won't be small forever. You'll miss the noise and the mess (and the interruptions) later on." It's true, while it's still important for me to have "me time" to go running, have girls night out, date night with my husband, read scriptures or another good book, pray, meditate, nap, update my Gratitude Blog, and take my bubble baths, it's all about BALANCE. I also need to be PRESENT to take care of their needs, interruptions and all, amid my housework, "me time," and everything else. I have a feeling in 20 years when my children are grown and gone, I won't have QUITE as many interruptions. (still some interruptions because my adult children and grandchildren will still need me right?)

Somedays, I don't feel like I accomplish much on MY "to do" list because my kids need help cleaning up their room after having dress up parties like the picture above illustrates or another similar interruption occurs. But it's just part of the territory of being a mommy. And for that, I'm grateful.

What are YOU grateful for?

Girls Camp

I'm grateful for Girls Camp. With the beauty and peace of the mountains, "Survivor" like challenges, silly skits, laughing, hiking, eating dutch oven goodness, scripture reading, journal writing, friendship making, testimony building experiences, it's just so awesome. Today, I spent the day with our young women up in the mountains, and I loved every minute of it. I wish I could stay with them all 4 days of camp, but I felt I needed to be home with my children part of the time, particularly the baby since I'm still nursing her. I'll return on Saturday to help them take down their tents, pack up, and drive them home. And thankfully my friend, Cynthia, will watch the kiddos again when I go. What a sweet friend she is!Here's Gail, Erin, and Sy shakin' it, baby! haha I love it!

What are YOU grateful for?

Simple, Healthy, and Delicious Recipes

I'm grateful for simple, healthy, and delicious recipes, both old and new. I love good food, and I appreciate so much those who bless me with recipes to try so my family and I can enjoy good food. :) This picture is of my Whole Wheat Vegan Pizza and Whole Wheat Hawaiian Pizza, which I make often, and did so tonight, except with gluten free crust for my daughter's sake. Either way, it tastes amazing! Besides our family cookbook my mom put together, I like to try recipes from two dear friends of mine, found here and here. This one is also a favorite. Do you have any you highly recommend?
Whole Wheat Pizza

Put pizza stone in oven and preheat to 500 degrees for ONE HOUR while preparing pizza

1 1/2 T SAF Yeast
3/4 T Sugar
1 1/2 t Salt
6 C Whole Wheat Flour
2 T Vital Wheat Gluten
2 1/4 C Warm Water

In a large electric mixing bowl, blend all ingredients together. Dough will still be quite sticky. Knead for 5-6 minutes. Put dough in bowl covered in olive oil and let rise 20 min. Divide dough into 4 balls to make 4 large pizzas, and roll out one at a time onto parchment paper. Add desired sauces and toppings, use a paddle or another person to help you put the pizza (parchment paper and all) on the stone in the oven. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Enjoy!

My favorite types of pizza:

Vegan: refrigerated basil or pesto sauce, zucchini, asparagus, tomatoes, salt

Hawaiian: pasta sauce, mozzarella cheese, ham, pineapple

BBQ Chicken: BBQ sauce, mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, onion


Happy cooking! What are YOU grateful for?

Surprises After the Work Has Been Done

I'm grateful for surprises after all the work has been done. My kids have been amazing at doing their chores lately. This wasn't always the case, and I often felt like I was the one cleaning up after them every time. But recently, I've been really consistent with my old Love and Logic techniques (ie: "I'll be happy to help you.....after you help me clean up.") I allow the natural consequences to fall into place. They make the mess. They clean it up. Period. Sure, I can join them with music and fun, and clean up time goes faster. But I am NOT doing it for them anymore. So now they're making their beds, putting clothes away, taking dishes to the sink, and cleaning up the playroom better than usual. (HINT: dejunking the toys a couple times a year makes clean up WAY easier. I love Don Aslett and the DI!)

So after weeks of hard work and consistently doing their chores, they earned a visit to the toy store. My daughter picked out a diaper bag full of baby doll accessories and my son picked out (more) cowboy clothes. I say more because he had some at home already, but hey, if it's his soul purpose in life to be a cowboy, then I'm not holding him back. haha Also, when I say I'm grateful for "surprises," I'm referring to that happy, peaceful feeling of accomplishment that comes after the work is done. It just feels good to get the work done, and if I get a new cowboy hat out of it, all the better, right? ;)

What are YOU grateful for?

The Ability to Work Hard

I'm grateful for the ability to work hard. Yesterday, after Wade and I returned from our weekend getaway, we put on our paint clothes and went to work painting for hours so we could turn my preschool room into our new master bedroom. As many of you know, I'm taking several years off teaching preschool so I can spend more one-on-one time with my children. And since we're not moving right away, we decided to really enjoy the home we live in, changing rooms around, adding more space for the children to play since our renters moved out downstairs, and updating the look of our home a bit. Fun stuff! But it definitely takes a lot of hard work to create a beautiful home.

What are YOU grateful for?

Weekend Getaways

I'm grateful for weekend getaways with my sweetheart. Friday, I dropped all 3 kids off with my wonderful mother-in-law, and met up with Wade for some quality one-on-one time together at Seven Peaks Water Park, dinner at the Mandarin, and an overnight stay at The Little America. We were so grateful for the time away to reconnect. And of course we were grateful for Wade's mom and step dad who watched our little ones. I have an AMAZING man in my life, and I'm grateful he spoils me with these getaways 4 times a year so that we can have a rockin' marriage. Love you babe!

What are YOU grateful for?

New Opportunities

I'm grateful for new opportunities. I just interviewed with the lovely former Miss New York, Amber Evans, creator of Stars Talent Studio. My 5 year old daughter, who is High School Musical's number one fan, has been telling me for over a year that she wants to be in a movie. The entertainment industry has gone so downhill with young actors and actresses becoming more trashy than classy these days that I would be hesitant to allow my daughter to be in that environment. But then I met Amber Evans who is different and holds a higher standard of code of conduct with those she works with. I wanted to tell her about my daughter, and she immediately told me she's been dying for a fun, cute red head with freckles to work with. So my daughter and I will BOTH be taking some acting classes (as if I need it...aren't I dramatic enough? hehe) and engaging in a new experience singing and acting together. I'm kind of excited. What do you think? Can you picture me doing a voice over for a cartoon or playing the role of a college student in High School Musical 5? I am loving this idea!

What are YOU grateful for?

My Sisters

I'm grateful for my sisters. I have super sweet sister-in-laws, too, on my side and Wade's side of the family, but today was a day with just Margaret, Ruthanne, and me...Olive Garden, pedicures, manicures, and lots of laughing. They have ALWAYS been there for me during my happiest times and toughest times. I sure love these girls!

What are YOU grateful for?

Camera

I'm grateful for my camera. It's 6 years old and definitely due for an upgrade, but it fulfills it's purpose, and for that I'm grateful. It captures my favorite people and things in life and the precious moments that I'll want to remember for years to come. This was just a cool view of my baby at our 4th of July Neighborhood Breakfast. She has this habit of doing cute things with her cute little self like crawling on the grass on her tip toes since the grass was itchy for her legs. Funny girl! I'm so glad I had my camera ready for this one.

What are YOU grateful for?

Bubble Baths

I'm grateful for long, hot bubble baths. At least a few times a week, I'm able to sneak one in, and it's one my favorite times for spiritual reflection and meditation.

What are YOU grateful for?

Freedom

I'm grateful for my freedom and all those who sacrificed to make that possible for me. Having lived for a short time in two other countries, Ecuador on a humanitarian mission and France for a study abroad, my eyes were opened and my heart was humbled by all the blessings we have as U.S. citizens that we often take for granted. As a child, we traveled a lot as a family all over this beautiful country (to 49 states to be exact), which I count as another blessing. One of my favorites places to visit was Gettysburg. I will never forget the sacred nature of Gettysburg, knowing how many died for their God, their country, and for freedom for us all. One thing is certain, on this Independence Day I want to say that I'm proud to be an American!

What are YOU grateful for?

Neighbors

I'm grateful for my neighbors. Where I live, there are hundreds of families of all different religions and beliefs, and I'm grateful for that diversity. Wade and I have received generous christian service from our neighbors who share our beliefs and also from those who don't. They are all just such wonderful people. I feel so blessed to associate with each of them! We are excited to attend our annual neighborhood 4th of July Breakfast tomorrow with a flag ceremony, famous pancakes, fish pond, games, and a candy cannon for the children. We haven't missed it in the 6 years we've lived here, and I expect this one to be just as memorable. Isn't the 4th of July such a special holiday to celebrate our independence? So many blessings!

What are YOU grateful for?

Mother-in-Law, Eileen

I'm grateful for my mother in law, Eileen. Today at the family BBQ, she let me know that she had prepared a few gluten free items just for my daughter. I was so touched! It's been rather difficult to get used to a gluten free diet in our family in order to help my daughter's body heal from eczema. It's been worth it, but it sure can be tricky. We just take it day by day. Have you ever had to deal with an allergy? Just when I think we're doing well at home, we attend a family get together or birthday party where everyone else is enjoying breads, rolls, cakes, and the like, and suddenly, my little girl feels left out. So it meant a lot to us that Eileen was so thoughtful, which is a common trait she possesses. We love you, mom!

What are YOU grateful for?

Curveballs in Life

I'm grateful for the curveballs in life. You thought I was going to say that I'm grateful for baseball, didn't you? Nope! True, it's America's favorite game, and Summertime and Baseball go together like a ball and a glove, but I'm going deeper than that for a moment.

Remember this post? Well, one curveball after another, and guess what? We're not moving afterall....at least not right away. We had found a perfect little home and everything felt just right, but after 2 months and some very frustrating situations, we decided to peacefully walk away, cancel our contract, and be grateful for the home we have right here. I know many of you have been there and you know the feeling, the ups and downs that can accompany the selling, buying, moving process. Wow, I did not expect this much stress! We have an agent who's going to continue to work to sell the home we're in, and next time, we'll be smart and hire an agent to assist us in buying a new home so that will be a HUGE relief. This whole ordeal truly does make me grateful for the beautiful home we've been blessed with. Our neighbors and ward family are all happy we're staying for a few more months. And although it was bittersweet at first to walk away from our dream home, I know there's something better out there, and it will be better timing, that's for sure. I feel those curveballs in life are meant to humble me and help me turn to God in gratitude for all I do have.

What are YOU grateful for?