Merci

I know i've been kind of a flaky blogger. you can break up with me if you want. i wouldn't blame you. i promise my intentions are more consistent than my actions.

now that that's out of the way, i wanted to do a quick (a.k.a. long and rambling) post of thanks before that holiday flies by and it's suddenly january.

i'm thankful for..my children. that one is pretty obvious. but no matter how much they drive me crazy, they make my house a home. they make up my little family. and they still love me no matter how grumpy or impatient i am towards them.

i'm thankful for..the temple. i've been trying to frequent the temple more often lately. i'm thankful for the time to reflect and meditate. i'm thankful for the break from the chaos of the world. i'm thankful they let me in still :)

i'm thankful for..my home. it drives me crazy. it really does. there's not a thing on any of the walls and it still looks like i moved in yesterday, not 6 months ago. but it's mine. and i'm grateful for it. ants and all.

i'm thankful for..my babysitters. i feel like half of the ward/my friends watch my children on any given day. it's kind of an awful feeling. it really is. a mix of awful and grateful. i hate leaving my kids so much, but i'm grateful for sweet ward sisters who come to my rescue at any moment. it's overwhelming at times.

i'm thankful for..family. i love my family. my parents truly have been angels in my life the past several years. i couldn't have done anything without them. my siblings, i miss all so much. we've all moved around a bit so we're a bit separated for the time being and don't see each other as often as we did when we were all in az. i had the chance to visit my oldest sister last month in ohio and it only reminded me how much i miss her and her family.  my other sister is about to have her 2nd baby. i still have yet to convince her 1st baby that i'm his favorite aunt. so hard to do across the country. my brother's family is thankfully within an hour driving distance so we have been lucky. what would we do without our families.

i'm thankful for..my job. i know, i complain. a lot. but i do have a good job that provides well for me and my children. and darn it, i worked hard for that degree i might as well use it. plus, people think that nurses are super smart. i'm going to keep fooling them for awhile i think.

i'm thankful for..my new bed comforter. its silly. but i am. how have i miss out on down comforters for so long?

i'm thankful for..my piano. hallelujah, we have a piano. we had no other furniture in that room for awhile, but the second the piano was placed my house felt like a home. it makes me happy to hear my children play it. and it makes me laugh when i play it and my children are incredibly amazed.

i'm thankful for..the priesthood. i'm reminded of it because of a sweet experience i had this morning with grace who was sick. i'm grateful for those who came to do such a simple, yet profound task such as a blessing. it meant a lot to me. and grace has been on the uphill climb ever since.

i'm thankful for..trials. the trials i have experienced in the past have provided me with many opportunities to try and help other people. it has helped me in my job as well as my personal life. i have found it has connected me to some people more than i ever would have been if not for that trial. i'm thankful for humility and willingness to accept that they have taught me.

i'm thankful for..my sweet someone. i won't be mushy, cause that's not me. but i'm thankful for the kindness and sensitivity shown towards me and my children. it has meant more than i could say.

i'm thankful for..my friends. i hardly ever see my closest friends. we are separated by cities and states. but when we're together it's as if no time has passed at all. these girls have been through it all with me. these girls i can still act like i'm 17 with. (and we do) these girls will call me the second they know i need help. these girls make me laugh like no one can.

there are somedays where i realize how blessed i am, and other days where i am clouded by the difficulties in life. but i'm thankful for all that has been given to me and looking forward for whats to come. happy thanksgiving!