honesty

I'm grateful for the honest people of Pleasant Grove. Today I went to Logan's school for the annual teddy bear picnic. After 45 minutes, we went out to the car and my iPhone was sitting on the trunk. I usually put stuff there while I am getting Asher out. I guess I just forgot to pick it back up. Oh man, I would be in so much trouble if I lost that! Thank you, thank you honest people!

Talents

I am grateful for my talents. I'm not vain enough (or confident enough) to name them, but grateful for what Heavenly Father has blessed me with.

friends

I am so grateful for my new friend Nikko! She is way awesome and so easy to talk to. She has a beautiful new baby and three other kids. We love to meet her at McDonalds so our kids can play and we can talk. I could talk to her for hours! I know she doesn't read this, but thanks Nikko for being so awesome!

The ultimate in refreshment!

A while back when I was stopping to get myself some much needed refreshment, I went to a gas station I have never been into before. As I was putting the lid on my drink and looking for a straw, I caught sight of two cups full of straws. The first said, "Medium Fat Straws" and the second said, "Great Big Huge Delicious Fat Straws". Well, I helped myself to a great big huge delicious fat straw! Everyone who knows me well, knows I like fat straws with my diet coke. You get more per suck! A much better drinking experience. I favor McDonalds drinks just because of their use of fat straws. There is not much worse than getting a delicious fresh diet coke and having to drink in through a wimpy straw!

Anyhow, I liked the wittiness of the straw labeler and thought I would share how grateful I am for fat straws!!

Worse than the DMV? Close!

I spent an hour at the Social Security office today. Somehow, Asher's application for his social security number never got submitted. I don't know if the hospital didn't turn it in or exactly what happened, but we need that number to file our taxes. So in order to get it today, I picked up Asher's birth certificate and headed to the SS offices. I was told it was a half hour wait. Bummer, but we are here, let's get it done.

Almost and hour later, they finally called my number. I was relieved to get my business done and get out of there (anyone who has waited in line with three kids would understand this!)

I got to the window only to find out that having the birth certificate was not sufficient, I needed another form of ID for Asher. A doctor's record with his name, birthday, and doctors name would do. So, that means another trip to the Social Security office, and another 1 hour wait with three children!

Ok, yes I know this is a gratitude blog, not a complain blog, but my gratitude is for my well behaved, patient children. They gave me very little fuss sitting in that cramped waiting room for almost an hour. I couldn't imagine having to do something like that if I had wild, out of control children.

Way to go Logan, Braden and Asher! I love you guys so much and am so proud of you everyday!

my mom

Today my mom and dad came to see our house. We finally got the inside stairs put in. Mom was excited to see how the stairs turned out. While we were up there, mom misstepped onto a part of the floor that didn't have plywood over it. It was just insulation and the drywall underneath. Just like a booby trap scene on Indiana Jones, mom's arms flew in the air as she went strait down. Luckily she was able to catch herself with her arms before she went all the way through (I give credit to all the dumbbells she has been lifting that allowed her to catch herself!) I held on to her until Dad ran over and pulled her out. To make a long story short, she was taken to the hospital by ambulance and had x rays and a catscan to check her out. She was in a lot of pain and given morphine to ease it. She came out with two broken ribs on her back and a lot of bruising. I am so grateful she is safe. It could have been so much worse! Although she is in a lot of pain, this could have ended in some serious injuries! My mom is pretty tough and I know she will pull through this. If anyone can handle it, she can. I am so grateful for her strength! I feel so guilty that it happened here and I wish I was able to do something that would have avoided the accident, but it was just that, and accident. I am so grateful for my dad and his clear thinking during emergencies. I am grateful for his strength. Both physical, to be able to pull her up, mental strength to think clearly and make wise decisions, and emotional strength to help us all through it, especially mom during the next few painful weeks. My parents are amazing! I look up to them so much for their knowledge, spirituality, and personal strength! I am so grateful to have them! The are such a support to me. I am so glad we are so close (both physically and emotionally). Thanks mom for being so close to the Spirit to have promptings and revelations. Thank you for sharing them with me. You are such and example of how I need to live closer to my Heavenly Father. I love you both!

lots of stuff

Today I am grateful for lavender oil. It calms my fussy baby down, and if I put it in the diffuser, it calms everyone in the house down, including me! I am also grateful for long hot baths (with lavender in the water) where I can revamp and recharge. I'm grateful for good books I can read in the tub! It is such a great escape for me, until there are children banging on the door, "Mom! I need you! Mom, when are you coming out! Mom, Mom, Mom!" ...............I'm grateful for children who need me.

Braden's Prayer

"Please bless that Dad will do good at work.

And bless that Logan will do good at school.

And that I will go to school good too.

And bless that mom will ...um...hmmm....um.....grocery shop good."

our vehicles

We have had some problems with Steve's truck. It has been in the shop for the last couple of days. It is 14 years old and this is the first problem we have had with it. My car is 6 years old, and other than new brakes, we haven't had a single problem with it. I am so grateful that we have a car that is reliable and starts every morning. I never have to worry if my car is going to get me where I need to go or if we are going to be stranded somewhere. I am grateful for my fabulous husband who works hard so we can have reliable cars!