I'm Thankful For...#18

I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I am thankful for the blessings adherence to the gospel brings to me and my family.

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow and make mistakes.

I am thankful for repentance.

I am thankful for eternal families.

I am thankful for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

I am thankful for the tender mercies of the Lord.

I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who loves me.

I'm Thankful For...#17

I am thankful for my car and my ability to drive it.

I did  not want to drive. I was TERRIFIED!!!!! that I would have an accident. It took serious pestering and threats to convince me. I finally accepted that I had to just grow up and do that hard things in life.

Then I went and failed my first driving test and the written test. :)

I did better the second time.

In college, I walked pretty much everywhere. Occasionally, I took the bus.

I also totaled my friends car. (It wasn't a super serious accident but still...)

A few years ago, I became friends with a young mother who did not have a drivers license. She had never driven in her life. Spending time with her helped me realize what a great blessing it is to be able to get from place to place. I didn't need to wait for a ride. I didn't need to rely on others. I could take my children to the doctor or visit their school whenever necessary. I was able to help others in need.

Any time I have car trouble I get very frustrated. I know I can find other ways of doing what I need to do. I have made adjustments when I needed to. But I see my freedom limited. I see my comforts lessened. Maybe I have to go shopping during the busy time of day because I have to wait for my husband to get home from work. Maybe I have to drop him off so I can keep the car. Once, he had to leave work and go to the school because I didn't have a way to get there.

And you know, in come countries it is illegal for women to drive!

So, anyway, I am thankful that I can drive.


(I don't know about the other drivers on the road with me though!)

I'm Thankful For...#16

I am thankful for my washing machine.

Seriously.

And my dryer.

I have 9 people dirtying up clothes and towels and sheets EVERYDAY!

Now I know why people used to only change clothes one a week. I can't imagine what it would have been like to hand wash all these clothes in a creek or a bucket!

I'm Thankful For...#15

I am thankful for my health. Sure, I have a few minor issues like aches and pains and seasonal allergies. Those are hardly worth mentioning. Especially compared to some of my friends. I have friends (who are actually younger than I am) suffering from serious illnesses... like cancer.

It can be SO easy to get wrapped up in my own petty complaints. I think that is why we are meant to interact with others. Knowing what my friends have been through gives me tremendous perspective and gratitude for my own health and that of my family members.

I'm Thankful For...# 8-13

Wow! I didn't realize I was so far behind! I have had a busy few (several!) days, I guess! Each has brought something different for me to be thankful for.


#8- Today I am thankful for the many family history resources available to me. I spent some time in the Family History Library at our local LDS meeting house. The family history consultant helped me figure out how to transfer some of my information into Familysearch. She also helped me try to figure out some of my crazy, mixed up family connections!

I am especially thankful for how much easier family history is now. I remember being dragged to local cemeteries with my mom, looking for any familiar family names and missing dates. Now that information is often available at the touch of a button!


#9- I am thankful for modern medicine. My 4-year-old daughter had been a little congested and generally puny for a few days. Now she had a rash over the trunk of her body. I took her to the doctor, suspecting she might have strep. A few minutes and quick strep test later, we were heading home with antibiotics. My husband and 6 -year-old were sick by Sunday. They opted for the shot in the behind.

We have experienced firsthand the dangers of this infection. I am so grateful that we can easily be treated for so many dangerous diseases. Just a few decades ago, it was rare to find a family who had not suffered in some way from contagious diseases. Now the opposite is true. What a wonderful blessing for our day!


#10- I am thankful for my super-handy hunk of a husband. Our new house has an open kitchen with the stove in the middle of the room. There was no vent or anything above the stove and we were concerned about damage to the ceiling over time. We got an estimate for having a hood vent installed. I t came in at almost $1000! My husband decided he would try it himself. It took some time and help from me and our oldest son but he managed to do it! It turned out great! I am always impressed with his ability to do things like this!


#11- I am thankful for missionaries! I was asked to speak in church This Sunday. My topic was  a talk from General Conference, "Ask The Missionaries! They Can Help You" In preparing my talk I realized that I have not really given the missionaries the credit they deserve. I am thankful for the selflessness of the thousands who have served the Lord in this way. They set aside their personal interests in order to share the true gospel of Jesus Christ, not only in words but in the countless ways they serve their brothers and sisters.

I am also thankful for those who serve our nation. They, too, sacrifice many of their own desires and comforts in service of others. They provide protection and support in times of peace and conflict. I am also acutely aware of the sacrifices their families make; not only their spouses and children but their parents, siblings, and other extended relatives. Many are directly affected by their choice to serve in the military. We can never thank them enough!


#12- I am thankful for my parents. They have taught me many valuable lessons and continue to offer their guidance to me. They are willing to do whatever they need to do to help tehir children. Their love and generosity are incalculable.


#13- I am thankful for modern communications. Our phone and Internet were down for a couple of days due to some old equipment. We were fortunate enough to have cell phones in case of emergency. (Another amazing blessing!) I realized how much I rely on that access to people and information whenever I need or want it.  Just prior to the Internet going down I had found the phone number for the on-call medical staff and directions to the hospital that my husband and son needed to go to. Without the Internet that information would have been more difficult to obtain. I also printed out the directions on our home printer.

And while we are talking about modern technology, I took my external hard drive to the family history center so I could easily access whatever information I needed that night.

AND I wouldn't be able to share any of this you if not for this amazing technology!

I'm Thankful For...#7

Term limits?


:)

I'm Thankful For...#6

I am thankful for music.

Music has such amazing powers over the human heart.

Music has the ability to bring back memories and feelings from long ago.

Music allows us to communicate emotions beyond language barriers.

Where there is music, there are miracles!

Here is one of my favorite songs, especially this time of year!

I'm Thankful For...#5

I have had this song in my head all morning. I guess today I am thankful for the sunshine!

HAPPINESS

By Mr. and Mrs. N.W. Cristiansen

I am happy today for the sunshine,

For the skys of gray or blue.

For within my heart is a song of life.

I'll live, I'll work, I'll do.

No cloud can cast a shadow

Over courage such as mine.

For I'll sing this song as I go along.

I'll live, I'll work, I'll do.

 

I'm Thankful For...#4

I am thankful for good food.

Today I cooked a roast in the crock pot, homemade mashed potatoes with gravy, homemade wheat rolls, and carrots.

*sigh*

It was very satisfying.

The kids and I also tried our hand at homemade butterfingers. They weren't bad either.

As I write this, I can't help but think of those who are not enjoying such delicacies.

There are many in America who are no doubt eating cold food because they are without electricity due to Hurricane Sandy.

There are others in this great nation who simply can't afford to buy enough food to be satisfied.

There are others who couldn't cook such a meal. :)

All joking aside, I know I often take this blessing for granted. Unlike many thousands of mothers in the world, I am able to provide healthy, hearty meals for my children. It might seem like a small thing, or even a little cliche, but it is the truth.

I am very blessed to have good food. And I am grateful for it.

I'm Thankful For...#3

I am thankful for my body.

I don't always like everything about it.

I have sags and flab.

I have aches and pains.

I have allergies.

But I also have hands work and care for others.

I have feet that can take me anywhere I need to go.

My brain sends signals to my fingers, telling them how to type and play the piano and write and do millions of other tiny little things.

I can sing.

I have lungs that breathe and a heart that beats.

I can see and hear and smell and taste and touch.

I can feel hugs and kisses from those I love.

My body is a precious gift from my Heavenly Father.

I'm Thankful For...#2

I am thankful for corrective lenses. I would be virtually blind without glasses or contacts. As much as I get annoyed with smudged glasses or temeramental contacts, I still am humbled by these magnificent miracles.

Without glasses I could not see to read unless I held the book almost to my nose.

Without glasses I could not see my children's smiling faces.

Without glasses I could not see well enough to clean or cook for my family.

Without glasses I could not drive.

Without glasses I could not appreciate the beauty of the world Heavenly Father has created for me.

I'm Thankful For...

It's November. Time to be thankful!

Of course we should be thankful every day of every month of every year.

I like to take time each November to reflect on all the many things for which I am thankful.

Day1: I am thakful for my family. All of them. All their moods and messes and annoying, irritating, flaws. I'm still thakful for them. I still love them. They have made me who I am.

Ignorance Is NOT Bliss...Or Is It?

Deployments are hard. They are stressful and put random strains on you that you don't expect. There is also a Murphy's Law that if something can go wrong it will happen during a deployment.


Now, I don't really put much stock in such superstitions. I think stuff will happen no matter what. It is just more upsetting when you are shouldering the burdens alone.

We are now about 2 months into this relatively short deployment. And it is holiday season. The kids and I wanted a break. We discussed it and decided to spend Thanksgiving with my family in North Carolina. My husband was not thrilled about this idea. We discussed it. A lot. Sometimes after we talked I had such a feeling of foreboding that I didn't even want to leave the house! The decision was still unmade the morning we planned to leave. I mean, we had packed and stopped the mail and newspaper and done everything as if we were going but I wasn't going anywhere until I was sure of what to do and I just wasn't.

I had prayed about it a few times and was still coming up blank. I even wondered if I was being like Joseph Smith and the 116 lost pages, asking over and over when the answer was no. But I hadn't really gotten a no either.

So, that morning, I gathered the kids together and discussed the situation. I explained that there was going to be some possible bad weather. I explained that one of them had been sick just the day before and the others might get sick on the trip if it was going around like it does in big families. I told them we could go for Christmas instead. We all wanted to go now. We all wanted to spend Christmas in our own home. So we prayed again.

I remember at some point that morning pleading for assurance that either decision was best. I was so torn and I really needed an answer either way. I silently asked if we would be safe. Suddenly I had the assurance I was seeking. Yes, we would be safe.

That was good enough for me. We loaded up the care and headed out. It rained for the first half of the trip. Normally I hate driving in rain. I hate being a passenger in heavy rain! But this time I was fine. I was cheerful. I drove right through the storm without feeling stressed out at all. We got beyond the storm and headed on to my parents house.

We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with cousins and grandparents, aunts and uncles. I got to hold one of the newest members of the family. All the kids played really well the whole time. I talked a lot with my dad and my brother who had flown in from Utah. My grandmother had the great-granddaughters over for a sleepover, just like when I was a kid and spent the night with my cousins there. And on the other side of the family all 20 of the great-grandchildren were together for the first time and were able to take a picture together with their great-grandmother. My oldest son played football with his second cousins and had a great time. We were treated to a mini concert by my cousin's daughter on her tiny cello and her dad let all the little kids try it out (My kids LOVED it!!!) I spent some time with my mom and sister-in-law shopping on Black Friday. And I came home with lots of Christmas presents to go under our tree!

I had planned to drive home on Monday. The extended forecast had shown rain on Monday and Tuesday so I considered leaving Sunday. When my youngest woke up Saturday with an eye infection I considered it again. Honestly, I wasn’t quite ready to go back to real life. There was now a slow-moving winter storm coming right across our path home. If I waited it out we wouldn't leave until Wednesday or Thursday. I decided to go on Monday as planned. I felt uncertain about what to do but I didn't know why. I did think of asking my dad to check out the Suburban for me but I felt kind of silly. We had done a lot of work to it and there was nothing to suggest that anything was wrong. Well, I had to add a gallon of coolant on the way there so I had been keeping an eye on that. I even checked it before I left and bought 2 gallons to keep with me just in case but it was fine.

The first part of the trip was great we had pretty good weather and made good time to Knoxville, TN. That is about half way for us. We stopped for lunch at McDonalds and I let the kids play for about an hour. We filled up the tank and started back on I-40. At which point I couldn't go above 50mph and the RPM's shot up to 5!!! I didn’t know what was wrong so I pulled over and checked for a flat tired or parking brake but everything looked okay. I went on to the next exit and got off. We drove around for a few minutes looking for a place to park so I could use the GPS to find a mechanic. I saw a lube shop and stopped there. The man was VERY nice and said they could take a look and either fix it or tell us where to take it.

First, they found a bad leak in the transmission line. Apparently it had been cut and sliced with rubber hose which was not good enough. They replaced it with a metal pipe and assured me that it would last for a while. But after adding 5 quarts of fluid it still wouldn't shift into third gear. They said the upper gears were bad and I should put it in2nd gear to drive. "Don't go above 45 and you should be fine." They suggested the interstate because it would be the straightest, shortest route and limit more wear on the gears.

We had 225 miles to go. It was raining pretty hard. 45 isn't bad in those conditions. We drove about 2 hours before it was dark and clear... and 70 mph. We were stopped by a state trooper. He wasn't very helpful but said that if I got off at the next exit I could take a highway that ran parallel to the interstate “for a while". We crawled along to the exit and got something to eat. Well, the kids ate. I was too upset to eat. I bought a map (since GPS can be really stupid!) and took that highway to the next town, about 20 miles. The clerk that sold me the map said there was nothing after that. (He turned out to be right!)

We got a hotel in Cookesville. I didn't want to try the unfamiliar roads at night, in bad weather with a flood watch out. I couldn't risk being stuck in the middle of nowhere with 7 kids. I didn't sleep well. But we got a free breakfast and I was able to email my husband. (Did I mention he's deployed?) Until this point I had considered getting it fixed, even if we had to stay a few days. That didn't quite seem like the best idea (think of keeping 7 kids entertained without a car... and did I mention the winter storm? No exactly walking weather!) I did a quick search for "rebuild transmission cost" and saw that the top few results were around 2000-2500.

Okay, never mind. I guess we will keep going. I prayed a lot that morning. I felt like we should stop by the dealership that the GPS had shown. I talked to the guy about cost, time, and how to get home in 2nd gear. He basically confirmed everything I already knew but at least that was reassuring. He and another guy said the highway I had taken to get there would go all the way to Nashville and I should have no trouble getting home if I took it slow. I also asked about a 9 passenger vehicle, just in case. The guy made some suggestions but didn't have one. I decided to keep going. Before I even got out of town my husband called. He made more suggestion, mainly to go slow (about 35) and add some Transmedic to protect what was left of the transmission. I went right back to the place across from the dealer and the guys there put some stuff in it for me.

We drove down this quiet, scenic country road for hours. I tried to stay around 30 mph. I did NOT want to ruin that gear! We made slow and steady progress. We stopped for lunch at another McDonalds and the kids played for a while. I bought more maps and called a few people from our ward to make sure I was looking at the right roads. By then I was sure of what I was doing and where I was going. My only anxiety was whether the transmission would last until we got home.

Well, it did. We got home after driving for about 7 hours at 30 miles per hour. And the kids were ready to kill each other! (Did I mention I didn't bring a DVD player and I don't have a smart phone? We were really low-tech on this trip!)

Here are some things I learned from this:

I learned that the tender mercies of the Lord are indeed a "multitude". We were able to find good people to help us along the way. We were able to feed ourselves. We were able to travel through a very beautiful area and enjoy it because we weren't racing through it. We had some good talks and prayed together and sang Christmas songs and Primary songs. There was no quick fix. We all had to find better ways to do things. We had to put our personal comforts aside to accommodate the needs of others. We had to really look at each other and acknowledge each other. Let me tell you, it was HARD!!! I have felt for a long time that we are too selfish. Now I see that we really do need to work on that.

At one point I decided to tell some stories. The first one I picked was "The Christmas Oranges". I sobbed through the whole thing! I had been feeling really guilty about this car issue. I don't like to make mistakes. And I am not very forgiving of myself. I imagined that I was little girl, crying into my pillow thinking "I don't deserve an orange anyway!!" And yet there are always people who are very willing to make sacrifices to make it better. Especially the Savior.

And that isn't all! When I got home I had an email that told a similar story of overlooking the flaws of others. I had another with a video clip by Elder Russell M. Nelson about fear and faith. AND a friend of ours was planning to come till the garden while we were gone. I came home to trimmed bushed, racked flower beds, cut grass including the trimming, and beautifully tilled garden! It looked so great even the kids noticed!

I'm pretty sure this isn't the end of this lesson. I still feel really uncertain about the immediate future. But I have a sure hope that it will all work out.

On our way home we saw a rainbow across the road. As we drove the rainbow moved with us. Here are the pictures taken by my 10 year old daughter. You can see a double rainbow in some of the pictures. And, yes, it was raining at the time! (Oh, yeah, that is just a big stick smudge in the middle that I can't get off. Oh, well!)

Thank Tank, Day 24

I am thankful for those courageous Pilgrims who ventured to a strange and distant land in search of religious freedom. I am thankful for the local natives who were kind enough to teach them how to survive. I am thankful for the traditions that developed from this experience. Thanksgiving has given me many wonderful memories. It has also given me a reminder of how truly blessed I am.

Thank Tank, Day 23

I am thankful for my brothers. They are crazy and weird and goofy and smart and obnoxious. I love that I can feel like I am picking up a conversation right where we left off. I also like that even though we are getting older we have continued on the paths we started as children. We have learned different things and made different choices but we have not really changed much.

And yes, I still wish I had a sister! :)

Thank Tank, Day 22

I am thankful for modern transportation.

I just drove over 400 miles in a single day... through rain and wind and dark of night...over the river and through the woods. Even a few decades ago taht would not have been possible. A century ago it would have been impossible. (that would have been 1911, you know!)

I have also flown (FLOWN!!!!) over countries and oceans multiple times to visit family, move for a job, or go to college.

We live in such an amazing world!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep
by Irving Berlin

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings.


I think about a nursery,

And I picture curly heads,

And one by one I count them

As they slumber in their beds.

If you're worried and you can’t sleep,

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

Thank Tank, Day 21

I am thankful for food. All of it. Juicy, seasoned meats and crunchy veggies. Tasty sweets and salty snacks. Fruits and carbs and dairy. I love it all!!!! I am so thankful for the bountious variety that is available to me. Again, I am seriously spoiled!

Here is a current favorite at my house. Enjoy!

Easy Homemade Granola Bars

I got this recipe from Parade Magazine a few months ago. They are super easy and the kids and I love them! I have made them many times. I have used pecans, white chocolate chips, flax seeds, shredded coconut and mixed dried fruit. I like them all! I have made some with all of these ingredients or a few batches with various combinations. I really like the white and semi sweet chips in the same bar. I recently ordered some pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds. I look forward to trying this recipe with those add-ins.

I have been mixing this by hand like they show in the video. Since I have a big family I usually double it and that makes for a lot of arm power. This morning I used my fancy Kitchen Aid mixer. It worked great! Fast and easy.

I hope you enjoy this snack as much as we do!

http://threemanycooks.com/recipes/nibbles-and-apps/back-to-school-granola-bars/

Thank Tank, Day 20

Today I am thankful for other people.




Sometimes I wish there were no other people.



No one to pester me and get in my way.



No one to turn without using their blinker.



No one to disappoint me.



But then there would be no one to talk to.



No one to admire.



No one to cheer me up when I'm having a bad day.



No one to give me hugs.



No one to sing harmony with.



Funny things is they are the SAME PEOPLE!!!



The people who pester me also notice when I am in need. They are the ones who give me hugs and cheer me up.



The same people who disappoint me also forgive me when I mess up and still like me anyway.



The same people who make me cry also make me smile.



So, even though "people" can be really irritating sometimes, I am thankful for them anyway.



I am pretty sure that if I ever got my "no more people" wish I would not like it very much!

Thank Tank, Day 19

I am thankful for appliances that make life easier. Like vacuum cleaners and clothes dryers and dish washers.

My dish washer has a damaged pump. The replacement won't be here until next week. So we get to hand wash all the dishes until it is fixed. It is time consuming and I don't have room for all of the dishes so some have to be dried before I can wash more.

Now, you might think I am whining but I am not. I know how to wash dishes. I am just explaining why I am thankful for my dishwasher. I know there are many appliances that help make my life easier. I am grateful for them all!