Thankfulness post Day 2

My parents. They've been good parents. It hasn't been until recently that I've realized how good. Mostly, because now my mom is gone. I know now how much she did for me. I miss that. So thankful that I still have my dad. He is so smart and wise. He is a patient man. They raised me good. Taught me to have good manners. Taught me the gospel. Let me do things. Made sure we were fed, clothed and entertained. Worried about me. Sometimes more than they should have had to. Spent time with me. Played with my children and are the most amazing grandparents ever. Sacrificed a lot in my behalf. I know this, why? Because I am a parent, and I see how wonderful they were/are. I love them. That is why I am thankful for them. It is because of them that I am here. So, so blessed to have amazing parents!!!

Centerpiece

Today as I thought what I was thankful for, I decided that I was thankful for The Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I did not have this important thing in my life I would be a totally different person, in a totall different place. I am so thankful for my Savior, for His Attonement, His Example, and the guideline that he gave me. Being Sunday I think that it's appropriate that I say that I am thankful for this first. It is first, also, because it is what everything else in my life is based upon. It is my centerpiece. I have so many blessings because of the Church and I recognize so much more because of it also.

Abundance

Last night I went to an activity that our stake was doing for Humanitarian efforts. A neighbor and I helped make things for feminine hygiene. It made me feel very blessed and thankful for the blessings that I enjoy in abundance on a daily basis. Sometimes it's so hard for me to realize how blessed I am, and I think to myself "I wish I had that... or didn't have to go through this", but I know that I am blessed and have so much in my life. So I've decided that I am going to post something that I am thankful for everyday this month. I truly am blessed and have so much gratitude for the bounties that I enjoy in my life.

I found this quote and I really like it.

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation.
-- Brian Tracy

I hope all who read this post are able to find things in your life that fill you with thankfulness.

Keep it SIMPLE!

The past little while I have been thinking that I need to simplify my life and do only the things that are the most important. I'm going for that feeling like when you have your email in box totally full of so many messages and then you finally get it cleared out to just one or two important messages....ya that's the feeling I'm going for, but for my life and not just my in box (although that would be nice too!) I was looking for ideas on the internet and I came across these tips. Check it out here.
I just loved it, because it seems like it's this time of year that you start thinking about all the millions of things that you have to do, places to go, things to buy and all that, and then in January, you look back while you're setting those goals and think, what the heck was I doing. So this year, maybe I will try and follow these tips for simplifying and stay sane during the Holidays this year.


7 Tips for savoring the simplicity:

1. Plan ahead: I have my gift list bought before December begins. I buy a little throughout the year for extended family members and I depend on the items I buy after Christmas every year for small gifts (teachers, friends, Sunday School teachers, etc). I also make many of my gifts. (Every Friday in November, I'll be sharing some homemade gift ideas!)

2. Create a budget: Make your list and check it twice! If you commit to buy only three gifts for your children, stick to it. Don't impulse buy and don't use your credit card.

3. Plan birthdays/anniversary parties at the beginning of the month.

4. Be the Master of the calendar, not the slave: commit to things that you will enjoy! It's okay to say No.

5. Involve your kids in the decorating, wrapping, gift-making, and cleaning up of the aftermath. If there's a "kid's table" during holiday dinners, use brown paper as a table cloth, so they can draw place settings or turkeys. Use fun holiday kid-friendly plates too!

6. If your hosting a big family meal, it's okay to ask guests to help out. Delegate side dishes and desserts to willing guests. Don't try to do it all by yourself.

7. Be reflective with your family. Before you eat Thanksgiving dinner, share why you're thankful. At Christmas, remember what the day truly celebrates.

**Please let me know if you have any tips or have seen any cool tips on Keeping things simple. I would love to have you share them. (Not just for the Holidays either)

Thinking Thankful

This time of year is usually a time of reflection, and having gratitude for the many blessings we enjoy. I want my kids to be able to do that also and realize how many blessings they have by being able to express what they are thankful for. I found this cute thankfulness place mat that I plan on setting on their place for Thanksgiving day on a blog called www.living locurto.com. I thought it was so cute. Check out the blog here. And here is a link, if you want to print out this absolutely adorable place mat for the kiddos to color. As my kids get older I want them to make lists of all the things they are thankful for.

That's Spooky

Wanna know what's spooky? I'll tell you, this year for Halloween the the kids ended up having a whole week full of fun. As if one night full of fun and candy isn't enough!!!Tuesday started things off with Trunk-or-Treat with the ward. The youth provided hot dogs, chips, drinks and took the kids around to get their candy. It was a lot of fun to see the ward dressed up in their costumes.Alana and her friend Rylin (her mom and I made the tutu's together for them)Alana and her friend Rylin ((we made the tutu's for them together)

All of us at Trunk-or-Treat

Eating the hot dogs and passing out candy

Above is our Bishop...and below are some members of the ward in their costumes.Wednesday we carved pumpkins as a family. The kids came up with some pretty creative pumpkins and then Tony carved them. We had a yummy spaghetti dinner to boot.Check out the carving of this pumpkin compared to the picture Rylan drew. Pretty close huh?

Friday we went to a Halloween party at my cousins house and the kids got to play with the cousins and eat good food.

Saturday, we got costumed up and went Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood. I think I'd have to say that this was my favorite part, because we were all looking forward to it. The weather was beautiful and we got to go for a nice stroll around the block. In my opinion Kelton probably had the most fun, he loved being outside and seeing everyone dressed up in the costumes. He loved the fact that when we got home to look at the loot, that his daddy gave him a sucker. I think that the kids are finally getting the concept of Halloween, because every time we would approach a door they would knock or ring the door bell and shout "Trick-or-Treat!" as loud as they could.Sunday, we went to "Nana's" house for her annual Halloween get together. She went all out this year with Homemade pizzas...made to order. Treat bags, a doughnut eating contest (how cool is that?), pictures in the leaves and let's not forget the leaf fight that somehow ensues after pictures every year. The kids just love this part. They have so much fun running to, jumping in and throwing the leaves. All the cousins together in the big pile of leaves

My kids in the leavesPlaying in the leaves/leaf fightThe doughnut eating contestWe celebrated the October birthdays. Then we all got sent home with more food and candy than we came with. Talk about a month of fun! So many fun activities and way too many treats. So if that doesn't frighten you, then I'm not sure what will!