GRATITUDE

 

Before this Thanksgiving season is completely forgotten, I want to express my gratitude for all of my blessings. Our blessings overfloweth!!!

First I am so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father. He hears and answers our prayers. I am so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, and his sacrafice for me, and all of us. My testimony has always be strong in knowing that he lives, and loves us, but continually grows and grows. My family has been so unbelieveable blessed this year, that I am ever so indebted too our Savior and Heavenly Father. It is almost unfathomable to me how blessed we our. I have a testimony of tithing, fasting, faith, hardwork, enduring, obedience to the commandments, and the counsel of those that lead us in the church.

I am so thankful for my husband, my best friend! I love him more than anything, and I am so grateful that he found me, and for these most wonderful 16 years of my life with him. He is a strong man, has a strong testimony, he honors his priesthood, he takes care of and provides for our family. He is a wonderful husband and father, a hard worker,a good neighbor, he cares for others, he is a great example to me and our children. I love you!

I am grateful for the 3 beautiful children the Lord has blessed us with. They bring me great joy and happiness. They make me smile and laugh, they fill my heart with warmth and love. I am grateful to be their mother. I love them so much.

I am grateful for my parents and C's parents. My parents raised me well in the gospel, and provided a wonderful life and home for me, with love and warmth. I love them dearly. C's parents also raised him well in the gospel and provided and wonderful home for him too. I love them as well. I have enjoyed being a part of their family. I am very indebted to both my parents as well as C's. Thank you, thank you, thank you to my parents and C's for all that you have done for us. I love you!

I am so grateful for my brother and his wonderful wife, and C's siblings and their spouses. I have the best sisters in law in the world. I am glad to call them my sisters, and friends. They have blessed my life as well.

I am so blessed with a wonderful home, neighborhood, good friends new and old, etc. I am grateful for my calling in the church. I love the children, and I love the ladies I work with. Thank you all for being my friend.

MUCH LOVE AND THANKS!

Chili Cook off

For the past several years our ward has had a fall chili cook off at a near by park. Anyone interested can enter their chili to be judged, but it is also our meal. This year they also had a pie cook off as well, and I decided to try my hand at that. I had a good time making pie crust, and using the beautiful peaches given to me by a friend. I knew I would not win, but it tasted really good, and my family really enjoyed it. Along with the food and cook off, they usually have a few games for the kids, and they offer a chance for family picture.

Chicken Boy

Cutter is quite the farmer at heart. He loved to help me in the garden. He can harvest carrots like no other. He loves to help me and his dad with the gardening, and anything that has to do with the outdoors. The neighbors have chickens, and he loves that! He loves to look at them and visit the chickens any chance he can get. He LOVES the galoshes too, or in his words, chicken boots. (I so need to get him his own). So, back in September when the neighbors went out of town for the weekend, they asked us (Cutter) if we would gather the eggs. He was in chicken heaven. He wanted to go immediately. He wanted to go check the eggs every few hours. He was so excited, and he got to where a pair of their "chicken boots!"

Just my kids...and Kenzie's camera work

Ride of her life

 

Kenzie was invited to the birthday party of one of her friends this summer. She didn't know much about what they were going to do, other than going to Baskin Robins for ice cream, and that her friend would be giving her a ride, because the party was right after school. So the day came, and off she went to school, excited, and with the gift with her friend. I get a phone call around 4 o clock, and she "says mom, get the the camera and come out and take a picture. I'm riding in a limo." Sure enough, a few minutes later a black stretch limosine drives up our street, and parks in front of our house. The driver comes around and opens the door and out comes Kenz and her friend. The limo was the surprise. It drove up to the school and picked up 8 girls as all the other kids looked on. What a fun experience for her. She loved it!

The ice cream man cometh!

 

It is late in September, and there is a slight chill in the air. The kids are outside playing, it is coming up on 5:00 or so, and Cutter comes running in the house "Mom the ice cream truck is coming, I need money." Yeah right I am thinking to myself. "Cutter, I don't think so, it is too cold outside." Out he goes. Then comes Cassidy. "Mom, I hear it too, can we have ice cream?" Still thinking to myself, no way. "Fine Cassidy, go get your money, and if he comes, you can have some." Now, this has been a fun treat this summer for my kids, the ice cream truck has come every so often, but not so much to be a problem. It is so cute to see all the neighbor kids come running with there money. So, not to much later, sure enough here comes the ice cream truck. So, here are the neighbor kids, enjoying their treat...the ice cream man made a haul, and the kids are happy, in there jackets, eating ice cream...I even treated myself this time.

Labor (Free) Day

 

In years past we have gone on a camping trip over the Labor Day weekend. But, with our upcoming Disneyland trip, we opted to forgo the camping. Instead we decided to go for a bike ride down Provo Canyon, and roast hot dogs at one of my favorite picnic spots, Whiskey Springs with all the Jensen's. We had so much fun. My SIL and I dropped the kids and the dad's off at the top of the Canyon where the Provo River trail starts, and met them down at Bridal Veil Falls. We met up with C's sisters family there at Bridal Veil, and they rode down the rest of the Canyon with the group. C got to put his newly acquired bike to the test, and Cutter pedaled all the way. What a little trooper. Cass did great too, but both little girls decided they were done at that point. We collected everyone at the bottom, and headed up to Whiskey Springs, were we met up with Grandpa and Grandma J. We ate, visited, and did a little hike. It was a great day!