thankful thursdays 9/22

Sep 22, 2011 by

* Blue skies and sunshine. These two things do wonders for my soul. I think I may have mentioned these items last week…but if so, it is because I love them oh, so much and am seriously dreading overcast skies full of gloom.
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* My husband and I went on a Sunday walk. He often goes out alone on the Sabbath to clear his mind of the world’s clutter and get in touch with who he is and who He is. This week, my sweetie invited me and it was so lovely to walk with him, holding his hand, and talk with no interruptions and no pressure…just being with one another is one of my favorite things to do and it happens far too little.
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* Liz shared her Armenian Cucumbers with me yesterday. Can I just say YUMMMMMMY! She sat right down on the ball field at iFamily, cut them up, dripped fresh lime juice, salt, and lemon pepper on them. Such deliciousness! They were a gazillion times better than whatever cucumbers are standard fare at the grocery store.
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* My ISP sent a tech out and he readjusted some settings on the computer and now my speed is gobs faster! Yippee! I can finally do Facetime!
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* I have been full of gratitude this week for my precious children. I am so thankful they love the Lord Jesus and want to serve Him. They may bicker and ignore me and disappear and break things and have messy rooms and roll their eyes at me and forget to tell me important information and a million other things that sometimes drive me bonkers, but they love Jesus and they desire to follow Him.
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* I am grateful for afternoon naps…sometimes they are the only things that keep my head above water. I think America should adopt siesta.
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It is time for me to go read some more in Sophie’s world. I am making sssssslllllllooooooowwwwww progress, but I am thoroughly enjoying what I am getting through!

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thankful thursdays 9/16

Sep 15, 2011 by

* My new Vita-mix container came today! My mother bought it for me clear back on January 8th and through a paperwork glitch we have been working on it getting delivered ever since. They finally found the missing paperwork on Tuesday and immediately sent out the container with their apologies. Supposedly they are sending their Live Free cookbook as “we-are-so-sorry-we-failed-so-thoroughly-on-customer-service” and I can’t wait to try out some new recipes. I’m thankful they finally listened to me and solved the problem.
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* I am thankful for my gymnastics classes. They help me stay in shape and the best part is the relationships I get to have with children and their families. I love my students and am so grateful to play a small part in their lives.
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* My little guy is turning seven on Sunday! I have a whole post about him in the works, but for right now I want to say “Thank you for giving me this special boy who melts my heart, teaches me to value and not compare, and helps me see the world with wonder and curiosity.”
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* Sunshine and blue skies…love, love, love September.
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* I attended a meeting on Sunday where I was encouraged to invest in others more and to learn to communicate with my unique spiritual language. It was a message I needed and have been pondering all week.
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* Sewing class. Keziah takes an awesome class taught by the lovely Miss Kat and this week she learned to make a bag out of a pillowcase. She used one of my grandmother’s pillow cases and it turned out adorable! Kat has a gift of helping children see themselves as competent and then gives them the tools to help them actually become competent. I am so grateful to have her as a mentor in my children’s lives.
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* Relationships. I am grateful for the family, friends, and associates I am blessed to have in my life. I learn so much from my interactions with them. I am enriched, encouraged, and enlivened. I can’t imagine my life without such a rich network of people and I am enormously grateful for each of them.
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Fisher is ready to play a math game with me so I am going to go enjoy watching his brain crunch some numbers.

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thankful thursdays 9/8

Sep 8, 2011 by

How on earth has it been since July 7 that I last posted a Thankful Thursdays post? I have been grateful the whole time, but somehow I have not taken the time to write my weekly post.

* Today I am grateful for a clean bedroom with a bed that has been made every day for the past two weeks. My bedroom has been messy my entire life and I set a goal back in May to create a haven for Richard and I. The haven isn’t all the way created yet, but I have kept it clean for two weeks…this is a FIRST!!
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* I am thankful for my friends, Amy and Jessica. It is such a blessing in my life to have two dear friends in my ward. I have many, many wonderful friends and rich relationships, but there is something special about having someone in your church congregation that you can really share your heart with…and God has seen fit to bless me with two such treasures! Last night we took Amy out for her birthday and had a blast laughing our heads off, sharing our frustrations, crying, and of course, laughing some more. Thanks ladies – you make my heart sing!
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* I am thankful for natural healing therapies. My husband was injured at work yesterday and I rubbed him down with some Valor, sent him to Melissa for a foot zone, and today he is doing so much better! I’ll need to massage him for the next few nights and then he should be good as new!
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* Sunshine! What glorious weather we have had this week. I love September!
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* Cantaloupe has always been my favorite fruit and this morning Blythe cut some up for breakfast…YUM!
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* The youth in my Worldviews and YOU! class yesterday brought joy to my heart! They were excited about learning and were dedicated to studying hard, opening their minds, and making a difference in the world. I am so exited to spend the next 8 months learning with them!
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* Tonight our colloquia group is meeting to discuss The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis. I can’t wait to delve deeply into the Christian sojourn with a room full of friends seeking truth and understanding.
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thankful thursdays 7/7

Jul 7, 2011 by

* I’ve always believed the number seven was the most special number in the world (or in the heavens!) and today on the seventh day of the seventh month it has proved true once again! By the way, the number seven is said sheva in Hebrew and it means holy, complete, and covenant. I was born on the seventh at 7:00 after seven minutes of pushing and weighed seven pounds. Definitely a wonderful number in my life!

Anyway, today, I met with Dr. Jones, the breast surgeon, and she would like to do a remove the lump in my breast! Imagine that! After all this time and all these appointments, a physician finally said they would like to take the darn thing out!

I’m a little blown away by the whole thing…I had basically given up on that even being a possibility. Now I need to decide if I would like to do it in her office with just a local anesthetic or if I would like to do it at one of the surgical centers with IV anesthetic. The thought of less meds is appealing to me, but I don’t really know if that would be wise since I am fairly needle-phobic. She said since I have given birth unmedicated four times I should be able to handle just the local anesthetic, but what she doesn’t know is I was in a lot of pain during those births…it wasn’t a question of not being in pain, it was a philosophical and physiological opposition to having medication. She would like me to decide in the next 24 hours, so I need to come to a decision quickly.

I don’t know what to do…any thoughts?
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* I am thankful to be doing this cleanse. I know it is helping my body get healthier! I’m on day ten and doing well. I am so thankful to my mom for getting me all the supplements – there is no way I could have afforded them on my own. She has been such a hero through this whole thing…listening to me when I am freaking out over this lump, helping me stay focused on truth, helping me have courage, loving me, buying groceries, and listening some more. I adore my mama!
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* I am so thankful for my children. They have had to put up with a lot these last few months as I have been gone frequently to doctor’s appointments. They have really pitched in and made my life as easy as they can. During this cleanse, Keziah has made my green smoothies for me everyday and Blythe has been helping make dinner because it is really hard for me to be in the kitchen cooking stuff I can’t eat.
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* America. I love my country. I love the Constitution. I love the founding generation and the countless sacrifices that were made. I have loved focusing our school time this week on freedom, liberty, courage, persistance, public virtue, and what it all means for us today.
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I am thankful for so much more, but I have no more time to write today!

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thankful thursdays 6/9

Jun 10, 2011 by

I have missed my last few Thankful Thursday posts and have regretted not taking the time to ponder the things I am grateful for. My heart is so full with the blessings of my life. I had a really grumpy day yesterday and was feeling so discouraged by the lump and the tests and the costs and the fear and the lack of control and the overwhelming weight of dealing with all of this. Yesterday it felt like too much. I felt like crying all day long. I felt like I could not go on. Then, Keziah convinced me to take her to the library to sign up for the summer reading program, Kat heard the despair in my voice and came and met us at the library, and then we all took a spur of the moment trip to see my old chiropractor and see if he could make sense of all of this. Last night, I held a colloquium at my home and was able to be surrounded by people pondering and searching for truth. It was lovely.

I woke up this morning feeling more myself…more hopeful, more committed, more me…and so, I need to write out my gratitude.

* Love…the power of love is huge in my life. I am surrounded by people who love me, who nurture me, who build me up, and feed my soul. I have known for a long time that I was greatly blessed to have such a vast army of friends and family, but this whole lump experience has made me appreciate the love from that army so much more.
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* My lil’ sister, Mikelle was able to be sealed to her husband, Logan, and their son, Easton, two weeks ago. It was one of the most precious experiences of my life. I am so happy for them to be building an eternal family and to be growing closer to Christ.

Mikelle, Logan, and Easton

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All the gang…we were looking into the sun…so excuse the squinty eyes and hands in front of faces.

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Mikelle and her daddy

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Logan and his buddies

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Our family

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Glory, glory, hallelujah!!!!
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* Kat sewed me new camper cushions…she is the most fabulouso seamstress EVER! I am so, so, so grateful to have her in my life. I feed her yummy food and she sews for me…what a great deal!

I haven’t taken a picture of the old, hideous covers, but here is a picture of the new ones…aren’t they adorable!

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They bring such a smile to my face each time I see them! The sad news is, one of the blue ones got gum stuck to it at swim camp, so now I have to figure how to get that off of it.
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* Blythe is at a wonderful youth conference for homeschoolers today and tomorrow. It is such a blessing to be surrounded by youth who are dedicated to studying the great classics, finding out what God wants them to do, and serving their fellowman. I love these youth and am so grateful my daughter has a rich environment of friends who are on the same path as she is.
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* My new scripture journal came! I am in love. I love the way it feels and the way it looks and can’t wait to fill it up with treasures!
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* As frustrating as it is sometimes, I am grateful to have a body that communicates with me and is teaching me what I need to do to heal. I am grateful for the messages my breast is sending me. It is not letting me ignore it at all…which just may give me time to reverse this whole process.
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* My new iPad. I have never owned an MP3, ipod, smartphone, or any of the other gadgets that are so popular these days, so this is a huge deal for our family. We are loving the books, the scriptures, the ease of email, the speed, and the learning apps. The whole thing is simply amazing. I don’t know why it was gifted to me, but I am so grateful to have it. Just this morning, Fisher and Annesley worked on phonics, Keziah did some geography and math, and I was able to look up oodles of info on the internet, all while being snuggled up in my bed together. Thanks mama!!!!!!!!!!!
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* I love my little plot of land with the trees, wildflowers, sagebrush, dandelions, chicken poop, birds chirping, nine new puppies, morning sunshine, afternoon shade, and even my bumpy dirt road. It is so nice to have a place to call our own.
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This may be the longest post in history, so I will stop now and let you get back to your regularly scheduled lives. Just know, that I know, I am blessed…richly blessed. Sometimes I have a hard day and forget about those blessings. Sometimes I lose my temper. Sometimes I get discouraged and overwhelmed. Sometimes I want to give up…and then I start thinking and start remembering all that God has done for me, all the blessings He has promised me, all the peace He gives me, all the love I am surrounded with, and my heart is buoyed up for another season.

Thank you for helping me remember.

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thankful thursdays 5/12

May 12, 2011 by

* Life
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* Family
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* The kindness, patience, and love of my husband.
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* Wonderful friends who have been praying for me, sending me letters of encouragement, hugging me, listening, bolstering me up, and uniting their hearts with me.
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* New make-up!
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* Some cute clothes that fit…I keep gaining weight and none of my summer clothes fit. My mom came to the rescue and bought me several new outfits that mix and match…thanks mama!
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* There have been a myriad of tender mercies the past couple of weeks regarding this lump…the CNM at the Women’s Health Check program is absolutely wonderful and really cares about me. She listened with her whole heart and since then has been a wonderful resource. I couldn’t have asked for a better breast exam experience. The night after my breast exam I was able to chat with a breast cancer survivor and ask all sorts of questions. She gave me gobs of valuable information, lots of love, and courage to move forward. Jennifer was able to go with me on a spur of the moment doctor’s visit…I hate going alone! With less than five minutes notice she jumped in my car and loved on me. I was more than a little worried about the mammogram visit and the woman doing the mammogram set me at ease and helped that whole experience to be fairly stress-free. Jessica was able to go with me and keep me laughing the whole time so I wasn’t an anxious basket full of nerves. Information is coming in piece by piece and helping me to figure this whole thing out. I can feel God’s presence in this situation and know I am in His hands.
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* Sunshine! Oh, what a bit of sun does for my soul! Yesterday I took the children to the park and lay on my levi and green flannel picnic blanket while talking to my dear friend, Jodie, and I felt like a piece of heaven had been given to me. The warmth felt delicious and comforting and invigorating all at the same time.
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* My new haircut is stinkin’ cute. I love having a sister be my personal stylist. She says my hair is the hardest hair she has ever worked on, takes her the longest, and is the most frustrating, but somehow she keeps working her magic on me!
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* Jessica brought over a whole box of groceries. Salad, yogurt, pasta, bananas, ice cream, farm-fresh eggs, and oodles more! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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* On Mother’s Day, my Richard made me creamed eggs for breakfast and then for dinner he made scrumptious chicken breasts with red onions, grilled potatoes, yellow squash, and zucchini. Super-yummy and full of love. I am so grateful to have Richard for my husband. He loves me and teaches me what love looks like every single day.
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* Last year, my aunt Carol gave us a 1970 camper that was in pretty good shape structurally, but the pads and curtains were uuuugggggglllllllyyyyy! We lived in it last summer for a month and it fit our needs fabulously well, but it pained me to have to look at the awful fabrics on the curtains and pads. A while ago, I begged Kat to sew me some new ones and she said she would. We went fabric shopping about a month ago and now we are finally to the sewing part. Kat came on Tuesday and took apart the old covers and somehow figured out how to cut new ones out and sew them perfectly! They look marvelous! This woman is simply amazing! Today she is coming over again and we are hoping to finish up the rest. I cannot even tell you how excited I am to have a light and bright environment in that dark camper. Kat is my hero!
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My heart is full with gratitude. I have received flowers, cards, hugs, phone calls, notes, visits, and almost more love than I can take in. Thank you…thank you everyone.

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thankful thursdays 4/28

Apr 28, 2011 by

* Our classes at iFamily are over…it will be nice to focus on other things for awhile, but today I am full of gratitude for the wonderful experiences my children have had. We have had a fabulous time in Sewing, Knitting, Voice Lessons, Vocal Jazz, Art From the Heart, Shakespeare, Logic & Debate, Ballroom, Love of Music, Guitar Lessons, Children’s Choir, Lali, Story Station, and of course, Math Alive! The mentors my children have had this year have inspired them to work hard, nurtured their hearts, and led the way. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by families who are creating amazingness in the homeschooling world.
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* I’m grateful our Passover Seder was a success. I toyed with the thought of not doing it this year because of Blythe’s rehearsal schedule and a host of other commitments we have had this month, but I am so glad we pushed ourselves to do it again. We had a grand time recounting the plagues, the miracles, the songs and the prayers of the Children of Israel. I love Passover!
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* My nephew, Easton, was blessed on Sunday and we had such a great time getting together with family and friends to celebrate Easter, birth, and togetherness. Easton is working miracles…people came to church that haven’t stepped inside a church building for years. I love that boy!
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* Yesterday’s catapult contest was so fun! The kids loved it and despite the wind and slightly frigid temps, we made it through. I have pics that I will post later.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* My husband is working with a really difficult child right now and is getting hurt each day…I am grateful he is still walking and has been quick enough to dodge the worst of the blows.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* Today I am thankful to be alive. So thankful to be here with my children and husband and to have the opportunity to bless them with my love. Many people I care about have passed away recently and each time I am reminded to love a little more, hold a little closer, teach a little more powerfully, and cherish each moment with those I love. In the busyness of life, I often forget what a blessing it is to wake up each day with my family…to have a blank slate of hours on which to paint our lives together. I want to create magic with those I love…how do I forget that goal so quickly as the hours roll on?
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Fisher is up and begging for me to read to him, so I am going to go snuggle up my little red-headed cuddler and start the day off right creating some magic with him.

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thankful thursdays 4/14

Apr 14, 2011 by

* Happy Birthday to my lil’ sista! Today she is turning 22. I prayed for her for my whole life and when she finally came I fell in love with her. In the past year she has gotten married to a guy I love to pieces, given birth to the cutest lil’ man ever, and grown into womanhood and motherhood. I am so proud of her and I love the way our relationship has changed now that she has entered adulthood. We have shared our hopes and dreams, joys and sorrows, regrets, bad hair days, births of our children, and late-night ice-cream fests. I am so grateful to have a sister. Hope your birthday is FABULOUSO!
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* Yesterday’s sunshine was glorious! Of course, it changed to pouring rain, fierce wind, and huge snowflakes before the day was over, but for a few hours my children played outside, dug in the sandbox, and ran around with big smiles on their faces.
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* Sarah had her baby! Mary Ellen has arrived and I get to meet her soon!
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* My bathtub. I love, love, love sinking into a big pool of warm water and having my thoughts to myself for just a little bit of time. It usually only lasts a minute or so before someone comes in to ask me that ever pertinent question, but if I am super-lucky I can soak and moisturize and dream and read and THINK in solitude.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* Computers…just think what our lives would be like without them. Sometimes I yearn to go back to the days of yesteryear when electronic devices weren’t such a focus, but I love the ease and speed of communicating, researching, and creating…such blessings!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* I am thankful for the ability to dream…to create…to hope for new things in my life. I am thankful I live in a time and place where survival isn’t my only focus. Right now, I am thinking up plans to build a fire pit/gathering place in some section of my yard. I need to spend very little money, but I want to create a magical place for singing songs, looking at the stars, sharing stories, and cooking up yumminess (yes, I just invented that word). If you have any great ideas, send them my way
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The four youngest are painting up a storm – I am going to go see what they have created.

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thankful thursdays 4/7

Apr 7, 2011 by

* Miracles abound! You know how I was dying for a different sewing machine last week during the quilt project? Well, it is completely out of our budget right now, but I have a ton of sewing projects I am trying to work on…receiving blankets for Cousin Amy, a purse for Keziah, sundresses for Keziah and Annes, a crayon roll for Annes, and some skirts for all the girls. I cannot do them with either of our machines…one of them skips stitches and one of sews crooked and is either a sloth or a leopard. Crazy-making! Well, I looked on craigslist a few days ago and a woman was selling her Janome 4612 Travelmate for $35!!!! This isn’t a fancy machine at all, but it looks and feels sturdy…and it is a Janome, so it should work well. Keziah and I are hoping to get started on her sundress right after lunch. I have high hopes it will be a HUGE improvement over our current sewing situation.
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* We made mobiles in Math Alive! yesterday and the children loved it! Super fun way to learn about balance and centers of gravity. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera, so no pictures of their awesome creations.
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* I am thankful for healthy children who can run and climb and sing and fish and hike and all sorts of other things with their wonderful bodies. We have a friend whose three and a half month old baby has just been diagnosed with leukemia. Ironically, little Graham is Daniel’s cousin…this family is being hit with trials the size of Alaska…and now we are all praying for Graham to beat the odds and live.
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* I am grateful for a husband that puts up with my early morning and late night crazy talk and loves me anyway. I say some really ridiculous/awful things sometimes and he brings me back to reality.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* My new book light!!!! Yippee! I have been using a $1.00 book light for the past year and while it was certainly worth a dollar, I don’t think it was worth much more than that. The light it casts illuminates about three words at a time, it frequently shorts out, and it falls over on my book if I so much as breathe in its direction. This week I went to Barnes and Noble with my $20 gift card to buy a new commonplace book. I couldn’t find one that spoke to my soul so Richard encouraged me to look at book lights. We found one we thought would work well, but “well” is an understatement! It is awesome! The package said it had six super-bright LED lights, but I had no idea just how much light I had been missing out on with my $1 piece of work. It is rechargeable by USB cord, clips onto your book fabulously well without harming the spine or pages, and (yes, it has even more amazing features!) it has a stand to hold it up to function as a lamp. Last night my reading was glorious for the first time in months!!!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* Librivox – what a great resource it is. It is so handy to download and listen to audio books in the blink of an eye….and all for free! Keziah is listening to A Little Princess right this minute.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* My vacuum. I am so grateful to have a handy sucking machine to whisk away all the dirt in this house. I just cleaned the tank out in the garage and nearly died. SO MUCH DOG HAIR!!!! At least 10 gallons of dog hair and dirt and popcorn and paper and plastic and who knows what else. Somehow I have neglected to clean it out recently and had noticed it wasn’t sucking that well…no I know why! It was completely full. I emptied the bucket and then refilled it with all the stuff that was stuck up in the filter…it was a whole other bucket full! I have no idea how it turned on at all! Seeing all that dirt made me so thankful for a way to remove it from my home on a daily basis.

p.s. I just vacuumed the upstairs and whoa, baby! There was more sucking power coming out of that thing than we have heard in years! I was squealing with delight (and driving Blythe bonkers with my exitement) as I heard all that dirt coming out of the carpets!
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Colloquium tonight on The Optimistic Child…can’t wait to hear everyone’s thoughts on this insightful book!

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thankful thursdays 3/31

Mar 31, 2011 by

* So thankful the quilt stitched with love for Natasha and Jacob turned out beautifully and is all the way finished! I couldn’t have done it without the words of advice from Kat, Jessica, and my mom, Melda’s spray adhesive, Richard’s ingenious help in spraying all the parts together, and Jessica’s middle-of-the-night binding job. Thank you to everyone for your help. It means the world to me!
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* I’m so thankful for all the help I get from my homeschooling community. We are in the midst of long Shakespeare rehearsals and all of us are working together shuttling youth back and forth, taking care of little ones, and bolstering each other when the days are long. It is simply amazing to me that a group of ordinary moms and youth can put on a play that is so fabulous!
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* I had the privilege of giving my friend, Sarah, a Mother’s Blessing on Saturday night. I am so thankful to be able to connect with other women and nurture their souls. We had the grandest time and it was the perfect ending to a really hard week.
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* I am thankful for my husband’s fathering skills. In spite of working long, long hours, he is still trying his best to spend time with our children. This week he and Blythe had a date of watching Fellowship of the Ring after everyone else was asleep and on Friday, he and Keziah have a date. Every Wednesday he and Fisher go to Grandpa’s house and work on Grandpa’s airplane project. I have long held that if a girl feels accepted and cherished by her father, she won’t feel a need to find that love from some teenage boy and I am grateful he is trying so hard to fill their hearts with his love.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* My dishwasher has been on the fritz for awhile and we have been washing everything by hand. I tried it again a few days ago and miraculously the dishes came out clean. I am really hoping this lasts because it is nearly impossible for me to stay on top of dishes without the help of modern technology.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* I am thankful for the mystery friend who gave my heart a huge lift last Friday by leaving presents in my suburban at gym. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have been out of popcorn for a little while and I even got to have my own bowl of it this week because of you. Your thoughtfulness got me through the weekend and will strengthen me for a long time to come.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* One of our cell phones drowned when we were at the TJED Forum and once again a hero came to our rescue and gave us one of their old ones. Thanks Tyra! It gives me huge piece of mind to know my children can get a hold of me when I am out of the house.
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Another day is here…off to conquer it…or at least survive it!

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thankful thursdays 3/23

Mar 24, 2011 by

What a week.

I have experienced grief, joy, peace, chaos, exhaustion, satisfaction, and frustration. I cried myself to sleep last night thinking of my wonderful friend moving away from me and how it would change my life. I became angry at myself for not being able to just be happy for her and not selfishly want to hold on to her. I cried for Natasha and Jacob. I feel like crying this morning on this dismal, overcast day…crying for my messy room that I cannot get on top of, crying for my husband’s long hours, crying for my inadequacies, crying for everything.

In spite of all of this though, I am grateful.

* Camille’s birthday was on Tuesday and she came and spent it with me! We had lots of fun and thoroughly enjoyed a three hour meal. It was so fun to reconnect with her! I haven’t seen her much in the last year and a half since she started school and working. I have missed her!
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* We had a blast at Math Alive! yesterday. We figured out how many popcorn kernels it would take to fill our classroom. The children had to really had to put on their thinking caps and were full of creative ideas to solve the problem. I scared Miss Jennifer to death by having her stand on my shoulders to measure the wall, but all the children thought I was the buffest thing they have ever seen! I have SO loved this class. It is an amazing thing to see a child come on fire about learning.
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* I am so grateful for the TJED Forum. It is a wonderful family event. A huge shout-out of thanks goes to my mom for grandmothering our little ones and having a grand adventure with ice cream, a movie, a hair cut for Fisher, and swimming at our favorite SLC pool. Richard, Blythe, and I all volunteered to pay for our tickets – I’m grateful the volunteer program exists because otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to attend.
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* My little brother has a new job and shared some of his bounty with us…enough to fill up my gas tank! Thank you Steevo!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* This week has been pretty rough. I have been out late each night. Last night I came to bed feeling overwhelmed, selfish, ornery, and out-of-sorts. I cried and cried and he held me and let me cry. He could have been angry with me. He could have withheld love since I haven’t been here much. He could have left me on my side of the bed. Instead, he wrapped me up in his arms and listened and loved and taught me once again what it means to give your heart to someone. He believes in me. He believes in my mission. He is patient with my mistakes. He accepts me for who I am. He sees the best in me. He wants the best for me. He holds me…in his arms and in his heart.

I could not live my life for one day without the mercy, love, and strength of my Richard.
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Thank you…to all of you who love me…thank you.

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thankful thursdays 3/17

Mar 17, 2011 by

My Thankful Thursdays posts keep getting skipped. Trust me, it has nothing to do with a lack of gratitude, just a lack of time. Thursdays are pretty busy around here because we have our little friend, Christopher, here on Thursday mornings. His mama is in college right now and Christopher goes to a different friends house each morning of the week. Thursday is our day. We love having him, but it does complicate things a wee bit.

So today, I thought I would write my post before anyone is up. I think it is the only way it is going to get done on this busy, busy day!

* Kat’s birthday was yesterday and tonight is her birthday party! I can’t wait to celebrate with her and our group of friends! Yippee for birthdays and dear friends…they add up to oodles of blessings for me!
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* Today I am thankful for my Math Alive! fellow mentor. I created this math class for Keziah and invited other children in Love of Learning phase to join us. We have sixteen students and have had so much fun with them. Sometimes I can’t think of what to do next, or I don’t have all the supplies I need, or I have no idea how to teach a topic, and Jennifer comes to the rescue with a wonderful idea, just the right supplies, or she figures out just how to teach something to a child who isn’t quite grasping the current concept. She has made the class far better and I am so grateful she decided to join me on this new adventure.
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* A few weeks back I had the thought of having Blythe work at the TJED Forum on Friday to earn her ticket for Saturday’s classes. I had just a small roadblock…I wasn’t going to be there till Friday night and she would need to be there at 6:30 a.m. Friday morning. Well, good friends came to the rescue! Cami took Blythe with them to watch A Tale of Two Cities today (yes, she will get to see it twice since she saw it a few weeks ago with the huge group I took down) and will watch over her today. Then she will give her to Diann tonight and Blythe will get to stay with her friend Macey. Up and early tomorrow, Blythe will be working and earning her way to the Forum. I am grateful for the opportunity Blythe has to work and for the help of all sorts of people to make it work seamlessly (at least I hope it all goes off as planned!)
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* My road is drying up, my road is drying up, high ho the darrie-o, my road is drying up!

After the last several weeks of an almost impassible road, a dryish road that we are not getting stuck on is a huge blessing. We have pushed out lots of people and even had to get the suburban pulled out last week. It is always a huge mess this time of year, but the howling wind storms of the last few nights have whisked away the moisture and I think we are finally past the getting-stuck craziness!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* I am thankful for food to eat. I never know at the beginning of the month how we will make it through the month, but somehow, month after month we have plenty to eat. Miracles are real. God does provide. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we have been taken care of by His hands and His servants.
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Time for my morning smoothie! Kez has just whipped us up one and I am going to enjoy every last sip!

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thankful thursdays 2/24

Feb 24, 2011 by

* I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend Crucial Confrontations training in Salt Lake over the weekend. The information is life-changing. Yes, it really is. If I can only figure out how to implement it and have it become part of my natural conversations, my whole life will change. It is a hard change. I will have to learn to speak clearly and concisely without resorting to character attacks, silence, sarcasm, martyr syndrome, manipulation, shame, half-truths, anger, regret, or any other unhealthy interactions many of us use when we get upset. It was wonderful to see in action the power of listening…listening with our hearts can have a profound impact on the people we interact with. I have already had one crucial confrontation this week and even though it lasted two hours instead of the five minutes it could have lasted, it was far more effective than it otherwise would have been if I hadn’t implemented my newly honed skills. I want to share this information with the world!
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* I have new hair! It is super cute and the color is finally something I can live with! My lil’ sis is amazing! It is so nice to look in the mirror and not think I look like death-warmed-over every day.
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* I am thankful for a vehicle that runs well, has heat, working wipers, and starts every time. I think back to the vehicle situation we were in a year ago and I am overcome with gratitude for our current vehicle. Now if it could only get 30 mpg, I would be thrilled!
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* We have been searching for a full-size violin for Blythe for many months. Praying and praying for a swinging deal to come our way at the right time. Well, it hasn’t come. She hasn’t been having lessons and she hasn’t had a violin to even practice on. In her upcoming Shakespeare play she will be playing music throughout the performance (think Fiddler on the Roof meets Twelfth Night) and we still haven’t been able to find her a violin. Last week, a fellow homeschool mom brought us her violin and said we could borrow it till the end of the play and she refused to charge rent! Hallelujah!

We are still on the lookout for Blythe’s next violin, so keep us in mind if you know of one that sounds great and is at a great price, but for now we are so grateful she will have one to use for the play!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* My friend, Boo, gets a huge shout-out of gratitude this week. She kindly let me stay in her home for the weekend while I was at Crucial Confrontations training! When my mom and sister decided to join me at the last minute, Boo let them stay as well. We had so much fun! It was wonderful to have a big, comfortable home to stay in!
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* Remember my missing cell phone? My friend, Cami, came to the rescue by finding one of her old ones she isn’t using anymore. Amazingly enough, it works better than either of our current phones does. Thanks for providing a way for our children to communicate with us when we are gone!!!
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We are going to start Twenty and Ten today! Such an adorable book!Twenty+and+Ten

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thankful thursdays 2/10

Feb 10, 2011 by

* Last week I was blessed with so much love…and yummy food! Thank you to Kari, Tasha, Jennifer W., and Cami for making us immune-boosting foods to help this household get back on track. Six people being sick for days on end is pretty miserable and your food helped us immeasurably! Richard isn’t sick yet, but his throat keeps feeling like it could start scratching at any moment, so we are doing our darndest to keep him well.
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* My next door neighbor brought over a care package for the sniffles…so cute! It was full of stuff to pamper myself while I was sick. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know. I really need to learn some lessons from her!
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* I am thankful for the New Testament. We are having a wonderful time traversing through Jesus’ life and teachings.
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* I am so thankful to have been part of Delinda and Burt’s birth. It was an amazing experience that I will always treasure. I loved praying with them and seeing their Catholic faith in action. I loved watching their beautiful children love and serve and play with one another. I loved being in their home. I loved holding Delinda as she birthed her baby with determination, humility, and power. I loved watching the look on her face go from sheer exhaustion to pure joy as she looked at her baby for the first time. I loved watching her little one latch on for the first time. I loved talking with Delinda afterwards and hearing what was going on in her mind and in her heart as she labored.

I am so grateful this little one is here and grateful they have allowed me to doula their family through their childbearing years. It is one of the greatest blessings in my life.
——————————————————————————————————————————–* I am grateful for my home. I am grateful to spend so many hours of my life here in my home with my children. I am grateful for the safety, the peace and quiet, the trees, the warmth, the space to learn, create, and build, the furniture to snuggle up on, the roomy kitchen we can all cook in at the same time, the easy-cleaning kitchen floor, the ginormous bathtub in my bedroom, the downstairs doors that let oodles of light in, my bedroom windows that allow the sun to greet me each morning, and the toilets that flush. I am grateful for the outside world that brings gobs of opportunities for exploration, hands-on science, and adventures. I am grateful for the owl that keeps me up at night and reminds me why living in the country is so grand. I am grateful for the three fox who keep walking around our yard. I am truly blessed.
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Time to go read some more Paul Bunyan to Fisher, Kez, and Annes. We are having a great time with tall-tales right now.

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thankful thursdays 1/20

Jan 20, 2011 by

Oh my! Has it really been since December 9th since I wrote a Thankful Thursdays post? Trust me, this is not because I have not been thankful! We have been blessed so much in the past month. We have had time as a family, time with extended family, protection in accidents, been adopted for Christmas by a very loving secret santa, enjoyed lovely Christmas cards, found a car for Richard to replace his totaled one, been quite healthy as a family, spent lots of time with friends, and are now moving into the new year. So many wonderful blessings!

* This week I have been overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, and obedience of people in my life. I want to be like them! I opened a card from my aunt and she had written me such an encouraging note. I reread it often and am inspired by her words. Much to my shock, she sent us some money! She said she had a dream about us and knew she needed to send us some money. How did she know, I ask. The answer comes…because God is good. God knows and he loves and he is sending me umpteen messages that we are not alone. Thank you, dear aunt. I love you.
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* Hugs! They are the best! Yesterday Sherry gave me a huge, long, heartfelt hug. It felt soooo good!
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* I am so grateful Eve is here! We are having a wonderful time having two Love of Learners in our home. It is so fun for the two girls to be able to read and study and create together!
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* Food. I love food! I love delicious food…a whole lot. I dream of delicious food. Last night, we had such a yummy Caesar salad, Yankee-Doodle Macaroni that was scrumdeliumptious, and acorn squash. I can’t even tell you how delish it was! Thank you Kari! I hope our deal is working out for you as well as it is for me!

Monday we had the MOST amazing fresh, shredded vegetable marinara sauce, along with meatballs, pasta, breadsticks and salad from the Lamoreaux family. We were in heaven!

I don’t know what I will do this summer when I have to start cooking every day again. I think we will survive on pb & j!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* I am grateful for my life as a doula. I am on call for a family right now and it is wonderful to live in anticipation of their upcoming birth. I have attended all four of their previous births and this fifth one is going to be the icing on the cake because it was such a miracle in coming to be. This family is the most walking-with-God family I have ever known. They are faithful, devoted followers of their faith and it is such a privilege to be a part of their lives. This new little baby will be here any day!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* Liz! Liz is a new mom in our homeschooling world and let me tell you, she lives with passion! I love her energy and adorableness and talents and humility and humor and oh, just everything about her. Last week at DI, she recommended we read Stone Fox for a family read-aloud. I quickly bought it for .50 and we finished it on Tuesday. What a great story!

Then, yesterday, she brought me a book as a gift! It is super fun to have a fellow book-lover as a friend!

Liz is also mentoring Keziah in singing. It is so exciting to have vocal instruction for my little girl who has excellent pitch and quite a gift for singing. Keziah is having a blast in her Vocal Jazz class!
——————————————————————————————————————————–* Ruth Heller. She is one of my favorite authors and I just have to shout out to the world that I am thankful for her! We have been reading all sorts of her books this week and I am, once again, convinced that she is a genius! I will be doing a book bonanza on her soon, so keep your eyes peeled for it!
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Our little friend, Christopher, just got here, and it is time for morning devotional, so I need to run.

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thankful thursdays 12/9

Dec 9, 2010 by

* Keziah is on a smoothie kick and I am so enjoying her creations she keeps bringing me every morning!
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* Can I just say I have the best friends a girl could ever ask for? Today I heard about an amazing deal at Costco…like about 90% off amazing…and so I quickly called my friends Robin, Jennifer, and Jane to see who could help me out. Jane bought them for me, Robin is going to go pick them up, and I will get them next week on my way through Pocatello. What heroes! What true friends! Cool blocks are coming to our home and to my math class!
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* We have Eve here with us this week. I love this girlie so much and want to keep her here forever. It is so fun having her be such a huge part of our family!
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* Yesterday I was blessed to be able to watch Kat’s children so she could go to IKEA on a big double date with her husband, Jennifer, and Jesse. Although Jain and Annesley are the most curious creatures ever, it was fun to have a houseful of so many little ones! My children had a blast playing all day long with their best friends. I was super blessed with thank-you presents from Kat…dark chocolate, Kat’s famous hummus & pita chips, and some cloth food for our play kitchen that is so adorable I wish I could eat it!

I still think having more children is easier than having fewer!
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* I love Christmas time! I am so enjoying our nightly devotionals with Christmas songs, a daily virtue and a Christmas story. I love focusing on Jesus and His life for a whole month. It brings a magical feeling into our home and our children are kinder to each other. I love our beautiful Christmas tree and waking up in the middle of the night to look at the lights. I love listening to Christmas music. I love serving others. I’m so thankful for the special time of year.
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* This week, I am really grateful for my vacuum. It may sound silly, but let me tell you, we have a lot of hair in our carpets on a daily basis. We have a dog who lives in our home, one girl with fine, breakable hair, another girl with thick tresses, a papa, who has been called the Missing Link, and me, with the thickest hair ever. All this adds up to a lot of hair even when we vacuum daily. I couldn’t keep my sanity if my vacuum stopped working. I would have to banish all of the hairy people (and dogs) from the house and then poor Fisher and Annesley would be left to fend for themselves and what good would that do?
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* I am grateful I have a dad who is a dog expert. Yesterday our Sadie was throwing up and so I hopped on google to figure out what was wrong. After being scared to death and thinking Sadie might die at any moment, I called my dad and he told me exactly what to do get her better. She is doing great now, thank goodness! Thanks dad!
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* I’m super grateful for my sewing partners (is it fair to call them partners when they are the ones doing the sewing and I am the one doing the ironing?) Jennifer and Kat are helping me create some adorable things for my girls for Christmas and I can’t wait to give them to them!
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Off to play with my kiddos.

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thankful thursdays – 11/25 – thanksgiving day

Nov 25, 2010 by

* My Heavenly Father and His plan for not only me, but for each of His children.
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* Jesus Christ – his love for me, his atoning sacrifice that allows me to repent, his knowing of who I am and what I need, his great mercy for my many shortcomings, his example to me of goodness, and his yearning for me to take His hand and trust Him completely.
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* My Richard. He is so patient with my foibles, my demands, and my ineptness. He teaches me over and over again what it really means to love someone and how you treat someone when you see them as a person and not as a tool or an object. He is the best thing in my life and I don’t treat him nearly as well as I should.
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* My four beautiful children that have changed my heart, forgiven my mistakes, and taught me what kind of woman I want to be.
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* Today I am grateful for my ten miscarriages (don’t get me wrong, I am not always grateful for them). Losing babies repeatedly has made me appreciate life, all forms of life, in a tender, awe-struck way. It has helped me have the knowledge and understanding to reach out to numerous families that are miscarrying and need a listening ear along with a loving heart. I am thinking of all my babies tonight for some reason and missing them. Missing being pregnant. I am grateful for the opportunity I have had to carry these precious spirits inside of me and to feel of their goodness. It has changed who I am and today I am grateful for that.
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* My family came for Thanksgiving and we have had a wonderful time eating, playing games, talking, sleeping, eating, laughing, and more eating. They went to the store and bought oodles of food and then mom spent all night and morning preparing a wonderful feast. We all helped, but mom was the hero of the day and orchestrated the whole process so everything was done at the same time and tasted delicious.
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* I have the best friends in the world! I cannot list out the amazing things they do for me and with me, but I want each of them to know they have been more of a support than they can ever know. They have loved me, rescued me, taught me, challenged me, humored me, fed me, massaged me, cleaned with me, laughed with me, and edified me. Their love has helped me stay sane and their hugs have given me a place to cry. I am so grateful to be surrounded by amazing women who form a circle of sisterhood around me.
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* A warm home. Can you imagine being out in this frigid weather? I am so grateful to be inside, warm and cozy.
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* My trials. Yes, it is true, going through hard stuff does bless us and help us on our life journey. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned and the person I have become because of my past. I am grateful to God for helping me replace bitterness with understanding, hatred with love, and despair with hope. This life is exactly what we need to become who we were created to be. I know this is true, but I sometimes forget!
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* My bathtub. It is so luscious to sink down into warm water and shut the world out for a few minutes. I had a lovely bath this morning and Mikelle and Easton are in there now. Big, comfortable bathtubs are such a treat for exhausted mamas!
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I love Thanksgiving. I dearly miss our huge family gatherings with my Grandma and wish that tradition and her life could have continued for all my days. But it couldn’t and I am so grateful my family has come to my home to celebrate with us.

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thankful thursdays 11/18

Nov 18, 2010 by

I am so exhausted. I am going to try to be in bed by 7 o’clock. I have had two nights in a row where I hit the sack past midnight and long days to follow them, and I am done for. How tired? Well, I fell asleep this evening during Keziah’s violin lesson, on her teacher’s couch.

I want to remember the gratitude of this week, so I am going to force myself to stay up for a few more minutes and write it all out.

My sewing room is clean. I know you are all probably sick to death of hearing about it, but truly, I cannot express it enough. I cannot believe it is clean. It has not been clean in YEARS. It has been completely wasted space because none of us could even go in there without risking life or limb. It has been like a bedsore festering and eating away at my sanity for so long that the pain of it being gone has given me a whole new shot at life! Functioning life…you know, a life where I can find things. A life in which I can create. A life in which I can help my children create without losing my mind.

Thank you Jessica. Thank you so much for giving me your arms, your brain cells, your throw-that-away-and-don’t-look-back determination. Thank you for not judging me harshly for my enormous piles of clutter, for not thinking I am an absolute failure, and for your love of my inadequacies. You have given me a priceless gift. I cannot express how much it means to me.

Another friend came to my rescue today. Do you remember my bathroom project from about a year ago? In which I was going to make my bathroom Mary Engelbreit cute? I was all gung-ho and started on my curtains right away, then I got stumped on how to finish them and they have sat in a pile of myriads of other unfinished projects ever since. Today Kat finished them for me! They are all hung up and I think they are super cute! I still need to finish the other projects for that bathroom, but at least the curtains are in place and looking adorable! For the first time since we bought this home we have curtains in the bathroom!

My entire family is coming to visit. This is the first time my whole family will be at my home…or any of our other thirteen homes we have lived in. I still can’t quite believe it. It is such a miracle to me that my brother Cameron is coming clear from Wisconsin to spend Thanksgiving with us. I am grateful to God for helping this whole thing come about.

Last night after searching at TJMaxx and Target for a long time, I went to Ross and walked right up to the one and only wooden food package in the whole store. I was headed to the back to the toy section and decided to veer left for some unknown reason and there it was right above my head. I then went to the toy section searching for other varieties, but no, there were no more to be found. I had set my heart on wooden food for Annesley’s birthday present next week and was pretty devastated when I couldn’t find it at any other stores. I KNOW I was guided to find it in the one place it would be.

I am falling asleep while I type this, so I am going to head to bed and try to get on top of my game for the headstand contest tomorrow! The record is held by Spencer Lamoreaux at 30 minutes and 30 seconds. I can’t imagine anyone beating that tomorrow, but who knows? These kids are tough!

p.s. I know you are dying for pictures of my super amazing sewing/craft/creativity room and my new bathroom curtain, but I am just too tired to take them, upload them, transfer them to flickr, and post them on here. You will have to wait for me to get some sleep and then you can satisfy your curiosity.

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thankful thursdays 11/11

Nov 11, 2010 by

So much to be thankful for today…so, so much.

* Make It For Maggie was fabulous! Thank you to everyone who helped in any way big or small. Days later I am still in awe of what a community of people can accomplish. I tell you, the human spirit is limitless. We can change the world!
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* Last week when I got home from gym, the Lamoreaux family was in my home cleaning! They cleaned out my fridge, cleaned my laundry room, washed dishes, mowed my lawn, and who knows what else. What angels!!!! Every time I open my fridge I scream a little bit – it makes me so happy to see a spotless fridge. Thank you – you made my Friday a million times more peaceful!
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* Sleeping. I have needed to get some sleep for quite a while and Monday I slept most of the day. It was heavenly to lay around, snuggled up with my little one, and drift in and out of sleep for hours on end.
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* Keziah started violin lessons this afternoon! I am so excited for her to be in regular lessons again! Thanks Kate!

Anyone know of a great deal on a good full-size violin for Blythe?
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Just ran outside to check on my charging-the-dead-suburban-job and now I have something brand new to be thankful for!

* Really, really grateful to have all ten fingers attached. I almost lost two of them just now while jumping the suburban. Instead I have a painful cut on the ring finger and a buffed smooth middle finger and a big reminder to be more careful when working on cars in the dark…meaning, don’t do it. Get a light, silly girl.
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Well, I had lots more to type, but now that I am bleeding and not able to use two of my fingers, I will stop for the night.

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thankful thursdays 11/4

Nov 4, 2010 by

Two more days until Make It For Maggie!!! Today my list is short, but I wanted to get these thoughts out of head and on to my screen so I can remember them in years to come.

* I am so grateful for my dear friend, Katherine, who has created Make It For Maggie with me. We have had so much fun putting this amazing event together. It is a tender blessing in my life to have such wonderful friends to work with in changing the world. Kat is supremely talented, hilarious, a great cook, and she loves me. What more could I ask for in a friend? She can also sew up a storm, create patterns from scratch, and answer my phone calls at midnight. Not only that, she nurtures my little ones each week during gym so I can focus on teaching. What a gem!
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* Today I have been scrubbing my downstairs bathroom. It was filthy when we bought this house and it hasn’t ever completely recovered from the neglect it suffered from past owners, so it is pretty difficult to get it looking nice. Last night I bought a Magic Eraser for the first time and it has taken away spots I have been scrubbing for years. I usually like to use all-natural cleaners, but today I am grateful for modern cleaners that are able to make things look spic-n-span.
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* I am incredibly grateful for my computer. Today I have a whole list of things I need to create for our Make It For Maggie event and my computer will make it relatively pain-free. What a wonderful invention these things are!
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* My neighbor brought me over a box of beets today! Green smoothies will be red for awhile over at our house! Beets are great for detoxifying and I am currently on a mission to detoxify and help my body be able get healthier and more energetic…all in hopes of being able to carry a baby all the way to my arms.
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* I am grateful for my colloquia group! We have been coming together to discuss and sharing great books for years and I am so thankful for my associations with the men and women who have joined with me on this journey of learning. Tonight we are discussing The Magician’s Nephew and I fell in love with it all over again – what a treasure trove of thoughts C.S. Lewis sparks in my head!
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I am up to my eyeballs in Make It For Maggie stuff and cleaning so I have to run.

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thankful thursdays 10/21

Oct 21, 2010 by

It has been several weeks since I have taken the time to write my Thankful Thursdays posts. Sorry ’bout that!

* We have had gorgeous, feel-the-sun-on-your-face weather this week. Absolutely perfect fall weather. We have played outside and tried to soak it all in. I love fall. Love the colors, the cool nights, and the feeling in the air. I love when we actually have an autumn season and don’t go straight from summer to snow in one fell swoop.
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* I am grateful for my little Fisher. He is smack in the middle of boyhood adventures wherein he catches a variety of insects, mice, frogs, and snakes pretty much every day. He loves these little creatures so much and tries very hard to take good care of them. His little heart breaks when he sees them suffering and sometimes he has to make a hard decision to let them go back into nature so they can stay alive and be happy. He reminds me of the little things in life and shows me how childhood was meant to be experienced.

This week we found six mice in the chicken coop and Richard thought it best to feed them to the cats. Fisher was all gung-ho about the whole thing…at least we thought so. After everyone came back in the house, Fisher stayed outside. I figured he was off trying to catch more mice, but when he came in he had a sheepish, earnest look on his face. I asked him where he had been and he looked deep into my eyes as if trying to assess if he could trust me with his secret. I tried to send my trustworthiness through the air and deep into his heart. Finally, he looked up with tender eyes and said, “They want their lives as much as we do.” I didn’t quite know what he was talking about, but guessed he might mean the mice. He tried again to convince me. “Mom, they don’t want to die, they have families they love just like we do.” I wish I had a picture of the look in his eyes at that moment – it was full of love, determination, and a titch of nervousness that I wouldn’t understand his perspective. Again I sent the message of safety to his heart and he continued “I rescued the mouse from the cat and took it out to the field where it can stay alive.”

Pretty big feelings for my lil’ cutie pie.
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* My assistant Math Alive! teacher has taught our class for the last two weeks and it has been heavenly to not have to prepare a lesson. It has breathed some new life into me and helped me step back and not feel as if I am drowning. Thanks Jen!
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* My hearing is improving and the popping is decreasing. I think there is hope!
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* My friend Boo (Bethany) came and visited our area this week and I was able to stay up late talking with her, share Kat’s yummy food, and listen to her sing her songs while basking in the sun.
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* The great bedroom rearrangement project is mostly completed! The three children have beds and clothing in their correct rooms and the upstairs is mostly put back together again. The downstairs is still filled with the remnants of Keziah’s overstuffed bedroom, but we are ssssslllllloooooowwwwwwllllly getting on top of it.

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* Sarah is teaching Blythe how to knit! I am so excited about Sarah joining us on Wednesdays for a little knitting time, a little conversation, and a little lunch. Super fun!

I don’t think I ever wrote about the adorable hat Sarah made for my Annesley. I had been oohing and aahing over this one that Jessica made and one day Sarah surprised me with a pink one for Miss Annes to wear! It almost makes winter look attractive. Okay, not really, but I am super excited for Annes to wear it all winter long!

Here it is, complete with 360 degree photos.

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Isn’t it adorable????? I want a million more…that is one good reason for Blythe to learn to knit. I can indenture her for the rest of her life and beg her to make elf hats for me in a million different colors (giggle, giggle).

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* Baby Easton is growing and nursing and growing and nursing and growing and nursing. Mikelle is learning about this miraculous journey of motherhood and it is changing her. So lovely to watch my little girl grow up and become a woman who can birth a baby, single-handedly sustain his life, and learn much about herself in the process. He will be four weeks old tomorrow!

Mikelle and Easton

Annes and Fisher now have named their doll babies, Baby Easton. So cute to see them taking care of their babies, wearing them in slings, nursing them, burping them, and changing their diapers. They will be wonderful mamas and papas some day.

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Time to run Keziah to Liberty Girls!

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thankful thursdays – 9/30

Sep 30, 2010 by

Whoa Nellie, have we got a HUGE project going on over here. This afternoon I decided I needed to make some changes and make them in a huge way, so we are moving three children’s stuff, including beds, bookshelves, and hundreds of Hot Wheels to new arrangements. After stewing, worrying, and basically being completely defeated by our bedroom arrangements for months, months I tell you, I had a clear vision this morning of what I wanted to accomplish. After a picnic at the park, I dug in and started transforming bedrooms. Fisher’s was so filthy, I could not see the floor, so it was quite the task. His room is now nearly empty and we have moved Keziah’s bedroom furniture into it. She is now the proud owner of the largest bedroom in the house and has a roommate…the BIG girl, Annes. Tomorrow we need to finish cleaning her room so we can move Fisher in there. I have taken at least five big bags of garbage outside and will have MANY more tomorrow. Keziah’s possessions are about to be severely altered to a much more reasonable level.

Anyway, because of all this huffing and sweating, I need to find the nearest pillow and fall asleep. However, I can’t do that until I write down my gratitude for this week.

Does anyone need to ask what I am grateful for this week?

Easton Logan Hull.

Isn’t that adorable? Easton is my grandmother’s mother’s maiden name. Easton has been on our list of possible names for years, but I gladly give it up for this little cutie to have it.

My baby sister and her husband had their baby on Friday night and I was able to stay with them for a blessed three days and love on them all. Mikelle is adjusting to motherhood and is doing fabulous. I am so proud of her! I am in love with Easton and can’t wait to get down there to see him again.

Grateful he arrived safely.

Grateful for the family support they have had.

Grateful for her determination to breastfeed.

Grateful for the moments I had to look in her eyes and assure her she could push her baby out.

Grateful for Logan.

Grateful to share this birth with them.

Grateful to witness the miracle of birth with my baby girl…yes, even though she is my sister, she called me mommy for years when she was little.

Grateful for him and for Him. The gift and the giver.

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thankful thursdays 9/23

Sep 23, 2010 by

Typing is pretty difficult as a one-armed woman. I certainly can hen-peck one handed, but it takes forever and I don’t have that much time to give. So, Thankful Thursdays will be abbreviated today.

The Big Ones:

God

Richard

Our children

The Atonement

Food, shelter, and clothing

Our extended families

The ability to learn

Specific to this week:

Linda, a dear mama, who came to my rescue by taking Blythe to and from Spanish. I can’t even tell you what it means to me to have to leave my home four less times in a week

Jennifer B. – fabulous Math Alive! assistant

Cami M. – helped Annes be happy yesterday

The book, The Edison Trait – it is helping me understand my children so much!

Time for morning devotional…ta ta!

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thankful thursdays 9/16

Sep 16, 2010 by

* Keziah started a new semester of Liberty Girls today. She is super excited, has read her two chapters in Pollyanna, has two braids that magically happened without her usual “You are hurting my head!” screams, and is wearing her thick, blue cardigan. She looks adorable and had a big smile on her face as I dropped her off. What fun!

I am so thankful for the wonderful families in our lives who have created amazing classes and clubs and invite my children to participate. Having other children to associate with who are reading, learning, and discovering together makes a HUGE difference in their lives and surrounds them with a community of like-minded peers that are on the same off-the-beaten-path educational journey we are on. We are greatly blessed!
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* The weather has been glorious this week. Thank you Mr. Sun for shining on me and warming me with your rays. I am NOT a winter person and last week’s rain almost did me in!
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* Richard’s mom had surgery yesterday and she seems to be doing really well. We have all prayed for her much this week. I am grateful for her recovery so far and hope she is back to normal quick as a wink!
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* My Math Alive! class was so FUN yesterday! I challenged the children to build pyramids out of golf balls in preset configurations and it was much harder than it at first appeared. None of the adults could do it and it was SO fun to watch the children working hard, concentrating so much that nothing could distract them from their goal of solving the puzzle. I fell in love with mentoring these children while I watched them think.

Finally, after class ended, Courtney Lamoreaux amazed us all by solving it! She was so proud of herself! Way to use your brain, Miss Courtney!
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* Today I am grateful for cello choir. A group of four students have been practicing together all summer and tomorrow is our recital. We have improved immensely and I have learned much. I love each member of our little quartet and hope our performance tomorrow will be a reflection of how much work we have put into it.

A big thanks to Jennifer for creating our choir and for playing with us tomorrow – she will help us sound much, much better!
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* I am grateful for washers and dishwashers and cleaners and rags and vacuums and every time-saving device I have in my home. I am so far behind on my housekeeping duties and I realize that if was washing clothing by hand it would be impossible to ever catch up. You would think being gone out of my home for two days every week would somehow give me less work to do since there is no one here making a mess, but somehow it seems I have even more work and no where near as much time to do it! I hope by October I will have figured out how to more effectively plan my days so my home runs smoothly…surely, that is something to hope for?

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Fisher and Annesley are ready for me to read them a stack of books from the library, so I am going to snuggle up with them and discover some new treasures!

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thankful thursdays 9/9

Sep 9, 2010 by

* Today I am grateful to be a homeschooling mom. Grateful I get to spend my life mothering, learning with, and creating with my children. Right this minute Fisher is painting pictures of lizards from one of our gazillion animal books, Keziah is singing her heart out while she does her chores, Annesley is building with duplos, Blythe is at her Spanish class, and everyone got to study some Shakespeare this morning (everyone agrees that The Tempest is a very strange play). Everyone is happy and engaged in something they enjoy. Everyone is getting along. Everyone is smiling. I was able to spend my morning reading Mockingjay and my children all found things to study to give me time to curl up with a great book. This is the life, I tell you.

Here are some photos of our fun with pattern blocks and our recent Homeschool Day at Lava Hot Springs.

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Blythe, Katherine, and Madison

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Gathering pine cones for a small war

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Pretending to aim at me…of course, they would never follow through with those throws because they know I would tackle them all!

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* I am grateful for good friends that love me, hug me, laugh with me, tell me my hair looks good in this new dark coppery shade, and share their lives with me. I am SO blessed to have wonderful friends.
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* Yesterday during my Math Alive! class, my friend, Sherry, let Annesley sit on her lap and rub her arm, put her hand up her sleeve, and generally snuggle on her. Annesley LOVES to rub people’s skin, mine especially, but when she can’t have it, I am grateful someone allowed her to to rub them. Thanks Sherry!
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* I am grateful for sunshine! The last two days have been raining and I even heard a rumor that it snowed yesterday and dreary weather always reminds me how glorious the sun is. How good our Creator is who gives us sunshine to keep us warm inside and out.
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* I am grateful for yummy food cooked by someone else. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays I get to have meals made for our family in trade for gymnastics lessons. Yippee! I don’t have to cook!

Life-changing…everyone should try it!
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* I am grateful for the birds I hear singing out my bedroom window almost every morning. They weren’t singing today because of the rain and I missed them. Isn’t it funny how we often don’t appreciate something until it is gone?

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* I love my Miss Annesley. She and I have this game we play when she wakes up. I ask her where she needs a kiss and she still pretends to be asleep by not moving and not opening her eyes while she sucks on her thumb. With a little move of her finger she points to somewhere on her face that she wants me to kiss her. We do this again and again until her whole face is kissed and she finally opens her eyes and admits she is ready to greet the day. Then we do it with her kissing me right where I tell her I need kisses. She is so precious….I want to eat her up!

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Off to pick up Blythe from Spanish!

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thankful thursdays 8/26

Aug 26, 2010 by

* I am so thankful for Jane’s new home…her new life…which is going to have some of her burdens significantly lightened. I am thrilled at the love and generosity that has been shown to my dear friends.
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* I was able to have a good long conversation with my friend Delinda. She has been through three deaths, a long battle with a bacterial infection that caused her to lose over 40 lbs., and is now 17 weeks pregnant with a miracle baby…all in the past eight months. It was so good to hug her, to look in her eyes and see her joy and her faith that God has been with her as she has walked this long road. In February I will be attending her birth, just as I have her previous four births.

Twelve years ago today, I attended the birth of their first child. It was a long, intense hospital birth full of prayers, love, and ultimate triumph. It was my first hospital birth as a doula and completely changed my life and the life of my family. I am so blessed to know this family and to have been attending their births for the past twelve years.

Happy Birthday Amaya!
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* Tomorrow is H.O.P.E.! I get to sit with an amazing group of women and discuss how to make math come alive in our homes. I love these women! They bless me, teach me, and love me.
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* Quick UPS deliveries. It is a wonder, don’t you think, how quickly we can order something off the internet and in just a few short days have it brought right to our front door. I have decided to teach a living math class this year for home schoolers and needed some supplies fast. We got our magnets, pattern blocks, geoboards, mathematician books, and 1″ cubes today. Next week we will get our logic puzzles, pentominoes, Build-It cubes, and some more books! Classes start Wednesday!
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* My friend Jana. She is an amazing woman of vision, stability, faith, and love. She has created an exciting organization for home schoolers in our area and has spent HOURS doing it. I am grateful to know her and to be blessed by her. Her heart is huge! Last year she played a pivotal role in Blythe’s development as a Shakespearian and this year she will be mentoring Keziah in a hands-on learning adventure. What a woman!
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* My dear Richard. He is the rock of our family and works so hard for us. On Monday he will start working about 75 hours a week, six days a week. He comes home exhausted, but still willing to read a story to Annesley, help Fisher work on casting his fishing pole, or listen to Blythe and Keziah. He wakes up early in the morning, he drives a car that is MUCH louder than a motorcycle and is pretty much driving him insane, he calls and asks if there is anything I need him to do, he encourages me, and most of all, he loves.

He holds me in a way that reaches my inner soul and makes me feel safe and warm and protected and nurtured and completely at peace. He looks at me with a softness I didn’t know was possible. He does this funny thing with his eyebrows that lets me know he thinks I am the most beautiful thing he has ever laid eyes on. He is an excellent kisser…oh, yes, this man who has never kissed another woman in his life, knows just how to kiss me.

This weekend, he is taking all of the children fishing while I go down to Logan to visit my sister.

I love this man. He is the best thing that ever happened to me.

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Fisher is waiting for me to read Paddy the Beaver to him…see you later!

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thankful thursdays 7/29

Jul 30, 2010 by

I have been gone from home for almost two weeks and my heart is full of lots of things I am grateful for.

* With eight people staying at my mom’s and seven of them girls, I am grateful for my hair. For those of you that don’t know, I have pretty amazing hair. I am not saying it is amazing-beautiful, just amazing-easy. When I wake up, it usually looks just like it did when I went to bed. I just run a comb through it and I am done getting it ready for the day. It also doesn’t get oily…even after days and days of not showering. This has been a huge blessing this week as we have had to be up every day by 5:00 a.m. (I am NOT a morning person!) and out the door to music camp by 7:00.
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* I am so grateful for my mom. She has let us stay here for two weeks and fed us, clothed us, laughed with us, saved many a child from tears, let me use her car to save on gas mileage, and been very patient with the fact that a small army has invaded her quiet, solitary life.

Thanks mom! This has been a wonderful blessing to be able to be here and participate in all the pioneer day activities and music camp.
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* Today I am especially grateful for a dependable vehicle. I have driven a TON these last couple of weeks and it does wonders for my peace of mind to know I am not about to break down, my car will start, and everything is in working order. It’s also fabulous to be able to carry so many people and all of their stuff.
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* Our new lil’ camper. My Aunt Carol gave us a camper that was given to her and after cleaning it, getting it inspected, fixing the lights, washing all the mattress covers, and learning how to drive it, I am taking it camping. It has held all of our stuff for the past two weeks and tomorrow it will make its maiden voyage as a our camping vehicle. It is 40 years old and certainly shows its age, but it has been a huge blessing to us already.
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* Have I mentioned the amazing Tami? This friend (and cousin) of mine brought my mom a 10 x 10 shelter from Colorado and dropped it off on her journey across I-80 AND she brought us a treat! Safeway makes an ice cream flavor that we have never seen out here in the land of Winco, Fred Meyer, and Albertson’s. Mint Moosetracks is heavenly…so delicious I’m sure I could eat it everyday and not get tired of it. Thick swirls of fudge, mint-filled chocolate cups, and creamy mint ice cream. So yummy!

Thanks Tam! You are a gem!
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Time for me to get all these girls a movin’! Music camp starts mighty early.

If I don’t get back on here before I leave for my mountains, toodle-loo. I will be back after days on end of gazing at my favorite peaks, swimming in glacier-fed waters, going on hikes with my little ones, and soaking up the wonder of nature, family, and friends.

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thankful thursdays 7/15

Jul 15, 2010 by

* Today I am only going to write about one thing I am thankful for…life.

I am grateful to be alive.

I am grateful to be a wife to my Mr. Amazing. I am grateful to scratch his head, massage his aching back, listen to his dreams, and snuggle in his arms as we drift off to sleep. I am grateful to know him and to have the privilege of loving this man who is simply good. I am grateful to be able to bear his children and to stay home with them as their mama.

I am grateful to be able to watch my children growing up day after day. I am grateful to be able to do their laundry, wash their dishes, prepare their food, rub their feet, get slivers out of their toes, tickle their bellies, wipe away their tears, bathe their muddiness away, see the light of happiness in their eyes, listen to their padding feet, touch their soft cheeks, hear their words of apologies to one another, watch them zip up and down our road on their bikes, and hear their prayers each day.

I am grateful to have a body that can climb trees, wade streams, type letters, scrub floors, kill spiders, carry heavy loads, read books, give hugs, and smile at friends (and strangers!).

I am grateful to be on the earth with my family. To be here, growing and learning together.

I am grateful my body is not full of cancer or any other life-sucking disease that is taking the lives of so many dear people who are in the prime of their lives and have oodles of children depending on them.

Here is one family’s story of their wife and mother who just died of cancer on July 3rd as a 36-year-old mother of six.

Yes, I am thankful for life.
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thankful thursdays 7/8

Jul 8, 2010 by

Oh my goodness, my heart is full this week. So many things to be thankful for!

* First up is a recap of our Independence Day Weekend activities. My mom and sister arrived here on Thursday to watch Blythe, Keziah, Eve, and Fisher sing in the America’s Hope choir. We had a great time watching and listening to this great children’s choir sing with joy for liberty. We nearly laughed our heads off watching Fisher make hilarious facial expressions, play with his flag, and sing louder than everyone else so that Keziah felt the irrepressible need to SSHHHH! him during the performance. All of the children did a great job and I am so grateful for the women who came together to make it happen for our community.

Then about six families went to Dairy Queen and got dipped cones to take to the park and let the children run, slide, and swing till dark. By the way, I have never had a dipped cone before and it was much better than I imagined. I should have one of those more often!

Friday was full of fun, but it started out with my mom crashing on my awesome recumbent bike and has a row of bruises to show for it. I showed my short sightedness by asking how my bike was before I asked how my mom was…eeeeekkkk! Mistake!

Then we had a visit from a recent doula client and their adorable little boy!

Then we went to the lake and swam, played in the sand, went down the slide, ate gobs of food, got sunburned, and delighted in watching Annes go back and forth from the water to the towels, water to the towels over and over again. At dark we enjoyed the first of three nights of fireworks. The best part? Annes yelling after each explosion, “That freak me out!”

Saturday we went to a parade with temps way low and the wind briskly blowing. My mom was wrapped up in her blanket the entire time and tried using her umbrella as a wind break. Definitely not 4th of July weather! The kids got lots of candy with Eve teaching them how to step on two pieces while using both hands to gather everything else around her. Then we went to our favorite hill to set up our camp for the fireworks. We have been going to the same place since Blythe was three and LOVE it.

Then we went to the much anticipated Toy Story 3. Fisher and Grandma have been planning this outing for over a year and thankfully they let the rest of us join them. It was a great movie and I admit it, I cried at the end. It worked out for Buzz and Woody and was a perfect ending to the saga that started years ago.

After a stop at the grocery store to replenish our food supplies (a quick stop for turkey turned into a watermelon-toting, pie-laden adventure), we were back to our spot on the hill to play football, redneck golf, explore the river, and laugh ourselves silly.

The fireworks arrived amid hundreds of glow sticks wrapped around our children, cousins, and friends, and they were bigger than ever. Afterwards we stayed and watched a movie projected on to the pavillion wall until all the traffic was gone and we could drive home without the bumper-to-bumper ordeal that accompanies massive public events.

Sunday we attended church and then rushed out the door to attend The Tribute to the Constitution, which is a wonderful event put on by Celebration of Liberty. Blythe sang in two different choirs and did a fabulous job. She looked so grown-up up there on stage! Keziah and Fisher sang “The Hope of America” and Annesley sang right along with them from the jam-packed auditorium. Ted Stewart, the author of the book The Seven Miracles that Saved America, was the keynote speaker and received a standing ovation. I want to read the book, but am 21st on the list at the library.

Monday the children sang again with the America’s Hope Choir and I think it was their best performance yet…all the pressure was off and they just sang their hearts out. That night we went to a third night of fireworks, which were much better than we thought and had a great time visiting with friends and getting Frostys at Wendy’s.

We had a fabulous time with family and friends and are so grateful to have been able to have a wonderful four days with those we love while celebrating the miracle of America.
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* We spent Tuesday afternoon at the splash park with some friends and were grateful for sunshine, water, and good, clean fun.
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* My room is cleaner than it has been in years…I can actually walk without stepping on anything! I was able to clean out boxes and boxes of stuff to go to DI and part with loved clothing that hasn’t actually been worn in years. This was very hard for me because I can always come up with darn good reasons of why I need to hang on to things, but it was time for it to go. I will probably not be a size 6 again, right? Now, I just have to keep it clean!
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* Our new dog, Sadie, has already brought us so much JOY! She is a bajillion times fabulous. She is calm, obedient, full of love, gentle with babies, loves to snuggle, can go out in public with us, is a perfect passenger in the car, lets Annesley crawl all over her, sleeps with Keziah, goes everywhere with Fisher, and listens at family read-aloud time better than anyone else. I am so grateful we found her! She is the perfect addition to our family and although it has only been two weeks, we already can’t imagine life without her. Mikelle fell in love with her while she was visiting and understands why I drove over two hours to get her.
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* Reading. I love reading and always have. I learned to read long before kindergarten and have been seen with a book in my hand ever since. My life has been more than greatly enriched, it has been formed by my reading. Books change me. They teach me. They touch me in ways I can’t express. There was a period of time when I lost the ability to cry…for years. I could not cry about real people, real events, real crises, real joys. But I was able to immerse myself in a book and cry for the characters. I was numb to feeling the pains of the real world, but being able to feel the pains in an imaginary world gave me hope that I was still a functioning human being and that I would one day be able to feel real emotions again. I remember the first time I read The Hiding Place. Corrie ten Boom’s faith and determination to do good rubbed off on me and I yearned to be like Corrie. I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird and how Scout’s story became my story and how my thirst for justice was tempered by a great desire for mercy. I remember reading The Little House series till my copies were torn and tattered and loving the simple stories of a family’s struggle to survive, cooperation, a father’s leadership, and a mother’s love and hard work. I love reading. I love learning of other lives, other cultures, other ways. I love learning who I am by discovering myself in books.
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* Family reunions. I have always loved reunions and the feeling of security they gave me as a child. They were a place full of love, fun, stability, and people who knew who they were and what they stood for. I can’t even tell you how much I yearned for a happy family as a little girl. I wanted a family that loved and served and laughed and worked and going to family reunions showed me it was possible. When I was little we would always sing “I Have a Family Here on Earth” and Camille and I would cry through the song because we both wanted to have a mom and dad that loved each other.

This weekend we have a Rollins Reunion, which is where I met my 2nd cousin Tami when we were 12 years old. Having her in my life has been one of God’s great gifts to me. She and my other cousin Camille, have been my best friends for nearly 25 years. We have been through EVERYTHING together and I am so grateful to have them as such an integral part of my life.

This reunion will be the second one we have had without my grandma and it is not getting any easier. I want to play Canasta with her. I want to get her food for her. I want to hear her giggle. I want to feel her lips on my cheek. I want to watch Fisher talk to her. I want Annesley to know her.

In spite of all of that, I think family reunions are one of the best things ever and am so grateful to have a family that keeps holding them year after year.

And tomorrow????? I get to see Tami and Camille and spend the whole weekend having fun with them!
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* Richard’s sister and family came over last night to light sparklers and let the cousins all play together. So fun! They filled up balloons with water and intended to have a water balloon fight (at 11:30 at night, no less!), but the balloons wouldn’t pop! They bounced around like playground balls, jiggling their water to and fro. The kids were throwing them hard at the cement, bouncing them across the deck, and sending them careening off the deck and still they didn’t pop! It was crazy and oh so fun!
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* Blythe was blessed to go make-up shopping with her grandma and auntie and her skin already looks a million times better! Thanks ladies – you are life savers for that young lady!
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What are you thankful for today?

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thankful thursdays 6/24

Jun 24, 2010 by

* We have a new dog! Her name is Sadie and she is perfect for our family! She is a 6 year old black lab, she is calm, doesn’t jump or lick, has a gently personality, is soft with babies, is sleeping in our house in a pile with all my children…and the best part…she has been raised with chickens and doesn’t eat them!!!! We took her on a hike yesterday and she was delightful! Definitely a keeper!

Sadie at Cress Creek
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* The sun has been shining some this past week and I am starting to believe summer may really come!
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* My mom is home from Mexico! I tell you, a week without talking to her is like living in a desert without water. My poor Annesley has been beside herself without her grandma to talk to several times a day.
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* Fatherhood. I am grateful for the men in my life and the good they do in this world in being husbands, daddies, and grandpas. They are critical to the success of the family and our nation. I am especially grateful for the father of our home who plays with our children, takes them on dates, teaches them how to fish, builds projects with them, listens to their stories, reads to them, snuggles them, gets up with them at night, deals with their throw-up, and always wants more babies to come to our home.

Richard, Fisher, Annesley, and Blythe at Kellie's Wedding
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* Saturday is the Title of Liberty March!!! One of our favorite events of the year! Come and join us as we walk through Idaho Falls carrying 1,776 flags to post on Liberty Field. Line up is at 8 a.m. at Taylor Crossing.

Title of Liberty 2009
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* Saturday is also the Children’s Parade in Rigby at 1:00. I love this parade because it is just kids riding their decorated bikes, wagons, horses, and dogs through town. Line up is at 12:30 at the Old County Courthouse. Tons of fun! Come and show your American Spirit!
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* I am grateful for our hike this week. It felt so good to be out in nature with my children and some friends. I am really grateful my friend, Anne, was up for a totally spontaneous excursion. I called her and said “I am on my way to Cress Creek, wanna come?” She said “I’ll be there in a just a few minutes” and she was! We had a great time with her and Cedar. She is my outdoor hero. She is an amazing hiker, runner, skier, everything girl. She is also a bird expert and has taught me much about noticing and appreciating the birds of our area.

Girls at Cress Creek

Annesley and Cedar
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* The lovely Jessica gave me a belated birthday present…a super cute bag and an oven mitt (you know I burn myself every time I cook, right?). I have been loving my new bag, it is the perfect size to carry a book, my commonplace and a set of pens to make notes. Thanks Jess!

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My family will be here next week for Independence Day! I can’t wait to see them!!!

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thankful thursdays 6/17

Jun 17, 2010 by

Whoa Nellie – I have been swamped lately and haven’t been keeping up on my Thankful Thursdays posts! Please know that I have had much to be thankful for and am just lacking on the time to sit down and share my thoughts.

* I am grateful Homeschool Swim Camp was a success…a cold, wet, and windy success, but a success none the less. Children had fun, friendships were made and strengthened, 90 people improved their swimming skills, outdoor cooking was enjoyed, and skit night was hilarious! I think those of us who stayed the whole week should get an award for outlasting the cloudy skies, near hurricane strength winds, and soaking wet tents.
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* We were blessed with the amazing opportunity to go to Lagoon! Most of my children have never been and so this was a huge deal for them. We were given six free tickets by a man who didn’t want to be found out (but I know where he works and I will be making him something yummy as a thank you even if I never find out his name) and we had a wonderful time. We were able to go with my brothers and sister and niece and mom so this was really a once in a lifetime experience! Keziah has been praying and working and scheming on a way to get us all to Lagoon – it was her dream for the summer and I am thrilled it came true for her…and for all of us. All of the children pitched in a paid for gas and food to make this an amazing day for our family.
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* I was able to help another little baby enter this world – and he is so stinkin’ cute with a head full of dark hair and cheeks that are round and kissable. This time a beautiful home birth with a family that has become dear to me in the short time I have known them.
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* Although I am longing for sunshine, all the rain of the past month has helped my grass stay nice and green.
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* I attended our Homeschool Used Curriculum Fair yesterday and walked out with some bargains! I picked up beautiful books about Sacagewea and Bach for 50 cents, some Busy Bugs to replace the set we have had for nearly 10 years for $5, a a few new books from Jean Fritz and Ruth Beechick for 25 cents each, The Way Things Work for $2, and a cool math game I can’t wait to play with my children for only 50 cents. What bargains! The amazing thing is that I sold my big box of Mortensen Math products that I have never used and so I wasn’t out a dime for all the treasures I found. It was a great morning to see old friends and meet some new ones.
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* We celebrated the 17th anniversary of the day we met and our first date on June 4th and June 7th. I am so grateful for my husband and our marriage. I am grateful for the lessons he teaches me, the love he surrounds me with, and the grounding he gives me. I am grateful for his long hours of work, his patience with my eccentricity, his delight in our children, his arms that comfort me, and his dedication to sticking with me through thick and thin. I shudder to think what my life would be like without him by my side.
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* My lil’ sis is having a baby this fall! I am excited for her to give birth and to begin the amazing journey of motherhood. Her little belly is so cute!!
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My heart is full this month with thoughts of America, freedom, and family. I am reading Rise to Rebellion by Jeff Shaara to celebrate this month and am enjoying it immensely. I am also helping to put on the Celebration of Liberty events and can’t wait to celebrate Independence Day with all of America.

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thankful thursdays 5/20

May 20, 2010 by

*I have been waiting to post about our VERY exciting news until I had pictures, but I just can’t keep it inside any longer and I won’t have my camera back until next week (it is being used by the Shakespearians).

Drumroll Please : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

We have a new suburban…new to us, anyway!!!!

We are soooo excited to have something reliable with working doors and mirrors, without fear of the rear wheels locking up and causing us to flip, without a dent in the side, without an exhaust leak, and with non-squeaking brakes.

The children think it is the coolest thing ever and have been working hard on keeping it clean. I am so grateful to have the weight of vehicle worry removed from my life.

A big thank you to my mom for helping us get it and to the man who sold it for way under book that gave us a chance of getting it.

Hallelujah!
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* Our crippled dishwasher was fixed this morning. It was quite a humiliating experience to have the appliance repairman pulling corn, beans, chicken bones, toothpicks, and SCREWS (tell me, how did two screws get into the underneath section of our dishwasher????) out of our dishwasher, but he got it all cleaned up, replaced the broken chopper blade, fixed the hoses so it could drain properly, collected his check and went on his merry way. I am so hoping it really works now! We have been washing dishes by hand since December and we have had moments of great fun, conversations, singing, etc…but I really like having a dishwasher to save me time. These last few busy months of Shakespeare, births, and Green Canyon planning have left me with very little cleaning time and I really hate dishes piling up. I still need to run a long, hot cycle with vinegar to help clean it out all the way and then we will test it out.
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* Another birthday present came this week…a foot zone! Yippee!!!

Thanks to the Lamoreaux’s for such a fabulous gift!
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* An adorable little baby entered the world on Saturday morning and I was able to help his parents get him here. I love being a doula. I love helping families have births they treasure and feel nurtured throughout. Doula-hood is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
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* Blythe’s Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, is tonight at 7:30 and tomorrow at 2:00 and 7:30. The costumes are simply amazing, the actors are well prepared, and the whole thing is going to be fabulous! I am so grateful she has had this experience this year and I am thankful to her mentors who have given these students so much time, teaching, fun, love, and challenges for the last nine months. The moms who have come together to put on this show have my deepest gratitude. They have given my child an experience I could never have provided for her on my own. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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* Sherry rescued us by bringing us food for our long day last Friday…thanks much!
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* Keziah got a typewriter…I have a whole post about it, but I still wanted to mention it because I am so happy for her and so grateful to the nice ladies who sold it to her.
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Come to the play!!! Blythe is Ursula tomorrow night, but both casts are fabuloso!

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thankful thursdays 5/13

May 13, 2010 by

I have two weeks of things to be thankful for and there is so much that has happened in that time I just might run out of room!

* My cousin and dear friend came and visited me last week and we had such fun! We had a yummy dinner with friends, a sleepover for the moms, a skirt making day for the three little girlies, Teryn, Jane, and Annesley, a day at the park, ice cream birthday cake made by Tami and about six children as eager helpers, Thai food for birthday dinner, a massage, good conversations, and the wonderful peace that comes from having one of your bestest friends with you for days on end.

Yummy Birthday Cake…see the “T” and the “36” made with the oreos?

Birthday Cake

At the park:

Merry Go-Round

Holding my two cuties, Faith and Jace:

Faith and Jace
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* Birthday presents galore!
*Samara, one of my little gym students, made me a pouch. It is perfect to hold lip gloss and lotion in my purse!

*Tami gave me a new bobbin holder and the cutest pins ever. What new project should I start with my new, sharp pins? Oh yeah, maybe I should finish the bathroom curtains?

*My mom gave me two pin cushions made with wool felt and emery sand to keep the pins sharp. Can I just say they are adorable and I love, love, love them to pieces! Sunflower Pin Cushion

Rose Pin Cushion

*Amy gave me a “Life is Good” bag! Have I mentioned my small obsession with all things “Life is Good?” I love their stuff and this bag is adorable! Bright pink and full of love. On the inside it has a secret message “The small things in life are the big things.” So true, isn’t it?

*Richard made me my favorite breakfast, Creamed Eggs…super yummy!!! Orange juice as well. What a fabulous way to start my birthday off right!

*Birthday cards from Becky and Grandma Bluemel
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* For Mother’s Day, Richard fed me some more Creamed Eggs, let me sleep in, and gave me a gift certificate for a massage at a local day spa…can’t wait to redeem it…maybe on the last day of gym?
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* I attended a birth this week and was again humbled to my core to be present when a new little soul entered this world. It is an honor to doula families through this process and to be invited into the sacred moments of their lives.
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* I received another belated Christmas present…a big jar of yummy granola! My children ate most of it, but I was able to get some handfuls before it was all gone. Now I need Debbie’s recipe so I can make some more!
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* Jennifer to the rescue again! She took care of my children while I was at the birth this week and even kept them extra long so I could come home and sleep after being up for nearly 36 hours.
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* Blythe has been blessed with a wonderful Shakespeare class this year and is getting ready for their performances of Much Ado About Nothing next week. I am so thankful for the parents that have worked hard and given greatly of their time and talents to make this possible for the youth in our area. It has been an incredible experience for her and has truly changed her life to study Shakespeare’s writings, stage production, improv, costuming, and stage makeup. I am so excited for the youth to put this play on!
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Hope your Thursday is wonderful!

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thankful thursdays 4/29

Apr 29, 2010 by

* As I was driving home from our field trip to Hale Centre Theatre, I was filled to the brim with gratitude that I was able to create and share the experience with so many wonderful friends. I was grateful to have a huge community of fellow homeschoolers that are striving to educate their children, hold them close, and let them soar to greatness.

I am especially grateful to my dear Jennifer, who let me borrow her suburban when mine was declared unfit for the trip only 11 hours before take-off time. She was a huge life-saver and will be getting something fun for herself as a sign of my gratitude.
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* I received a belated Christmas present! Isn’t it fun to get a present in April when you are aren’t expecting it? Kari gave me a jar of popcorn kernels (you know I am addicted to popcorn, right?) and I have thoroughly enjoyed popping it the last week or so and enjoying huge bowlfuls every afternoon.
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* I was privileged to attend a beautiful birth on Sunday night. There are not words to express the joy I feel at a birth. The sweet grandma was able to see her grandchild born (the first time for her – out of thirteen previous grandchild births) and to watch the tears streaming down her face made this whole doula thing completely worth it. To watch the husband encourage his wife through each contraction and then cry as he caressed his baby girl was an experience I will always treasure. To hear him say “Honey, I am so proud of you, you are amazing. I love you.” is why I do this work. Creating stronger family units, stronger marriages where husbands and wives cherish one another is the reason I am a doula.

I am so grateful God called me to this sacred work of attending families during their births – my life is infinitely better because of it.
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* Through a mysterious series of events, I have air conditioning in the suburban again. Hallelujah! And a big thanks to the guy who made it happen!
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* I am grateful to live in a warm home with warm clothes and a wide variety of food. I have been reading a story of the Donner Party this week and let me just say the horrors of their journey to California are not something I can even imagine enduring. Rawhide soaked for days to make soup? Snow twenty feet deep? Human flesh? Toes falling off because of the cold? Not knowing you can trust your neighbors to help you?
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* Thanks to Jennifer and Jesse, the girls and I were able to attend the Dvorak symphony on Saturday night. The guest celloist was magnificent. His passion for his music was such a wonder to watch…to feel. It made me feel like I am not passionate in the slightest!
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* Annesley decided last Thursday that she was done with diapers and she has gone potty in the toilet ever since (except on Saturday she insisted on wearing a diaper all day long). She hasn’t had an accident yet and is so proud of herself. I am shocked…I didn’t see this coming at all!
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Have a lovely Thursday!

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thankful thursdays 4/15

Apr 15, 2010 by

I am on time this week…woohoo!

I have to say, I love my Thankful Thursdays posts. This weekly reflective process helps me to focus on the good things in life, the small things I might otherwise forget, the tender mercies of the Lord, the kindness of friends, the undeserved miracles, and the love I am surrounded with on a daily basis.

Thank you, dear readers, for your support and well-wishes. Thank you for your comments, they make my day and help me to know I am not writing to thin air.

* This week I am thankful for this blog. I am thankful to have a creative outlet that doesn’t require stitching, unpicking, painting, or drawing – I get to plunk out words and while they may not be perfect, they are so much better than my other creative endeavors! I am thankful to have a place to share my thoughts with the world and really grateful that sometimes they even bless the lives of my readers!
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* Email. It is the niftiest thing! I am so grateful to be able to send thoughts to people in the middle of the night when I can’t very well call them up to chat. I love the number of phone calls it eliminates.
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* Sunshine and blue skies. After weeks of snowy days, the sun is shining today and the snow in my front yard is almost all melted. Could it be true? Is winter really over?
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* The words “I’m Sorry”. I have had to use them more times this week with my daughter than should be possible, but I am grateful to be able to tell her I am sorry and to start again. And again. And again. Truly, how many mistakes can one mama make?
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* The mercy my husband extends to me which in turn teaches me how unmerciful I am to that same daughter and how I can be better. Parenthood is full of lessons that I need to help me be more like my Savior.
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* After being on the waiting list for months, our homeschool group got 60 tickets for The Three Musketeers at Hale Centre Theatre!!! I am so excited to take a big group of youth to my favorite theatre!
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* Sudoku puzzles. Have I mentioned before how much I love them. They help my brain settle down and feel like more than one neuron is firing up there. Richard gave me a great book of them for Christmas and I am down to the last few puzzles. I love doing one in the middle of the afternoon to remind myself I am a thinking human being and one right before bed to chase away all the chaotic thoughts running around in my head.
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Time to go do some laundry…yes, the never ending laundry pile is calling. (Do I have it within me to pare down my kids’ clothes to 5 of everything? Think how much easier my life would be!)

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thankful thursdays 4/8

Apr 11, 2010 by

Oh my, these belated Thankful Thursdays are really getting out of hand. Here it is late Sunday afternoon and this is the first time I have had a moment to even think of getting on here! Life has been quite busy here for days weeks months. It is definitely time for a 6-month-no, which is an evaluation of my needs, interests, time, abilities, callings, mission, health, family’s needs, and God’s needs and then an elimination of whatever I don’t need to be doing. That is the hard part. Cutting things out of my life is never easy for me, in fact, it is dang near impossible for my mind to conceive of not doing something. But, I need to ponder and pray and see what can go so that I can maintain regain my ability to think.

This day, this Sabbath day, my heart is full. I have much to be thankful for.

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* My dear friends, Jennifer and Kat, just put on the Baby Spring Fling, sponsored by Birth Network, and it was a HUGE success. They had loads of pregnant moms come to get information about their birthing options, lots of vendors selling their wares, and many professionals sharing information about birth, parenting, and health. I am so proud of them – they are both exhausted and in recovery mode – but they can rest well knowing that they have accomplished much good, touched lives, and made a difference in the lives of birthing families. I am grateful for their vision, their friendship, and their love for me.
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* My husband. Can I just say he is an amazing man. He loves me. He supports my dreams. He believes in me. He makes my projects his projects. Yesterday he came and helped me take down my two booths at the Baby Spring Fling and made numerous trips in and out of the school with loads of books, tables, and other miscellany. But you want to know what I am most thankful for this week? His thoughtfulness. My suburban door on the driver’s side doesn’t open from the inside. It is not the hugest deal to unroll the window and open it from the outside, but it is getting a little old. If he is home when I pull in, he often comes outside and opens my door for me. Yes, he may be in the middle of doing something, even something important to him, but he takes the time to open my door, give me a kiss, and welcome me home. It warms my heart to be so treasured by another human being. I know I am important to him by how he treats me every single day.
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* My mom spent the week here and it was wonderful! She always takes me children out for fun little outings and this week there were Frosty’s, movies, craft store runs, and Great Harvest. She let me use her vehicle all week since my Suburban was in the shop and I broke the rental car. She played games, read books, told stories, changed diapers, and entertained children while I was busy getting ready for the Spring Fling and she treated the girls and I to Alice in Wonderland (which to my great surprise, I loved!). Thanks mom – you are the best grandma ever!
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* Richard let me sleep in this morning…all morning long. What a delightful surprise to sleep right through all the getting-ready-for-church stuff. All I had to do was wake up at the last minute, brush through my hair, touch up my makeup from yesterday, and walk out the door. Nice, very nice.
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I am ready to go back to bed, so that is all for now. After a few days of focusing on the children and the house, I will be back here with some good reading…at least that is the plan!

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thankful thursdays 4/1

Apr 2, 2010 by

Yes, I am writing my Thankful Thursdays on Friday once again. It is kind of becoming a habit. Should I rename it????? No, I should be more diligent about actually getting it done on Thursday!

* I am so thankful for Passover – for the meaning, the Seder, the joining of friends and family, the rich history, and even for all the work. Something in all the preparation work teaches me the value of putting your all into those things that are truly meaningful. I am so thankful for the families that joined us – they helped make the night a huge success!
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* Woo-hoo! We were just given the chance to go to General Conference (a gathering of our entire church) this weekend! Thanks Cami!
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* Due to a kidney infection, I was able to spend most of Tuesday and Wednesday in bed. I don’t know what is going on with my kidneys, but they are in distress. I think this is my third infection this year…and my fourth in my whole life, so something is up for sure. While not really grateful for the pain, I am grateful for the sleep and reading time I was able to have because of it!
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* I am grateful to be able to associate with the members of my colloquia group. We read a book each month and come together to discuss it one night a month. I have been so blessed by my associations and friendships with the 20 or so people who are involved. I gain huge insights, new perspectives, deeper understanding, and a renewed commitment to put in the time to really study. I am so grateful they put up with me, keep coming back, and bring their wonderful spirits into my home. We have such fun!
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* Richard’s car died last week, but we figured out why. It had a dead coil. I guess running on three cylinders isn’t that effective. Now it is replaced and is running like a charm. We are going to try to take it to Conference since the suburban isn’t doing so hot.
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* Hot showers! Aren’t they glorious!?! I mean, really, try to picture your life without the daily pleasure of a hot shower. I only got in one shower this week and I made sure it was steaming hot, nice and long, and full of soap suds.
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* My sweetie got to go fishing today with some guys from our ward. I am so grateful they invited him and so grateful he was able to put in long hours at the beginning of the week so he could go today. If you don’t know, my Richard is an insane avid fisherman. If he didn’t have a family, he would probably be out on the rivers searching for trout six days of the week. Instead, he has highly curtailed his addiction to spend time with us. So I am really grateful he had this day to fish and do the guy-bonding-thing.
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Time to get ready to leave in the morning!

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thankful thursdays 3/25

Mar 25, 2010 by

* Buckwheat, sesame seeds, raw, unpasteurized almonds, and flax seeds top the list this week. I love soaking these four little ingredients overnight and eating them in the morning. It makes me feel like I am really feeding my body and taking good care of it (makes up for the midnight ice cream and popcorn, right?).
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* My body that can still do front tucks, round-off back handsprings, loads of push-ups, and endless amounts of forward rolls and monkey jumps for my gym students. I have been blessed with a coordinated body that is pretty strong, pretty flexible, and pretty resilient. I have had lots of injuries, but it just keeps bouncing back and doing amazing things for me. I have been so inspired by Keziah’s triathlon experience, I am seriously thinking of training for one. Does anyone know of an easy, beginner adult one?
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* Passover is on Monday and although it is a TON of work to get it all ready, I am so grateful to be able to share this experience with my family and friends and to do my part to carry on the mandate of the Lord and the thousands of years old tradition.
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* Katherine…what a blessing she is in my life. She sews for me, loves my children, takes care of them during gym (and changes Annesley’s poopy diapers on a regular basis), makes me yummy food, makes me laugh , and brings a smile to my face. I am so grateful she is part of my life.
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* In spite of some VERY strange sounds, clunking, and yucky-feeling jolts, the suburban is still running this week.
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* The book Around the World in 80 Days is delightful! We are all loving this read-aloud! We especially love the illustrations by Robert Ingpen (same illustrator as our Alice in Wonderland).
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* The book of Genesis has been a treasure trove of fabulous lessons for our scripture study lately. I am so blessed to have a husband who teaches us from the scriptures and children that love to participate. I love the Old Testament and my hope for this year is that my children will learn to love it too.
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Time to get ready for H.O.P.E.!

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thankful thursdays 3/11

Mar 11, 2010 by

* Today we had the privilege of taking 170 books to F.A.I.T.H. – what a remarkable experience! I started the day off still agitated, impatient, and rather snarly, but delivering the books changed all that. I am filled with gratitude for the families that participated, the sponsors that gave generously, and the children that came today with big smiles on their faces to fill a bookshelf. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the world. I am grateful for fellow homeschoolers that came together to benefit our community and to change lives. I know the children at F.A.I.T.H. are going to LOVE these books. I can’t wait to do this again next year!

The empty bookshelf:

IMG_2869

Posters about homelessness in America:

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Putting labels on the books:

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All filled up!

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Some of the amazing home schooling children who donated books to F.A.I.T.H.:

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* Fisher Eli is an adorable boy. Today he said “I wonder if I will do colloquia when I get big?” I asked, “Do you want to?” He excitedly said “YES! When I am as big as Keziah! Do you think I can?” I love homeschooling and I love that we are to the point of seeing results. Having my younger children look forward to learning experiences that they have seen their older siblings and parents participate in is so fun!
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* I have finally completed Book One of my cello program! Woo-hoo! I am starting Book Two this week and hope to get through this book much faster!
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* My sweetie turned 40 and our children made him some presents from their hearts.

Fisher’s giraffe for his papa:

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Fisher’s whale for his papa:

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Keziah’s card for her papa:

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* I get to take Blythe and Keziah to Fiddler on the Roof on Saturday. It was their Christmas present from Richard and I and they have had to wait a while to get it fulfilled. We are all super excited to see this favorite play in person!
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* Razor blades and metal spoons are simply amazing cleaning tools. The drink holders in the suburban had melted crayons, stuck-on gunk, old food decaying into solid rock, and more flower petals than I care to think about…after soaking in Purification essential oil and scrubbing with these magical tools, all the grime is GONE!
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Time to go read Jerry Muskrat to Fisher…it is his new favorite book.

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thankful thursdays 3/4

Mar 4, 2010 by

* This post is beautiful, in fact, it is more than beautiful; it is truth, hugs, peace, and hope all wrapped up together. I tell you Mamahooper speaks wisdom to my soul!
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* This week I am grateful for Visiting Teaching (a program our church has for women to go and visit other women and bring them a message of Christ, love, smiles, and friendship. I haven’t been thrilled lately with when my partner needs to go because it is during our school time. I have resented it in some ways and have wanted to demand that the world values the time I need to give to my children…to no avail, of course. Anyway, I went out this morning and had a wonderful experience sharing God’s love with a sister who I have been visiting for years. I was prompted in what I should say to her and she said it was exactly what she needed to hear. She cried and cried and we really connected heart-to-heart, soul-to-soul. I will always treasure this visit and be grateful I was able to be God’s hands and voice to help this woman feel His love for her.
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* The read-a-thon books are here and after a nine hour marathon session to get them sorted and bagged, they are ready to be picked up! Woo-hoo! Two different organizations will be getting 230 books between them!
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* I am grateful for the patience my friends have been showing as car after car gets stuck on our road. Two people on Saturday and one today. What a muddy, slippery mess it is out there! But people keep coming to visit and we keep pushing them out. Blythe and I are getting to be experts at the whole thing!
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* Tomorrow is my sweetie’s 40th birthday! I am so grateful to be his wife and to have the privilege of learning from him and growing with him. I am going to write a whole post about him, so I will stop for now.
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* Richard’s dad was called to be the Bishop of his ward and we were blessed to be able to attend the meeting. I am grateful for this man who is humble, good, and downright true to the core. He raised Richard to be a fabulous husband and father. He loves our children. He builds awesome cars and airplanes. He is a great father-in-law. I am grateful to know him, to love him, and to be taught by him.
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I need to go get everything ready for colloquia tonight – it is going to be fabulous! You can never go wrong with Great Expectations!

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