Gratitude - Day 6

Day 6 - WORK

I am grateful for work ! And I don't just mean work/ job ... Which I am grateful for too. But I mean the idea concept to work. When we work - We learn more about ourselves... We learn more about our talents ... We learn more about what we are really made of ... We learn more about others and how to help and serve ... It helps soooo very much our confidence and self-esteem !!

Whether it's cleaning the house , mowing the lawn, helping someone move , clocking in at a job ... it is always a Way better way to live - Work - Work - Work . It helps you sleep better at night ;-) and helps ME feel like I have accomplished and made a tidge of a difference .

I am grateful to be able to WORK !

Ashlynns Classroom Play/ Reading

Today in Ashlynns class they performed a scene from a Shakespear play ... Not sure which one - me and shakes aren't that close . But anywho - the class did good and it was fun to see . Since I work at the school - I know and see these darling 6th graders almost every day ;-)
I was proud of them ALL !

Gratitude - Day 5

Day 5 - Family

I am grateful to family ! Families come in all shapes and sizes ... Family doesn't just have to be blood relatives .. for example - we have many very close friends and we call them family - we go to their family parties and support each other like family . And that works just Great for all of us ;-)

We are really all in all = one BIG family together anyways .

But I am grateful to my family of the 7 of us ... I am grateful that Ashlynn was able to come into my life after years of hoping and trying . She was and is my little miss that helped me to "keep getting up" for many hard years !

Then came into our lives was Jay - what a great man he is and an example to me of so many great things ! He's WAY better at patience and being nice and kind to others than me - big time ! I am grateful to HIM that he continues to love and support me in my drama states of life and the fits ... and sometimes dumb things I do .

Then there's my Ashley, Aubriella , Jaylen Marie and Carly Sue ... Wow ! Little did they know that Thanksgiving they would have a "wicked step-mom" . All of them have been incredibly patient with me since I haven't really been a wicked step mom before ;-) -- so I am trying to learn and hopefully improving . They are way more loving and accepting of me than I deserve most days . For that I will forever be grateful !!

I am just grateful to have many people in my life I call FAMILY !

Gratitude - Day 4

Day 4 - A Voice

I'm grateful to have a Voice ... and i'm not talking about the voice to literally make sounds - I'm taking about a Voice to vote , to make a difference , to help someone , to maybe influence a child to do good ....

I don't always get my way with my voice ... but I do have a voice when it comes to my home , my family , my relationships , my friendships , etc . etc . I am grateful to be able express my opinion and have some people hear and listen . I am grateful to maybe someday possibly make a very small difference in some way - maybe ;-)

Gratitude - Day 3

Day 3 - A Home

A Home - A House - but not just that ... shelter from the outside , safety , a place where friends and family are welcome , a home to have and make memories in . A home where we can have Relief Society meetings , Young Men's Activities , family gatherings , holidays , plenty of space for people to stay a night or two , parties , swim days , family home evening , work days , resting movie days , baking days for holidays , a home to hang my pictures of Christ ! Which I only have like 15 or 50 ;-)
I am especially grateful for a HOME !

Then there of course the silly - frilly things I love in my home to :-)

Our letter P for Petersen

(with of course has - leopard and a princess crown)
Jay just HAD to have those 2 things on it ...

My Feather wreath and the fav corner of my house - where I sit anytime I sit down.

Candy Anyone ? The candy jars that really don't get updated candy in them very often .Oops

A Wonderful phrase to live by !!
Which is in my purple/ plum room that I love .

Gratitude - Day 2

Day 2 - Health

I am grateful to - for the most part - to be healthy and more importantly that my children are healthy. As I thought of my list these last few weeks , I knew I wanted to do health today - and a little ironic that I was in urgent care today and thank goodness only have bronchitis. But what that did help me realize is that we are NOT there too often . We are a family that can run and walk and jump and laugh and so many others things that we take for granted. I am grateful to be healthy. AND I am also grateful to the men and women who go to school for years and spend tons of money as well as are away from their family and friends to learn - SO that they can help us when we are sick or have a disease . I applaud them !

We did earlier this year have a yucky run-in with Hives . We HATE Hives over here !! We are still battling them and trying to get/keep them under control with the help of meds and "those men and women" - but it was scary there for a while. Here's a picture of Ashlynn in the emergency room because of them . She had a really hard time breathing - so it was Time To GO . This has been going on since March'ish or so and there are better days then others. BUT - still how grateful I am - that my family and myself are still Healthy !

NOVEMBER GRATITUDE LOG

I have thought for the last few weeks about this idea and am going to PUT myself up to this Challenge. Since November is the "Thanksgiving" month , I am going to log daily ( or at least have something for every day of the month ) about something or someone or anything that I am grateful for ... I'm thinking this may help me express my gratitude and see my blessings more that are right in front of me . Soooo ....

Day 1 = Freedom .

I am grateful to live in this land with the freedom that we do have. It is a blessing to be able to make choices - our children can choose what school they want to go to, what they want to be when they grow up, we can choose where we want to live, and especially we can choose who we worship. It is such a blessing to be able to have the gospel in my life. To be able to serve and and have all the opportunities and blessings that come from being a member of

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I enjoy my freedom for myself and my family.

* Anyone else up for this challenge along with me ??

Happy Halloween

Just a few Halloween Photos ...

Here is Ashlynns awesome Naruto pumpkin - pretty dang good!

The nice witch (well - most times - ok sometimes ...)

Friends at a party

Mr Hottie !!

Ashylnn and Kayley

My best boyfriends EVER !!

A new BFF

Here's a little trick .... This is how you clean your pumpkins before you carve them ;-) ** have them take a swim in the pool !

Halloween cookies for Jays work and school and neighbors ... Yeah

Hope everyone had a fun - safe Halloween !!

Having YOUR cake and eating it TOO

Well - I'm not much of a cake eater -- since I pretty much make them all the time BUT I have to tell you about THIS cake . It is from Claim Jumper - we went a bit back and I saw this HUGE cake that I wanted to try so bad and see how they made it - so anywho - I did AND it is to die for !! It is 7 layers of chocolate cake, choc chips, choc frosting , etc. etc. AND it just looks soooo pretty - that was what attracted me first to it . So - anyways - - If you want to HAVE your CAKE AND eat it .. and EAT it .. And eat it .. too - you should fur sure have one of these :-)

They also have it in the freezer section at fart and sminal ... Deeeelish !!!

Ashlynn Volleyball Player

Here is Ashlynn at her last V-ball game -- she does good ! We are proud of her and glad that she likes to play ... like her aunts that she loves ;-)