be thankful

There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we can see and appreciate it. -source

I am thankful for eternal families.

I am thankful for children that teach me so many things. Like when Ana came in to the kitchen the other day and asked to help and I told her "no, go set the table" and then when Katie asked Ana if she could help Ana told her "no" and I realized, "Holy crap, I just set that example." And then I let Ana help roll out the pizza dough.

I am thankful for a great husband. I know that sometimes I get all annoyed and frustrated about little things, but really, he is great. He loves me. He loves our kids. He is a good father and keeps his covenants. And he is, like, super smart and stuff, which is great when it comes to medical school stuff.

photo credit: heather dahle photography

I am thankful for this awesome place we live and the awesome people we know because we are here. We are going to be spending an awesome Thanksgiving with some of these awesome people and I am super excited.

I am thankful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrine that teaches that we have Divine potential within us, to be loving and compassionate, and that we have access to personal Heavenly guidance on Earth.

a child of God

Dave got home last Saturday. I was planning a post about how happy I was to have him home. I also have a list of other things I want to write down, but I haven't been able to sit down and write quite yet.

We have met amazing people during our time here. One of those amazing families is the Clark family. For 3 years they lived just down the street. Our kids played together all the time. Over those 3 years, we became like family. In May they moved to California. They are close to family, which is great, but we sure miss them. On Saturday they lost their sweet little baby Jane (13 months old) to meningitis. To say we are heartbroken for them is an understatement.

All the other things I was going to write about seem trivial. There is little that brings peace stronger than the hymns and the scriptures. This is what is running through my mind:

Sweet is the peace the Gospel brings.

Families can be together forever.

I know that my Redeemer Lives.

And this scripture found in the Book of Mormon (1 Nephi 11:17)

"And I said unto him: I know that [God] loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

Sunday was our annual Primary Program and it was so comforting to hear almost every child declare "I am a child of God." What a powerful knowledge that is.

We will miss sweet baby Jane.

soccer

I just have a minute here before I have to go pick up the kids from school but it occurred to me that I never mentioned Jack's soccer "season." I have to admit, most of the games I sat and laughed and laughed at the way the little kindergartners ran around and followed the ball in one big blog. Jack was always running after it with an intense look on his face, but he was never aggressive enough to actually get in there and kick it. It was still awesome to watch, though. What he really wanted was to be the one chosen to throw it in, but he wasn't loud enough to get the coaches attention. We finally told them he hadn't had a turn yet, so he got a turn. But he threw it back out of bounds. Dave and I just laughed. And Jack didn't care.

One time, things seemed to align and there he was, with the ball at his feet, right in front of the goal. And he kicked it in! It was awesome.

Right after his goal.

Getting ready to go.

I thought soccer was a lot of fun. I like being a soccer mom and can't wait to do it again.

survival mode

I was discussing with my friend the seasons of Vermont. Of course there is winter, winter and more winter. I love it in December and January with their fresh layers of snow dressing the world in beautiful whiteness and me curled up by our fire with hot chocolate. About mid-February and March it is still too cold and overcast and gloomy to go out, but the beautiful snow is gone and you have "mud season." The only good thing to come out of those late-winter/early-spring months is maple syrup. Then For about 6 weeks in May and early June we have a beautiful spring with blooming lilacs and the florescent greenery as the new leaves bud. July and August likewise are wonderful as the green deepens into an indescribable thickness. September and October come with cooler weather, pumpkins, mums, apple cider and, of course, the wonderful color of the trees. Then comes November. It isn't snowing yet, but the trees are bare. It is "stick season."

So, "stick season" is upon us now with morning window scrapings and crunching leaves beneath our feet. It isn't too bad, particularly with the upcoming holidays. It seems even this early the holiday anticipation begins to build.

October went quickly. Dave was doing his "AI" (Acting Internship - in which they take on nearly resident workload and hours) in the NICU (which he thoroughly enjoyed) so we didn't see much of him.  With it I went into survival mode with lowering my expectations and trying to soak up as much of the fall as I could. He is now off interviewing for residencies, so survival mode continues. I am actually enjoying my evenings, though, as I am listening to "The Count of Monte Cristo" while doing up some chores. Plus I have great friends who help me fill up my time during the day. So, we are surviving. Even if Jack did decide to dump out his cereal milk tonight for no reason and Ana sneaks my iPod away to take a bunch of selfies.

But that's kinda awesome.