Thankful for 30 Days - Day 30

Christmas 

I’m thankful for the Christmas Season! I love the smell of Pine, Sugar Cookies, Warm fires, Hot Cocoa and Cinnamon.  I love all the Christmas lights and how beautiful the World around us looks.  The spirit of Christmas is alive and well during this season.  It’s great to see how people are a little more willing to help others at Christmas time.  I love how everyone is a little friendlier and a little more loving towards their fellow man. I love how for a short season the World is a little bit better.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 29

Sleeping In 

Yawn……Sleeping in is the best!  I’m thankful for not having to set an alarm clock and jump out of bed.  I’m thankful for the chance to be lazy and stay in my warm cocoon of blankets.  I’m thankful for days when I can enjoy a few extra minutes of much needed sleep.  It might seem like a little thing but sometimes a few extra minutes in bad makes all the difference. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 28

Family 

I’m thankful for my family.  I love that we support each other in the good and the bad times.  Families are a blessing that not everyone has the chance to enjoy.  Thanksgiving is a great time to pause and reflect on our families.  I’m thankful for all the family members who have been such a big influence in my life.  I wouldn't be who I am now without their love, guidance, example, push and support. My life is a better because of the family I have.  I’m so very thankful for families!  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 27

Home

I’m thankful for a home filled with love.  A home is so much more than four walls.  “A house is not a home unless it contains food and fire for the mind as well as the body.” - Benjamin Franklin. I hope that my home can be a fire for both the mind and the body.  As a child I have lived in many houses both big and small.  We moved around a lot when I was little but, even though I lived in many houses they always felt like home.  We always had love, food, knowledge and joy in our home.  Now, as an adult I hope I can make my house a home.  That it can be a place of joy, safety and happiness.

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 26

Church

I’m grateful for Church.  I love the feelings I have when I am sitting in a meeting and pondering the words and message that is being shared.  I love that the words and message is about the love of our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ for us.  I’m thankful for a place to go in this busy life that lets me think and ponder the things of God.  When I am having a rough week I look forward to Sunday.  Church recharges my drained batteries from the week.  I know that I can make it through anything thanks to the things I learn about at Church.  I love having my faith increase and knowing that I am loved by God thanks to church.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 25

Travel

I’m grateful for Travel.  It’s hard to imagine that not too long ago travel was very difficult.  I’m thankful for the modern conveniences that make travel a little easier.  It’s nice knowing that I can see members of my family that live great distances just by hopping on a plane, driving a car, taking a train or riding a bus.  We are so very blessed to be able to travel and to have vehicles that make the distances a little less and make the world a little smaller. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 24

Emotions

I haven’t always been a fan of emotions. I sure wasn't thankful for them.  I haven’t always been the best at sharing my emotions.  It was difficult to embrace my emotions, especially the ones that I considered negative like Sadness or Despair. I always felt that if I shared them that people would judge me or not understand me.  In dealing with our journey of infertility I have had to come face to face with my emotions.  I have had to admit that it’s okay to be sad, angry, grieving and all whole spectrum of other emotions I never knew I could feel.  In coming to accept all this vast emotions I have come to be grateful for these emotions.  I have learned to have compassion of others who are feeling the same feelings.  I have learned to share my emotions more and except all of them both the good and the bad (I’m not perfect at the sharing part but I’m working on it.) I’m thankful for the chance to experience and accept my emotions more. I’m also glad that I can choose to share them with others both the happy and sad.  I’m thankful for emotions and coming to understand my emotions better. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 23

Mistakes

“A man must be big enough to admit his mistakes, smart enough to profit from them, and strong enough to correct them.” John C. Maxwell

I’m thankful for mistakes.  I know this might seem crazy but sometimes the mistakes we make in life can be the best teaching tool.  I know that if I hadn't have made some of the mistakes I've made I wouldn't be where I am right now. My mistakes make me who I am.  I’m not perfect and no one is. Mistakes will happen but it’s what we choose to do with those mistakes.  The great thing about mistakes is we can choose learn from them and correct them.  I’m thankful for the chance to learn and correct my mistakes in life.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 22

Cooking

I’m grateful for the skill of cooking.  I love really great cooking.  I’m lucky to get to develop this talent and to learn to cook really great food.  It’s neat to see how in cooking you can take different ingredients and different styles of cooking and come out with the most amazing dish.  I love watching the art and the skill behind really great prepared dishes.  I’m thankful for cooking and enjoying the delicious end product of cooking. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 21

Home Decor

I’m thankful for the chance to work on developing a new skill in Home Décor.  I’m not the best at home style but I enjoy learning.  I love making my own crafts and designing the rooms in my home.  It’s fun to see an idea become reality.  It’s also fun to turn a house into a home with personal touches.  I’m thankful for the chance to work on this skill. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 20

Nieces and Nephews 

I love my nieces and nephews!! I am so thankful for the amazing group of kids (both biological and adopted) who call me Aunt. I think they are the best group of kids on the planet.   I have found such great joy in the love of these kids.  I love that my nieces and nephew think that I am amazing.  I love that they run to me when they see me.  That they can’t wait to see their Aunt.  It brings such joy to my heart.  I am so Thankful for my nieces and nephews. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 19

My Hubby

I could gush about my husband! I know it’s a little silly to go on and on about him but sometimes we forget to tell the people we love the most how much we care.  I figured since I was doing this Thankful Project now was the perfect time to share how great I think my husband truly is.  I’m so thankful for him.  He is such a great example to me.  He is very patient, giving, loving, humorous, determined, supportive and a million other great adjectives.  My husband is my best friend! He is an example to me. He really personifies these qualities.   I am always impressed with his willingness to drop what he is doing to help me and others.  I have millions of examples of times where he has personified the qualities listed above.   He has helped me to become a better person.  I feel so lucky to have the best support system.  We have been through Good times and Bad time together.  We have had peaks and valleys.  Times when we weren't sure we could make it and times where nothing could stop us. Through it all he has been my best support, biggest fan and the love of my life.  I’m so thankful for such a wonderful husband and for finding the perfect partner in all things now and forever.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 18

Boston Cream Pie

My favorite dessert is Boston Cream Pie! I’m so thankful that someone invented this amazing treat.  I’m thankful for yummy treats.  I decided to try my hand at making a Boston Cream Pie.  It was so much fun to get to learn how to make my favorite dessert.  I think it turned out pretty and good and it was so much fun to get to try out a new skill.  Plus, once you are done making it you get to enjoy eating it!

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 17

Pajamas 

I’m thankful for warm comfy pajamas.  Every once in a while you just need a pajama day.  Pajama Day is just a day where you don’t have to worry or stress.  It’s a day where the biggest thing to do on your list is eat. It’s a day where you just cuddle up with a book or a good movie.  You just enjoy not having to rush or jump out of your Pjs and get the day going.  I love pajama days.  I’m thankful for days where I can just rest, relax and stay in my pajama all day long.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 16

Orchids

I’m a thankful for this Orchid my husband gave me. I know it might not seem like much or like it’s just a simple little flower but to me it is so much more.  It was such sweet and thoughtful gift.  I’m thankful that my husband put in the thought and took the time to show me how much he cares.  I love that my husband knows how much I love unique and different flowers.  I love that he knows a simple little flower like this will make my whole day.  I’m very thankful for my Orchid and all that come with it.

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 15

Scriptures 

I’m thankful for the Scriptures.  In some of the hardest and darkest times in my life I have found comfort and peace with in the pages of the Scriptures. I have also found a great source of wisdom and joy in the happy and bright times in my life.  I am very thankful for the life and examples of the Women in the Scriptures.  These ladies have been an example to me of courage, love, faith, trust and charity.  The women in the Scriptures are such amazing and unique ladies with such inspiring lives to share.  In times when I have felt like no one could understand what I was going through.  I have found that the Scriptures are filled with people who do, most especially my Savior Jesus Christ.  I’m so thankful for the joy and happiness that the Scriptures bring to my life and the things I learn every day from studying the Scriptures.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 14

Spanish Language 

My husband learned Spanish while he was in Monterrey Mexico for 2 years.  He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  While my husband was in Mexico he learned to love the culture and the people.   I am very thankful that my husband learned Spanish while he served in Mexico.  My husband will and has used his language skills to help out.  It’s neat to see him notice someone struggling with English and he offers to help in Spanish. I love the look of relief and the smile that comes across these people’s faces when they realize he speaks their language.   We work on a service project at one of the local schools when we were engaged.  Many of the families that offered to help with the clean up and who had children attending the school spoke Spanish.  It was neat to see my husband offer to help with translating and leading a team of volunteers.  I was very impressed with my husband’s language skills on that project.  At the time I had never before heard him speak that much Spanish.  I love the sound of the Spanish language. I also love when my husband tells me he loves me or sends me a sweet little note in Spanish.  I love trying to figure out what is says.  (I don’t speak Spanish.  I learned German in High School and College) I hope to one day learn this beautiful language. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 13

Water

I love water! It’s my happy place.  I love Swimming pools, Oceans, Rivers, Streams, Lakes, Sprinklers, Splash Pads, Rain and Tubs.  If it has water then there is a good chance I will like it.

I love the sounds of water.  I find it so relaxing.  It could be anything from the wind blowing on the waves or water cascading into a bucket.  The noise is just so peaceful.

 I love the feel of it.  When I was younger my parents would call me the fish because they couldn’t get me out of the swimming pool or ocean.  Nothing is better than diving into cool water on a hot summer day.  

When I don’t feel good nothing is better than soaking in a tub full of hot water.  You can just feel all your tired muscles relax.  You just close your eyes and drift in the warm water.  You just float in a tub of nirvana. No worries, No carries just relaxing.

There is nothing that taste like water.  You know that feeling it’s like when you have been hiking in the hot, dry sun.  You just crave that first refreshing drink of water.  That first sip is always the best, nothing ever taste as good as that first cool drink.

It helps things to grow, not only humans but all the trees, plants, crops, green grass and flowers.  It gives life to everything.  It can turn a withered plant into a hearty tomato.   It can turn dry land into a thriving oasis.

I just love water and that’s why I’m very thankful for water. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 12

Sick Day

Well, I know this one seems a little funny.  Who in their right mind is thankful to be sick?  I’m not thankful to be sick but, I am thankful that I have the time off from work for a sickness.  Not everyone is lucky enough to get paid time off when they are sick.  I feel very blessed to be able to take the day off of work and not have to worry.  I can just focus on getting better.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 11

Veterans

Happy Veteran's Day! Thank you to all who served. "Veterans are Fathers, Mothers, Sons, Daughters, Brothers, Sisters, Friends and Lovers. They are the elderly people who can barely stand but refuse to sit when old glory passes by. They are the people who sit quietly thinking of a plan when everyone else is panicking. They are the ones who stand up for somebody’s rights even though they may disagree with them. They are the ones who celebrate Memorial Day and Veterans Day every day of the year. They are the people who keep going when everybody else gives up. They know the meaning of “The Ultimate Sacrifice” and are willing to make it without a second thought. They do not ask for praise or glory, only that you Honor those who have given their all."- Robert A. Sanchas

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 10

Service

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."Mahatma Gandhi

I am thankful for Service. Service helps the person receiving it and helps the person giving it. I love that service can bless all involved. I love watching how the heart grows in everyone who serves and is served. It’s wonderful to see the love and friendship that develops between those involved in service. I love having an opportunity to help someone else. I also feel blessed when someone takes the time to serve me.  My husband is a great example to me of service.  He is always willing to serve. He is always reminding me that service isn't always convenient, but it’s always worth it. I have seen how his willingness to service has blessed his life and those whom he services. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 9

Sunshine

I love the Sunshine! Just the other day I was standing near our back sliding glass door.  I noticed how beautiful the little rays of sunshine where as they fell on the rug.  The rays seemed to dance in through the window and fall right on the rug.  It made me smile. The sun baked rug looked so inviting.  The sunshine had warmed the rug.  My cold bare little feet couldn’t wait to soak up the warmth from the sun.  I then moved my cold bare feet onto the spot where the sun fell on the rug.  The warmth soaked into my feet.  In that moment I paused to think about how happy I was to enjoy the sunshine and how thankful I was for a sunny fall afternoon. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 8

Laughing

Laughter is the best medicine! It’s true.  Here are some health benefits of laughter.

•     Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
•     Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
•     Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
•     Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
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I love to laugh!  Laughing just makes you feel better. Laughter has a way of lifting my spirit on rough days.  You can turn the worst day into a better day with just a little laughter.  I’m lucky to have family and friends that help me to see the humor in every situation.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 7

Marriage, Love & Commitment 

“Happy marriages begin when we marry the ones we love, and they blossom when we love the ones we marry."-Tom Mullen

I have been blessed to marry my best friend. I love my husband! I’m thankful for Love, Commitment and Marriage. Marriage is so much more than just a fairy tale and love. It’s more than just building a life together. It’s all that but so much more. Marriage is perseverance, faith, hope and joy. It’s also loss, heartbreak and sadness. Marriage is good times and bad times. Commitment is a promise to be there in all the good and bad times. My husband has been there for me in the good and bad times. It’s easy to be there in the good times. It’s so much harder to be there in the bad times. Our commitment to our marriage shines brightly every day as we commit to make our marriage work. He shows me in a thousand little ways how much he loves honors and cares about our commitment and marriage to one another. We choose every day to love, commit and marry each other. The beauty of marriage is that every day we can work on it. I’m so thankful to have the chance to do that with my best friend and eternal companion.

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 6

Books

I like to read.  As a matter of fact I love to read.  That wasn't always the case. When I was younger I hated to read.  I have a learning disability and struggled to learn to read as a child.  I wanted to give up on reading back then.  I thought I would never learn how to read and it was too hard.  It was such a difficult process at the time, but I had the support of really amazing parents, teachers, tutors and friends.  Eventually after a lot of work and time I learned to read. As I continued to learn to read I discovered that an amazing world of imagination would open up to me.  I found books that I loved and enjoyed. The first book I read was over 100 pages and it took me over a year to read that book, but I did it! It was like a magical door opened up to me.   I learned as I read.  Not just to read but about everything.  I learned about people, places, events, facts, reality, fantasy and fairy tales.   I soaked up all the information I could get from books. Whole new worlds opened up to me when I learned to read and I picked up a book.  I loved the adventure of reading and still do.  That is why today I am grateful for books.  

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 5

Desert Rain Storms

I love a good Arizona Deseret Rain Storm.  There is nothing like it in the World!  I love to watch the clouds build fluffy and big like mounds of whip cream in the sky.  You see them darken and turn every shade of gray and silver in the spectrum.  How the clouds shift, change and reflect all the colors of the heavens. There is nothing like the smell of Mesquite and Creosote in the air heralding the coming rain. You can smell the rain in the air and on the wind.  The clouds are usually accompanied by their good friends Lighting and Thunder.  Nature gives you the most amazing firework show. The sky is ripped with such quick bright force of lighting.  Then you get the booming of the thunder. You can feel the storms pounding pulse in the Thunder. You can see sheets of rain coming down in the distance.  No matter where I have lived there is no place like Arizona when it storms.    

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 4

Missionary Mondays

I love Mondays for one reason.  Monday is the day we get letters/e-mail from our missionaries.  What a wonderful blessing it is to be able to communicate through e-mail to our family members and friends that are serving missions throughout the world.  I really love to hear and see how much these Young Men, Young Women and Senior Adult members are growing as they serve a full time mission.  I love reading as their Elders and Sisters come to love their mission and think it’s the best mission in the World.  I love to see that spark of Christ’s love grow within them.  Missionaries are great!! What a blessing to be able to keep in touch especially on Mondays. 

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 3

The End of Daylight Savings Time

Goodbye Daylight Savings Time (DST)!

 I live in a state that doesn't have daylight savings time.  I am so thankful that I don’t have to worry about switching my clocks back and forth.  I have lived in other States and had daylight savings time and let me tell you.  I’m not a fan.  I don’t really see the point in it.  You can’t save daylight or time.  The Sun will come up and go down around the same time depending on the season.  We can’t change that.  We can’t store up daylight.  If we are storing it up then I say we vote to use it in the long dark cold months of December and January.  We could all use some extra sunshine then.  For me daylight savings time is silly.  It’s just waking up an hour earlier and telling ourselves it’s the same time. 

Well, by now you are asking yourselves why I am saying goodbye or even care about DST.  Well I have family that lives in other States.  DST makes it hard to stay in contact with them.  I love this time of year because now most of my family is on the same time as us.  Also, those that live on the East Coast are only 2 hours different.  It may not seem like these little hours here or there make a difference but they do.  It is such a blessing to be able to keep in contact with family over many miles and great distances.  Now thanks to the end of DST it is just an hour easier to have that contact.  That is why I’m grateful for the end of daylight savings time.

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 2

Beautiful Weather

Beautiful days make me happy! Today, I realized how lucky I was to live in such a beautiful place.  We have such wonderful Fall, Winter and Spring weather.  It’s pretty much perfect for all but 3 months out of the year.  I loved that I was outside in just a T-Shirt and Jeans in October.  Not many people can claim that privilege.  The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the clouds where fluffy white.  I couldn’t have asked for a better place to live and be.   

Thankful for 30 Days - Day 1

Thankful Day: 1

November is the month to be thankful and grateful.  In honor of November I am going to try put what I am thankful for every day.  Today I am grateful for choosing to be happy.

My husband and I had to make a choice in our lives. When you are dealing with Infertility you feel like everything weighs so heavily on you.  The stress of everyday life is compounded by the diagnosis of Infertility.  You don’t realize how much it affects every aspect of your life.  It pops up in family, friends, work, church, marriage and just about everywhere.  The unknown can be overwhelming and depressing.  We had two choices to make.  We could choose to be depressed, sad, anger and all those other negative emotions or we could choose to be happy, joyful, hopeful and positive.

We choose happiness!  Now, that doesn’t mean that everything is perfect, it’s far from being perfect.  We still have bad, rough days.   It just means that every day we decide to be happy.  We look for all the good and the happiness around us.  The neat thing about this choice is that once we choose it we started to see all the good everywhere around us.  Now, that doesn’t mean the World changed.  It means that we changed and our attitudes changed. 

I’m very thankful that we chose to be happy.  It has made all the difference in our lives.  

Our Favorite Fall/Halloween Tradition Pumpkin Stew

We have started this new Halloween/Fall Tradition of making pumpkin stew.  It is so much fun to see all the ingredients come together and to see everyone enjoy the stew. This stew served in a pumpkin really makes a great presentation and kids love that it comes in a real pumpkin. The other cool thing is you can draw a Jack-o-Lantern face on the pumpkin before you cover it in oil and bake it. The Face will still be on it when it comes out of the oven finished. Kids really love that!! I have included my recipe (I got a lot of request for it). Enjoy!!Pumpkin Stew

Cook time:	4 Hr	Serves:	8-10 servings

Ingredients

- 2 lb beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes - 3 Tbsp vegetable oil, divided - 1 c water - 3 lg potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes - 4 md carrots, sliced - 1 lg green bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch pieces - 4 garlic cloves, minced -1 bouquet garni (bundle of herbs: Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Chives, Bay, Basil, etc) - 1/2 cup butter

- 1 md onion, chopped - 1 container mushrooms (optional) -1 can corn or fresh corn (optional) -1 can green chilies (optional) - 2 tsp salt - 1/2 tsp black pepper - 2 Tbsp beef bouillon granules - 1 can(s) (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained - 1 pumpkin (10-12 pounds)

Directions

1. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.

2. Add water, potatoes, carrots, green pepper, garlic, onion, corn, mushrooms, green chili, salt, pepper and bouquet garni. Cover and simmer for 2 hours.

3. Stir in bouillon and tomatoes and take out bouquet garni.

4. Wash pumpkin; cut a 6- to 8-inch circle around top stem. Remove top and set aside; discard seeds and loose fibers from inside.

5. Place pumpkin in a shallow sturdy baking pan. Brush outside of pumpkin with remaining vegetable oil and butter inside of pumpkin.

6. Spoon stew into pumpkin and replace the top.

7. Bake at 325* for 2 hours or just until pumpkin is tender (Do not overbake)

8. Serve stew from pumpkin, scooping out a little pumpkin with each serving.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

 

 

My husband and I watched the best movie. It’s called “The Odd Life of Timothy Green”. I recommend having the Kleenex’s handy. I cried buckets during this film.  This movie really touched us both, especially since the couple featured in the film struggled with infertility.  This movie is one of the best we have seen discussing Infertility and Adoption.