The Lucky One

Listen, my life just isn't that exciting but I can still be grateful right??

Right now I'm grateful for Allison Krauss. I could listen to her for hours.... I'm also grateful for the Leinwebers. They made me laugh today when they shouted the words to "who let the dogs out" at me while sitting and waiting for Payton to come out of his class. I'm grateful for good friends who let me hang out at their homes and eat their food when my house is full of boring stuff. I'm grateful for Anne Wadman, she made me good soup yesterday :) I'm grateful for a good book, and sleeping children.

I'm grateful for my husband who blasts the Beastie Boys while doing robotic dances making us all laugh. I'm grateful for Bella who said to me at least 5 times today, "I love you mom, do you love me?" I'm grateful for Tyson who seems to be the only person in this house I never raise my voice to (unless I'm saying, "The Dude!" in my high baby talk voice). He's not just "A" Dude. He's "The" Dude. I'm grateful for Katrina and her beautiful art she makes for me at least twice a day. I'm grateful for Payton and his willingness to help all day long. I'm even grateful for Cody when he cleans the food off my floors so I don't have to sweep so much.

Guess I had a lot more to be grateful for than I thought :)

Proud to be an American

K, sorry for the long absence. I solemnly swear to do better. Payton came home today from school and said "Mom, have you heard of the song, 'Proud to be an American?'" I said, "Ummm.....let me think...YEAH." Apparently they are practicing the song for a Spring Concert they are performing. So I start singing dramatically, and he joins in with me. But let me tell you when I heard that high little, non-pubescent voice sing
"There ain't no doubt I love this land, God bless the USA"
it brought tears to my eyes. I told him about how I quoted that song in a talk I gave the weekend after 9-11 in Stake Conference (my talk was on the effects of music), and how my favorite line in the song was "The flag still stands for freedom, and they can't take that away." and what it means. He said, "Yeah, I like that line too. They think Betsy Ross made the flag." (Always Mr. Facts just like his Dad.)

Then we talked a little about 9-11 and why these men would want to kill themselves while killing others. Things I truly wish my son did not have to contemplate.

I love this land. I love my freedoms. I love that my son is singing "GOD bless the USA" in a public school performance. This country definitely has flaws but there is no other place I would rather be. Tonight I am giving thanks to my Father in Heaven for this country and all that it represents. I'm definitely proud to be an American.

Jack of all Trades, Master of None

Thanks to some encouraging words from my mother it's my new motto. Aren't we all like this in some things? I have to say that being a mother, although I don't have time to perfect any one subject, I study many different things that interest me, or in order to educate myself about something. I am a pianist, a guitarist, a singer, a parenting expert (I know the skills, however I don't always use them), a baker, a dog trainer, a nurse, a counselor, a financial expert, a gardener, an organizer, a chef, a personal trainer, definitely a maid, most certainly a servant, unfortunately for my husband a comedian, a nutritionist, a beautician, a coach, a martial arts student (that's right...I've got a yellow belt!) a chauffeur, a decorator, a story teller, a writer, a yogi, a teacher, a mediator, an advocate, a scriptorian, a disciple, and best of all a daughter of god.

There is no time (for now) to become a master of any one of these things, and for now I am content with just "dabbling" and learning about anything that interests me. I love being a mom. I may not work in the "working world" but it gives me all the more time to study and refine talents and skills that benefit myself as well as my family. Lucky me!

What are your skills? I was surprised I could come up with so many. Make a post on your blog...I want some new skills! (You know like nunchuck skills....computer hacking skills)

Thoughtful Friends

I'm so grateful for thoughtful friends who make me desire to be better. My friend Kristi Brausch asked me one day for the birthdays of all of our family members and since then has never failed to send a card. Not only to send a card but a card that arrives on TIME! My kids always get so excited to get mail (I have to admit so do I). My Dad and his wife are also very good about this.

Now me? I remember that I should have sent a card the day before their birthday, I then either throw my hands up and say "Oh, well! There's always next year!", I make excuses about how I've already done my weekly WalMart shopping (yeah, I don't get out much) and don't have a card, or I give them a lame phone call. So here's my plan of action:

1. Gather a few birthdays starting with your own children (I mean I need to start small or I'm going to fail..I know myself too well)

2. Buy your first real "your a grown-up now" planner to record such dates. I like this one from Franklin Covey

3. Quit being a scrooge and buy cards ahead of time so you already have them on hand (Note here: I personally am a little "anti-cards". I hate paying $3-$5 for something that someone will probably throw away within a week. HOWEVER, I have a Mother-in-law who LOVES receiving cards and always gushes over them. Point is: It's the thought that counts!)

4. Eventually become world famous for sending cards for the birthdays, weddings, graduations, losses, new jobs, new babies, new puppies, great haircuts and blemish free days of my family, friends, and that one really nice lady at the library. (Ask Kimberly Cardon why she'll stand in her line and wait for 10 minutes even though that OTHER librarian is totally available)

Wish me luck!

Ok, so lately I've just been kinda a party pooper about life in general. This cold, miserable weather just makes me want to curl up in bed and never do anything. When I do have to do something I'm cranky and whiny about it. No more! I have decided that I am changing my thoughts and that I am going to try to have a positive outlook on whatever I am doing. Going to Wal-Mart to grocery shop for 2 hours? Woo-hoo! Changing my 4th diaper at 10am? Suh-weet! Going to the dentist? Can hardly WAIT!

Boyd K. Packer says that "our thoughts are the switchboard, the control panel governing our actions".

"I think therefore I am"

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples don't count on harvesting golden Delicious."

The thoughts that I think effect DRAMATICALLY my outlook on life and the way my day goes. There are enough people in this world that think negative thoughts. I for one am going to contribute more often to the ones who think positively.

Sushi

I'm not a hard core sushi eater or anything but today I dusted off the old sushi maker we bought 10 years ago and made some rolls. Just avocado, cucumber and crab but man it hit the spot and filled the craving for a few days. If you like sushi you know what I'm talking about. Next I'm going to make some with tempura shrimp made w/panko. Mmmmmmm

It's funny how when I was a kid sushi just meant slimy raw fish. In todays world kids LOVE sushi. Payton devours it. My nephew brings his mom's leftover sushi in his lunch! Puh-leeze!

Interrupt this blog for a "back in my day" moment. Besides walking 3 miles home from the bus stop I had two sandwich choices: PB&J or Bologna (yack). What was in your brown bag?

Dot Com

So grateful for the Internet. I know that everyone is already aware of it’s benefits and how fortunate we are to have this vast, unlimited river of information, but this is my gratitude blog so you have to read why I’m grateful for it. :)

I was talking to a friend today about how we, as Mothers with Internet access, have no excuse to be ignorant about how to care for a child. When I have a question as to whether or not my baby can eat yogurt yet, I type in a few words online and can search through thousands of pages where people have asked the same question. If my hand goes numb after I eat tuna salad…or I burp a lot when I’m pregnant, I can probably find a reason why on the Internet. Sometimes it’s a challenge to see if I can type in the right search terms to get the results I am seeking, and when I succeed it is like…..EUREKA!

When I realized that my baby kept his thumbs tucked into his palms I immediately, of course, turned to the Internet to see if there was a “condition” or something associated with this. After much “play” with search terms I found that he had what was called “adducted thumbs” and that it was often present in certain genetic disorders. Of course I did what any good Mother would do. I FREAKED out! However, the Internet eased my fears as I read more about the rarity of the disorders and the many other obvious symptoms usually present, that he was lacking. All this study, though, prepared me for the genetic counseling and testing we had to go through “just to be safe”.

I’m grateful to live in an age where I can grow in knowledge indefinitely. We have been given this gift and must use it to further our knowledge, our talents, (and try not to waste too much time on it). It saddens me that some choose to use it to the detriment of themselves and others. If you are reading this blog, thank you for taking up some of your Internet time to read my ramble. (Don’t you have anything better to read about?)