Thankful

Well today I am Thankful for...
My Computer.
It is a really dumb thing to be Thankful for but today has been a pretty "Bla" kind of day and it is the only thing I can think of. I have been stuck at home with the 2 little men all day and this is the only break I have received. So I am Thankful for my Computer-that I can escape for a minute before I go to bed and start the same routine over again.

Thankful

Today I am Thankful for...

Temples.

(The day we were sealed 11-11-2006 at the Manti Temple)

This one is also a continuation from November 11Th. November 11Th marked Chuck and I's three year sealing. We were sealed together for
Time and All Eternity.
That was one of the Greatest Days of my life.
I am so Thankful for the knowledge I have about how precious Temples are and how important the work done in them is. I am so Thankful to know that I can be with My Family for Eternity. There is no "Till death do us part".
I am Thankful for the feelings I have when I am able to go into the Temple.
I am Thankful for my husband who was able to take me through the Temple. He came home from Iraq a new person and he wanted to do everything he could to help us reach that goal.
I know my Heavenly Father has a plan for me and when we were getting ready to go through the Temple I saw how that plan was supposed to work.
When Chuck returned from Iraq I hadn't been on birth control for over 2 years and we didn't want to go back on the pill but I had also said how I didn't want to have any children until we had gone through the Temple. I wanted our children born sealed to us. So when he came home we thought we would just wait and see what happens. Three months went by and I hadn't gotten pregnant. I was beginning to worry that something was wrong. About that same time Chuck received the priesthood and we started our Temple Prep. Classes. We set a date to be sealed and found out the next week that I was pregnant. I truly believe that My Heavenly Father's plan was for me to keep to my plan. I didn't want to have children until I was sealed in the Temple and that is how it all worked out.
I believe in the Power of Temple work. I believe in Families being Sealed for Time and All Eternity. I believe we all have a purpose and a plan laid out for us. And I believe that it is our Choice whether or not to follow that plan and it is our Choice to believe in the plan and purpose.
I am so Thankful for that time in my life when Chuck came home from Iraq safe and when we decided to be sealed as a family. That experience strengthed my Testimony in an unbelievable way. I hope to be able to pass on my Testimony to my children. I hope they feel the love of their Heavenly Father and the love we have for our Heavenly Father. I hope we can teach them by example to love this Gospel and to know of its truthfulness. And I hope that some day they will be able to go to the Temple and feel of their Heavenly Fathers love.(Sealed at the Manti Temple 11-11-2006 I was 3 months pregnant)

(We are a bunch of cheese balls but it was so cold that day and so we didn't get to take many pictures-so what pictures we did take will have to do)

Thankful

Today I am Thankful for....

My FREEDOM!!!(This photo was taken at Ron Wood's Funeral on 07-26-2005)

I am continuing from yesterday-since there were a few things to be Thankful for.
I am so Proud to be an American and to live in a free country.
I am so Proud of the Men and Women who put their lives on the line daily to keep My Family Safe and Free.
I am so Proud of the Sacrifices that the Men and Women and Their Families make everyday so again I can be Safe and Free.


It is not always easy being married to a man in the Army...when you are married to someone in the Army-or any Military-you are also married to the Army...that is why I thank the Families of Military Men and Women...they give up a lot too...


(This was him in Iraq playing his Nintendo DS 2005)


I am Thankful for my Husband and for serving our country and for serving proudly...I am Thankful for his Example and his Strength...I am Thankful that he came back home safe and sound...I know I will have to say good-bye again and I know this next time will be even harder because I have two little boys that will depend on my Strength and I am going to be getting my Strength from Chuck and I am Thankful he has that Strength to share with me...
A BIG THANK YOU
to all of our Armed Forces and their Families...
without you I wouldn't be living the Free Life that I am...
Thank You!!!!

(This was the morning he left for his 18 months of duty 1 year of that in Iraq...I know I am smiling but I didn't stay that way for long 01-24-2005)

(This is him on the real plane flying into Iraq...no longer in the United States 2005)


(I made these sweaters for everyone in the family (Barnums and Taylors) for Christmas 12-25-2005 I didn't get any pictures of the Taylor side in theirs)


(This is him in Iraq in most of his gear-a lot of stuff to wear huh? 2005)


(This photo was taken in Cedar City the day they all came home 06-17-2006)

Wow uploading these pictures brought back all the emotions I felt at the time of the pictures...it amazes me how it all comes back like it was yesterday...Thank You to all of my Family and Friends who went through all of this right along with me...I couldn't have done it without you...Thank You!!!

Thankful

Today I am Thankful for....

A Great Man who is now a Guardian Angel...
Uncle John

(Uncle John and his Mom-Grandma Hopkins)
There are so many things to be Thankful for today but I am choosing this man and I will post my other thoughts another day...
I am so Thankful to have known this man...it was not long enough but the memories will be cherished forever and ever...
I remember getting that very unexpected phone call 2 years ago today....I was mad at Chuck about something and not talking to him and the phone rang and it was his Mom calling...I gave him the phone and I remember hearing him start to cry and saw him start shaking his head no and him not believing what his Mom was saying...he hung up the phone and I asked what happened...there where a few people sick in the family and I was expecting it to be something to do with one of them and when the words "Uncle John just passed away" came out of his mouth I couldn't believe it...The last person we expected to pass away...Everyone was in a state of shock and couldn't believe what was happening...He passed away from an Aneurysm...That was a very hard day for us and we will always remember him and miss him....
I am Thankful to have had those famous "Bear Hugs" from him...
I am Thankful for his Great sense of Humor-He always had everyone laughing...
I am Thankful for his example-He was a devoted Husband, a loving and caring Father, Loved being a Grandpa, a Great Big Brother to his siblings...
I am Thankful that he is one of our families many guardian angels...
I am Thankful for the time I had of knowing him...
We Miss You Uncle John and we know you are watching over us all...
And Thank You to his Wife and Children-you are such brave people and I know today is a hard day for you and we are thinking of you and love you very much!

(I stole this picture from his daughter Crystal-This is him with his Granddaughter-it is such a cute picture.)
(This is him with his mom and siblings-minus one Brother-Uncle Scott)
(And this is him with his two girls-Crystal and Brittnee)

Thankful

Today I am Thankful for...

Birthday Lunches!!!!

(Today 11-10-2009: Pasta Factory for Aunt Hopes Birthday)
My Mom is one of 6 girls in her family (no boys) and when it is one of their birthdays the birthday girl picks a place for lunch and they all go to lunch...They have been doing this for quite a few years now and in the last few years they have extended the invitation to us nieces...
I love when Birthday time for my Aunts come around so we can go have a good time at lunch...it is always nice to get together with my Aunts and Cousins...
I have the best Aunts in the world and I love each of them very much...and I am Thankful for your examples and I am Thankful for you extending your lunch invitations to include me and the other nieces...
I think this will be something that we will do the rest of our lives...we have came up with a Girl Tradition that will carry on for many years...
Thanks Tish, Cindy, Brenda, Launa, Hope and My Mom...
I love you all and I am Thankful for each and every one of you...
Here's to Birthday Lunches!!!!


(This was at Paula's Mexican Restaurant but I don't remember which Aunt had a Birthday)

Thankful

So today my Thankful thought is a little complicated...

so here goes some explaining...
Today is my Aunt Hope's Birthday....she is such an Awesome Aunt and I love having her in my life...

(This was the day I went into labor with Stetson.)
She is Always there for me and Always answers my Dumb questions (and I have a lot) without making me feel dumb...We like to call her Dr. Hope at our house...That is because we usually are asking her Dr. questions...I am one of those paranoid moms and she saves me a ton of money by answering my questions instead of letting me run to the Doctors office all the time...She is such a good example and you can feel her love whenever you are around her...

(This was at the hospital waiting for Stetson Cort to make his appearance.)

(This is Hope giving Stetson Cort lots of kisses when he was born.)

So today was going to be all about her but when I logged on to FaceBook and read my Mom's Thankful thought for today it gave me the idea to broaden my Thankful thought a little...
you see my Mom said how she was Thankful for those people in the world that make the hard choice of giving their child up for adoption and for those who make the decision to adopt a child...I thought that was a Great thing to be Thankful for and it goes right along with
My Aunt Hope...
My Aunt Hope was adopted when she was young...My Mom always says she was found under a rock but I am not sure I believe that story :) ...My Grandparents made a very hard but very important decision and Adopted Hope...Hope has always said that she was meant to be Pete and Sharlene's (my grandparents) daughter but she missed the boat and so she had to come to this earth a different way to get to them...
and I agree with her 100%...
she is just like her sisters and she was meant to be their sister...
and she was meant to be My Aunt
I am so Proud of my Grandparents for making the decision to adopt Hope and give her a happier and better life...
I am proud of those Mothers out there in the world who make the tough decision to give their child to a couple who can love them and raise them and give them a happier home...That has got to be hard...
and I am proud of those people who are able to adopt and give a child a happier and healthier home...
So today I am Thankful for...
Adoption and My Aunt Hope...
I love you Auntie Hopie and I hope you have a GREAT Birthday!!!


(This was taken at the hospital waiting for Odin to make his appearance.)

Thankfullness

Well now I am having to play catch up because I was sick on Friday and thought I was going to die and I felt a little better on Saturday but not good enough to get on the computer so I am catching up on my Thankfulness...

What I was Thankful for on Friday...

I was so Thankful for My Mom...

(My Mom and Odin)
(My Mom and Cort)

she is the BEST Mom anyone could ever ask for...she was such a life saver that day especially...I was feeling so horrible and I called her and she was able to hurry over and get the boys from me and take them to her house so I could try and sleep...and then when Chuck got home she brought the boys back...

I love the relationship she has with my boys...they absolutely love her and they light up when she walks into the room...Even when Odin was really, really sick his face just beamed when my Mom came over to check on him...Odin loves to bring me the phone and wants to call his Nana...

My mom is such a good example to everyone around her and she is such a loving person...I am so Happy to have her as my Mom and I wouldn't trade her for anything...

I love you Mom and thanks for Always being there...

You are the BEST!!!

What I was Thankful for on Saturday...

I was so Thankful for pain meds and for nap time and my bed...

My body hurt so bad from being sick I was glad to have some Tylenol to help dull the pain...

I was also Thankful that both of my boys take naps because I really needed one...so when they went down for their afternoon nap I climbed in my bed and slept right along with them...it was so nice...just what I needed to help get better....

(These pictures are not from the day I was sick but they are of Odin asleep on the couch with his balloons...he is a silly little man...)

What I am Thankful for Today (Sunday)...

I am Thankful for the Gospel...

I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...I don't know where I would be or who I would be without the Gospel in my life...I am Thankful that my Parents raised us in this Gospel...I am Thankful that my Parents taught me to love this Gospel through their Example and that it wasn't something forced upon me...I am Thankful for the sacrifices my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ made so that I could live during this time when the Gospel is at its fullest...I know this Church is true and I know that My Heavenly Father Loves me...I know the scriptures are true and that President Monson is called by God to lead and guide us...I hope that I can raise my kids to love the Gospel and to know right from wrong and I hope to lead them by example...

What I am Thankful for....

Today I am Thankful for-

My Grandparents-Sharlene and Pete Memmott...
they are my Mom's parents and I love them so much...I lived with them for a year right after I graduated High School and I had so much fun living with them...we had some good laughs and I kept them up late on numerous occasions and when they wanted to go to bed I would just sweet talk them and tell them that if they stayed up with me that they would stay young...I am not sure it helped them stay young but we still had some fun...
I have always lived near my Grandparents and I see them at least once a week-with the exception of when they leave to go to the mountain for the summer...when Odin was born they had just left to go to the mountain a few weeks before and so they didn't get to see him for a little while but when Cort was born they were able to be at the hospital with me and I loved having them there...when it was time to start pushing and everyone went out into the hall I remember giving them both hugs and I started crying because I was so overwhelmed with emotion and so very, very happy they were there with me...
they are such shining examples to everyone around them and they just love unconditionally...they have so many life experiences there isn't much that they can't help you through...
they both have been having some health issues and I hate that they are getting older...I can't imagine my life with out them...I know I can call on them anytime and I know they would do anything for me and my family...and when they aren't here any more what will I do?...
My boys absolutely love them and they get so excited to go to Grandma and Grandpas-I can't even drive by there house with out Odin noticing where we are and he throws a royal fit when we don't stop...
there is just so much to say about them that I could go on and on for days-maybe even weeks-but I really am just so Thankful to have Grandparents like them...I hope that when I become a Grandma that I can be as cool, loving, tender, hilarious, spunky, knowledgeable, and everything that they are...
Grandma and Grandpa- I LOVE YOU!!!!
and Thank You for everything you do!!!!!

Thankfullness

Everyday for the rest of this month (November) I am going to name something I am Thankful for...My Mom started doing it on Face Book and so did some of my other family members and I am going to copy them...

Today I am Thankful for Clorox Bleach and Lysol and all other disinfectants...I know, I know, it sounds silly but after watching Odin so sick on Sunday and then Chuck being home Tuesday not feeling good...today I went crazy and cleaned everything...I don't want that bug sticking around my house...I am thankful for these cleaners that can help prevent sickness from spreading and help keep my family safe....

Odin-My Little Man

These photos (above and below) are Odin in some crazy hats we have...One of them started out on his head but then he wanted it on his feet and he pulled it all the way up and then was hopping around the house...it was pretty darn funny to watch...

This is when he was really really sick and he wanted to take some pictures but I told him "No" and then I took a picture of him...so he doesn't feel good, he is sad because I won't give him the camera and then he is mad because I took his picture...

This is the face that I love...I don't know what life would be like with out him in it everyday...he is my world...

Some updated pictures of Odin...he is getting so big and he is starting to talk pretty good...I understand almost everything he is saying...but I am also home with him all day so that might be why I know what he is talking about...he makes me laugh on a daily-more like an hourly-basis...he is always getting into something or creating something...his little mind just never stops...I don't even think it stops when he is sleeping...I sure love this boy...