In All Things, We Give Thanks

We started off the Thanksgiving Holiday by having a party in Adelyn's Kindergarten class.  I am so thanksful I am able to attend these parties and create memories with her.  The kids made turkeys, ate soup where each student brought an ingredient, and made a craft.  The kids all had fun!  Here is my little turkey with her little turkey.

We went up to Utah for Thanksgiving and were lucky enough to see both of our families while we were there.  We flew my Mom down and then she drove back up to Utah with me and the kids.  While she was here, she and I went to see the third Twilight movie.  We bought matching pants and shirts and joined all the teeny boppers in Twi-land.  We had a lot of fun.

The next day, the kids, my Mom and I drove up to Utah and Travis decided he would work for the next four days and then fly into Las Vegas the night before Thanksgiving.  He caught the shuttle with his Dad to St. George and we met him there.  He called after he was settled on the shuttle and told me the Lanoe's (friends from Canada) had just climbed on the shuttle as well.  They own a restuarant with Travis' parents in St. George, so when Susie, the kids and I met up with them in St. George went to eat.  I opened the can of worms by asking what the Lanoues thought of the election of our President Obama (who we were openly not happy about).  They have the opposing view and so the night was spent emotionally discussing polics and the state of our country.  It was late, we were spent, frustrated, irratated, and figured we should cool off by the time we made it to Cedar City.  The boys played their annual Thanksgiving morning basketball game and my Mom slaved away in the kitchen.  We ate with my family, and all family members except for Shonell and her family were able to attend.  The next morning the girls all made our trip to Las Vegas for the Black Friday sales.  It was so much fun!
Here is a list of all things I am grateful for this year:

My Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ.  My testimony has grown in a whole new dimension this year.  I am so grateful for the many answers to prayers, the overwhelming love, and the resolution of some big trials in my life that came this year.

Travis!  Travis is my anchor.  He is steady, consistant, has amazing perspective, FUN, smart, FUNNY, an amazing DADDY and my very BESTEST friend.

Adelyn!  She is sunshine in our lives and our home.  All I think of to describe her is SUNSHINE.  She has such a love of life, and lives it to the fullest.  I am inspired by how aware of others she is at such a young age.  She is so sweet, beautiful, smart and fun!

Boston!  Boston is my buddy.  He is so funny and handsome.  He is balance for me and Adelyn with his calm, cool, collective, confidence.  He is so curious and is very independant.

The Gospel.  We have had many great and wonderful opportunities to share the gospel with many who do not have it while we have been here.  We have currently been working with the missionaries with some neighbors of ours.  It reminds me how much truth and knowledge I have and how grateful I am to know what I know and have the experiences I have had past and present that have built my own personal testimony.  It also has helped me to know and learn more about the gospel so I can answer questions when they come to me.  I am still not very good at sharing the gospel, but my testimony of it has grown immensely. I am thankful for these missionary opportunities.

Friends.  We have been able to make the most wonderful friends here who have truly become our family.  We get together with them every Sunday to eat Sunday dinner and watch the football games with.  It is so rare to have friends where the wives are best friends, the husbands are best friends, the kids are best friends.... and we have blessed to have found it!

Job.  Travis's job here has been a great blessing to our family.  Travis has been able to network with others and is currently creating his dream job through those contacts.  We have been able to pay off all of our student loans this year because we have been extremely fortunate to have his job.  Travis has made awesome friends through his work and the possibilities we only thought were dreams, are coming to fruition because of his job he has had for the last year.  We feel extremely blessed.

Health.  With the decline of health for so many friends and family members, we are truly appreciative for our health this year.  It seems health is something you totally take for granted until it is gone.  We are so grateful all in our family are healthy.

Family.  We have learned so much about our family members over this journey we have taken.  We are grateful for both of our parents and the support, love, perspective, and advice they have given us.  Living away from families has given us a stronger determination and desire to live by family and helped us to recognize that is what we want for our kids and ourselves.

Education.  Travis and I are both blessed to have college degrees and I am so grateful Adelyn is able to go to school.  I am grateful for Adelyn's curiosity to learn and her love of learning and school.  As a stay at home Mom I am learning to have to make more of a conscious effort to continue to learn.... perhaps I learning a different kind of thing than book work.... but I am grateful we always have the opportunities and resources to continually learn new things if we choose.

We have been very blessed over this past year, and for that I am truly grateful.