Thanksgiving thoughts

Warning I'm getting on my soap box. (OK it is actually both of us)


For some reason my perspective is a bit different this Thursday. Yes it if full of thanks but more of an understanding for the true reason for the Holiday we are celebrating. There have been 2 things that have stuck out to me.

1. I guess I was very ignorant of why this Holiday became a national holiday. We always assume the pilgrims etc. Which yes that is truly important. But when I read the proclamation of President George Washington about Thanksgiving things really started to hit home. Here is the first paragraph.

"Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor, and Whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me ‘to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’ 

First off he the President of our Country told us it is our duty to recognize the wonderful things God has done for us. And both parts of congress agree (this is amazing) that is should be a day of thanks and prayer. To remember what great things Heavenly Father has done for us. 


How many of us really do this? How many of us actually take the time to think about what Heavenly Father has done for us today? Yes we give a few things we are thankful for. . . but do we really realize what he really has given us? EVERYTHING! It seems so sad that we as Americans think we only need to do this one day a year. Most of us don't even spend 1/2 of today thinking about that. Half of America will be hitting the stores at sometime today. Some where I read that today we give thanks for all the stuff we have then go out and buy more stuff that we really don't need. Is this true for you this Holiday? 

2. Chris helped Jed write a talk a few weeks ago. They choose the parable of the 10 lepers. Chris related how we as Americans are the 10 lepers. Christ bestowed this wonderful gift upon us (our freedoms, and wonderful lands we have to live and our opportunities that others never will have, plus many more). Are we too busy with Christmas to turn around and thank our Savior? Don't get me wrong Christmas can be wonderful if you focus on the correct part. If you focus on Christ, spending time/making memories with family, and serving others. Do we need to be as selfish as the 9 other lepers and not thank Heavenly Father? Do we really need to go out buying "stuff" today? that will be there tomorrow, or weeks later? Yes you might not get that thing you must have for $30 cheaper. But in the long run Don't you think Heavenly Father will notice that you chose to spend the day giving thanks and being with family? 

3. We are very thankful to our Heavenly Father on this day.  He has helped in in marvelous ways.  Last spring we felt that we should come to the DC area to go to school.  We never knew the full reason for the need to come here.  After we left Waukee, a friend told us that the new family living in our house began to investigate our church.  That family whom we may never know is coming closer to God because we listened.
    
I know we are sounding preachy today but This is how I feel. I am so thankful that I live in a country that set up a holiday the give thanks to our Almighty. I hope I do a better job in the future of making sure that I keep Thanksgiving for the reason it was set up. I hope that I remember to give thanks to Him daily not just once a year. I hope that I can be thankful for what I have and not put what I want before what I am thankful for. 

A friend who has been having a difficult year said "I find blessings "hidden" around almost every corner. They are there you just have to recognize them as such." Such true words. This Thanksgiving I hope we can all find our blessings that have always been there, that are there just today and that we will having to come.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Stepping off my soap box

ten on tuesday

1. I have been leading an exercise group at the church on Mondays and wed. it has usually been pretty small like 6 people. yesterday there were 12!!!! I miss teaching, I really do. I am so glad I get the opportunity to teach these ladies.

2. Chris only has 3 weeks left in this semester! (plus finals) I cannot believe how fast this semester has flown by. Prayers are starting that he does well on his finals.

3. Will got to start using a bow today with his violin. He was so excited. He came home and showed me. He played almost all of twinkle twinkle without messing up and without sheet music!!! I'm so excited for him.

4. Annmarie was very excited for anti-bully week last week. She loved crazy hair day, as did Jeffrey. Needless to say Jeffrey got a hair cut as soon as he got home from school.

5. Last night I read some amazing conference talks from way back when (ok early 1990's) Wow they were amazing. I'm so glad that we have the ability with the touch of a finger type in a topic and have hundreds of talks, and scriptures to look at.

6. Jed started Preschool Monday! I figured we would a. not find a place with an opening here and b. find one we could afford. After my friend Michelle told me to look at her child's preschool. We found a great match. Jed didn't even say good by. He was so happy to be going to school. I am happy for him as well. 3 mornings a week.

7. Henry is beginning to voice his displeasure more and more. He is also learning what timeout on your bed is like. Oh the joys that are beginning!

8. Jeffrey got to spend extended 1 on 1 time with Chris this weekend. I think he truly loves being the guy to go do things with his dad.

9. Saturday evening we got to watch some college football. Oh how I love watching great games from the warmth of my couch.

10. random fact - I love love love to wear hooded sweatshirts with college (or other schools I've been associated with) names on them. They are warm and I love sporting my pride.



 random photos

My boys! I love this photo

Henry fell asleep on the way to Costco and staid asleep the whole time.

He is just too cute

Thoughts

This past weekend was full of thoughts.  Chris's computer decided to totally crash on him. With him in school there is no option to wait, he tried so hard on Saturday to fix it. We bought a a new one at Costco. All the while cringing that our money from student loans is getting smaller and smaller.  Saturday evening we decided to take it to Apple and see if they could fix it, and hope that the warranty that expired 2 weeks ago would still possibly be in effect. On Monday we found out the the hard drive had totally died, it was covered by AppleCare since 3 weeks ago Chris took it in with problems. So what did we get? A brand new hard drive, and a discovery that the bar testing program was a major problem for his computer. What did this all cost us? 0000! And we even returned the other computer back to Costco, which was never opened. Blessing 1 of many.

Our stake had stake conference this past weekend, the best advice we received was relaying council from president Eyring. In short it is, stop praying to change the person. Pray what you can do with a promise to act. We have been struggling with Jed ALOT! Lately. We have always been prying for him to behave  etc. our prayers started changing Saturday night. At this moment we are looking into preschool for him as he does so well when surrounded by his peers. Hopefully this will workout and some of the issues we are having with him will be resolved. By no way to I imagine that this will solve everything but I'm hoping it is a small step forward.

William has just been wonderful! I have had some hard days this past few weeks. He knows when to hug me, when to tell me he loves me, and most importantly when to calm down. I am so blessed to have him in my family. He has a way of calming my troubled heart.

Annmarie is growing up too fast. She was asked to a birthday party that was a sleepover. She was fine going until 10pm. Turns out the party was right in the middle of the adult session of stake conference. The girls father offered to pick up Annmarie. As we had no idea who the parents are, I had an uneasy feeling about allowing Annmarie to be picked up from our home, when parents were not there, by someone we didn't know. After we decided to tell her it wasn't going to workout, I was prepared for the tears and it's not fair.  Well there were tears, but not as much as I expected. hopefully she is growing out of her tantrum stage.

Jeffrey got to spend most of Monday, after school with Chris alone. You would have thought he won the lotto. He was so happy to be alone with one of us. He and Chris have started reading Harry potter and the goblet of fire. I love to see them do something special.

Jed has been Our challenge of late, he struggles to listen, to do what he is asked. He often resorts to yelling, or throwing things, or tantrums. All directed at me. Yesterday when I was sick in bed he was great! He kept to himself and did what small things he can to help. I'm thankful for him being good when I most needed it.


Henry is just Henry. He is happy, he loves to eat, chase Jed.  He loves going to the bus stop when the kids get home. He misses them when they are at school. He has started with tantrums, I public they are silent and throwing himself on the floor. At home they. Are loud and hitting and biting happens lots. He is usually wonderful we I go running. On Friday when I ran for 11 miles, he screamed from mile 6 to 10.5. It was great fun. We are so lucky that he truly is a  happy child.



I did this from my phone so sorry if there are more than normal errors.

a day late with a more positive attitude

1. I learned that you should never blog / email / Facebook post when you are the most upset/frustrated you have been in a long time. Yesterday was a very difficult day for me. A child of mine is just making life not so fun right now. But after a good nights sleep and a new start this morning life is better. I am so thankful I did not post last night and give you 10 negative things about the week. So lesson learned, sleep on it.

2. We went to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and the fall leaves were everywhere. We got to show the kids the changing of the guards and other cool things about this amazing place. So thankful again for the many people who gave their lives for our country and the opportunity to live the way we choose.

I love this view. All the way to my favorite monument here in town.

3. Saturday I went on a beautiful 10 mile run (Chris and I have a half marathon in 3 Saturdays) I love the beauty of things here. And I now know where the phrase up hill both ways comes from. Virginia is up hill both ways. It makes running so much fun :)

4. Monday we had parent teacher conferences. It was so nice to hear things about our children. It was nice to hear that Jeffrey listens and does what he is asked with no problem. It was wonderful to hear from Will's teacher (who is perfect for him) tell us everyone loves to play with him. And to hear how he goes out of his way to help the kids with special needs who comes in to their class. Things like these make me fell like I must be doing something right.

5. Will is starting to use his bow with the Violin. It is so fun to hear him play.

6. As Annmarie and I came home from errands the other day this is what we found. Lets say they didn't even move when we got out of the car and walked to the house. Deer here have no fear.

7. This weekend we dog sat. Henry loved this cute little girl. It was so funny to watch him walk the dog. Almost made me want one.

 8. Chris found these for me. Oh they were soooooooooooooo delicious!!!! I don't think I can ever get enough of salt potatoes.

 9. Halloween - we went to a friends house and went trick or treating with about 3 families. We had
a great time

I went as a night time Ragnar Runner. (the head lamp actually was extremely helpful) the medals were way to loud and heavy. 

Half cow/half cowboy

Jedi Jed ? ragnar runner Jeffrey

Mulan Annmarie

Practice Tom Brady Will

10. I am so thankful for friends today. Days like yesterday make me miss Iowa and Nevada, and Arizona so much. But days like today remind me that I am on my way to making good friends here. It just takes time.

Day 1

Day 1: I am thankful for Jed. Even though you make me want to pull out my hair, I know you really want to make good choices. I love how kind you can be to me when I need it most. Thank you Jed for choosing our family.