The color outside today was Green.
It rained for most of the day. At times it even did some thundering and lightning.
I love it when it rains here. It makes the air misty and all the plants become vibrant in color. It's amazing how green everything is here and today it made me stop and stare. Green in all it's wonderful shades is my favorite color. I love the color green and I am thankful I got to witness it in all it's glory today. So beautiful.
...can get pretty crazy! My calling at church is on the Primary Board. I teach CTR 4. My class has 5 kids all 4 years old turning 5. It is an amazing test in patience every week, but I love being in the Primary and I love the kids in my class. They amaze me with their knowledge of the Gospel. They remind me of how simply sweet life really is and I am so grateful for their examples of pure love through and through.
Read more...Well, it seems the heat wave has finally hit Augusta, GA. I sure love the spring, fall and winter seasons down here in the south but summer is pretty much YUCKY! The humidity sticks to you like glue and the heat is pretty oppressive. This week it got up to 96 degrees, and this is only the beginning. I am not so secretly celebrating that we move at the end of next month! I'm not sure I would survive another long Georgia summer. There is nothing like them:)
Despite the hot weather we made it out to the park a few times. We went in the morning before the day realized how hot it wanted to get.
that this weekend is going to be 1 day longer! How great is that?! It made today even more relaxing, knowing I have an extra day to play, and spend time with Ryan. I may even get a nap every day this weekend! (I got one today)
It's going to be good.
I am so thankful we get an extra day to spend together this weekend as a family.
...happy everyday!
This is what Sam asked me.
I looked at him and hesitated. I had to think about it before I responded.
"It's so they can keep them warm." I told him.
"No, Mom. It's 'cause they don't have any chairs!"
Ha.
His first official joke and I don't know where he learned it. It made me laugh, and still does about every 3rd time he tells it to me:)
Thanks Sam, for the laugh.
I am grateful for good health.
I took Russell and Evelyn to the doctor's today for wellness checkups.
Russell's was his 2 year and Evelyn's was her 2 month.
Both are doing well and it is such a blessing to have happy healthy children. I am grateful for it daily.
I saw my first firefly of the season tonight. A friend and I went out for a walk and near the path we followed the trees grow thick and full, especially in the summer. I thought I was imagining it, but after seeing one, I started seeing more. I love fireflies, they are completely mesmerizing to me. What an amazing creation. I am thankful for their beauty on a warm summer's eve.
Read more...Today I am grateful for a thoughtful friend.
My friend Betsy and her little family are moving away. She's been without a husband for months(her husband is in the military) and any move is stressful enough, but to do it by yourself, with 3 kids. Ummmmm, ya, just a little hard.
They left today and she not only offered me her leftover boxes and packing supplies, but she actually dropped them off at my place for me. Really?!
We are all set for our move now and I am so grateful.
Betsy, I am going to miss you. Thank you for being such a thoughtful friend. I may just join facebook now, just for you:)
For my sweet Russell. He was born right about this time 10:06pm exactly 2 years ago. Wow, how time flies.
Read more...Turned 2 today!
that Ryan tasted the cake I made for Russell's Birthday before I frosted and decorated it.
I forgot to put sugar in the batter. Ummmmm....opps. Cakes aren't very good without sugar.
In my defense, both Sam and Russell were "helping" me and it had been a long day.
Ryan is never going to stop teasing me:)
I got a nap. All three of my children took naps at the same time. So awesome. I am Thankful for that hour of quiet and rest. Even with good sleep at night, these kids sure wear me out:)
Read more...for my little life.
Tonight it's hard to choose just one thing. I can feel my project already working and I spent a lot of my evening feeling overwhelmed by my multitude of blessings. As my mind mentally rummages through my plentiful stack of blessings it keeps hesitating when it comes to my family. In particular, my parents.
"I, Jessica, having been born of goodly parents..." (1st Nephi 1:1) and that means the world to me. I think because that's why my world is what it is. They loved me, protected me, cared for me and taught me the most important things you can learn in this world.
How to love.
What it means to be a good person.
Why we are on this earth and how to return home to my Heavenly Father.
That some things are bad and some people can be too.
That life is about being happy and true happiness can only be found through living righteously.
I lead a charmed life. In a lot of ways, I know that's because of the decisions I make every day but I also know that I was truly blessed when I was sent to my parents. I don't know how that decision was made, but I feel so overwhelmed with gratitude for it that my screen is blurry and I feel like I'm oozing happiness. Thank you Heavenly Father, for my parents.
nice warm blanket. I know its the end of spring and the beginning of summer but we have a good number of blankets out around here still. The boys use some to build their forts with the sofa cushions but the ones I'm thankful for today are all Evelyn's. I keep one with her always. I use it for her to lay on instead of the floor and I wrap her little arms away in it when she needs to sleep. The one I used today is covered in cupcakes and it made me smile every time I wrapped her up in it. Plus, my mother made it for her and that makes me smile too.
Read more......that crayola markers are washable.
And that Russell only wrote on himself with them instead of the wall.
Like he did with a colored pencil. A green one.
I was feeding Evelyn while he drew his mural.
But it came off the wall, with some work.
Luckily.
Today I am grateful for where we live.
When you move to a new city it is so hard to tell where you should find a place to live. We really lucked out in our current place. It's a nice area; beautiful, safe and it's close to stores, friends and even the church. We were used to driving 20 minutes or more to get to church in Columbus, Ohio, but here we are just down the street. It's been such a blessing as I try to get myself, a husband and 3 kids age 4 and under to church on time. I start Saturday and I still can't seem to do it! I am so thankful we were able to find such a good place to live for this short year we are in Georgia.
...are so delicious! That's why I am grateful for my husband's amazing cooking skills. Today a simple barbecue salad turned into a masterpiece of goodness when he put it together. The chicken alone was enough to make me shout for joy, let alone his genius idea to roast the corn and peppers. I mean, I never would have thought of it:) Thank you Ryan, I am so thankful you like to cook.
Read more...I am thankful for my DVD player. It gave me time to feed a baby, load the dishwasher AND take a 3 minute shower. Wonderful!
Read more...
The way Sammy asks me to remember something. For example:
Just before nap time today he asks me, "Mom, please don't touch the cave I made okay?"
"Okay, I promise I won't touch it." I say.
"Mom, you should make a list." he says.
"Oh really, what for?" I ask him.
"So you don't forget not to touch my cave."
Ha! Well alright then.
He says it all the time now. If I'm supposed to remember something or a couple of things he wants me to remember in particular, he always tells me I should -make a list.
Running water
It makes cleaning up vomit a lot simpler. And the laundry that inevitably follows.
Phase: A temporary manner, attitude, or pattern of behavior
I feel like I go through phases. Phases of my everyday life.
The happy phase: Life is sweet, full of smiles and everything is great.
The content phase: Life is full, and wonderful and perfect.
The hectic phase: How am I going to accomplish all that I have to in my day?
The bored phase: The same thing everyday-feed the kids, bath the kids, play with the kids, clean the house, make dinner, sit down for 30 seconds, repeat.
The bitter phase: What could I be doing if I wasn't taking care of kids all day long?
The flustered phase: Are these kids even hearing a word I say? Seriously, I mean really?
The grateful phase: I am so glad I can have children, and stay home and take care of them. What could be better than a sweet kiss and a silly smile? I can't think of anything.
Some days I go through every single phase. But some days, I'm sorry to admit, I seem to get stuck in the bad phases for too long. Selfish thoughts start to creep in and I start daydreaming about sleeping 8 hours in a row, going to the store by myself, or spending the entire day doing what I want to do. I don't believe I'm alone in this and I realize that just like the phases I'm talking about, this phase of my life with small children will pass -and all too quickly.
I laid in bed last night thinking about how I really need to figure out how to spend more time in the good phases. My mind seemed to center on my gratitude phase and the song "Count your many Blessings" started playing in my head.
1. When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
[Chorus]
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your blessings;
See what God hath done.
Count your blessings;
Name them one by one.
Count your many blessings;
See what God hath done.
2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev’ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856–1922
Music: Edwin O. Excell, 1851–1921
I couldn't help but be inspired. There's no better way to send those bad phases fleeing than to spend my day looking for the one thing I'm most thankful for that day. It sounds a bit cheesy, now that I write about it, but I'm determined and convinced this will help my fleeting good phases:)
So there is nothing new about a gratitude journal. Except maybe that I plan to write down one thing I am thankful for every day. I have about 199 days until Thanksgiving. That will be my goal, so I can have a future date set to make it to. If by chance you too feel inspired to do something similar, join me! (big assumption people are actually reading this) Either in the comments section or in your own journal. Or just drop by every once in a while if your interested in seeing what I'm thankful for every day.
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