We drove to see James and Sadie and family today. The kids were both really excited to see their cousins.
It's fun to see Arilyn and Cambria play, they are getting old enough that pretend play is alive and well, it's fun to see then imagine together.
Corbin at one point had given Arilyn a bear hug from the back and was following her around, just kind of attached. It was cute.
Cambria was imagining today in the car as we drove to another children's museum. I overheard her say "'the Lord commanded Nephi to go get the plates from you Laban' and her response was in a deep voice 'oh, He did? Ok here, you can have them, then.'" Haha
Corbin painted for the first time with paint brushes on an easel today. At one point he had a paint brush in each hand. It's so fun to see him discover. He also was playing in the sand box with some toys and stacked two toys that spun a wheel when you dumped sand on them. He made a double Decker, essentially. He was pretty excited when he saw two reactions from one action. "Ooh!"
We are in Missouri visiting since friends today. We went swimming. Candida is a little fish! She LOVES swimming! It was so fun to see her do so well, and have so much fun.
Corbin is pretty easy-going, but he really gets nervous in the pool. He doesn't like it. It's good to see some things that he doesn't love, because he likes most things, or at least goes with the flow.
I have been thinking about what I could give the Savior this year for Christmas. I feel like it would be good to focus on cute/happy/positive things my kids do. So I'm going to post a lot more about them
I'm grateful that I was able to find someone to watch the kids last minute so that Jonathan and I could go suit shopping.
I'm grateful for the graduation gift that my in-laws gave us, so we could purchase the suit.
I'm grateful that we found a suit that Jonathan feels really good in, and oh, by the way... he looks really good in it too. I'm grateful that we both equally like it (just like with most things when it comes to his fashion, we didn't agree, but all disagreements faded when he put this suit on).
(I've skipped a lot of days this week. I've thought of something each day, I just haven't taken the time to write)
I'm so grateful for Christmas! I'm grateful that I had such a good day! I didn't feel homesick, and I really enjoyed spending the whole day watching my kids unwrap presents. I loved talking to so many members of my family, I have the best family.
I'm grateful that I was able to sing a solo at church today, and especially that my neighbors came!
I'm so so grateful for the Savior. I'm grateful that we have this time of year to focus on Him.
I have so much to be grateful for today.
I'm grateful that I had a social event to go to tonight. Jonathan unexpectedly had to work till 7:30 today. It was really nice to not have to worry about dinner, it was a place where the kids could just play, and I didn't have to worry about them either. It was a good night to be on my own parenting-wise.
I'm grateful for moments when I truly enjoy my kids. Corbin asked Jonathan to bend down, then he whispered jibberish in his ear. It was so cute! Then Jonathan whispered in his ear "I'm going to eat you" then pretended to take a bite. After a few times, Corbin whispered then pretended to take a bite. Haha! He is so funny!
Cambria is so observant, and the things that come out of her mouth shock me. She's funny too.
I'm grateful for the Spirit. Church was cancelled because of the ice and Jonathan suggested we "play church" with the kids. I was a little sceptical, I didn't want to make light of something sacred, but he presented it in a way that the kids were on board, and we were able to have a spiritual experience.
We had a little testimony meeting, and Cambria bore her first testimony! The Spirit was so strong, and it was so sweet!
I'm grateful that Jonathan took the time to do something fun with us today. We went to an almost 100 year old candy shop. They had an activity where you could mold candy canes. It was fun to get out. I know it would have been easy and reasonable for Jonathan to say he needed to work, but he didn't. I'm glad we had a good day today.
I'm grateful for our safety tonight. We went to the temple and on the way home it started raining. But it was 29 degrees, so it immediately froze. The roads were horrible I'm every sense of the word. We skid several times, but never got out of control. I'm grateful for that.
I'm grateful that we've met our deductible, so I can go to a therapist and chiropractor without having to pay much. I feel so great after going to the chiropractor today!
I'm grateful for friends. I said goodbye to another friend today. They were only here for a take short time (less than two years) but I learned a lot from her. She has been candid with me and some of her emotional stuff, which has helped me think more about mine.
I'm grateful for opportunities to sing. I sang at a nursing home tonight, it was so fun to see the residents enjoy my music. It's moments like this that make me grateful for the talents God has given me. I love to help people feel happiness through my singing.
I'm grateful for moments of gentle nudges of the Spirit. I felt today they I need to change the way I act on the Sabbath. It was just a gentle thought, no gilt was attached, no major... anything. Which is usually what it takes to get me to change. So I'm grateful fir my experience today.
I'm grateful for opportunities to get free stuff. This Christmas is going to be loud of gifts that we got for free. Giving gifts if a big deal for me, so I'm grateful that I can still give a lot of stuff to my kids without having to pay for much of it.
I'm grateful for help from heaven. Corbin had a mega fit that lasted at least an hour and a half. Despite my best efforts, nothing I did could calm him down. After several moments of complete frustration and feelings of helplessness in my part, he cuddled up to me and calmed down. I'm grateful that the Lord knows what he needs, cuz I certainly didn't!
I'm grateful for the partnership that I have with Jonathan. This week has been really good for me, and kind of rough for Jonathan. I feel like I've been able to help him and support him, and he's done the same for me. It feels good to be there for him. He's such a rock for me all the time, and it's nice to feel like I can support him, and sustain him too.
I'm grateful that the kids were good at my chiropractor appointment today. I went just for an assessment, so it was short. I get adjusted tomorrow, I'm excited to start feeling some relief from my pelvic pain. It's not bad, but I figure it doesn't hurt to do what I can to make it better.
I'm grateful for to-do lists. I have started using one again this week and it has given me little victories every day, which then bring good thoughts. It also has been motivating me to do something productive with my time, rather than get frustrated and stressed with all that I have to do. (So much so, that I just shut down)
I'm grateful for the inspiration to start making a list.
Today I felt like I was the mom I want to be. Cambria had a little attitude right of the bat. So I was on the ball, and sat down and played a card game with her for at least twenty minutes. That catapulted us into a great day, with great interactions with each other. Things still happened... Things were spilt, fits were thrown, but I kept my cool!
... all until about 5 when I tried to make dinner. Then my dream mom hit reality... but we don't need to talk about that.
I'm so grateful for the glimpse of what I could be. I can't help but feel like that is who I really am, and this crazy emotional person, that I am most of the time, is not me. I just don't know how to let go of this craziness... it's a work in progress. So today I'm grateful for glimpses.
I'm grateful for meaningful fasts. Jonathan and I had an experience last night were we talked about what the purpose of fasting was, how that interacts with prayer, and if asking for something we wanted was appropriate to do in a fast. We grew in our understanding through our conversation and our application of our scripture study from the previous week.
I'm grateful for moments like this that build my understanding and help me grow in the gospel.
Today Corbin came down with a cold. There was a Christmas party this morning, so I took Cambria by myself. I had such a good time just speeding tone auth her abs doing fun things for her. I'm grateful for good moments with my kids. They keep me going.
I'm grateful that people showed up to my interior design class. We have a small group of moms that get together and learn from each other. So far we have had an astronomy class and a trig class. Now it's my turn, and I decided to teach interiors. Mainly because it's something I was interested in learning about, and it's so applicable... everyone lives in a home.
Anyway, it was really fun to teach the class, and it made the hours of preparation worth it, just seeing how engaged everyone was.
I'm grateful for the women that surround me. I went to a relief society activity and was energized and filled.
I'm also grateful for the good day that I had. It feels so refreshing to have a good day after a string of bad ones.
