Backyard Family - Easter Extended

Spent a beautiful afternoon for Easter with Tim's side of the family.  I am so thankful that they  love to host these things. It has been especially nice adding Kevin and Michelle in the mix here in Hermiston with their giant backyard and laid back hosting skills.   I loved watching most of the cousins hanging out, playing baseball and bonding.  It was amazing to see Luke and Ryan next to each other and remember they are 10 years apart in age.  Loved visiting with family we don't see more often.  It is so nice just to get together with food and family in the backyard.  No fancy invitations, no scheduled activities, no decorations, just family and time together.

His Sacred Name - An Easter Declaration

Thankful for the atonement of our Savior for ALL mankind.

Going Back to Bed

This week has been Spring break for us.  Do you know what the number one best thing about school vacation breaks is for me?  Getting to crawl back into bed and go back to sleep after Tim leaves for work.  It's even nicer when it falls during a layoff because then he and I just completely sleep in.  But, there is something so decadent about going back to my bed while it is still dark outside and crawling back in without needing to set an alarm.  Knowing full well that I will wake up in plenty of time for anything that will be needing attention that day.  And the best part is - it is totally FREE.  It's made even more cozy by the fact that all the cats take the cue and crawl back up on the bed and fall asleep too.  Bliss.

Sunshine On My Shoulders Makes Me Happy...

I am so thankful when Spring really starts to take it's business seriously.  None of this tiptoeing around winter being over.  Let's bring on some flowers blooming and birds and bees doing their thing.  A little sunshine, a little rain, a little weather without needing to bring a jacket.  Now that is what I am talking about.  Oh shoot, is that my yard work calling?

Brownies

Oooey, gooey, chocolatey, brownies.  That is what my breakfast and lunch consisted of today.  Well that and a glass of milk and a mug of Choffy.  But what a tasty way to spend a day.  I did feel the need to supplement my diet by dinner time with some other food groups.  But I in no way feel any guilt about my brownie intake for the day.  It is after all Spring vacation.

Diversity

I love living in a world of diversity.  I love the color cornflower blue, but I also love that not everything is cornflower blue.
Diversity gives us the opportunity to see so many different colors and flavors and shapes and styles and cultures everywhere you look.  We get to experience all the things that are different. All the time.
But it also helps us appreciate the things we love the most. Even if we have been away from them for a long time. Because a midst all the variety we will always recognize what is home.  We will always recognize the voices of those we love the most.  We will always be able to appreciate what is unique and special to us.  And at the end of the day, when given a choice we will always come back to cornflower blue.

Reconnecting

I am thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with friends even when we live far apart.  I love that when we see each other it is as if no time has passed and we are able to fall right back into that broken in, comfortable, faded denim friendship.  I especially love that I am able to do this with friends I have known at pivotal points in my life.  Friends that know things no one else ever will.  Friends that will make it much more interesting to grow old.

Fuzzy Socks

I love my fuzzy socks.  I don't even know how many pair I have.  I appreciate the psychological boost I get because they are cute colors and extra fuzzy.  I am sure my feet would be just as warm in boring white athletic socks, but what fun would that be?

Beef - Its What's For Dinner

I would make a terrible vegetarian.  I grew up on a cattle ranch and have eaten my fair share of high quality beef. Which has made me picky when it comes to what beef I eat.  I don't choose to eat it every night but some nights, like tonight I just want a really good steak.  And tonight thanks to a Texas Roadhouse gift card, fillet mignon medallions made the end to a beautiful day.  It will be quite awhile before I crave a good steak again - but it will call, and I will happily answer.

Two Days

I had a busy enough day yesterday I forgot to post what I was thankful for on Thursday.  I was and am thankful for days that end better than they begin.  That one is pretty much self explanatory.   Today I am thankful for lack of routine once in awhile.  I like routine for the most part.  But things like spring break are nice to mix it up a little.  I am looking forward to the next week of the unexpected.

Surprise Cheesecake

Today I am grateful for a friend that brought me "belated birthday" chocolate cheesecake.  I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs as a way of coping with a stressful day.  I do however do "chocolate".  It has saved the lives of my children many times.  It may have saved one today.

Anticipation

I know some of you that have just read the title are singing a little Carly Simon in your head right now aren't you?
I love anticipating something great that is coming.  Right now it is Spring break.  But anticipation helps spread out the happiness of an event to several days, weeks, or even months.  You get to dream a little about what will happen, maybe go shopping, pack and repack.  It makes the time leading up filled with possibilities.  Nothing has gone wrong, the flight hasn't been delayed, the luggage isn't lost, everyone is getting along.  
Anticipation is the perfect picture of what it can all be before it becomes reality.

Tacos

I love tacos. I love to eat them, and as a mom they are a favorite to make for dinner. To begin with as a kid they seemed exotic.  It was one of the few nights we weren't eating "American" food.  They are hard to ruin. They are so versatile.  You just lay out all the ingredients and everyone makes what they like.  And then there are the leftovers... tacos if you want, but nachos are even better.  And I know I wasn't the only person surprised as a kid that people originally ate them without olives.

Healthy Stock

Oddly enough I don't think I have posted yet how thankful I am for the general great health our family has.  Aside from the occasional sprain, pulled muscle, cold or sore throat we are pretty healthy stock.  We don't break easily, we bounce back pretty quickly from being sick, and don't tend to catch most of the stuff that goes around.  I have always known what a blessing that is.  Sometimes more than others.

The Second Act

Tonight it is breezy.  OK gusty, and windy.  But I had a few minutes to step outside and look at the sky. It is so beautiful with its wispy clouds, crescent moon, and countless stars.  I am so thankful that we are able to see past our own world.  That we are able to contemplate life somewhere else. That there is a bigger back yard, a wiser universe, a master plan.  I am thankful for the knowledge that this is not all there is.  That there will be more after I am here. That I will again see my loved ones.  That although I will not have the opportunity to use all my talents in this life, that doesn't mean I will never use them.  That this is only the second act.

Everyday is a Gift

I am thankful today that I go to bed feeling "good tired". Nothing out of the ordinary. I have been with people I love, doing things I enjoy, or the occasional nothing at all.  I have been blessed with another day of breathing air and soaking up sunshine. I am not going to bed tired from fighting illness, or war, or famine.  I am tired because I have had the privilege of living another day on this earth.  I am tired because I chose to open the gift of the present and play with the box it came in.

Pi(e) Day

I love that today I had an excuse to eat pie.  Not that I really need one, but it still is quite satisfying. Especially because I prefer eating pie to working with Pi.

Employment

Today I am thankful for being able to take the "un" off of "employed". Tim has headed back to work after 4 1/2 months of being laid off.  The lay off was well timed for him because he was able to swim and coach wrestling.  He was good until wrestling season ended and then he seemed to start wandering a little aimlessly and staying up until 1 or 2 am.
This job is about 45 minutes away in Pendleton building the new hospital and not horrendous hours.  It was nice to have extra time with him at home.  But I will admit it will be nice to use my desk in the morning without having someone asleep in my office.

Found Children

Tonight I am especially thankful for lost children that have been found, safe.  Locally there was a girl missing and she was found because of people sharing her photo and story on Facebook that had been posted.  There are so many ways that children can be lost.  It isn't always physical.  But when they are found it is a joy and a relief and a prayer of thanks to have them back.

Good Phone Calls

Today I am thankful that a business phone call I had been dreading for a week went so smoothly.  Sometimes phone calls are just the hardest to make when you are not sure where you stand.  I think I prefer it when I can look people in the eyes.  Good phone call has led to potentially great business meeting tomorrow morning.  Worst case scenario I get to see the beautiful scenery where I am driving for the meeting and that is always something to be thankful for.

Families are Forever

Today I am especially thankful for the knowledge that our families can be together forever, not just while we are here on earth.  A dear friend had her husband pass away this weekend.  Many years ago her son died as well.  I know she is finding comfort in the fact that she will see them both again someday and that they will all be able to be together again.  I remember after my own mom died several years ago my sisters and I talked about how we almost felt guilty for not being more upset after her death.  We all felt so much comfort in knowing where she was, that she was happy, and that we will see her again.

The Capri Transition

I don't have a favorite season.  I love the transitions in between.  The changing of the leaves, the first snowfall, the first crocus to bloom. The first official signal that spring is actually here is when I start wearing my capris.  I don't know why the lack of about 10 inches of pant leg makes me feel like the weather has officially made the change, but it does.

Expiration Dates

I love expiration dates.  I think one of my unwritten goals in life is to never pay full price - for anything. Especially food.  I can't believe how expensive it would be to buy it all at full price.   I tend to gravitate to any store signs or tags or stickers that are bright neon orange or yellow.  I love the fact that stores sell food with dates on them, because something that was full price on the 5th will have to be half price on the 6th - just because time has caught up to the date stamp on the package.  It is amazing how long after those dates you can eat something...and not die.

Sherlock Holmes

I have come to the conclusion that I am a big fan of Sherlock Holmes. I love the way his mind works. I love his quirks. I love the many versions of him in books and on film. But most of all I love that he has inspired me to pay attention to the little things.

Little Helper

Tonight I had one of the little boys we babysit helping out.  He loves my handheld vacuum and after seeing how I use it to vacuum up the piles I sweep, asks to help often.  So tonight was one of those nights where I am going to bed with clean floors thanks to Bryce.  And tonight he even insisted on mopping as well. It's hard to turn down help like that.

Saved by a Crockpot

I have days that I don't know what I would have done without a crockpot to cook the dinner while I am gone.  I personally would love to be home all the time for the most part.  I would love to have someone else run my errands and deliver groceries to my door.  But since I live in the real world of rural America (which I love) I have to leave the house for long periods of time sometimes to get stuff done.  I love knowing that I can just put a bunch of ingredients in and when I get home it will be dinner ready to go. Not only that, but the house smells great when I walk in the door.
The only set back I have found is the fact that I have to remember to both turn on AND plug in the crockpot for it to work.

This is the Way to Watch TV

I am really loving watching tv shows that are on Netflix or Amazon Instant Video.  I love that because we don't have satellite or cable tv there are shows that have been on for years that we had never heard of - that are fabulous.  We keep managing to find shows that have 3 or 4 seasons already behind them.  This is great because we have weeks worth of watching ahead of us without having to deal with hiatus or holiday breaks in the shows, we can pause the show if we need to, and there are no commercials.  These are great for watching in between the very few shows that we follow that are current.  I love this technology.  

More Value Than Many Sparrows

I am thankful for a bag of cookies and a heartfelt letter delivered to our family by a young lady we love.  I am thankful for the blessings and miracles I have seen in her family this last year as well as in her own life that the teachings of Jesus Christ have made possible.  I am thankful for the gospel and the tender mercies that it brings to those of us who at times in our lives have felt that we are lost and forgotten.  It makes me think of one of my favorite scriptures -
 Matthew 10:29-31  "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

He knows us. He loves us. He wants us to know that He loves us.

The Pen

The older I get, the more I appreciate good writing. Whether it be a song, a book, a movie, or a television show. I love writing that takes me on  journey. Makes me think, and deduce, and discover. I love writing that makes me introspective and connected to the world at the same time. It is a great way to gain a different perspective and in turn more love and compassion towards strangers as well as people you have known all your life.
Maybe the pen is mightier than the sword not only because it can conquer or destroy, but because it can heal.

Backup

Today I am ever so thankful for backup. I love when my husband and I work as a team. Especially when it is the kids vs. mom and dad. I realized today that I really don't rely on it like I should all the time. I am like the rogue cop on tv who never waits for backup and gets shot.
From now on I am calling for backup.