Sunday Gratitude...nine...

Today I was struggling with a few things. And my heart has just really hurt today. Thinking of those things I am grateful for seems impossible, but I KNOW it will only help.

I am grateful...

...for getting to listen to testimony meeting. There were some beautiful testimonies shared today that really spoke to my heart. 

...for my Savior. I am grateful to know that when all else seems hard that I can and will be lifted up by him.

...for my Primary lesson today. I loved the reminder that our Heavenly Father speaks through Prophets so lead and guide us. It's a great reminder while preparing to watch General Conference in a few weeks.

...for new clothes. This may seem silly to be grateful for this, but most of my clothes I have had for years and years. I don't buy new clothes often because it is hard to find,  modest, cute, affordable clothes where we live. I have found a few things lately including a new dress. And it really made me feel beautiful today. Silly, I know.

...for my children's birth parents. I just really have a deep love for them and continually pray that they may be happy. It makes me happy that we can be and are friends.

...to take my little girl on a date last night. She seems to need extra love and attention lately and I loved that I was able to take her to do something special that she has really wanted to do. 

...for date nights. With busy season in full swing, it seems that is the only time I get any one on one with my hubby.

giving thanks...

I have so much to be thankful for.

Especially this year!

I am pretty sure a list won't fully cover it all.

But it is a start...

I am thankful, grateful and blessed...

...for my health.

I had a serious health scare this year and although I feel like I was good at holding back the fear until there was actually something to worry about, it was terrifying. I am grateful it turned out to be nothing serious.

...for my little family.

they are my life, my world and my every breath is for them.

...for my husband.

he works so hard to make sure we are taken care of. he has to balance so much in his life and he does it for our little family. I would not change my life with him for anything.

...for my parents.

my dad has been in the hospital and it has been scary to see his health decline and to actually think about the fact that I won't always have my parents with me on earth.

...for my extended family.

I love living so close to my husbands family, they are a pretty amazing family. and it has been an amazing getting to see so much of my family this year.

...for adoption.

this path has made my life more beautiful than I could have ever imagined for myself. because of this miracle I am a mother.

...for our amazing birth families.

I sometimes have to pinch myself with how enriched my life is to know these special people. their sacrifice is my joy. and to love them and my babies is the only way to thank them enough. because of them I am a mother.

...for the gospel.

without it I would be in a very deep, dark place. because of the gospel I can find joy in my sorrows.

...for my Heavenly Father.

I have no doubt he has gifted me my life. that he knows and loves me in every way possible. that his hand has guided me through so many things.

...for my Savior.

he has done everything for ME.

...for the Temple.

I get my family FOREVER. I want nothing less for the family I have worked so hard for and I want nothing less for my children.

...for my needs met.

I have a beautiful, warm home, food in my pantry, a car to get around, insurance to help cover medical costs, opportunities to make wonderful memories with my family. No one needs any more than that to make them happier. 

...for a new day.

to wake up every morning and be alive, to be able to live my life. to be able to start new every day and try to be a better, person, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

...for tender mercies and answered prayers.

they are real! I am living proof! I am reminded everyday of these in my life and could not be more grateful.

Things I love...

...the smell of homemade bread cooking in the oven.

...simple prayers answered.

...talking to my husband about my troubles and thoughts.

...tight hugs and kisses from my kids.

...when my kids show  concern and love for each other.

...falling asleep to my  sweet husband holding me every night.

...making memories for my kids.

...when my husband does something around the house to help without me asking.

...watching the smiles on my kids' and husband's faces.

...homemade granola cereal for breakfast.

...eating  roasted  veggies.

...sunny  fall days.

...when my kids AREN'T sick.

...knowing how our kids' birth parents are doing.

...my babies.

...for my health.

...taking treats to friends.

...adoption.

feeling loved...

This year it is my goal to be better at documenting our life. I usually only get around to blogging about things I have taken pictures of. But there is more to our life that is between the picture taking.

I have to say that in our ten plus years of marriage we/I haven't been all that great at letting others serve us. I am still not that great at it. But I really love when people are thoughtful towards me or my family. They just do something nice, just because! It reminds me that I am not alone and I am loved. And that always feels good.

Just since yesterday afternoon, three people/families have done something very thoughtful for our family. Not only that, but they have all been from our Ward family.

Late yesterday afternoon someone knocked on our door. An older lady from our Ward was standing there with a blanket in her hand. After letting her in and sitting to talk with her, she told us why she had the blanket and that it was for Mac. Since Hubs has been called as EQ President he has enjoyed going and taking treats and visiting the families in our Ward to get to know them better. He always takes Mac with him, because people are more willing to let him in and to teach Mac service. Also Mac LOVES to go to other peoples houses. Anyway, Hubs and Mac had gone to visit this lady and her family. While they were there Mac had found a blanket that belonged to her granddaughter and just attached himself right to it. Her son who does not live with them had made it and he happened to be on the phone with someone at the house at the time. He was told about how much Mac loved it. When he found this out, he made a blanket just for Mac and sent it to them to give to Mac. He even stitched his name in it and a heart and the year. I was astounded at the thoughtfulness and generosity of this lady, her son and their entire family.

A little bit later, I got a text from someone I had never gotten one from before. It was my visiting teacher. I have only talked to her once (and she is the nicest lady) and she has never come to visit, so I was a little shocked. She asked if she could stop by in a few hours to drop something off for me. She came later and had a cute little gift bag with some fun goodies in it. She stayed and talked and played with my kids and it was just a very sweet visit.

Then today when we arrived at church, I was just getting out of the car and a lady from our Ward (whom I am not sure I have ever actually talked to before) walks up to me and says sorry this is so late and hands me a card and told me I could just put it in the car for now. I honestly thought it was a Christmas card and told her thank you and put it on the seat of the car and hurried and got my kids out of the car and into Sacrament meeting before it started. After church when we got in the car I opened the card before I left the parking lot and it had a $100 check in it. I was a bit shocked and confused! The card said that she had failed to give me a shower gift for Oak and she wanted me to spend the money on Mac and Oak or put it in their college fund. No one has ever randomly given us money before and I could think of a ton of people who are in more need of the money than us.

These three things all happened in less than 24 hours. I am just in shock at the thoughtfulness of others, especially when I barely know them. It is such a great reminder of my Heavenly Fathers love for me and my family. And he knows us and knows what we need and want.

Giving Thanks...

I am grateful to know how truly blessed beyond measure I am. And I didn't want this day to go by with out sharing those blessings with you.

I am grateful...

01.  for my beautiful family

02.  for the Temple and the Priesthood that allow me to have them forever.

03.  that we get to grow our family through adoption.

04.   for the Birth Families of my two beautiful children.

05.  for all Birth Families and the great sacrifice they make for their babies.

06.  for my husband who works so hard for our family.

07.  for all that is provided for us from Hubs' hard work.

08.   that I get to stay home with my babies every day.

09.  that I get to be the mother to my beautiful babies.

10.  that we were able to spend Thanksgiving with my brother and his family and my parents.

11.   to get to see so many friends and family while visiting Utah.

12.   that we are able to go the Temple with my family tomorrow when my nephew goes through for the first time.

13.  for my knowledge and testimony of the restored gospel.

14.  for a living Prophet to lead and guide us.

15.  for my Savior and Redeemer.

16.  for my Heavenly Father who knows me and listens and answers my prayers.

17.  to live in a wonderful neighborhood with wonderful neighbors and friends.

18.  that my children and husband love me.

19.   that we live so close to so much family.

20.  to feel gratitude in my life every day.

I know so many of you have taken the time this month to think about and even write down the things you are grateful for. But I challenge you to sit down daily, weekly, monthly and write down what you are grateful for at that moment. You will be blessed with a grateful heart that will truly change your attitudee and life.

lucky Mama...

Everyday, amidst the chaos,

 I consider myself one lucky Mama

 to be able to

kiss,

play with,

tickle,

laugh with,

squeeze,

snuggle,

take care of 

and look at these two beautiful babies!

And everyday I am grateful for Heavenly Father's plan for me!

Laundry and gratitude...

Today these go hand in hand for me. I really dread the laundry, just as most do. But this morning it was different for me. It took me 30 minutes to spot clean Mac's clothes and spray-n-wash and scrub the collars and cuffs of Hubs's 6 dress shirts. Usually I would get so frustrated and annoyed, but today I realized while I was spraying and scrubbing, that I was more than happy to do this for my boys, and I was utterly grateful for the opportunity I have to serve my son and husband in this capacity. It is a complete privilege. I know crazy huh?

In the 30 minutes I was doing all of this I felt grateful that I was scrubbing the collar and cuffs of Hubs's dress shirts because it reminded me that I have a husband who works everyday really hard to support his family and make sure that we have everything we need, and also that my husband is a worthy priesthood holder who willingly goes to church every Sunday, he partakes in the sacrament, he has a testimony, he is willing to serve the Lord to his greatest capacity. He is completely devoted to me and our children.  How lucky I am that I have a sweet little boy that is mine to keep forever and that he is here with me getting his clothes dirty by being a kid and having fun. I am so lucky that a special young lady has trusted enough to care for the child she carried for 9 months. How lucky I am for all of these things.

I don't know exactly what got into me, except that I am more aware of the little things in my life to be happy about since I have been doing my Grateful Sunday posts.

I AM BLESSED BEYOND WORDS!

So VERY Thankful...

EVERYDAY!

I love thinking of those things that I am THANKFUL for and that bless my life...

• For my beautiful LITTLE FAMILY that I get to spend eternity with.
• For my sweet, amazing, hardworking, HUSBAND.
• For the most perfect LITTLE BOY on this earth.
• For the ANGEL who brought him into this world and into our arms, selflessly.
• For the gift of ADOPTION that blesses so many lives.
• To be surrounded by FAMILY AGAIN.
• For the GOSPEL that brings us so much happiness.
• For the TEMPLE that has made my family ETERNAL and brought us blessings beyond measure.
• For the LOVE of my SAVIOR.
• For a LIVING PROPHET to lead and guide us.
• For my husband's JOB and the stability it brings in these hard times.

LIFE IS SO GOOD!

THANK YOU!

Hubs and I would really like to say thank you to all of those who commented or emailed us with their love, support and encouragement for our journey towards adoption.

Very soon we will also be mailing and emailing a formal letter out to all those that we know. Which is also going to be very hard and a very big step for us, but our social worker thought that we needed to take an extra step towards being advocates for ourselves even if it may be uncomfortable for us. So we feel like these steps are the uncomfortable ones that are needed to help make us parents.

Lately, I feel as though I have had a lag in my hope and faith for this trial to come to an end. (That will happen after 6 years of hoping and praying for a baby.) But telling you all has rejuvenated my faith, and all though we were actually approved to adopt back in February, for the first time since then, I actually feel like it may happen sooner than I could or would imagine. I feel like I need to prepare myself for a baby now instead of waiting for that hopeful day when we find out a birthmother would like to meet us. Every time I think of this moment I get choked up with excitement, and usually end up in tears of shear joy wanting that day to come very soon.

A friend of my good friend Emily left a very sweet comment with a very cool link to one of her friends who had talked about adoption in one of her posts. It is very sweet and loving towards the subject of adoption. I encourage all of you to check it our here. Also I have added some other links on the side bar that have to do with adoption, please check those out also.