29 Days of Gratitude - THE FINAL ENTRY

Today I am thankful for GRATITUDE. I know I've mentioned it before, but I can't tell you how nice it has been waking up every morning and actively looking for something to blog about. I don't know, maybe now it will be easier to recognize my little blessings as they come instead of having to making myself realize what has been sitting in front of me for so long. I remember going to a fireside once where the speaker said that he drove to work every morning enduring a 40 minute commute each way. He decided that he would turn off the radio and during that morning commute he would think of things to be grateful for. I found it interesting that as he was doing this, he mentioned that it become a prayer of sorts and this morning ritual would lift his day so much. Whether it be something small (maybe insignificant to some) or obvious it really has made a difference in my day's outcome. I have found myself while not always cheerful, at least a little more pleasant. This whole project has really reinforced my gratitude for the Lord and all He blesses us with. Continually. Every little thing He has given us can be for our good and happiness. Thanks everyone for bearing with my blog!

29 Days of Gratitude - Parts XXVII and XXVIII

Yes I know I neglected yesterday and it isn't even the weekend. But we had a long, wonderful day that did inspire my Part XXVII. So, without much further ado:

PART XXVII: Cameras of the digital sort. Yesterday some of my family and I were able to go to the zoo. Leah and I accompanied two of my sisters, my dad, and my sister-in-law... along with 5 of my nieces and nephews. We had a blast! Well, at least I did. I think everyone else did too. Unfortunately, see my previous post, our camera is on the fritz. Because of the ridiculous battery charge (I had brand new charged batteries) I didn't even get one picture taken before my camera told me BATTERIES DEPLETED. Leah and I have been to the zoo twice before but this was the first time she understood animals and really could enjoy it. And I didn't get ONE stinking picture out of it. bummer. So, it renewed my thankfulness for good working digital cameras. I miss having one.

PART XXVIII: The anticipation of a forthcoming weekend. Starting on Sunday. Here is why I like each day of the week. SUNDAY: This really is the end of the weekend to me because we have to go to bed at a reasonable time for work the next day. But I love Sundays; seeing family, going to church, playing games, etc. MONDAY: This has to be my favorite day of the week. Our apartment has officially gone 2 days without being vacuumed (I love seeing those lines). So Monday morning is my sparkle day. I go throughout the house sparkling the faucets, sinks, counters and mirrors. I also vacuum. It is so nice being in a clean and quiet place. Also, one day closer to Friday. TUESDAY: Matt goes to basketball at 8:30 these nights. Which means I get to put Leah down for the night and just do whatever I want. No one is here, no phones ringing, no requests being made. Just me and whatever I want to do. Oh and it's one day closer to Friday. WEDNESDAY: Once again I do my apartment sparkling. Including, of course, the vacuuming. Yes! And now we only have one more day until Friday. THURSDAY: Third favorite day of the week. It's the day before Friday! And I try to find a project that I haven't organized or needs organizing. FRIDAY: Definitely my favorite day of the week. This day is my deep cleaning day and it's the first day of the weekend. It's like the most perfect day ever. Clean home AND no work tomorrow! There are of course other things that make me love each and every one of these days. I'm just focusing on the obvious. Sometimes I don't like to tell people what makes me excited for a day. I love that feeling of knowing something that only I know. It's like a little ball of energy inside myself that's just for me. It makes me smile inside.

May I Solicit Your Help?

Matt and I have an issue... we need a new camera. Desperately. Our needs are only recreational as we mostly take pictures of Leah and our families. So a nice camera with good response time is in order. Any ideas? How do you like your cameras? What cameras do you NOT like? Help us please!

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XXVI

Wow! Is it already the 26th? Today's blog will be a blog about car washes. I think most of you can echo my feelings for a clean car. Especially living here in Utah where we get Salt Snow. I think this year I washed the car more than any previous winter (about 4 times- pathetic I know). So having a freshly washed car only does so much considering the 2 days that it didn't snow. Even without the snow the car was parked in front of our apartment building, so the morning frost would muck it up again. Back to being thankful: I love a car door that you can touch and open without being grossed out by whatever gross germs may have just soaked into your skin. I love being able to recognize my clean car amidst all the other dirty ones in the parking lot. And I LOVE being able to see out all of my windows. Not just the part that the windshield wipers clean, but the whole window.

29 Days of Gratitude - Parts XXIV and XXV

PART XXIV: My new candle. I received a candle from a coworker the other day and I am IN LOVE with it. The maker is Cachet and the smell is Clean Cotton.

PART XXV: Today I am grateful for the short month of February. For two reasons. One, it's that much closer to March, which is that much closer to Spring, which is that much closer to 78 degree weather. Second, it means I only do 29 days of gratitude rather than 30 or 31. Actually, all of you are probably more grateful for that. Only 4 more days of ramblings!

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XXIII

WENDY'S FRESCATA SANDWICHES: But alas, they've been discontinued. The picture isn't of my favorite sandwich but it's close.

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XXII

CLEANING AND LAUNDRY. I think I mentioned cleaning in an earlier post, but I am especially grateful for it, again, today. I just finished my weekly deep clean of the apartment. I used to do my deep clean on Saturdays (just like when I was growing up), but I moved it to Friday's a few months ago when I realized that I was spending too much time on the one free day Matt and I both have- cleaning. To me, there is nothing that feels so complete as vacuum lines and the sight of freshly folded laundry. I love the way my apartment smells the entire day like I just cleaned. It is so relaxing to sit down and play with Leah and not have anything in the back of my head saying, "There are dishes in the sink. The floor needs to be swept. The laundry isn't put away." This is the ultimate in relaxation to me.

29 Days of Gratitude: Parts XX-XXI

PART XX: 60 Minutes. Nope, not the television show but 60 minutes of time to myself. I can thank Tracy for this bit of gratitude. This is going to sound horrible, but when I only get a 60 minute nap out of Leah it ticks me off just a little bit. Most of the time I can count on 90 minutes or even 120 minutes. Sometimes I will even get 180 minutes to myself. So when I only get 60 minutes, I feel a little bit jipped (is that how that word is spelled?). But reading Tracy's post, once again, made me realize that I will only be at this stage in our family for a, comparatively, short while. Maybe someday Matt and I will make the decision to have another kid, and then another, and then another. Until I too, will get 5 voices in my head and am grasping for even 11 minutes to myself. Suddenly 60 minutes doesn't sound so bad. Thanks for the perspective Trace! Am I rubbing it in your face? I don't mean to.

PART XXI: Pre-renting. As many, if not all, of you know I am the leasing agent/manager for our apartment complex. Any time I have a vacancy come up I usually get it leased out within the first week of knowing about it. Occasionally I will take two weeks to fill the apartment. Not this month though. This month I have received one horrible application after another. Seriously people, check your credit so it isn't a surprise to you that I am declining your application! Well, I have one vacancy that will be available March 1. And do I have it rented out? NO! Due to the aforementioned complications, I still have one nagging vacancy nipping at the edge of my mind. In the 16 months I have worked here I have not lost ONE SINGLE DAY OF RENT. So, now I am very thankful for all the 16 months of pre-renting these apartments. Know anyone that needs a place to live?

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XIX

This morning I am thankful for Oreo's. And Double Stuf is the ONLY way to go. Matt introduced me to a new way of eating Oreo's that makes it so much easier.

1. Open Oreo package and smell of the chocolate and frosty goodness
2. Remove one Oreo
3. Stick fork in the frosting, just low enough that it secures the cookie but not so low that it breaks the frosting apart
4. Take impaled Oreo and soak in milk for 12-15 seconds. Side Note: Matt and I disagree on this point. He likes to soak the cookie until it practically falls off, I appreciate a slightly crunchy chocolate cookie.
   
5. Remove cookie from milk, let excess milk drip off.
6. Savor the cookie and all it's goodness. Really enjoy the film that gets on the roof of your mouth from the frosting and the little chocolate crumbs that gather at the corners of your mouth.
   

One More Thing

I found a really great VOTE MATCH QUIZ for those of you who don't know which lucky presidential candidate is going to get your vote. http://www.speakout.com/VoteMatch/senate2006.asp Here is the link. I found it pretty interesting. It's fairly in-depth and for the questions that you don't understand you can click on the highlighted area and get more information. Happy Voting!

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XVIII

Thanks, Amber for the tag, now it's a thing of gratitude, otherwise I would hate doing this. 6 'interesting' (that's in the eye of the beholder) habits or tidbits about me:

1. I really do not like the words ain't and nuther. First of all, nuther isn't even a word. It's a made up conjunction of the words -other- and -an-. Professional news anchors say this word. Are you kidding me? And ain't, what a great way to sound like an adolescent. Grow up, please.
   
2. I have to wear at least two shirts every single day, in the winter it is sometimes three. I always have to wear a tank top or camisole under my real shirt. I don't think I have strayed from this since 7th grade. Even if it is 90 degrees outside I will have a tank top on underneath my regular shirt.
   
3. I have become a reality t.v. something. Addict it too strong of a word but interested viewer it too benign.
   
4. My first car was a 1984 Toyota Supra. My family called it 'THE BOMB'. The car was handed down through many members of my family to finally rest on me. Where it's engine seized peacefully in September 2003 in the intersection at Van Winkle and 1300 East. I'm not quite sure if it was called 'THE BOMB' because it was brown and really ugly, or because it was such tank of a car that a bomb could drop on it and it would still survive. Either position was true. Just a few days ago I was thinking about that car. What a great car with it's digital dashboard (one of the first of it's kind), frog eye headlights, and fuzzy burgundy interior. I really loved that car. Ugly as sin, but a wonderful nonetheless.
5. Most decks of cards that Matt and I own are put away in order after every use. By suit (spade, heart, club, diamond) then number. I know... I have a habit.
6. My bed has only gone unmade once since April 16, 2000. Yes I remember that dates. April 15, 2000 I didn't make my bed because my brother Tyler was leaving for the airport on the way to Ukraine and I was in a rush. The next time I didn't make my bed was December 21, 2007. No good reason, I just forgot. Matt came home that night from work to change clothes, walked into the bedroom and I think he felt like he'd walked into someone else's house. I don't feel ready for the day unless my bed is made. When I was in school I always got up and made my bed AS SOON as my alarm went off.
   

Now I tag April, Amber, and John (he is not likely to read this anytime soon, but I would like him to do it anyway).

29 Days of Gratitude: Parts XV - XVII

Pardon my delay in the gratitude, it was a busy weekend.

Part XV: Days of Gratitude. After reading my sister-in-laws post on The Happiness project (which is posted as a link on the right side of our blog) I realized how much I have to be happy about. It's the little things. So as Part Fifteen I am grateful for gratitude. Without gratitude, and more specifically the 29 Days of Gratitude, it would be so easy to get complacent about all the normal things in my life. When it is actually all the normal things that make my life so wonderful. I really look forward to every morning waking up and finding one little thing to post about and think about and just be grateful for.

Part XVI: This entry is for my calling in church. I have been the primary chorister (between two wards) since October 2004. Now, anyone who knows me well knows that for the last year or so I have been more than fed up with this calling. Even to the point of talking to the bishop about a release (a talk which he seems to have forgotten about, it's alright, he's got a lot on his mind). At the beginning of this year our primary presidency held a leadership meeting in which each member of the presidency spoke about different aspects of teaching, etc. The meetings have always been... predictable in the past and this year was no surprise. So I was surprised as I was walking away from the meeting at the feeling of rejuvenation I felt. It's been nice to enjoy my calling again, something I haven't done since October of 2005. I am actually happy to prepare singing time every week, to teach the children new songs every month, and to help them learn the gospel through song. Music has such a resounding effect on people and I feel that teaching in the primary with song is one of the more effective ways to drive home the finer points of our gospel.

Part XVII: DVR. I really shouldn't have to say more than that, except THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XIV

The bottom picture is my older brother, Aaron and to the right is my other older brother, Tyler. I think every girl needs a big brother. I was just lucky and got two. Everyone knows what big brothers are for: teasing, teasing and more teasing (Aaron and Tyler used to say that it was written in the Big Brother Handbook). My sisters and I always got A LOT of teasing. But, along with that came two extremely generous brothers who would probably do anything for our family.

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XIII

I have 4 sisters- 2 older, and 2 younger- and I just love them. I, truly, have the most wonderful sisters a girl could ask for. It's always been interesting to me that we all grew up in the same family and yet we are all SO different. Sure, you can definitely tell we grew up in the same household and have similar traits along many lines, but we all have such different interests and fortes. For instance, Tracy and Lisa have incredible decorator's eyes. Tracy is determined and a go-getter. Lisa is Megan is such an artist. Whether she admits it or not, she really has a great talent for art. And Katie is a tender-heart when it comes to anything animal related, particularly marine wildlife. When we were younger someone killed a spider once and she was so disappointed in the killer of that spider. Of course we have not all been blessed with the ability to see a spider, walk up to the spider, pick up said spider, and release it into the wild. I love my sisters dearly and know that without each of their examples I wouldn't be who I am today. Each one of my sisters has inspired me in some way.

Random Happy Birthday Shout!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRAYDEN! My oldest nephew is 11 today!

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XIII

I have 4 sisters- 2 older, and 2 younger- and I just love them. I, truly, have the most wonderful sisters a girl could ask for. It's always been interesting to me that we all grew up in the same family and yet we are all SO different. Sure, you can definitely tell we grew up in the same household and have similar traits along many lines, but we all have such different interests and fortes. For instance, Tracy and Lisa have incredible decorator's eyes. Tracy is determined and a go-getter. Lisa is ridiculously creative. Megan is such an artist. Whether she admits it or not, she really has a great talent for art. And Katie is a tender-heart when it comes to anything animal related, particularly marine wildlife. When we were younger someone killed a spider once and she was so disappointed in the killer of that spider. Of course, we have not all been blessed with the ability to see a spider, walk up to the spider, pick up said spider, and release it into the wild. I love my sisters dearly and know that without each of their examples I wouldn't be who I am today. Each one of my sisters has inspired me in some way.

29 Days of Gratitude - Part XII

Thank you Tracy for my next gratitude topic. Boy do I love Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice cream. When I was little I would eat all the ice cream and chocolate chips and avoid the cookie dough until everything else was gone and if I accidentally got some cookie dough in a bite of ice cream I would spit it out. At the end I would have a whole PILE of cookie dough. My mom and grandpa always saved the best for last (which is why most of my family eats the outer rim of watermelon saving the inside part for the end - it's the best). Actually, while I do love cookie dough ice cream, my FAVORITE flavor is Coldstone's Cake Batter with raspberries. Oh my! So yummy!

29 Day of Gratitude - Part XI

How can you not be grateful for your mom and dad. Especially being a parent now, I really am starting to get a glimpse of everything they did for us growing up. My parents are phenomenal. They are extremely loving, kind, and accepting people. I feel that they really let each of their 7 kids grow to be individuals. They helped us to find and explore our own talents and they understand what each of us feel strongly about. Mom and dad have always been able to grow so much themselves while still staying true and strong to the values they believe in. I always knew what was important in their lives; they are incredible examples. Not only for me but also for my family. As grandparents to Leah they are loving, caring, and always willing to babysit. Oh and by the way, the hat my dad is wearing clearly was not his.

29 Days of Gratitude: Parts I - X

This morning I was thinking about how much I sort of dislike this silly little holiday we call Valentine's Day. I know a lot of people agree with me that it is just another excuse for retailers to mark up prices and bank on people's sentimentality. I won't say that it is a pointless holiday, many people DO love it, but it's just not for me.

I decided to change my perception of Valentine's Day from that of love and romance to gratitude. Which I know we celebrate with Thanksgiving and Christmas, just humor me. I thought I would take each day out of the month and detail one thing daily that I am grateful for. Since it is the 11th I am playing catch up.

PART I: I love it when I can get Leah to eat something (anything really). The best part is when she eats her Crunch Berries in the morning (I know, a far cry from the healthier option of Cheerios, but she has to eat and she won't eat anything else for breakfast right now) and I go into the bathroom to do my hair. What I usually hear are a bunch these: "Mmmm," followed by, "Yummy," and ending with, "Thank you Mom!" Leah's gratitude is my gratitude.

PART DEUX: Cleaning. Any sort of cleaning - minus toilets and windows.

PART III: The feeling after cleaning. Don't you just love sitting down to a clean looking, clean smelling house? Freshly vaccumed carpets, sparkled sinks, beds made, t.v. off... baby asleep. Let's face it . The feeling only lasts until Leah wakes up and takes her toys out again, but I'll take it.

PART IV: Going to plays, musicals, symphonies, choral performances (including, but not limited to: BYU choirs singing anything, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, barbershop quartet specials on PBS, primary songs, nursery songs, you get the picture).


PART V: Opening windows in the Spring. I cannot wait until it is 70-ish degrees. The smells, sounds, and clarity that comes with the opening of a window is so refreshing.

PART VI: Books and reading. I love to read. I have always loved to read. Matt and I could talk forever about books together. We love to discuss different points of view and we love to get 'lost' in a good plot line.

PART VII: Online bill pay. Have you ever heard of such a wonderful thing? Just set up the account, and move the money every month! So simple and easy to keep track of!

PART VIII: The sound of our fish tank. It used to be that I enjoyed looking at the fish just as much as listening to the water. Well, our fish didn't like us as much and have all died. Whatever. We almost took the tank down, as it has only plastic plants and a few bubble stones in it, but I couldn't stand the thought of not having that relaxing and faint trickling sound of water running through the background.

PART IX: Chocolate dipped strawberries. Need I say more? I have so little self control when I am near chocolate dipped strawberries.

PART X: This list couldn't be complete without listing the people that I am so grateful for. My family. Maybe the next few PARTS will be dedicated to them. I'll start with Leah and Matt. I am so content with our little family. Our life is simple. We love each other and help each other. I never thought life could be so fulfilling. And I'm sure I'll feel that way every time we hit another milestone or add to our family. Between Leah's sweet and tangy personality and Matt's acceptance, hard work, humor, intelligence... the list goes on and on... we have it pretty good and function fairly well as a family unit. Can't complain. Nope, definitely can't complain.

One Step Closer

I've done it! I've found another way to keep Leah happy while still keeping my sanity. You know all of those toys that you have for your kids that have sound boxes? All the ones that you bought knowing it would irritate you to no end but you had to get it anyway? I've found a solution!

Leah loves loves loves two of these such toys immensely; her piano and her baseball toy are the culprits. I think these toys are very cute and fun and of course, Leah does as well. The piano especially seems to intrigue her as she has learned that one of the settings will let her push a button once and music will play for 10 minutes (no joke - this is not a parent friendly toy). I can't find it in myself to just put the toy away, she loves it so much and she dances to the music.
So, I had an epiphany today while I was organizing my linen closet.

I happened upon some white felt fabric and some mailing tape. "Together," I thought, "these two would make a lovely team." And they have! Just by cutting out a small square of felt and taping it on to the speaker of the sound box I have effectively dulled the music enough that I can tune it out but not so much that Leah can't play with it in the same manner as before.

Just one step closer to saving my sanity.

The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle

This book is a silly little book that I have been avoiding to read to Leah for a long time. I don't love the illustrations and, let's face it, the title is less that exciting. But, THE OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A VINEGAR BOTTLE led me to a minor breakthrough today.

The book chronicals an old woman who - duh - lives in a vinegar bottle, upon pitying her living situation and wishing for a new one a fairy happens by and tells her to turn around three times, close her eyes, go to bed and, "In the morning see what you shall see." The old woman does this and finds that in the morning she has received her much wished for home. The book goes through this process three or four times as the old woman is never sufficiently content with her home (she ends up living in a castle stating that she should be Empress of the Universe). After wishing to be the Empress, the fairy puts her back into her vinegar bottle, "If she's not content here, she won't be content there. After all, happiness comes from the heart, not from the house."

These last sentences are what interested me the most. Matt and I have been married for 3 1/2 years now and have moved 3 times. I've decided that I have a tendency to want the greener grass on the other side. Ever since we moved into this apartment I have made it my goal to find us a house. Now, do we need a house? It would be nice, but no. Should we buy a house? Well, we probably could but our current living conditions are suitable if not ample. I realized, reading this book, that our living structures are not what make houses livable. I keep thinking that I can finally relax when we have a house - our own space. I don't need a mortgage and a yard to make my life wonderful. My life is wonderful. Our cozy apartment is filled with love and acceptance and that's what makes a house a home. I need to be content here, so I can be content anywhere.