It's a GREAT day to be alive!

I know you have all be anxiously awaiting my last post of the month, concluding my month of gratitude, but somehow I have a feeling this isn't going to be my last gratitude entry. I spent the majority of my day sorting through boxes.. Not, just any old junk box, that you stuffed under your bed last year, and have been ignoring. No, these boxes are full of genealogy.

When I was growing up, there was one thing my grandmother loved more than cooking, or her grandchildren, it was genealogy. My grandparents had an entire room dedicated to this, not to mention the 3 computer, and 2 newspaper scanners-you know the kind at the library that are really fun to play around with. Yes, it was an obsession for her. I even remember not even really being allowed in the genealogy room, cause heaven forbid any of us kids messed something up. Needless to say, I've spent the last two days sitting on my living room floor sorting through boxes, pictures, and thousands of hand written notes that my grandmother scratched out all her thoughts. I cried a little as I opened the first box, and I could smell that room again, the dust, and old paper smell. I felt as if I were standing in that little room again staring at the stacks of paper.

I love that my grandmother kept so many things, I am pretty sure, every letter sent and received in regards to her heritage was kept, not to mention hundreds of pictures, of faces I don't even recognize. Or how she managed to keep my little doodles from when I was 3, she even dated them. Now, obviously I don't have a lot of room for my grandmothers things, and a lot of unnecessary books will be donated to good-will. But, I managed to make a huge dent and went from a dozen boxes to about 8. In my defense, she has a lot of binders, chuck full of tons of stuff.

My grandmother was amazing, and up til her memory began to fail her, along with her health. She truly accomplished so many things. I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined I would be sitting her surrounded by her work, attempting to make sense of my family history nearly 20 years after my earliest memory of that genealogy room.

Before I came to earth, I made a decision to join a family, to be apart of a lineage, and I can honestly say, I am so blessed, and grateful to be me. I am grateful to have a testimony in my faith, to know I am sealed to my husband for eternity, and I am so grateful to know that although my infertility has hindered me from having my own children, one day in the near future, I will kneel across the alter once again with my husband, and we will be sealed to our adopted children. I can be mad at my infertility, or I can rejoice in the knowledge, that whether they are my biological children or not, I will be sealed to them forever.

Be thankful to be you, for the people in you life, and for every breath you take. You are able to walk, talk, express yourself, and to love unconditionally.

I am so glad I took this month to remind myself what I am truly grateful for, and how blessed I am in so many areas of my life, and for once, I truly feel that my dreams will be accomplished, and more than ever to I feel self worth, and comfort. Thanks for helping me on my journey, and I as far as I can tell, it's going to be a wonderful year.

count your blessings

It is almost the end of January.. Have you made the start of your year, everything you wanted it to be? Did, you stick to working out, or organizing your life, home, time? Or did you manage to let those things fall by the way-side, once again? I can say, thus far, I managed to slip a little on one of my goals, working out is hard business.. But I am proud of myself, that I managed to get on my blog, almost everyday and type words together, and made some sort of interest of myself.

At the beginning of this month we were looking up, Jon was going to be taking the boarder patrol exam, and I was going to school. We had a plan for things, even if we were just getting by, or clipping coupons, we had a plan. Til, Jon came home early one night from work, and announced he had been fired. It all kind of came crashing in at once. We took it in stride, and started looking for more work. January, has been kind of a stinker of a month, and I know it hasn't been just for our family. It seems as though, the beginning of this year, is turning into something that weighs heavy on the hearts of everyone. Lost jobs, hours, wages, dampers dreams that so many had. Instead of feeling rejuvenated, and eager to the year, looking forward with bright eyes, we are now forced to covers our faces, and shy away from change.

Don't let it be that way, don't allow yourself to feel like the world has turned on you. For once, look up. Even if the darkness is suffocating, and you feel that giving up is a better solution. You that there is an end, and a light there waiting for you. We have so much to be grateful for, even if the only thing we have in our pockets are a couple of peanuts, and some lint. Money isn't our happiness, unfortunately we need it, in order to purchase the things of necessity, or a place to live. But, happiness is an emotion, and last time I checked, Walmart doesn't put emotions on the shelf for purchase.

The Lord has instructed his people to count their blessings, to recognize the small things in our life, that bring us the most joy. Once a week I sit around the kitchen table with my best friends, and their husbands, and we spend hours laughing, and enjoying each others company. Those moments, I truly feel my happiest.

So for today, I am grateful for everything... I am grateful for having trials in my life, even if I am so upset at that moment, and I can feel the stress start to wrap it's long skinny fingers around my neck. I get down on my knees and I ask the Lord to bring be comfort, and to bless me in my efforts. Don't be afraid to ask your neighbor for a cup of sugar, or for prayers that are truly needed. Find joy in journey, and strive to serve whenever you can.

I am grateful for unconditional love in my life, for dirty dishes in the sink from a meal well cooked, or from dirty footprints left by the friends who enter my home. For everything that allows me to feel alive, and reminds me that there are more important things then having the best of everything, or the shiniest toy on the playground. I love my life, and even if at the end of January, neither my husband nor I have a job, but we have enough to get by, pay our bills, and enough love to make all the dark days that much brighter.

It may be the end of January, and we are slowly making a dent into the new year, but you can still make those goals you set, better yet, you can set new goals, and remember you are never alone, for the Lord will always hear, and answer your prayers.

boxes, and packing tape

Today, I spent the day with my bestie J, once again, can I just tell you I love this girl. Seriously, I think we have a better relationship, than we did in highschool, and we were pretty dang awesome back then. I mean for crying out loud, people thought we were twins.. It didn't help that we walked around in our dance uniforms, and wore headbands that had our names on it.. and since they both start with "J", it just added to the twin reputation.

Well, my wonderful friend, and her dear husband, are moving, like I informed you last time. I have been given the great opportunity to help them out. Yes, I volunteered for this, and Yes, it's totally worth it.

I decided to snag a quick pic of the plates as we were packing them up. J loves these plates, and I can say, I love them too.


Now, I just want you all to know, I am not responsible for the box picture, that was all J and her hubby. It was rather entertaining, and the fact that B picked up his burrito off the coffee table, and stuck it up underneath the box, and continued eating like nothing was going on. Yeah... about that.


Yeah, it turned out to be one heck of day, I ended up with stained fingers from wrapping all the breakable stuff in newspaper, and smelling of grapefruit cleaner. I know moving can be a pain in the you know what. But, when you have good company, it makes it all that much better.

So for today, I am grateful for opportunities to serve, I love giving to those around me, and knowing that the little things I do, HOPEFULLY mean the most. It is rewarding, and sometimes just what you need when looking for a few blessings from the Lord. So, if I ever ask to babysit, your child, and or small animal.. I do mean good, I love helping out, and even if it's a little back breaking, it always makes my day.

pictures I promised

So, I am a little late on the follow-up but give me break, I've had a busy two days. Enjoy! and I realized as I was putting them up... I am in love with vertical photographs. Don't judge me.

Just so you are aware, this is the Mt. Timpanogos Temple, in American Fork, UT. I love this temple, it truly is a sight to see as you drive through Utah valley. It is the tallest thing here... well besides our mountains.




This is my bestie J, it's awesome to have a friend who has the same interest as you do. Man I got lucky with my friends!




These last two, are of a bird house in my backyard. If there is one thing my dear Mommy-in-law loves, that is her birdhouses. Needless to say, I love them too!

what kinda jerk does that?

So I spent the day with my bestie J, I love her to death, and I seriously am so blessed to have both her and my friend BB in my life. When we all get together with our husbands, and it's just so much fun, I wish the night were a little longer..

So this afternoon, we spent some time taking photo's, I wish we had spent more time doing so, because I love my camera, and it's been a while since we have really gone out and taken photos. I will have to post some of those after this one, since they are already up on my other computer.

After taking photos, picking up some moving boxes for my friend J, who just informed today, that they got the apartment they were waiting for! Yeah for them! We then stopped for gas, which is where the title and the picture below come from... Yes, poor J, she went to go get gas, and someone had locked that little pin in place, the one that basically holds the handle to pump it's self... It was open, and sprayed all over the side of her car.. So although you can't see it, and it isn't nearly as funny as when she picked up the squeegy and was wiping off the side of her car. It still is entertaining, and we decided that karma will settle this.. really? what kinda jerk does that??


After getting gas, J got lucky and found this awesome Pram, and decided she had to have it, that and she has an awesome unnamed family member who was willing to gift her $100 for it.. But since we had to drive an hour to get there, we were able to get it for $80. SCORE!

It's super cute, and I cannot wait to see what she does with it!

Also, TMI moment, I am doing my lady business this week... I was thinking about it,all things considered, even if I am infertile, at least the Lord is being nice enough to grant me some peace of mind... No mood swings, pms, cramps, or bloating... ahh, yes. just perfect. Thanks God, for being so kind to me, well sort of.. But still, I appreciate it.

So for today... I am grateful for

*best friends
*long car rides
*yummy twizzlers
*moving boxes

and last but not least, moments of grace from God, it may be rather pathetic, but I am grateful, that my periods are not as miserable as they could be.

Oh I had a really great idea, I think it would be really awesome, if on February 1st all my bleeps, did one post on gratitude. I challenge you to find 5 things that you are grateful for, and blog about it. Let me know, cause I would love to know what you are grateful for!

I'm only human

So, on days like today, where time seems to move just a little bit slower, and it seems like there is really nothing to do.. I sit... and I day dream.

I just to think about what it would be like if you had a baby, or a child for that matter. I get excited about it, and then I think about my infertility, and then I get a little sad. But, as time goes by, I am slowly starting to think more positively towards the aspect of adoption. I like to think about adoption, I like to think about that dream I had a few months ago, obviously very vivid, and inspirational.

When I was growing up, I remember saying "I don't want to adopt, I'd rather have my own biological children".. Yeah, I think if I could travel through space, I'd kick myself, all things considered I never thought I would be one of those gals standing on the outside looking in. It sucks, yeah, but honestly, I feel like my attitude is improving about the whole situation, and I am just starting to understand, that although my plan for being a mother may have changed, the ultimate goal has not.

Tonight, while I was babysitting, and the little boy I tend to was sitting on my lap, we were watching Monsters Inc. Jon had attempted to get little D, to sit with him again like last week, and little D, was haven't none of that, and that's when I say the little ting of jealousy flash across my sweet hubby's face. I turned to Jon, and asked him if this made him wanted children, Jon blushed, and looked away, and held up his fingers telling me just a little bit. I think, this is truly one of the first times, since we have really put an effort to have children, that Jon has shown that much interest. I truly feel, he is ready to be a dad, and I had to joke back tears, like I am doing now.

So, for today, I am grateful to be a "parent" I may not have any children right now, biological or not. But in small ways, every now and then, I get to show love to one of God's little spirits. Sitting on the ground, terribly uncomfortable, my back aching, but little D, was just enjoying himself, and rather loved sitting on my lap. I cannot wait for my children to just enjoy sitting on my lap, watching Monsters Inc. with Jon and me. I love them already, and they aren't even here, yet.

So, for every time you want to pull your hair our, cause the kids are driving you crazy, just remember there are so many women who would die for that. We are truly blessed, and I am reminded often that the Lord only gives us trials he knows we can handle, and sometimes open a window, to give a little glance of heaven.

It's about LOVE

So, I was surfing the web, get my blog-stalk on. I just recently started following this blog. Unfortunately before I could even get addicted, she posted a blog stating she was ending her blog.. I am kind of sad. But seriously if you want a good life, and a brief idea of how SOME Mormon women act, you should read her blog. You should know however, it is completely made up, and it's just a mock-blog, more or less.

Well, why I was browsing her blog, I noticed a few buttons. Family looking to adopt. I know I already was showing support for one gal-pal looking to adopt, but I thought, why not set up a page, and allow anyone who is looking to adopt the chance to have their button up. So, if you, or someone you know is looking to adopt, and they have a button, send them to my page, tell them to drop me a line, and I will get your button up.

I think it would be awesome to perhaps highlight an adopting couple every now and then, and want to really help get the word out.

I know one day, that my husband will be that couple, the oh-so cute blog, with our story, and our button. So, I figured if I want the love shared for us, I would to share the lovin' for everyone else!