November 10: Crazy Carolyn

Can your Grandma make a mean casserole, play Klondike Rummy, and beat you in Scrabble?  Mine can!  Grandma Carolyn is one of my best friends.  When I get an evening to spare, I usually end up at her house where I know I'll be stuffed with food, my kids will be spoiled rotten, and I will most likely be getting competitive with cards.  We are so blessed to live close to Grandma and have a relationship with her. 

Tonight we got to treat her to dinner at our house, and it was a very fun change!  (For the record, I'm certain that I didn't cheat and make more than one "buy" during the last hand of Klondike Rummy.  I think the dealer (ahem, Carolyn) dealt me an extra card.  Therefore, I should have won rather than being disqualified.  It was dealer error, after all!)

November 9: Good Reads

I have been reading a book entitled The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  I spent an hour trying to read through tears this afternoon.  The book has left me very touched, with a renewed commitment to serve others.  I love it.  I also love reading on a Kindle.

November 8: Friends

I have no picture for today.  I know!  But that's just the way it is.

I'm feeling overcome with emotion tonight as I am thinking of my friends.  I am blessed to be strengthened by some of the most amazing women in this life.  From great cooks, patient mothers, OCD organizers, good laughs, hard runs, and beautiful testimonies- my friends are a huge part of who I am.

I learned early on in my marriage how much friends meant to me, so since then I have always tried hard to keep in touch with people and nurture those relationships.  I'm so glad I did.  So glad I DO!  While it's not always easy, it is always worth it.

So, to my friends- thank you for being you, and for loving me.  I am very humbled to know you all and to call you friend.

November 7: Work

I have a husband that isn't afraid of a little work.  Sunup to sundown he's plugging in the hours, the miles, and the math homework.  He even finds time to show his little man a thing or two about what it means to be the man of the house- yard work.  It's a good thing.

November 6: Perfect

The Robinson Family:  James, Brad, Miles, Jenn, John (in lap), Allison

Sweet baby John Clark Robinson was blessed today.  I love this family.  I love that the priesthood power is real and allows us to all be sealed together as families forever.  I love that we got to be there to watch this little boy be blessed by that same power- with all of those Melchezidek Priesthood holders forming a circle of protection around this perfect little being.  I love this sweet little boy.

November 5: The Seasons

Living in a place with four distinct seasons is a must for me.  I love the springing tulips in April, I always get excited about warm summer nights, fall takes my breath away with its beauty, and winter brings a calm and stillness that I couldn't do without.  The first snow is always magic.

November 4: Sleeping Beauty

When Annie was a newborn we would nap together every day; she would fit perfectly snuggled on my chest as I lay on the couch.  Today I got to nap with her again and it was chicken soup for my soul.  I was even lucky enough to slip away and take a picture without her waking.

November 3: A bit of Serendipity

Dallas leaves for school by 6:15 AM or earlier every day.  Today, he slept in.  That means we got to cuddle, eat breakfast, and have family prayer together before he left for school.  It was a very fortunate accident.

November 2: Plenty

This month I have unexpectedly found myself out of a babysitting job.  This was something we relied on to make things work while Dallas is in school.  As I was doing a bit of shopping yesterday and reorganizing our food storage I realized how much food we actually have.  I'm so grateful!  I feel like we have plenty to get us through until I can find some kids to watch again.  This is definitely a blessing from our Father in Heaven and a blessing for listening to the words of the prophet and preparing every needful thing.

To learn more about {The Gratitude Project} click here.

The Gratitude Project- Day 1

I'm a visual learner.  I have read Shakespeare's plays many many times.  The sad thing is, I don't remember them unless I've seen them.  I don't relate to the words or feel the emotion unless I'm staring at Juliet's face and seeing her fear of what could happen to her life if the potion she is about to drink doesn't work as it should.  Seeing something makes it real and gives it substance for me.

Enter {The Gratitude Project}.

I'm working on having a gratitude attitude this month- as most of you are.  In doing so, I'm taking my gratitude in a visual form.  I want to really feel why I am so grateful for that particular thing at that particular moment.  For the month of November I will be taking a picture every single day of what I am most grateful for.  I'm not sure where this is going to take me, but, as they say, here goes nothing...

November 1~ Sierra Lynn

She loves my kids. SO. MUCH. She made time in the middle of Pharmacy school at the U, work, and remodeling her house to come up last night just to play with my babies. Thank you Sierra- we love you.