happy thanksgiving

The turkey is roasting, the rolls are rising, dishes are (for the moment) done, the fire is blazing, big kids are skiing, and the girls and I are headed out for a Thanksgiving walk in the sun.

My heart is full and mere words cannot describe the gratitude I feel towards my family, the gospel, and the beauty which I have been so blessed to observe each day.

I am content . . .

so grateful

It's November and I would be amiss not to post at least one "gratitude" post.

So here it is . . .


Salt Lake City finally has it's very own TITLE NINE store and yes, I was so ecstatic that I visited this weekend before the sign was even up.

And, to make life even sweeter, ATHLETA will open in 9 days at City Creek (yep, just sent in my RSVP for the pre-opening event).

Alright, call me shallow, but I don't really "shop" and to have my TWO favorite stores arrive in Salt Lake within a few weeks of each other is nothing short of miraculous.

Truly grateful :).

cheers

A few days ago while on an early morning walk with Lucy, I couldn't stop thinking about all the people who, each day, make my life that much better.  You know, those friends/acquaintances/strangers who take a moment to ask about your day, who go out of their way to accommodate your schedule, or just greet you with a friendly "hello, how's your day?"  People you just want to raise a glass and say, "cheers to you for making my life that much sweeter."

Before I knew it, a formidable list was growing and my heart was filled with gratitude for these random people who had brightened my days that week.  Something begins to happen when we recognize even the simplest of gestures and make a mental note of appreciation - suddenly our lives are FILLED with these moments of other people reaching out to us and our families without even realizing that they are making a difference . . .

Cheers to people who:

• Take time out of their busy lives to come to support my children's activities, and those who sent texts and called to check in (thanks Bishop Wipperman, the Moultons, Travis & Owen, Preston, and all the Skyline kids for coming to Caroline's state tournament and cheering her on).

• Rearrange a full morning schedule so that the girls and I can all get dental work done at the same time (thanks Dr. Boyden's staff).

• Mention my son with heartfelt thanks for the example he is to her young son during testimony meeting (thanks Kim).

• Welcome my girls and I with a hearty "hello" and friendly "how are you cute girls" when we stop in for breakfast at his cafe (thanks outgoing Hagermann Bakery guy).

• Pick up my girls from school and drive them to swim/tennis lessons - even greeting them with snacks and their gear - so I can be with Caroline during last week's tennis tourney (thanks Kathy).

• Meet the seminary council at 6am on a late start day to accompany them to the temple to do baptisms, then teach a full day of classes (thanks Brother Shields).

• Put in hours of extra time to help her 3rd grade students achieve their fullest potential . . . all with a smile (thanks Ms. Merrill).

• Greet a reticent Sophie at the beginning of a birthday party with so many unfamiliar faces, with a "SOPHIE - I've missed you - I'm so glad you're here!"  (Thanks cute Abbie).

• Leave a kind note and treats on the door for Caroline when she returns home after a tough loss in the semifinals (thanks Kim).

• Never fail to have at least one of my daughters over at their home for extended periods of time every weekend (thanks Denice).

• Host the teenagers on weekends and don't mind their homes filled with to the brim with all their kids' friends (thanks Jodelle, Renee, and Lesly).

• Are consistently kind, reaffirming, and complimentary, so that every interaction leaves you feeling uplifted and ready to tackle anything life may bring (thanks Ann and every one of my close friends :).

I'm sure I left out plenty more who deserve a shout out, because during my walk they just kept flowing into my head (this is what happens when I let too much time pass), but I think I covered most of those who made my life better last week just by being the amazing people they are.  Truly, our lives are brimming with people who are there to make it better - all you have to do is open your eyes.

CHEERS!

so blessed

"Gratitude is a Spirit‑filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love. This grateful awareness heightens our sensitivity to divine direction. When we communicate gratitude, we can be filled with the Spirit and connected to those around us and the Lord. 
Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."

~ Bonnie Parkin ~

Grateful

for . . .

the last days of school


neighborhood kids, games, bikes, scooters,  & sidewalk chalk


a week without rain


yearbooks


laughter and giggles


frisbees and tennis balls


my children's friends


teenagers


cool spring evenings


the smell of the canyon


the sound of the creek


smiles and hugs


meaningful conversations


GREEN


Dimple Dell running trails


morning walks


flowers


connecting


washed dishes, every evening, courtesy of Chris


healthy bodies


a good book


a clean house


a content husband


a happy dog


a boy who keeps his curfew . . .


Just a few of the myriad of blessings I've noticed the last couple of days.

Who would have guessed that my day actually started out miserably?   However, once selfishness and negative thinking are pushed out of the way, I am much more aware of the abundance of light, goodness, and beauty that surrounds us everyday.

Gratitude is a powerful elixir.

Welcome, welcome

January 1.  January 2.  2011.

Perfect Days, beautiful introduction to the new year and hopefully an omen of goodwill that will continue throughout the rest of the year . . .

• Spending the morning with Caroline working on her science fair project (topic: How do certain variables in physics contribute to increasing speed in a topspin serve?).  We had a great time at the club timing her serves, however after approximately 150, her arm is more than sore today, ouch.  Top Speed for Miss Caroline = 87 mph.

• Taking the little girls and the dog sledding.  Watching Lucy hone in on her herding instincts as she followed the kids up the hill, chased them down, and then rounded them up and chased them back up the hill.  Gorgeous day on the neighborhood sledding hill.

• Catching up with Ryan and watching a little football together after he returned home from yet another fun day spent on the slopes. 

• FRIENDS.  Enjoying a quick New Year's day visit with dear friends, then receiving another friend's e-mail which included her flight plans from NY for her weekend visit at the end of the month, and then realizing that in two days another close friend will be flying in from Texas and we have an afternoon planned together.  My life wouldn't be complete without my friends! 

• DATE NIGHT with Chris.  Ahhh, fabulous dinner here at a cozy table by the window, then next door to see what we both agreed to be the best movie of the year, The King's Speech . . . intelligently written, brilliantly acted, and just plain inspiring.  I would love to see Colin Firth receive an Academy Award for his incredible performance.  We talked about this film the entire ride home and realized how it is movies like this that truly elevate and uplift us, how we leave the theater feeling edified and more enlightened than when we entered.  We arrived home that evening to happy children, happy dog, and a messy house . . . but oh, how wonderful it is to spend time together alone, reconnecting after a busy holiday season :-). 

• Sunday began with a change in church schedule which means we get to sleep in . . . hallelujah!  I also received some welcome news that a change was coming my way.  Today I was released from my callings as Primary pianist and Activity Day leader and called to teach Relief Society as well as the YW sport's director.  OK, as much as I loved primary and working with the children in the ward (5 years), it was definitely time for a change.  Today I could attend Chris' insightful gospel doctrine lesson and then Relief Society in its entirety . . . something I've only been able to do a handful of times since we moved in the ward.  I am really looking forward to these new callings!

• TESTIMONY meeting.  No travelogs, no never ending stories without a point, no ramblings about family history . . . just beautiful, inspiring, simple testimonies born one after another.  It was truly one of the most spiritual meetings I've ever attended.  I am so grateful for the faith, love, and strength of my fellow ward members and their examples.  I left sacrament meeting today with my own testimony strengthened and a resolve for this new year to continue to increase my personal faith and knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Indeed, the perfect way to begin 2011.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving.  What a beautiful holiday.  Gratitude.  Thanks.  Appreciation.  Love.  Family.  Home.  Friends.  The Gospel.  Nature.  Music.  Laughter.  Health.  Kindness.  Adversity.  Beauty.  Intelligence.  Hope.  Faith.

My Father-in-law sent this inspiring message of Thanksgiving to his family today.  I thought I would pass it on . . .

All the really great things in life
are expressed in the simplest words:

friends and family;

purpose and meaning;

love and work;

caring and community;

appreciation and gratitude.

- Dan Zadra -

happily grateful

A couple of days ago I found this little book at one of my favorite places in Salt Lake.  I thought it the perfect ancedote for the season and I loved every quote inside it's pages.  So, in the spirit of a beautiful Thanksgiving, I wanted to share a few that spoke to me . . .

I apologize those last quotes are sideways - couldn't rotate them here in blogger, but loved them too much to leave them out.  Anyway, I just love my new little book - it's the perfect addition on my table and the ideal collection of quotes to help me and my family feel gratitude and abundance during this month of Thanksgiving.

"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us

if we do not love it enough."

Garrison Keillor

A few reminders

that the month of May is nothing to complain about . . .

1. Beautiful spring mornings

2. Spring Lacrosse

3. The view of the mountains during a lacrosse game

4. Healthy kids who can run and enjoy life to the fullest

5. The FUN RUN

6. Good friends and popcicles

7. Good friends, popcicles, and blue skies

8. Waterfalls

9. The 2nd grade opera

10. Mother's Day

11. Graduations

12. Celebrating with family

13. May flowers
14. Did I mention beautiful, stunning, bright, take your breath away mornings in the canyon?

17. The Gospel of Jesus Christ

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." ~ 2 Nephi 31:20, The Book of Mormon.

Today is the last day of November and officially the final post on my gratitude list. As you can tell, I obviously didn't write everyday (um, not sure what I was thinking when I made that promise), but I think I've covered my "thankful" bases pretty well. It's been a lovely experience and really given me more of an optimistic attitude and a grateful heart. I thought it only appropriate end my list with what I consider the absolute greatest blessing in my life - the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and all it encompasses.

When I mentioned in a previous post about those things that "define me" as a person, living the gospel is definitely at the top of my list. I'm not perfect at it, far from it, but the hope, the joy, the confidence it gives me is unparallelled. I can't imagine my life without it. I believe in absolute truth; the knowledge that there is a supreme being, a creator who knows and cares deeply for us individually, is truly a gift. I am grateful for my testimony, a testimony of the reality of God and my savior Jesus Christ, of the atonement, the restoration, a living prophet, and the scriptures. My life would be empty without the wisdom, guidance, and reassurance I find each day as I read from the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon.

I know that a part of who I am is because of my complete and unwavering faith. It brings me a deep and satisfying happiness that I know cannot be found elsewhere. The message of gospel of Jesus Christ is truly one of love, peace, goodness, and joy. It blesses not only me, but my entire family and I couldn't imagine raising my children without it in their lives. What an amazing blessing.

16. Motherhood

I know I've posted this video before, but I just had to again today in celebration of being "the Mom." Seriously, it is MY LIFE she is singing about and I love it! Motherhood has got to be one of life's most amazing blessings, at least for me. As my children grow, and the more independent, social, and involved they are becoming is so exciting to observe. I don't know if it's just me, but I get such an adrenaline rush from running my kids around, taking them to activities and their friends, and especially watching them in action whether it's Ryan on the ice in a hockey game, Caroline giggling uncontrollably with her girlfriends, or Sophie and Liza busy in the art room creating their next project . . . it's all such a natural "high" for me.

I think my calling in life was to be a mom, I live for it. It's when our days get outrageously crazy when I feel most alive; when I'm racing Caroline down for a Nutcracker rehearsal, then picking Ryan up at wrestling practice, running back to fix dinner, then hoping back in the car to grab Sophie at ballet class, then gathering everyone back in the kitchen as they work on homework and I fix dinner while one child practices piano . . . definitely the best part of the day.

A wise friend once told me that it's the mother's job to "create the environment and atmosphere" for her family, and I couldn't agree more. Each day I try to remember what a blessing it is to have these children in my home, to be graced by their beautiful spirits, their individual personalities, and all they offer. It's not easy and it's not bliss every day, but when I keep life in perspective and truly remember that these little charges living in my home do not just belong to me, then I can take a step back and a deep breath, give them a big hug and tell them how truly grateful I am that they are mine and how proud I am of each one.

13. My Parents

I am so grateful for my mom and dad. I can't even begin to express my gratitude to them for all they do for our family. They are so generous with both their time and energy, and always make such an effort to stay involved in our lives as well as the lives of our children. The kids adore their grandma and grandpa and look forward to spending time with them down in St. George - especially when they get to go down alone without the rest of the family. It makes me so happy that my parents play such an active role in the kids' lives and in their activities. Just this weekend it was watching Ryan's hockey game, in a few weeks they will attend Caroline's Nutcracker performance (again . . . really, I think it will be their 4th year of the Nutcracker), not to mention the tennis lessons, ballet and piano recitals they have been to over the years. And it's not just the fact that they come to these things, it's also the relationships they are building with each child that is so meaningful.

While they were visiting this weekend I thought of how my mom and dad have enriched and blessed my life over the years. I would be lost without them and I'm grateful for their example, guidance, and friendship. I hope to one day be as thoughtful, disciplined, and talented as my mom; and as patient, generous, and selfless as my dad. They truly are a blessing to our family.

12. Piano

"What’s great about music is that when you’re angry, you can do this: and he played Beethoven. And when you’re heartbroken, you can play this: and he played Chopin. All of that is in your heart; you just can’t get it out of your fingers yet. The reason we’re going to practice scales is so that when your heart feels, your fingers will let you express it." ~ from a music teacher.

Who would have guessed that after 20 years of rarely touching a keyboard I would find myself so in love with this inanimate object. From the moment our piano set foot in our home a couple years ago I've discovered a new passion. We don't have furniture in the living room, but we have our grand. I can't even express how much that piano means to me, and this is coming from someone who couldn't wait to QUIT playing the piano at age 15 after nine years of lessons and hours upon hours of practice. Now with some appreciation and maturity, I've discovered that there is something so relaxing, so calming about sitting and playing; feeling the keys under your fingers and stretching your mind to learn a new piece, that after all these years it's become something of an addiction. Who would have guessed that I would enjoy something so much that I once couldn't get away from fast enough? Now there are days I don't even notice how fast time is slipping by while I'm playing and wish I had more time to practice. So, I have to tell my parents "thank-you" for the years of lessons and patience as I learned to play.

I'm grateful for the music that fills our home now that we have a piano that is so expressive; really, it's amazing, the more you put into it, the more it gives back to you (I can't really say that about the Kurzweil ;-). I love hearing the kids practice and especially listen to Chris as he effortlessly plays his favorite Elton John, Jackson Browne, or Billy Joel scores. My favorite time to play is in the evening when the little girls are in bed and the big kids are in their rooms reading . . . that's when I pull out some Jon Schmidt or George Winston and let their soothing melodies resonate throughout the house. I can't think of a better way to unwind at the end of the day - what a blessing.

11. The Mountains

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves."

John Muir

That is one of my favorite quotes and I know I already posted it after our Yosemite Trip, but felt it needed another appearance. I have to be in the mountains, live near them, see them, climb, bike, ski, and run in them. Just breathing the fresh air while on a hike is so rejuvenating for me. I have such immense gratitude for the canyon I live, for the mountains of the Wasatch Front that I am so blessed to see every single day that it would be almost disrespectful to not include them in my gratitude list. You want to see me at my very best . . . spend a day with me in the canyon!

8. Agency

"To LIVE is to CHOOSE." -- Kofi Annan

Last month my bookgroup read The Giver, an extraordinary book which in fact is written as a "young adult" novel, but is so profound that I'm recommending it for all ages. I've read the book before and thought the premise was intriguing and learned some and forgot most of it. However, this time the impact it made on me was remarkable as I continue to ponder the miraculous gift of agency, moral agency - the freedom to choose. How often do we really take time to even think about the blessing of choice and how it shapes our very being, our life, our existence? It's like the air we breathe everyday, it's just there, it just is. But to contemplate how our lives, my life, would be different if that gift was taken away is truly astounding - how would we function?

I am immensely grateful for this gift, to live in a country where I can exercise this miracle daily and truly experience all that life offers. I have deep gratitude for the agency of others, and how through their actions my life has been so richly blessed. It is this same gift that can cause terrible pain and affliction, but for that I am grateful as well, for the blessings of strength and refinement that come when each of us chooses how we will react to the choices of others. Which reminds me of this quote I posted a couple months ago. I am ultimately responsible . . . it's my agency that can either bless or hurt others, enrich or destroy myself or those closest to me . . . what a responsibility, what a blessing.

7. UTAH

Doesn't this picture (taken a few days after Halloween) perfectly summarize the unpredictability of living in Utah and it's constant changes in the weather, no matter what the season? Today I just want to express my LOVE of Utah and all it offers. From the beautiful Wasatch mountain range to the red rocks of Southern Utah, to all the lakes and streams up in the canyons, it's one of my favorite places in the world and I'm grateful to call Utah home.

So, in lieu of a lengthy gratitude post like the last one, I'll just put up some of my favorite spots in our great state:

Arches National Park Skiing in Little Cottonwood Canyon Downtown Salt Lake City

Big Cottonwood Creek

Bell's Canyon Reservoir (i.e. "Our Lake")

Albion Basin Wildflowers

6. Our Health

Good health . . . something we think about occasionally, and are most definitely grateful for when we are sick and stuck in bed, or when a friend or loved one loses their health due to a long term illness or suffers from injuries related to a serious accident. On Saturday I was reminded of not only how blessed I am for a healthy body and mind, but how the rest of our family enjoys those same blessings. Really, when you think about exactly how many things can possibly go wrong from conception to making it to almost 40, it's quite remarkable. So, after dropping Caroline off at tennis, then quickly driving over for Ryan's hockey game where I can get some mileage on the treadmill while I watch (at the SL sports complex you can cheer for the hockey team while working out - BRILLIANT!), I began thinking about our active family and thought I would share a humbling experience I had years ago that taught me a beautiful lesson on gratitude.

Ryan was just about 3 or 4 years old and beginning his first adventures in athletics . . . soccer. He was the smallest kid on the team and by far the slowest. He was darling, but really hadn't figured out how to use those little legs to his full advantage, so the coach decided to let him play goalie so he wouldn't get so discouraged when he couldn't keep up with the other kids. OK, this is my first son . . . my future baseball star . . . and he is showing absolutely no aptitude for sports! I have to admit that I became discouraged myself and started to compare him to the other kids on the field and wondering if my son would ever play as great as my friends' little boys, would he ever be the star who scores the goals or is he going to be that poor kid no one wants on their team?

One evening during that soccer season I had an experience I will never forget. I was watching the news while folding laundry and a one of those "special interest" stories began. It was about a father whose son's physical handicaps prevented him from participating much in daily life, let alone any sports, and how this little boy desperately longed to be with the other kids. So, his father put him on a soccer team and would go out during the games and push him up and down the field in his wheelchair just so he could feel the wind on his face and see the other children run beside him - truly feel part of the game. I felt a complete sense of ingratitude while watching this touching story unfold and I will never forget the lesson in humility I learned that evening. I immediately changed my thinking and looked at Ryan, and now all of my children as the wonders they are, at the healthy, beautiful bodies they were given that can take on every active pursuit they desire.

At that very moment I told myself I will never compare what my children can or can't do with other children. There will always be someone who is faster, stronger, or more athletic than them, and because they CAN move and their bodies work, they are able to enjoy life and all it offers - for that I am profoundly grateful. Occasionally when I watch my daughter play a tennis match or Ryan during a mean lacrosse game (his speed has increased dramatically since he was four :-), instead of focusing on their progress or the score, I think of that little boy in his wheelchair and am reminded of the miracle of my children and our health.

5. Laughter

Who can live without laughter? Really, for me it's a necessity of life (i.e. food, water, air . . . a good laugh) and I need it everyday for survival, therefore it's something I feel immense gratitude. Today was one of those days when things were just plain funny. Everything made me laugh and heightened my awareness how great a good chuckle makes me feel. There are times when I laugh so hard I'm crying, and the greatest part about that trait of mine is that Caroline has inherited it - we'll get her laughing so hard tears roll down her cheeks . . . really, can you experience true laughter any other way?? Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, those who have heard Chris' full throttle laugh knows that he snorts and all it does is get us all laughing even harder!

I am grateful for the times we laugh together at the dinner table or before family prayer, I am so grateful for my friends who can keep me in stitches and who know that all it takes is a phrase to bring back a hilarious moment (i.e. "the raquet has been spun"), I am grateful for the times I laugh with all my other family members when we all get together and the inside jokes that keep those bonds strong, and I am especially grateful for those friends who are so dear to me and know when I'm having a tough time or a hard day that all I need is something to make me laugh to feel myself once again.

So tonight the kids picked one of our favorite "laugh together" dvds . . . School of Rock. OK, we LOVE this movie - it cracks us up and Jack Black is absolutely hilarious. It's just one of those movies that makes you LAUGH, so if you haven't introduced it to your kids yet - please do, because no matter what your mood it will make you feel better, and your kids will love it!

"I pledge alligence to the band . . . ."

4. Literature

"Only in books has mankind known perfect truth, love and beauty."
- George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

It's late and I've just come home from another enlightening evening spent discussing a great book with my book group. Really, you combine my social life with my love for the written word and of course it's going to last over three hours! I have to ask myself, what would my life be like without books, books, and more BOOKS? I love to read and I am grateful for the creativity and talent that so many authors throughout the ages have given to us through their writing. My gratitude stems from the life lessons, insights, and truth that I gain each time I read a great book . . . inspiration, yes, for a work of literature to become one of my favorites, it must inspire, uplift, and teach. For that reason alone, I am grateful because every time I read another book, I'm moved and I hopefully become a better person through the experience.