Grateful For

1- Katie and the concern she shows to her siblings
2- Maddie and her positive attitude
3- Grandma A and her willingness to support my kids fundraisers, even making special trips to bring the $$ to us.

Maddie's rough day

This morning just as I turned the water of the shower off I heard the phone ring. I ran and grabbed it because my phone hardly ever rings at that time of the morning. It was a lady who lived down the hill from the golf course. She said "You don't know me but your daughter has crashed on her bike right outside my house. My husband is helping her and there is a man who stopped but I think you need to come down. She is crying really hard."
I quickly got dressed and left with my hair still dripping wet. Unfortunately I got stuck behind the bus. By the time I got down there I couldn't see Maddie but two men were standing there talking. So I got out to see if Maddie was there. The dump truck driver said "She decided to walk her bike down to school. It was a pretty bad crash, I saw it, she flew over her handle bars and landed on her face. Don't get too worried because her face is really dirty." (Only men would let her walk to school. A woman would have insisted that she wait for me to get there.) Bevan and I quickly got into the van and by the time we found Maddie she was right in front of the school. I honked at her and pulled into the parking lot. She came over with big tears and said "Mom, it hurts."
My heart broke! Her face was a mess and I couldn't tell what was blood and what was dirt. I brought her home and cleaned her up. The left side of her face was scratched from forehead to chin. And full of stickers. Luckily, she landed in the bushes and not the road. The boy who was with her later told us that she flew over 5 feet in the air over her handle bars and her bike flew too. She was very blessed!

Today I am very grateful!
1- Heavenly Father is watching over my children even when I can't be with them.
2- Strange men in dump trucks who are willing to stop and sit with my daughter and check out her face and make sure it wasn't broken. (Even if he didn't stop her from walking her bike to school. He just thought she was tough!) :)
3-Bike Helmets

Grateful For

1- My mom who came and cleaned my kitchen when I thought my head was going to split in half.
2- Tif (who is in YW with me) who brought me 5 gal bucket full of potatoes straight out of the garden.
3- Ibuprofen

20 Years ago...

My world was rocked! Twenty years ago today this world lost one of the most amazing men who ever was here. And I am lucky enough to call him my dad! My dad lost his battle with stomach cancer on September 26, 1990 at about 6:30 in the morning he was only 42. It's a day I'll never forget. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think and wonder about him. He fought with dignity and courage. Until the night before he died he wouldn't even talk about the idea that he might die. It was Homecoming week, a Wed., a beautiful morning. He left behind a legacy of giving, serving, integrity, hard work, friendship, love, dedication, love of God, spirituality and patience. He was the most patient person I know... There is so much more I could say, but I think I will do that another day. For today I think I will just list the three things I'm grateful for having him in my life.

1- He taught me how to work hard. On Sundays he would take the day "off", he only worked 6-8 hours. That is the life of a farmer.

2- He was happy and had an amazing sense of humor. Our house was fun. Whether he was dancing or singing or noticing "barking spiders" or telling dumb jokes he reminded us that there was much fun to be had in life!

3- He taught me how to love. He loved my mom more than I've ever seen a man love a woman. He treated her with the utmost respect. I only remember twice getting in trouble with him and both times were because I disrespected my mom.

This world is a better place because D. Lynn Meikle was here!

Bevanism

Back to this post about Bevan changing our new baby's diapers...

Tonight while driving home Bevan asked me why I haven't bought him three pairs of nose plugs yet.
I said: "I don't know where to buy nose plugs."
Bevan: "At the nose plug store"
Me: "I don't know where the nose plug store is."
Bevan: "It's on Main Street. Across Main Street. You go left and then right and then left and it's right there."

Hee, hee, hee! Love this kid!!!

Grateful For

1- Consignment sales/garage sales- love a great bargain!
2- Clean Clothes
3- Cute purses

Grateful For

1-Washer machines
2- Sonic Diet Cherry Limeade
3- Clean windows

Grateful For

1- My mom being willing to help with my kids so much and make it possible for me to work
2- The ability to work
3- These grateful lists because some days it's hard to be grateful and this makes me!

Grateful For

1- Doug has been home the last 2 evenings/nights
2- Got clothes delivered to consignments sale
3- I have a full day at work tomorrow

Grateful For

1- Maddie and that she still wants me to come eat lunch with her (not sure I'm grateful for the lunch though!) :)

2- I was asleep before 9:00

3- Crockpots

Grateful For

1- Priesthood Blessings- last night our home teachers came to visit. This stupid muscle pulling away from the pelvis thing that I experienced with Bevan had come back on Sat. and I was in incredible pain and was exhausted because the pain had kept me up the night before. I asked Doug and Doug (our home teacher) if they would give me a blessing. It was a simple blessing but gave me strength and this morning when I woke up about 99% of the pain was gone. It was a miracle- that never happened with my last pregnancy. I am grateful!

2-Katie
3- Sleep

Grateful For

1- Primary Programs
2- Primary Teachers/leaders
3- Music

Grateful For

1- Naps
2- Baths
3- Women who will coach my girls' volleyball teams

Watch out- I may actually get a real post on here in the next day or so! I know, it's a shock!

Grateful For

1- little baby kicks
2- Alesa
3- PTA

Grateful for

1- Working at Arkana
2- Everyone who supported Maddie in her fundraiser!!!! (She made her goal of $250- I have crazy, determined kids!)
3- Doug is home! (this one should really be #1)

Grateful For

1- Pedicures
2- Trades (they make the above possible)
3- Doug and Charlene Orahood

Grateful

1- Lunch dates with dear friends
2- Rainbows
3- Late summer storms

Grateful For

1- Pam's peach dessert
2- A son who can entertain himself
3- Ability to work from home

Bevanism

Bevan and his cousin Emi

On Sunday morning Bevan was laying in bed snuggling with me and Doug. I've mentioned that Bevan is very excited about having a new little brother. Here was our conversation:

Mom: What are you going to do when you have a new little brother and have to share me?
Bevan: I'm going to play with him and take care of him.
M: I heard big brothers have to change all the stinky diapers. Will you do that?
B: Yes!
M: Ok, you're going to change ALL the stinky diapers.
B: OK, but you're going to have to buy me a nose plug!

Ha, ha, ha! I've been laughing ever since!

I already missed posting my gratitude last night, so here it is!

1-Bevan

2-Peaches

3-Naps

Time Out!

I have needed a "time out" for quite a while now. I love my kids and I'm so glad I have them but sometimes I need some "me time". I had that opportunity this weekend. My mom, Alesa, and I went to Time out for Women sponsored by Deseret Book. It was just what I needed! A little girl time and I had my bucket refilled.

The theme was "Infinite Hope". I love this! HOPE is one of my favorite words (right along "joy") I feel like that is how I live my life, hope. Hoping for the future, my children, etc...

Time Out started on Friday evening with Dallyn Vail Bayles, a professional singer from New York City area. He was amazing, right now he is touring with Phantom of the Opera. WOW! And here is what is even more amazing, he is originally from Green River, UT. Do you know Green River? It is a tiny town in Eastern Utah. I mean a TINY town! Doug's mom is from there and honestly, I really like to visit it, but it's tiny. Oh, but they do grow delicious melons and obviously beautiful singers!

We also got to spend more than an hour listening to Sheri Dew. What an inspirational speaker and amazing lady.

Today we spent the day listening to Hillary Weeks sing. Brad Wilcox talk about Christ, DeAnne Flynn talk about families, Wendy Ulrich about how to be happier, Mariama Kallon inspired us with her story about her life in war torn Africa and finally the very, very funny Kris Belcher. Kris is a woman who lost all her sight to cancer, but along the way she found more faith in Christ and definately found a sense of humor!

This was an amazing weekend. There is so much I would like to write about but I'm not going to right now. (Maybe later? We'll see) But, if you ever have the opportunity to go to one of these- do it! You will not regret one minute of it!

One of the things I want to take away from this is Wendy Ulrich's (and others) talk spoke of expressing gratitude. She challenged us to everyday write down three things we are grateful for. So, I am starting tonight and hopefully I'll do it right here on this blog.

1-Time Outs
2- Moms and sisters (women in general)
3- A husband who lets me have a time out.

Did I tell you?

Did I tell you we're having a boy? Yes, I know I have lots of other stuff to update, but right now we are a little too crazy. But in the meantime, yes, we found out.

WE ARE HAVING A BOY!!!!!

And we (most of us) are thrilled! Me, Doug, Bevan= thrilled. Katie, Maddie=less than thrilled ("can we dress him in cute dresses and bows?" umm, NO!)

This is a good pregnancy- one of my better ones. Tiny bit of nausea still- every once in a while. Tired, but normal tired. Actually I think I am doing well- so what if I go to bed at 8:30 or 9:00? I feel blessed, we are blessed. I treasure each and every kick. I get so happy, I celebrate. Bevan talks about "when my baby brother comes out". He is waiting almost as anxiously as I am...

Oh, and right now, Doug is working! hooray! Out of town, but work. And I love him!!!