Tagged - Seven Random things...

This come from my friend Valerie... Do people really want to know 7 random facts about me??? I feel like my everyday life is pretty random most days!!
I 'm not following the rules exactly with some of the links, but...

1. I waste time doing sudoku
2. I often spend my lunch hour (or should I say lunch 40 minutes) in my car with the radio on and reading a book - it is my alone time for the day!!
3. When possible I do my grocery shopping at 6am - its a great time to be in the stores!!
4. Related to number three - I really do not like large crowds. Fighting my way through tons of people is not my idea of fun and there are VERY few things that would be worth it to me!
5. I've been trying for weeks to get my family together for a family picture taking session. Something always comes up. Tomorrow is probably our last opportunity with Tim's schedule and we are doing it NO MATTER WHAT!!! Actually I shouldn't say no matter what because Spencer is sick - but as long as he is mostly better we are going - mud or no mud!! (we have melting snow today...)
6. Maybe this one is too random, but sometimes I like it when my kids are sick. Not that I like them to feel yucky, but I get to take care of them in a way that doesn't happen very often any more!
7. My best friend that I talk to every day is the sister that I detested when I was growing up!!!


Some of the people that I'm tagging may have done this before, but I've missed reading news from them so...
1. Jaqui (I miss reading your thoughts...)
2. Heather G. (I know you have random things - we share them every Sunday)
3. Annalisa (The most diligent blogger I know, married to the most random person I know! jk Love ya Geoffrey!!
4. For that matter - Geoff!!! ('cos I love your randomness)
5. Megan - because the randomness sometimes is what makes us smile
6. Mindi - because sometimes the best friends come from random beginnings...
7. Heather C. - because it will give you another post for your 30 days!!

No this doesn't count as my grateful moment today... I'll have to post again...

I am grateful Conferences are over!!!

Yesterday I shared my gratitude that my kids have great teachers, and how I really like Parent Teacher Conferences. Today, from the teacher perspective, my gratitude is that conferences are over!!! I like meeting with and interacting with the parents, and I like seeing how the kids interact with the parents, but it makes for 2 very long days, and I am grateful today that they are over and that tomorrow I get the day off!!!!

I am thankful for our teachers!!

Today I am grateful for my kids teachers. They have great teachers this year who motivate them and try to understand each of their strengths and weaknesses. Being at the same school, it is sometimes hard for me to keep my nose out of their classrooms, but as they have gotten older, I have tried to back off and hear about things the way that a "normal" parent would. Tonight we had Parent Teacher Conferences, and even though I have been in contact with each teacher and try to know what is going on in the classroom, I love to participate in conference and watch how the teacher interacts specifically with each child. My three very different children each has a teacher that nailed their strengths and identified their weaknesses and communicated with them about what we can do to improve. I know that I am lucky in the fact that I actually get a little bit of a say in who their teachers are, but I just have to say, we have GREAT teachers! Thanks!!

Grateful to be an American

I am grateful today for the fact that I am an American. Because of that I get the chance to be part of a process that listens to the people and allows us to pick our leaders. With all of the hype about this election, it was amazing to see people embrace their right to vote and brave the rain and snow today, and wait in line to vote early to be part of that process. Whatever we may say about our country, whatever complaints we may have - we are still better off than so many others. We have the right to free speech, the right to practice our religion, the right to debate and speak our mind, to take part in a process that will make our voices heard. We have wealth, we have opportunity, and we have freedom. I am proud today, to be an American!!

Gratitude for my Savior - Nov.2nd

After I received the email containing the reflections of Christ slide show, I really felt like I wanted to try and make the effort to go down and see the photographs myself. Tonight we took the kids and headed down. Words cannot describe the emotion I felt as I studied these pictures depicting the live of our Savior. The artist did an amazing job of capturing the emotions of the events from Christ's life and the spirit was incredibly strong. I am grateful today for the overwhelming love I feel when I make the effort to focus my thoughts!

This picture just makes me think of how He knows each of us individually, and is willing to take the time to listen to each of us!

Afterward we took some pictures of the family. It was a beautiful night, and the temple against the darkening sky was beautiful. The kids looked pretty good too! I was even able to get a picture of Tim and I!!

We also celebrated Grandpa Norris' birthday and we are glad that they were able to go with us!!

This last picture was one of my favorites with the fall leaves and the temple spires. I am amazed at how after just two days, how much better I feel. I know it won't be all rosy every day, but it's a start...

Gratitude

I do know it is November despite the Christmas music playing on my blog. I did refrain from a christmas background... for now! I am not ready for Christmas, but do feel like I need to get myself in the mood, rather than just letting it catch up with me, so I am issuing myself a challenge. For the month of November I am going to try to post something I am grateful for each day. It is so easy to focus on the things that get you down, and instead that just makes me feel more down. I was looking at my blog and there on the side it says Happy Thanksgiving, so I am going to try and do my part to have more thanksgiving this month!!. Anyone who wants to participate is welcome! Maybe we can all lift each other up!

For today I am grateful for daylight savings - and not for why you might think. I didn't sleep any longer, but because I have been up for several hours already, I have had the chance to relax, and listen to music I love, and hopefully be calm as I prepare for church. If you know me well, you know one of my all time favorite musicians is Hilary Weeks. Her music inspires me and speaks to my soul. Her latest album seems to express the feelings that so many of us women have, the doubts and insecurities, and our need to rely on our Savior for strength. The opening song is "If I Only Had Today..." If I only had today I would try to be more positive, more loving, and certainly spend less time thinking of all I would like to be different. Yesterday's gratitude would have been gratitude for things that make me laugh, like the quote I posted, and today's is extra time to focus and remember what is important!!

One more thing, this was the amazing sunrise Friday morning, right from my front porch. Isn't it beautiful!!

Chocolate quote...

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body. But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO-HOO what a ride!"-unknown

Quote I found on a friend's blog, it goes very well with my favorite witch at Gardner Village!!