gratitude

Enjoy this beautiful song "Gratitude" by Nicole Nordeman

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

Thankful
I have been thinking that I really need to post about what I am thankful for seeing that Thanksgiving is this today. I have been un-employed for the past 3.5 months which has my memory scattered on some days and I forget things more that I'd like to admit.
I am so grateful. SO GRATEFUL All these experiences has given me the opportunity to be served. It has shown me the Gospel of Jesus Christ in action. I've recieved much love and care from so many friends, and family. One of the greatest securities is to know that you can show up amongst friends and family in any condition and know you will be well taken care of. I am excited for Thanksgiving this year.
I am of course thankful for my family, home, life but here are a few things that I may not normally think about but that I am thankful for nonetheless:
I am thankful that I my kids drive me crazy, because that means that I have my sweet kids and that they are independent and happy
I am thankful for my electric bill because that means we have lights and heat.
Dogs. I love dogs, how they like to cuddle, and be a friend. I do like the like things that bark. The love so unconditionally, what a wonderful gift.
I'm grateful for glasses. I can't imagine what it would have been like to not be able to see and live life in a blur.
I'm grateful for my freedoms. Regardless of what people think of our Government we live in a country where we really do have the opportunity to succeed beyond measures of any other country. I'm grateful for government leaders, church leaders, leaders of large and small corporations that work to keep this country moving. What other country is the world is so grate that thousands of people are rushing to enter each day
I'm grateful for the gifts of Tolerance, Patience, Wisdom, Forgiveness, Knowlege, Empathy, Concern, and Peace. I know those around me have been blessed with an overabundance of these things for my benefit.I'm grateful for prayer and the knowledge that I can talk my Heavenly Father and KNOW that he hears my cries and will answer my prayers.
I'm grateful to know that in all my wrong doings he still wants me to succeed. He will meet me where I am in my time of need and give me the tools the endure whatever trials he places before me.
I am grateful for trials and the refiner's fire they bring me through. I am grateful for freedom. I think we are living in a time where freedom is misunderstood, and not appreciated. I am grateful for those that are willing to give everything so that we can live the way we choose.
It is important that we always remember to be grateful for all the blessings our Heavenly Father has given us. Take some time today to think of all that you have been blessed with and share some of those thoughts with friends and family. For myself, I am grateful for so many things. I'm thankful that I found Christ and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints again. I am thankful for all those blessings connected with the Church--the priesthood, temples, scriptures, prophets, and so forth.
I am especially grateful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and all that He has done for us. I'm grateful for the gift of the Holy Ghost and for our Heavenly Father and His love and concern for each of us. There are so many blessings associated with the gospel that I cannot name them all.
Through my struggles I am here to day that I am grateful for all that God has given me and I will not wait until my struggles are few to show that gratitude and testify of the Love and Goodness of The Lord.I hope that we will always be a grateful and appreciative people. May you have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day!
Give thanks this year for all you have, and be sure, during this holiday season, to help those that are less fortunate then you.

Other peoples sufferings....

...doesn't generally give me pleasure, but I just overheard this in a Target this morning from a little boy who had, only seconds before, been bopping his head up and down with the rest of his family as they listened to the music overhead.
Boy: You ALWAYS ruin my day.
Dad: It's my job to ruin your days.
I couldn't stop laughing to myself and thinking that I'm not alone in this world of parenting
pre-pre-teen age kids.

TrUNk Or tREaT

My Cowboy Best Friends

jusT loOk at How Adorable thEy R

MY Little FISH!!

I think that MOMmy HaD mORe Fun then the

KIDs

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to get these pics posted it has been a very hectic 2 weeks.

We attended our ward trunk or treat at our church building. Belinda signed up to bring Nachos so she whipped up something extremely easy (diced tomatoes and chopped lettuce) and then drove to the chapel.

it's been really fun to get to know the new people in our ward. we were recently split and about 70% of our ward is new to me.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Just to Clarify

Here are some random things that have been on my mind. You might not care, you might not agree, but I need to get them out of my head so there's room for other happier things.

I am disappointed. I don't want to dwell on it but I think some very sad things happened in our country tuesday. And I wonder what kind of change we'll be ready for in 4 years. That being said, I am patriotic. I may not like what happened but I'll deal with it. I am grateful for the country we live in. On that note, hate is never the answer. Never, ever.

I've got too much worry in me today. I fear for my country. I fear for our military. I fear the idea of redistribution. I fear for Wall Street. And partial-birth abortions that my new president-elect is perfectly okay with. And all other abortions, for that matter. I fear the partisan people Obama is already putting in place (Rahm). I fear that many, many people see Obama as some kind of "Messiah". Dangerous. I fear for small business owners. I think that a $3000 tax credit for every full-time employee hired is a complete joke. Yeah, that's REALLY going to stimulate something. I can breathe easier, however, because I do believe that the country DOES have some core conservative principles in place. Arizona, California, and Florida all voted FOR marriage. Awesome. Now can we please find a candidate that will walk the walk of conservatism, please? Of limited government and INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY that we NEED to get this country back on the side of RIGHT. Not left, not liberal, not democrat, not republican. Just RIGHT.

Lying is not okay. There's a saying around the Carter house that goes "Any communication with the intent to deceive is a lie." I think that's incredibly true. Don't be dishonest. Just don't. Even about a small thing. It's tacky. And trust is a hard thing to earn back. Also, making excuses is lame too. Fulfill your commitments, keep your promises, and accept responsibility for your actions and choices.

Life is precious. Too often it is brutally wasted in the name of choice. To people who want an abortion I say that your choice was to have sex. That was your choice. Taking a life isn't your choice. I think abortion is atrocious. Absolutely sickening. And I can't believe that we are standing by and letting it happen to over 1 million tiny lives a year in this country. You don't get to waste a life just because you think it will ruin yours. I'm also appalled that almost half of all abortions are performed on women who have already had one. LEARN YOUR LESSON! Abortion is not birth control!!! As for me, I believe a life starts at conception and it is sacred.

Basically it all revolves around standards I guess. Do I always live up to my standards? No. Sometimes I get frustrated with my kids, sometimes I'm unkind, and sometimes (like right now) I let anger get the best of me. But I am always trying to be better and I always accept responsibility for the mistakes I make, apologize, and move on. Is it hard? Certainly. Is it worth it? Most definitely.