Day 31

Today I am grateful for medical insurance....

and especially good insurance. 

My husband had to visit the Chiropractor for his back this morning and not only did the insurance cover 90% - our HSA account had money in it we used to pay the $16.00 for the visit.....

Resulting no money from my pocket.  

I feel humble we have this blessing when so many stress about the costs of medical bills. 

Knock on wood....

nothing catastrophic has happened but even if it does, insurance cuts down the out of pocket costs down a LOT.

Day 30

Today I am grateful for kind people who stop and care. 

Someone on Facebook saw that my husband had his back thrown out and came over with a ointment to help with the pain and a small treat. 

A small thing really in the whole scheme of things but it touched me. 

The ointment helped Keith get through the night and I appreciated the thought that came with it.

Sometimes its the small acts of service that can mean the most....

Day 29

I picked up Miss C from daycare this afternoon and the poor thing had thrown up all over herself. 

Needless to say, in a hour she had come down with a fever and was restless. 

I hate seeing them so sick when they are little - it breaks my heart. 

If there is anything to be grateful for, it is all the amazing baby snuggles I got this evening. 

I love that little girl so much

♥

Day 28

This evening I was able to see my son do something he loves: PLAY SOCCER!

He plays it at recess.

He plays it in the backyard. 

He pretty much plays it all the time....

He started indoor soccer tonight through the boys and girls club. 

I loved the new facility and it was fun to see my husband coaching. 

5 minutes to the end, Taylor scored an amazing goal. 

 The look on his face when he scored that goal was priceless.

I am grateful I was there to see it.and to have a family that supports one another. 

We raise our children to have an understanding that we are here for one another...

to be here in the good times and the bad. 

 

Day 27

I remember when I got my license, you could buy gas for your car under a dollar!

That makes me sound old....

But I really am not. 

Gas now a days is ridiculously over priced but we need it, so what do you do? 

I went to Costco yesterday and it was $2.99 a gallon....Can you say excited??

I finally filled up my van for less than 60. 

It's kind of sad I am excited about that but hey a dollar saved is a dollar saved!

And for that I am grateful.

Day 26

Tonight, we had the LDS missionaries (commonly wear black suits and name tags) over for dinner. 

I am grateful for the spirit they bring into our home and along with that, the example they set for my children in their example of service to the Lord. Keith and I did not have the opportunity to serve missions before we were married, so it's important for me to have them in our home. 

I like to think of them as my own children because some day, another mama, somewhere around the world, will bless the life not only of my child but me by taking care of my baby by having he or she in her home for dinner or whatever the occasion may be. 

They leave their homes for 18 months to 2 years. 

That is a long time in the worlds view. 

BUT 

in the eternal perspective of things, it really is short. 

Lives are blessed....

of the missionaries, their families and of those they teach.

Tonight they shared a message from Helaman 5:12 

" And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

They asked my family the question, "In what ways can we make our foundation stronger?"

Responses were: The YW values, following the commandments, repenting, and prayer. 

To build our foundation, praying to our Father in Heaven is one of the most important. Just like a little child wants his parents in times of need or despair, we too will go to the Lord in our times of need,if we have built that relationship with him.

A wonderful way to end the weekend!

Day 25

What glorious weather we had today!!

In Oregon, the sun lacks so much during the winter, that it can be really depressing sometimes.

Today, the sun was  shining, so we headed out to the yard to get some much needed yard projects done. 

We moved the grape arbor to another part of the yard (took WAY longer than expected)...raked leaves, mowed the lawn...and yet, there is still a long list that needs done out there! 

Spring will be here soon which means, hours of swinging in my swing, smores by the fire pit and camping in the backyard. 

I am grateful the Lord blesses us with days like this in winter because it gives you that excitement for spring to return!

Day 24

I love getting together with friends to play games!

Yesterday, we got together with some friends for dessert and games. 

We were out until 10:00....

and loved getting to know this new family. 

I hope there are many more nights like that to come. 

So, for that I am grateful. 

The world with out friends is quite the lonely place.

Day 23

Two weeks ago, Chloe started a new Beginning Jazz class here in town at the Mitchell Arts Center. It's a big change from the 5 years of ballet she took but she loves it and I think it is a better fit for her in many different ways. 

The first two classes they worked on jumps or "leaps."

Chloe struggled to get it which surprised me!

She had been great at doing leaps in ballet class so it seemed odd to me that she was having a hard time with it.

When we went home, I could tell she was feeling a bit defeated about the whole thing, so the next night I set up a dance studio in our hall way!

We were going to get this and I knew she could. 

I knew one of the reasons was her teacher was using different phrases for the dance moves which was throwing her off a bit. 

Second, it had been awhile since she had done it and she has a hard time with attention on her (hmm, sounds like her mama....)

Next, we put up a couple of things to jump over and I told Chloe to watch me leap...well make a fool of myself but that's what we do for our kids....right?

She giggled and before I knew it, the both of us were leaping and jumping down the hallway laughing. 

After a few minutes, she was back to her old self, with beautiful leaps galore!

Today in class when teacher Karen asked them to line up and do leaps, Chloe excitedly jumped up and did it. 

Watching your child work hard at something all week long (though it may seem silly to some - it was a big deal to my seven year old) and NAIL IT in dance practice...was the highlight of my day. 

And for that I am grateful. 

It is moments like those that make it all worth it.

Day 22

I have the tendency to be too hard on myself. 

It is something I have always struggled with....

I needed to read this quote today because it reminded me that its OK. 

I am not here to be perfect. 

I am here to be me. 

What matters is getting up and moving on.

 

I am grateful for moments like these where you need a boost...

I am grateful for our modern day apostles and the uplifting messages they have to share with us all.

Day 21

Family dinners are very important to me. 

 

It's a moment of peace at the end of the day where our family can collect their thoughts and just be. 

 

Its a calm amidst the storm

 

Its where stories are shared

 

Its where laughter happens

No matter how crazy our life is or where we each may be going....

I will treasure the nights like tonight. 

Charleigh in her highchair throwing crackers everywhere

Chloe talking about her drawing class and new dance shoes

Taylor telling his dad about something on his Nintendo 3DS. 

Diana telling us her woes about middle school advanced math class

and me.....

the "cook" who stands back to admire the "chaos."

Because....

Its my life. 

 

And I know one day the craziness will be gone.

 

And I will miss it. 

Day 20

Today was MLK day and the kids had the day off of school and I did not have to go into work!

Hurray!

We cleaned rooms, did about oh....a million loads of laundry, I finished some small home improvement jobs and basically had one of those days where you spend it in your sweats and get'er done! 

I have torn feelings over fixing our house and selling it. 

So many projects I still want to do...

But so many things I can not do due to the size of our home. 

When all is said and done though, I am very grateful for our little home. 

It made Keith and I home owners. 

It has allowed me to learn so much about roofs, gardening, painting, land scaping.....

the list could go on. 

So even though my house may be small, at the end of the day, it is has kept us warm and dry and has given us so many good memories I will ALWAYS cherish!

Day 19

Today, before we went to church, I asked Chloe to grab Charleigh a few toys to play with at church. 

One of the toys she grabbed was a well loved little stuffed gray kitten, previously owned by Chloe. 

Charleigh loves it! 

It is the perfect size for her little hands to love and chew and it was given to her by Chloe on Christmas morning. 

I smile when I think back to it because it shows how big Chloes heart is. 

Before Christmas, Chloe came down with a lot of presents in her arms and put them under the  tree excitedly. 

She said she hoped everyone would love their presents that she had made for them 

but especially Charleighs....

She said that ONE was special.

Fast forward to Christmas morning and after LOTS of unwrapping, pictures and happy faces....we got to Chloes presents deep under the tree. 

She grabbed Charleighs and gave it to me to help her open. 

As I opened the wrapping paper, I stopped. 

It was her gray kitten. 

The fuzzy little kitten that she LOVED and snuggled with every night before bed....

I asked Chloe, "Are you sure you want to give this to Charleigh? You love your kitty!" 

With a shakey voice and teary eyes she said, "Mom, I love Charleigh and it felt good in my heart to give it to her. I loved it and now she can love it." 

And that my friends is why I now smile when ever I see that small stuffed kitten. 

 I am grateful that my seven year old stopped Christmas morning to remind us all what the true spirit of Christmas is all about.

Day 18

Today I am grateful for a later running start!

 

Let me explain.

 

Usually, the group of girls I go running with meet at the unheard of hour of 5:30am.

 

Before I had Charleigh, this did not phase me one bit....

 

And then Miss C came into the world and sleep began to be a word not in my vocabulary.

 

This morning we met at 7:30am instead of 5:30 and what a glorious morning it was.

 

2 hours of extra sleep really makes a difference when you go out on your long run!



Day 17

Taylor came down after school yesterday with his large tool box he had made at scouts the night before and the little one he had put together at a Home Depot kids work shop a few months back. 

He says to me, "Mom, look a tool box for me and a tool box for Charleigh!! Can we take a picture together with them? 

 I replied, "Sure!" 

 He goes to the living room and finds a spot for them and off we go to take pictures. 

Can you tell he has a soft spot for Miss C.... 

I am grateful for this young man. He is an AMAZING brother to his three sisters and

has truly stepped up to the plate...

as an example...

as a listener...

and as a friend. 

Buddy, your mama is eternally grateful for YOU and ALL that you do to add to our home!

Day 16

9 months ago today, I was in labor at the Corvallis hospital with our little Miss C. 

I was induced at 6am, and she was not born until 11:05pm that evening. She took her time in getting here but every pain, ache, and month of morning sickness was worth it when they laid her in my arms. 

She immediately was alert and looking around at this new world ahead of her. 

 I felt honored to be her mother. 

Today she went to the doctor and weighed in at 22.2 pounds and 30 inches long.

A happy healthy little girl who LOVES to nurse, be snuggled, and giggle with her brothers and sisters. 

You do not like to be on your tummy, so you haven't crawled yet but I am not worried. You are so chill about everything; you'll get there ;). 

And for this I am grateful - That our family was blessed with Miss C. 

Her arrival rocked our world and I could not imagine our lives with out her.

Day 15

One of the greatest joys I get to experience as a mother is the peaceful moments in my rocking chair while nursing my babies. For my first Mothers day back in 2001, my Mother gave me a beautiful oak rocking chair.  Each one of my babies and I have spent countless hours rocking, singing, reading and cuddling - creating memories that will last a lifetime. This afternoon as I rocked Miss C, I stopped and became overwhelmed at the peace that was upon me. I love those quiet moments by the window in my rocking chair with just me and my baby.  

 

They are something I treasure and hope to always remember.  

Having a baby seven years later after my older three has made me stop and enjoy each of those moments even more because I know how fast childhood goes...

Day 14

I am grateful for answered prayers. 

Today Miss C had a medical emergency due to a dislocated elbow and 

as I sat in the office it was hard to see her in pain. 

Poor thing. 

I prayed that the doctors would figure it out quickly and within minutes her elbow was popped back in and she was smiling.  

The sound of it going back in made me cringe though...

So grateful for that doctor and his medical student who were warm and made me feel comfortable. 

When we came home, Chloe, who is our budding artist,

 painted me a picture. 

Kid pictures like this are a great way to end my day. 

And for those, even though it was a long day, I am grateful for!

♥

Day 13

You know those days on your calendar that are filled with so much red pen that you cringe to even get up and out of bed....

Well our family had one of THOSE. 

Work, school, sports, two meetings, with a training thrown in there for good measure, along with a few other items I personally needed to get done for tonight. 

I was really wondering how we were going to get it all done...

I really did. 

As I went through out the day, everything seemed great and went without a hitch...

I even had time to shower and get my run on! 

*Getting my workout in means a happy mama* 

So today I am grateful for those days that just seem to go right...

because it honestly could have fallen apart at any moment along the way since we were THAT busy. 

Now if you don't mind me, I am jumping off of here for a long hot bath and my book!

Day 12

What a great sabbath!
 

Today day was filled so many great things.
 

My husband AND daughter gave great talks and...
 

My lesson went well in primary!
 

I am teaching Valiant 9, my sons primary class and I feel like it's going to be a great year with them!
 

I made the goal with them that if they memorized ALL of the 13 Articles of Faith, that I would bake 
 them 13 cookies.....ALL for them.

 
Their jaws dropped.
  

It has been a balancing act of being activity days leader and a primary teacher but I honestly love both and am grateful the Lord gave me these opportunities to serve.
  

And for those, I am most grateful for because they made for one uplifting Sunday.

 

Day 11

Today was a hard one. 

I joked with Keith a few minutes ago that it was going to be pretty hard to list off anything...

BUT

He laughed and said, "There is always something!"

And then it hit me....

I went to Joanns. 

(A local fabric store)

I went there to escape the likes of my four children. 

One grumpy pre-teen

 One tired little boy from a sleepover

One seven year old little girl who just woke up on the wrong side of the bed

And well the Miss C being the baby was the best of them all. 

But back to Joanns...

It was a blissful 30 minutes of PEACE and QUIET...

And then it hit me EVEN more. 

And it made me laugh out loud.

I am turning into my Mother. 

And mom if you are reading this...

You are awesome. 

And to be like your Mother who has a big heart is pretty awesome. 

*Oh and Dad, if you are wondering if I bought fabric...that is a negative ;). I went for craft stuff. * 

Day ten

I am grateful for early morning phone calls from dear friends. 

My best friend since childhood gave me a ring at 7:20 this morning on her way to work.

She caught me mid-act of cleaning up a huge poop mess from Miss C. 

The call was a good way to start my day.

The poop certainly was not... :) 

So thank you my dear for giving my day that sunny start it needed.

I wish we lived closer!

Day 9

I uttered a small prayer before I went to bed last night....

It was simple...

A small request. 

My prayers were answered this morning. 

I felt God shinning down and saying, "Hey, I heard you and NO problem. Let me help you out."

 God gives us more than we can handle sometimes to get us to kneel down and rely on his grace. 

I felt that this morning and for that I am grateful.

Day 8

I am grateful my husband and I have the means, even though money is very tight, to allow our children the means to go and do things such as soccer, music lessons, and other extra curricular activities that allow them to discover who they are. 

Life is short on this earth and the more we try and learn for ourselves, the more we will be able to see ourselves in the looking glass to see a clearer reflection. 

Am I saying that we are what our hobbies and talents are?

Yes and No. 

What I am saying is that the more we dedicate ourselves to learning something, what ever that may be (dance, singing, pottery, etc), we learn more about ourselves. 

We learn peace.

We learn the blessing of education. 

We learn the blessing of finding a part of your yourself

We learn hard work.

We learn creativity. 

We learn the feeling of putting ourselves out there - even though it might be uncomfortable...

We learn most of all, that one of the great blessings our Father in Heaven has given us is 

US!

We each have a talent to offer and how amazing is that.

Day seven

Tonight I am grateful for girl talk. 

I was so tired after a long day of getting up early, going to work, coming home, chores, running errands with kids to and there, and making dinner,  that in all honesty I did not want to go to a party I had been invited to tonight.  I just wanted to jump in the warm bath, put in some bubbles and read that book that has been calling my name for awhile now.... *sadly, it has been calling my name for a few weeks to finish*

BUT

this party was for two amazing ladies who are moving onto new adventures. 

I will miss them both dearly but at the same time, I am so happy for them in getting these new opportunities for themselves and their families. 

So out I went to celebrate and say goodbye and little did I realize what.....

I needed was to visit and chat with the ladies!

I truly have an amazing ward (fancy word for our congregation at church)!

It has been one of the best wards I have lived in...

and for that I am grateful because it truly is amazing if you can walk into church and feel at home. 

Thanks ladies - you truly make it home. 

Day 6

I am grateful for those quiet moments on the couch with my husband at the end of a busy Monday evening.

 

As I quietly sat there sitting there reading over my primary lesson for next Sunday, I thought to myself how sweet it is to sit next to someone you love so much, to not have to necessarily use any words but to just be in their presence and feel so content.

 

When we were first married I was so worried about filling that void.

 

 I would constantly worry if he did not want to talk at the end of that day, taking that as I was boring and the magic was being lost.

 

How wrong I was.

 

There is beauty in peace.

 

There is beauty in sharing a space where your souls can talk to one another....

 

One quiet moment at a time.

Day five

I stayed home from church today due to recouping from my sudden onset of the stomach flu. 

I was sad to hear that I had missed my son and husband bear their testimonies in Sacrament meeting (just a fancy name for our main worshiping hour at church). 

My son came home and proudly said he had went up to the stand to bear his testimony. Having seen him do that before in the past,  it made me proud to hear him go up once again on his own accord. Over this past year, it has been fun to watch him grow spiritually as a mother. He has grown a love of the scriptures and his Savior. His sweet testimony has calming effect on our home and those friends around him.

  Before we went to Great Wolf Lodge earlier in December, he was not able to find his flip flops for the pool area (a must for this mama with all her foot phobias!) and was getting to be quite distressed about it since he had been looking for them all afternoon. After much frustration, I peeked out of the corner of my eye, and saw him kneel in prayer, asking his father in heaven to please help him find his flip flops.  Such a small prayer but with much faith, he found those flip flops a mere minute after saying his prayer.

Moments later he knelt down again and said a prayer of thanks.

I am grateful for witnessing those little miracles with my children. 

They truly are what life is all about...

Day four

This morning I came back from my run not feeling the hottest if you get what I mean...

Two words: Stomach Flu. 

My amazing husband went to the store for me bright and early in the morning and grabbed the usual: 

 saltine crackers and peppermint tea.

 I felt horrible because our baby had ACTUALLY slept through the night and when he could have been sleeping in, he didn't hesitate and took care of me.

When he came home, he helped draw a bath and made sure I rested all of today while I did my sick thing...

I feel so loved today!

 

Day three

Do you ever feel like your house is perfectly clean when no one is coming over?

BUT

When your house should be labeled as a disaster zone....

Everyone and their mother shows up!

Now I know this may sound weird but today I was grateful for my crazy messy house

BECAUSE

I was too busy playing games with my kids, cooking, snuggling and reading books to my baby. 

Making memories, right?

And for that, I am grateful because honestly in the long run, my kids will remember the fact I stopped and played games with them for 3 hours versus the immaculate house that is nice, but it sometimes 

means you might miss that special moment you could have with your children.

 

Day two

Yesterday, to bring in the New Year, we went to a local water park, "Evergreen Aviation -water and wings water-park", located in McMinnville, OR. 

It was perfect because there was hardly anyone there with no lines for the water slides!

The kids loved it and so did I. 

I had the sweetest moment with my youngest one in the water. I held her on her back and she loved the feel of the waves in the pool. It seemed to relax her as I held her and she was able to stretch out and feel the water through her toes as she splashed in the pool. Unlike their father who does not like the water very much, all of my kids seem to be following suit with me in how much they love the water. 

When we returned home after a stop at Subway and a long drive home in the fog, we were dog tired!

By the time I made it to bed it was well over midnight and off I headed to bed knowing with how Miss Char sleeps, I was in for a zombie day the next day. 

I woke up this morning to the alarm clock saying it was 10:00am.....

I had to double check it to see if I was delerious!

All my kids were still asleep and I had gotten a full nights rest. 

Now that is something as a mother of four....

I am grateful for because 

I know how much of a rarity it actually happening can be! 

Day one

My name is Rachel. I am a thirty something mama to four children from the ages 12 to 8 months.  I have felt the need to see more of what the lord has blessed me with in this life this year, so as one of my so called New Years resolutions, I wanted to start this blog as a dedication to the good in my life. 

Life is really what you make it. 

You can either sit down and whine when it starts to rain

OR 

you can get up and DO something about it

See the good

Versus

Being Eeyore 24/7. 

There was a time in my life many years ago that I may or may not go into as of yet, but let me just say, I did not see ANY good in what I was going through. 

That experience taught me after I went through it and many years passed by when I could FINALLY see what the Lord was trying to tell me, was that there is ALWAYS good to see in any situation. I know not all will agree with me as I am not here to please everyone. That simply is my outlook. 

So for day one, I would like to start with my husband. 

If you want to turn away, I don't blame you ;). 

It is probally going to be a mushy post

BUT 

HOW COULD IT NOT. 

He has held my hand through four kids, a couple of miscarriages, depression, trial after trial, the good times and the bad. It is sometimes hard to end or start the list because he truly has become apart of me. He loves me. 

ME. 

Even those annoying parts....

For better or for worse...

He loves me.

And for that...

I am most grateful 100%.