Day 86

I love me some good warm bubble baths!

I must get it from my mom since growing up I remember her taking in her women's magazines to read and soak. 

Now that is a great way to end the day - tea, book and some chocolate! 

Day 85

I gotta be honest....

Today was a hard day to find something to be grateful for.

But then I remembered this little thing I kept called a blog. 

It made me think hard because there is ALWAYS good to see - sometimes harder than others, yes I will admit that. 

When I stopped and thought about what it was that I was grateful for....it always came back to the blog. 

Yes, the blog. 

I am grateful for the BLOG because as I read through these posts, they clearly showed a pattern of change - a change in my perspective....and for that I am grateful because life is nothing if we do not do something with it!

A heart full of gratitude will carry you through anything. 

A heart full of gratitude will enlighten your mind. 

Best of all...it will make you realize it really is not that bad :).

Day 84

Another lazy day here for spring break! 

We went swimming at the Y before swimming lessons - well the older three did.
Charleigh and I hung pool side while they swam and what a bad idea that was!
She was moving and grooving all over the place and wanted to get into the pool since it was so hot in there.

Next time, we will be swimming with the older three.

Tonight, I was able to read a book with Chloe; "I love you forever" by Robert Munsch.
I gave Diana that book when she was two and the story just touches me every time.
The woman loves to rock her son and sing him her song and as she gets older the tides turn, and now he is the one holding his dear mother in his arms.
Life is like a ferris wheel.
Sometimes we are high and sometimes we are low.
And eventually the ride will end here on earth.

I am grateful for those chances to read stories with my children.
It always brings a smile to my face.
♥

Day 83

Today was the first day of spring break with the kiddos.

 We started out with yummy homemade cinnamon rolls, free swim lessons at the Y and played outside the whole afternoon with friends at the park.
Taylor climbed a tree with his friends Jonah and Nathan.
They were quite the little monkeys :)

Tomorrow the rain hitting for the REST of spring break so I was grateful for one day where we could enjoy it outside.

Day 82

Today was stake conference (a huge meeting with a numerous congregations)

and

I loved hearing a distant family members talk on his conversion to the gospel. 

This person was married to his wife (a member) for many years and went to church off and on, eventually serving in callings in scouts and primary, even giving talks in church and paying tithing as a non member. 

A few months ago during fall soccer games, I heard from his wife he was to be baptized. 

I was so elated to hear such wonderful news!!

Seth said in his talk, "I joined the church backwards." He was active and engaged and then was baptized but really in the end, it does not matter which way you make it to the waters of baptism. The Lord rejoiced as did his family when he made that decision to enter the waters of baptism. 

The gospel of Jesus Christ is apart of who I am and it blesses my life and testimony when I see such tender mercies bless those around me.

Day 81

Living in the pacific NW, as you can imagine, we do not get very much sun at all so when you do....

You IMMEDIATELY head outside to get as much vitamin D as you can!

I am loving all of this GORGEOUS weather we are having - now that is something to be thankful for with all the yard work and playing we have gotten done in the last couple days :).

Day 80

Today I am grateful for kids that did NOT have any cavities at their check ups and cleanings :). 

That means MORE money in my pocket...well more money that will go towards Diana's braces!

Day 79

How appropriate that today was the first day of spring and the sun was shinning!

I felt like the Lord was saying, "Rachel, change is OK and the change is going to be good!"

When I came into the classroom I was overwhelmed at the love my students showed me with flowers, cards and hugs. 

My co-workers gave me flowers and a beautiful plate which had a beautiful verse about family imprinted on it. 

There were tears of joy and it was a great day to end my career. 

We had two parents visit: a police officer who showed us his car and all the fun things he carries. 

Next, another dad who is a fire fighter came in and did a fun presentation for us as well. 

I just felt an overwhelming amount of love and it was a very much a feeling of melancholy as I left - a feeling of sadness but also of joy. 

My co-workers became like family. 

They taught me compassion. 

They taught me what it meant to be devoted. 

They taught me what it meant to support one another. 

But best of all...

They showed me what it really meant to be a friend. 

I love you all at First Christian Pre-Primary school. 

It was an amazing ride and I will always smile at the memories that God blessed me with while I worked there ♥.

Day 78

Tonight I am grateful for Savior, Jesus Christ. 

We have SO many imperfections, habits and choices we make that keep us from being perfect but he loves us so he gave us the gift of Grace. Grace gave us the ability to repent and become new. It gives us the gift of transformation to become who we are meant to become. 

Without it, I would feel alone and lost in this world. 

He loves me and he loves you and may we all stop to appreciate and show him in return the same love he gave us.

♥

Day 77

Today I am grateful for prayer and his loving reminders of "Yes, just trust me Rachel. Its going to be OK."

Sometimes I can be KIND of STUBBORN and resistant to change...

He knows that and is so patient with me and I am grateful for that!

Day 76

Today I am grateful for those 16 little faces I have been able to teach. 

Its the start of my last week of work and its going to be an emotional one as I close this chapter in my life.

Its been a wild ride full of laughs, good stories, and lots of love!

I savored each moment of my day at work and was able to snuggle in and read to a few of the kids alone. 

♥

Day 75

I am grateful for the ability to be able to bake!

Scones, cookies, pies, cheesecakes, muffins, homemade bread....

Yeah I think I  have an addiction sometimes but it makes me happy and my house smell AMAZING....

Day 74

Hurray for lazy Saturdays!

Keith and I went to Home depot for some house projects, read books, watched TV, did some gardening, cleaning...and best of all played with my new toy: the power washer!! 

Did I mention how cool using new power tools are??

It cleaned off all the dirt on my drive way, back patio, and the bricks in my backyard!

I love Saturdays like today. 

Day 73

 

Tonight we had the chance to watch this lil'cutie dance the night away in dance recital. 

She did so great!

I was worried for a moment when the music started since she looked SO nervous but she did beautifully! 

Chloe you danced right into our hearts when you were born how grateful I was to see you dance tonight. 

Day 72

What a busy busy day! 

Today was Chloes dress rehearsal for her dance recital tomorrow. 

It was a little chaotic and long since we had to be there for 3 hours...but all went well and it was fun 

to see her get all dolled up with her dance friends. 

 I am grateful for the mommy daughter time we were able to spend afterwards with Chloe. It was late 

so we headed out to grab some dinner and ice cream to chat. I love my little fire-bean so much 

She makes me laugh with her little quirks and bright goofy 7 year old smile!

Day 71

Today I am grateful for those quiet moments in my garden! 

Today I was able to escape to do some weeding, and cleaning out my raspberry bed. 

Some people HATE "yard work" - I love it. 

It is soothing to me and my soul. I wish I could own a little English cottage by the sea and garden for hours but life gets in the way and something amazing called, "raising kids." :)

Day 70

Today I had to do something hard. 

After much prayer and reflection, I gave my two week notice at First Christian Pre-primary. 

I started as parent, then a board member (even helped clean classrooms), and then became a staff member. 

The last 6 years with them have blessed my life and my children's. 

They became like my family because they are that type of people. 

But sometimes you have to take that leap of faith the Lord asks you to do. 

You have to trust in him because he sees the bigger picture and he knew it was time to go home to be with Miss C. 

I am grateful he gave me the guidance to see what I needed to do for my family - the next two weeks are going to be HARD as I prepare to say goodbye!

Day 69

Today I am grateful for my husband who showed up at work with roses and balloons!

We woke up so tired from a long night with Charleigh (seems like the yearly sleep theme....) and this morning when I asked him what he was up to today he replied, "Work and then the norm..." 

I was a little miffed that he did not remember it was our ANNIVERSARY but honestly I was so dang tired and sleep deprived too I brushed it off and went to go get ready for the day. 

Fast forward to the end of work. Debi and I were about to head down the stairs when lo and behold who should show up with roses and balloons in hand? My huuuuusband! 

We picked up Miss C and headed out to lunch. 

It was a relaxing and quiet anniversary; a blessing to be SO happy and content. 

I still get giddy when I see his car pull up from work. 

I still get giddy when he puts his arms around me when I am doing dishes. 

I will get giddy to snuggle on the couch. 

I am think I am one lucky gal and for that I am grateful.

Day 68

I am grateful for Abraham's example of faith to me. 

Today I taught my primary class about when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Issac.

As a parent when I was reading this lesson I was trying to wrap my head around what Abraham was asked to do and grateful that I have never been asked to do such a sacrifice. We will all be asked to sacrifice things in our lives; doing so enriches our lives and makes us enlighten our minds.
Every day we are asked to stand for truth and righteousness, to wear our honor and be moral compasses to those who are around us.

Doing that comes with a price sometimes that is not easy but the blessings in return are ten fold and worth every sacrifice.

One of my favorite scriptures is proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths."

May we all remember that the Lord is there to catch up, to guide us and to teach us.

Day 67

Today I am grateful that we were able to meet with such an honest realtor. 

Keith and I have some hard decisions to make whether to sell our home or not. 

I wont go into details but for many reasons we are stuck in the middle of which way to go...

But after today, we now know where we stand financially. 

Now if it would sell magically over night, right :).

Day 66

Today I am grateful for my children's good friends. 

I have been lucky in this department so far as a mother because being apart of of such amazing wards at church (our congregations), they have been able to meet good friends who uphold their same standards. This gives me peace of mind and has been a blessing because I do not have to worry they are out doing things they shouldn't be doing...

Now, yes my oldest is 13 and Taylor and Chloe are only 9 and 7 so time will tell....

But if they stick to good people who uphold their same beliefs and values...all will end well :). 

Day 65

Today I am grateful for how we have instilled in our children a feeling of love and support for one another in our family. Tonight we attended a simple spring band concert for Diana and yes, in the scheme of things it may be small but when we are there for small things, they add up so when the big things do hit us,  it becomes second nature to be there for your family.  Sickness, track meets, band concerts, pack meetings, swim meets, dance recitals, school talent shows....they are simple things on the calendar but I know when our family is there to show our support, that person appreciates it. 

It makes that person feel important and what they are doing valued. 

Back in 2011 I ran my first marathon in Newport, OR. 

The support my husband showed me was beyond what most young fathers would have done. 

He loaded up my three kids at the time, made signs, went to the dollar store for special treats to eat along the course, packed extra water and lunches, looked over the bus schedule for the marathon and then headed out for a long day to support me in 90 degree weather. 

All along the route I could see them as they would ride the spectator bus a couple of miles ahead to get off and cheer me on, hug me and say"Good job Mommy!!"  

It meant the world to me and is the ONLY reason I finished that race. 

That act of support, service and affection my family showed me will always be with me. 

So, it is with that thought, that I want to instill in my children a value of family - to be there in the big and small things of our lives because that support we can give them, makes them not only feel loved but apart of a family that will be there for them no matter what. 

"Forever for always - No matter what."

Day 64

Tonight I am grateful for callings.

I absolutely love the children in my primary class and the young ladies in my activity days.

I love what they teach me and in getting to know each one of them.

Having two callings at first seemed overwhelming but I love it and I love what a blessing it

has been in my life to teach these children ♥.

Day 63

Today I am grateful for the scriptures. 

I am not a scriptorian (a person who has a deep knowledge of the scriptures).

And I am not the best at quoting 50-100 from memory but what I do have is a testimony of the truth 

they bring in our lives. The people in the Bible and the Book of Mormon are not only people who 

once lived but they are heros who lived through trials that can teach us and give us the answers we 

need in learning in what they went through in their lives. 

One of my favorite scripture heroes is Abinidi in the Book of Mormon. 

He shows courage, determination and an "eye single to the glory of God."

May we all feast upon the word of God more. 

It seems so simple when you say it in primary but really, reading your scriptures brings such peace 

and clarity to our lives with the knowledge and lessons they provide in its teachings.

Day 62

Today I am grateful for new beginnings.

 

Sometimes in our lives we have to pick ourselves up and start over and over again.

 

And that is normal and OK.

 

I have not been on a run in over a month and finally, I just had to get on my shoes and head out

 

the door to do it. The run was nothing spectacular....on the contrary it was hard and depressing!

 

But that is what happens when you don't exercise for a month :).

 

Oh well, time to just get back up and do it because otherwise, it will just be harder to do so the longer

 

I wait to head back out!

Day 61

So can I be grateful for family again??

 

YES!

 

Today we got together with my cousin Jennifer's husbands side of the family for dinner to celebrate Elias's first birthday (Jennifer's fourth child who is only 6 weeks older than Charleigh) and a couple others on his side.

We joke that we are their cousins since well... technically we are family :).

 

We got together to eat and share good food, chat and play games while the kids played.

 

It was a good ending to a wonderful weekend and I feel so blessed when we get together with family like that. I have fond memories as a kid with all of the get togethers we had for holidays and birthdays, especially with my cousin, Jennifer. She is only four months older than me and was more like a sister growing up since I did not have one. 

Day 60

Today I am grateful for family.

 

We were able to get together to celebrate Diana's 13th birthday with family and what a wonderful blessing that was to see everyone. My brother Michael, who is busy with finishing up his masters degree in forestry at OSU was able to make it. It was good to see him and I will miss him when he moves away to Fort Collins this summer. I admire what he has done with his life and look forward to seeing all of the beautiful pictures he will share from his adventures in living in Colorado!

My brother Matthew and his wife, Nicole were also able to make it and Diana loved the make up she received from them as a gift. I remember being 13 when I first started wearing makeup to school. But holy moly...I was horrible at it. Can you say, "Tropical pink" from Wet n'Wild anyone??

 

Needless to say it was the 90's when I started my adventures in wearing make up.

 

The party was fun and the grandparents were able to make it too, as well as her godmother, Karina.

 

My mom brought these fun outfits for Charleigh and made Diana and I matching infinity scarves. A fun weekend catching up with mile high chocolate cake, made for a blessed day.

Thank you to those that came and blessed our day!

♥