19

Oh my the weekend flew by fast!

I had sick kids all last week with fevers, croupy coughs, chills....

You get the idea.

So alas I am behind on my thanksgiving journal.

Day 19

I am grateful for my three.....
BEAUTIFUL, SMART, DRIVEN, PASSIONATE CHILDREN.

Almost 11 years ago in February I became a mother.
Diana rose changed my life for the better.

Being a mother made me.....
 become closer to my heavenly father
a better wife....
more driven...
want to become a better person...
more empathetic...

As my eldest, her and I have a very close relationship.
Her sweet testimony and friendship have blessed our home.
She brings peace and love to her siblings.
I am grateful that she is my oldest because she is incredibly giving and nurturing; a wise older sister who provides a shinning example to her siblings.

3 1/2 years later Taylor entered our world.
His birth was an accomplishment beyond all comprehension.
Without pain meds, a head off the charts, a cracked tail bone and hip later....
The world welcomed my handsome son.
He was such a HAPPY baby.
He made me laugh everyday with his big brown eyes and endless energy.
My favorite time spent with him was singing to him as a toddler.
He would say "one more mommy??"
I would end up singing to him for hours sometimes.

Last of my three is lil'miss Chloe, who is....
full of fire, passion and has such a desire to be better!
As a baby Miss Chloe was sick with chronic ear infections.
It became such an issue that hearing loss and speech was discussed with her doctors
After ear tubes and minimal hearing loss....
You see a happy little girl who honesty has the drive and ambition to go anywhere her heart takes her.
She always tells me
"Mommy I am going to be a doctor someday so I can take care of you when your old."
I do not doubt someday there will be a Chloe M.D.

This is why I am a mother

♥

Diana, Taylor and Chloe

Each one changed me

Each one is a blessing from the lord, so slow down each day and enjoy your kiddos....

♥

Life is too short to miss out on the blessings of motherhood.

 

18

Day 18

I am thankful for my healthy body....

and my....

♥

CURVES!!

♥

17

Day 17

I have lived in Oregon since I was 3....

So you could say I am used to the rain.

I am thankful for rainy days where you can snuggle up with your little ones to read books and play board games for hours!

♥

16

Day 16

I am grateful for modern medicine.

Last night when my kids had dark croupy coughs.....

Their inhalers were a blessing!!

Without them it would have been a scary night with my son. 

Finally found it!

Source: styleathome.com via Dwi on Pinterest

Oh  my goodness!

This creates shivers just thinking about it.

Someday this kitchen will be a reality :)

♥ it!

Lunch dates

Day 15

Today I am grateful for LUNCH DATES.....

♥

with Mr. Nye!

* Picture from camping this summer 2011*

We ate at Panera bread in C town and loved every minute of it.

It's nice to steal a romantic moment away in the middle of the day with my man.

14

Day 14

Today I am thankful for my children's teachers.

At school

At church

Their coaches

It takes a village to raise a child

We've been blessed with teachers and leaders who have given my kids the direction

and attention to be better people!!



13

Day 13

Today I am grateful for my faith...

my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ.

Mt relationship with him is sacred.

He is not only my Savior but my brother who has carried me  when I could not walk, giving me the strength and love I need to get through.

♥

Please watch this amazing video.

♥
Rach

12

Day 12

Today I am grateful for time spent with friends!

and believe it or not...

I have a husband that is going to let me out NEXT weekend too to see the new movie.....

BREAKING DAWN: Part 1.

Yes I know roll your eyes....

♥



10 and 11

Day 10

I am thankful for health insurance!

Even though our premiums went up UP UP UP.....

We are lucky to be protected if one some has a broken arm, surgery, pneumonia.....

It is more $ than last year but hey...we have it....

and Keith's employer is helping soften the blow financially!

Day 11

I posted this on FB this morning and on my blog a couple of years ago; it truly embodies how I feel about Veterans Day.

So today for day 11 I am thankful for all the men and women who keep this country safe!

I  will be thinking about my Grandfather, Marvin Simpson today who served in the Korean war

and

Nathan Christensen who is currently deployed.

 I have German lineage. I have ancestors who came through Ellis island to find the American dream. I have ancestors who walked across the plains for religious freedom from the mobs. I like many Americans have many lines, Indian, German and what ever else melted into the pot because that is what we are. A melting pot. This great nation brings people from all over the world to its borders with hopes and dreams that they can have a better life. It brings religious, political and ethical freedoms to each new immigrant as they stand to take the oath of citizenship. Everyday I live in this country and I question, how did I make today a better place? What did I do for my country?

Today is veterans day and my heart is with those families who have their husbands, mothers, and grandfathers overseas. Honor them today by making this country a better place. Lets serve one another to make this world just that must brighter; to make this great nation, the united states of America as a whole that much brighter, to be a beacon unto the world, so that our light might shine unto those that need it. God Bless America and Happy Veterans Day unto all who have served and will serve to keep this great nation and its values safe.

♥

Rach

8 and 9

I guess life is so busy for me I forgot yesterday....again...but hey....I am here blogging now....better late than never, right?!?

Day 8

I am grateful for my job and the fact my husband has full time employment!

We may not be $$$ but we have a warm home and cars that work.

This blesses us beyond measure.

I work with the MOST incredible person.

Deb. your a blast to work with and honestly it is not "work" with you.

Thanks for being the best co-worker.......EVER!

♥

Day 9

I am grateful that my kids have loving and caring grandparents.

♥

I grew up with basically one set and to have TWO sets that live only 10 minutes apart from each other is honestly a blessing now only for our family.

Life is good!

- Rach



Day seven

Today I am thankful for the power of prayer.

It brings....

peace

knowledge

comfort

love

a friendship with my father in heaven

and direction in my life.

With out it I would be lost!

Sisters and trails

I guess I missed yesterday....

I came home and enjoyed my kiddos after a beautiful trail run!

So for day five I would like to say I am grateful for trail running.

I'd never run on a trail over three miles.  Yesterday I had the wild chance to run 13.1 on the Silver Creek trails. It turned out to be one of those "Ahh" moments where you discover a secret passion that excites you all over again about your favorite hobby.

Running in the NW not only provides endless beauty but being able to run about waterfalls and the breathtaking views of Silver Falls State park was a blessing. I am grateful for not only a great friend from church to run with me (THANKS T.) but the health and strength to do so. Four weeks before I had run the Portland marathon with my friend A. To add to this craziness I decided oh why not sign up for a Halloween half marathon the weekend before....yeah....it's true.

But in all its craziness I discovered something new about myself.  I am thankful for that! Life is too short to not discover new passions and open doors just waiting for us to open them.

For day six I want to say I am thankful for my sister.

Never a day goes by that I do not pinch myself for finding that "bosom friend." - Anne of Green Gables

Love ya girl!



Eternal

Day four

I am thankful for my husband.

If you did not already know.....

We were high school sweet hearts.

From day one he has swept me off my feet.

He is my best friend.

My support.

My confidant

and best of all...

I get to spend the rest of my life with him. 



Giving thanks

Nothing is impossible for the word itself says's "I'm possible!"

- Audrey Hepburn

From today until Thanksgiving I wanted to write down what I am thankful for because I have been blessed beyond measure in my life. Oh yes there are crappy things that happen but in the big picture of life I am blessed and those trials start to look small when you look at what is really important. Today I start out on this journey of gratitude to reflect, ponder and learn more about what I can give back.  Feeling gratitude for our blessings is only half the equation.  It is giving back, digging deep within ourselves to see what we can offer is what really brings ones complete gratitude and peace in this life.  

Since it is November 3 I will write three "gratitude's."

1. My parents.  Ah yes. With out their love and support many of my goals and ambitions would have never come to reality in my life. It is with that, I was able to succeed in college, have a mentor when I needed it and the most obvious; their love. Their love gave me a good foundation from which I could learn and grow.

2. My Trails - Our trials in life are an opportunity to gain perspective, gaining a better understanding on a subject we might not have learned had we not been given that trial to bear. With out my trials I would not be who I am. Each event changed me, giving me the opportunity to choose the better path.  No I am not perfect and some of my trials are self inflicted BUT each one taught me more about me; giving me an opportunity to turn to the Lord.  Trials are not fun but if we have the right attitude they can be blessings in disguise.

3.The beauty of the Pacific NW - I have pretty much been an Oregonian my whole life minus the three years I lived in Utah from birth to three years old. The lushness of the NW and its rain brings a way of life I have become accustom to. I relish in it and the beauty that surrounds the tranquility it brings to its landscapes. I honesty would miss it if we ever had to move (not planning on that anytime soon!).

So there you have it!

What are your gratitude's?

♥

Rach