Blessing a Day 2009 30

I am thankful for two very unrelated things but they both stood out as things that I am thankful for today.
I am thankful for sleeping children- all asleep at the same time. Oh the sweet silence.
I am thankful for tweezers in the car. And sunlight to use them. (I am not however, thankful I need to use them, but I am thankful they are there.)

Blessing a Day 2009 29

I am thankful for hot water. I am thankful that I can just turn it on and it comes out hot. I don't have to do anything before hand to make it hot it just comes out that way. I am thankful that I can take hot showers. What an everyday convenience, but one I would certainly miss if I did not have it.

Blessing a Day 2009 28

I am thankful that stores are open later. I can help get the kids down to sleep and make a quick run to pick up something ALONE! I am thankful I am not working retail. For 6 years I worked at the mall. Some of the time was fun- but I don't miss it.

Blessing a Day 2009 27

our family portrait the day after thanksgiving

I am thankful for traditions.
I am thankful that we can break traditions. (no turkey for thanksgiving- hooray! no stinky leftovers-hooray!)
I am thankful that we can bring back old traditions. (bookstore visits the day after Thanksgiving) I am thankful that we can make new ones. (shrimp for Thanksgiving)

Blessing a Day 2009 26.3

I am thankful that someone made us a yummy dessert to share with us for Thanksgiving Day and dropped it off.
Yum.

Blessing a Day 2009 26.2

I am thankful Jay cleaned up the leaky shrimp juice that I had thawing in the fridge. I am thankful he took care of it so I did not have to do it. gag.

Blessing a Day 2009-26

I am thankful for being able to walk. I am thankful that my feet move. I am thankful that right now my body is working. Over the last year I have hurt my heel, my knee, my ankle- nothing major needing treatment, but it hurt to walk and exercise. I am thankful that our bodies heal, and are able to do what they need to. I am thankful for that perspective and that I can be thankful for the ability to walk.

Blessing a Day 25

I am thankful for sleep. I wish I did not need it so much, but I am so thankful for when I can go to sleep when I am tired and wake up when I am rested. I am thankful that I don't have trouble sleeping. I do fight it- trying to go on less than I need. But I love how it feels when I am able to just go to sleep and wake up rested. I love to be able to sleep in- you know until after 7. Just waking up when my body wakes. So I guess I should also be thankful that my family lets me do that every once in a while. I love when we have time off of work and school to sleep until our bodies wake.
Yep I am thankful for restful sleep.

Blessing a Day 2009- 24

I am thankful for FREE.
(picture Adam Sandler in the movie bedtime stories saying free for me)

I love a good deal. I love it even better when things are free. I had the great day of free today. Tucker and I went to the mall for story time, then for a little stroll. The See's candy was out so we each had a little sample. Then we walked around to a few other stores. Tucker's sucker kept him pretty occupied so we were able to check out a few stores before he got too antsy. Then I decided to go into a store that I never take the kids. Godiva. I went in to sign up for the free chocolate of the month card. A lady in front of us was buying a large amount of chocolate and needed to just spend a few more dollars to get $10 for free. After she bought her extra items she turned around and handed Tucker a WHOLE. BAR. OF. CHOCOLATE. She said he looked so cute, she just had to share. I wanted to tell her that it was not kids chocolate, but bit my tongue. Tucker was kind to share with me. Oh delicious! All for free.

SPT- FREE

Blessing a Day 2009- 23 from yesterday

I am thankful for family nights-
I am thankful that we have a time set aside to spend time together. I used to think that every night was family night. You know when the kids were really little. But now as our family has changed with more children and different schedules, and other things we have going on, I can appreciate the counsel to set aside time to spend together as a family. I enjoy that it is not my responsibility to plan the evening. I am glad we have a little book to refer to of who is in charge of what. I am glad that I am not always the one in charge of lesson. I am thankful that everyone gets a chance to do everything. I am thankful for the time to be together.

Blessing a Day 2009- 22

Today I am thankful for a sabbath day. A day of rest from the normal go go go of the week. Even though Sunday's can be busy in their own way, it is still a day of rest from my routines, the laundry, the housework, the shopping, the errands.

Today I feel thankful.

Enjoy.

Blessing a Day 2009- 21

I am thankful for peppermint.
I am thankful for sleeping in.
I am thankful for long talks.
I am thankful for a run to the store by myself.
I am thankful for two delicious Thanksgiving dinners two nights in a row.
I am thankful that we were able to get together with my side of the family. I am thankful that everyone got along. I think they all really had a good time. Miracles never cease. (said with a smile!)

Blessing a Day 2009- 20

I am thankful that my mom is safe.
A neighbor of my mom's contacted Jay earlier today saying that she saw someone jumping over my mom's fence. She was worried that my mom might have been robbed, and she had called the police.
Everything is fine- but it shook me a little.
Thankful- doesn't seem a big enough word tonight.

Blessing a Day 2009- 19

I could write about being thankful for so many different things. When I sit down to write this every night I try not to make it too deep or difficult. I just try and think of one moment that stood out during the day that I felt gratitude. That I felt a blessing in that moment.

I am thankful that today I was available.

A former teacher of Savanna's passed away today after suffering a brain injury over the weekend from a fall off his roof. When I got the automated phone call from the school I new where I needed to be. I felt like I could not get out of the door fast enough.
As I walked into the cafeteria to hug those dear sweet girls I felt grateful that I could be there at that moment. That I was not tied up doing other things- like the rest of the week.
Nothing that I could do, but give hugs, and share love.

I am thankful that today I was available.

I am sure I will write more about this later.
Lori wrote about it.
Jim wrote about it on his photo blog. Day 107 -Click details to read what Jim wrote.
Read the families blog ...
The Griffis family blog-

Please keep the Griffis family and friends, the students and faculty at school in your thoughts and prayers.

Blessing a Day 2009- 18

I am thankful that my neighbor brought me a beautiful salad before dinner. Is it just me or does salad always taste better when someone else puts it together? I am especially thankful for the salad because as I was making the corn bread I discovered something inside it and decided to throw it out ... along with the rest of the cornmeal. I don't think I need to say why. So. The salad was a great thing to have to go along with our cornbreadless chili.

SPT- my day in three

Blessing a Day 2009- 17

Tonight I am thankful for Dr.s and Target and CVS pharmacy. I am thankful for Target and CVS coupons that give me gift cards for new and transferred prescriptions. I am thankful for our Dr.'s office that gets us right in when we call about Luke.

Blessing a Day 2009- 16

I am thankful Jay cleaned out the clogged bathroom drain. Without me asking. It most certainly wasn't his hair that was clogging it, but he took care of it anyway.

Mishcief Monday

Luke and Tucker were arguing yesterday after I was singing and handing out muffins. I had to laugh as I said-

"Now come on, do you really need to argue if you know the muffin man?"

Blessing a Day 2009-15

Today on the way to church I commented to the kids that I was so thankful for our van. That it worked. That it kept us cold when we were hot, and warm when we didn't want to be cold.
I remembered that I had written this in July but never posted it.
I am thankful for our van.

Goodbye Van
It seems only fitting to bid farewell to something that we spent so much time in.
We traveled many many many miles in it. At parting there were over 240, ooo miles on the odometer.
It had seen its share of spills-breastmilk, cowmilk, yogurt, many a sonic tipped over cup-
Food had been dropped-french fries, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, pretzels, cheerios, fruit snacks and who knows what else.
Our family went from 2 kids to 4 kids. It held many a baby carrier, car seat and booster seat, stroller, pack-n-play, highchair etc.
We traveled with all kinds of luggage and been on numerous road trips and carried more than we thought possible (besides people and luggage) from:
utah to colorado (countless trips!)
utah to oklahoma
utah to new mexico
utah to california
utah to oregon
oregon to california
oregon to utah to colorado to oklahoma to new mexico, then back
oregon to oklahoma

We say goodbye to the van that when Jack was in his if-there-is-a-hole-something-must-go-in-it phase, he put about 2 dozen pennies in the slot on the dash that housed the stereo speakers. Jay had to pry them out with tweezers oh-so-painstakingly one at a time.

Goodbye to the van who was rear ended by a police officer in Utah who tried to blame it on me, then tried to not cover the costs of repairs and replacing car seats.

Goodbye to the van that has carried us everywhere.

Goodbye to the van that drove us back and forth to Doernbechers Childrens hospital for Luke's care and surgeries.

Goodbye to the van that I spent countless hours pumping breastmilk in.

Goodbye to the van that dropped the oldest 3 kids for their first day of school ever.

Goodbye to the van that has made many a Target, Sams, Walmart run.

Goodbye to the van that has made many an emergency room visit for almost every member of the family.

Goodbye to the van that squealed in the ran, but did not need a part replaced. (we think you just did not like the rain, or maybe you did and we just could not understand your sound)

Goodbye to the van that took us to the beach many a time.

Goodbye to the van that for the longest time I wondered what your blue snowflake button was for.

Goodbye Great White.


Hello shark! We are so glad you joined our home!
You have been well initiated already- by almost every form of bodily fluid. (I can almost promise you that you won't see breastmilk!)
Your windows have been colored on with licorice, which looks so similar to red crayon.
You have already been filled with sand and red dirt from going to the lake.
Popcorn has been ground into your carpet.
The kids have bickered in you, and you have proven you have a good sound system.
The air is as cool up front as it is in the back, if we want it to be.
You have traveled well so far. We hope we take you on many road trips and that you will enjoy us stuffing you with just as much stuff as we did with the previous van. We appreciate your non squeaky belts, and your quick stops and starts.
(and as a token of my appreciation I promise to keep up with washing you and vacuuming you out at least monthly.)

Blessing a Day 2009-14

I am thankful that today they all played outside. Hours and hours, no rules, no grownups to bother them. Many dress ups and make believes. I am thankful that they all included one another. I am grateful for their ability to just play, to entertain themselves, and not "be entertained."

photo by jay

Blessing a Day 2009-13

I am thankful for my bed that I am going to go to right now.

Blessing a Day 2009-12

I am thankful that there were chopped frozen onions in my freezer tonight. Because, really. I just did not want to chop an onion. I know there are so many more things to be grateful for, but when I realized I had enough onion for the meat sauce to go with our spaghetti tonight I was so relieved. I think I even said, "Ahh."

I am thankful that Luke and Tucker played in a pile of leaves over and over again, and that when they were finished I had enough medicine to give Luke a breathing treatment.

Blessing a day 2009-11

I am thankful that this is the case ...

(taken from a twitter message to Jay today)

"been thinking of you
trying to come up with as many reasons why I love you
instead of why I could be bugged with you"

"and wouldn't you know it
there are so many more reasons to love you than to be bugged"

Blessing a day 2009-10

I am thankful when our schedules slow down for a night. When everything doesn't seem like a constant rush of who-is-going-where-and-when. I am thankful to have relaxing evenings at home. (although, I am not sure it was relaxing- but more of a not rushing around.)

Blessing a day 2009-9

Tonight I am thankful for spare keys.
I am thankful that it wasn't me this time.

Blessing a day 2009-8

We were so lucky last night to have our family photos taken. I say lucky because it was decided the day before and I did not have to stress for days about everyone's hair, or someone getting a large bruise on their face, or moods, or coordinating outfits. Lucky because we were having a wonderful photographer take our photos, and he does amazing things with light.

Jim has been doing a photo a day on his blog. I have enjoyed clicking on his link everyday to see what the day's photo is going to be. I like his descriptions of how he took the shots, and how he gives all the camera information. Never though, have I been as excited as last night to check his blog. I waited up last night just to see if I would get a peek of our family. I was rewarded!
Jim posted a photo of our family on his blog. I LOVE IT! If that is the only photo we got of the whole thing I would be completely happy. I love seeing our family in the sunlight. I love seeing our family together. I have his blog opened up right now just so I can smile every time I walk in the room.

Our families have become friends through our daughters. We have been blessed over and over by the Smith's. I will forever be grateful that Savanna was put in the same class as Jenna when we moved here in the middle of her 1st grade year. Over the last 6 years the Smith's have done so many small things to help our family out as well as some pretty big things. Lori calls often when she knows that we are going to be heading in the same direction for school things and offers to pick up Savanna. Like Saturday morning practices, or times that would be inconvenient to take all the kids.

Today I am thankful for a wonderful family photo. I am thankful for my daughters friendship that turned into a family friendship. I am thankful for their family sacrificing time together so that Jim could take a photo of our family that I love. That will help us remember this time of our life, when the kids are the ages that they are. Oh, I love this family.

November Blessing a day 2009-7

I am thankful for service. I have been the recepient of service time after time after time. Some times there are big acts of service and other times small. Today I have witnessed kind acts between family members, sacrificing time for each other. Staying up late cleaning up when it wasn't their job. Sometimes its just the offer of service that makes a difference. Our friends have been extremely gracious with us in sharing their time and talents and all that they have. Such wonderful examples of Christlike love.

I often feel like there is no way to repay others for the kindness extended to me. I try and serve others, giving of my time, or acting on a thought when it comes to mind, but most often I feel like I am coming up short. There is not a way to keep score. I will always feel behind! I have to remind myself the good feelings I get, when I am helping someone are the same feelings that someone else is getting when they help me. My" payback" may not necessarily be to someone who has just served me, it may be more of a "pay it forward" to someone else. Maybe that person helps someone, who will help the person who originally served me. I have to believe that.

November Blessing a day 2009-6

I am thankful to be home with Tucker. I am thankful for the outings we get to take together.
I am thankful to be the one who gets to teach him and see him all day long. I am thankful I am the one that gets to try and decipher what he is saying all day. (Like today- going to the zoo and how the animal he wanted to see was "optimus rhinus." Translation? A hippopotamus and a rhinoceros or rhino for short.)

I want to be the one that is home with him, but I am sometimes drained and tired.
I admit that there are challenging days. Age three seems to be more difficult than age two. He wants to be so independent! But won't use the toilet. He wants to walk by himself around the store. But he won't stay with me. (I lost him twice at Walmart.) He wants to buckle himself into his own carseat. But he won't stay buckled. And, and! he is starting to throw some pretty big tantrums.

Although it can be draining, and I sometimes crave some adult conversation it does not make me any less grateful. I wouldn't change being the one that is with him. I would miss so much if I were not here. I would miss him.

I have had several people this week ask me about what I plan on doing when he starts school. A few have even started to plan things out for me. One person asked me to pray about a part time job. I am not concerned with any of that. I have plenty of things, that when the time comes, I will be able to do, that I have postponed the last 12 years.

Right now I am enjoying my time. I am oh so thankful for it.

November Blessing a day-5

Tonight I am thankful that I live here in America.

We went to our 1st graders Thanksgiving program tonight and we started off with the Pledge of Allegiance. I don't know why it struck me tonight, but as we said it I felt so thankful to be saying it. That I was here in the USA. I was thankful that 9 years ago this December we changed our minds about a possible move to London. I am thankful to be here. I am thankful for the experiences that we have had, that we had Luke in the States. I am thankful that we have lived in Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Oklahoma. I am thankful to be right where I am right now.

November Blessing a day-4

Tonight I am thankful for grilled cheese sandwiches and leftover soup to feed my family. I am thankful for the bread, the butter, and the cheese that we had so I could make something quick before everyone headed in their different directions for the evening.

I am thankful for my Mom watching Tucker while I took Luke to the Dr. I am thankful she kept Tucker while I went to the bank. I am thankful she kept Tucker while I went to Hobby Lobby. I am thankful she kept Tucker while I went to lunch with girlfriends. I am thankful that she kept him just a little bit longer so I could run to Sam's and buy bread and milk.

I am thankful for my neighbor who offered to take Luke and Tucker from me after school so that they could go play at her house outside while I waited for Savanna.

I am thankful for my friend Julie who stayed with the boys tonight so I could go watch Savanna share her part for Young Women Evening of Excellence at church.

November Blessing a Day-3

I am thankful for my freezer. My friend gave it to me when she moved. I am thankful that I have a place to put all those chickens.  I am thankful that now we can buy more frozen fruit. All those yummy Bethel farms berries. Blueberries. MMMyum.

SPT-

Oh the things I would do for a deal. Like tonight. I waited in line for 45 minutes for my kids to have the chance to build a free lego turkey. I coupon clip and will wait in line for almost anything.

But the above photo pretty much takes the cake. Two weeks ago I stood for over an hour in the rain. Remember that Wednesday down pour? Yea, that torrential rain/hurricane. I stood outside in that for chicken.

My friend Julie had let me in on a deal where I could get chickens for $5 a bird. I was thinking it was a great deal. I talked it up all week to my family and finally Jay asked me if we were getting frozen or live birds. I assured him they were frozen. (I was hoping they were frozen!)

I got to the designated pick up spot in the Bass Pro parking lot. The line was crazy long. I parked and found a spot in line. Nobody around me knew what was going on, and I laughed aloud that I sure hoped I was in the right line for chicken. Word started to trickle down that yes we were in the right line and we were to pay first, get a ticket then wait for the chickens to arrive. The truck was arriving a little late. At this moment I started to wonder how I was planning on getting my 10 chickens, plus Julies few to my car. 

I was so glad that I decided to change into pants before I left. It was starting to feel a little chilly when the rain and wind really picked up. The line was not deterred by such a gale so I stayed put too. I started to feel water running down the back of my legs. Any slight movement and the water would shift, and I felt as if my leg was a drain pipe. An icy cold drain pipe. I was soaked through.  And cold.

I finally got to the front of the line, paid and got my ticket. I bailed all the die hard deal getters and went to sit in my car. I did not care anymore if I was first, or last. I just wanted to warm up!

I took my warm car to the end of the parking lot, and just figured that once the chickens got there I would wait to the end of the line so I could just drive my car right up. How in the world was I going to carry that many chickens? Why did I have to order so many? Why did I have to order any at all?!

Soon there was a swarm of people. I rolled down my window and asked if the chickens had arrived. A lady pointed to a FedEx truck behind me. It was a chicken run! Only there were no chickens. The poor man on the FedEx truck was just parked to have a lunch break.

So I waited. You know you have waited long when you have heard a repeat of the NPR news stories for a 2nd time.

Finally the real chicken truck showed up. I waited to get my car "into position" to pick up my birds. I waited so long that I was able to have my birds delivered right to my car. 

Hooray! It was a good thing because they ranged from 5- 9 1/2 pounds!

That's a lot of chicken!

What I wouldn't do for a deal.

November Blessing a Day-2

SUNSHINE!
I am glad that we had some today!

Playlist of my life

Listening to this....
Reminds me of ....


Welcome to our World by Amy Grant

Ironing and weeping. Filling my thoughts with the love of our Savior and how his birth and death affects my life. How even he came to this earth life through birth and left through death.

November Blessing a Day-1

I am thankful for my calling at church. I get to lead the music in Primary- After Sacrament meeting I go sing with the Jr, primary, then go sing with the nursery, then go into Primary and sing with the Sr Primary. Then all the kids come back in together and we close with a few more songs.
I love leading it. The time FLY'S by. I love the challenge of coming up with new things for the kids. I am learning so much. At times it is a bit uncomfortable, not really having true "leading" experience. But I know enough to get by, and I love music so I just keep smiling and singing.

Nana's graveside service

After a very long emotional weekend we all gathered at the cemetery on Monday morning to share memories of Nana. Nana had always said that she wanted all of her granddaughters to be her pall bearers because she had so many. 14 of them! So all the girls gathered around, with a few of the guys and brought the casket under the tent.


Everyone came together under the tent or on blankets right outside.


Sweet and tender thoughts were shared about Nana. My uncle and my mom have put so much of their life on hold this last year to help take care of Nana. My cousin Tara thanked both my mom and my uncle for not allowing Nana to go to a nursing home.
My uncle told a funny story about the man who helped take care of Nana's arrangements. He was the same one who helped with Grandaddy's. I wrote about her feelings about him here. My uncle said the same thing, except he commented that it was like Nana had found her date for the prom. She really was so happy to have found him again!

Tucker was all over the place.



The kids did great- I was a little worried how I would handle all of them without Jay there, but they did fine. (even with Tucker being all over the place)


At the end of Grandaddy's funeral we all left the service listening to the closing song from the Lawrence Welch show. This time was no exception. Only today we blew bubbles.


Everyone was given roses to put on top of the casket and we blew bubbles as we left.
We all gathered back at my mom's for lunch and visiting.
A few days later we ran into someone that had been at the funeral and Luke said- "Hey weren't you at the family reunion?" It made me laugh. We did have a great reunion while Nana was doing the same.

written 11/4/08

One year ago -third person

There's this blog I follow where the writer often tells her stories in third person.

I have found this a great way to write something when I am having a hard time putting my feelings into words. I did it a long time ago when I first started my blog. I had locked Tucker and the keys in the car while taking Luke to speech therapy. The whole thing was so emotional I just couldn't figure out a way to write about it ... writing in third person helped.

So after a year, I am finally putting my feelings into words.

She was ironing on one of those rare days when she was alone. Her husband had stayed for the morning to help her out since she had been sick. He had taken the youngest with him and would be picking up another after Kindergarten then heading to the store. It was calm and the only sounds were the steam puffing from the iron and the music from her current playlist.

The phone rang.

The voice shaky on the other end was her mother. Telling her that the time was quickly coming to an end. And this time she knew it was real.

There had been several times previous when her Nana would say that she just did not think she would make it until they got back from vacation, or that she just did not think she would see next week. But this call from her mother, she knew was the real thing.

She immediately went and changed her playlist. To the Christmas lullabies. Lullabies, because the end of her Nana's life here on earth would require the same care and love that is required and given to a newborn. Christmas because she needed the love of Christ to sustain her.

She ironed and wept. She sang and wept. She started a pot of water to boil potatoes and carrots for a pot pie. She could take food to her family. Because that is what she does when she does not know what else to do. She cooks. Surely someone will be hungry.

The next few days were filled with waiting and loving. With arranging. With hugs and more love. There were visits with cousins and siblings. Late night hand holding and singing around her Nana's bedside. Laughter and tears. It reminded her so much of the process of coming into this world. The waiting not knowing exactly when it would happen. The jumping at the phone calls thinking surely this was it. The watching and listening intently while thinking, "Is this it?" Nope false alarm." Everyone there to support and sustain one another. The waiting for the last breath. Just like waiting for the first breath. You just don't know when it will be. So you wait.

She felt like time needed to stop. That everyone else's needs should be put on hold. She wanted to spend every moment at her Nana's house with the family. But really, it was probably everyone's needs that kept her going. She had kids to take to school, and pick up from school. Naps needed to be taken, laundry still needed to be done. Homework still needed supervising.

She had a big project that she was helping with for her kids school. She had to fold 600 or so red papers to make fortune tellers for the schools red ribbon week. She felt overwhelmed at all that was in front of her. She did not know who she could pass it off to. She took them with her one evening after the kids were in bed to her Nana's house. Cousins, and sisters, a house full of people. Children of cousins, friends. They all sat around and helped fold. Everyone having their own technique. It gave them all something to do. Something else to focus on for a moment. Their hands were busy. And it allowed them to talk. She felt close with these people who were her family. Everyone was a little more gentle. She took note of her families eyes and the love that was inside.

There were many funny moments she shared, and some that broke her heart. She walked around the house that she had known as her grandparents home for all of her life. She took in the sights. She really looked. She saw generations pass through the home. She realized that with her Nana's passing she would have no living grandparents. That the oldest then would be her mom and uncle.

She recorded the sounds of the home. The yellow rotary phone. The shushing sound of the door going into the garage. The click and creek of the front door opening and the reverse creek and clank of it shutting. The rattle of the mail drop.

It was such a fast and slow few days. The waiting, the hurrying. The slowing down. The sitting. She felt overwhelmed every time it was time to leave the house. She did not want to leave her mothers side. Watching her own mother mourn and feeling her own pain was difficult. But she was a mother too and needed to tuck her littles in for the night.

She knew that this time as she left was probably it. She left her sisters and her mom and uncle and said goodnight to her Nana and goodbye.

She did not remember crying or what she felt exactly when she got the call in the middle of the night. She does remember the gentleness of the voice that called, and then being startled that they were laughing about something in the background. She felt a little left out, like she had missed something. Missed the event, and missed out on what was funny. But she was where she was needed most at that moment. And she would continually shift and adjust to take her place where she was needed most over the next few days.

The night before the funeral she, along with three dear friends made sure that Nana looked just right. They dressed her Nana, smoothed her hair. They made sure she had lipstick on. Nana looked beautiful. Just like the photos of when her Nana was young and a newlywed. She felt comfortable and glad to take care of this last earthly thing for her Nana.

Once again she was reminded how much birth and death are connected. As we prepare for one to enter this life we do the same as they leave this earth. Gently, lovingly, tenderly.