Gratitude Quotes!

At this time when Americans stop and reflect on what they are thankful for, I have been doing some of the same. I have posted on different things that I am thankful for, but I found some nice quotes that help remind of the blessings that come into our lives from giving thanks.

"Gratitude is our most direct line to God and the angels. If we take the time, no matter how crazy and troubled we feel, we can find something to be thankful for. The more we seek gratitude, the more reason the angels will give us for gratitude and joy to exist in our lives." Terry Lynn Taylor

"Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life." Northrup Christiane

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." W.T. Purkiser

"God is glorified, not by our groans, but by our thanksgivings." Edwin Percy Whipple

"A single grateful thought toward heaven is the most complete prayer." Gotthold Lessing

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie

"Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character." Author Unknown, from Be Thankful

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning." Albert Barnes

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get." Frank A. Clark

"When asked if my cup is half-full or half-empty my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup." Sam Lefkowitz

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action." W. J. Cameron

"In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit." Albert Schweitzer

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." William Arthur Ward

(Quotes found on http://www.wow4u.com/qthankfulness/index.html)

Post Thanksgiving Cooking...

Today I needed to do some cooking for my visiting teachers... I decided to make pumpkin rolls... One worked, one didn't. So not impressed when the cake sticks to the pan! Now I need to think of a recipe that include pumpkin cake. Any ideas? Maybe a pumpkin cake truffle? If you have any suggestions please feel free to share. I am excited to do some more cooking tomorrow with Bev. I am thinking of making some Chicken Cabonara, but I will see how inspired I am. xx

Thanksgiving 2010

When you take a moment to stop and reflect, life is interesting with its twists and turns. I was planning on spending Thanksgiving with Suzanne in Montana, but the weather intervened. So in the end I went down to Nephi and spent the day with Rex and his family. We had such a fun day. The Thanksgiving food was amazing. I love stuffing! After we chatted and then the games began. Yes my competitive side did come out. We were playing 5 crowns and we had to keep playing until Rex wasn't winning! Yes I was pushing this issue. Then we played spoons. I was the one who walked away with an injury. Jacob hit my fingers a couple of times and they got a little jarred. Yes it is a little swollen, but not too bad.
We watched some movies, played the new Game of Life, and chatted. It was a really fun, relaxing day. It was just like hanging out with the family. They are all loud and obnoxious, just like us. It was great.
I was thinking back to last year and how nervous I was to go meet Ben's family. It ended up being such a nice Thanksgiving too. Even though I am not American, it is a great time to stop and think of what we are thankful for. So much in life changes, but this summer I have learned how to communicate better. I have also learned how thankful I am for great friends and amazing family. I was watching Anne of Green Gables and I was reminded of a nice saying, "Tomorrow is fresh, with no mistakes." I think this is a great way to view life. If we let others have their mistakes and forgive them and ourselves our mistakes, then life would be a whole lot better and happier.

Disappointment!

This week there was supposed to be the biggest blizzard Utah has seen in years. Suzanne and I canceled plans to go to Montana for Thanksgiving, stayed inside, and waited... We waited and continued to wait. There was snow up in Logan, Jasmine has plenty of it, but we didn't get hardly any. So all the plans went by the wayside and there was a light amount of snow and absolutely freezing temperatures.
I did not go outside today. I don't want to be out and playing in -15 C weather. As much as we all know I love cold weather, NOT, that is just ridiculous. So I continue to be a hermit today. I got lessons planned all the way till Christmas, even got some review packets for the children to take home over the Christmas Break. I have a few more books to read over this week and then I will be so nice and organized.
Even when the weather disappoints there are plenty of friends who come through. I am heading down to Rex's place for Thanksgiving Lunch. Then I will see from there. I have had a bunch of other offers, which is always sweet to have great offers. Who knows, maybe the weather will warm up a little, to at least be bearable!

The Small Things in Life

I was reminded today to stop and smell the flowers. Somebody pointed out to me that I am so focused on trying to figure out the big picture, that I forget to look at the small amazing things in life. I decided to make a little list of the things that I am grateful for.

* Amazing family who love me and do such wonderful things for me.
* Nieces and Nephews who are so happy to see me. They love me no matter what I do or say, and are always excited to see me.
* Friends who always keep me busy and smiling.
* A great job.
* Money to pay my bills and have fun.
* Children at school who want me to be happy and care about what I do.
* Fabulous visiting and home teachers.
* Church.
* Temple.
* A car that works.
* Wonderful warm winter clothes.

There are a lot more, but this is my small list for the day. Maybe we should all stop that think about the small things and what we appreciate in life!!

My Thoughts on Love...

This is my thoughts in love today... please feel free to skip over this... I am more putting random thoughts down from my head!

I told someone the other night that I love to read Trashy Romance Novels. Well I love more just romance novels, minus the trash. I have been able to accept that I am in fact a sappy romantic at heart. Yes I am waiting for Mr. Wonderful or Prince Charming to show up. Yes I want to have someone to come home to at night and talk to. Someone who cares what I think and wants to listen to me, even when I am being a little crazy :)

Tonight I was watching The Lake House. Yes I love that movie, and yes I can separate reality and fantasy, just so that you are all aware. There was a quote in this movie that I really loved. Kate and Alex have been writing and they finally agree to meet. Kate waits for hours and Alex doesn't show. She writes this to him and the dialogue follows.

Kate “You weren’t there. You didn’t come.”

Alex “I don’t understand. Something must have happened. I’m sorry, I’ve got two years Kate, we can try again.”

Kate “No Alex its too late. It already happened. It didn’t work.”

Alex “Don’t give up on me Kate, what about Persuasion you told me they wait, they meet again, they had another chance.”

Kate “Life is not a book a book Alex and it can be over in second. I was having lunch with my mother at Daily Plaza. A man was killed right in front of me he died in my arms and it thought it cant end just like that in valentine’s day and I thought about all other people who love him waiting at home who will never see him again. Then I thought what if there is no one, what if you live your whole life and no one is waiting, so I drove myself to the lake house looking for any kind of answer and I found you. And I let myself get lost, lost in this beautiful fantasy when time stands still but its not real Alex. I have to learn to live the life I have got please don’t write any more don’t try to find me let me let me let you go”

It is true that life is not a book. You can not live the fairy tale life, but can't we hope for it? Do we single ladies have to settle for crap, or can we hope that someone will give us all that we want, dream, desire, and most importantly deserve? Once Kate realizes that Alex was the man at daily plaza she writes this to him.

Kate “Alex, I know why you didn’t show up that night. It was you at daily plaza that day it was you, please don’t go just wait please don’t look for me don’t try to find me, I love you, and its taking me all this time to say it but I love you. If you still care for me wait, wait for me, wait with me, wait, wait two years Alex, come to the lake house Alex, I am here.”

Often we let our fears stop us from doing our best in a relationship, or stepping out of our comfort zones to go after what we want. I think we can all say we have done this. If we didn't let our fears hold us back we could say I Love You so much sooner and with more confidence.

I want someone who will do anything to be with me. Who would be willing to wait two years just to see me. Is that too much to ask? Don't get me wrong when I talk about this I want to be this person for my man as well, it is definitely a two way street. But right now I am tired of having my heart broken. So tired of rebuilding life after someone carelessly shatters your dreams. I know I am not too picky when it comes to love and men. When I love I give my whole heart and would do anything for him. Why is it too picky to expect the same back?

I have seen some wonderful examples of love in relationships and marriage. My parents were great. Do I think they were perfect? No. But they showed me how it could be. Do I want a little of the romance in my life? Yes. Have I had it before? Yes. Do I miss it? Yes. I just hope that I can figure this whole thing out and have a little of the happiness back in my life.

My Two Boyfriends...

Some recent snaps pf Thomas and Luke. They are still so cute, and I will miss them while they are in South Africa. They are so constant in their love for me. Not a time goes by that one of them doesn't leave me a surprise. Usually something white and projectile :D

Life Catching Up!!

I thought I would write a little something and tell you all what I have been doing. The last few weeks have been so stressful for me. You know sometimes when life just catches up with you. I had a huge test to take, papers to write, and assignments to do. Plus lessons to prepare, observations to have, a social life to have, sick family, and much more.

This year is my 3rd year of teaching and I have to meet several requirements in order to get my permanent Utah license. I was stressing about taking the Praxis last Saturday, and was struggling to know how best to study. I came to school on Friday and asked Rex to give me a blessing. It was such a nice blessing and I am grateful for the direction that the Lord can give us in our lives. I felt calm and peaceful about the test. I took it on Saturday morning and it went well, at least I think it did. I have a month to wait for the results.

After taking the test I went and had Red Robin with Lindey for lunch. I love my family who take care of me. I had to then prepare an assignment for my ESL class I am taking. These classes will allow me to receive an endorsement for teaching students whose first language is not English. It is giving me lots of ideas about how to be a better teacher and when I am done I will get a pay rise and it will make me more marketable. All good things!! But the class is rather full on and takes lots of my time. I am enjoying it, but will be happy when I have some time back to myself.

Along with this I have to finish my portfolio for teaching. This is essentially writing 8 essays about my teaching and what I have learned. This takes lots of time and keeps me busy. So all these things have been freaking me out. I also need to have some formal observations done by people at work. Trying to figure all these things out has been stressful.

James has also had his chest surgery and Isis had his tonsils out. Two of my babies in hospital is sad! But they both seem to be doing better. Along with all of these stressful things there have been lots of good things going on too.

I am planning a trip to Montana for Thanksgiving with Suzanne (depending on the snow). We also had a girls night on Sunday. Nothing like Men to bring us women together. If any of you have ideas for how we can find some decent men, willing to commit, all us girls would love to know. Although I have had some people telling me recently that it is my fault that I am not married. Obviously being too picky. I have decided that you can not EVER be too picky. Do I want to be with someone for eternity who I kinda like, or who annoys me, or worse ~ doesn't love me?? I think not!

We also watched Harry Potter this weekend. Yes it was long. I did enjoy it though, which was a little miraculous. I did suffer for it today. Bev and I went out for a chicks day. We went to lunch with Rachel, told funny stories and talked about boys, then went shopping, and got pedicures. It was great, but I came home and promptly fell asleep for 2 hours. I didn't want to wake up!!

With all this other stuff going on, I have been catching up with old friends and trying to move on and find happiness. I have come to realize there is so much I can work on to improve myself. Happiness comes from within and from self reflection and change. I have been doing a lot of reading and trying to improve my communication skills. I like to think I am better, but there is always more I can work on.

Now that I have had my personal little rave, I am going to sign off... Hope you are all well. Love and miss you all back home, or in other parts of the world xxx

Halloween 2010

What is a Halloween party without a butterfly??

This year was a fun year with lots of good times. I had a Halloween party with my class. One of my parents organized the party and we had a blast. Eating lots of doughnuts. The kids loved that I was able to play the game with them and have some fun.



For school I was dressed up like a princess. I got to have parent teacher conferences that night in my old bridesmaid dress. Fun times.

The next night I went out dancing with Rachel and had a fun time flashing back to the 80's. Yes I have that much make up on. I mean what is the 80's without lots of makeup, jewelry, and big hair.



Last of all we had a big party up Hobble Creek Canyon on Saturday night. It was all the singles from around our area. Us girls had a blast, with lots of wings between us. Suzanne, Mark, Rachel, Krista, Ben, Mike, (Sara was there for the photo and party too), and I all drove up and had lot of fun dancing. After we had the mandatory dinner at IHOP and then went to Ben & Mike's house to watch a movie. I was impressed that I was able to stay awake through the whole movie. Suzanne promptly fell asleep on the couch and Mike went to bed... So finally I got to see Gone in 60 seconds.



This year was a little different then last year, but I am so glad for my amazing friends who are always there for me and help me have so much fun.

Love to you all xx