Gratitude Day 10

I'm GRATEFUL that I haven't thrown up today. I don't feel good. I woke up with a stomach ache that has come and gone all day long. I know that was probably TMI (to much information), but I have no energy and I can't seem to focus and think of something else to be grateful for.

I am also GRATEFUL for a wonderful husband who can't tell me no. I'm trying to get some scrap booking done and I wanted to go get some things in the next town over, but I didn't have the energy to drive there. I asked Josh thinking he would say no, but he told me to get out of my PJ's and we could go. He is so sweet.

Update on my hectic life. We looked at a few trucks today, but they were out of our price range. We have looked at one off and on for a month that we are thinking about making an offer on, but we can't decide. I looked on EBay last night for a tire rim, but so far all I can find is rims sold in sets of 4 (I guess that makes sense, but I only want 1).
I called the vet clinic this morning. They were open, but the doctor's weren't in. The lady pretty much told me that if I took Zipper down they would put him in a cage until Monday when the doctor could look at him. I would never do that! So we are trying to keep a bandage and some antibiotic cream on it. He tore off the 2nd one we did, but so far the others have stayed on okay. Maybe we can get it better on our own and then I won't have to pay the vet.

Home Improvements

Right now I am going through a big kick trying to make my home prettier and more uplifting. Part of it is because after Halloween, my house is so dull! But also because I want our home to feel more, well homey! In my quest I have managed to find a few things that I really like.

When my mom bought her house a few years ago the previous owners left this wall decoration in the home. Last year she made all of her kids get together and she did new family pictures and pictures of her kids. We then earned the right to replace this on her wall and I asked if I could have it. I love it. It made my hallway go from drab to fab! Today was the Holly Fair. It is where anyone who has talent (and also some who think they do) get together into 3 centralized locations and try to convince you that their stuff is better than the next persons. There is a ton of booths with jewelry, baby blankets, food, home decor, anything you can try to sell is there. I bought a few things that I think will add nicely to my home.

Ever since we moved here I have been looking for a coat rack. But I could never find the right one until I saw this one. It's perfect!

Then my mom and I saw this one and we knew that Josh had to have it. I'm not sure where I will hang it yet. Maybe above his gun cabinet or maybe I'll cave and let him hang it in the front room...

One problem in my home I am trying to correct is our lack of communications setup. Earlier this year I decided to move the computer to the kitchen so I could set up my scrap booking stuff in the spare bedroom. But to use the Internet we have to run the cord across the floor and up the wall. Every Sunday when my mother in-law comes up to email Dallon she trips on this cord and it jerks out of the wall. I thought this rug was way cute and I am hoping that it will hold the cord down so no one trips on it. Oh, and if I was ambitious enough, I bet I could make these. She just tears up old bed sheets and then crochets them into a rug.

The newest addition to my home that I am the most proud of is my memories/picture board. I have been looking for one of these for quite some time. I saw it a few weeks ago and a different craft fair. The lady was super sweet and custom made one for me. I had a hard time of thinking what to put on it. I thought about "The Christensen's" or something like that. But then I remembered the theme from last years National Adoption Conference and it was perfect! "love makes a family".

I want to have one more sign made up, but I need help finding the quote. I think I saw it on a blog recently, but I just looked through the ones I follow and I can't find it. It went something like "Sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He calms the child." I think that was what it said, but I want to make sure I get it right. Has anyone seen this quote? Please help me find it!

It's time for a change

When I get bored with life or want a change, I do something to my hair. I figure that is the safest thing to do because it grows back. I have an appointment next week, but I'm not sure what to do, so I want to hear what everyone else thinks. Should I perm it? Highlight it? Color it? What colors should I consider? What style of cut should I consider? I don't want to go too short. I like being able to pull in into a pony tail. What about bangs?
Please take a minute to post a comment of what you think would a great idea.

Blog Header Design

I have had several comments on my new header. Thank you, I love it too! I used a website (it's free), http://www.scrapblog.com/. It is kind of slow to upload picture and to browse through all the choices they have for backgrounds and accessories, but it is fun. I just make sure to have a good book to read while I am waiting on the pictures. I am trying to put together a few more scrapblogs together to place in my sidebar.

Gratitude Day 9

After the past 24 hours it hard to look at what I am grateful for. We have to buy a new truck because our's finally bit the dust (we knew it was coming) and I need a few hundred dollars to make some car repairs - it's driveable, but I have a donut tire on. Anyone want to donate a rim for my car? Anyone? Well, I can always dream. Oh - and tomorrow morning I have to take Zipper to the vet because we think a fox attacked him.
So after today I am GRATEFUL for leftovers, because I don't have the energy to cook. And I am GRATEFUL for Netflix because as soon as dinner is heated up we are going to veg out in front of the TV and ignore the world (and dirty house) for the rest of the night.

Gratitude Day 8

I am GRATEFUL for my home. It is the nicest place we have ever lived. There's plenty of room and everything seems to work well, for the most part. We have had problems with leaky pipes in the past. Here's to hoping we don't have any this year!

I am GRATEFUL that I finally finished the Twilight Series and that I don't have to wait long for the 1st movie to come out. Now if only we could do something about the crowds that are expected. Our little po-dunk city movie theater is doing a midnight showing on Thursday, 3 shows on Friday and four shows on Sunday. They have never, ever done that, so I take that to mean they are expecting a huge turnout!

Gratitude Day 7

Hmmm, I'm only to Day 7 and already I am having a hard time thinking of something to be grateful for... It's just been an average day so it's not like "oh, I'm so glad for that", or "I wish I had that."

But it is a beautiful day so I guess I can be GRATEFUL that we don't have snow yet. I can still remember last year and it was horrid! But, on the other hand, if we did have snow that I would have to be GRATEFUL for the water it would provide for us in the spring when it melted. Which to wish for?!?

I am also GRATEFUL for our wood burning stove. Working for the electric company, I am starting to see some high energy bills come in and I'm glad I'm not amongst them. Of course I wouldn't be because our house is heated by propane (YIKES!) and that is even worse. But I don't have to worry because of our stove. It keeps the house so nicely warm (ya, we opened the window for 15 minutes last night to cool the bedroom down before bedtime!).

Oh and by the way, I am not going to bed until I finish Breaking Dawn. It's so good I can't seem to put it down.

Gratitude Day 6

I am GRATEFUL for the world's most comfortable bed. A few years ago we scraped together all our pennies and bought a Tempur-Pedic mattress. It is like sleeping on air. I used to have problems sleeping all night without waking up several times in the night. Ever since we got the bed, if I get up at all, it's only once in the night now, instead of 4 or 5 times. Of course it's also the world's greatest bed because Josh sleeps in it too. Everyone should have a Tempur-Pedic (sorry, everyone can't have Josh, I don't share well!). But in the same breath, I hate the Tempur Pedic pillow. Josh loves his, I hate mine. I've had it for almost 4 years now and I bet I have only used it a dozen times.

I am also GRAFETFUL for where we live and the views we have. We live on a little dead end road so we don't get a lot of traffic. The only traffic we get is when the neighbors cows get out. They love my lawn, but they don't leave a very nice thankyou gift! I do have to travel to work, but it is still worth it! I wonder if it would increase our chances of adoption if I posted a picture of our views on our profile? Hmm, that is something to think about. I wish I had thought about it this summer when the field was green.

Gratitude Day 5

Yay, it's Monday! I'm sure most people don't get excited for Monday's, but at our house we do. That is when Josh's brother gets to email us from South Africa. I am so GRATEFUL for the wonderful technology we have that makes that possible. If not for that we would have to rely on snail mail and it takes at least 2 weeks for letters to go through the postal system.

Another weird thing I am GRATEFUL for that I'm sure most people aren't, is my job. They have great benefits and most of the year we work four-10's so that we can have Friday's off. I love that, but I think I mentioned that a few days ago. I also work with several wonderful people. I have been here almost 3 years and I still find myself comparing it to my old job (that one sucked!).

Gratitude Day 4

After seeing the pictures we took today I am once again GRATEFUL for my camera. I think it always does an awesome job! I bought it quite a few years ago and I keep thinking about upgrading, but it really is a nice camera. If I ever do upgrade, Josh can use this one as his hunting camera. I'm pretty protective of it and won't let him use it much now.

I know I already said I am grateful for Josh, but I will probably keep thinking of differnet things about him I am grateful for. Today I am GRATEFUL for a good husband who helps around the house. I don't let him do much housework because I am so picky about everything, but I do let him do dishes. He really does a good job. I tried to let him mop once, but I had to stop him. I thought he was missing spots on the floor because he wouldn't mop in the same pattern that I do. That's also why I don't let him vacuum.

Pictures

Today we went to Josh's parents and had his mom snap a few pictures for us. They're not professionally done, but I think I have the world's greatest camera, so I knew they would turn out well. I just don't think we have enough pictures for our websites. I feel better about it now, but when it snows I think we will get some more.

I think this next one is our favorite.

Josh was in this picture too, but he looked funny so I cropped him out.

Gratitude Day 3

I try to not be big into "material things," but sometimes there is something that I just have to have. When I look around my kitchen, my biggest GRATITUDE is my Bosch mixer. I love it! When we first were married I had a Kitchen Aid and I hated it. About the only thing it could mix was water. Anything thicker and it would jam up. So a few years ago I started asking for a mixer like my mother in-laws. She's had it for like 20 years and it has never given her a problem. My wonderful husband listened to my complaints and bought me one for my birthday.
As I sit here all alone on a beautiful weekend I am actually okay with that. Josh went with one of his college classes today to plant trees. It has been a lot of work and a lot of sacrifce for him to go back to school, but I am GRATEFUL that he did. Even though we feel poor and we hardly see each other anymore, we both know that when he is finally finished with school that it will improve our lives.

Cat Naps

Our kittens think that we buy everything for their sleeping purposes. Josh's parents gave us their old recliner a few weeks ago and Pyro was the first one to sit in it. She also likes the rocking chair. As soon as I get up in the mornings, Pyro moves to my spot of the bed and lays her head on my pillow. She also loves the closet. Our last place didn't have doors on the closet and we couldn't keep her out. She especially liked sleeping on Josh's pants. But as we like to say "No outfit is complete without kitten hair."

Missy thinks that boxes and bags where ment to be her personal caves. When we lived in our first tiny apartment in Duchesne (where we had a freezer instead of a couch in our living room) we brought home pizza one night. We set it on the freezer while we went in the kitchen to grab our plates. We came back in and she was on the box. She just loved us for getting her a box that was heated! And she will try to get in any box or bag no matter the size....

A few weeks ago I decided I needed a nice big basket to keep in my frontroom to store blankets in. I checked a few stores in town, but couldn't really find anything. Then at the grocery store I saw one in the produce section. It wasn't a display so I wasn't sure if it was for sale. It was above the employees doorway. I found a worker and he went to find another worker. The 2nd guy said I could have it if I wanted. So the first guy went up the ladder and had to unload all the floral and junk out of it. When he finally got it down I thought "oh, it's smaller than it looked up there." Baskets are expensive and I didn't know if I wanted to spend a lot of money on this one if I wasn't going to be happy with it. I asked the worker how much and he said to make an offer. I told him $5. He told me that most baskets that size sell for $25 at least. But he sold that one to me for $5!!! I couldn't say no to that.

I think it looks so cute in my living room. But I had to wonder - how long until the cats discover it and who will be first?

Gratitude Day 2

IT'S FRIDAY! That is my GRATITUDE today. I love Friday's. I get to sleep in with my kittens and we get up when we just feel like it. I didn't sleep in as late today because I have a big day planned, but it always feel so good to hit the alarm clock, kick Josh out of bed, and then sprawl across the entire bed and cuddle with Missy or Zipper (Pyro won't cuddle; she thinks love is torture!).

I spent some time last night working on our adoption profiles (we are trying to get 3 different sites up for everyone's viewing pleasure and to help us find our child). I've been working on the one for several months now. I just couldn't seem to get the pictures right. But last night I tried something differnet and it worked! That is my second GRATITUDE of the day. I just need to scan one more picture and I think that webpage will be ready for approval from our agency.

Gratitude Day 1

Well my fist Gratitude is easy. I'm so glad I didn't get in a wreck last night and that my car wasn't hurt. I still can't believe that I didn't collide with that deer. Josh and I looked all over the side of my car last night and couldn't find any proof. I am very grateful for that. I love my car and this is the 2nd time I've "almost" hit a deer with it. A year ago I had a deer run into the backside and whack her head on my trunk. Josh was with me and we both heard the thump. But she ran off and we couldn't find where she had hit.

The biggest Gratitude I have is that Josh chose to spend the rest of eternity with me. We've been married for almost 8 years now and I am still amazed at the way he loves me. He told me he loved me on one of our first dates. I was so scared that all I could do was cry. He takes such good care of me and I love him so much. Three cheers for eternity!

30 Days of Gratitude

First off I have to admit that after posting a Halloween thing everday was really draining on me. It was hard to find new information that I hadn't already shared. But it was fun. Then on the morning of November 1st I was visiting a fellow blogger's site and she mentioned that it is National Blog Posting Month which is celebrated by posting a blog everyday for 30 days. I looked at my October History - I did 63 posts in one month. Needless to say this was a challenge I didn't think I needed to undertake. Until today.
This morning (very early this morning) one of my fellow bloggers Inky Smiles posted a challenge to list something we are grateful for over the next 30 days. Since I have been feeling down lately I knew that I needed to take this challenge to uplift my spirits. I am also going to try and go the extra mile and list 2 things a day I am grateful for; something simple and something more profound.

I invite all of my family and friends to also accept this challenge. Everyday take a minute to think of something you are grateful for.

The sun shines all day long, even when there are clouds. What a great role model!

I hit a deer...I think

I think I hit a deer on the way home tonight. Doesn't that sound better than saying "Honey, I hit a deer!" But I can say it with pure honesty, because I'm not sure if I hit the deer or not. I had just topped out over a hill headed toward home when it suddenly jumped from the bar ditch to the center of the road. I hit my brakes and swerved left. Probably not the smartest idea, but it was a big drop off to the right and there wasn't any oncoming traffic so in the split half a second I had to decide I decided staying on the road would be safer. This put the deer on my passenger side, but still headed the same way I choose to swerve. I think I heard a thud, but it was pretty quite and I never felt any impact. Since it was dark I decided to just drive the 7 miles to the house and overview my damage there. I pulled in backwards so I could better see with the porch light. I can't tell for sure if there is anything different on my car. It is pretty dirty because I haven't washed it for a few months. As far as I can see there is a few scuff marks right at the bottom of my passenger front door. That's it. Nothing else. No blood, no fur, no big dents I can't afford to fix. I think Heaven is watching out for me and hopefully with so little proof of a collision he is watching out for deer also.

New Additions

I just wanted to take a minute and remind everyone to keep an eye on the sidebar and the bottom of my blog for new features. I've added some world clocks so we can see the time difference between home and South Africa where Dallon is serving his mission.
I also added a bookshelf with some of my favorite books (I own over 250 books so it was hard to keep it short) and I've also added some of my favorite songs to play for your listening pleasure while you read my blog. I have it on shuffle so that the same song doesn't play everytime you come to my blog. If you don't like my style of music you can pause the player at the bottom or you can turn your speakers down. I will continue to add to my playlist and my reading lists so stay tuned!

New Church Calling

Well the word is out...

I am the new Primary Piano player. Or is that the old? Not sure since this is the calling I had before Relief Society. Either way I am way excited to have it. I love watching the kids and it's not YW's! And for those of you who don't think it is an important calling I think you are wrong. It is important. The children learn more than singing. They learn basic principles of the gospel through music. When not in class they spend most of their time singing.

Missy

We rescued Missy from the vet about 5 years ago. She was deathly skinny and everyone told me she wouldn't make it, but I knew that all she needed was a little love. Oh, and the vet thought she needed tons of kitten booster shots. He gave her 5.

Missy is our meek kitten; she's also the biggest softy. She does not like to go outside. We only throw the cats out during the day and only when the weather is nice. She doesn't leave the porch! Well she does to take care of business, but she doesn't go far. She just sits at the door all day and cries to come back in. And she will only come in the door on the side of the house. I think she is afraid we will forget the food dish and so she stands right by it. She also won't fight any strays that come on the porch. She just stands there and lets them eat her food. Pyro and Zipper will fight anything that comes on the porch.

Missy also gives in easily. She doesn't put up a fight. She doesn't like water, but if you put her in the bath she doesn't try to get out. She fights and fights but once she is wet she just gives up.

Missy loves boxes and bags. But only the cheap kind that you want to throw away. I've spent money on nice cat sleeping boxes and bags and she won't use them. But bring the groceries home and she is the bag before the food is put away!

She has her own pillow on our bed. She used to be really bad about wanting love in the middle of the night so we would put her on this pillow. Now we can't get her to sleep by us! We'll move her by our side and she will hurry back to her pillow. I think the funniest thing about Missy is that she has no respect for Josh. When she walks across the bed she will around my head, but walk over the top of Josh. One morning as we finished our morning prayers she came up and used his bum as a scratching post!