I AM BLOGGY TOO!! (Eric) I am thankful too...

I enjoy reading everyones blog, I have only posted onece so tonight I am home, Megan is asleep and Jen is out at a photoshop class, learning the art of editing etc. So I thought I would post something as well. It has been an amazing year 2008 and to cap it all off my parents are coming to Thanksgiving. It is a great time to be thankful and here are a few of the things I am most thankful for.

1. My Girls!! Jen and Megan just make me happy. I love them, and am grateful each day for my kisses and love they freely give me. I would be lost and lonely without them in my life. I can't even begin to express the peace I feel knowing we are a forever family. Just last week Megan called me, seriously on Jen's cell phone and I picked up thinking it was Jen, and she said, "Daddy?" Sl;kdfjasdfhalsfd, that is nonsense Megan talk but it was hilarious. She said a bunch of words with Daddy a couple times and then hung up. Jen called me right back after she realized that Megan had called me and we laughed our heads off, if only I had that call recorded. Nothing like technology when your 20 month baby calls you on your cell phone.

2. USA! USA! Seriously, if you don't love this country, and think it is the best one on earth,
then leave, get out we don't need you. If you can't appreciate what we have here, the freedom to come and go as you please, to say and live and work and do what we want to do then you are idiot. I love my country and I pray for those defending "the land of the free and the home of the brave" nightly. God Bless the USA.

3. Family- As many of you know, or will after reading this I literally have a ton or more of family. 6 brothers and 2 sisters and 1 bro and 1 sis of Jen's. Mom and Dad, and Dad and Alicia.
I KNOW their combined weight is well over a ton. But needless to say, my family has always supported me through thick and thin and there has been plenty of both. I want them all to know I love them, I pray for them and I wish to see them more, as much as possible because time goes by fast and the memories last forever but only if we get together and make those memories. Everyone is busy with familes and work and so much more, it is great to get together.

4. Work- I do have a great job, where I am appreciated and where I can make a difference in peoples lives. I enjoy greatly working with Veterans, and providing them a small service for what certainly was a sacrifice for them as they served in the military. Thanks to Eric K for the opportunity to work together again, it has been awesome and I look forward to 2009.

5. Jesus Yep, that is right Jesus. Keep in mind these things are in no particular order because I don't have to prioritize them, because I am not being graded, thankfully. I have had times in my life where there is no one else to turn to other then My Savior Jesus Christ. He had saved my life, in every way possible. As Christmas approaches, I ponder on the wonder that he came to earth as a baby and lived a perfect life, showing us by His example how to "go about doing good". He lives and I love him. I am overwhelmed by the love he offers me, and my little family.

Well that is enough for this post, I can't make up for years of no posting with one GIANT post so that is all for now. Thankfully (pun) there is unlimited space on the internet so I can post again sometime when Jen is out and Megan is asleep. I don't know how to add a picture, maybe next time after I take a blog tutorial from Jen.

A Grateful Heart

Thanksgiving is by far my favorite holiday. I think I like it more than Christmas because it's less stressful on Thanksgiving and not as commercialized. It's just a day filled with family, food, and thanks. I've already planned out our menu and get more excited each day! Before the holidays get into full swing and I get too wrapped up in all the frill and fun of it all, I feel like I need to express my feelings of gratitude and thanks.

First, I am grateful for my little family and our health. Eric and Megan bring so much joy to my life and I am lucky to call them mine. I'm also grateful that we are all healthy. We've had a couple health problems and scares in our extended family in the last few weeks, and it's really made me appreciate being healthy (even if Megan is a picky eater!). It's something I take for granted and have realized that it can change in a heartbeat.

Second, I am grateful for my husband's employment. There are so many people in our country without jobs right now and many more in poor financial situations. I feel very fortunate we are not one of them. Eric has always worked hard for our family and has found a job that he is good at and is rewarding as well. He's not without stress and loans are getting harder to do, but he's made the best of his situation. I'm usually not one to brag, but Eric is the top loan officer for his branch this year and has won loan officer of the month for the whole company 4 times so far this year. It's nice for him to be at a place where his hard work and talent are paying off.

Thirdly, I feel so lucky to have the friends that I do. It makes such a difference in a stay-at-home mom's life when she has great friends. They can empathize with you when you are having a hard day and are there to help when you need it. I also have really great neighbors who are always willing to help with Megan when I have a dentist appointment or want to attend the temple during the day. I count all my sister-in-laws and my one sister as friends too. I have 6 sister-in-laws that live within 40 minutes of me and I love getting together with them. We have Girls' Night Out once every few months and I'm usually not home until after 10PM when we do. My sister lives in southern California and we don't get to see each other often, but we talk on the phone at least twice a week. I'm really looking forward to seeing her when we go to California in December. We're more alike than we look and tend to act and giggle like teenagers when we are together.

Fourth, I'm grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It brings so many blessing and purpose to my life. It gives me a greater sense of direction in my life and pushes me to be a better person. I know there is more than this life and that my family is forever. It's my calm and security in these uncertain times.

There are so many more things that I am grateful for, but those are the big ones. Hopefully we will all take a moment to think of all the things we are grateful for and give thanks. Happy Thanksgiving to all!