Talking

Can I be grateful for the fact that Silas is talking?  Well, I am.  Just in the last few weeks Silas has really decided that talking is a much better way of communication than grunting or yelling, and let me tell you, it is wonderful. It has fully assisted in our most recent accomplishment, potty training.  It provides countless moments of entertainment, like every time he feels cold and cries out, "Cold-y, cold-y." He says every word like it is a whole sentence of it's own: "Egg.  Milk.  More.  Please."  He also loves egg nog, but calls it egg. milk.  He sometimes (often) does things just because he knows the word for it: like when he puts things "Back."  just because he knows "back," or when he asks for water constantly, just because he knows the word "water."  I love the boy no matter what, but I'm really loving watching him discover language!

Examples

Today my Aunt Nancy posted about how thankful she is for her son, who is on a mission.  Well, today I am also thankful for my cousin Ethan, and all the other boys who are strong and faithful and are such good examples to my boys, including their own older cousins.  In today's world it is easy to follow the world and make choices that aren't necessarily what God wants, but there are so many that are making good choices, and I will be forever thankful to them and the example that they are setting for my children.

Happy 40th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!!!

Today my parents celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary!  So, naturally, today I can't help but declare just how thankful I am for them.  I could go on and on about all the wonderful things they have done for me over my entire life, but let's just stick with the last year.  Just a few weeks ago we moved out of their basement and into our own, but for a year and a half before that my parents welcomed my entire family into their home while Jared was getting accredited in Canada and finding a job.  Every time I tell people that they cringe, like living with parents would naturally bad thing, but honestly, it was wonderful.  My boys, who had spent their short lives in Michigan before that, didn't know their grandparents at all, and living with them allowed them to really get to know and love them.  Both boys are just as happy with Bumpa and Grandma as they are with us.  Mom and I did the whole Raw Food thing together, which was awesome, because honestly, eating raw requires a LOT of kitchen prep, and I had my mom to do it all with.  My mom and dad are so loving and generous, and we would not have survived the last year and a half without them.  So, today, on their 40th wedding anniversary, I am most grateful for them!!!

Craft Fair with Renee

Today I am infinitely thankful for my sister in law, Renee.  We participated in a Christmas craft fair today to sell some of our wares, and we had so much fun.  We didn't sell a whole lot, but we paid for our expenses, got rid of a few of the things we had, and made a bit extra to boot.  I've still got a bunch of hats, so if anyone is looking for some, and you're in the Calgary area, let me know: I'm selling them cheap!

Anyway, back to Renee.  I love her.  She is Jared's oldest sister and one of my best friends.  We have so much fun together crafting, and cooking, and talking while we should be crafting and cooking.  She is always happy for me to drop by and stay all day, and Eli just loves her girls.  She is an incredible seamstress (she made my wedding dress, and both boys' blessing suits) and a wealth of information on such things. In short, I love her and am grateful that we have become such good friends and will always be happy that she is part of my family. 

Friday

Today I am thankful for snow.  I love snow.  Today we had the first real snow fall of the year. It was beautiful.  Eli looked outside and said, "Does that mean it's Christmas?!"  Then he spent a good hour outside playing in it.  Snow makes everything beautiful.  I have even bought myself a nice maternity snow coat, and found a free pair of snowpants I am going to make into maternity pants.  I am ready for the winter, and excited for the snow. 

Sold to the Lady in the Second Row

Today I am thankful for horses.  I sold one of my babies today.  My pony, Zephyr, who was supposed to grow up to be my forever steed, but never really grew UP.  She was miniature, which was quite wonderful for many reasons, but not the life long companion I was looking for.  So, today I finally found her a forever family.  So, I'm down to just one horse.  I think the only other time I've owned just one horse was when I first bought Magic, another one who never really grew UP and had to be sold because of it. 

In any case, I can never express just how much the horses in my life mean to me, and all the relationships I've built because of the horses in my life. When I'm on a horse's back I am happy.  That's it.  It makes me happy.  This morning, as I rode across the field, bareback, 16 weeks pregnant, in the crisp November air, I realized for the umpteenth time just how much I love what I have. 

A Thankful November

Kay, so I'm a few days late, but this month my wonderful friend Sarah challenged me to blog every day about something I am thankful for.  Finding things I am thankful for is easy, there are a lot of things to be thankful for.  Sitting down to blog about it will be the challenge. Who wants to join us???

So, today I am obviously thankful for Sarah!  More than 4 years ago, when I first moved to Michigan, Sarah was the first person I met.  She was nursing her baby in the Mother's room during Sacrament Meeting at church when I went in to nurse Eli, who was only 11 weeks old.  Our babies were born just a day apart: instant connection! I don't remember a whole lot about that conversation, but I do remember that she asked me if I had a pediatrician and what schedule I had Eli on.  Kay, maybe only she and I will think it funny that those two things came up, but trust me, it is funny.  Anyway, she was called as my visiting teacher with Irina Jamieson (who deserves a thankful day all of her own) and soon became a kindred spirit (she'll also totally catch the literary reference of that.) 

Today, almost two years since I left Michigan, Sarah still keeps me sane, checks up on me, and makes me feel loved!  She drives halfway across the country with a six week old baby just to meet up with us.  Eli still declares that his favourite cousins are her Ava and Violet.  I love her so much and will always, always be grateful that we ran into each other nursing our babies all those years ago!