Thankful

I wanted to write down the top 10 things I am thankful for this year. I have been so blessed over the past year, and it's hard to narrow it down to what I am most thankful for. But, here we go:

1-The two people in the picture above. There is no one I'd rather spend time with than Seth and Rebecca. I'm so grateful for my fun-loving, hard working husband and our beautiful daughter. Seth makes it possible for me to be a stay at home mother/homemaker, which I feel is a full-time (and then some) job! I love it though, I feel like I am living a dream right now. I love taking care of my home and family.

2-Rebecca is my angel. It's hard to explain, but she makes me want to be a better person, more than anyone else in my life ever has. And when I'm in a difficult or new situation, she gives me confidence just because she is there with me. I don't know how I ever survived without her!

3-Where would I be without the gospel of Jesus Christ? I don't want to think about that! I love my Savior and will be forever grateful that I was raised in His true church, I never had to search for it. I feel that I have always had a testimony, it just grows all the time. The gospel gives me peace in my life, direction and purpose, and happiness that lasts.

4-The most recent house Seth built is still not sold, but an investor has taken over payments and found renters for us since June, and it is such a relief and amazing blessing that we ran into this investor and have the peace of having that bill taken care of each month. Let's hope he can sell it next year! It will be nice to move on from that.

5-We have been healthy this year, no major sicknesses or accidents. I am grateful for our strong bodies and minds, and for the opportunity to learn and grow in this life.

6-We had our first successful garden this summer, and it was so fun! I never knew how fulfilling it is to grow things, and to see the "fruits of our labors" in this way. I loved going out there to grab something to use in the dinner I was making. I am so grateful for good food!

7-With the economy getting worse all the time, I am so, so grateful that Seth has a good job. We know many people who have been affected by layoffs, or lack of business, and who are hurting financially. We've had our struggles with this too, but we have always been ok and had all the things we need. I'm learning to be happy with less and to make things last longer and I think that is a good thing.

8-I am grateful for good friends. I don't have any family close by, and it's nice to know I have people here who are like family, who would do anything for me.

9-It has been amazing to me this year, how my Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need and He sends people into my life to help me. When I'm sad, a friend calls and lifts me up. When I need something, people are inspired to share with me. It's been a lesson to me this year, to receive with a heart full of gratitude. It's easy to be on the giving end, and it has been humbling to receive so many nice things from so many unexpected places. That's how I know God is aware of my little family and our needs. I'm grateful for people who listen to the spirit and are willing to give. It has taught me to look for opportunities to serve and to pay attention to who might need me each day.

10-I'm grateful for my home, to live in a wonderful city, for this beautiful Earth, and for my life in general. My life is so good. I'm grateful for a loving and forgiving Heavenly Father, for each new day, the opportunity to start fresh and be a little better.

Your new Avon Lady!

That's right...I started selling Avon a week ago! And I am so excited to say that it is going really well so far! I've had a great response, and just wanted to let everyone know that I've started this new business and if you'd like a catalog to look through, I'd be happy to drop one by your house.
I've been thinking for months about starting some kind of business, but nothing felt completely right. I want to do something to help my little family out financially while Seth is in school the next few years. I don't claim to be a beauty expert, but I like Avon because it is affordable for people, and a lot of the stuff they sell are things people buy all the time in WalMart, like makeup, deodorant, jewelry, gifts, etc. FYI: They have lots of fun stuff for holiday gifts right now!!! And I can save people time and money and a trip to the store, since I deliver their orders to them. So it's a good deal for me and for my customers. I love it that I can bring Rebecca with me, also. It would break my heart to leave her and go work somewhere.
So wish me luck as I start this new little business! If you know anyone who likes Avon, I'd be really happy to get some referrals. And I'd be happy to be YOUR Avon lady too! Those of you who have bought from me, I really appreciate your business and support.

Fall Pictures

Well, we finally finished Rebecca's room!! I love it, and I'm so happy to have a place for all of her STUFF!! Whew! I feel like we have at least doubled the amount of stuff we own since having Rebecca. But now we have a place to put it all! And it looks so good.

This is my carousel from when I was 9 or 10. I was so excited the year I got it for Christmas, and then I got to spend the next few years collecting the horses/animals to put in it. It turns and plays the song from "Carousel" and the horses go up and down. It was fun for me to get it out of its box downstairs and clean off all the dust (that took a while!) and put it together for my little girl. When I gave it to her, she was so happy. It was really cute.
Rebecca's favorite hangout lately....AAARRGGHHH!!!! And why does she always go for the knives?!?!? These next few pics are from our weekend at the Bancroft Farmhouse a few weeks ago. I found Rebecca upstairs babbling away to all these dolls.

I took Rebecca for a ride on the RHINO!! So Fun!! Can you tell she LOVES IT?

And of course the swings. I had to pry her little fingers away when it was time to go in. She thought it was the end of the world!

My mom used to take pictures of us kids every fall. I will carry on this lovely tradition...fall is such a beautiful time of year! Rebecca loves to crunch around in the leaves. Here are my favorite shots I got of her.

We walk at the park and lately Rebecca has to push the stroller. Which is good...maybe it will help her finally learn how to walk. Maybe. Anyway she pushes it along, smiling and waving at everyone who passes us, and looking so proud of herself the rest of the time. She is so funny. And then she throws a little fit if I try to make her ride in the stroller, and she slides herself right out of it if I don't strap her in quick enough. My little baby is getting so independent! I just love her, she is the highlight of my every day.

Halloween!

What a fun time we had in October! So many fun things to do. I'm so glad the weather has been so beautiful this fall, we've been able to play outside a lot, which Rebecca loves. Here we are at the local pumpkin patch. My friend and I picked the right time to go, we had the place to ourselves, and it was soooo cute! They had rows of pumpkins, corn stalks, hot chocolate and cookies, this cute barn, and a straw-bale maze. It was really fun! I tied Halloween ribbon in Rebecca's pigtails, but you can't really tell. Too bad. It was a battle keeping them in her hair all day!

We finally got around to carving our lovely pumpkin on Oct. 30 Rebecca looked like she wondered what in the world I was doing the whole time. She can say "pumpkin" really well now! We saw so many last month, it's no wonder! I dressed her up in her fairy pajamas and let her wear the fairy wings from Grandma K. She loved them, and the wand. What a cute little fairy I have. She's so funny, I tell her to smile lately, and she does this cheesy smile, every time.

Our ward did a Trunk-or-Treat. We did games and dinner first, and a lot of people came, and it was a good time! Here is Rebecca planting a big smooch on her little friend the skunk!

Here we are, the fireman and firewoman with our Dalmation. I like to dress up. What a fun day...we saw so many neat costumes!