Right Now...

Out of my window:  There's a bit of fog, a bit of snow on the ground and a lot of packed ice on the sidewalk near the garage (got to get some ice-melt on that today!).
I am wearing:  A pair of my favorite 501 jeans, a pink fleece sweatshirt and no socks (my feet are freezing...I always put on socks.).
I am hearing:  The TV upstairs...Brent and Bailey are chatting while they are finishing up breakfast and getting ready to head out to work on the addition.
I am thinking:  How much I'm going to miss Bailey when he heads back to school in a week AND especially how much I'll miss him when he leaves on his mission this spring.
I am thankful for:  My family, the opportunity to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and I'm so thankful for good health.
I am creating:  Jessica's wedding quilt!  YEP...Jess and Jordan have been married for 1 1/2 years...I am finally binding it...I'm about 1/4th of the way around the quilt.  I hope to give it to her this weekend.  (Good thing they have wonderful aunts/grandmas/mother-in-law who were much better prepared than I was!)
I am going:  To Logan to do our "monthly" shopping...all of the cleaning supplies, household items, etc. are much cheaper to purchase at Sam's or Walmart than at our local grocery store (but Kent's, our grocery store, has the BEST PRODUCE around!!), look at a new couch set for the front room and buy some blinds for our master bathroom (That's what I'm using some of my Christmas money on.)
I am hoping:  For LOTS and LOTS of snow.  I have two guys here who are chomping at the bit to head up to the hills to snowmobile and there's not enough snow.  Even the skiing at Beaver's horrible! So, I'm hoping for more snow!  (Plus, I can't wait to have a sledding party at the sledding hill!)
I am reading:  Pirate Latitude...it's a book Bailey gave me for Christmas.  It takes place in Jamaica and the Bahamas during the 1600s.  I'm really liking it.
Around the house:  We still have up our Christmas decorations, there are lots of yummy treats to eat and it's time to start thinking about putting Christmas decorations away. :(
One of my favorite things:  I LOVE being home!  I love having my family here...probably my favorite thing!
A few plans for the week:  Write thank you notes for Christmas gifts, get caught up on filing at school, make the school's January calendar and newsletter, family dentist appointments, New Year's celebrations, clean up the video/game closet, etc.

Loving Sunday!

We left bright and early on Sunday morning to head down to Matt and Gail's church for Claire's baby blessing.  It was pretty bad weather and not too many road plows had been out.  We barely made it on time...right at 9:00!  It was a wonderful meeting.  Not only was it a very special blessing for a beautiful miracle, but I especially loved it because all three of "the guys" in our little family were able to participate in the blessing.  Now that Bailey is an Elder, he was able to join Brent and Jordan (plus all the other guys) in the priesthood circle.

We spent the rest of day at Matt and Gail's playing games, eating and visiting.  We don't get to see them often enough.  Later in the day, we headed down to Salt Lake to meet the Hess Family and attend the First Presidency Christmas Devotional at the Conference Center.  The meeting was inspirational, the lights beautiful and Temple Square...CROWDED! 

Addiction!

Okay...I have to admit it.  I LOVE bookstores!  I could spend hours and hours brousing.  Brent enjoys looking at tools, me...I love books!  They are definately my downfall.  I thought after our kids were grown, I wouldn't "need" to purchase children's books any longer, but couldn't resist the two I purchased today.  I love how they have such wonderful messages.  I always have a list of "books to purchase," so today while I was shopping I just picked up a few on my list.  Now, I just have to decide which one to start reading first!

Dad's Headstone

Red Letter Day

Today was one of those days you'd call a Red Letter Day. It was the one year anniversary of my dad's death. On some days I can't believe it's been a year, other days it seems like it's been an eternity.

My dad was an AMAZING father and grandpa. I miss him horribly. However, I know that because of Jesus Christ and the sealing powers of the temple, I'll be with my dad again. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me peace and understanding, and though it's been hard, there is always a continual hope and knowledge of things that can be.

I stopped by the cemetery on the way home and cleaned up the grass, old flowers and wreaths around Dad's headstone. I left a pretty fall bouquet of flowers. (I made the MISTAKE of putting all of the old flowers, etc. in my trunk to bring home and throw away because I couldn't see a garbage. NOW MY CAR STINKS SO BADLY!!) I have thought a lot about Dad today and have come to the conclusion that the best way to honor him is to try and be a little more like him. So, today I've decided to try and "visit" others more (sick, lonely, elderly) like Dad did. He always seemed to have time to do that, but I know he had the time because he chose to make time to do what was important.

I added this picture of Dad and Whitney because it's one that just reminds me of the "daily" Dad and Grandpa that I remember...loving, interested in his family, ever present and ever wanting to chat!