I am Thankful

I have been thinking tonight about the many things that Clint and I have been blessed with. I do this every so often to remind myself that it doesn't matter what I don't have b/c I have been given so much already. So many times I think we (including myself and I say we b/c i know I'm not the only one) take things for granted and focus on what we want rather than what we have. Sure, there are things I would love to afford like rugs to go in my bathroom so I don't have to use a towel on my floor, or a "new" used car or a dishwasher. While Clint is in school we have lived meagerly and I have gotten used to doing without. Please know I'm not at all trying to complain, I'm just stating facts. So, with out going on and on I would just like to say some things that I am very thankful for.

1. A righteous wonderful husband who loves his family and tries to do his best at whatever he does
2. Two beautiful children
3. Temples
4. A warm home to live in
5. the gospel
6. A good education
7. Freedom
8. I get to vote and be apart of gov't if only a little
9. Love
10. The atonement, the allows everything to become everything, including me
11. Faith, my own and others
12. My parents and in-laws
13. Learning, always and forever
14. Trials, b/c they make you stronger
15. Mountains, they make me feel at home
16. Running, and exercise in general
17. Electricity
18. My car, it may be falling apart, but at least I still have one and it wks (most of the time)
19. My body
20. My mind
21. Pictures
22. PBS Kids, Kaily loves it and I can get things done. (I know mom of the year)
23. Washer and Dryers
24. My mission
25. Clint's mission
26. old friends
27. art
28. nature
29. The smell of my Dad
30. My brothers and their families

Each month I want to be able to list 30 new things that I am thankful for. There is so much out there and so much that we really do have if we just take the time to look. The "other" stuff, the stuff that you don't have yet...well, I don't know about you, but that is what we have dreams for. Something to wk towards, a goal. I may not have everything I want, but I certainly have everything I need right now.

Gratitude and the Holy Ghost

"You could have an experience with the gift of the Holy Ghost today. You could begin a private prayer with thanks. You could start to count your blessings, and then pause for a moment. If you exercise faith, and with the gift of the Holy Ghost, you will find that memories of other blessings will flood into your mind. If you begin to express gratitude for each of them, your prayer may take a little longer than usual. Remembrance will come. And so will gratitude." Henry B. Eyring, "Remembrance and Gratitude," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 13

Conner's obsession

I remember when my little brothers were actually little, like my kids age or maybe a little older, anyway, they had a thing for paper. Well, that obsession seems to have drifted down to my son. I don't remember Kaily enjoying a stack of paper quite as much as my little Conner does. If I am reading the paper or looking through ads he has to come over, get on my lap (any way possible) and see how fast he can or if he can rip them out of my hands so he can eat them and rip it up. If I leave them on the ground he has them all over the room in a matter of min. The funny part is, he can't even crawl yet. He does this army crawl thing. I know it's just a matter of time before he does really crawl though b/c tonight he got up on all fours and started to rock back and forth. SO SCARY!

Today he also got his 6 month shots. (I know I'm behind but that's the Dr. office fault not mine.) He cried as soon as they stuck him with the needle and if he looked at the nurse who did it he made sure she knew he was mad at her by screaming at her every time he looked at her. He snuggled his face into my shoulder and whimpered, but as soon as we were out the door he was fine and has been fine all day. He is now 18 lbs and 27 inches long. He's getting big.

To love or not to

The school week for Kaily has ended and we seem to have come through it just fine. She LOVES it! Her teacher is very nice and always has lots of praise for Kaily. Kaily talks about school nonstop for about an hour after she gets home and then she asks to do homework. Clearly this child doesn't take after me, or her dad. (= The week has just begun for Clint though. I don't think "overwhelmed" quite describes how he feels accurately enough. I think there are actually a few adj. he would use to describe how is feeling right now. This week has been crazy and every day when he comes home I ask the same question, "How are you?" Everyday I get the same deer in the head lights look. I know he can do it, deep down he knows it too.

School has arrived

School has officially started. I thought I would be nervous about sending Kaily to school, but the truth is I was more nervous about sending her daddy than I was her. Yesterday was our first day. I dropped Clint off at school at 8am and then Kaily and I went to get our hair trimmed. She wanted nothing to do with getting her hair cut, but the lady was great and Kaily ended up actually liking it. Conner was a stinker through the whole thing and refused to stay in his seat. Then we went shopping b/c I wanted to get her a new outfit for school. I ended up getting her new pajamas instead. Then b/c it took us so long to get everything done I had to race to Wendy's to get her some lunch before dropping her off at school. (BTW Wendy's is her favorite b/c they give her ice cream with her meal.) After we finished I went to the school, before I could even stop she was out of her car seat and trying to climb into the front. "Bye mom, I'm off to school." I asked her to wait so I could take her in, but she said, "That's ok, I'll be fine." Needless to say I took her in anyway. As soon as we got there she said, "bye mom, see ya later when you pick me up." Conner and I went home and I really didn't know what to do with myself. It was so quiet and I felt a little guilty for not being one of those moms that sit and wait on the first day. I was more anxious about hearing from Clint than I was for Kaily. She ended up having a great day and so did Clint. They are a bit overwhelmed with the new schedule though, but that will come in time. I'll add pics when I can get them.

Kemp family

Every year when my Uncle Russ and his family comes into town we have a Kemp family reunion, for all those that live in Utah. My Uncle's family lives in Missouri and it's always so fun to see them. This year they brought my cousin, Laura, to school. We are happy to have Laura so close. The reason we are all here. I love my grandpa! When I think of a real Superman, I think of my grandpa. He maybe going blind and he may be 85, but he is healthier than a lot of people out there. I'm also grateful he found grandma, she may not be his first wife, but he keeps him company and makes him happy. This is where my dad always ends up, behind the grill cooking. For as long as I can remember my dad is the one who we all count on to make his yummy beans and do all the grilling. Thanx Dad.