In the Spirit of Thanksgiving. . . .

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving, I have been thinking a lot of what I am thankful for. Especially if you get caught up in the times of the world (economy, war, politics, etc, etc). So here are some thoughts that I have been contemplating while working on my cardio. . .

10 Things I am Thankful for my Husband:

1. I'm thankful for his dedication to his family
2. I'm thankful for how committed he is when he has a plan
3. I'm thankful for the love and attention he gives me and Lillian
4. I'm thankful for his testimony
5. I'm thankful for his concern for those around him
6. I'm thankful for his patience
7. I'm thankful for his laughter
8. I'm thankful for his uncanny ablility to do anything
9. I'm thankful for his willingness to help out around the house when needed
10. I'm thankful for his dreams

10 Things I am Thankful for Lillian:

1. I'm thankful for her ability to be happy at all times
2. I'm thankful for her never-ending energy
3. I'm thankful for her imagination
4. I'm thankful for her love
5. I'm thankful for her desire to learn
6. I'm thankful for her ability to love sports (and learn on her own ie swimming)
7. I'm thankful for hugs and kisses
8. I'm thankful for her uncanny sense of humor
9. I'm thankful for her dedication to those she loves (ie imaginary friends, cousins, etc)
10. I'm thankful for her times of rest

10 Things I am thankful for in my life:

1. I'm thankful for a great family to love and support me
2. I'm thankful for my job
3. I'm thankful for my testimony
4. I'm thankful for a job that allows me to be home during the day and not too late at night, and that is not too consuming that I don't have energy or patience to deal with things of home
5. I'm thankful for the gym with a kid's club
6. I'm thankful for an apartment in which to live and call home
7. I'm thankful for vehicles that work and can get us to where we need to be
8. I'm thankful for my friends
9. I'm thankful for my health (with diabetes and all)
10. I'm thankful for my ability to be patient, competitive, and understanding

Here are some memories (that don't even have to deal with Thanksgiving):

1. The Thanksgiving trip we took to Arizona with David and Sharon that included Disneyland. (Leon, Eric, Jenny and I had a lot of fun racing to the rides of our choice.)
2. The summers of hiking with the family--hearing Peter and Jenny yelling "Whoa Nelly" all the way down the mountain side.
3. Still in high school during Spring break went to Utah to visit Bret, Shelly and Jerry. Convinced Mom and Dad that I could ride home with someone else and stay with Cindy. Being lost on BYU campus and hoping and praying that the group (Bret, Shelly, Jerry, Cindy, Kevin, Brian, Annette, etc) was going to meet to study on the 4th floor of the library. Jerry telling me he was going to take me to dinner and then waiting until 7 pm for him to pick me up. We went to an all you can eat taco buffet and drinks. Jerry telling me he was going to get his money worth (he didn't eat all day, and his coupon was $5.95 for two after 7 pm, and he also jumped up and down to make sure there was plenty of room in his stomach).
4. On Valentine's day in Utah, going out to my car to go to class and thinking someone broke into my car to put a single rose in it. To find out it was from Jerry and Peter!
5. Scarring Frans at a young age at the movie "Jurassic Park". If he hadn't been so adamant that he couldn't get scared, and then asking cousins what was coming next, then I wouldn't have had to scare him!
6. Being on the sidelines of the football team Peter's Senior Year and seeing everything up close and counting how many he injured on the other team.
7. Bret, Jerry, Peter, and Frans meeting up with Mom and Dad to be present for my first child's blessing. They may never know how much that mattered to me and words can never express seeing them there and what it meant.
8. The many times Jenny would come and meet up with me in Provo, and then later the many phone conversations late at night when it was needed. Can't live without our daily phone conversation?!
9. Jenny's and I trip to Disneyland before she got married. It was quick, fast, tiring, and fun (at least I remember it that way----of course our ride didn't show up to take us to and from the airport, it was early flying, couldn't decide which rides to ride first, meeting Goofy, deep conversations, etc)
10. The many, many, many times we get together as a family and no matter how long it has been, or who has been added to it, we can get together to laugh and always play cards. There has been many card playing in the years!

None of this is in any order, some other memories may come and I will think "How could I have forgotten that?" I will try not to change anything or add.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

To the love of my life! Eleven years ago I bumped into my sexy husband on the Byu-Hawaii campus and thought there was no way he would even take a look at me. He looks at me the same, if not more, and tells me I'm beautiful.

He is my strength when I am weak. He is my heart when I am low. He is my testimony when mine is failing. He is my partner when I am unsure. He is my eyes when I can't see. I love him very much and am thankful for him everyday!

I suprised him by going to the 24 hour fitness last night and decorating his locker with a banner, card, streamers, and protein bar. I then made sure I was up and ready to go to the gym this morning (not as early as he goes 5 am). He brought me (I know I am so cliche, but I am a June baby and they love roses.) red roses! Lillian ran bawling to her room. She couldn't understand why daddy brought mommy a gift and not Lillian. We tried to explain, and just not sure if she understands or not. We went to Olive Garden for lunch, where Lillian was on her best behavior. I then went to work.

The Waiting Game!

I've been distracted and feel I need to explain a little. If Sekona reads this he will probably not be too happy with me. He doesn't like having it out there.

Everybody plays a certain type of waiting game. Kids for Christmas, getting their drivers licenses, sports, etc. Adults for good paying jobs, kids, house, etc. Sometimes we understand the waiting game and sometimes we have no idea what we are doing.

This last month has been pretty much a waiting game for me. I am trying hard to figure it out and find what I can learn from it. Early October Sekona and I found out we were pregnant. As always we pray, wait and see what happens. As it seems to be usual for me, we saw the signs of a miscarriage. Through plenty of begged Priesthood blessings and prayers accepted the answer that it wasn't to be. Still, we waited. . . . I stopped going to the gym, tried not to do anything strenous and waited. I did something I normally don't do. I declined the ultrasound and just decided to go with the blood work to see that it was finished. Again the waiting to see the test results. The nurse phoned back and to me sounded confused or at least what she was telling me was confusing. I had to take another blood test, the results were going up. So I did only the tests weren't going up like it was suppose to. The doctor suggested getting a shot to terminate anything that might be there. My first instincts were NO. So I talked the doctor into the waiting game. My tests went up, but my progestrone levels were nonexistent. The ultrasound was clean and great. I stumped my doctor. He was willing to play the waiting game again, and I had more blood tests only the results were not doing what they were suppose to do. I was told I had an ectopic pregnancy. I ended up having to have the shot. Again more waiting and more blood tests. The results dropped considerably but then went up slightly the next time. My two options were to take the shot again or have surgery. The doctor suggested the shot, take more blood work and then if that doesn't work the surgery. So we are waiting again. I find out next Wednesday what is going on. At least I hope I do. One of the priesthood blessings was for me to have my body healed so that I could keep the baby (and as always if it was the Lord's will). I guess I need to heal some.

So, I sometimes worry that we are letting life pass us by while we are waiting. I don't want that to happen. I love my life and how it is moving along, sometimes too fast for me to enjoy it. Still, I have many blessings and can't deny what has been given to me. I may never know why it is this way, but I look at my family and love everything about it. To those I normally respond to and check out, to the delayed emails I apologize. I guess I was worried it would affect how I responded.

Did I mention that I have had my car rear-ended one day (thankfully no damage) and then the next had someone back into it and put a dent where my gas tank is. It is finally all taken care of, but still a lot has been going on this month.

Pumpkin, Customes, Trick or treating..Oh My?!

Here is Lillian as Princess Aurora. She came to the office so that I could do her make up since Daddy said he didn't know anything about that?! Here is Keegan and Lillian at the Ward Trunk or Treat party. I hear she had a lot of fun. Lillian had fun carving her first pumpkin. Of course, mommy had to do the actual carving but she did design it and clean it out. This was the pumpkin she picked at the pumpkin patch.

Birthday Girl!

Can you believe 4 years ago this little miracle blessed our lives. Lillian is such a blessing. She is constantly happy, imaginative, and smart. We enjoy having her in our lives. She is into brothers, sisters, pretend friends, dolls, babies, swimming, cartoons (Max and Ruby, Curious George, Scooby Doo, Tinkerbell and so forth), movies, and playing with friends. She picked out her cake. She went to Olive Garden for lunch (Mom, Dad, and Eric) and then home for cake and ice cream before mom rushed to work.

Pumpkin Patch

Here is Lillian's first choice of pumpkin. The Bi Zi farms employees informed us the kids have to carry out their own pumpkin. When I told Lillian she has to carry it, her response "No mommy it's too heavy you carry it." She searched and found 2 other ones before she picked one. She had lots of fun at the pumpkin patch.

Lillian loved climbing on the haystack pyramid. You can see the backs of 4 of the Russell's (they are the ones in the floursent yellow shirts--Toby, Perry, Campbell, and Elizabeth). Lillian said it was a lot like playing at the Hokanson's.

There was a maze made out of bales that the kids enjoyed. Here is Bronx and Lillian at the maze. There was also a petting zoo where Lillian pet a donkey, feed some goats, saw chickens and bunnies. She loved it!

Seventeen Today, ok?!

A couple of weeks ago, Lillian walked into our room and told me she was going to be 17 today. Also, she was going on a date with her boyfriend. She left for a few minutes, came back in and then asks "Looks what my boyfriend bought me?!" She had a crown on her head. I told her it looked nice. Then she lifts up her shirt and pulls on her swimsuit, "My boyfriend bought me this too." "Oh, no no no! You take it back to your boyfriend and tell him you can't have it." She responds, "But he bought it for me, mommy." My response, "I don't care. A boyfriend will never buy you clothes, ever." She stomps out not too happy. If this is how she is at 4, then how will she be at 17?