So thankful.....an attitude of gratitude!

I know its been soooooo long since I blogged, so forgive me please!! (Not that anyone besides maybe my sister Wendy reads my blog anymore....I don't blame anyone for giving up on me!!0

So, its been a while. Updates are due. First off- everyone is doing really well. We are happy and healthy...what more could we ask for? (More money, but that goes without saying, right?)
Just kidding. We are truly blessed.

The kids just keep growing like weeds...literally they are all shooting up past me! The boys have officially "outgrown" their mother (although I tell them being 5'3 3/4" isn't tall!!) The girls are getting so grown-up too. They are all in school now (Jenna started Kindergarten this year) and for the most part, they really love it. Jenna for sure tells me everyday how much she LOVES school!!!

Alan and I just celebrated our 18th anniversary. Hard to believe we've been married for as long as we lived at home with our parents and siblings. He is awesome and I am so lucky to have him as my spouse!!!

I was impressed this last conference with the many references to gratitude. Its true that I often focus on the negative and what's going wrong instead of paying a little more attention to what is going right and all the blessings in my daily life. So this is my small tribute to all the blessings I have been given.

First, I have to give much thanks for my wonderful family. My husband, my kiddos, my mom and my brother and sisters. This summer I also had the wonderful blessing of reconnecting with many members of my extended family at a family reunion up here in Utah; aunts, uncles, cousins, new cousins (the children of my cousins), their spouses- some I had never met. What a blessing it is to have such a large and wonderful extended family. My family is AWESOME!

Second, I am so grateful to have the gospel in my life. Although last Sunday we had FOUR baby blessings and not enough room in our chapel to hold everyone (it was very loud and crowded and put me in a very bad mood) I need to look at it as a positive instead of a negative. I love living in Utah where we are so close to church headquarters and so close to so many temples. What a blessing it is to be surrounded by so many GOOD members of the church- in my neighborhood, in our schools, in our community. This is truly a blessing of the restored gospel. Its not only something particular to Utah- but in Eagle Mountain where the LDS population is about 95%- its a huge blessing. Also, I have a neighbor who recently moved here from Florida and is taking the discussions and investigating the church. What a blessing to be in such a densely populated LDS area and still have the opportunity to help someone investigate and discover the truthfulness of the gospel.

Last, I am so grateful for all the material blessings I have been given-not to sound trite or superficial..but I really am grateful for having good vehicles to drive, a comfortable home to live in and good food to eat. Sometimes I get caught up in always wanting more, or newer...but I am truly grateful to just have what I have. Someone once said..."Happiness isn't getting what you want, but wanting what you've got." (Seriously I think thats a song lyric from Sheryl Crow!!!) But its true. And I'm grateful for that!

Hope this fall finds you happy and healthy and grateful for the blessings you have in your life.