Yesterday I had two visitors and a phone call and each of them had things in their lives that are so difficult.  It caused me to pause and be thankful for the blessings that are ours.  And realize that no matter what’s going on in your own life, someone else has it much worse.  One…

Am feeling a need to catch up with these…have been waiting to be able to download pics from the new camera, but am not savvy enough to figure it out without Derek, so here goes: For the MATRIARCHS in the FAMILY: 1.  For my mom, who has been through plenty of trials this year at…

So many things to be thankful for this week… 1.  A really sweet friend who decided it would be a good idea to have a little get together on my behalf…sent out an e-mail and several girls that I haven’t seen in a while came to visit with me last night.  It was a nice…

I’m grateful today for these kinds of moments: 6:03 a.m. Sunday morning, 2 stowaways in our bed, Jacob’s snoring keeping us all awake, Caleb rubbing our arms whispering "Mom’s arms are softer than Dad’s because hers aren’t hairy", and this little life inside me acting like he needs to make his presence known too. Something…

I’m not very good about keeping up with this every day, but figure that whenever I can get it in is better than nothing.  So here goes, my second list of "gratitudes": 1.  The smell of clean.  I am crazily in love with the smell of Lysol kitchen cleaner, Tide and a floor cleaner called…

My friend, Shelley, had a great post on her blog about gratitude and invited her readers to "count their blessings" essentially by listing what they are thankful for this month.  It really got me thinking and, particularly in this process that we are in, I think it’s been a great exercise for me.  Here goes:…

For the past couple of days, Caleb has been saying this in his daily prayers: "We’re thankful for mom…please bless she won’t be pregnant anymore." I think he’s had it!  But boy does he take good care of me.  Likes to make his own lunch (minimal supervision still needed), cuddles with me on the couch…

My little goblins are so convinced they’re spooky and scary, when the reality is they are way too cute for spooking.  Here’s a preview of their "scariness" from Saturday night…on their way to the Trunk-or-Treat.  And with Derek’s mom, Sherry, visiting from Utah. Here’s Derek and I thinking we’re funny… Jacob and Caleb still refused…

I have lots of pictures to share from the weekend.  Hope to get to that later today.  In the meantime, wanted to get a few of the cute things the boys have said down on "paper". Jacob:  We had family over last night for cake and ice cream.  For his b’day, Jacob got a new…

I do have some pictures! My stepmom, Christy, kindly spent the week with us last week to help out.  On Thursday my Dad came and joined her for an overnight visit.  He brought his golden retriever, Sophie, and their new puppy…a 2 lb. Maltese named Chloe.  My boys fell in LOVE!  And I have to…