thanksgiving

Thank-ful

the definition...

1. Aware and appreciative of a benefit; grateful

2. Expressive of gratitude

We're sitting around the table, and it's my turn to share. So many thank.ful.ness... 

• family - everyone before me and everyone after me!
• grandchildren and being a grandmother
• children
• brothers and sisters (especially sisters.. now that parents have passed away)
• parents
• hubby 
• grandparents and ancestors
• good examples
• home 
• food (too many to list -- I love the taste of food!)
• Thanksgiving dinner... especially turtle pumpkin pie and bread and butter pickles
• clean sheets on my bed
• my body; ears to hear, eyes to see, nose to smell yummy stuff, taste, the feel of things, ten fingers, ten toes, a mind to think, and everything else that keeps me alive... wow! the body is truly amazing.
• my spirit
• clothes
• shoes
• p.l.
• relaxing
• holidays
• running water
• hot shower
• engagement calendar (can't live without it!) -- I haven't converted to i-phone, nor do I have future plans to do so. I like to write things down on paper, see it, and check it off!
• talking to my children - prefer in person, but on the phone will do
• heat
• air conditioning
• a clean house
• order (not chaos)
• inspirational and landscape paintings
• faith & testimony
• temple
• scriptures
• Jesus Christ
• prayer
• family history books
• forgiveness
• sun
• rain
• snow
• good hair days
• hair color
• flowers - tulips, daisies, roses
• chocolate anything!
• microwave
• orchard
• garden
• health
• computer
• blogger
• scrapbooks
• journals
• telephone
• financial security
• quilts
• socks on my feet
• talents
• children who are good citizens
• Utah
• mountains
• ocean
• America
• constitution of the United States
• the right to vote
• American flag
• soldier - especially mine!
• freedom of religion, right to bear arms, speech
• family heirlooms
• family outings & adventures
• week dates
• coke 
• Suzie Q's and Snowballs (sad tears)
• holidays
• no schedule!
• yard 
• trees
• living in the country
• being able to see the stars in the night sky
• a good book
• a good doctor
• breathing in clean air
• color; bright colors
• snuggles and cuddles from grand babies
• nature
• protection
• safety
• personal history books (parents, ancestors)
• thoughtful gifts
• daughters that are nurses
• friendship and companionship with youngest daughter (lives close by and doesn't work outside the home)
• work
• humor
• laughter
• kindness
• compassion
• thoughtfulness
• quiet
• beauty 
• peacefulness
• respectfulness
• comfort
• education
• great ideas!
• memories of home
• creating something
• my own office
• space (like not in my face kind of space)
• alone time
• having someone else cook... that means eating out! 
• visiting historical sites
• taking trips in and out of the country (that doesn't mean I'm thankful for airplanes.. I would rather not fly)
• car
• light
• my bed - heavenly!
• old, worn, and loved again treasures!
• sunset
• sunrise
• Sunday drive
• inspirational music
• Christmas music
• Christmas lights on Temple Square
• LIFE!
• LOVE!

I think a grateful journal sounds like a good thing for next year to help remind me of all the blessing I have in my life. 

Thankful Notes

Here's a Thanksgiving tradition we do at our house. I have slips of paper and pens set out for family members to write down something they are thankful for. When we are eating pie, we  take turns sharing our thankful notes. It helps us more fully recognize and count our blessings and prepares our hearts for the Christmas season.

What are you thankful for?

Writing prompts:  #2 - Share what you are thankful for

#3 - Tell us about a favorite Thanksgiving tradition

Books

I have some books, or rather treasures. A history that great grandmother Richardson wrote and a history that her grandson, my father- Jim Bates, wrote. Mother's is in the making now, and there are many other ancestors that have left behind life sketches and journal writings that give me a clue to who they are and how I fit into the family. I feel very blessed to have them. I also feel it a duty and a privilege to do the same. I am working on it. My children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren will know me... really know me. As they turn the pages one by one to reveal my life story, as I have seen it and lived it, they too, will recognize their own faces in mine.

My father said it best....

Write one experience at at time. A birth certificate proves you were born. A personal history proves you lived - really lived. A pedigree chart proves your ancestors lived. A family history proves that they lived and because of them - you are now alive.

My face is really not mine alone. It was not shaped by my victories or defeats, joys or sorrows alone, but was designed before I ever drew a living breath. It began with my great grandfather, grandmother - or was it their parents - or theirs? I'm made up of a peculiar blend of an ancestral reservoir - little bit of him, a touch of her!

As I look at and examine my life I look for the best, the glorious, because glorious things have happened. That doesn't mean I have to leave out the heart aches and the heart breaks, somehow there's something glorious in every event.

                                                                                            -Jim Bates 

I come from an ancestry line of good writers. Their personal stories are full of color, adventure, wisdom, humor, and inspiration to do better, live better. There are examples to learn from. Faith to build on. I hope in time, my posterity is able to say the same thing about their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother. And, in turn, I hope it inspires them to write, too!

What's this stuff?

What do you do at the Zoo besides look at the animals? Eat Cotton Candy! The youngest daughter's family and I made a day of it. It was a beautiful Autumn day. The weather was perfect and the changing leaves made for a spectacular backdrop of picture taking. 

After taking a ride on the carousel  we sat down for a rest. Mom decided to get Missy Moo and Buster Boo some Cotton Candy. They had never seen or eaten it before.

 "What's this stuff?"

"It's Cotton Candy."

"What do you do with it?"

"Mommy will show you!"

Take some in your hand like this.

Put it in your mouth.

You first, brother!

One, Two, Three..... Go!

Hummm..... think we'll try it again.

Not so bad, after all!

Cotton Candy gone wrong...

Oh no! it's stuck to my fingers.

Yikes!

Mommy... clean, wash.

Precious!
















Who wouldn't SMILE watching the grand kids eat Cotton Candy for the first time!

Writing prompt #5:  Tell about or show something that made you smile this week.

Courage

dedicated to mother who passed away on October 5, 2011

(The above picture - two weeks before passing, my sister and I celebrated our annual birthday lunch with mom)

I knew exactly what picture I wanted to use this week for my quote. My mother was the most courageous person I ever knew. Her mind was alert, her head in the Lord's plan for her... right up to the point of passing. Mother knew what was happening. She was in it every step of the way. She had a desire to pass away from this life triumphant. And that she did! She was prepared. She was pure. She endured faithfully to the very end. Was she afraid? Oh, yes! But she was brave. She did not waste what precious time she had left on earth. Mother spent her end of days giving gentle guidance and expressing unconditional love to all family members. The last few months of her life were spent in a Nursing Home/Rehabilitation Center for her broken leg. As hard as she worked. As hard as she tried. It was not mean't to be. Her example of patience, long suffering, and faith in God sustained not only herself, but the rest of the family. Here's to you mother... my HERO! Both in life and death.

Bucket List

Four year old Missy Moo called me today and excitedly said, "grandma, it snowed." "It's Christmas!" Winter is coming.

She asked if I were going to put up the BIG Christmas tree this year. I told her I wanted to put up a smaller one this year. She said, "but I like the BIG one". SO NOW WHAT!

When we built the house a couple of years ago, I knew exactly what Christmas was going to look like. The two story entry would have a beautiful 12 foot Christmas tree in front of the curved stairway leading to the second level. The banisters and rails on the stair case and overlooking the family room and front entry would have beautiful sweeping green garlands decked with red ribbons and white lights. It requires a full day of doing just the tree and banisters, with the kids' help. And it is beautiful! The first year with the new tree, each of the grandchildren got a glass ball to decorate and hang on the tree. It has their name on it with the year. They look forward to hanging them every year. But this year is different. 

Every five years we take all the kids on a trip to the Homestead Inn Resort in Midway. We spend three days there, ending on Christmas Eve, enjoying each others company and doing winter activities together. I try and get all my shopping done in November (NO BLACK FRIDAY for me... I avoid that day at all costs). This year is easy... the gift is the trip. Being together and creating memories as a family far outweighs any material gift they could ever receive. So I have been told. They are all looking forward to the trip. So this year... we will follow a few traditions and make a new one or two.

This year's Winter bucket list will be centered on Family, featuring SNOW and CHRISTMAS!

1. Countdown to Christmas always starts the first day of December. I get each family something to help count the days to Christmas. I change it up every year to make it exciting, and it usually includes service projects and family activities. This year each family will get a book written by Emily Freeman, A Christ-centered Christmas, and a Nativity set. 

They will learn more about Mary, Joseph, the Shepard, the Wise Men, the angles, Jesus, and the animals as they count the days to Christmas and place each figure in the creche.

2. Decorate the house. Nativity sets are displayed around the house and are the focus of my decorating scheme. After all, Christ is the reason for celebrating the season.

 My list includes:

A cardboard paper scene I got in Primary 45 years ago, and it will still sit on the piano I played 45 years ago, too!

Willow Tree Nativity set

Miniature Thomas Kinkade Nativity scene that lights up

A hand-painted porcelain Nativity from my mother's collection

Translucent white Nativity figures that light up


Miniature resin Count-down to Christmas Nativity set

Candle-powered creche from Germany

Large porcelain and fabric covered Nativity set

Large picture of the first Christmas scene that I hang on the wall in the front entry

A cradle filled with straw set out under the BIG Christmas tree. A doll representing baby Jesus is placed in the cradle Christmas Eve.

3. Make Turtles (I made turtles with my mother for over 30 years and will continue to do so with my daughters for the next 20 years or so, too!)

Homestead Inn Christmas... all 29 of us!

What will we do....

4. Make snow angles

5. Build snowmen

6. Tube down the hills at Soldier Hollow

7. Ice skate

8. Play games - inside board games and outside games like Fox & Geese (does anyone remember that one?)

9. Watch "It's a Wonderful Life"

10. Cook together; Eat together

11. Drink Hot Chocolate, snuggled up in a blanket in front of the fireplace.

12. Read and Act out the Christmas Story 

So there you have it. This year's WINTER BUCKET LIST  for December is simple, fun, and at someone else's place! I can just enjoy the kids and grand kids throughout the month of December without any worries, stresses, shopping, or hassle. We'll just play and bake! 

We'll see what January and February have in store....


What's on your Winter Bucket list?

writing prompt #1: Share your winter bucket list 

Shine

The Standard Works are so inspirational! We have a Father In Heaven who loves us and has blessed us with scripture to help guide and direct us on our journey back home. 

Monsoon

When I read the word "flooded", I thought of a thousand different things I could write about... like a flood of memories, ideas, incidences. I couldn't narrow my thoughts down, so I went to my pictures to get some inspiration. 

Last year, August 1, 2011, we were lucky enough to receive the effects of a Monsoon. That means we get a lot of rain in a short period of time due to changing patterns in the atmosphere, land and sea. It usually does not make it as far north as where we live, so it was exciting to see the FLOOD the Monsoon brought with it. We live in a very dry state, and when we do get a monsoon, the flooding can be devastating to homes and property depending on where you live. However, it's usually a welcome sight for us living in the north end of the state.

storm clouds gather in the mountains above our house

the torrential rain cuts a new path for the water to run through the orchard

the new trenches, a half to two feet in depth, slice into the soil allowing the water to run its course of least resistance

the road base eroded and broke off around the irrigation pipe from the force of the rain

a view of the house and yard, in landscaping phase, shortly after the rain burst

writing prompt #3: write a post inspired by the word: Flooded