The Vote

I am thankful for the opportunity to vote. I know that this isn't a big election year, but we still need to take the time to vote. You really feel the effect of your vote in a smaller community election. You can let the local leaders really know what your feelings are on the issues just by casting a vote.  A close vote lets the winner know that that they ought to take a look at their opponents platform a bit more seriously, since almost half of their constituents want something other than they have to offer.
Here is my voting opinion: Vote against a sitting judge unless you know that hey are doing good. Vote for women, vote for minorities, vote so that there are term limitations....if we aren't going to impose term limitations then our vote has to do it for us.......don't let a US Senator sit longer than 2 terms. That is 12 years, 4 years longer than we allow someone to be President...... I know some will tell us not to vote out the Senator/Mayor/ Governor etc... who has leadership/committee power (Oran Hatch supporters), but if we had term limitations then every elected official would have the same political power/leadership opportunities.
Our forefathers and mothers fought hard for this right to vote. Some will say that their vote doesn't matter, but they are wrong. If you don't vote you are saying that you want to be told what to do, that you want your freedoms to diminish. If you don't vote you are saying that you don't care for things to remain the same or to change. I have a problem with those who don't vote and then complain about our government.  I feel that you have no right to complain about our elected officials if you don't take the time to vote.

 Love this!

Voting is a blessing and I am so thankful to live in a country that gives a voice to it's people...even if it seems like our voice is small a mouse can roar and make a difference.

MCC

Work

I am thankful that I have a job and that Gary does too. In this strange crazy economy it is nice to know  that you have work and can support you and your family and pay the bills. What a blessing!
My work is different than I thought it would be when I was Hayden's age or even 20 years ago, but I am glad I have something to do......the Movie theater stuff is not something that is in my comfort zone of skills.....I most def have learned how to do things by trial and error. The best blessing of my job is that it has allowed me to be a 'stay at home mom' for 29 years!

MCC

Sundays

I am thankful for Sundays! Nuff said.

Braves Win

Bountiful won it's quarterfinal football game on Friday. They played Olympus and won 34-14.
All day long I had people asking me if Hayden was going to play.......let's go back to last Fridays game against Timpanogos.....3 minuets left in the game and smash Hayden is limping, knee bent and he can hardly put his foot down on the ground. He is standing in the huddle, but we can tell he is not right. But I know he is determined to play and shake off whatever. Then Bountiful calls a time out; what a blessing. During the time out Hayden tells me that he heard a voice saying take yourself out and let Dave play. So he limps off the field and lays down on the sidelines so that Bob can look at his injury......he doesn't go back in the game and has to be helped off the field to the locker room. He tells me that he is going to be fine, but I can see the tear stained cheeks. Jordan and Nelson check things out with Bob who tells them that it is probably his MCL and that he will check him out before he comes home......yes it was the MCL, a level one = a small tear. Hayden is in a lot of pain. The tears aren't for the pain but because he couldn't finish the game and it hits him that this could be his last BHS football game ever.....  Later that night Hayden gets a priesthood blessing form his brothers and tells me that 1/2 way through the blessing he felt the pain diminish by more than half.
Now fast forward through Football practice, doing his Eagle Service Project, Halloween Parties, Sunday duties, etc.... Monday morning was spent at 3 different Doctors trying to decide if it is only the MCL......after several examinations, an MRI, and getting a brace that he can play football in, he was cleared to play on Wednesday if he did a recommended physical therapy.
So Yes, he played all but the last 1:30 of the game. He was key in the amazing running game that Braves played Friday night.
As the mom I worried and watched his braced leg all night long, noticing the slow get ups when he was down and worrying that something might happen to deepen the injury.....Jordan and Nelson kept telling me to quit worrying, that he was fine.....he was fine. He reminded me after the game that he listened to the Spirit last week and took himself out of the game and that he had received a Priesthood blessing.......silly mom.

Thursday, November 10, 11:00 am at Rice Eccles Stadium, BHS will play Logan in a semi-final game on the road to take State! 

MCC

SNOW!?!?!?! it's all Part of the 4 Seasons

I am thankful for 4 seasons...yes I know I say this often, but I do, I really enjoy the 4 plus seasons we experience living here in Utah. I say plus because we not only have the regular seasons but we get a few bonus seasons as well; the ugly snow and mud season between winter and spring, and the wet broken tree season between fall and winter......I am sure that there are more, but these two are the most noticed by me.
A friend of mine moved to a more moderate climate and keeps telling me she misses the very visible change of seasons. She laughs at the way her new local peeps react to subtle temperature changes. Her kids are still wearing shorts and t-shirts and the other kids at school are bundled up in cloths that should be worn in climates 20 or more degrees colder.
But I digress..... I am thankful for the snow, and the broken trees and the slick roads.........

MCC

Health

I am thankful for good health. We were given this body to do good with here on earth and you can't do much good if you don't have good health....physical and mental health. I am thankful for strong legs that I can walk with. I especially love my morning walks with Meg. We may not walk fast but we do get out. Unfortunately the weather is getting too cold to keep walking outside...I will miss outside walking for the next few months. I am glad that my body as flabby and old as it seems to be getting, can move with out much effort and can exercise to keep my muscles and heart strong and the blood flowing.  I am thankful for a good mind that keeps things straight and organized. I know that it is important to exercise your brain just like it is to exercise you body.......Grandma Butters would read, do crossword puzzles and watch sports to keep her mind strong. I am thankful for good food and clean water that keep me nourished and healthy. For the word of wisdom that reminds me the importance of health and how to keep healthy.
Grandma Butters would ask if you had/were a long liver or a short liver.......in other words will you live a long life or a short one. She then said if you were a long liver you had better live a healthy life style because the longer you are around the harder it gets.....so true.

MCC

Necessities

I am thankful for the necessities....you know, the toilet, phone, computer, the Internet,......oh and clean air to breath and chocolate.  It's the little things that we use or need all the time that we really should be thankful for.

Children

Yes, I am thankful for my children....I know hard to believe, but true.  They are wonderful people, examples and fun to be with.  I love them all so very much and am thankful for their love and tolerance in return.
Being a mom has been a joy, better than I could have ever imagined! Probably because I basically have good, easy kids.
Today is Hayden's 18th Birthday and we started the day remembering what his birth day was like, then talking about each of the other 3 kids births......After a slow 24 hour labor an8 lb 14 oz Jordan was on time, the due day and in time for lunch, a rare occasion according to the sibs. After the Jordan ordeal, I couldn't produce contractions on my own hard enough to push out a baby, the doctor told me that I would probably have to be induced to get any other kids here so......
7 & 1/2 lb. Megan was over a week late but came in the morning like a ray of sunshine during the Mo Tab Sunday morning broadcast. We rushed in to delivery when the choir began singing "Gently Raise" and we were weighing and measuring to "God Be With You."
Nelson was early because Gary was leaving town and the doctor said let's do it. He was jaundice but in good health. His arrival time was 5:30, in time for dinner. He weighed 8 lbs. 7 oz.
Hayden followed the 5:00- 5:30 time frame, but was a week late. I guess he wanted his own birthday and not to share it with Jordan. He was late since he couldn't decide how to make his appearance, head first or sideways and baby upside down.....it was not fun getting an 8 lb. baby to turn around inside of you. He is a joy and an great addition to a family that thought they were done. It's a good thing he let his dad know he was to be here with us. I couldn't imagine our family without him.  He was the ray of hope during the aftermath of the fire.

 Hayden as his silly self.

 #70

The other good things about my kids so far (I mean good thing about Jordan) is the wife he picked........OK, so really it is he was 'pick-able', because Laurie picked him. Any way Laurie is great! I am glad she is one of the family, she fits right in. Getting a grown up child is pretty cool.  And with Laurie  and Jordan you get the best thing yet Captain Awesome, Ry Guy!

I am thankful for my children......grand and otherwise, all of them...really.

MCC

A Month of Thanks

November is gratitude month....so to start off....... I am grateful Halloween is over......less candy and goodies to be tempted with, better for my wight loss. I am thankful for the rain and very glad that it stayed away until the trick or treaters were done.   By the way, I had 15 trick or treaters last night, possible a new high for the past 5 years. Someone mentioned that it is because of Trunk or Treats and all the easy to get free candy giveaways that happen now a days. I remember Halloween being a night of major planning so that we could get the most candy loot. But as with other things that made my childhood memorable times have changed and they are gone....no more night games, no more imaginative play, no more etc.......Dang technology and ease of life. But I digress..... I have so much to be thankful for.

MCC

Happy Meat Pies

It's Halloween and after watching Sweeny Todd last night I decided to try my hand at meat pies...after all Nelson has been begging for them since he got home form his mission....... so here is the first try.

 Project Runway Reject

 Mrs. Lovett

 Have a little priest

 Yummmmm

Nelson tells me they need more gravy, so next time they will have more gravy.

MCC