Thankful Sunday

"My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith." -President Thomas S. Monson

Today I have realized that I want my future to be bright...I want my faith to be strong. They played this talk at church today from President Monson. Be of Good Cheer, I want to be of good cheer. I want to be happy, I want to recognize my blessings and take action to cause good. I don't want to be part of spreading evil and ill...
I feel like I have been under a thumb and only allowed to move so far this way or that for the last 4 years, Adam's schooling has dictated what we can and can't do. Finally we are free to choose what we want to do where we want to go, how we want to be. I want to be as self-reliant as I can. I want to learn and grow. I am excited for having the chance to do these things...I am going to make a few goals. I am going to achieve them.
I have realized that my life is good, even under the thumb of Dental School it was good, and I don't think I recognized that enough. My Children are happy, and healthy. My husband loves me, I have a great family, I have a few great friends. I am blessed. I have a desire to continue to learn and grow, and to be the best Chantel I can be.

So today I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who knows me and my strengths and sees me for what I can be and knows the desires of my heart and helps me to feel his love.

Happy Thanksgiving...

Yummy, hopefully today's bird will be as yummy as last years, and the year be fores and the year be fores! I hope everyone has a Fabulous day with family and friends and remembering the many blessings we have and being Thankful for all we have. I hope everyone this holiday season will find some small way to share of our plenty, I know many of us don't have a LOT but we have enough and what a blessing that is! I have challenged my little family to look for good things we can do for others throughout the season, Small or large we may never know the impact of our actions. So smile a little bigger, and help others in need! I love you all, and wish you the most wonderful, beautiful holiday yet!

Adam is out in the cold running the Worlds oldest road race the Turkey Trot, I hope he does well or at least makes it! It is pretty cold, at least for me I am sure he is going to do great! The kids are getting ready for a fun day with friends, we have a craft center set up, and we are getting ready to watch the parade which we have never done before. Hopefully they like it! Oh and the other news is that I finally finished my curtains! Can you believe it???? We need to get a rod to hang it with and then I will take pictures and show you!
I had a Doc appointment yesterday all is well, baby is funny she had the hiccups when we were listening to her heart, it was funny to heart bump bump HICK bump bump Hick! I am excited to see her cuteness! Well I guess that is all! Take care Love Chantel

Random thoughts...

Well today I had a Dr appointment, all went well, Babies heartbeat was great, measuring great, only gained 1 pound GREAT! But they wanted to know if I was ready to have this baby...Hmm, am I? I don't think I really am yet! Don't get me wrong I am totally ready to be done being pregnant, but I don't know if I am ready for Labor! And Baby afterward, I guess give me a few more wks, hopefully then I will be ready.
Adam is gone to Utah, he will be back Sunday, he is excited cause his Mom is going to take him to Body worlds, YUCK! I am so glad not to have to go to that! He has his interview Friday, and Saturday he is going to watch the BYU/Utah game at his Grandpa's house. Then coming home Sunday. Then he will be home for a week and a half of which he has 5 days off school!!! YEAH! I am so excited! It will be so nice to have some time with him! As for his Indiana interview it went well he really liked it there, and he visited the Inidanapolis Motor Speedway and even did a lap around the track, wow! :O)

I was thinking about something strange the other day, come Jan. 26th we will know were we are going for sure but by June we will be living in one of 7 places...
1. Buffalo (different house Bigger!)
2. DC
3. Indianapolis
4. Salt Lake
5. Dallas
6. Cincinati
7. Chicago
Kinda weird huh? That is just so strange to me! I can't believe the time is here already, We have lived here for almost 4 year! Adam has 6 months left of school before he is a Doctor!
Well lets just say the night of Jan. 25th, I am going to be having a hard time sleeping, and not due to our newest baby! The news comes Via email on Jan. 26th in the morning sometime... Crazy huh? Well I guess I have a lot to keep me busy till then! At least I am almost done Christmas shopping!
I have also been busy being Crafty, I have some projects going, I need to make it to Walmart sometime to get some ribbon for some aprons I am making... and I made this pearl braclet at the Craft night at church, and I am still needing to finish my curtians! I know I know! Soon! Soon!

Well here are some random pictures for you to enjoy!Somewhere down there I do have feet!

Grateful Monday

So at our place I have been thinking about being Grateful a lot lately, some days are just hard and I feel like maybe there really isn't much to be grateful for, but then I repent of that thought and realize how VERY much I am grateful for! So I try to list at least 3-4 in my head so I don't feel so bad anymore, and it is true we have TONS to be thankful for, I could technically list for hours! I am so glad I started doing thankful Sundays because at least once a week I am forced to list a few things...Even if I am feeling crumby! So along this line of thought I found this cute post on a blog I read called the Inspired Room Which is actually kinda a random place for such a thing to be, but hey I will take it because it is such a great thought. I also read this amazing article about the family who had that plane crash, which I have been following since then, and I can't believe it has been 2 months, it totally breaks my heart to think of that lovely mommy sleeping while her little ones are growing and changing, especially since their youngest just turned 2 in October, I think of Luke and how much he has changed and how much that sweet boy is missing of his momma and how much she is missing of him. But I am so thankful that she is still fighting and is doing so amazingly well! Every time I think about this family I am more grateful for mine and try a little harder to love them a little more. So back to the point...the Inspired Room blogger posted this list of 20 attitudes of gratitude, and I love them! I have already written my husband a love email note this morning, and plan to tell my kids at least 3-10 times today how much they are loved! Hugs are always in order in our house, and Luke and I have shared several already even this early in the day. Allie is still sleeping but the first thing I am going to do is hug her! Anyway I just wanted to share this list and hope that you can find some small ways like these to be more loving, and grateful of what you have and what is around you. It is much easier to pick and prod at the bad things around us, it is much easier to be negative than positive, but I promise you you will have a smile in your heart if you take the chance to change your thoughts and even in the most frustrating times be thankful, and speak kindly, and LOVE!

20 Little Attitudes of Gratitude

1. Mind your manners. Say please, thank you and excuse me.
2. Smile when you see your family. Turn your frown upside down.
3. Pick up after yourself.
4. Notice when others do kind things for you, show gratitude by action or words.
5. Say I love you before going to bed.
6. Give hugs daily.
7. Don’t worry about tomorrow. Focus on what you are happy about today.
8. Create gratitude journals to keep track of daily blessings.
9. Show thankfulness for even the little things others do for you.
10. Leave love notes in unexpected places like lunch boxes and under pillows.
11. Encourage someone with a compliment.
12. Verbalize what you are grateful for when you feel like complaining about life.
13. Keep a basket of small slips of paper on the table. Write notes of thankfulness during the week and read them to each other during a family meal.
14. Remember to thank God for blessings each day.
15. Surprise your family (or friends) with little gifts or treats to show you thought of them.
16. No grumbling about minor annoyances around the house.
17. Do special things to cherish time with your family. You never know what tomorrow will bring.
18. Reflect on happy memories regularly. Make inspiration boards of special times.
19. Help someone out without them having to ask you. Watch for someone in need.
20. When you are doing household chores, be grateful you have a home to clean.

Extra thankful Monday...

Well after a long crazy kid filled, wild riding weekend, I was too wiped out last night to even sort through my thoughts. Conference was great, what I heard of it... anyone with kids knows unless they are sleeping you really don't get to hear All of it! But I will say I had some wonderful thoughts and very much felt the spirit touch my heart. President Monson's talk Sunday morning was wonderful, that is totally something I have been thinking about for a while now... Loving my kids as much as I can taking in Every moment, not missing as much for silly reasons. Realizing all those Cheerios I picked up yesterday I am someday soon going to miss. My cute cuddley kids are going to soon be too big to be held and cuddled. I don't want to miss that! I try to make sure I love Adam as much as I can touch his arm look at his face, LOVE him everyday, not to just take him for granted. I am so unbelivabley blessed to have such a great husband, his sacrafices and hard work have worn him out, and torn things apart at times, but we have managed to still be in love and to still be going at each day at a time. Still encouraging each other through our trials, and not losing sight of our goals. Not everyday is perfect, we all have hard times, our family is Wonderful, we are so blessed, so watched over. Sometimes I am amazed when I think about the fact that we have no NEED, we want of Nothing that isnt' just an extra really...we have food, a nice home, cars, clothes (even if I don't love them, I never do anyway!) soap, dishwasher, washing machine & dryer in my basement, our children are healthy and happy as can be, we live in a safe area were we can go out to play, and we have some fun neighbors who love my kids like their own grandkids! WE are Blessed!
I am so thankful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints! I am so happy to know it isn't all doom and gloom, that there is HOPE, that God knows and loves ME little me, imperfect ME, he knows my struggles and my trials, my hopes and dreams and he helps me out on my path, and sends me love and encouragement, I am so grateful for that! I am thankful to have a wonderful family, I am thankful my momma is my friend, I love her so much! I love that she loves my kids and spoils them the best any grandmother could. I love my sisters in law who deserve just to be my sisters, which they are, they are such good friends to me and love me, and Adam's Parents who have always treated me like one of their very own...They have gone out of their way to love me and our family, and have done crazy things for us, (like drive all our belonings across the country in a "comfy" moving truck) My kids are so blessed to have such great Grandparents who love them so much!
This morning I was reading one of my daily blogs, C Jane Enjoy it And she said something I thought was dead on! So I am sharing it here..."Sacrifice? Is there really such a concept for mortals? It always seems that the going without yields more return, making the original sacrifice not a sacrifice at all. It's an imperfect conversion.
To which I am fully converted."

I am so thankful for all the love I have been given, for the friendships I have made, Like the Prophet said, things change time doesn't last always the way it is... we shall soon be moving from here and leaving behind some Fabulous friends, who I will miss dearly, but thank heaven for the internet and blogs, and phones! I am just going to be thankful for all the things I have and will learn from my great friends and aquaintences in the time I have to learn it. My God bless you all with love and comfort in your trials... count your blessings and enjoy your journeys!
This is my Thankful Monday!

Thankful Sunday

OK Warning, this one May be long...
Last night was the Relief Society General broadcast. I went to church and stuffed myself full of chocolate, and then sat down for a lovely set of talks. I have to say that I am so thankful that the Lord knows us, that he has sent leaders who are loving and take time to teach us the things we need to know and need to hear. I can tell you he knows me, I have had some hard times the last little bit, nothing Huge but big to me. And I can tell you that I was amazed when President Uchtdorf said just the thing I have been bugged by and told me Not to let it get to me and to do my best. He said many things which I am sure touched many hearts, and said just the thing they needed to hear. And I am thankful that he said just the thing I needed to hear, he said "Don't let fear paralyze you." I kinda feel like I have been doing that, fear of just about everything it seems. But I will say that I have been trying harder to be fearless. I try to remember more often what it says in 2Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
He also talked a lot about Creating beauty all around us and within us. I love this thought, I love to create things and he again reminds us that what we create doesn't have to be perfect, he said to start small if we need to and that when we start feeling down and thinking we aren't good enough to Think Again! He said women tend to undervalue themselves and that is just not how it is. No we may not be perfect but that we have So many talents within ourselves that all of us have talents they may not be the best voice, or sewing amazing things, or crafting, scrapbooking, cooking, or anything like that it could be kindness, friendship, peacemaking, problem solving, but we all have them. I love the uplift I felt from his words, I feel renewed and able to work harder. I even offered to teach a class on making the little baby hats that I have been making for a long while now on the looms and 4-5 people signed up! I am so excited! Not that that is some Fabulous thing but Hey I can share that with others, and I am excited.
I have also realized this week a few other things that have bothered me for a long time are just not true and I have made goals to be a better person and mother and wife and daughter. I feel like I have more love in my heart and more room to grow and improve. I am excited and happy. I feel like I am full of the love of Christ. I am thankful for my many blessing and happy to be me!

The busy time of year is starting, I can feel it! October always bring on the Fall rush, and I blink and the next thing I know it is January and I have 4 months of waiting for spring! Sad I know... So I am going to try hard to enjoy each day and accomplish as much as I can, I have lots of work to do not only to be ready for the new baby but also for Christmas and birthdays and the other holidays coming up. Still looking for present ideas for the kids! Mostly Luke, Allie has a lovely list going! haha She sees anything on TV and she wants it for her birthday! I am looking for that Mega T Rex dinasour for Luke so if anyone sees that for cheap some place let me know...I think 50 bucks is a bit much! (garage sale friends if you see a good one cheap but that puppy for me... or call me with the price... haha)

Ok so Like I said I am long winded today! I am thankful that my kids love Books, tonight Luke and Allie and I read about 5 books, They just love it and before getting put in his crib Luke grabbed a book and stuck in in his crib to "read" before he falls asleep.. He is so cute! The picture below is Lucas reading to Allie it was very cute!

Happy 4th...and rambles

This was Luke's reaction last year wonder what we will get this year?

Well since I don't have any Fourth of July pictures...I put just ones from last year with flags! haha so no Allie &Luke didn't shrink! It is just last year!
Well Allie woke up at somewhere around 5:30, woke up Luke, then made their way to our room about 15 min. later, so now we are all crabby and ready for Naps which Adam is taking and the kids are watching a show on PBS. And me I am blogging! I can't nap, especially this early in the day...Sad I know!
I found some of our last years 4th pictures too...I hope everyone has a safe and lovely patriotic day, we are truely lucky to live here, especially after Adam's Dominican trip, and seeing the pictures and hearing crazy stories, we are blessed and sadly we are so blessed that we hardly know it. In the Dominican power is so expensive they shut it off in the middle of the day and then turn it back on before nightfall. I was also reading about Niger, and they have to do the same, but I think it is worse I think they have theirs off 80% of the day, and only in the cities, the bush just has No power at all. Not to mention they mostly have outhouses not toilets, Even in the city. And the hospital, Well lets just say we wouldn't consider it a hospital or even a clinic, the people say in courtyards, not rooms, and they all stay outside together. (See here for more with pictures of hospital) Not to mention all the freedoms of thought and action we have here. I was recently asked why freedom of choice was so important, when if we were just made to do what is right it would stop misery and innocent children from being victims of others choices. I have thought about this a lot since then, and I have realized how Miserable it would be Not to be able to choose for ourselves and to express our personalities. No not everyone makes good choices, not everyone does what is right. But I am glad we have the chance to change and grow because we have the right to choose. God gave us all talents and traits that are very important, and we all have the chance to at Any point in our lives make a change if we are brave, and faithful enough. There is Never a time we can say we don't have a choice because if you think about it, we Do. Even if they are Much harder, if they are the Right thing we will be blessed in doing them.
So I hope everyone today remembers all those who have made this country free, and all those who continue to fight to make it free. Be grateful, be Loving to other, and enjoy your freedom to choose.... Now do you want a Hot Dog or a Hamburger?
Love you all!
Chantel

PS we will leave sometime before Noon, I hope!
also click here for Niger info... I found a cool girl who visited and blogged all about her experience of working at a hospital there