What are you THANKFUL for?

Recently, I found a childhood friend on Facebook. Her name is Nancy, and even though we haven't yet talked face to face, or even on the phone for that matter, we have connected on many levels. I love her blog because she inspires me and always gives me something to think about. She recently posted the following message on her blog, "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving". I wanted to share it, too.

May we all really take some quiet time to really think about what we are truly thankful for. I'm going to start a list. I think if we would take the time to think about things throughout the day that we are thankful for and write them down, it would lift our spirits, make us happier, and help us to appreciate all of our blessings! Enjoy the message!

(Thanks, Nancy! You are an added blessing on my "Thankful List".)

Amen!

This talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland is amazing. I cannot think of another talk given by a General Authority that touched me to the core like this one has. I listen to it often and enjoy it everytime! It has 2 parts so please listen to both. Think, ponder, and pray!

Witch-ever way you look at it...it has come and gone!

The witches have come and gone...the decorations are being put away...the hat and broom are being stored for another year...and I have "witch" let down! Kind of like after Christmas when everything is unwrapped, eaten, and everyone's gone home, I get a little bit down knowing it's all over! I'm finding out the same "let down" now with my Witch Party! But it was fun!

It's a work in progress. Last year was the first year and we met at my house and then went to a restaurant for lunch. This year I decided to have everyone bring their favorite Halloween concoction and eat, mingle, and visit. They both have been fun in different ways. Next year...who knows? Like I said...a work in progress!

Here's the Witches that attended:
Back row left to right: Me, LaVoy (sister), Debbie Price, Pat Butterfield, Tamara Hogsett, Venice Hammond (all 4 from my Ward), Cynthia Hardy (Shaila's mother-in-law),
Front row left to right: Melanie (daughter-in-law), Kathryn (granddaughter), Jayni (granddaughter),Shaila (daughter), and Brianne (daughter).



Unfortunately, I'm not a photographer and I was more worried about everything else and not photographs. Luckily, I have daughters and my daughter-in-law that took pictures so I'll have to post them when they get them to me.



This is a group of us around the table eating. I made a pumpkin stew and my sister, LaVoy, brought Mexican Corn Chowder with Shaila's rolls. I served red blood, rat poison, etc., (sparkling cider) in plastic martini glasses with a gummie eyeball for the olive. Someone brought mozzarella sticks that looked like fingers. We had spinach dip with a hand coming out of it and lots of good Halloween concoctions.


(Witches Venice and Pat)


(Witch LaVoy)


(Witches Tamara and Debbie)


(One of the many concoctions!)


(Witch Shaila Lou)


(Witch Brianne)


(Primping Witches)


(The Wicked Witch responsible!)

Thanks to all of you brave Witches that came and made my crazy passion come to life! I love you all for being so brave and sharing yourself and your friendship with me and all who attended.

Thank you to my daughters, Shaila, Brianne, and Leisha, granddaughters, Kathryn and Jayni, and daughter-in-law, Melanie, for letting me bounce ideas off you and for contributing to the fun! I plan on this being a warped family tradition! (Please keep the legacy going after I'm gone!)

Until next year............(or more photos!)

Shaila...You Are My Sunshine!

My daughter, Shaila, who is my 2nd daughter...3rd child, was born October 30, 1981. Shaila got her name from her older brother, Milo. When I was pregnant with her, Milo, who was 3 at the time, and I were laying in bed one morning and I asked him, "What is Mommy having, a boy or a girl?" He said, "A girl." So I said, "What should we name her?" and he said, "Shaila". And that's the way it was! Grandpa Chlarson nicknamed her "Lou" and we call her "Lou" a good share of the time.

Shaila was an absolute joy when she was born. She was a happy and content baby. She had an older brother and sister who were both very busy and Shaila was content to sit in her swing and let me get a lot done. Although I was very overwhelmed having 3 children, 3 and under (that was the first time I was late for church!), she forced me to get organized! I learned very quickly I had to stay on top of things everyday to survive mentally!

I went through a little bit of post-partum depression, on top of adjusting to more of everything with a third baby, when she was born. But all I would have to do is pick her up, hold her tight, look into her sweet face and a strong source of comfort would fill me up! I called her my little "comforter" and "my sunshine" through that short-lived time.

(Sorry...no pictures of "Little Lou" but I wanted to get the post up and I couldn't get my scanner to cooperate!)

To this day, Shaila has continued to be a source of joy, comfort, sweetness, and strength to me. Her one shortcoming is that she holds herself to a high standard and then beats herself up when she doesn't live up to it. Something that I think is fairly common among many women.



Here is a little about Shaila....

~She is beautiful, inside and out!
~She has 3 darling little Stripling Warriors...Malcolm, Quinn, and Winston.
~She is developing a talent for photography and does great work.
~She brings joy wherever she goes.
~She loves to sing and wishes she could make it a career.
~She enjoys cooking but especially baking breads/rolls.
~She's talking 15 credits at BBCC, is a full-time Mom, teaches nursery,
and cleans a pre-school.
~She loves a clean house.
~She loves and lives the gospel.
~She has a soft spot for her Grandpa Chlarson and would cry for him when she would
feel sad as a little girl.
~Even as a little girl she would say she was going to name a boy "Quinn" after her
Grandpa Chlarson and did.
~She works at leading her boys through her example.
~She is thoughtful of others.
~She works at trying to improve herself physically, mentally, and spiritually.
~She concerns herself with others well-being.
~She has integrity.
~She loves her husband and is thoughtful of him.
~She can do anything she sets her mind to.
~She's a great homemaker.
~As a little girl all she wanted to be was "A Mommy and to cook pancakes."
~If she could, she'd take care of all her little brothers and worries about their
well-being.
~She's a cheerleader for her husband and his ambitions to get into medical school.
~She sees the big picture and is patient knowing her time will come.
~She makes many sacrifices for the big picture.
~She's a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.

Here's her darling boys...she took this picture and I love it!



I love you, Lou! I'm sorry you were sick on your birthday but it was wonderful to share the day with you. Thank you for blessing my life the second you were born and blessing it each day since. You always will be my sunshine.