Thanksgiving

We drove up to Idaho Falls to be with Tyler's family for Thanksgiving. We were excited for a little "vacation" from work and school, but I think Jordy surpassed our excitement when he saw how much room he had to crawl around and explore! And of course to see his Grandma and Grandpa Davis. :) Jordy was in heaven! He was the center of attention and had volunteers left and right to take naps with him and entertain him! That ended up not just being a blast for him, but a huge blessing for us. Tyler and I were working on his personal statement and resume for his graduate school applications that were due that weekend and it would have been IMPOSSIBLE to do with Jordy's "help."

I always feel guilty around Thanksgiving time- knowing I need to do better about showing my gratitude. There are so many people that have blessed my life with all they do for me personally and for our family. I am really good about making it known when things are hard or not going just right (or how I think they should be), yet, I do a terrible job recognizing the blessings I do have and for all the things I should be grateful. Last year, Tyler and I wrote "thankful leaves". This year, we gave ourselves 2 min. to write everything we could think of that we were grateful for that started with each letter of the alphabet. It was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be...we could have used more than 2 min. on most. I also realized I take so much for granted. I never would have thought to list a shower-head before, however, earlier this year, at our apartment in south Provo, we weren't able to use the shower head when the bathroom was being repaired. We had to take baths and dump cups of water over our heads. Yeah. I know. I should have still been grateful for indoor plumbing and hot, clean water...and I was/am. But not being able to use the shower head made me realize how grateful I am for that and how much I missed it when it wasn't available! SO- when I start realizing the "shower heads" that I take for granted in everything else during my day...there is SO much I have to be grateful for. I won't even attempt to make a list here, but I do have to say I am grateful for Tyler and Jordy and for their patience with me and for making me laugh every single day. I am grateful for my family and am so lucky to be surrounded by such loving and supportive people. I am grateful for my good friends that keep me sane! :) I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that it gives me hope. I am so far from where I should be, yet, I feel that through the Atonement of Christ, I can change (as slow a process as it may be). I am grateful for eternal families. That knowledge alone keeps me going in so many instances.

So, I apologize for not doing better about expressing my gratitude and love and appreciation for those I love and for my blessings and opportunities...
Thank you for your patience with me.
As Josh says it best "There's so much to be thankful for!" 

I'm pretty thankful for this little man, even if he makes taking pictures difficult! :)

His shirt says "My first Thanksgiving!"

I swear he's thinking "Seriously, Mom. Enough pictures!" 

"Give me that camera!"

Tyler's parents have the best-behaved dog, EVER! Her name is Koda. She's a lab-retriever mix. She's HUGE, but so so great around Jordy. I would adopt her in a heartbeat. But then- she'd take up our whole apartment :) Someday...

Jordy would work up enough courage to touch her and she always let him!

Jordy LOVED his sampling of Thanksgiving dinner: stuffing and sweet potatoes and some roll, and of course- the JELLO! He wasn't a big fan of turkey...maybe he didn't get the memo about Thanksgiving being all about turkey! :)

I'm pretty grateful for both my cute boys! 

Ahh! I'm catching a glimpse of what his teenage-boy-look will be...

We were still finishing up Tyler's application essay, so we stayed for the Packer game. Jordy didn't seem to mind!

However, we didn't leave until 8pm- with a 4 hour drive ahead of us. I shouldn't even write this on my "grateful" post...but- our car died about 45 min. from Idaho Falls :( BUT- I am so so grateful that Tyler's parents were able to come rescue us and they had their older mini-van that they let us load up with our stuff to make it down to Orem. They told us they'd work out the details of getting the car from the mechanic that it was towed to and we'd just switch the cars back over Christmas. Not exactly how we wanted to end our fun weekend, but, maybe it was a blessing it happened that weekend...after I had been reflecting on our blessings and had a tiny reserve before breaking down again! Moral of the story: We wouldn't be anywhere without our amazing families! We love you all!