Count your blessing?!

On Saturday we went as a family to run some errands. Low and behold a huge blessing surprised us as we drove into our driveway. Our back tire was going flat FAST. So my wonderful hubby grabbed his industrial strength jack and is able to change out the flat tire and place the spare on within a reasonable time. What would have happened if we were driving down Main St. and this would have happened? We would have had a hard time with out the tools that were waiting at home to be used for this very purpose. Oh yeah and the manual that was in my desk inside the house, not in the glove box. After the tire was off, Sam pulled out a razor blade that was about 2 inch. long. Ouch. I was able to take the tire in to "Discount Tire" and replace it for FREE. (plus all sorts of fee's, so it really wasn't free but it was about $168 less than it would have been.) And now our alignment issue of pulling to the right is all gone! Just the small miracles that happen in our lives.

Spring Break

My little people have really enjoyed this break. I don't think I have heard "I'm bored" more than a couple of times. It has been great! I have allowed them to venture out to the neighborhood with other children that are so excited to be on spring break too. I am hoping that they are not reeking to much havoc. But today we went to the movies to see Bedtime Stories. This was a very kid friendly movie that my children enjoyed. You just never know really what PG means. I love that I was able to entertain all 5 of my children for 2 hrs. for less than $15.00 including popcorn. Love it!!!
Then as we arrived home, as if on que, the neighborhood children are just driving into our driveway to see if my kids can play. So within 30 seconds they are off. Then the big question, "Can you come and watch us swim in Sister Kemptons pool?" As I was walking to her house I realized that 4 families were represented in this bunch of kids, but I was the only parent that was roped in, sounds fishy. When they were cold enough and got out, I reminded them, as they ran like cockroaches when the lights turn on, "Remember, I am the coolest Mom ever!"

Football

I am so grateful to whomever invented the American Football. My boys spent a good 2 hours today out in the front yard playing monkey in the middle and tossing the football around. I love the weather and this time of year!

Butter

I am so thankful for the opportunity that I have had to stockpile my home with food. Times as they are, we are in need of using our food storage. I thought that I had a stock of butter in my freezer, but I was wrong. I was really bummed because I went to make Amy Jackson's Yummy cheesecake recipe that she emailed me a while ago and could not because of the absence of one ingredient, butter. I then moved on to other chores in my home and later opened my pantry, and low and behold, bottled butter! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!!! This just reassures me to encourage others to prepare, prepare, prepare. My family is truly blessed for my being obedient.

FHE Night

Tonight we started our Family Home Evening by passing out flyers for the scouting program. They are doing a food drive in a couple of weeks. Then we played our new family favorite, UNO. We have valiantly had FHE for 6 weeks. We have also been able to accomplish this along with scripture study except for 3 days this whole year.This is huge for our family!! I have seen my children and husband respond to this to make it a predictable and most days, enjoyable. I am so thankful for the priesthood in my home.

Grandma Pearl

I woke up this morning missing my Grandma Pearl. I miss the smell of her house. The anticipation of driving up the lane to her house. Many fond and loving memories that are left in that home. She and my Grandpa were one of the constants in my life. At their house there was always lots of good snacks and the ability to play without restrain, most of the time. This place was were we went to escape our lives here in Mesa. We never went on "vacation" so the closest thing that my Mom could provide was Grandma and Grandpa's house. We went there often.

I learned a great deal about service in and around their home. Being the tom boy that I was, I loved to be out doors with my Grandpa. I was anywhere he was. He would sing me songs in Spanish and some in English. I went fishing with him, shoveled manure, planted seeds, picked crops, and apples. I marveled at the apple trees with 5 different apples on one tree. He mastered the art of grafting on tree's. He was an amazing man. There is a picture that I keep in my mind of him with one foot up on a log and his six shooter on his side, can't finish this picture without the big cowboy hat.

My grandpa constructed his home. On the weekends and nights he would work on building. Now that there are new owners, ones that respected and loved my grandparents, there have been changes to the landscaping of the outside of the home. They have also changed the inside and replaced windows and such. I have not been back to see what they changed. I want to remember it the way that they left it.

I am grateful for the memories that I have of them and their home. I am grateful that I had this "vacation" from our home to theirs.