thanksgiving at the farm

love the views from my parent's house

 

 

 

we went exploring and found the Oregon Trail

Audrey made her own chocolate pie (with Grandma's help with the crust)

 

and when we got home there was a lot of naps

 

 

 

Mother's Song, a traditional lullaby

My heart is like a fountain true
that flows and flows with love to you
as chirps the lark unto the tree
so chirps my pretty babe to me

There is not a rose wherever I seek
as comely as my baby's cheek
there's not a comb of honey bee
so full of sweets as babe to me

There's not a star that shines on high
is brighter than my baby's eye
There's not a boat upon the sea
can dance as baby does to me

No silk was ever spun so fine
as is the hair of baby mine
My baby smells more sweet to me
than smells in spring the elder tree

A little fish swims in the well
So in my heart does baby dwell
A little flower blows on the tree
My baby is the flower to me

Ten thousand parks where deer do run
Ten thousand roses in the sun
Ten thousand pearls beneath the sea
my babe more precious is to me.

 

I heard this poem today and had to post it here. For you to see, for me to be able to read again and access whenever I want. It's lovely and exactly how I feel. Today when my family is celebrating me (and they do it so well!) I just keep looking at my babies and sending silent thank-you prayers toward the heavens. It's true what the poem says: ten thousand roses in the sun, ten thousand pearls beneath the sea, my babe more precious is to me.

To my friends who are struggling with infertility right now I know how hard this day is. Please know that on this day I'm also thinking of you and interspersed with my prayers of gratitude are prayers of hope that everyone who has the desire to be, can someday be a mother.

five

A little while after David was born Audrey and I were talking about her new brother and how he used to be in my tummy. And then she said, "And I was in your tummy too!"

My heart wrenched a little bit and I froze for a second. If I could change it so the answer to that question was "yes" I would do it in a heartbeat.

"No hunny, you were actually in Aunt Megan's tummy, and then Mom and Daddy came to get you."

She didn't even pause. "Oh, yeah! Then you came and got me."

She accepted it so easily and I breathed a deep sigh of relief. We want to be open with Audrey about all the details of her adoption. We try not to make a big deal about it. It's part of her story and she should know about it. However I wasn't exactly sure how to start the conversation and when, but so far- I'm just following her lead, telling her as much as she asks. It's actually been a lot easier than I thought.

The other day we were driving in the car and Audrey started talking about when she was born. She was saying that when she was born she was crying and there was blood on her. "Right Mom?"

and I said,

"Yeah, when babies are born they have some blood on them and they usually cry, but we clean them up and snuggle them and make them feel warm and happy."

Then she said, "and then you and Dad came and got me right?"

"Yep, Mom and Daddy couldn't have a baby and we were so sad but then we prayed to Heavenly Father and he helped us find you and then we were so happy."

Her little voice from the backseat: "And I was so happy too!"

I said, "You were?"

"Yes! I was so happy to be a family!"

Adopting Audrey has made us so happy. SO happy. It's been one of the best decisions of our lives. We've loved every minute with this wonderful girl. And on this day, her birthday, I always think about her birth family. How they blessed us. How grateful I am that she was born. That then she was so lovingly given to me to raise.

First and foremost to Megan, then to Tarl and Debbie, and Garry and Marjie:

Thank you, thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

And to my girl, who is so smart and beautiful, happy and funny, creative and interesting and amazing:

I love you so much Hunny.

Happy Birthday!

Love, Mom

giving thanks

decorations going to Wendell with us today for my Mom's thanksgiving table

I am thankful.

-for spontaneous tea parties in our big bed with a cute little blonde girl named Audrey.

-for logging on to my blog this morning and finding a lovely surprise. Check out the post below.

-for a husband who is my best friend. Who works hard, worries about us, listens to my thoughts and opinions, plans for our future, and makes awesome french toast.

-for a sweet, tiny baby who will be making his grand entrance into our family soon, and the chance to be the one to carry him these past 8 1/2 months.

-when I hear Justin sing under his breath as he walks around the house, he only does it when he's happy.

-for our great families who continually surprises us with their strength and support, their generosity and love.

-for my Mom's pumpkin pie. (and all the rest of her cooking)

-for nights when Justin and I go to bed and then stay up another hour or more talking and laughing, and telling each other to be quiet because we're going to wake up Audrey.

-for changing leaves, falling snow, bright sunlight and quiet evenings.

-for the moments when Audrey randomly looks up from her coloring book, or her baby doll, or her blocks and says "momma, I love you."

-in short: my husband, my children, my family, my faith, my circumstances
my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

"live in thanksgiving daily"

Alma 34:38

cupcakes my daughter good food health my Mom's pies

great friends warm beds faith blogs opportunites to grow

leftover turkey sandwiches my best friend Justin reliable car

parents good books pearl stud earrings traditions

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for...

my upbringing.

I am thankful for my wonderful family, and how I was raised. I am thankful for the safe environment that my parents provided for me to learn. I am thankful for how I was taught, thankful for my religion that has always been a part of my life. I am thankful that I grew up in a small town surrounded by family and people who loved me. I am thankful for my heritage and my family's history. And I'm thankful that today I get to drive back to my parents house and see them and my siblings and this view.

Pepperidge Farm is my friend

I am thankful for...

frozen Puff Pastry.

I've become a big proponent of cooking from scratch and everything homemade. But this pastry is wonderful. It makes great palmiers, turnovers, pie crusts, cheese sticks- I love it.

Layers of warm flaky buttery goodness + apples + cinnamon and nutmeg + ice cream = heaven

I am thankful that...

I can be a stay-at-home Mom.

Audrey's hair is a good indicator of what kind of night we had last night. It was a long hard night with lots and lots of holding and rocking and not much sleeping. I am thankful to be able to stay home with her most days but especially when she's not feeling well. I talked with my Mom about this yesterday. I'm so glad that when she needs me to just hold her all day and do whatever I can to make her feel better, that I can do that. I'm glad that my main purpose and focus right now is to take care of my husband and daughter and last night while I was comforting her and letting Justin sleep I felt like I was doing both. And I'm especially thankful after a night like last night that Audrey and I can both grab an afternoon nap.





by the way- keep an eye on my ad, it's cracking me up. A few days ago I mentioned infertility and grief in my post and all of a sudden we were getting ads for living wills and bereavement training. Yesterday I mentioned tylenol and it kept bringing up ads for children's tylenol. Apparently the ads for my site are picked by certain words that I type. So- lets see what happens with these: pretty dresses, cheese, dominoes, snow, mexican food, pottery barn, pottery barn, pottery barn, pasta, apple, flowers, toothpaste.

I am thankful for...

the basic necessities of life.

our home and our reliable car

enough food to feed my family



As the economy has spiraled downward and we've watched lay-offs happen all over the United States and Boise, even at the Idaho Statesman, we've been so thankful that Justin still has his job. So thankful that we've been able to continue paying for the necessities that we take for granted everyday: housing, food, water, medicine, clothing, electricity etc.

And as the weather has gotten colder and we've been forced to stay inside more we've been especially thankful for our warm heated house, our comfortable soft beds to crawl into on cold nights and...




a living room with comfy couches, blankets and a cozy fire

so that my baby can be comfortable and fall asleep toasty warm

I am thankful for...

tiny fingerprints all over my house.

Most people already know this but Justin and I tried unsuccessfully for years to have a baby. After so much frustration and sadness, so many trials and tears I am so thankful to have Audrey. There are many times during every day when I catch myself looking at her, marveling that she's even here, that she's so perfect. It has made the toys all over the living room, the chocolate milk stain on the carpet and the fingerprints on anything and everything a joy instead of an irritation. I am truly trying to follow President Monson's advice to "relish life as we live it, to find joy in the journey".

In honor of November

I am thankful for...

these two. I can't imagine my life without them.