Nov. 7th - # 5 day of gratitude

Books.
I am grateful for books. More than you will know. Well, some of you know. They have been my hobby, entertainment, counsel, emotional outlet, escape, best friend, and just always there for me. When I don't have time to read I feel as though I have been neglecting a friend. And that I am sorely deprived!!!
I have two signs in my house - on my bookshelves, by the way- one says, "A home without books is like a body without a soul". I truly feel this way.
The other one says, "Books fall open, and you fall in". I was given this one, by someone who knows me all too well!! Don't even come looking or try to find me once I've fallen in!! I'll come out when I'm done and dang well ready!!

Nov. 6th - # 4

Fathers.
In honor of my father's 85th birthday, today, I have to say how grateful I am for him. In his quiet way he taught me by example the importance of gospel, family, responsibility and love.
Also, I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father. Especially for the knowledge that I have that he lives and that He knows me personally, is aware of me and cares and loves me very much.
So grateful for the father of my children, too.
Where would we be without fathers???

Nov. 5th - # 3

#3 - Sam. The love of my life! Happy 50th birthday, studmuffin!!

Day #2 of Gratitude

#2-

I am grateful for all things sweet. Cookies, cake, candy, brownies, chocolate, of course!!! Anything that fills my sweet tooth. Unfortunately, they love me too!!! I have always admired people who can eat one cookie and then walk away, thinking, "that was a delicious cookie, now I think I'll go make a phone call or get to work on cleaning or audit that account or whatever happens to be something other than reaching for another cookie or sweet!! I can eat one plate of dinner-even food I enjoy, but put a macademia nut, white chocolate cookie in front of me, or sugar cookie with butter cream frosting under my nose, and I will follow you anywhere!!! To hell and back, even!!

But I digress from the point of this post!

Just think what life would be like without sweets! Skinnier, yes, but so very unjoyful! The interesting thing about sweets are that they are so very hard to quit, and yet oh so easy to start up again!! Why is that? Is sugar an addictive substance? What do you think?

I go back and forth. On the one hand, I catch myself sometimes eating a half dozen delictables before it's registered in my brain what I've just done, and then my stomach then, "ahems" to my mouth and taste buds that it's feeling rather sick and it might be good to stop at that point. And yet on the other hand, I just can't imagine living a life totally and completely sugar free. I mean for every day of my life for the rest of my life!!! Even if I was diabetic, I would eat sugar free stuff for that sweet flavor!! Ok, maybe that's another "for" sugar being addictive!

Whatever is the honest truth about it, sweets add sweetness, pleasure, and joy to my life!! And that's what man is for!! That we might have joy!!!

While I'm quoting others, "moderation in all things" is good one too!!!

Month 'O Gratitude

Ok, so I am so way past behind that I am in front of behind!!! (follow me???). It's been, what, like a month and a half or two since I last posted? It's not for a lack of material. On the contrary. I've got gads of pictures on my camera, and events have come and gone that I planned to post. But lo and behold, they come, they go. So a summary of the Reader's Digest version:

1) my birthday, on the 20th

2) Halloween - costumes - Sammy the Bull, and Rhea the matador

3) Lake trip with the kiddos and hubby

4) ASHLEY IS PREGNANT!!!!

So, on to my true post.

I will admit right up front and center. I am copying another's blog idea. But so what? I liked the idea and as the saying goes, copying is the highest form of flattery, right????

So, I decided to do the "Gratitude a day" thingy!! It is, after all, the month of Thanksgiving. So what better thing to write about. So I will try and not be too sappy or even predictable, but I make no promises!!!

(Oh, and yes I realize I missed the first 3 days of November!!! So sue me!!)

1) I am grateful for running. I can't even believe I said that!! If you would've told me a year ago that I would've said I am grateful for running, let alone that I do it, I would've pretty much laughed in your face. I have never been a runner in my life!! I have always hated running!! Not just thought poorly of it, mind you, HATED it!!! I am short. Yes, 5' 2 and 3/4" is considered short. And my legs are even shorter. (g0 figure!). So my stride compared to the average person is a fifth maybe!!! Well, half anyway! So one of my excuses has been, that it takes so much more energy for me!!! Also, it takes my breath away!! And it hurts! Why would I do something so dangerous to my health??

Well, Sam and I somehow started. How? Why? Well, it started with walking. To get in shape for the trek back in May. After that was over, I figured it would all fizzle out, like all my work out programs. But something clicked! I don't know what. Or why, or how! It just did. Maybe the planets all aligned, or the running gods smiled down upon us, but somehow, Sam and I continued on with our walking (through the summer no less!!). Well, one thing led to another, and I got pregnant. (gotcha!! Just seeing if you stayed with me!!). NOT. But one thing did lead to another, and we decided to try running a bit. Just a bit. A bit turned into a length, which turned into a half mile. Then, from there it was all uphill!! (Not really on these AZ roads, but you get the drift!). We are now up to 3 miles!!! I can't even believe it myself!!

But just so you know--It does take more energy for me and my short legs. And it still takes my breath away. And it hurts!!!!

But can I just say? When we take that last running step of the 3 miles, it feels soooo good!!! (Not physically,a t that point anyway. Give me a couple of minutes to catch my breath and cool down) There's nothing like doing something that you thought you never would do!!!

And maybe, just maybe, I'll someday be able to run 4 miles!!

At what point can you claim to be "a runner"?????

Random recent past!

For Labor Day we went to San Diego to Sam's dad's house, so that Taylor could get his patriarchal blessing from his grandpa. We have loved San Diego since we went there for our honeymoon!! We have spent many a vacations there. Here are a few pics from our trip. It was a great trip--but it was a little different having just one of our kids with us for it.
Seaport Village at night. It was beautiful!!! (that white little circle on the top right was the full moon that added a great deal of ambiance to the evening. The pic just doesn't do it a bit of justice!!)

Taylor contemplating his future on the water's edge at Seaport Village!! (NOT!! Totally posed!)

Dad and son. I just love those guys!!!

Taylor and me working on our rock castle (the beach was too rocky for sand castles!) Ever since my kids were tiny, at the beach this took place with my boys all working together. This time, Taylor was all alone, with no brothers or sister to help. I couldn't stand to watch him working at it alone!

Me and my hunk at the beach!

Me and my baby boy at Oceanside Pier

On the pier at Oceanside - Sam, Taylor and Paula

Tay Tay's first day of college!!! My baby's grown up! And a ham at that!

Encinas Ward Campout - 2009

This weekend we (Sam and me) actually went to our ward campout!! It was a lot of fun and so deliciously cool! I loved it! You may not believe this, but I am not a camper! Or at least, so I thought!! I love the mountain air, and the beauty, and gorgeous weather and all, it just never seemed a big enough trade off for the hassle of packing everything, including the kitchen sink, cooking in dirt, having no showers for the duration, attempting to keep track of rambunctious kids who just want to enjoy the freedom of the outdoors, and last, but not in the least bit, least, the bathroom facilities, or lack thereof!!!
So back to the campout!! Wonderful weather! Beautiful beauty! Just one night and I don't even have to cook (so no kitchen sink!)!! Sleeping arrangements fine!! (Could've been in cabins; with the bats, mice and spiders however-and so we chose to sleep in the bed of our truck--set up very comfy by my wonderful hubby!! Potential for romance under the stars - WITHOUT the ward!). AND great bathroom facilities -- a few feet from our truck!! What more could we have asked for????

**(Warning: the next 3 pics have to be some of the most adorable pictures around!!)
"Bishop" Warren giving us "the word"!!

The future "Aaronic Priesthood" practicing passing the sacrament!!

Here they are "preparing" the water for the sacrament! Blake Early (middle) found some sac. cups at the sacrament table here (at the outdoor chapel there)!! Sam and I came upon these scenes and were very entertained with their "play"!

cleaning and packing up on Saturday morning

The rope swing, and playing in the dirt!! (Ahh life is grand!)

Sam packing up our "bed"! (He's silly!)

Me and my man in/on our bed!!!

Shannonrella, cleaning up while the kids create!

Nurse Susan with one of her little "patients"! Hope her pinky finger is ok, and not broken!

Ciela and Ally pal-ing around!! What cutie pies!

Jody and Donnie "happy" to see me!! (don't mess with Donnie or he''ll kill ya with that look!!)

Kellee looking lovely as always!

The Ewer "pad"!! If you click on and enlarge you can actually see Rachel smiling and Matthew and Cassandra!!! Monica and Mike being their friendly selves!!!

S-L-E-E-P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I must give a great big shout out and "thanks" to those wonderful young-uns who were so enamored with the whole scene, that they stayed up the whole night to enjoy it!!!! They made sure we ALL "enjoyed" it too!!! (ahhhhh, sweet revenge!! Now who's with me???)