Skipping ahead

I know that I've been absent for nearly a month. Please excuse me. We are still here. Still alive but..There have been a few changes in our lives the past month to say the least. So I haven't been sure how to address them or even had the time to blog about them. Things happen quickly and are ever so blog worthy, but you know how it goes. Where to I start with all the ups and downs?---So goes "real life" huh?

I guess the biggest thing that's happened over the past month is that Farmboy has joined the Army. Yes, you read that right. He will be leaving March 15, 2010 for basic training. After that he'll be doing his advanced training as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Specialist. Sounds pretty strange to me, but he's excited. After that is ---whatever and where ever for us.

I suppose it's safe to say that this is the only post I'll make this month. It will be one of Thanks.

I have written 14 pages of things that I am grateful for over the past month. I won't write them all, but I'm grateful that I took the time each night the moments where I saw God's hand in my life. I have so much to be grateful for.
Here goes:

*warm, soft bed
*kids that can play together nicely (most of the time)
*feeling peace instead of out of control
*felling healthy
*kids falling asleep in the car on the way home
*a yummy meal I didn't make
*a chocolate cupcake to eat all to myself
*a call from a friend
*Hugs and kisses from HY
*visiting and serving others
*chicken for .98/lb
*words from a prophet
*watching Mini-E ride a horse for the first time
*opportunity to learn and grow
*a wise and calm mother
*new jammies for HY from Nonna
*new recipe that worked right
*a friend sharing a movie
*pretty good kids during church
*full fridge
*a large bill paid off
*finding mini-e's blankie again and again
*chance to visit the temple
*a chance to be still and listen
*feeling the baby move around
*having enough light for photos
*seeing the baby on the ultrasound
*things falling into place
* Farmboy making and cleaning up dinner
*gaining a bit of weight
*Farmboy getting a good score on his test
*my ESL job
*time in the morning to stay in bed with my kids
*warm bath
*family willing to always help
*Farmboy getting the job he wanted
*Farmboy joining the Army
*feeling peace
*a semi clean kitchen
*HY telling me I'm his best friend
*getting rid of stuff I don't need
*RS board meeting done
*learning to croquet with a lot of help from a mother in law
*speaking Italian with someone
*time to read and pray
* a small gift from a friend
*accomplishing a large task
*lunch with Nonna and Aunt CC
*help with jam from Nonna
*enough gas in the car
*a caramel apple
*light snow

Yes, I believe that God IS in the details.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten things that I am So Grateful for:

10. A Degree/Teaching Certificate: just recently Farmboy lost his job & we were in need of a bit of buffer. Thankfully, I was able to find a position teachingESL Adults in the evenings.
Thank goodness for Mothers like mine who taught me to be prepared!

9. Clear Sunny Days: Fall is still here, but fading quickly. Yesterday we were able to go to park & not freeze in just jackets!

8. General Conference: The opportunity to hear from modern day prophets.

7. Best Friends: Who call & wish me well on my first day back to teaching. You always know.

6. Reading to my kids: HY loves me to read to him. What more can I say?

5. Nonna: Who calls everyday to see what I'm doing. AND is helping me get some food storage in order.

4. A Basement: It may not be clean, but it's a great place for storage & helps the upstairs to not be so cluttered.

3. Mini-E: who can't crawl yet! Thank you sweet child for holding off just a bit longer.

2. HY: I love to see him laugh & try to make Mini-E laugh along with him.

And the #1 thing that I am SO grateful for:

1. Farmboy! He watches the kids every night, gets them in bed, & cleans up the kitchen so that I don't have a million things to do when I get home. I love you!

If you can dream it "Friday"

So today, is a special day--it's Friday. When I was a kid, Fridays were the BEST. We'd get pizza and movie. My mom was always so good at making it a fun day. Now, I'm not ordering pizza (because I've already got homemade chili on the stove), but we'll probably be watching a movie. I'm so lucky---no, BLESSED-- to be able to enjoy the simple things in life. I have great friends, a loving family, and time to spend with both of them! Iwish we could all order pizza and have a big party together. Wouldn't that be fun?

I found a little something different for "If you could dream it Friday." Hope you all take the time to make someone else's dreams come true today. Because I have been given much...you know the rest.

Have a wonderful Dream it Friday.

http://www.shaneswish.com/

I get to...

... be a wife and mother to these loves
... sleep 8 hours a night! (thank you Baby Wise)
... make and enjoy Grandma Suz oatmeal pancakes, mmmmm
... send HY to nursery & enjoy a Sunday School lesson
... do laundry in a machine!
... see Nonna in 1 day
... live close to Aunt CC and her fun kids, Super K, Lovin'-H, Wonder M, and Too-Cool B
... be married to a wonderful man who works hard
... live in a beautiful home
...read my scriptures every day
...meet new women in my ward
...enjoy the company of many smart people
...talk to Aunt Runnie on my new cherry chocolate phone
...take a dip in the hot tub at Midway
...almost fit into pre-prego pants
...play at the park in 50 degree weather with HY
...show up unexpectedly at Aunt Lala's house and have a cookie
...buy things in bulk
...sit in peace and quiet at least once a day