My Gratitude Journal - Sept.8th-14th

I feel like I'm over flowing in gratitude this week, my heart feels full. Here are a few things on the top of my list.


* Nearly two weeks ago at my doctors appt. my midwife sent me home to do a 24 hr. urine sample and blood work to check for toxemia. She said no news is good news so I was thrilled when a week went by and I didn't hear anything. I was about to blog about my success when the phone rang, it was my Dr.'s office. The nurse said, "Dr. Young wants to talk to you about your lab results, can you come in this afternoon?" Oh, crap! I felt like a naughty kid being sent to the principals office. I stewed about what was wrong for several hours. It didn't help that I had a headache and felt awful that day. I convinced myself that I was going to put on bed rest and I would swell up like a helium balloon. When I went to my appt. I was the only person there, usually there is a swarm of waddling women. My appt. was going totally like normal, I got weighed, pee-ed in a cup, got my blood pressure checked. My doctor came in, measured my belly and asked, "So do you have any questions?" Uh, ya, why am I here I thought. But, instead I said, "Uh, ya, just wondering about my lab work?" So he opens my chart, looks at the labs and says, "looks good, every thing is fine". Okay then, again I think-why am I here. After sweating bullets for no good reason everything was fine. And I am grateful. Next week I have an ultrasound scheduled to find out how big this guy is...I have a feeling I may be giving birth to a toddler.



* As you know we are getting ready to move...We have had so many kind offers to help pack, clean or watch the kids. We have friends stopping by bringing boxes. As you can see the packing is going well...we are grateful for such great friends.

As I think about the house and try to contain my excitement until it is officially ours, I think I am most excited about the laundry room. Yes, I know that sounds extremely exciting. Laundry is my nightmare never ending chore, but in this house the laundry is on the main floor (not the basement which I try to avoid as much as possible) and it has a laundry shoot from the upstairs I can toss all the laundry through. See, now do you feel excited for me? I am grateful.



*I got roses and chocolate for my anniversary. Ken and I had a really fun "trailer date". We get to go on dates ever week and we were just out the night before, our regular babysitter was unavailable so we decided to have a date night at home. After getting the kids in bed we got some dinner, munchies, and a movie and went out to the trailer. We had peace and quiet and it was cozy and fun. Dinner and a movie in a trailer may not sound really romantic, but it was a nice change. It was a perfect day.



*Last weekend was Regional/Stake Conference. I loved the messages, and can still feel the spirit of those meetings. The Saturday evening session I squirmed around like a little kid trying to sit still. My back and butt were killing me from sitting in those hard chairs, still it was a great meeting. One of the ladies in our ward took pitty on me and started to massage my back and arms, I wanted to close my eyes and slide right off my chair it felt so nice. I was grateful. Sunday was Ken's birthday and I know both of us were debating staying home. We were both exhausted and the thought of taking six kids to conference for over two hours did not sound appealing. But neither did staying home, we both knew we would end up feeling awful for not going, plus I was looking forward to hearing the speakers. We went and I again squirmed around, I was so uncomfortable. I love the talks, and was so grateful to be there. The four older kids did great, and the younger two did great for the first hour, then it became a struggle and Ken ended up taking Todd and McKenna home about 1/2 hour early. When I got home physically I felt so bad that I started to cry. I asked Ken why doing the right thing has to be so hard. I was hoping that the spirit of the meeting would be so strong that I wouldn't feel the physical discomfort. I was wrong. Ken replied by saying, "Doing the right thing is always hard, Nancy". I have thought about that a lot this week. The Lord didn't say it would be easy, He only said it would be worth it. That is how I feel about Stake Conference and so much of what life is all about. I was miserably uncomfortable, however it didn't last forever. But, the messages I heard and the spirit I felt can last forever. It was worth it, and I am grateful.


There are many more little things that I am grateful for...too many to mention. I am blessed.