Happy Belated Thanksgiving

I’ve collected all of the Grateful List items, and sadly I didn’t make it all the way to Thanksgiving Day, since, as you might notice, I was sick...  but here’s the bit that made it:
1 - Grateful for a husband to take care of me when I'm sick
2 - Grateful for a stable job
3 - Thankful that my children are generally happy
4 - Thankful that we can order a turkey instead of carrying it for an hour to get it home from Shekou.
‎‎5 - Thankful to be born.
‎6: So grateful for ovaltine that makes me not feel guilty (I later read about how much sugar is in this stuff, and no longer feel grateful for any lack of guilt that my naivety may have allowed)
7: Grateful for my sweet birds that are like babies
8: Grateful for a friend who visited from America
9: Grateful that friend brought us things we can't get here
10: Grateful for the Book of Mormon
11: Grateful for the funny "single's day"
12: Grateful for warm leggings
13: Grateful for loving my job
14 - Grateful for really warm water that soothes my sore throat.
‎15 - Grateful for Primary songs that remind my kids to be good
16 - Grateful for kids that remind me to be good

Disneyland Princess

Finally we tracked down a scanner.  Here’s the pics we raved about.

Grateful

I’m grateful that my children both have an appreciation for the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jared was always very accepting of God and his love for us, but Ella… she struggled.  I wondered if she would ever care about God.  She said she didn’t want to pray, and that she didn’t like learning about Jesus.  Lately, though, she has come to love the Primary Songs that teach of Jesus and how to live righteously, and the songs that she loves have found a way into her heart.  I’m so grateful that I can share my happiness in the gospel with my family.

Random Thought

I was working on tagging pics, and I realized that some of the best pictures of me are taken by none other than my children.  Upon pondering this thought, I suppose the happiest time I have as an adult is watching my children enjoy themselves.  Many other people have probably already figured this out, but for me, it was emphasized by this lovely picture taken by my progeny.  I’m so picky about what pictures I’ll let my family keep of myself, not because I don’t think there are horrible pictures of myself out there in the world, but that if I don’t see them, I can pretend they don’t exist, and I’m always the smiling reflection of who I want to be.  I’m glad that sometimes my kids see me as I want them to.

Happy Halloween

Jared’s so glad to finally have his real costume.  Thanks Rene!

Early Halloween Festivities

Ella enjoyed painting her fingernails by herself for the first time – SParKliNg OrAngE!

Jared’s on his way to a great adventure as a Frog-shirted Pirate.

Ella was very excited to show off her Sleeping Beauty costume that we scored at Disneyland in Hong Kong.

Apparently some of the other students scored similar dresses, and one of them doesn’t look too pleased that she was a twin.  Also notice the lack of a bejeweled crown on said twin.  Maybe that’s why she didn’t go in our trick-or-treating group.

Here are some of my lovely co-workers.

Here’s one of my 10th graders who reminded me of the zombies at Disneyland.

Trick-or-treating was really an adventure in the high-rise apartment complexes.

Today for church, Ella and I decided to dress alike, and when we got home, we played some hand-clapping games until she collapsed from over-excitement.

Tomorrow will hopefully bring more enjoyable adventures as we share Halloween day with our branch and the kind strangers to whom we will be trick-or-treating.  Wishing safety for all!  ~

Tooth!



Ella lost her first tooth.  Yay!