Wishful thinking

I found these pictures of the kids playing in the snow two years ago. We had so much snow. I hope we get a ton more this year and get lots more fun pictures. They went outside twice yesterday and played in the snow which was the first snow of the season. However, Matt had my memory card at work and I could not get any pictures. Check out the fun these two had this day. Brings me back to the days where me and my friends would play outside for hours making igloos with giant buckets and having so much fun. I totally had a flash back the other day of me and my friend Jodi playing in my backyard. I remember it as if it were yesterday. It was almost dark outside and we were making a fort. I still remember the glow of the kitchen lights inside the house and my mom making dinner. She always made homemade chili the first time it snowed every year. She still does but I can't eat it anymore - stupid Celiac! Anyway, this memory made such an impression on me that I almost wished I could go back in time for that day and re-live that afternoon/evening. I remember being young and feeling like I couldn't wait to grow up. Now i wonder why I ever wished that. The moral of the story...take time to enjoy the moment! Make memories, take pictures, and enjoy the journey.

Veterans day

Caden did a really cute program at school for Veterans Day. The school invited a bunch of Veterans and they had them sit on the stage. They asked each of them to stand, share their name and where they served. It was amazing to see people that had been in World War 2 and people that had just barely been in for a year. They did a presentation about the flag and read the importance of why it is folded a certain way and what each fold means. They also had a new flag. One of the teachers there is serving in Afghanistan and she sent them a flag that had been flown in an F-16 during Iraqi freedom. They also sang a couple of songs and did sign language to one called "Thank a vet." I made a bunch of signs as part of my volunteer hours for the school and they were handed out to each of the vets along with a thank you note from a student attached to the back. We invited our neighbor Dana who is in the Air force to come and it was really a nice event and I hope all who came felt that they were honored and that we appreciate the sacrifices they have made in behalf of others. We need to all remember that freedom is not free and Thank a Vet.

Whatever happened to a thing called manners???

For some reason I have really been pondering this question lately. It seems as though no one possesses this rare quality anymore. We as parents need to be teaching our children this strange concept called "manners." I can't believe how many people don't have a common knowledge of this. For example: If you are walking through a door, and there is someone RIGHT behind you, do you hold the door open for that person to enter or simply let the door slam in that person's face? I see this happening more and more. The answer seems easy to me. There used to be time when a man would hold a door open for a woman - even if they didn't know them. What has happened? Do we really have so many feminists now that have put this message out there that "we can do things by ourselves" and we don't need these things? Well I think that is crap. My husband still holds doors for me or any other woman and we teach our boys to go up and open doors for women. A little common courtesy goes a long way. And whatever happened to saying "please and thank you?" Has it become taboo to use these phrases now? I cannot believe how many people don't do this, especially kids. Why are parents not teaching their kids to use good manners, be grateful for what you have, share with others, be kind? If anyone has any thoughts on this, I would love to hear them.

Days of our lives at the Love's

It has been a crazy, crazy month at the Love house. Where to start? My dad goes to see a kidney specialist on Tuesday to see what is going on with him. There is a chance that he may need a kidney biopsy to determine if he is in kidney failure. He has had a lot going on lately and we are trying to remain positive and take things one day at a time. My father-in-law had been sick throwing up and having high fevers. He thought he had the flu and decided he better get seen. He went down to the VA hospital and found that he did not have the flu but he had a severe infection in his foot. He has diabetes and cannot feel the bottom of his feet. I guess he injured it somehow and did not know it until the infection was so bad that they had to amputate his foot. The surgery went well. They amputated his leg from about 8 inches below the knee and down. He will need lot's of rehab but they are hopeful that he will adjust well to the prosthetic. My nephew was playing high school foot ball and got a concussion. He had an MRI and the doctor found out that he had a brain tumor. Good thing for the concussion! About a year ago he was kicked in the head by one of their horses and went to the doctor. They did an MRI then and the tumor was present but the radiologist missed it! It is a slow growing tumor and there is a good chance that it is not cancerous but it is still a serious surgery. He will have brain surgery on December 7th. My parents are going to fly to Oregon to be with them. They live about three hours from Portland where he will undergo this procedure. We have said lot's of prayers lately and would appreciate any thrown our way. We are trying to remain positive and know that when you get to the end of your rope, you just need to tie a knot and hold on!

Ten things I'm grateful for this week

1. An awesome date night with my hubby.
2. Twisted peppermint body cream from bath and body works.
3. The holidays - I LOVE LOVE LOVE this time of year.
4. A snowy day on Saturday - let it snow!
5. Doctors, medicine, and technology.
6. My nephews football concussion.
7. My father-in-law's surgery going well.
8. A family that supports each other during times of crisis.
9. Getting to celebrate Veterans day at Caden's school.
10. Gluten free foods in Layton - and their chicken noodle soup YUMMY!

Thought for the week

"Expectations are a down payment on resentment."