So... this happened.

It's taken me a few days to write about this because I needed to come down out of the clouds and write coherently but since that isn't happening any time soon I'm just going to say it - MY SON PLAYED QUARTERBACK FOR THE BYU COUGARS IN A REAL GAME IN LAVELL EDWARDS STADIUM!!!!!!!  I still can't believe it.  It was only a few plays and they wouldn't let him throw because we were so far ahead but it still happened.  I have dreamed of this happening ever since I stepped foot on that campus as a student almost 40 years ago.  I imagined one of my children playing on that field and everyone hearing his name over the loudspeaker and seeing his picture on the big screen and it all finally happened last Saturday afternoon.  I tried to film him playing but I was crying and shaking so hard that we get carsick watching the film.  To say I'm proud of him is the understatement of the century.  He fulfilled his and his parents' dream of many years and I am absolutely overwhelmed with emotion about it.  The Deuce is still loose and I couldn't be happier!

I'm Thankful for: Savannah

It's very fitting that I would get to finish up my thankful journey with the girl that changed my life, forever.  I have never been a "girl" person.  I had one friend at a time growing up and abandoned them altogether in high school when they made very different choices from mine.  I couldn't relate to the emotional roller coaster and the dramatics and the pettiness of girls.  It was all too scary so I just hung out with my family or boys.  When I started having children I was very happy to just keep having boys.  I never wanted a girl.  I was too scared that it would be an emotional nightmare and that I would say or do something to scar her for life.  Thankfully, God and my husband knew better.  Enter Savannah.  When she was a little girl she had some tendencies that made me nervous.  She was very headstrong and I didn't feel super close to her.  I was afraid that she wouldn't listen to the things I needed to teach her so she could go back and live with Heavenly Father and me someday.  After she got baptized she just kind of changed into the "real" Savannah.  Her temperament calmed down and she became the most teachable, obedient, sweetest child in the world.  Ever since then we have become like one person.  All she wants is to do the right thing, always.  I can't say enough good things about her because, in my eyes, she's perfect.  I've never loved a girl as much as I love her.  Having her in my life has helped me understand why my DIL's are so close to their moms.  That mother/daughter bond is priceless and unbreakable.  Vannie is not any of the things I was scared of and so much more than I ever dreamed a daughter could be.  I love her so unconditionally and completely that it's scary.  She is the angel on the top of my "thankful" tree and I love her with everything in me. 

I'm Thankful for: Aleigh

Aleigh is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She's actually more like a daughter because she has been in my life for a long time and since she was pretty young.  She is my only DIL that I got to know without her sweetheart around.  She is also a convert to our faith so I have been a big source of information for her when it comes to the practices of our church.  Kind of like a mother/daughter relationship.  Aleigh is a sponge.  She soaks up every good thing she can and incorporates it into her life.  She accepted our religion faster and deeper than anyone I've ever known.  She is extremely crafty and creative and energetic.  She has many hobbies and is good at tons of things.  I can talk to her for hours and have, on several occasions.  Everyone is her friend, everyone loves her right when they meet her.  She is engaging and fun and kind.  She is a huge gift to our huge family and I love her more than I can say.

I'm Thankful for: Hunter

Hunter is my baby boy.  He is the epitome of being "his own man".  He doesn't like copying anyone.  He wants to make his own mark and not be lumped in with "The Moore Boys".  He is unusually obedient and this makes me very happy.  He has a very good heart and only wants to do what's right and help others to be happy.  He loves the gospel and strives to share it whenever he can.  He is a great example of quiet fortitude.  He has always been shy but has managed to overcome seeming shy by sheer will.  He forces himself to address his weaknesses and tries to turn them into strengths.  I'm very proud of the man he has become but miss the little boy that I had such a strong bond with.  I love this boy with all of my heart and want only the best for him.  He makes me proud every day.

I'm Thankful for: Tracy

Tracy is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She is very soft, sweet and pretty.  It has been a joy watching her blossom as a young married woman.  She is very happy when she lives in sunshine, ha ha!  She loves everything pink, fluffy and girly.  She is becoming quite a good cook because she wants to.  She is crafty and creative and very willing to learn.  She is obedient and patient and kind.  I love being around her and Jensen because they get along so well and their love is very apparent.  Tracy gets along with everyone.  She is striving to learn new things and to be more outgoing and brave. I love her and I'm proud of her. I'm so glad she is Forever Moore.

I'm Thankful for: Jensen

Jensen is my silent soldier.  My son who was never really a child, ever.  He was born an adult.  He is super quiet and super cute.  He is very loud and boisterous and hilarious while texting but not actually with his vocal chords.  He has always made me very proud because he has an intense desire to do what's right.  It's fun watching my children grow up and seeing who they gravitate toward in later life.  Jensen and Tanner have become quite good friends as adults and I'm pretty sure that Tanner didn't even realize Jensen was alive as a child.  Jens is super easy to like because he gets along with everyone and is always kind and helpful.  I'm very proud of him for going to chiropractic school and doing so well in everything he attempts.  I love that he is so humble and teachable and that he still comes to us for advice.  He is a great son and I love him very much.

Tears and Traditions

I had a very emotional walk this morning for some reason.  I decided that tears are very therapeutic.  When the body gets stuffed to overflowing with emotion then the feel of hot, salty tears running down your cheeks is healthy and necessary.  This is my first holiday season without any children in my home and the flood of memories of holidays past and the traditions we celebrated year after year has been wonderful but also triggered the aforementioned overflow.  I remember right after Thanksgiving dinner getting so excited to set up the Christmas tree and bring out all the decorations.  Our tradition was to set the box of ornaments in front of me and I would take each one out and examine it for any needed repairs and then hand it to the first child in line.  They would go put it on the tree and then the next child would follow and so on.  The children loved to play with their "guys" in the tree.  Day after day they would set up little scenarios with their toys and play for hours.  Putting up the outside lights was always an adventure.  They all had jobs to do from unpacking the lights, to checking the strands, to hanging them up.  Dad always joked that he put the most expendable child on the top of the ladder and it usually ended up being Kyle, ha ha!  It was nice when they got tall enough to not need the ladder very much.  Brandon's job was to supervise and spend most of his time on the couch.  We have an advent calendar that I made while pregnant with my first child and they would love to wake up to candies every day through the month of December.  Logan is the earliest riser so he would always be the one to get it down.  Tanner usually didn't get his till after school because he was asleep until about 2nd period, ha ha!  We loved doing The Twelve Days of Christmas for people because it was so nerve wracking trying not to get caught.  They didn't love the caroling I made them do for our close friends but I did.  Posing for the Christmas card picture was always fun too, not.  I would read them Christmas stories all during the month of December.  We would sit in the living room with hot chocolate and I would read a chapter or a short story.  (Maybe the overflow isn't quite done yet).  They loved going to the mall together to get each other their secret Santa presents.  They had to try to hide the presents from each other and not let each other see which stores they went into.  Christmas Eve we always had a party and invited family and friends and then after everyone left we would have Dad read the Christmas story in Luke and we would open one present and then leave milk and cookies for Santa.  Christmas morning was a blast.  They would gather each other up from their bedrooms at 0 dark thirty and then come into our room and get us up.  Dad would always go first and film what Santa had brought them and then they were let loose.  I love that I can cry over these memories because that means they were special.  If we didn't have these traditions and they weren't so wonderful then they wouldn't be worth crying over.  I hope everyone who reads this establishes lots of traditions in their families and then is able to cry at their memories later in life.  We are starting new ones with our bigger and older family and that makes me very happy.  So, all you ladies my age and older, pass the eggnog and go ahead and have a good, refreshing cry:)

I'm Thankful for: Joan

For those of you who know my family this will probably be a name you don't recognize.  This is the angel mother that gave birth to the greatest man I know and the love of my life.  This is not the woman who raised him, though.  I need to thank her for that because even though she is a wonderful woman who I would have loved having in my life and who, I'm sure could have taught my husband many great things, she gave him to a family who eventually joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If that wouldn't have happened then Forever Moore would not exist today.  I know that was a great sacrifice for her but I need to thank her for having the courage to do it and my Heavenly Father for helping her to make that decision.  Joan is everything I could ask for in a mother-in-law.  Pat's adoptive mother and I were very different and very rarely saw eye to eye but Joan is a different story altogether.  She is so much like Pat and I know he is very proud of her and we are so glad she is in our lives now.  She is extremely kind and very bright.  She is unusually active for her age and loves trying new things all the time.  She is very easy to talk to and we have a lot in common.  She is really close to her children and I know they love her very much.  We live pretty far away from her and it is her birthday today so I just want to let her know how thankful I am for her and her decision and how glad I am that we found her and that she will always be Pat's mother.  Happy Birthday, Joan, I love you.

I'm Thankful for: Chloe

Chloe is the tiniest little sass pants in the whole world.  Her hair weighs more than she does.  She is getting close to 2 and doesn't feel like talking so she is taking her time doing it.  She knows that everyone will just melt at her feet if she just grins at them so she doesn't really have to bother working on her vocabulary just yet.  She is adorable!  She loves her brother and is quite the snuggle bunny with him and everyone else.  People can't help but smile when they see Chlo.  She is very strong-willed but also very sweet.  Her favorite song in the whole world is "Let It Go" (surprise) and she sings it constantly.  She actually only sings one note and only one word (go) but she puts her heart and soul into it.  I love being around and snuggling my little Chloe and I am so happy that she is in our family.  I can't wait to see her grow up and I love her tons. 

I'm Thankful for: Landon

Landon is my absolute favorite grandson.  Landon is also my only grandson but I'm sure if there were a million of them he would still be my favorite.  I love this boy like no other.  We have a bond that I'm sure we forged in Heaven before either of us came down here.  We love being together.  He is hilarious, the perfect mix of nerd and studmuffin.  He knows lots of big words and uses them often.  We love to play together.  We play fire station and race cars and lizard hunting.  We love to play Hide and Seek and tag and we read books too.  We are never bored when we are together.  He is 4 years old and still calls me, "Money".  I still don't know why and I still love it.  I know the day is coming when he will just call me boring old, "Grandma" but I will continue to cherish every time he calls me "Money" until he doesn't anymore. This kid is a huge blessing in my life and I love him to pieces.

I'm Thankful for: Michelle

Michelle is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She is an energetic, spontaneous, fun girl.  She is ready for anything and always up for anything.  She loves having house guests.  I love being one of them.  She has a good balance in her life.  She loves being a wife, mother, daughter and sister.  She loves having fun with friends and crafting and faithfully fulfilling her church calling.  She is wise with her money and her time.  She is a great cook.  One thing I really appreciate about her is that she makes sure we stay connected as extended family.  She contacts us on facetime most weeks and visits often, making sure that she makes time to see our side of the family.  That means a great deal to the "boy" mom and dad.  She is a great addition to our family and I really love her.

I'm Thankful for: Logan

Logan is an interesting boy.  He will be the first to tell you that he is his own man.  He really is.  He doesn't march to the same beat as everyone else.  He just kind of does his own thing.  As a child he was very quiet and extremely obedient.  He didn't talk much and still doesn't so I don't feel like I know him as well as I would like to.  He is an extremely good husband and father.  He is very unselfish when it comes to his family and does all in his power to make them happy.  Logan is very cute and everyone likes him.  He looks just like his daddy so all the girls have a crush on him.  He's very athletically talented and coordinated.  My favorite memories of him are when, as an adult husband and father he randomly texts me and tells me that he loves me.  It's hard to tell with him, sometimes, because he is so reserved so those texts are golden to me.  He is my bonus baby as he is a twin and the younger one at that and we didn't know he was there until 2 weeks before he appeared.  I'm so thankful that he snuck in there because I'm not sure I would have kept going to have him. I'm really thankful that Logan is in my life and I love him like no other.

I'm Thankful for: Talents

I'm veering off from the people tribute for a minute to give thanks for honest to goodness, God-given talents.  Recently I have had the opportunity to choreograph a dance and teach it and also to sing in a small group.  It made me aware, again, of how thankful I am that Heavenly Father gave me the gift of hearing harmonies and of putting together reasonably cute dance moves into one great whole.  Singing and dancing are things I know I take for granted.  I have always been able to hear and sing harmonies and I didn't realize until a pretty advanced age that not all people can do this.  And that you can't teach them to!  You can teach them a part and help them memorize it but you can't make them hear it in music and be able to just sing it when they want.  I take no credit whatsoever for this talent as I didn't do anything to get it or even enhance it (except for use it a lot).  I love harmony and I take great joy in being able to harmonize with, well, anything.  Also, I love to dance and create dances.  I realized at a much younger age (church dances) that not all people have natural talent at dancing.  They don't feel or hear a beat and can't seem to make their body do what they want it to.  Again, you can't teach that.  It's God-given.  Not only do I hear and feel it, I can get great joy by conjuring up routines in my mind and then teaching them to others to perform.  I love doing this.  Again, I didn't do anything to get this talent.  It was just given to me by a loving Heavenly Father and I want to thank Him for it.  There are plenty of things I can't do but I'm really thankful for the things I can do.

I'm Thankful for: Talia

Talia is Tanner and Alana's third daughter.  Yes, Tanner and Alana who are in medical school and full time online school and live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment, living on school loans and who are both well under 30.  This little doll is the reward for being obedient to the commandment to not put off your family for your education.  Talia is an angel.  Literally.  This child never cries and is always pleasant.  She has the cutest little duck lips and can entertain herself for literally hours.  She is 1 year old and has been sleeping through the night practically from the day she was born.  She is a huge blessing to our family and I am so glad that Talana was brave enough to go ahead and have her because I love her to pieces.

I'm Thankful for: Sienna

This sweet girl is my "Kyle" of the next generation.  We just look at her and laugh.  She is the funniest little girl.  She is overflowing with personality.  Her face is so full of expression and she is so dramatic that you can't help but love her to pieces.  And I do.  Where Ava is lithe and soft and graceful, Sienna is...not, ha ha!  She looks a lot like Bam Bam from the Flintstones only much prettier.  She is sturdy and deliberate and I'm laughing out loud just thinking of her right now.  She dresses up in princess dresses with Ava but looks more like Fiona from Shrek.  She is actually a very pretty girl but hasn't quite grown into her femininity yet.  Years from now she will probably kill me for writing this but by then she will be a high fashion model or an actress so she will have the last laugh.  Since none of my grandchildren can read yet I will go ahead and post that she is the favorite right now in this house.  Just mention her name and all of us break into a huge smile or laugh out loud.  I'm so glad that she is part of our family.  I love her with all of my heart.

I'm Thankful for: Ava

Ava Lynn is my first grandchild and my namesake as my middle name is Lynn also.  There is nothing like the feeling of becoming a grandmother.  This sweet girl made me so very happy and has continued to do so for the last 5 years.  I love Ava.  She is a beautiful blue-eyed, strawberry blonde, tall, talented, smart bundle of joy.  She has always been smart.  She loves to learn, dance, play sports, color, make friends and obey.  She is fearless and can make friends with anyone.  She has always been very mature and attentive.  She is fun to talk to and everyone likes her, especially me.  I love watching her grow up and experience new things.  She will always be my number one grandchild and I will love her forever.

I'm Thankful for: Alana

Alana is one of my favorite daughter-in laws.  She was my first and set a high bar for the others who followed.  Alana is extremely easy to like.  She is super humble and teachable.  She is one of the least vain or selfish people I know.  She actively strives to better herself every day.  She is completely devoted to her husband and three daughters and seeks advice and counsel all the time on how to make their lives better.  She has more energy and drive than 3 people.  She is in full time online school, helps in her daughter's classroom, decorates for every holiday, plans fabulous family home evenings and other fun activities for her family, makes sure her family reads the scriptures and prays every day and gets almost no sleep in the process of all of this.  She is constantly aware of teaching her children manners and is so easy to be around that she has loads of friends.  I love spending time with her and I could seriously not ask for a better wife for my son or a better mother for my granddaughters.  I am very blessed to have her in my life and I love her tons!

My Love Affair

Gotcha!  Ha ha!  I wonder how many more people checked out this post because of the title I picked than would have if I would have gone with the original which was "My love affair with books"?  I chose to go with the more provocative one so I could get more readers because I'm very passionate about this subject.  I have been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read.  I believe I have an above average vocabulary and spelling skills because of the millions of words I have read throughout my life.  I also know a heck of a lot more than I would if I hadn't read the thousands of books I've read.  Now, even though I am obviously a huge advocate of reading for yourself, that's not actually the main focus of this post.  I know for a fact that you can't make someone "want" to read.  I have 7 children and I only have 1 avid reader out of the bunch.  However, the blessings of reading to your children are innumerable.  When we only had 5 children (only?) we decided to cut costs by getting rid of cable.  No T.V.  Ever.  Whoa!  Crazy, you say?  Not so.  Best thing we ever did.  When you don't spend hours in front of the T.V. then you have all those hours to fill with something else.  We chose books.  I shopped at Deseret Book and got fun, positive, exciting novels to read to our children.  Every night before bed they would all gather round and we would read a chapter or two of a book.  These were 5 crazy, very active boys who looked forward to story time each night.  At Christmas we would read Christmas stories.  One extremely fond memory I have is of a rainy holiday where we started the phenomenal book, "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites".  They couldn't go out to play because it was raining so we decided to read a little bit during the day.  Hours later we finally had to stop because I didn't have any voice left.  (I offered to have Dad take over but he doesn't read it quite like Mom:))  They were so fascinated by a book, with no pictures, that they stayed still for hours and just listened.  I will never forget the feeling I had being surrounded by my sweet family and just getting lost together in a fascinating story.  I looked forward, every night, to having their undivided attention and spending some of the best quality time I could ever spend with them.  I believe that children thrive on having a bit of routine to their lives.  They need to have some order and be able to count on certain things happening at the same time or in the same place every day.  They feel more anchored and secure.  My advice to young parents is to make story time one of those things.  When they are little then you can read them very short books or just picture books right before bed and then when they get older you can move to chapter books that keep a running storyline going night after night.  Make it interesting.  Change your voice for the characters.  I once read a character's voice in an English accent throughout the whole book because I pictured her with an English accent.  I recently visited a married son and his family and when it was time for bed they asked me to read the Book of Mormon chapter to the kids.  When I was done, my son said, "Wow!  Grandma makes it a little more interesting than Daddy".  Ha ha!  If you read as if you were talking and put lots of inflection in your voice it's almost like they are listening to a movie with real actors.  Much more fun to listen to.  Your children may or may not remember any of the plots of the books you read them but I guarantee you that they will remember being all together, every day, and making memories that will last for eternity.

I'm Thankful for: Tanner

Tanner is my favorite oldest twin in the whole wide world.  This boy is awesome.  He makes me sooo proud.  He is my hero.  He is married, has 3 daughters, is the executive secretary in his ward and is going to medical school.  He's actually acing medical school!  He is unbelievably responsible.  He is a natural-born leader and seems to have his whole life planned out perfectly.  He is confident, dedicated, completely in love with his wife and the greatest dad to his daughters.  He is hilarious and very fun to talk to.  He has always been very mellow and easy going while still being super strong in his beliefs and goals.  I have complete confidence in Nan and love him with all of my heart.

I'm Thankful for: Rylie

I love my little peanut so much!  For those of you who came late to the ballgame, Rylie Ann was born at 24 1/2 weeks and at just over 1 pound.  She spent 6 months in the intensive care unit and at 18 months is perfect in every way even though she is still just a little peanut.  She is our miracle baby and I love her with all of my heart.  She has huge blue eyes and wavy red hair and is working on crawling.  She loves to watch "Kipper, the Dog" and get kisses from her grandma.  I am especially thankful that Heavenly Father let us keep her here with us instead of taking her back to Him even though I'm sure he misses her cute face every day. 

I'm Thankful for: Aubrie

Aubrie is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  Not only is she beautiful on the outside but she is beautiful on the inside.  She is exceptionally kind to everyone she meets.  She has a way of asking just the right questions and really listening to the answers.  She makes everyone feel loved and important.  She is very talented in many ways.  She is quite musical and quite crafty as well as being creative and bright and a very good dancer.  She reminds me of a little fairy or Peter Pan dancing around on her toes.  She is a bright ray of sunshine in our family and I love her very much.

I'm Thankful for: Kyle

My second son, Kymimo, is the sweetest, silliest, funniest boy I know.  Even though he is a husband and father I still call him a boy because that is what he will always be.  He has the innocence and goodness of a child.  He has always been a little pistol with loads of energy.  He loved sports as soon as he was old enough to know what they were.  He is humble and kind and genuinely cares about other people.  He never takes himself seriously and is always willing to learn.  He is one of the most exactly obedient people I know.  Like all of my children he has a knack for remembering movie lines and quoting them at the perfect moment.  Very funny guy:)  My life would be so much duller and less colorful without Kyle in it.  I am so thankful that the Lord gave him to me to brighten my life.  I love him to pieces. 

I'm Thankful for: Brandon

Brandon is my oldest child and the one who made me a mother.  He has been a complete joy to raise.  Everyone loves having "Beer" around.  Especially me.  Kyle gave him that nickname through a series of different variations.  Brandon has an amazing sense of humor and is so witty and quick that wherever he is there are tears of laughter.  He is a school teacher that has impacted countless children's lives.  People listen to him because he is smart and can articulate so well that he is always interesting.  He is very fun to be around and I'm so thankful that I get to be around him all the time:) I love him so much and am eternally grateful that he is my son.

I'm Thankful for: Pat

I know I'm blowing up the internet waves or whatever they're called but I have a lot of thoughts and I just feel like putting them out there.  Also, I think I'm a little lonely since it's holiday time and my house is pretty empty of people.  I have decided to put down on paper (?) who I am thankful for and why.  I am thankful for a million things but I am just going to go with my family members this year since I have quite a few and will barely get them in before Thanksgiving Day.  First and foremost I am thankful for my eternal sweetheart, Pat.  I can hardly remember a time when he hasn't been in my life.  We have known each other for almost 40 years, been in love for over 38 and been married for over 33.  I am so glad that he has me to keep him here on this earth because he is so perfect that I expect him to be translated any day now.  He is the kindest, sweetest husband a person could ask for.  All he cares about is what God wants him to do and since God wants him to love his family and take care of them and be good to them, he does it.  He is the most teachable person I have ever met.  All he wants is to be better than he is and it doesn't matter who's idea it is, if it makes sense and rings true then he will adopt it.  He is completely loyal to me and I trust him with all my heart.  I am never afraid because I know he will always take care of me.  His patience is immeasurable.  We were completely united in raising our children and that made it so easy and fun.  I have never regretted being sealed to him for eternity and I love him Moore than anyone in the world. 

Skipping Thanksgiving?

Some people think that starting Christmas early means skipping Thanksgiving or not giving Thanksgiving it's proper observance or attention.  I don't think of it that way and on my walk today I figured out why that is.  Christmas has this intangible feeling that is hard to explain.  Technically it's a religious holiday but since so many people in the world aren't exactly religious it has taken on a bigger meaning.  Christmas is love and unselfishness and unity and an overall feeling of goodness and kindness and happiness.  Of course, those of us who are extremely religious recognize that as Jesus Christ and his influence on this world.  To me, Thanksgiving Day is the kickoff  for Christmas and all of those wonderful feelings.  We set aside a day to think of the things we are thankful for but I think that putting up Christmas decorations and thinking of the real meaning of Christmas, even if it's in the back of our minds and searching for gifts for those we love beforehand kind of warms us up for that wonderful day of giving thanks.  We then carry those warm, happy feelings through until Christmas Day. I just love this whole holiday time and it's way too short for me so I will milk it for all it's worth and enjoy every song and decoration and feeling for as long as I can.  Happy Christmas and Merry Thanksgiving!

This Makes Me Happy

Last night our youngest son called to ask something about putting up his first Christmas tree.  At the exact same moment my husband was finishing up with the lights on our tree:)  Yes, this is the first week of November and yes, the Moore tradition is alive and well going into the next generation.  It brought me great joy knowing that even though we are hundreds of miles apart we were doing a tradition at the exact same time.  Thank heavens my boys married very understanding and supportive girls:) Merry Christmas everyone!

The Glass is Half Full - Always!

I started decorating for Christmas yesterday and had many up and down moments.  This is the first time I have decorated with no kids home.  I started to feel bad about that but then I realized that I can take my time because no one is bringing people over to stumble over my piles of stuff.  I also don't have to put up and stock with candy the many advent calendars I have collected over the years.  That made me sad at first but then I decided to do one for my daughter and her roommate and take it up to her when we go to the next game.  That got me thinking about the advantages of not having kids home over having them here since I can't very well bring them all back.  I hate to cook and I felt obligated to make dinners most nights when the kids were here.  Me and Pat eat very little now that we are getting older and it's super easy to just fix something for me and him real fast without doing a ton of planning and shopping.  We went to Julian the other day and it was so weird to realize that we didn't have to hurry home for anything or anyone.  I've always had an obsession with being home when my kids are home.  That limited me to only a few hours while they were at school to go and do things.  Now Pat and I can come and go as we please.  I have been very lucky in my life in that I have always been able to recognize, very quickly, what I can change and what I have no control over.  This tends to bring about the "glass half full" theory.  I tend not to worry (or at least not for very long) about stuff or people that I can't change.  Plus, I really hate being unhappy so my mind just naturally gravitates to the good in my life.  In scripture study the other night Pat and I were discussing the two completely different views of Nephi and his brothers, Laman and Lemuel of their journey through the wilderness.  They were in the exact same "car" so to speak, going on the exact same trip with the exact same circumstances and yet they saw the experience completely differently.  Nephi was super thankful that they got away safely and that they always had enough food to eat on the journey and that they were protected.  The brothers said that it was super hard and that their wives suffered mightily and that it was a horrible burden and hardship to do this thing.  Remember, same trip, same circumstances.  Who would you rather be?  We all are given a certain amount of time on this earth with certain blessings and challenges and with the opportunity to get help to make it through this journey.  Would we rather trudge through this experience seeing the glass half empty all the time and being miserable or would we rather change what we can, accept what we can't and strive to know the difference and then live a happy and fulfilling life?  For me, I'll drink my "half full" glass and savor every drop:)