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:)