Attitude of Gratitude

I have been trying to get some things done
around my home this past week to
make me happy.
I have found that if I am happy and at
peace with myself then the rest
of my life/family seems to go well.
I have been crafting, sewing, decorating
and de-cluttering.
I will post some pictures later as I don't have them
all downloaded yet off my camera.
It has been raining most of the week so
haven't done much outside so needed
to keep myself busy so as not to
let the dreariness outside take over my life.
I am grateful that I was taught at a very early age to
sew, make things for myself and my home, to craft,
to make something old or discarded into
something new and useful.

"Let others think what they will, for they
are going to do it anyway."
Suze Orman

Spring...Where are you?

Where oh where is spring and the warm weather? We had a few days of nice weather, able to open the windows and doors to air out the house. But then it turned cold again, we had some snow and rain. Oh the rain keeps coming and coming. Rain will help the plants and makes things all bright and beautiful, but rain and cold weather is not a nice combination. I am tired of cold weather, I am tired of having the house all shut up. Please oh Please Mother Nature be nice to us and bring on Spring and the nice weather. I can deal with rain as long as the air is warm. I can still open the windows if its raining if the air is warm, I can finally put up all the heavier coats as long as the air is warm. I know April showers bring May flowers but it won't do the plants any good if the frost gets to them. Bring on the sunshine!!!

On a lighter non complaining note :) I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and you spend lots of great time with family and friends doing whatever makes you happy.

Attitude of Gratitude

This past week was a very stressful and sort of bleak time as I had 2 viewings/funerals for family members in 3 days time. My Aunt on my fathers side passed away from cancer after a long 10yr battle. The other was for my former brother in law who has battled diabetes for the last 8yrs or so and had lost both legs to this disease. He was doing pretty well it seemed but suddenly had a heart attack. Going to funerals is one of those things we need to do but really not high on anyones list. There is only 2 siblings out of 9 left on my fathers side of the family. But I truly believe that my fathers family are celebrating together in Heaven and welcomed Aunt Arlene with open arms.

I really do have many things to be grateful for. And I count those blessings everyday. My family, my extended family/friends, my love for the Lord, my religion, my home, and so many more to numerous to list.

I decided to use pictures for the most part this week of some of the many things I am grateful for in my life. They all make me smile.

My father and his sister Arlene.


My great granddaughter Randi holding my grandson Noah.


My son Bryce holding his son Noah.


Me holding Noah and him smiling and laughing up at me.


I hope everyone has a wonderful week ahead and may you find some type of joy in each and everything you do no matter what the circumstance.

Attitude of Gratitude

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to listen to General Conference from Salt Lake City. Twice a year, in April and October member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints get the opportunity to hear the leaders of our church speak. All these talks are just wonderful and mean something to the members. A lot of the time while listening to the talks it seems like they are speaking directly to you. I know personally I have had numerous questions or problems taken care of from listening to these men speak. Sometimes it's one of those AHA moments. I am very grateful to have these opportunities to hear these talks and try and put them to work in my own life. Last October is when I heard the talk by our Prophet, President Monson speak about having Gratitude for things. Which in turn came about this Attitude of Gratitude blog each week. No matter how things might be going in our lives we can always find something to be grateful for. Yes sometimes it seems we might have to dig really deep to find something but everyone can.My church publishes a magazine each month called Ensign. There are a lot of wonderful words of wisdom in these publications. The May and November issue have all the conference talks in them from the previous month. Even though you might listen to the talks, reading them helps in remembering things you might have missed and you also have a hard copy to refer back to.

I am very grateful for the gospel and the joy it has brought into my life. Each of us have our own way of bringing religion/beliefs into our lives. And you make it work to the best of your own ability. There are so many religions/beliefs out there and everyone has the right to choose which they want to believe or not believe in. No one can answer but ourselves how we chose to do this or not and NO ONE should put you down or condemn you for whatever you chose. We have freedom of religion in the United States. So whatever you believe do it with your head held high. I know I do.

The pictures I have posted on here are the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple, Washington DC Temple, SLC Temple reflecting pool with image of temple in it and the DC Temple reflecting pool with the temple image in it.

I have been to the DC Temple and it is very beautiful and so magnificent to look at. There are over 100 temples around the world with new ones being built soon. We will have a new one built right here in Indiana. It will be built in Indianapolis, IN. The closest one to me is Chicago, IL. I have been to that one, also in Dallas, TX. Just being on the grounds of these beautiful buildings is a blessing in itself. There is such a peaceful feeling that comes over you.

I am not trying to push my religion on anyone and I apologize if it seems that way. But I wanted to share today what my Attitude of Gratitude is for me. This is going to be another trying week for my family as we have 2 family member funerals to go to. Although I know they both are in a better place, it still doesn't change the fact that they will be missed.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and try and stop and take a look around you to all the many blessing the Lord has provided for us. No matter how small they may seem, its still a blessing. Smile and enjoy life.

Mixed Emotions Take Two

I am trying to stay positive in this wave of sadness that seems to have taken over my life. My last post was about my Aunt who had cancer and was in the hospital because this was the end of her journey. I was able to visit with her and she was tired but still able to laugh, talk, and visit with each and everyone that came to see her. She stated she was ready to leave this world but wasn't sure when that would be because there were still things that needed to be taken care of before she goes. I saw her again about 3 days later and she was now unresponsive to her surroundings. She looked so tired and it was hard seeing her like this. She didn't have any look of pain on her face so that was a comfort at least to those around her as she had suffered so much during this long approx 10 yr journey of cancer and all that goes along with it. She passed away Wed night with her family (minus her one son who was away getting a national award for work) by her side. She will be missed by so many people. She was a wonderful, thoughtful, loving, beautiful, talented and giving lady. She was always there for everyone no matter how she felt. Her funeral is this coming Wed morning and it will be a sad occasion to put her to rest but it will also be a comfort and joy that she no longer is suffering. R.I.P. Aunt Arlene.

The take two part of this is about 10 min after we found out about the arrangements for the funeral for my aunt, I got a text message from my son saying his Uncle Zak had just passed away. Zak had been living in a nursing home due to him having to have both his legs amputated due to diabetes. Zak was my ex brother in law and I also knew him from high school as we were in the same grade. He was a little strange but he was always nice to everyone. I had just saw him a month ago at his mothers funeral and he looked great and said he was doing great and that his diabetes was under control and he had felt pretty good these days. From what we were told he had a heart attack.

They say things like this happen in 3's. I don't even want to think about that. But someone reminded me of that and I am trying not to think about it. We all need to take each day and make the most of it. You never know when it might be your last or someone else. Tell your loved ones you Love them as often as you can because you might not get the chance again. Life is short, live it to the fullest!!!!!!

I love you :)