*Our Blessings Come in Two's*

Today we began the brine preparations for our 23 pounder...enough to feed us, Papa, and Grandma on Thursday, and then some. To our surprise, our big fat turkey friend offered our family more then we ever imagined.

In it's belly, our turkey came stuffed with TWO necks.

I will admit I was a little grossed out by the visual image of a mutant turkey running around, sporting two heads. Our family has come up with many scenarios of why our turkey has two necks...maybe you would like to share some of yours. Also, don't you think it should be worthy of some awesome and amazing prize?? Should I call Jennie-O??

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

My Funny Boy

I have great visiting teachers. They come over every month. Sometimes Hayden is happy about this, sometimes he is not. (He hates having to turn off the TV). Today he was ok with it, but spent most of his time in the other room playing. During the lesson, one sisters' cell phone rang, so she excused herself to answer it. She looked at the number calling while giving me a funny look, and said, "it's you..."?? Obviously, it wasn't me, so I went to find Hayden... and sure enough, with a proud look on his face, he had our phone in his hand, and had accidentally called her number! Out of the 50 million numbers we have on our caller ID, he dialed hers! We had a good laugh over it. It was pretty funny, and is sure to become one of their favorite VTing stories! :)

Tagged

My friend Mandy tagged me...you have to post the 4th picture from your 4th folder. Thankfully, it wasn't an embarrassing picture, because we are not short on those! Madeline and Avery at their finest, smothering one another with love! This was taken in Phoenix about 2003.

I tag Didi, Rachel, Shanna, Rochelle, and Emily - and YES you have to do it, or you will hurt my feelings immensely!!!

Highly Recommended Read

Hayden has been carrying this around for the past 3 days...including dinner time. He cried today when he accidentally tore the corner off a page. Christmas might be easier then I thought.

November 13th

Today has very special meaning to me. Let me tell you why...

16 years ago today, I was your typical 17 year old. I had lots of friends, went to lots of parties, and worked hard in school. I had dreams and I had goals. I was the oldest of two girls, my sister Erika being 7 years younger then myself. We lived with my mom, who has always been a single parent, and who has always worked very hard to give us the life she felt we deserved. I lived in Mississauga, Ontario, a growing city just outside of Toronto.

Although, we were raised to believe in God, I wasn't quite sure who He was, or the role that He played in my life. I wanted to know. I remember it being a very transitionary time in my life. My peers were over-achievers, but yet I watched as their morals declined, and I wasn't too far behind except for the fact that it bothered me. Why did it bother me? For six months, I prayed to know God. I read the Bible, hoping to find the meaning in life I was seeking. I kept a journal of my progress. Many days, it seemed my efforts were in vain. Then one dreary and cold November day, I was standing alone waiting for my bus which would take me to my after school job at a vet's office. It was crowded that day, as commuters were rushing here and there trying to catch their buses. One young man caught my eye. He stood out among the rest. He looked too young to be wearing the suit and trench coat that he wore, but somehow it made him seem important. I watched him as he seemed to randomly approach people and talk with them. Their conversations seemed short. I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency that he needed to talk to me too. I honestly had no idea who he was or what he represented, but I couldn't ignore that my heart was pounding in my chest, and I decided then that if he didn't approach me, I would approach him! As he came my way, I smiled, hoping he would talk to me as he did the others. He introduced himself as Elder Gustin, and said he was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Little did I know at that moment that my life had changed forever. In the weeks to come, Elder Gustin and Elder Babbitt taught me and my family everything my heart yearned to know. It was all so familiar to me. I remember feeling so humbled that God had given me this precious gift, and I vowed never to take it for granted. It was such a pivotal time in my young life, my life could have gone in two totally different directions. How grateful I am that the Lord saw fit to bless me so early on.

The short version of this story is that I went on to Ricks College, where I continued to learn and grow, and make life-long friends. I went on to serve a full-time mission where I gained an enormous love for people and where I finally had the chance to bless others with the gift I had so generously been given. It was also during that time that I realized how truly priceless this gift was. I married the love of my life in the temple, and I have been blessed with three beautiful children...all of these blessings which have stemmed from that one meeting so long ago on November 13th.

The fun part of this story is that I still keep in touch with Elder Babbitt and Elder Gustin. Elder Gustin has been blessed with a beautiful family. He and his wife and their five adorable kids live in Idaho. He and his wife attended Ricks College the same time I did, and it was fun to see them on campus.
Elder Babbitt has also been blessed with 4 beautiful children, and a lovely wife. He and his family live just over an hour away, here in Colorado! We are planning a family get together soon! I am so grateful my children will know these men that served so diligently to teach me the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are intricate threads weaved in to the fabric of who I have become. I am so eternally grateful for their friendship and role in my life.

So, now you know what November 13th means to me:)

Elder Babbitt and Elder Gustin November 1992
(who will either love me or hate me after posting this picture!:)
I believe those are seashells in their ears....?

Irony

Ok, so AS I clicked on "Publish Post" for the previous post (which you have to read to get this one) - Hayden was upstairs playing in the kitchen. I heard his little feet dancing around (he likes to dance in circles). I looked up, and behold, his long lost SOOKIE was in his mouth! Arrrggghhhh! He found it in the cupboard in the box of microwave popcorn!!!

Now what do I do? He is on cloud nine, and I am at Square one.

Have You Seen My Friend??

Hayden lost his very last sookie. It was a bitter-sweet farewell...we knew the day had to come, we just didn't think it would be cold turkey, and the day before he had THREE shots. We have been wanting to wean Hayden from his "sookie" for a while now, but it really has been such a good, GOOD, friend (to me). I knew it would be hard to say goodbye, I didn't know it would be miserable.

The good thing? It's gone. No more bribing the girls with money to go find it during his grouchy moods - because we are not buying another one. We will get to see his cute face in all of our pictures now. No more panic at the grocery store when he drops it on the floor.

The bad thing? Hayden is so, so sad. He is sleep deprived. He is grouchy. I am grouchy. He has had a very hard time falling asleep on his own. He stayed up until midnight the other night, and woke up looking for it in his blanket. .

I want to buy another one. Does the image of a Kindergartener sucking on a pacifier disturb you? I am thinking it isn't so bad...

On this night...

On this night, I have to say I am proud to live in this country. Regardless of who you voted for today, we live in a country that allows us so many freedoms. The freedom to worship, to elect our government, to choose our own paths... whatever they may be.
Tonight was historic in so many ways. I feel humbled and honored to live in a day when our country can look past one's race, and elect them as the leader of this great country. It speaks volumes on how far this country has come. If we look past all the political differences for just a moment, and embrace the unity that occured tonight, it is monumental. It is huge.
I thought McCain's speech tonight was gracious, and I think it would benefit us to take his words to heart. Barack Obama will be the new President of this country. There is honor in that. He ran an honorable campaign, an admirable campaign. I would hope and pray Republicans and Democrats can put aside their differences for the benefit our country, and move forward. I would hope that those who have spoken evil against Barack Obama will see the good in him, and move forward.
I have no doubt that God still watches over this country. I have no doubt that Barack Obama was born to be a leader. The leader of this country, and at this time in history. I have no doubt that he is a good man, a man of integrity, and that he will seek the best interest of America. I know there are many who may not agree with me, but I hope that they will have hope, that they will pray for their new leader as I will. I have hope for this great country, that there will be positive changes, that we will be able to reach out to the world in a manner that will allow the gospel of Jesus Christ to move forward, and penetrate all nations, kindreds, tongues and people...

It was kind of a big deal...

Madeline has not had bangs since she was 4 years old, so it took me by surprise today when she asked me to cut her some...I was a little nervous about this endeavor, okay, freaking out nervous. But, I did it - I also cut a little more then some new bangs...and not to toot my own horn, but I am thinking...future hairdressing career here? She was actually happy with it, like jumping up and down happy. I felt like a really good mom today, but next time I may just charge for it.