I have several posts in the works, but they are on hold until I can get the pictures from off the phones. So, I thought it would be fun to post a little update while we're waiting.
Cameron has finished his current semester and is looking forward to a nice break. Work is going well and he is enjoying doing computer projects at home. His goal is to organize the garage during spring break.
I recently acquired a sewing machine and have been doing lots of experimenting. It's been super fun!! My goal during spring break is to de-junkify the house.
And lastly, here are the pictures from my Skype call with my Mom and Lylah as a peace offering for my lack of posts the last few weeks.
Mom being her beautiful, yet goofy self.
See, beautiful and goofy. It's possible people.
Lylah finally recognizes me on Skype!! I love it!!
She was dancing to Sesame Street! (So cute!!)
Sticking her tongue out at me, because she can.
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Thanks for reading everyone! I hope your week is going great!
Love,
Courtney
PS-In case you were wondering, Midnight's goal this spring break is to make friends with the orange cat we call Garfield that hangs out outside the bedroom window. And also to eat all the treats.
I am sure all of you know by now that Jeremy is going to the Cleveland, Ohio mission. (I am so EXCITED!!!) Here are the pictures from his mission call announcement party.
I feel like waiting for his mission call could be written into a saga and subsequently made into a 6-movie Peter Jackson masterpiece. It. Took. So. Long.... We thought it would come way earlier than it did, then the Stake President told us it wouldn't be here for several more weeks. Eventually, however, it came just in time.
This super cool cake that Mama Lisa designed.
These were all of the immediate family guesses. The little girls guessed by pointing to places on the map.
These were all of the Facebook guesses. It was super fun to see family and friends from all over make guesses as to where Jeremy would go.
Yummy snacks!
Jeremy pointing to his mission area.
Cleveland Ohio!!!
This was such an amazing experience! Jeremy going on a mission is such a special and awesome thing! He will be a super missionary and I cannot wait to hear about all the experiences that he will have.
This was so much fun! Basically, in the middle of October I asked these fabulous ladies to each make enough ornaments for everyone in the group. Then, we got together the weekend after Thanksgiving and exchanged them! So each person received about 11 new ornaments. Here are all the ornaments and the people who made them.
Gauchay joined the exchange and we were so happy to have her!
I thought it might be fun to share a picture of each participant too! This is Gauchay! :)
Her lovely ornament. She actually had quite a variety of different types, but they were all adorable!
My aunt Alysa and her baby Mirren.
She made these super cool terrariums! I wish there was a picture of each individual one because they were all so fun!
My aunt Wendy.
She made these sweet lollipop ornaments. They look good enough to eat!
My lovely Mom.
She made these super cute penguins! She also had a few other cute ornaments.
My sister Miranda.
She made these awesome color swirl ornaments! Each one was unique and had its own design.
My sister-in-law Melissa.
She made these cute painted wood ornaments. They were all so intricate and detailed!! There were a variety of adorable shapes which were all painted beautifully.
My aunt Alyson.
She made these disco ball ornaments. They are so pretty on the tree when they catch the light. It is so cool!!
My sister-in-law Jenni.
She made super cute, sparkly ornament shapes out of clay/dough. They were all so cool looking with sparkles!
My sister-in-law Tawnee.
She made these cute poinsettia ornaments, which are also sparkle-full. So cute!
My sister-in-law Heidi.
She made these cardinal/dove ornaments! She painted them and put feathers on them. They look so, so awesome!
Finally, these are the ornaments that I made:
I made a variety of different ones, they all involved burlap in some way (love/hate relationship there). My Mom totally saved my bacon at the last minute!! Thanks Mom!
Here is a picture of all the ornaments!
Hopefully you can see all the names!
This kind of allows you to see the variety of different ornaments that people made.
Loved all of the ornaments.
I cannot tell you how much fun this was! We had some treats, played holiday taboo and admired all the ornaments. It was so cool to see all the creativity involved in each persons ornament. Thanks so much to all who participated and helped me out, it wouldn't have been possible without you! Hopefully, we can make this a yearly tradition!
I am SO excited to be doing this in 2014! The opportunity to examine my life and really see the blessings that I have is such a great opportunity. I am hoping to write what I'm thankful for daily in this post and just publish it on Thanksgiving day (just like last year).
1. November 1, 2014
Today, I am thankful for prayer. Our life has been pretty hectic and it seemed like we were barely scraping by. We have been praying constantly for me to be able to find a job. I was able to get two interviews last week!! I know that was truly a blessing from Heavenly Father, and it just makes me realize that He really does listen to our prayers.
2. November 2,2014
As I was listening to testimonies in Sacrament Meeting, it made me realize how thankful I am for the Gospel. It is true no matter where you are. It can be applied to any situation and bring peace. I'm so thankful for my personal testimony and the people who have helped me build and strengthen it.
3. November 3, 2014
Job searching is super hard. (I think this has been mentioned one-two billion times on this blog previously). I hate it. A lot. I especially hate rejection and today I'm thankful for supportive cheerleaders who help me get back up after a crushing defeat. Family, friends, you know who you are. Thank you so much for your help!
4. November 4, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the right to vote! It is so amazing that we as the people have a say in who leads our government. I was able to exercise my right as an American to elect leaders today and it feels pretty awesome! I am so grateful to live in a free country.
5. November 5, 2014
It's fall (hey, I heard that duh in your mind) and the best thing about fall is pumpkin spice! Today I am so grateful for pumpkin spice. It makes everything better. The combination of spices is just amazing. Love, love, love it!!
6. November 6, 2014
Today, I'm grateful for the knowledge that God is in charge. Sometimes things don't go the way we plan them and that is super hard. (That is such an understatement!) But, I feel comforted in knowing that Heavenly Father has a plan for me and all I have to do is keep the commandments etc. On Sunday, our lesson was about accountability. The teacher read this quote: If I do my duty, according to my understanding of the requirements that the Lord has made of me, then I ought to have a conscience void of offense. I ought to have satisfaction in my soul that I have simply done my duty as I understand it, and I will accept the consequences. With me, it is a matter between me and the Lord; so it is with every one of us.
-Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, (2013), 286–96
What a freeing thought! All I have to do is what the Lord requires of me! A weight was lifted off my shoulders as I realized this. I am so thankful for that!
7. November 7, 2014
Sometimes you have to see what you're NOT thankful for to realize what you are thankful for. Today I came to the conclusion that although health insurance is constantly a thorn in my side, I'm thankful to live in a country where I can choose my healthcare (sometimes).
8. November 8, 2014
I believe we have successfully established the fact that I'm a cat lady. You guessed it, I'm thankful for my cat today. He has been such a blessing in our lives. He is can be a pain sometimes, but he is also sweet (very rarely).
9. November 9, 2014
Today, I'm thankful for the concept of unconditional love. This is especially present among our family members. No matter what I do, I know that my family will always love me. It is such a reassuring feeling for me. You can't really find that (except maybe with a few special kind friends that you consider family) anywhere else in the world. I am so thankful for that!
10. November 10, 2014
Okay, here comes a little thankful-ception: I'm grateful for this opportunity to examine my blessings and see how many things I've been given. That song really is correct:
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
I have been feeling very stressed and under a lot of pressure lately, but when I sit down to do this post, everything changes. I realize how many things the Lord has given me and my heart grows full. I am so thankful for the opportunity to do this post and read others' posts on assorted social media/blogs.
11. November 11, 2014
Today I am truly thankful for the people who fought for our freedoms. This country would not be what it is without those people's sacrifices. And continuing sacrifices. Thank you.
12. November 12, 2014
Cameron's work has been VERY stressful lately as they are moving into a new building. But, it just made me see how much of a blessing this job has been. It has been a steady source of employment but it has also given Cameron lots of opportunities to grow. They are always encouraging him to improve and stretch his knowledge. We really were guided to that job opportunity by the Spirit. Heavenly Father truly knows what is best for us and will take us to that point if we listen.
13. November 13, 2014 Being far away from your family is hard. REALLY HARD! Naturally, I have realize that absence does make the heart grow fonder. It also makes me realize how much my siblings mean to me. They are the best friends a girl could ask for! They are always so supportive and frankly, hilarious. (BTW: I am very lucky to have a few sweet sisters close, but that will be covered in another post). Jeremy, Miranda, Kitty and Jonathan, I sure do miss you guys! You are the best!!
14. November 14, 2014 So thankful for music today. It makes such a profound difference in the atmosphere of our home. I love the concept of a song being a prayer. I have such a strong testimony of that! There is this one hymn that I sing whenever I feel anxious/nervous. It relieves the stress every single time! It has truly made a difference in my life.
15, November 15, 2014 After being away from parents awhile, it becomes apparent (hehe) that I owe so much to them! If not for their teachings, I would be up the creek. I am so thankful for their patience and unconditional love.
16. November 16, 2014 Today, I'm thankful for my love of reading. It has brought so much joy into my life! I have learned so much from reading books, and I would not have had these experiences without a love of books. If you have any good book recommendations please leave them in the comments!
17. November 17, 2014
This blog has been such a wonderful thing in my life. I just wanted to say thank you to my dedicated readers! You guys are my motivation to write about my life! Thank you so much for your kind comments, they make this whole thing worth it. I am so grateful for you guys!
18. November 18, 2014
Black Friday. These two words can send different members of my family/extended family into very different conversations. Some hate it, others love it. I find myself in the latter category. Beforehand, I love to look at the ads, plan what gifts to get for friends/family and dream about the possibilities! The actual day brings loooooooong waits, excitement, the first non-guilty listening of Christmas music and amazing deals! Now, does that mean other people who would prefer skip Black Friday are bad? No, of course not. People are allowed to have their own opinions! So, what am I grateful for? I am thankful to be part of several families that value each person's opinion instead of instantly putting it down as silly/stupid.
19. November 19, 2014
Ah, crafting. It is either my best friend, or my most evil nemesis. I am so thankful that crafting is something that I'm able to do (even if it's not done very well) because it is so enjoyable for me. My big project is this ornament exchange that I've been working on for the past few months. I have had nothing but trouble with these ornaments I'm trying to make. But, I have learned a TON from the experience as well, so I suppose that's the part to be grateful for.
20. November 20, 2014
As this year draws to a close, it makes me reflect upon my goals that I set last year. One of my goals was to try to write more blog posts, which I successfully did! I am so looking forward to 2015!
21. November 21, 2014
Today, Kitty's adoption into my family is legally complete! She is now officially an Alder! I am so grateful for her and how much she has changed our family. She became part of our family long before the piece of paper was signed though. I can't believe that they started this whole process a year ago!
22. November 22, 2014 This is going to sound really lame, but nonetheless, I am thankful for Pandora! It has introduced me to a whole new range of music and saves me the time of making an awesome playlist. It's always good to try new things, right?
23. November 23, 2014 I am so thankful for the peace that the scriptures bring into my life. Each time I read the Book of Mormon, I am guided to a new meaning/nuance. These new meanings tend to be something that I needed to hear. It is so amazing to me! This book that was written many, many years ago and is still applicable today! And each time you read it, you glean something new. How awesome is that?
24. November 24, 2014 I have been working on this ornament exchange for several months now. It has been a LOT of work, but it helped me to realize a few things about myself. It really made me see how strong of a person I can be. I am so thankful for this experience!
25. November 25, 2014 Our car suddenly started to have some major issues and we had to take it in to the mechanic. I am so grateful for them! They always do such a great job, and they are very trustworthy too. Also, I am thankful for our car! It has been such a reliable and sturdy car for our many travels throughout the land. We are very fortunate that it came our way.
26. November 26, 2014
My Mom is here!!! I am so grateful that she could come and visit! We had so much fun together. It was so amazing to have her here and be able to spend some time with her.
27. November 27, 2014
Wow, I can't believe this is over already! Today, I am thankful for the great food that we partook of at Cameron's parent's home. It was super delicious! It has been such a fun month of realizing how many blessings I have! I am looking forward to Christmas, but I'm also sad to see November go. Thanks so much for reading all the way to the bottom! Hope you have a great week! Love, Courtney
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