Art and the way it makes me feel

32. Today I am grateful for art and the way it makes me feel. Alive, excited, rejuvenated. Its a combination of satisfaction that comes from creating something, seeing it my head and then seeing it on paper, Making something noteworthy and beautiful out of something I usually think of as everyday, walking around searching for beauty in the world around me, and the peace that comes as I tune out other thoughts.

More Gratefuls

29. Don't you love bonus Saturdays? Brad had the day off, and the girls had no school, it felt like Saturday on a Thursday. I LOVE that, and I am grateful for it.

30. We went to watch the Veteran's day parade. It was moving to watch all of the veteran's from the various wars march down the street. I got all choked up, and was reminded of how very thankful I am for them, for everyone who has fought to protect the freedom that I enjoy today, and how grateful I am for our country. I love America.

31. I am grateful for Brad's sister Bridgette, her great husband Gary and their cute family. I think she is great and I am so grateful that when I don't get to live by my sisters, I get to live close to her. And I am grateful that I get to live by my adorable, sweet, silly, smart nieces. Nora even sat on my lap during the parade today. I love those girls.

#28

28. Today I am grateful that I get to stay home with my kiddos. I am especially grateful that it's not only important to me, but it is equally important to Brad.

#27

27. Today, (Tuesday) I am grateful for story time with Daddy. Especially on nights like tonight when all of the characters have different accents =0).

Getaway | Boston

(a blurry picture of Brad kissing my cheek on the jumbotron)

(Our "borrowed seats" really were this close.) (this is a very tame picture of the food at the Chinese market. I am sparing your tender stomachs )

I am telling you it is all about the food.

The man behind the wall to the left is the one who massaged BR using all of his weight behind his elbows. . . no exageration.

href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/15301553@N02/5158137282/" title="boston-2 by betsy_rand, on Flickr">

Everything on this man's cart was part of his instrument.

(I convinced BR to go play with this street performer. He was a good sport.)

Celtics game: "Borrowed" court-side seats from strangers for the first half. Us on the Jumbo-tron twice. Celtics win in overtime.

Chinatown: Visited the Chinese market: "I just pretend I'm at the zoo." -Brad while trying to teach Betsy not to get sick from looking at the meat options. Chinese massage: "I didn't think I would make it through the first 5 minutes, let alone a half hour." "Can you imagine the deep tissue massage??" "He cured me." -BR Lunch at our favorite place-PHO.

7 minutes from the temple, Indian lunch buffet. Freeport on the way.

Exploring the city via the subway: People watching on the T, Sneaking into the bathroom at the Taj Boston, Window shopping on Newbury street, Street performers, Mike's Pasteries (really its all about the food), Gadiva Chocolate, Popcorn and movie at Loews Cinema, The T's final stop right next to our hotel, All day without our jackets just so we didn't have to carry them around,

Dinner at the restaurant where we got engaged

.

26. Today I am grateful that my kids aren't tired, sick and cranky every day. Because, in combination with the gloomy weather, it is really getting to me. I hope they weren't like this for you, Brianna.

#23

23. (Sunday) Today I am grateful I got to have a really great trip to Boston with my hubby. And that we have an annual date weekend in the fall. I am grateful that we like to do the same things, and that I enjoy him so much.
24. I am grateful for memories.
25. I am grateful that we have been able to go to the temple twice in 2 weeks!

#22

22. (Saturday) I am grateful that we live close (ish) to Boston, and that I get the benefits of living in the country, and visiting the city often. I love the city. I love to go enjoy its energy. . . And then go back to my slow-paced, nature-filled way of life.

#21

21. Today, (Friday) I am grateful for BRIANNA, who came up for the weekend to watch our kids so Brad and I can go on a getaway, just the two of us. I am so grateful that she was willing to make the time to do it for us. I am so grateful for the time that they will get to spend with her. Time to enjoy her, and get to know her better. I am grateful that I am excited for them to enjoy the weekend, just like I am excited for ME to enjoy the weekend. AND, I am grateful that I have NO worries about them while I am gone. I am grateful that I got to sit and watch her and BR talk tonight and see how much they reminded me of each other. Grateful that we get to have her here at our house. What a great sister she is!

#20

20. Today (Thursday)I am grateful that since we never plan on moving, our kids are developing friends they will have for the rest of their lives. I moved around a lot as a kid. I am really grateful for that experience. I believe those experiences shaped a lot of who I am, but I am grateful that my kids will have something that I don't have. Lifelong friendships. To go along with this, I am grateful for our small town. The people BR has known his whole life, and the way that they have helped me feel like I have always known them. It is a great feeling.

#17

Today I am grateful for Liv.

Liv has a wisdom beyond her years. She has a strong moral code, and is committed to doing what she knows is right. She has a very sensitive, loving, faithful heart. And she was born with a love for people. One of the things that I could tell about her from a very early age was she is happiest when she can do whatever she is doing with someone else. Liv carries a lot of love and compassion for the people and things in her life. One of my mom's favorite memories is of Liv as a toddler, putting her arms around Grandma's neck with the most adoring look you could ever imagine, and Liv telling her how much she loved her. She exudes love through the look in her eye. Her mind is naturally inquisitive, and loves learning anything and everything. She is a silly girl, and even sillier when she is tired {that's when she gets the crazies =0)}. She also LOVES thinking of ways to make people laugh. She has developed quite the sense of humor lately =0). I am lucky to have this girl in my life. She is my daughter, my friend, and an example to me.

18. I am grateful that Liv knows that I love her. If you asked her how much her mom loves her, she would say, "SOOO MUCH, you can't even imagine how much!! All the way to the moon and back and forever!"

19. I am grateful that as my mind has wandered today, I have found it spontaneously thinking of things I am grateful for =0).

Today

This little boy took his first steps! I can't believe it happened while I wasn't home! A little part

of me is SO PROUD, and a little part of me is sad. He's growing up. I can't wait to see him

tomorrow when he wakes up.

This little girl was sick. Pathetically sick. The kind where she lays on the couch all day, only

whispers a few little words, and stares off into space with sunken eyes and a fever. Poor little

thing, I felt so bad for her.

I'm so grateful for this guy. I love how proud he is of Beckham. I love listening to him tell me all

about Beckham's first steps, and how he talks to the little fussing, hungry boy. I love the way,

only he, has the power to make me feel. I love that we get to go through life together. I love us.

I voted.

I am grateful for:

16. Brad. That I get to know him in a way that no one else does. And how much more I know

about love now than I did 10 years ago when we first met, and before we started our family

together. I love us.

Quotes that have been on my board lately:

"In family relationships, love is spelled, T-I-M-E, time." Deiter F. Uchtdorf

"To live with gratitude in our hearts is to touch heaven." Thomas S. Monson

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5

Halloween festivities

Saturday night after we drove home from the Trunk or Treat, Brad said, now the only thing we need to make everything perfect is snow. We woke up, completely unexpected, to snow! Which usually doesn't happen until December. I was mostly excited because Brad and the kids were excited.

We spent halloween with family, doing one of our favorite Halloween Traditions. Homemade doughnuts. Brad's grandmother's recipe. The twelve I ate almost exploded my stomach. Really. But they sure did taste good going in!

Now rewind to our pre-Halloween festivities. Pumpkin Carving

And Amy, I mean Carol Brady's, fabulous halloween party. Adults only.

Great, gross you out food

Great costumes

Games that make your cheeks hurt from laughing so hard.

In case you can't tell, I'm Judy Jetson, and Brad is Richard Simmons.

I am grateful: Saturday:

11. All of my kids sleep through the night.

Sunday:

12. I love the girls I work with at church.

13. Family Traditions. One of my favorite things on this earth

Monday:

14. The 30 minutes that my house will stay clean after I am finished cleaning it today.

15. Our family is in a great rhythm for Family Home Evening and family scripture study. I am looking forward to family home evening tonight!

Happy Halloween 2010!!

This year we will be spending our day in a fairytale as Rapunzel, Princess and the Pea, and their fearless dragon. As you can imagine, the girls are in heaven!

Today I am grateful:

6. Brad didn't have to leave for work at 6:45 this morning, and instead, we laid in bed for a bit, then he got up and played with the kids in the playroom, made them breakfast, and helped them get ready for school.
7. Liv thinks it is fun to go to the dump with Brad =0).
8. Brad and I enjoy going to the gym together.
9. My family doesn't care if I make super easy, minimal meals each night.

10. We finally have a can opener that works! Actually 2 =0), since BR and I both bought one the same day =0).

Give Thanks

I have been thinking a lot about being grateful lately. Mostly how being grateful for our blessings is a key to a happy life. It started out as I tried to teach my kids to be grateful for what they do have instead of complaining about what they don't have. As happens a lot of the time, I then started to realize that I will also be happier if I apply that lesson to my own thoughts. And who doesn't want to be happier =0)? Our prophet President Monson, gave a great talk in General Conference that encouraged me again to focus on gratitude. Today I decided to listen to this talk again while I cleaned up the kitchen. It did wonders for my mood =0)! Here are a few quotes that stuck out to me as I read it:

• President Joseph F. Smith, sixth President of the Church, said: “The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man!”⁹
• When we encounter challenges and problems in our lives, it is often difficult for us to focus on our blessings. However, if we reach deep enough and look hard enough, we will be able to feel and recognize just how much we have been given.

• “And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And [the disciples] said, Seven, and a few little fishes.

  “And [Jesus] commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground.

  “And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.”

  Notice that the Savior gave thanks for what they had—and a miracle followed: “And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.” (Matthew Chapter 15:32-38)

  A grateful heart, then, comes through expressing gratitude to our Heavenly Father for His blessings and to those around us for all that they bring into our lives. This requires conscious effort—at least until we have truly learned and cultivated an attitude of gratitude.

• to live with gratitude ever in our hearts is to touch heaven.

So, it's the perfect time of year to be thinking about our blessings, right? {Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner.} To start, A few things that I am really thankful for today:

1. The times when Brad hugs me, and tells whoever is nearby- Our kids, his parents, "Do you know how much I love Betsy? I'm so lucky to have this girl." I love him.

2. For my favorite jeans, and that I can wear them day after day, and they never get stretched out.

3. That I live in the woods and our yard is quiet, peaceful, and private.

4. That I finished the last little bits of my kids Halloween Costume prep today.

5. Every morning when Liv runs downstairs to be able to watch out the window while Brad drives away to work.

Become

"We become what we want to be by consistantly being what we want to become each day." Elder Richard G. Scott

Facer/Rand 5 year reunion extravaganza

Did I foget to post this?? How did I forget to post this??

When Brad and I went out to Spokane for my family

reunion, we snuck away for 2 days to spend them

with our good friends the Facers. We were reminded

how much we love these good friends of ours.