A Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was with the Andrus family. Sam and I take turns with our families and the holidays, so we stayed in St. George. For our "first" dinner of the day, the whole Andrus family (Sam's aunts and uncles and their children) meet in a church gym for the meal. I don't know how long they'll continue the tradition, the families are getting so big that it's getting more impersonal. And the dinner is just the basics - turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, Jell-O, rolls, and pies. So, Kristen, one of my three sisters-in-law, and I, decided years ago we wanted left-overs, dang it! So, we do another dinner later that night at my in-laws...it's much better (and I save making the good pies for then).

Sam and me
My in-laws, Mary and Jim

Milo and Cragun (I don't think his dad was around to see him in this little get-up. I, on the other hand, thought it was kind of funny - is that bad??)

Princess Asia and Princess Cragun

Cooper and Grandma

Nothing like sitting and a little boob-tube

Kristen and Jimmy (Sam's bro)

Erik (Sam's other bro)

Thanks for a Functioning Body

So, Cooper has decided he'd like to quit being a rug rat. Actually, he's starting to walk for pure survival's sake. Now that he can get into his brothers' toys and wreck havoc, both Matt and Milo have been defending their territory - they don't really consider him the baby anymore.

I appreciate that we are born with that instinct to keep progressing. Now that Coopie is getting his land legs, he loves to get up and move. There's just something about the human body and instinct to not be satisfied with where we are. When laying on our backs don't cut it anymore, we learn to roll, then crawl, then walk, and run and jump.

I am so grateful for physically capable children who like to jump, and roll, and play, and move. Our bodies are really so amazing (and I'm not really talking about my physiqe, thank you). There's no amount of science that can replicate the fluidity of fingers moving or a turn of the head.

(I had a video of Cooper walking already to post and I, for some reason, can't figure out how to get it on here. In the meantime, I will try to learn this new fangled thing.)

Thanks for Buddies & Music

So, I made a playlist tonight and I had a perma-grin the entire time! I love music. My tastes aren't real limited and so I can like some different stuff. I've played the piano since I was eight and played the clarinet in middle school. And as much as I would've hated to admit it in high school - I secretly wanted to be in the band. I know being a "band fag" wasn't the cool thing, but heck, I really did like band in middle school and I wasn't too bad at it.

So, I love music and while making this playlist just about every song holds some kind of memory for me, hence the perma-grin. All these songs remind me of my friends or some meaningful time in my life. "Your Love is My Love" takes me back to my Raintree apartment at Dixie; "Eye of the Tiger" was a high school theme song at every sporting event; "Small Town, Saturday Night" reminds me of Kanab for some odd reason; and well, Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys...well, if you're in my generation you know what I'm talking about.

Songs and smells can bring you back to any moment in time and I love that memories can stay so fresh that way. That song Mark McGrath sings about "there's a halo on my girlfriend's four post bed...." that song reminds me of waffles...hmm. I'm just thankful for good songs, good buddies, and good times.

Sidenote: I've always wanted to live in a musical. Wouldn't it be so cool if everyone just broke out into song and dance in unison? I would love to have my life set to a soundtrack!

Thanks for Mom & Dad

I am so thankful for my Mom and Dad. They're the best! I wish I lived closer to them, but I think we're here in St. George for the long haul.

My Mom is really one of my best friends. I've never had a problem talking to her about just anything (within reason, of course - there's some things a mother should never know). She's a good listener and I've always looked to her for advice - and her advice is usually spot-on. Growing up, we lived 25 minutes from my middle school and high school. But, until I got my car, my mom always drove me to my volleyball practices, even during two-a-days, to my band concerts, to after school activities, and to my friends' homes on the weekends. She didn't want me to miss out on anything I wanted to do. She was always at home when we came home from school and encourages me in anything I've wanted to do. If it weren't for my mom pushing journalism, I would've missed out on writing and editing my high school newspaper, which was one of the best experiences I've had. She takes care of her big baby (my little sis, Kassie), all while working full-time, being a nana, and doing the hordes of laundry/dishes that pile up. When I was younger I told her after she died the thing I'd remember most about her was always cleaning. OK, Mom, I'll remember more than that.

My Dad is the smartest person I know when it comes to anything that has to do with the gospel. He is a scriptural sponge. I think he's read every book by every apostle. He relaxes by reading his books, with his pink highlighter, at the kitchen table. My dad works for the railroad and is such a hard worker. He doesn't have set hours, yet he still manages to be on call constantly and go to work in the middle of the night. Growing up, my dad was the type who did things with my brother and I whenever he could. He wasn't the dad who had his nose in the TV or told us to be quiet because he couldn't hear. He'd take us to the park and play catch and get down on the floor and play "Memory." My dad has always been supportive in anything I do. The only time I felt any shame was when he was disappointed I quit volleyball one season after I had started it. I did get to go back and join the team again, but he's always taught me to finish what I start.

I love both my parents, and I probably don't tell them that enough, but I do.

Thanks for Health

Ever been sick? I am so thankful for my health, and even more thankful for the health of my children, my family, and friends. We really are in a wonderful time to be alive. We have so many conveniences that make life easier and modern medicine ranks right up there as one of our greatest blessings.

I've heard it said that our trials in these last days are more of the spiritual nature; we don't have to quite endure what our ancestors did. I know Matthew and I probably would've died in childbirth if it weren't for doctors' abilities to perform C-sections and administer antibiotics. My mom and little sister would've been in the same situation, and were a lot closer than I ever came to death. But, nobody is immune to sickness, spiritual or physical.

Sam's cousin, Jeff Andrus, has spent this last week going through chemotherapy at the U of U Hospital. He is supposed to get a bone marrow transplant, from his brother, in the next day or so. The chemotherapy, though, has caused some unexpected damage and he can't have any pain meds because of the upcoming transplant (I hope I'm getting all this info. right!) The family is having a special fast for him tomorrow. I realize that most you who read my blog probably don't know Jeff, but maybe just keep him in your prayers. He's such a nice guy. He and his wife, Kathryn, have two little kids. Jeff was actually the first person I met at Dixie College (other than roommates) when I first came to St. George. We were in Bro. Judd's institute class together. He's just such a nice, outgoing guy. Please pray for him and his family.

I'm just thankful there are ways to treat, and even diagnose, what ails us. The world has come so far the last 150 years in treating anything. I know it's because of the restored gospel on the Earth, and the diligence of doctors to learn and the faithfulness of people who truly believe that Heavenly Father can heal that leads to so many miracles.

Thanks for TV

I like TV. I admit it. I spend my days with a three little boys ages 4, 2, and 1. I really do look forward to bedtime. I mean, it's not always the highlight of my day, but when I finally get to lay my sweet angels down at the end of sometimes a long, hard, long day, the TV and I can once again reconnect.

I do love my children; they are the most important people in my life, but sometimes I read other people's blogs and it gets me down. Do these other bloggers who have kid(s) not get worn down? Because, I swear, it sounds like these mothers (and fathers) have all the energy, patience, and love in the world and they're almost disappointed when the day is over. OK, not me. About half the time, I do a naked dance, eat some chocolate, lovingly kiss my DVR, and settle in for a few hours.

I need some me time at the end of the day. Sam doesn't understand why I stay up so late most nights. "Just go to sleep. Why do you gotta stay up?" the man says to me. He doesn't understand. I need alone time! My TV is overtaken by a combination of "Tom and Jerry" and "Thomas" sporadically during the day. So, I don't even try anymore (and there's always something I should be doing instead of TV, as much as I hate to admit it).

Thank the heavens for the advent of DVR! What a sublime, wonderful creation! I was against getting it at first: only TV junkies would tape shows, and I was not a TV junkie. That was the old me. I now have 68 episodes of "The Office," the last few episodes of "Lost" (which I can't watch yet because I have to see the first few of that season), "87 Kids and Counting" (I think that's it), "Unwrapped," "The Biggest Loser," and a few others here and there that catch my fancy.

Anyway, I love TV and people really shouldn't put it down. All things in moderation, and only "good" programming, of course, but I can always count on my TV to help me unwind at the end of the day.

Thanks for Ellen

I'm so thankful for my Aunt Ellen. Today is her birthday, and she would've been 46. Wow, that's hard to believe. She died in August 1999, but it feels like she's been gone forever. I wish I had a picture at my house that I could post of her, but I've searched forever and can't find the one I know I had. All the other pictures in the photo book are right there and that one is missing. She must have come and stole it.

Ellen is my mom's next youngest sister and the closest aunt and one of the best friends I ever had. I have so many good memories of her. When she'd stay at our house, she'd sleep in my bed and then leave a candy bar under the pillow when she left. I always looked forward to coming home from school to find it. My cousins and I would have sleepover at my Grandma's up in Ellen's room. We slept on the floor and Ellen would always tell us she had to go downstairs and would be right back. She'd never come back and we'd fall asleep waiting for her to return. And that memory reminds me of the "Hibernation Game." We'd "hibernate" (hide) and she'd come find us. She'd never come to find us. Also, we'd play the "Quiet Game." I'm sure you can guess how that one worked. It's really funny now that I look back. I'm going to try those games with my kids.

Ellen was my biggest supporter. She was right there with me bad mouthing my volleyball coaches and threatening to take them out. She defended me against anyone, including her own sisters. And she was always there to talk to. She was such a night owl and I could find her any time I needed to talk. She didn't have much money, but she bought me a graduation dress and a swimsuit when I went to France.

She is the greatest example of enduring to the end. When she was 18 she was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that caused lumps on her skin. She was in and out of the hospital until the end, often spending weeks at a time at the University of Utah hospital. Sure, she had her bad days and wasn't a saint, but that just makes her human and even more of an example. The countless operations, medications, and stress eventually took its toll and she died in her sleep at home, in her own bed....with the TV on. If there was any way to go for her, I'm so glad it was that way.

Ellen loved writing in her journal and she had literally dozens and dozens of journals. I know she had such a testimony and faith of what lie ahead of her. I'm sad for myself that she never got to see any of my own kids and I often think what she would think of them. She never married, but I'm sure she's found her Civil War hunk in heaven that she often mentioned.

I know Ellen would've gotten a kick out of this whole blogging phenom and probably would've had her own. I'm not so good at the journal thing, but blogging does help a little. I just wanted to share a little about my favorite aunt and how often I think of her.