It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without...

My favorite Christmas Movie, "White Christmas"  with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and



I have to watch it every year, and usually more than once.  I can't explain why this is THE Christmas movie for me, but it is.  It's a little corny, a little sappy, and a whole lot sentimental for me.  I even had it as one of our first VHS movies after we got married.  I just love it.

The song above is the finale, and this is one of the sillier songs from the movie  "Sisters"




What Movie means Christmas to you?

It Wouldn't Be Christmas Without...Music Edition

I am such a sucker for Christmas music.  I LOVE it.  Every year I add to my collection, which has gotten significantly cheaper since the advent of iTunes-thank you Apple.

I love it all instrumental, choral, country singers, jazz singers, gospel singers, I just love it. I love the silly ones-although not "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" so much, I love the sappy ones, and the religious ones.

 My kids now tease me and groan when it's time to permanently tune the radio to 99.9 KEZ-the local Christmas only music station-the day after Thanksgiving.    Although to be truthful when they aren't around I have it playing before Thanksgiving, I just try and show some restraint for their sake.


Here are two of my favorites, it's just not Christmas for me without these two specific versions:

Silent Night by Mannheim Steamroller

and Silver Bells by Martina McBride

And a fun new version I just discovered this year by Meaghan Smith



And my favorite version of Rudolph by Jack Johnson

A Legacy of Love

Today is my Mom's birthday, she passed away five years ago this month, so this is my way of remembering her and enjoying (and sharing) some pictures of  days long gone, and the love that still holds true.

Here she is with her brother, aren't they cute?  Something so fabulous about the clothes, and the sweet innocence of these pictures, I love them!

 And as a majorette in high school, I love thinking about  her like this, young and loving life.  So excited to be heading out to march in the parade (the Christmas parade it looks like).

And here she is in front of her boyfriend's house (my Dad) love the tilt of her head, and that great car!

 On her wedding day, she married in 1959-gotta love that ball gown style skirt and the long gloves-just like a princess.  My sister blew this one up and gave it to all of us at Mom's memorial service.  I love it, it hangs in my dining room.

Mom & Dad leaving their wedding, that car is just so cool!  And here they are with their parents, such style.  I love the way my father's parents have their fingers linked.

 And below, before they had kids, enjoying a little ski vacation.

 This one seems a little distorted, I'm not sure why-but she's teaching my two oldest how to use sparklers.  She was an amazing Grandma.

And here, two years before she passed away.  She had always wanted to take all her kids and their families to Disneyland, and that dream came true.  Each family is wearing a different color shirt-my family is in the red.

Happy Birthday, Mom!
Above all my mom was about family, she loved her family and gave her all to every one of her children and grandchildren.  She loved my children in a way they will never forget, and will always treasure.

I will always remember the legacy of love you gave to each of us.

  Linking up with Miss Jenny's AlphabeThursday-click to read more fabulous posts inspired by the letter L!

Wrestlemania

Our 9th grader, Quinn (3rd from the right above), has introduced us to many new things over the past 14 (almost 15! gasp!) years.  Always one to try new things and competitive to the end, his latest new thing is wrestling.  He joined Poston's 9th grade wrestling team, and wrestled for the first time in an official meet earlier this week.

It's a whole new world, and one I don't quite understand.  I have no clue what the fouls are, or how most of the points are scored.  It looked like it hurt-a lot!  And the uniforms are weird.  There's just no other way to describe them, let's be honest.  But he's really enjoying it, and it keeps him busy and active-two things we both like.

I went to the meet and enthralled with the whole process, and I cheered, loudly I believe.  But still not as loudly as my friend Jenny-I don't think I can even compare with her vocal capabilities.  Hope he wrestles next week-can't wait to cheer him on again!  I still think what they wear is weird, c'mon what kind of name is "singlet"  shouldn't they at least change that?

Holiday Baking Traditions

Linking up with Jen at Denton Sanitorium

image found here

The number one holiday baking tradition in our home is Toffee.  Growing up my mom made mountains of Christmas goodies, but this was my favorite.  I am not nearly the cook or baker she was, so my repertoire is limited in comparison, but I have mastered the fine art of Toffee making.  It helps that it is an insanely simple recipe.

There are tons of recipes on the internet, and almost all exactly the same!  The ingredients are basic, and I bet you have them all (or most) on hand already.

TOFFEE
2 c. sugar
1 lb butter (that's right-4 cubes baby!)
1/2 c. water
Dash of salt
(1 tsp. Vanilla-optional, but kind of yummy!)
Milk Chocolate Bars or Chips
Nuts if desired
Buttered cookie sheet

*Melt the butter over low-medium heat, don't boil it.  As the butter melts get your cookie sheet ready, I use the papers from the butter cubes to butter my cookie sheet-waste not, want not!

*When the butter has melted add your sugar and water, and a dash of salt.  Cook and stir over med-high heat until it looks like this:
image found here



The most important thing is cooking it to the right stage-which really means the right color.  It should be the color of a brown paper bag, you might be afraid it will burn & want to rush and take it off before it gets that it reaches that perfect golden brown hue, but resist the temptation at all costs!

When it looks like this (or reaches a temp. of     if you want to be technical)  take it off the heat and add vanilla if you want.  Stir well, don't worry about the bubbling, that's totally normal.

Quickly pour in the buttered cookie sheet, spreading as needed with a wooden spoon.  Let cool slightly and gently pour chocolate chips over the top, or break Hershey bars into the small rectangles and place on toffee. As the heat from the toffee melts the chocolate spread it around with the wooden spoon or spatula.

If you like nuts in your toffee you can add slivered or chopped almonds, pecans, whatever!  We don't like that so much, so I leave them out.  I've seen them sprinkled over the pan before the toffee is poured in, or on top of the toffee before melted chocolate is poured (melt in microwave), or even sprinkled on top of the chocolate, before it's cooled.

So many options!  It's fun to experiement.

I found a great step by step tutorial here: petitelefant (that's where I got the picture of the toffee cooking)  if you'd like more precise (or you just like to see pictures).

We also make Sugar Cookies, and I don't have a special or fancy recipe for those, but I do have a tip from my friend Jen @ Denton Sanitorium & it has greatly improved our sugar cookies!  Instead of sprinkling flour before you roll out the dough sprinkle sugar.  Just regular white sugar.  It serves the same function as  the flour, but gives the cookies an excellent sugary "crust" on the bottom & it doesn't dry out the dough by adding excess flour.  LOVE it!

I love making holiday treats, and am bummed I didn't leave out my recipe books to share more, but here's another favorite.  This one is from the allrecipes.com website, and it looks very similar to the one I've used from the Better Homes & Garden red & white cookbook (a true classic).  Go here to see more recipes and pictures of variations on this recipe.


Cream Cheese Mints (from allrecipes.com)

• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 drops peppermint oil
• any color food coloring paste (optional)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, and confectioner's sugar. Mix in peppermint oil. Color as desired with food coloring paste, or leave white.
2. Roll mixture into small balls, and place on waxed paper. Flatten with a fork dipped in confectioners' sugar. Let dry for about 2 hours on waxed paper, then freeze or refrigerate.

Kiss My Keys Goodbye

I've always love the sound of the piano keys playing a melody.  I took lessons as a child, and learned to play well enough to plunk out the tunes I wanted to hear.  I never reached the skill level it takes to accompany a choir, or even to feel comfortable playing in front of an audience, but it was enough to soothe my soul.

Having the talent and the skill to accompany a group in song has always been a skill I admired, and really wanted to give my children the opportunity to grow that talent.  But, as I've said before, we moved around every 3-6 months for the first decade or so of our marriage.  And moving a piano was not in the cards.  So I bought a little keyboard and tried to make do.  It just wasn't the same.  I quietly longed for the day we would settle down enough to buy a piano.

Christmas was quickly approaching, and my husband was oddly silent about gifts.  Usually he badgers me to  tell him what I'd like, teasing that if I don't tell him I won't get anything at all.  Not this year, I knew he had something up his sleeve, but no idea what it was.  A few days before Christmas he sent me out for the night.  I had strict instructions to do whatever I wanted, go shopping, relax with a book, grab a bite to eat, whatever-as long as I did NOT come home until he called.  I was in the aisle at Target browsing the books when he called and let me know I could come home anytime, but I was to go through the front door, not the garage door when I got there.

I arrived home and entered the front door as instructed, and saw 5 happy little faces clean and ready for bed, all in their jammies, and beaming with excitement.  They could hardly contain their glee as they laughed and pointed at the large object in the corner concealed with every blanket and pillow in our house-or so it seemed.  My husband refused to tell me what was in it, only that it was my Christmas gift & I could open it then, or wait for Christmas Day.  Those 5 little faces demanded otherwise, I knew there was no way I could wait a few days and deny them this moment.  So I opted for the immediate gratification and "opened" the gift right then.  This is what I saw:

A beautifully restored, antique baby grand piano.  I cried.  I laughed.  I loved it.  My husband is not  a musical guy, and he is not the most patient man either.  I knew this task must have been a hard one for him to accomplish.  It was a gift of love.  Only given because he knew I wanted one, and would never demand, just dream.

Although I had never dreamed of a piano like this, in my imaginings I had only thought of a simple, usable upright.  Steady, musically sound, and servicable.  

This was a thing of beauty.  As an antique it had beautifully carved legs, and details on the music stand I adored.  I loved it.  It was more than a piano, every time I played, or heard one of my children play it was like hearing my husband tell me how much he loved me.

Now we're moving again, and I've had to sell my piano.  It just doesn't fit in the new place in life we're carving for ourselves.  And now my living room looks like this...

I cried when I was cleaning out the music from the bench.  I cried when I watched the movers break it down and load it up to drive to a new home.  I hope she loves it as much as I did.  You see, a husband was buying a gift for his wife.  Who had always wanted a piano just like this one...a gift of love, yet again.


This post was inspired by the letter "K"  and Miss Jenny's AlphabeThursday Class, read more posts here:

Leaving a Camera Unattended...

...is a temptation no household of boys can resist.  They usually erase all evidence before I get around to uploading the pictures, or checking the display, but sometimes they don't.

I came home to these beauties on my phone last week, they love to play around with the settings, these ones are a little bizarro.









The second one was easy to figure out, but that first one had me stumped...until I scrolled a little further into the camera...

Deck The Halls

So many of the feelings of the holiday season are wrapped up in how we decorate.  Growing up my home was always my favorite during the Christmas season.  I love the added coziness and warmth of those seasonal touches.  This year is a little different, as I try to pack up as much as possible I haven't really decked my halls.  And I'm noticing the difference in how I feel, it doesn't quite feel like Christmas.  I know I don't want to try and pack it up again on December 26th, so I'm dealing with it.  

Today I pulled out all our Christmas decor and  have been going through it and getting rid of what I don't love, or haven't used for a while.  I snapped some shots of a few of our favorite things, things my kids love and look forward to, and that speak Christmas to  my heart. 

I always loved the advent calendar when I was a child, so I have taught my children the joy and excitement of the holiday tradition as well.  We actually have 5 advent calendars, and the kids rotate through them (I think I actually have 8 & we use 3 the same every year, and change up the other 2).  Every day each child gets to do a different calendar.  One has mini Hallmark ornaments that correspond to activities-like a gingerbread house, a nutcracker ballerina, a snowflake, and we do the activities that day (if possible-that was much easier when they were all little).

Pictured here are the pieces to a wonderful advent calendar my sister made and gave us for Christmas one year.  The kids love to pick which one they are going to place on the advent tree (it's packed up or I'd show it to you-it's a quilted wall hanging with all different colors and sizes of buttons that these little ornaments hang from.)

Some of the calendars have tradtions within themselves, Quinn's birthday is the 23rd, and it's a rule that he always does the tree advent on that day and hangs up the Present.  In fact, the advent calendars are the only  Christmas activity allowed in our home on the 23rd of December.  No Christmas music plays, no Christmas movies watched, and no birthday gifts are wrapped in Christmas paper.

Another of my favorite decorations is my collection of Santa Claus figures.  Jeff started giving me one for Christmas our first year together, and though he laments roping himself into the tradition, I love it.  I have all sorts, ceramic, wood, cloth, folksy, whimsical, elegant, everything!  This is one of my favorites-

I snapped a shot before I carefully wrapped it up and placed it in a box.


Another tradition that holds a tender place in my heart is our ornament collection.  When I was a child my mom always bought a Hallmark ornament for each of us, and when we left home we took our collection with us to help us decorate our first Christmas tree.  My mom continued this tradition with her grandchildren, and each child has a different series of ornaments, sometimes the series would end and they'd start up a new one the next year.

Kiefer has the biggest variety-with baseball players, Snowmen, and Snoopy.  Quinn has had the whole series his entire life-the Lincoln train ornaments.  Tate has only had one series also-it's called "Sky's the Limit" and is made up of really cool airplanes.  Thane has had a few different ones, but most come from a collection of Gingerbread buildings that make up a little village, and light up when plugged into the tree lights.  Sage started with the sweetest collection of holiday music boxes, and when that ended she began a cute snowman series.  I have the Santa Claus ornaments, and I always find Jeff a fishing one.

I usually pick one or two up the day after Christmas that have something to do with our family that year, when the kids were little that meant Scooby Doo and Veggie Tales, then we added Luke and Obi Wan, and then Ron, Harry & Hermione joined the tree.  We have "New Home" ornaments, and ones to commemorate births, trips, and other special family memories.  We love pulling them out and laughing about why we have a Mohammed Ali ornament, or remembering the year we went sledding and ended up all over each other in a pile at the bottom of the hill-that's why we have Donald and Daisy flying off a sled & it's a favorite ornament.

I love the ones the kids make too, but the Hallmark ones hold a special place in my heart, made even more tender by the passing of my mom 5 years ago.  This way she's with us every December as we remember all the love she shared and the memories contained in those little boxes of decoration.

Linking up with Jen over at the Denton Sanitorium, go check out all the ways people Deck Their Halls!

Jingle Bell Jib Jab

Have you tried Jib Jab? It's so much fun, here are a couple of our favorites (starring my kids)

This one is sponsored by Office Max, you can do it yourself here:  http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/
They have lots of elf style dances and videos

Or try the regular site here:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Linking up with Miss Jenny at

and Jen at Jen's Ink Pen Elf Yourself Link Party!

Thane's Arrow of Light

Thane received his Arrow of light at Cub Scout Pack Meeting this month, yippee!  This is the highest award in Cub Scouting, and marks another goal off the list before we move.  He was worried about moving and missing out on receiving this cool arrow.  It's hard to see, but the little plaque below the arrow has his name and the date he received the award, not every pack does this, and he really wanted one.

Our Cubmaster also built a very cool bridge that represents the crossing over from Cubs to Boy Scouts, and when you receive your Arrow of Light you get to sign the bridge with a silver sharpie marker with your name and the date, another much anticipated milestone.  Whew!  Big sigh of relief when both goals were met-before the move!

Congratulations, Thane!  You worked hard, and made your goals!  We love you buddy, great job!

Moving System

I'm a pretty particular packer, and I like everything packed and organized just so.  With so many moves under our belts I have found the key to smooth and less stressful moves is organization.  (wish it meant stress Free!)

1-I get a notebook just for the move-this move is bright green and says "Move December 2010" on the front in BIG BLACK letters, just so there's no mistaking it.  Use this notebook to keep track of every detail about your move- from box inventory to moving company numbers, quotes, confirmation or reservation numbers.  Record the details for your new home, address, phone number, school phone numbers, utility hook up details-including names of those you spoke with.

2- In the notebook: create an index-listing every room and it's assigned letter & colors/destination in the new house (like if the current house has an office and the new one doesn't where is all the office stuff going to live?)

3-I added a new step this year-color coded labels.  Each room has a different color label, we'll see if that helps.

4-As I pack I label every box with it's letter and number, along with a summary of the contents on a label.  I always put the label in the upper left corner of the same side of the box.  It makes it easier for those helping you unload to know where to look to find out where to take the box.

5-I also label every box on every side, and the top with the number/letter and the room- A8-Kitchen.  That way no matter what way the people unloading are holding the box they know exactly where to take it.  It doesn't matter how well labeled and chronicled the boxes are if you can't find the dishes because someone buried the box in the office.

5-In the moving journal or notebook every room has it's own section or set of pages (they don't have to be official "sections" of the notebook).  I list every box by letter and number and a fairly complete list of contents.  It doesn't have to contain every little thing, but pretty close.  This is a life saver when you're unpacking and can't find the _____ anywhere!  Or when movers are moving you and lose some of your boxes (they were worth their weight in gold then).

6-This move some of our stuff is being put into storage, so I have red duct tape to mark these boxes clearly.

Complicated, I know, and it can slow down the whole packing process, I know.  But believe me, unpacking and getting settled is so much easier this way!  The only real down side-I can't really have anyone help me pack.  It makes me nuts.  Bummer!

Other moving tips:
*Always pay attention to how much the box weighs.  Don't just cram that box full of books, it has to be light enough to be easily be carried by a 17 year old volunteer, or a 50 year old one for that matter!  

*Have everything packed, and I do mean everything.  Nothing drives volunteer moving help batty more than unpacked riff raff everywhere on moving day.  Especially if you are expecting them to pack it up for you.




*Wardrobe boxes from a moving company are priceless when it comes to packing clothes.  They are tall-usually close to 5", and have a metal bar that goes across the top.  Just hang the clothes right on that bar, priceless I tell you!  Other bonus-all your shoes just go in the bottom, or your pjs, undearwear, socks, etc...  makes unpacking a cinch!

That's pretty much it, I've had a few people ask if I have any tips or a system after so many moves, so thought I'd share.  I know it may be a bit much, but it works for me!

If you have any tips or experiences with things that help make your moves easier I'd love to hear them!

Ingrown...Ick!

With the luck of genetics my dear husband passed on the joys of ingrown toenails.  We know for sure at least 2 of our 5 children have been so blessed, this was the first time it got ugly.  Some time ago our firstborn lost his big toenail.  As it grew back in,  it was incredibly ingrown.  He didn't think it was important to mention apparently.  Not until it became a huge, red, ball of infection anyways. 

 So, I took him to the Dr to get it treated, and  see about having a permanent solution.  There is a chemical treatment you can have done that kills the root of the nail in this section so it doesn't grow back, I was hoping the Dr. would be open to having this done right now.  Here are the instruments all laid out and read for removing the offending section of toenail, Kiefer was not inspired by this array!






Here are a couple of closeups-you know you wanted to see them! The Doctor took about a quarter of an inch of toenail out from under the skin.  It was nasty.  And he pleasantly surprised me by bringing up the chemical treatment and suggesting we pursue that option before I even had to ask.  Yea!  We'll be returning to the office in a few weeks to have that taken care of, you can be sure!

And here is the toe all wrapped up and 4 times it's normal size!  He didn't wear shoes home from the office.  Good thing we live in Arizona and it was no big deal to be in sandals for a few days this time of year.

What is Gratitude?

I've been pondering on this quite a bit lately, as I work on my lesson for this Sunday.  It's hard to cover a topic that has been pretty thoroughly covered in the weeks leading up to your own lesson.  That's why I felt a wave of dismay when I first saw the topic for my lesson this month.

My lesson is based on this talk by President Thomas S. Monson, given just last month in General Conference, and titled "The Divine Gift of Gratitude."

I am sorry to say that even after many, many lessons where I started out begrudging/fearing/dreading the topic and ended up being incredibly thankful, and humbled to have been given the opportunity to learn and grow, I started the same cycle on this lesson.  When will I learn?  Probably about the same time I leave this Earth-at least I hope I learned the lesson by then!

"Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."  President Thomas S. Monson, October 2010

I have been lengthening and deepening my own expressions of Gratitude over the past weeks as I have pondered and studying the words of President Monson.  In doing so I have found myself lifted out of the depression that had begun pressing down upon my soul.

My life is chaotic and full of uncertanties right now, pretty much the opposite of how I like things.  I have not been feeling deep gratitude for my circumstances or the path ahead of me recently.  Instead I have been worrying, and full of anxious dread.  As I have taken the time to express my gratitude out loud I have found a new joy in the blessings I have, instead of depression over all that I do not have, or will soon be leaving.

"Regardless of our circumstances each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.  

  This is a wonderful time to be on earth.  While there is much that is wrong in the world today, there are many things that are right and good.  There are marriages that make it, parents who love their children and sacrifice for them, friends who care about us and help us, teachers who teach.  Our lives are blessed in countless ways."

  President Thomas S. Monson, October 2010

I began with expressing more gratitude to my Father in Heaven in prayer, and the more I expressed thanks for, the more blessings kept coming to mind.   Prayer began to stretch out before me, and my knees began to ache before I was ready to end my prayers of thanksgiving.

I then began to express my gratitude to others, first more sincerely to my family.  They were moved, and deeply appreciative-most of the time.  In the interest of keeping it real I will admit my three teenage boys were not always anxious to hear why Mom was thankful for them, or how I appreciated their help.  But most of the times they were.  My husband was taken aback when I sincerely expressed gratitude for little and big things he has been doing.  He's working out of state right now, so sometimes those expresses take place via text message.  And that works too, it doesn't all have to include eye contact.

"We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thoughts and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude." 

 President Thomas S. Monson, October 2010

People are happy to know you sincerely appreciate them, and their efforts.  They can tell when you really mean it.  And it touches their hearts, and makes their life just a little brighter.  Try it, you'll see.

What are you thankful for?  Who are you thankful for?  Take a few minutes this week and ponder the rich blessings your life is filled with, not just what it's lacking.  I think you'll be surprised at the bounty you find.  I know I was.

Weekend in Review

Sometimes weekends are just a blur, so I'm borrowing an idea from another blog and recapping for my own record and memory:

This weekend (including Friday) was full of:
BBQ at the Elementary school-lunch with Thane and Sage


doggy haircut
lawn mowing
fevers
headaches
wrestling practice
picking up Dad at the airport
Q-movies and milkshakes with friends
shopping for a suit (what-my son needs a suit?!?)
Errands & Christmas Shopping
K- paint war  (and he came out pretty clean!)


laundry
dishes
date night-"Morning Glory" -Cute movie
Church-Gratitude and the blessings of the Holy Ghost
Quiet time
Homemade Chicken Noodle soup & biscuits-yummy!
Rain
Remember the Titans
Dad back to airport
Ticket to Ride
:::happiness:::

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

I love this video, it's from last year, but it still makes me smile! I love all the random things people are thankful for.  I love the spectrum of people that are in this video.  I love remembering that life is good.

I am teaching a lesson on Gratitude next Sunday, and at first I was not so enthused, teaching about Gratitude at the end of November feels a little redundant. But, as usually happens when I teach, I have learned much about the subject. More than I am sure those who attend the class will learn. The depth of my gratitude has grown immeasurably.

I am grateful for so much,
for my life,
for my family,
for  dear friends,
for safe travel,
for employment,
healthy children,
beautiful flowers,
hot chocolate and peppermint hebal tea.
cranberry sauce-the real stuff, not jellied mystery sauce,
a home to live in,
people who love me despite my flaws,
the ability to work & the opportunity to do so,
little dogs that make me laugh,
silly teenage sons who love me despite all their teenage wisdom (and my lack thereof),
A 10 year old son who cracks me up & has a tender heart,
the blessing of having a daughter who is my sunshine,

The opportunity to do hard things, so I can discover who I am and what I'm really made of.


Life feels so much happier when I take the time to remember all that is right-or at least not wrong!

Life is Good!

Give Thanks!

Linking up to a Special Thanksgiving Edition of Alphabe-Thursday with Miss Jenny

Hallelujah

Sometimes you get a song stuck in your head, on permanent loop.  Round and round it goes, out of the blue with no rhyme or reason.  Sometimes you hear it on the radio and it sticks, and sometimes it's a song that you associate with an event or a person and that memory gets triggered and you're humming before you know it.  That's how I've been this week with this song:

  

There  are multiple versions, the one my mind goes to most often are these two above.  I have the song on the playlist I listen to when I exercise, and when this song hits I know hard sweaty time is over, and I can cool down and walk for the few minutes this song plays.  I think that's why I like it, it signals a rest period, and I think when my mind flips to this song as I'm running around being mom my subconscious is signaling that I should get to rest for a bit.  Sounds good anyways, doesn't it?

And today as this song kept replaying in my head I thought of some of the reasons in my life I  have to rejoice, or to say "Hallelujah."   Some of them are small and simple-like the fact that the new Harry Potter comes out soon! We love us some Harry Potter around this house.  (In that vein go read Jen's H post today, it's Hilarious!)

image found here

Or that my husband is returning from 2 weeks away tomorrow (Hallelujah in all caps for that one).  Especially for airplanes which allow for such speedy travel!

Thane gets his Arrow of Light at Cub Scout Pack meeting tonight, and that means that my 8+ years of Cub Scouts are finally finished, and we can relax for a couple of months! (This picture is of Tate, but you get this idea)




Other reasons are big, like how thankful I am for my friend who showed up with these & said simply "Happy Friend Day!":
saving me from looking all over for more boxes and allowing me to actually pack them instead! Thanks Janette!!  Hallelujah for friends who know just how to Help!


And for a family that's healthy.  And a roof over our heads.  That my husband has a job.  I get to be home with our kids.  Friends who love me and treat me well.  Family that enjoys being together.  Food in our refrigerator.  Cars that work and take us all the places we need to be.







And most importantly on this Veteran's Day Hallelujah for all our faithful, valiant soldiers who have fought and continue to brave the front lines and behind the scenes to protect all of us.  Where would we be without them and the families who stay behind and worry over them?  I don't want to find out.  So Thank You to all the soldiers and those who love them and worry about them.  Thank you for your sacrifices, they are not in vain, and they are not unnoticed! image found here

image found here

This post inspired by the letter "H"   and Miss Jenny's Link up: