Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thankful for theatre

I had one more thing on my mind that  I want to be grateful for before the month ends...... live Theatre!

I really could see a show or more a week.
I love to go, talk about it, talk about going, talk about the show, take apart the show, put it back together in a new way, love the show, hate the show, try out for the show, be in the show.............all good.
This has been the month for theatre at our house.
We have seen show after show and loved it.
Crazy For You-- (Cousins Jenna and Hayden  are in it at Bountiful High)
Curtains -- (Cousins Shelby and Tyler are in it at Davis High)
Drowsy Chaperone -- (Friends are in it at Hale Centre)
Five Carols and Jingle Jacks -- (Bre, future daughter in law is in it at Weber State)

Laila is my best show buddy.  She can sit through a matinee in the afternoon and be ready to go again that same night.  I have already trained her well.

I am thankful.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving

It's been good for me to count my blessings for the past 25 days......

I am thankful this day to watch the Macy's thanksgiving day parade.  I enjoy the snippets from Broadway shows before the parade passes by.   I love watching it in my jammies.  I have a new goal.  I want to be in New York on this day and have a hotel room on the parade route...watch the parade, live in New York...and eat at a restaurant in New York, and see a show the next day, in New York.   Yep-- it's my new goal.  I'll take Wayne and any one else who wants to come.

I am thankful for the 40 pounds of potatoes that are waiting to be peeled and mashed.  We are good at this--it's our family's calling.  We are celebrating with about 40 Welch's at Terry and Cyrrena's.  IT's great to have so much family, so close by.   We are doing potatoes again for our 2nd Thanksgiving at Grandma Sheri's house on Friday night.........can you say potato?  or do you say potahto? :)

I am thankful for emoticon punctuation.....:)  ;(     How else will you know what I am feeling?  ;}

I am thankful Elder Nelson Call is home safe and sound from his mission in New Zealand.  He had a great mission.  It was good to sit with him, and listen to his stories and share in his fun sense of humor.

I am thankful for movies.  It's a movie holiday weekend for us.  We saw Tangled yesterday; it was darling.  We are seeing MegaMind today and more movies on Friday and  Saturday..... Yeah!

I am thankful half of my Christmas decorations are up.  I stopped decorating before I got to the kitchen/dining room because of the pie party....but now there's no stopping me.  One more Christmas tree to go.  It's fun to find new places to put old things.  I got rid of 3 walls in the remodel, so I have many decorations that aren't going to find a home....maybe the DI?

I am thankful for heat and heaters.  It's 7 degrees outside.  What's up with that? What's up with that?

I am thankful for family and friends and missionaries and pie and parades and potatoes!

I am thankful.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Thankful for Pie night

I love the idea of eating dessert first, so having Pie the night before Thanksgiving is a great idea.
 We have been celebrating this way for years.  My mom's pie nights are legendary and have reached Epic status.  Her "one-of each" serving, or Russian serving...as she called it, because it sounded like you were speaking russian if you said it fast enough, will go down in family history.  We have had so many people celebrating pie night with us, that many of us had no idea who was eating our pies.  The more the merrier is Sheri's idea of a good time.
  (We all remember the night the Schwann's man filled his plate with pie. )

Tonight, I am looking forward to bites of many different kinds; pumpkin, coconut cream, apple, berry, chocolate, banana cream.............mmmmmmm delish!

I started a new tradition......drum roll please.......... Pie night before Pie night before Thanksgiving!!!!
I cooked up an apple cranberry pie from my friend Si's blog during the blizzard of 2010, last night. It was wonderful.

PS....I will take a BLIZZARD  any day over a regular, good old fashioned SNOW STORM.  6 inches of snow is nice and helps us to still get around Thanksgiving weekend.

I am thankful.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thankful for hunkering...

The storm is approaching and we are hunkering down.
Christmas Carols are playing.
Two rooms are decked out in Christmas finery.
My children are all gathered and accounted for.
I have gone to the grocery store.
We have gas in the cars.
We have cancelled all of our nightly plans.
We know where our snow clothes and  shovels are .
I am in the mood for baking......
I am thankful for hunkering!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Thankful for Family night

We like Family night at our house.  Sometimes we even love it.
It's really not a whole night though....more like an hour....if we are lucky and everyone is trying to make it work.
We had a good one tonight.
We are using the book by Emily Freeman ( A speaker at Time out for Women, by the way), A Christ Centered Christmas as our guide for the next 5 weeks.  She suggests taking one character from the nativity a week, and talking about and pondering what they bring to the nativity.  It really is fascinating.
Tonight we talked about Mary.  We were challenged to ponder the true meaning of Christmas and be more heart felt.
We also went around the room to find out what character in the nativity each of us would want to be.
I chose Mary--she is strong, and faithful, and obedient and did I mention strong?  She had birth in a stable, which I could totally do if I had an epidural.
Laila chose Mary-- she likes that she is pretty and sweet.
Landon chose the Angel Gabriel, because he is incredibly good looking, is shiny and brings good news.  He also likes to sing.........all angels do  too.
Addison chose a wiseman.  He wants to be a king, rich, and wear cool clothes, and carry expensive stuff. The Wise men gave Myrrh...which is really random, and Addison is random.  But seriously, they kept seeking Christ, never giving up and knew to honor a small babe.
Monson chose Joseph-- he is a man and could withstand the pressure of those around dissing on his wife.  He could take it.   He knew Joseph was faithful and strong, and if he couldn't be Jesus ( our rules for the nativity game) then Joseph was the next closest.
Wayne chose a shepherd.  He likes that they were the first ones told, and they came with haste to worship and then share the good news.  He likes how excited they were and how obedient.
Bre chose a lamb.  Soft and cuddly with a manger-eye view of the baby.  A follower of Christ.
It's an interesting idea.
Who would you be in the nativity????

I started decorating for Christmas and got our nativities out.  Some are really worse for wear.  Heads and limbs glued back on; missing parts and pieces, but I keep them.  I like how the people ( we ) are broken, and worship the Christ Child, who heals all our wounds.  Well.... tonight, Laila killed a wiseman.  No gluing this poor guy back together. Now this nativity has only 2 wisemen....the 3rd guy must be in the bathroom?!?

I am thankful for Family Night.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Thankful for Sunday

I love Sundays.  I look forward to them.  I love being spiritually uplifted.
I love being with good saints who are all trying to do a little better.
I love visiting the grandparents.
I love a break from our daily routine.
Sundays are blessed.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thankful for time outs!

I had my own time out this weekend...at the Salt Palace with 4000 other women .  It was fabulous; filled with  thought provoking talks and music at Time out for Women.

 I  really enjoyed Virginia Hinkley Pearce's thoughts on what makes a succesful life, and how to measure it.  She used the Succesful missionary paragraphs in Preach My gospel...pg. 10-11 for this.  She suggests we replace missionary with mother, or woman or parent and  "people" with children.  I came right home and did this, and was greatly comforted with how my parenting, children and family are measuring up.

It was also good to hear from Heidi Swinton about her recent book on the life of our prophet, Thomas S. Monson.  Her stories about how this came about, and Pres. Monson as a little boy were priceless.  I can't wait to read this book now.

Brad Wilcox  shared  about his book, "The Continuous Atonement."  I read this book last spring and was inspired by it. I like the part about Grace..and.."after all we can do."  He breaks this apart, tackling each word and what it really means or how it applies to our life.  It's fascinating and helpful.
The "we" is really the important part....I always put that  we as ....you, me, my children...all of the people on earth.  But the "we" is really  Christ and me.   I like this "we."  We are unstoppable.  We make a great team!

I also liked his thoughts about heaven.  He talked about his nephew who was really in trouble spiritually and with the law.  He ended up in and out of prison many times.  But as a teen ager...when his parents were trying to "save" him, Brad suggested that they send him to EFY.  "It can change lives."    The family scraped the money together and sent him.  The kid called his mom after the first day and demanded to be taken home. He just didn't "fit" and felt so uncomfortable being there.    Bro. Wilcox related this to heaven and God's presence.  Yes, we will all be resurrected and "make it," but will we want to stay there?  Will we fit and be comfortable?  The goal of this life is to prepare ourselves so we can not just go to heaven, but want to stay  there.

Women's conference was excellent.  I am thankful for this time I spent with Wanee, Tami, Jill, Jane, Cyrrena, Bonnie and Trisha.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thankful #19

My sweet Wayne.
I know I can't say enough about how awesome Wayne is, even with dizzying adversity in his head.  I don't know how he does it?!?
He is opposite me in so many ways; yet we  are alike in all of the things that really matter-- family, gospel, and testimony.
I love him and I am so grateful that he has been in my life for 33 years.
He is in charge this weekend as I go play with the Welch women at the Women's Conference--Time out for Women-- in SLC.
I am looking forward to spiritual talks, lots of laughter and a renewed commitment  to motherhood.
I am grateful.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Thankful this day....

....that the wedding plans are moving forward!!
We got the announcements today and the couple pic and darling picture stamp.  What a fun idea.
Now I just have to get everything stuffed and mailed out.  This is the weekend for that.
Life is good.
I am thankful my oldest is getting married!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Thankful for Music

I have Christmas music blasting through my house today.
Josh Groban's Noel CD is stirring.  I love how majestic sounding it is.  I love that I recognize all of the songs/hymns and sing them along with him.
I also really like Natalie Cole's, Gladys Knight's, Mo Tab's,  Harry Connick Jr.'s, The Carpenter's and Kenny G's Christmas collections.
I love Christmas music.
I really enjoyed the many years my sisters, mom and I would go around performing as the "Cole Collection" at Christmas time.
It was  a "most wonderful time of the year" for me.
 We sang so many jingle bell versions, silent night tunes and fa la la la las...that one would think we would all be sick of these; I still love them.
We started singing together when Landon was 6 months old.  I sang through 3 more babies,  then when Mom went on her mission to Scotland, we all called it quits.  We sang together from 1988 to 2002....wow.
I can still hear Mom and Liz hanging on the bass/alto notes; Christine and Angela singing 2nd soprano--the hard part; Marcie and I joining in on the high notes.  Sometimes Grandma Butters would join us--she was great at this from her sweet adeline days.  As everyone got older,we added in niece- Megan and then Adam's girls; Jenna, Rachel and Becca.

I found some old pics..... our costumes were "less" than inspiring, but our harmonies were GREAT!
                                                                        
                                                              

                                                      


In my world I would play Christmas music year round.
What is better than a song about Christ's birth?
It was the beginning of everything good.

Music fills me up.
There is so much to be thankful for...

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Laila's thankful list

    Laila brought home her Thanksgiving assignment from school.  I am always amazed how her mind works, and what she is thinking about.
   This list covers a variety of things we all can be thankful for.

Assignment:  USING THE LETTERS IN THANKSGIVING.....LIST THE REASONS YOU ARE THANKFUL...

T--is for Teacher that is very nice to you
H--is for the Heavens which shine above us
A--is for Apple that tastes very, very good
N--is for Nicknacks that I like to see
K--is for Knives that we can cut with
S--is for Stove that we can cook on
G--is for Goodness that comes from forgiveness
I--is for Igloo that keep people warm
V--is for a Vet that helps animals
I--is for Indians that hunt for food
N--is for Next that we do after anything
G--is for Gum that you chew

Monday, November 15, 2010

Thankful Bro

My brother finally got a job after 22 months of scrambling to make ends meet.  He has been a real good sport about this.  He has substitute taught at the high school, built playhouses, did yard work, served papers in really scary parts of SLC and Ogden..., set up computer systems.....and many other odd jobs to make ends meet.
Adam  is very talented and schooled (MBA-BYU) and always in the final interview, but never catching the carrot.  So frustrating.

But......We feel so blessed this day.

When I was telling Laila  about Monson's football team losing, but the good news was Adam got a job, she replied, "Adam got a Job!  Well, no wonder Monson's team lost....our family would have had too many blessings!"

I am thankful for my Brother, Adam.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Thankful for the Belnaps

I am so thankful this day for the Belnap family.  We have been through thick and thin together and all of the spaces in between. It's great to be "adopted" into their clan.
It was awesome and teary to listen to their Baby boy, Ben, give his farewell mission talk today.  I can't believe what a man he has become. He is courageous!   He will be a great missionary in Columbia.

The Belnaps have been such great examples to us and great strengths for our family.

I really feel blessed to be their neighbor and rub shoulders with them, on a daily basis.

The words I have to describe this family are kind, giving, welcoming, spiritual, funny, irreverent, accepting, crazy, resilient, lifters, testimony bearing and gospel loving.

I am thankful this beautiful day for my sweet friends.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Thankful for Eulala

My Grandma Butters would be 95 today--- she died a year a go, and I have thought about her almost every day since.  She was a huge impact on my life, my attitude, and my testimony.
 I am so grateful for this sweet association.

I am so glad I have her name sake - Laila- running around my house.  She is a bright spot.  SHe is opinionated, funny and spunky...just like grandma.
Laila was listening to "The Christmas Song" by Mel Torme.  The Christmas lyric is....."...for kids from one to 92."  Laila piped up, "No wonder grandma died, she couldn't have Christmas any more...she was 94!"

She makes me laugh.

I am delivering Ginger Cream cookies to brothers, sisters and extended family in remembrance of Grandma B.
Grandma taught me how to make and perfect this cookie.  It was fun to learn from her and see her smile when I would bring her a ginger cream cookie.
The circle of life.
SHe would bake for me when I was growing up, then I would bake for her, when she couldn't.

Grandma liked that she was born on Nov. 13th--- it was her lucky number.  And we all felt lucky having her in our midst.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Thanks for Monson

Monson's high school football career came to an end today.  It was a glorious fight.  It was great watching him on the field and hearing his name announced week after week.   It was great talking about fooball, and watching football and cleaning football uniforms--(ok that part wasn't great).

He made it to Semi Final play at Rice Eccles Stadium.  Dream come true.  He got to be in the U of U locker room, and run out onto the Ute field.  He really liked this part.   He would have liked the whole experience more, if BHS had won.  We lost to Mountain Crest 42 to 35.  They scored with one minute to go.  We had a chance, but a long pass was tipped and intercepted.  Devastation.

It was difficult watching Monson at the end.  Head hung down.  Walking slowly.  Spent.  He didn't want to leave the field knowing this was it.  He waited in the corner of the end zone for his buddy since preschool--Dillon Salazar.  They hugged and cried and were the last ones off the turf.  So bitter sweet.

It was going to be his last game either this week, or next week.
Just sad they didn't make it into the finals.

I am thankful for my Son and his drive to be a football player.  He is tough!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Thankful for Power

We were without electricity for about 5 hours today.  Nothing like having no power, no microwave capabilities, no computer, no lights and no heat to make me really appreciate it.
I love modern day conveniences!!!
I love power!!!

The sad part, is this is the day when I really cook.  I look forward to November 11th-- every year-- as the one day when I plan and cook and sweat over the stove and oven ALL Day...so my family can sit down to a Nov. 11th Fabulous- Feast.
Oh well.
We had to go out to dinner instead.
I will try it again next year.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Thankful for.....

....my health and strength.
 "To run and not be weary and to walk and not faint."
Although I am weary of walking and I do faint when I run...
I am thankful for exercise cohorts who keep me going to the gym or on walks out in the cool air.
I'm thankful for  my muscles and my joints and my tissues and my cells....well you get the idea.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Thanks for Babies

I am thankful for babies.....straight from Heaven.   They bless our lives and teach us to be better people....to serve and to love.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Thankful for change of Seasons

Wow......my back yard.  Am I ready for this?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Thankful for Testimony

I am thankful for Fast and Testimony Sunday.
I was quite teary today....fasting for some special people in my life.  Every speaker and lesson really touched my heart.  I have had to repair my make up job twice now.  Some Sundays are like this.

I am thinking a lot about my missionary, my fabulous brother and his family, my sweet Addison and Bre,  my blessings and my trials. All are close to my heart today.

I was grateful to be able to get the courage to bear my testimony today.  I didn't say much...can't really remember what I said actually.  I have a hard enough time just keeping it together, so I don't just stand up and cry for 10 minutes.  I am not a pretty crier, so it's good to keep it together.
But.....
I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I feel my Savior's love. I want to be more like him.  I want to be more loving, more forgiving, more gentle, more charitable, more.....
I know Joseph Smith was a prophet who spoke to God the father and Jesus Christ, and helped to restore the gospel. I know the Book of Mormon is true. It is scripture written by ancient prophets for our day.
I know families are forever.  I know the sealing power of the temple is real.  This knowledge strengthens me and gives me perspective with my own children.
I am so grateful for the power of Christ's atonement.  I know he loves me and suffered for me and I feel his love daily.
Life is sweet.
This is what I know.

I am thankful.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Thanks

I am thankful for clean toilets. It only happens periodically in my house....but all 4 bathrooms are clean at the same time.  I actually may be too late in acknowledging this.....maybe they're not still clean....but they were clean, once up on a time, at some point today.

I love the smell of amonia.....and I love no spots on mirrors.

I am thankful.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Thanks for Football

So grateful for a gorgeous afternoon and BHS football.
 It was great to be in the quarterfinals, even greater to beat Spanish Fork 31 to 12.

Monson played so well.  I am always a bit nervous.  I want the boys to play hard, do their best, win and not get hurt.  My thoughts are a bit obsessive -- it's like a tape that plays over and over in my head all day....all week.

Today was bittersweet.  I cried in celebration with Money.  I cried when I thought that this is the last game he will ever play on the Larry Wall field and stadium.  The last time I will hear, "Tackle made by Monson, Money Welch"  echoing through those loud speakers.
Wow.
Where has the time gone?

We all went out on the field when it ended and got pics with Money.  He was soaken wet.  He Stunk like....a football player.  We all hugged him and cradled up to him any way.  Big Smiles all around.

We are off to Rice Eccles at the U of U, next Friday, for Semi final play against Mountain Crest.  Who knows what will happen.

 It's been a glorious season.

I am thankful Monson loves football.....and I love Monson.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Grateful today

I am thankful for "Opening night....break a leg" cupcakes!!!!
Laila insists on making these for the BHS musical cast.
She has done this for the past 3 years.
She is getting pretty good at it, and even the craziest looking one still tastes delicious.

We have CRAZY FOR YOU opening tonight.

 Cousin Jenna is a lead in this cast. We will have to make another batch I am sure for the other cast's (Cousin Hayden) opening night.

I am thankful Laila loves to plant her self on the front row and watch the musical, night after night.  She is a great audience member.  She has had this attention span since she was 3.  Amazing.

 I am thankful.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

My thankful door

Along with my daily thoughts on what I am grateful for, I am making my family get in the mood by writing on our chalkboard door something they are thankful for.
 It's fun watching it fill up.
 Rules:  No more than one a day...write small....be thoughtful...
SO far we have :
Family Night
Colorful Trees
Summer
Football
Egg Nog
Tonga
My Hot Mamma....( thank you)
My ability to be so deep
My man:  King Money
My beautiful Fiance
To be HOME

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Boyfriend is Back

"My Boyfriend's back and he's gonna be in trouble
Hey now, Hey now....My boyfriend's back"

I have been singing this all morning.
Wayne is coming home after a 12 day China trip.
I am so excited.
He'll be exhausted....jet lag .....and I'll be wanting to flee this coop......hence the trouble part.
I am thankful for Wayne's return.
I have really missed him.
I am okay with his 8 day trips.  But by day 9 I have had it....and so these last few days have been torture for me.
I am tired of wearing my pajamas to bed because my heater is in China.
I am tired of making all of the parenting decisions....bed times, sleep overs, scripture study, family prayer, what's for dinner, what time to wake up in the morning, yard work,  what to pass out to the trick or treaters, what's wrong with the cars.....etc.....( I know this list seems trivial and I am thankful for not any bigger, more major decision  making....I just felt the need to whine a bit)
I am not good as a single....I am so much better as a couple.
I am thrilled to have Wayne in my arms again and to smell his neck!!!
I am thankful!

Monday, November 1, 2010

25 Days of Thanksgiving

Nov 1st....before we know it, Thanksgiving will be here.
I am committing now to 25 days of gratitude.  A thankful post for the next 25 days.

1.  I am thankful to live where I live.  I was out walking this afternoon in the beautiful autumn sun. I couldn't believe how blessed I felt, and how comforted by my surroundings.  It amazes me that my mom was raised in Bountiful, I was born and raised in Bountiful, and now my children are enjoying the same.  The circle of life.....