Today I'm Grateful For...and other things!

I just wanted to post and say that I had a lovely weekend! I spent it with my husband and his family, and it was great! Busy, tiring, but great! I love being around those I love, I feed off of their energy and positivity and I do have the best people in my life! It makes it all worth it, you know!

That being said, I can't remember what I wrote the last entry about? It might have been just another "Today I'm Grateful For," entry, I think it was. Or maybe the "I Would Make a Great Mom," entry, but I'm thinking I wrote that back on 9/11. Anyway, this past weekend Colin, his mom, grandma & I all had meals together--one at our place, one at the Hunter's and talked and laughed and squeezed in lots of hugs! We even managed to make it to church together on Sunday--minus Colin, because he didn't feel like going. I went to a Mormon Service (his cousin's are all Mormon) and I have to say, it was pretty cool. I don't think I'll be becoming a Mormon myself, but they're not as whacked out as people think they are. And I think they mean well, I really do. The "Sacrament Meeting," (Sermon) was about how we need to live by FAITH, and have HOPE & DESIRE in our hearts, and stay in the Light of God, instead of the fear, doubt and darkness of the outer world. And you know what, I whole heartedly agreed! I prayed to God before I walked into the chapel (yes, non-Mormons can go in the chapel, just not The Temple), and I said "God, you know I don't go to church that often. Any church, so since I am showing up today, regardless of where that is, please make it a message You need me to hear!" And Lo and behold, if that isn't exactly what God did! It was pretty amazing actually! Colin's cousin, Kelsey, is going on a Mission next month and we're all so very proud of her! Especially her mom and dad, it's so sweet! Anyway, we all went because she was giving a talk (speech) about how she came to decide about going on a mission as well as provide some tips on how to study the sciptures better. And she did really well. I was very proud of her too! You know, it doesn't really matter what anyone's personal faith is, I think at the end of the day, we're pretty much all praying to the same Person/Higher Power/Being. I think we pretty much all want the same things; love, peace, hope and happiness. How we all go about achieving that really doesn't matter to me. As long as we're not hurting others in the process, than hey, let's all come together and rejoice in one another and the power of faith, hope & love! Okay, now I sound like I'm a whacked out hippie, but I digress. It may be corny, but it's so darn true!

Mom (Jerri) and Grandma (Bobbi) also came over for dinner @ our house Saturday night. Late Saturday night, but bless their hearts, they showed up anyway! Colin made dinner, I made Salad Dressing! (Yeah, how cool is that?!) Oh, it was so delicious! We even got out our fine China and used our new silverware and showed off our new place! It was absolutely wonderful! I adore his mom and grandma and feel eternally blessed to have them in my life! I call them 'Mom,' and 'Grandma,' and I NEVER thought I'd call anyone that except my own--as in, the ones I was born with. But there you have it. Jerri and Bobbi have become my family anyway. And I'm grateful for it everyday! I always wanted a big family, and now I have one! It's pretty awesome! The dinner of fish, cheese biscuits and salad was really yummy and I think it made Colin feel really good (and me too) that they liked our new place so much! It's funny, no matter how old or married us kids get, we always want to make our mama's proud! And I think that's really cool!

Saturday afternoon, Colin and I just hung out together, watched TV and lounged around. It was absolutely glorious enjoying our new place together--it was all clean and spotless, picked up and finally set up! It was wonderful! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Then, last night, we went out for a little while and when we got home, I went onto Facebook while he did some work stuff in the quiet. There we sat, just the two of us, on the couch, me on the computer, him immersed in his work stuff, 2 candles lit (we love candles) and silence. It was fantastic, actually, and probably my favorite part of the day! Sometimes there's no need for words and not having the TV on was great too! :) Those little moments are my favorite part of marriage...the quiet understanding that only the two of you can share.

I'm not so happy about my husband leaving lights on all the darn time, but ce la vie, no one's perfect. It has occurred to me, though, that I will most likely spend the rest of my life going around turning off light after light after light behind him. Oh well, at least when the power bill comes and it's not $400, he'll thank me, right? I'm sorry to complain about my husband, I really am. He's a great man, a loyal person, a fantastic salesman, a heck of a cook, a great decorator, and a load of other great stuff...but the not turning lights out thing, not so great. I'm sure there's plenty of stuff I do that annoys the heck out of him, too, so we're probably quite even on that. Every couple has them, it's not just us, of this, I'm positive!

Anyway....moving on....it's time to focus on the positive again, focus on what I'm grateful for today...so here goes:

Today I'm Grateful For:

*Writing a poem, it wasn't a grand gesture, or great poem, but I wrote one. And that's always a very good thing for me! I love writing, it just fills my soul in a way that nothing else quite does!

*Having the opportunity, and the time, to sit down and actually watch an entire movie today! "Definitely Maybe," it was very good! Very cute, really funny and totally heartwarming! A total chick-flick, yes, but great none the less! I really enjoyed it and would absolutely reccommend it! Sitting on my couch, watching the movie that I wanted to watch, in the peace & quiet of my new place--absolutely awesome! :)

*Brocoli w/ Yummy Salad Dressing--I know, who's grateful for Brocoli right? Well, I am. It was delicious with my homemade salad dressing on it and hey, I ate brocolli, okay! Haha!

*The bite of Chicken Pot Pie that my mom made tonight--frozen and microwaved, but yummy none the less! Of course, I didn't eat the chicken, but that one savory bite, so good!

*My mom and I settling down and being friends again! For this, I'm really, really grateful!

*Reading! Whether it's my mediation book, interesting articles online or Alisa Bowman's Blog, I love to read! Having the time to do that today was very cool! I also enjoyed reading some of the newspaper today! Reading makes me a better writer, and it also makes me learn--two very wonderful things!

*The prayers, encouragement and good wishes of my friends on Facebook!

*The really cute picture I took last night--I was wearing a light pink paperboy hat and my skin is really clear! My eye makeup was great and I just looked really fresh and cute and YOUNG! Please forgive my shallowness here, I know there are totally better looking people than me, but, I do believe it's always a great thing to take and LIKE a picture of yourself. It kind of reminds you of who you are and how nicely you can clean up! Just sayin'!

*An email response from my dad today, always a treat!

*Meditating twice today, absolutely BLISSFUL!

*The fact that it's Monday--I love Monday's! I know, totally weird of me to actually like Mondays, but I do! I find them refreshing and sometimes, even fun! Sundays/Mondays seem to bring me back to square one, center myself and focus on new beginnings for the week! It's really great!

*Photos!

*The fact that our place is still pretty organized. That I'm working diligently to keep it cleaner, more picked up and less cluttered. I won't lie, it's a challange. I can't clean a lot, but if I do a bit each day--it really does make a difference. (My mom was right about that, darn it!). The truth is, I'm really enjoying keeping the place up and having it look really nice and clean and de-cluttered. It's not second nature to me yet, to always pick up after myself (at least home, I've ALWAYS done so at work and/or at school), but it pays off in the end! And I'm loving it!

*My sisters! Love those girls!

*Talking with my Grandma Elizabeth today! Always wonderful!

*My comfy bed!

*Clean, cold, fresh water to drink! Such a treat!

*Colin getting his car battery fixed today without even having to have it towed off sight! What a relief!

*Candles--those that we light and those that we don't!

*My husband's kisses!

*Different decor elements such as glass and wood--and how when done correctly, they can really make a house--a home!

*The kids in my life, I may not have my own, but I have great kids in my life and they always bring me such joy, and uplift me in a way that adults just can't do. Sorry, folks! I believe a lot of people would say this though, at least if they like kids like I do! (Still glad I don't have my own yet, though--and won't for a while!)

*The smell of my mom's perfume

*Hair ties and razor blades (to put my hair up and shave my legs with, respectively!)

*Fingers to type with

*Country music--I just love, love, love it! :)

*The really cool purple earrings I found @ the Dollar Store, and the pretty green ones I got up @ Mt. Charleston for $3 back in July--beautiful jewelry does not have to cost a fortune, and one size fits all! I love it when I can find great pieces at rock bottom prices--always terrific!

*Clothes--my yellow sundress, my green 3/4 length sleeve shirt, brown high heels, lots of purple clothing that just so happens to be "in" this season. Perhaps I'm sounding shallow again, but honestly, I love it when I stuff I already have in my closet (and have had for years) comes back around into fashion! It's so neat!

*My eyesight--being able to see photos, different colors, pretty colors, loved ones, my fingers moving along the keyboard here, delicious food, my husband's face, the gorgeous sunset(s), beautiful trees, pinecones, butterflies & flowers....to see it all is truly such a gift--one of the greatest gifts of all, actually!

*Hearing.

*Email--friends, family, keeping in touch, funny ones, ones that make you ponder life, etc. I love email!

*Talking with Tessa today, and laughing some more! That girl and I, we just get each other! Ain't nothin' like a best girlfriend!

*My Audrey Hepburn purse that I found the other day. What a gorgeous woman she was! My Lord! Very cool purse too! And roomy!

*My camera, hearing aids and glasses!

*The fact that my husband just came home, and that I get to lay down next to him tonight as I fall asleep!

*Knowing and Loving My God! That's a pretty precious gift and none of the above would ever be possible without Him!

Thank you, again, Lord, for it all!

Thought for the next post, or at least a possible one in the near future--how come we know more about celebrities' lives than we do our our families? How come we know celebrities by name, but can't name our neighbors? I've lived in my new place for almost a month now and only know two of my neighbor's. This bothers me. I think it's important to have a sense of community and know who you live around. I intend to change this fact. So, yes, why, and HOW, for that matter, do we live next to people for years at a time and not know their names, where they come from or what they do for a job? This is a sad commentary. But, I am grateful for this thought and seed of wanting to reach out having been planted in me.

Please, Lord, guide my steps as I set out tomorrow! Surround me in Your love, peace, grace and guidance! Thank You for all of my life's many, many blessings!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)