"This is my joy and my great thanksgiving."

"God is mindful of every people whatsoever land they may be in; yea, He numbereth His people, and His bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever."

 - Alma 26:37

This is where I finished reading this morning for scripture study. I've taken the Prophet's challenge to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year and circle all the references to Christ. It's been wonderful! When I read this final verse of chapter 26, I just thought it was so perfect for the Holiday! Don't you?

Honestly, I can't think of a greater gift in this life than to know without a shadow of a doubt that we have a loving Father in Heaven who is watchful and mindful of each one of us and to know He grants us hope and healing in every heartache through our Savior, Jesus Christ. There is no greater truth- no greater gift! I'm so grateful for freedom to believe in God and practice my religion. I'm grateful to have a prophet of God on the earth today, I'm thankful for temples and covenants, for scriptures, and righteous honest priesthood bearers.

Other things I'm grateful for are my amazing children, my sweet husband, extended family and friends, a home to live in, clothes on my back, shoes on my feet, indoor plumbing, and all the little conveniences we so often take for granted. I am richly, richly blessed! I am very content!

Our plans for the Thanksgiving Holiday today are pretty simple. It's my side of the family's year to get together. It will just be my dad this year:

My niece, Alexa, would normally be here but she's going up to Logan with her dad's family this year.

My younger brother can't make it because he lives in Texas and used his money for travel in March when mom passed away.

My other brother, who is a year older than I am, has sadly disowned my father because my dad went down to Price a couple of months ago to visit his granddaughter (my brother's only child). My brother wants nothing to do with his daughter and saw my dad visiting her as a threat to their own relationship and basically told my dad that it would either be him or her. (Personally, I think what is so offensive to my brother is, he can't stand the guilt and shame that eats at him for choosing to isolate himself from his little girl and it's too much for him to know that my dad wants to hold on to his relationship with his granddaughter. It's easier for my brother to hold resentment and blame rather than face up to his fatherly responsibilities.) Of course, I would never share my theory with my brother. I have reached out many times just to tell him that I love him and how glad I'd be to see him.  Unfortunately, he hasn't answered any of my texts or calls and especially not any invites to come down for Thanksgiving. He didn't respond when I told him about Amy's apartment fire either. He won't respond to anything I try to send him. Anyway... I guess my brother has also decided to cut the rest of us off from his life too. It's tragic!

Another tragedy is that my older sister has gone back to live with her abusive alcoholic husband and has made up every possible excuse of why she has to be with him rather than join us for dinner today. So, as I said before.... It will just be my dad from the Manwill side today.

But, my good friend's Suzanne, Cory and their kids are going to join us. They've met my dad many times before -so it all works out. Normally, Suzanne would drive out to be with her family in California for Thanksgiving - but she's pretty exhausted from just recently moving into a new house - so we get the honor of having the Nimers with us. And later, after dinner, our friends Reggie and Lorraine are coming to say hello too.  All these friends are family to us - we look forward to being with them!

I'm also really looking forward to heading out to see the new Wreck-it-Ralph movie this afternoon, Ralph Breaks the Internet. We have been waiting for months to see it! Afterwards, we're going to have our Thanksgiving dinner with my dad and our friends. Can you believe that this will be my very first turkey?! I'm actually excited about it. I have the turkey soaking in a brine right now. Sometime this morning, I need to rush to the store to by some fresh sage and rosemary, along with a few other awesome flavors to stuff in. I've watched all the Youtube videos of how to make the juiciest and most flavorful turkey. I'm crossing my fingers this will work!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! 😁

A Narrow Escape

My sister's apartment was on the news the other night. The stairwell outside her apartment was engulfed in flames so she couldn't leave through her front door. And the only other outside window was in her living room where the balcony is.  She had to jump from her balcony seconds before the flames began to take over her living room blocking any further escape. If she had waited only one minute, she wouldn't have had any access to an egress. 

She lost everything! I'm relieved that she made it out with only an injured ankle though. The good news is that her Ward and Stake and all her surrounding neighbors have been incredibly kind to her, offering help, supplies, and support. I'm so glad she's okay. 

Prayers for her are needed greatly as she continues to recover from this! 

https://kutv.com/news/local/video-shows-people-ready-to-jump-from-balcony-to-escape-apartment-fire

What You Say Of Me

I love this song. These past several months, I've shared it with so many people when they have been going through a hard time. It's so important that no matter how broken or inadequate we might feel, that God sees our infinite worth, that He hears our prayers, and that He is working miracles on our behalf. When we turn to Him, cry out to Him- in the sincerity of our hearts- we can trust that He will guide our path and give us strength beyond our own. Why? Because He has promised to do so, because we are His children and He loves us!

Lauren Daigle  - Lyrics

"You Say"

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me

In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity, o-ooh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And You say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

Oh, I believe

Taking all I have and now I'm laying it at Your feet

You have every failure God, and You'll have every victory, o-ooh

You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

You say I am held when I am falling short

When I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours

And I believe, oh I believe

What You say of me

I believe

Oh I believe

Yes I believe

What You say of me

Oh I believe

October 2018

General Conference -Women's Session. Went out to dinner before the session with Alexa, Miriam, and Kaylee. I love my girls!! Four more years and Millie will be able to join us too!

Awww.... kids are so cute when they beg for things as I'm standing in the check-out line of the grocery store. Too bad I rarely buy them stuff they want on a whim... especially when they beg. But, I took a picture to show them that I still think they're cute... even though I'm not buying.

Joseph turned 43 this October and we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary. I bought him a T-shirt he's been wanting ever since he completed his Physic's degree. I also bought us tickets to Hale Center Theater to watch The Scarlet Pimpernel (one of our favorite theatrical musicals). We also took a little miniature vacation and ran away for an evening to a luxurious hotel. We had a wonderful anniversary/ birthday celebration! I'm so grateful for my very best friend in my life!

I couldn't resist posting these. Very few people see this side of Joseph. Oh how I love this guy!

I always think it's cute when the kids use my camera to take pictures. Kaylee loves piano, especially Beethoven. And ya gotta love that she took a selfie with my reading glasses. :)  

Kids playing with Piper, our little bonus child through the week.

On October 12th, we celebrated our one year anniversary since Amillia came to live with our family. We decided to make it a tradition to go out for ice cream at The Creamery to celebrate this occasion. It just so happened that we also had Brendon and Emily with us on this day. I'm very grateful for Amillia in our life - we love her! And I'm so glad we are still in touch with our former foster kids, Brendon and Emily.  I will always love them too!

Kaylee took these pictures. She wanted to give a (one-year-living-with-us) present to Amillia by wrapping up some old hand-me-down's and toys. Millie loved it!

As always, every week, the kids take turns visiting dad at his work. I don't always have pictures of these moments so, I'm glad Micah and dad took some selfies this time. 

I love these memories that will build strong relationships forever! Priceless!

Micah made a "space guy" costume for Amillia out of cardboard - complete with a laser gun and hand grenade. She loved it!! I'm so glad the kids take such great care of her.

Miriam and Lucy - giving each other facials. 

We had a real great time visiting my cousin, Lora, on her farm. We spent a couple nights and visited my aunt and uncle down the road too. This was our kids first real experience on a farm. I wasn't able to get photos of them with the cattle or horseback riding but they did it and had a ton of fun with that. Miriam especially loves horseback riding!

 Chandler refused to come with us on our little farm trip. (He said he's allergic to farms.) I laughed out-loud!... Whatever, we let him stay home. He loved having the house completely to himself. We wished Chandler would have come with us though. He really missed out on some of the best people in the world and some pretty awesome experiences.

Back row: Shane, Micah Miriam
Front Row: Audrey, Millie, Olivia, Kaylee

My aunt Mary is the closest person I have left to my mom in my life. Her mannerisms and her voice so often remind me of mom. I love Mary and my uncle, Mark. Growing up, I have many wonderful memories visiting them on their farm. It's been 19 years since I've stayed overnight there. I want to make sure I don't let that much time pass again before I visit again. We never know how much time we have left. Better to take advantage of being with our loved ones every chance we get! This life is so short!

Micah blew this balloon up to the MAX... and then had fun stabbing it with a knife. I must admit, I don't like balloons blown up that far. My anxiety over it all began when I was quite young: My older brother made a sport out of scaring me any time he had a balloon. He'd get right up in my face and corner me, blowing up the balloon until it exploded into shreds in my face. He found it quite hilarious. I hated it! But my brother couldn't get enough of my reaction.  Hence my trauma...

 Micah at least gave me time to cover my ears and step back a few yards before he stabbed this balloon. I can only handle so many heart-attacks in one lifetime.  

Kaylee's 4H Mentor, Casey, celebrating FHE night the week of Halloween. We carved pumpkins and made festive treats. Miriam's 4H mentor, Caroline, came too along with her husband, Thomas. My kids are so blessed to have these amazing friends in their lives!

Halloween Pics - Kaylee, Miriam, and Amillia are the only ones who dressed up this year.

I did some face painting at my sister's work for her Halloween carnival. She always does an amazing job as the activity director. Alexa was there too dressed as Belle from Beauty and the Beast. Micah came and showed off his Infinity Gauntlet he made from cardboard.