Count Your Many Blessings

I wanted to do one thing a day that I was grateful for, but let's face it. I am just not on the computer enough and usually when I think of it Nathan is doing homework on the computer. So to make up, here is one for each day of November in no particular order. And by no means is this a comprehensive list. I have so much to be grateful for. Heavenly Father has been so kind to us.
1. Nathan- He is a wonderful husband. I couldn't have chosen better for myself. I guess Heavenly Father knows me a little better than I know myself. Thanks for waiting for me to catch a clue, honey.
2. Our Little One- We are so excited for April! I am more grateful because I have not been sick. Thanks Baby!

3. Our Home- We were able to find just the right place to raise our family and meet our needs.
4. The Temple- We have been blessed to be able to go together once a week. I know we will not always be able to when the baby comes, but it has been a true gift and brought the peace of the spirit into our lives.

5. The Holy Ghost- I love being able to feel the sweet promptings and peace of the spirit and know that I can have this with me as long as I do my part.
6. The restored Gospel of Jesus Christ- I feel so blessed to have the knowledge that I do and to have had it since I was a little girl. Sweet is the peace the gospel brings!
7. Families- I love the sealing powers that bind us together. I am so blessed with two amazing families. They are so loving and supportive.
8. Education- Nathan and I have been able to both get our degrees (while Nathan will have his in a few weeks) without any debt. Nathan was also able to get into a Masters Program that will be completely paid for. That is a huge blessing.

9. Employment- First off, it was the thing that brought us together and in this economy we know how lucky we are to be able to provide for our needs and for Nathan to have flexible hours to finish his schooling.
10. Neighbors- We are blessed to have wonderful friends in our community that keep an eye out for us and are good to share goodies. I love being part of a caring community. Our next door neighbors are especially wonderful and we are grateful to have good people close by.
11. My best friend- Megan made all the difference in making those tough years after high school a blast! She is more of a sister than a friend and I don't know what I would do without her. While preparing a lesson for young women about associations I realized how blessed I am to have her. No one quite understands me like she does and I know I can call on her anytime. We have so much fun together.
12. Living prophets- Every time I review the conference Ensign I am amazed at the inspired messages that are found in abundance. We have the truth and are able to hear from our leaders all the time and receive their inspired counsel and direction.

13. The Scriptures- It is such a miracle how accessible they are considering that not many years ago in the scheme of things there was maybe one set of scriptures per family. I can mark in them to my hearts content and then when there is no more room for my scribbles get a new set and start over.
14. Technology- We are able to do so much that just a few years ago was only a dream. I especially love digital cameras and cell phones that allow us to document our family history and keep in touch with family and friends.
15. Transportation- We have been really lucky to have two cars that are both fully paid for, until recently when my car was hit and has not been drivable. I am grateful it was not our only car, that no one was hurt, that we have insurance, and that my family has been able to help out and give me rides to work.
16. Work Ethic- the thanks for this goes completely to my parents. So many people do not know how to work and it is hard to learn when you are older. Mom and Dad gave us plenty of opportunities to learn this principle and as an adult I finally appreciate it.
17. Music- It has a was of touching my spirit and lifting my soul. I am thankful for good music and for musical ability. Thank you Mom for being patient and teaching me to play the piano. Thank you Mrs. B. and chaparral choir for the wonderful opportunities I has to be part of something beautiful during high school. I especially loves the Candlelight Carol at Disneyland each Christmas. I was so lucky to be a part of that.

18. Nature- We live in a beautiful world that provides beauty and opportunities for recreation. I love the outdoors and the amazing vistas of this earth.
19. Food- It brings me joy. I am lucky to have never gone hungry and to have been surrounded by people skilled in the culinary arts. I am glad I have been taught how to cook and don't have to depend on processed foods to feed my family.
20. Ward- Our ward is different, but will provide us opportunities to learn and grow and serve. I am especially grateful for those that serve in our ward leadership. I appreciate their sacrifice and commitment.
21. Young Womens- I am thankful for the opportunity I have to serve and for the influence that this organization has had in my life. I learned so much from Presonal Progress and from all of the dedicated leaders I have had and worked with. I especially love Girls Camp and am thankful for how many times I have been able to go.

22. Health- I am thankful for my physical body and for the guidelines that Heavenly Father has given to take care of it. I have a strong immune system and rarely have to struggle with sickness.
23. Wise spending habits- This is another skill I have to thank my parents for and another one that is hard to learn as an adult. Mom is a master bargain shopper and Dad has always been wise with his finances. They taught me from a young age how to save and be financially independent. As a result it comes easily to me and I don't feel the need to buy things that are not needs or that we cannot afford.
24. Light- both the spiritual and literal kind. The home we bought did not have many lights installed and it drives me crazy to have a dimly lit room. I love the warm, cozy glow of a well lit room. I am thankful for a smart husband who installed lights for me.
25. Literature- I especially loved this as a child and spent countless hours reading. It is still a favorite activity for Nathan and I to cuddle up with a good book. I am grateful for all we can learn and for the escape into the realm of imagination they provide.

26. Laughter- It makes each day so much better and really is the best medicine. I have a husband who is great at getting a good laugh out of me and pretty much everyone else he is around. I am grateful to know so many witty people.
27. Traditions- As I get older, I appreciate these more and more. I love the traditions that my parents started for us when we were kids. It has been fun for Nathan and I to decide what traditions we want to carry on in our family and what new ones we would like to start.
28. Memories- Especially those shared by relatives. I love being able to hear Grandma's stories or think back on times that we had together as a family. I am grateful for those that keep journals and are good to bring out the camera at events. Reminiscing can bring so much joy.
29. Holidays- I am grateful that there are ties that are set aside to remember events or people or jut to be together. Especially the Christmas season, the whole wold seems to be a bit brighter and cheerier.

30. My Elder Brother- I am grateful that he came to the earth as a babe and for his atonement that "saved a wretch like me".He alone knows all our troubles and hardship and he truly is the Prince of Peace. I am grateful for this season that reminds us all of his life and death.

Warm Hearts and Cold Toes

Warning: Sappiness ahead.
So, for those of you who may not catch on to the obvious fairly quickly, I have the best husband ever. Others may make claims, but let's be honest. It's pretty hard to beat Nathan and he does it effortlessly. A few things recently that have made me appreciate him more:

-He has been looking forward to going out to breakfast at the Maple Leaf Cafe since before I left on my road trip. We had agreed to go last Saturday, but I forgot and decided that I wanted to start our Christmas shopping and eat at Sweet Tomatoes. He was sad I had forgotten but agreed to go with me and forgo his dreams of delicious chicken fried steak. I decided no I would not be selfish and we would keep our original plans (even though I really wanted to Christmas shop), but he told me that we had tons of breakfast food in the fridge that needed to be used and he didn't want it to go to waste and that the Maple Tree would wait. I think he just wanted to make me happy without making me feel selfish. I will take you there soon honey.

-He goes shopping with me all the time, even though I know it secretly drives him batty. I have a very unique way of shopping that I learned from my mom. We are bargain hunters. Hunting out just the right price requires skill and patience. You have to check every clearance aisle and every ad and sift through everything on every rack to find just the right price. Then to top it all off I am not a very good decision maker so I agonize over every purchase and take forever. He used to ask "Are we done yet?" but now he just smiles as he holds up a recently found clearance treasure and asks if I like it. I love having him with me. Most husbands would kiss you and send you on your merry way so they could do man stuff while you were out shopping for hours on end. I am such a lucky girl. AND he has become such a good hunter. Just a few from last Saturday.

Yep, We are pretty much awesome together and yes we saved over $300.
-He gets up super early to leave for school each morning and never complains when his wife is too tired to get up and get his lunch ready for him. He quietly makes it himself and kisses me on the forehead on his way out the door. Sometimes even when I try to get up and do it for him he sends me back to bed and tells me that me sleeping is more of a help to him than making lunch could be. His arguments make no sense in the light of day but in the wee morning hours I am like..ok yeah, I'll just go back to bed. Tricky husband.
-This morning he made me delicious breakfast in bed since I had the morning off. We have yet to turn the heat on in our house and the kitchen is by far the coldest room in the house. By the time he had finished cooking and came to eat with me his toes were like icicles. He tried to keep them away from me even though I has been storing up a little pocket of heat while he has been in the cold kitchen. He told me he didn't want to steal my heat. Guess what I do every night folks, that's right I use him to warm up my cold toes. Just ask my sisters or Megan. If you ever share a covers with me it will be your fate too. I have heat seeking missiles instead of toes. He deserved that heat but refused to take it.

He is the best husband and is going to be an award-winning Dad. Sister Dalton said so in conference. 'This morning I would like to speak to our sons and to all fathers. How can a father raise a happy, well-adjusted daughter in today’s increasingly toxic world? The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—“The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.”'
Nathan, I love and appreciate all that you do for me and our family.

Maize

In our marriage contract (which doesn't really exist, but we like to talk about it like it does), there is a line that reads that the wife, Julie, shall hereby be allowed two times a year when she shall be allowed to go away with wife's best friend, Megan, on a girl's only, no boys allowed road trip of fun. Nathan was warned about this long before we were married and knew they would continue on long past when we have children, don't feel bad for him every time I leave like my mom does (It might make me feel bad).
Last weekend was said road trip weekend. This time we let Amy bum a ride up to Provo with us to visit her best friend. We set off on our adventure early(ish) Friday morning.

Our first stop was in Beaver at the Cheese Factory for a picnic lunch of tuna sandwiches, (our favorite) made by my sweet husband, and ice cream. They had the best flavors there we have ever witnessed. It was amazing and made the choice oh so hard. While we were there we made some old lady's day when a stranger asked us for a lick of our ice cream. I don't share ice cream with friends let alone strangers.

Next we dropped Amy off in Provo and Megan and I went to the Mt. Timpanogas Temple to do a session. Now that we are both endowed we like to go see a new temple every time we go on one of our road trips. Traffic was insane. No wonder Utah people are crazy. The traffic has made them this way. (No offense to any family or friends who may reside in said place.) The Temple was beautiful but we were both exhausted. We went to an amazing Chinese restaurant and then went to bed...at like 9:00 our time. We are old ladies.

We stayed with Aunt Claudia. We love staying with her. She is the best! She was helping Brock make the most amazing Halloween costume ever and made us Apple Pancake for breakfast. To top it all off she suggested we go to a different cornmaze than our traditional one at Thanksgiving Point and even gave us a coupon. I know, you wish your aunt was as cool.
This Corn Maze was awesome. The corn was taller, the path was better and more clear and it was less crowded. We even managed to decipher where we were on the map and circumnavigate two of the hint posts (hence why 7 and 8 do not have pictures). We took Amy and Jessie with us and had a blast.

The BEST part though was the giant pumpkin drop. This even was definately thought up by boys. Basically you drop pumpkins from a crane onto various objects ie. a car, a pool, computer equipment. Some of there pumpkins weighed over 1,000 lbs. It was pretty impressive and way fun to watch. We stayed much longer than planned because it was so cool. Sorry I was too lazy to turn the videos..deal with it or don't watch them or even better watch them backwards. Watching the smashed bits come back together is far more entertaining.

We dropped Jessie off at her dorm and ate a delicious J-Dawg, also part of the tradition.
Then it was off to Salt Lake to stay with the Dittos. We watched Captain America. I have a new favorite superhero.

The next morning we went to Music and the Spoken work in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. This was the first time for Amy and Megan. I miss singing in a choir that can really perform. Thanks you Chaparral for providing me with that opportunity. There is nothing like singing in an amazingly talented group.

We drove a little ways and decided to just pull off and go to church. We managed to pick a Tongan ward. It was kind of awesome and a very cultural experience. We wore those headsets during the meeting and has it translated to us. It made me really appreciate the Spanish speakers in our stake. Headsets are not the best way to listen to the meeting. You get everything in time delay and they don't always translate the jokes so you are constantly wondering what was so funny.

Yo Ho Yo Ho A Pirate's Life For Me!

Happy Halloween!

Thanks to Mom Anderson (this time Mom and Matt), Nathan and I always have pretty amazing Halloween costumes. We didn't really have anything to dress up for this year, so we crashed my parents' ward party. I love dressing up and I have a good husband to indulge me!

More on the annual Julie/Megan Nevada Day Weekend Corn Maize Roadtrip in the next post. Too bad I didn't eat more oranges to avoid scurvy (aka a terrible cold).

More House

Here it is, some of the inside...
The view from our front door. Nathan is in the Kitchen/Dining Area but you will have to wait until the next post to hear about that part of the house. We love the floors and repainted everything, including the ceilings. My sisters are disappointed we went with white/cream. They wanted us to have color, but after paining every square inch of the house I want something I won't get tired of. I can add color in other, much less permanent ways. I really am more like my dad than I let on. (He loves white walls.)
One day we will be replacing that ugly light fixture you see in this picture. It is ugly and causes concussions because it hangs so low. I have no desire to have a formal dining room table there for it to go over. Instead we are going to have a big open living room area and piano nook. We plan on the TV eventually going in the Office/TV/Family room. I love the idea of not having a television in our main living area. I don't want it to be the center of our family time.

 One day the sectional will be replaced and the other couch and TV will be in the TV room, but until we find other furniture we love, we will get by with the set up like this. (Please note my Halloween decorations on the mantle.) The piano that you can see the corner of in the bottom right was a Craigslist find...$50. Not bad. We just haven't had someone over to help us move it where we want it, so it is currently stuck behind the couch. Someday it will probably be where the TV is.

 A view from the other direction. I love all the light. The door on the left is a coat closet picture below.
The hallway is to the right in this picture across from the sectional.

Here is the hallway. The first door on the left is the Office/TV room. The second is the garage. On the right is a linen/game closet (I wanted the game to be accessible to the main living area) and then the main bathroom. These light fixtures will also be going because they put off lots of heat and have a million tiny light bulbs in each.

Below is the linen closet, you can kind of see the edge of the couch, so you get an idea of where it is located.

Main Bathroom: Love that it has two sinks, don't live the linoleum, but I am willing to live with it so that we can get other projects done. It is low on the priority list. The tape is still on the floor because we still have some baseboard painting to complete

 I also like that it has a door to separate the shower/toilet from the sinks. It will come in handy when we have lots of kids that are trying to all get ready for church.

 That's all you get of the inside for now. Touring via pictures is tedious.
I will, however give you another look at our backyard, since that is where we have spent a lot of time working lately, trimming trees and bushed, mowing the grass, taking care of weeds...all that fun stuff. Look at my rosebushes! I love having fresh-cut flowers from my garden on my table.

 Here are the fun stairs I talked about last time but you couldn't really see.

 My lawn from the other side.