10 things about my Religion that I'm thankful for....

My Family and My Church have been my life.
   
     I have belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints my whole life. Well, technically since I was 8 years old. (That's when you are baptized in to the Church.
   Below is a picture of Jay and I with our oldest grandchild - Weston Jay Larsen. This is when he
was baptized into our church.

Our Church has a program called Primary that teaches the young children up to age 12 years about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Then after 12 - they go into the Young Men and Young Women programs.

They learn more about living a Christ-like Life, but they also have more activities and goal-setting programs to enjoy.  Then after the age of 18 - The Young Women go to Relief Society and the Men go to their Priesthood meetings.

What is great about being and working in the Church  - you learn so much and can do so many different things.
You have callings that teach you how to do things that you wouldn't otherwise do.  For years I have been able to play the Organ and Piano for many of the meetings that we have.  I've also been able to play for Weddings and Funerals.  This has made me do better at keeping up on those musical skills than I would not have otherwise done. I'm thankful for that, because I actually enjoy it.

10 things about my religion that I'm grateful for:

1. Knowledge that God is my Heavenly Father

2. Being able to learn - The Gospel of Jesus Christ

3. Having a Prophet and Church Leaders to guide us.

4. Knowledge that my Family can be Forever (The Plan of Salvation)

5. Having Opportunities to Serve

6. Being able to study the scriptures (Bible and Book of Mormon)

7. Primary

8. Young Men's and Young Women's

9.  Relief Society

10. Knowledge of the Temple (and temple covenants)

10 places on Earth that I'm grateful for

Today I am putting down 10 Places on Earth that I'm grateful for. In some cases, I kind of lumped the places all together....such as: Beaches #3.) 

My #1 favorite place is of course the Wenatchee, Washington Apple Trail Loop around the Columbia River.  I can't count the many wonderful times that I have walked this trail and loved every minute of it!  I truly feel closer to God - by being out on this lovely trail.

#2  My next favorite place is in Eden, Utah.... We actually found a home there that we want to retire in.  We purchased the house a couple years ago and go there now for all Holidays and whenever we can get away.  It really is a beautiful area - with mountains all around and a big lake in the middle.

 #3  Ocean Beaches.......almost anywhere. I love the beach, but I do
prefer the warm beaches in places like:  So. California, Florida, Mexico, etc.) The above pic is of  the beach in Newport, Oregon.
Our Winters' Family has gone there in July for many years.
  

#4  Hawaii!  Yes, pretty much anywhere in Hawaii. We were able to take a cruise around all the Islands for our 25th Anniversary. I will never forget it. Each Island was wonderful!! Something about that Tropical feeling - just makes you feel extra good. 

#5  New York City!
 This is a pic of Times Square, of course. There is just Something about NYC. It's something that you can't quite explain to anyone that hasn't been there.  That's why I think everyone should go there at least once in their lifetime.  I was amazed at the diversity of people, places , food.......well, pretty much everything.
You could look down any street and see a mixture of all kinds of people, things, etc.  This city has it all.  I was lucky to go here about 5 different times and get to do all the usual tourist's things.  And I even got the chance to ride the elevators up to the Top of the World Trade Center before 9/11. 
 I also got to go w/my Son - Rocky, when he ran the NYC marathon.  That was an experience all in it's own.....just to be one of the 2 million spectators.  I am in awe of this City.  Hope I get to go here again sometime.

#6  Disney World and DisneyLand
Yep, these are definitely  very important places to go to at least once in your life, too. 
We are all just really kids' at heart, aren't we??

#7  Venice, Italy

Well, pretty much anywhere in Italy is on my list for favorite places to go.  I say Venice, because that is where I've visited and just loved it. We went on a business tour for fruit trees the 2 times I have been here - so we didn't get to see a lot of the tourist places in Italy, (like Rome)  But it still was wonderful what we did see.

  #8 The Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

This was another place we got to visit on our Fruit tree Business tour. It really is a magical place.  

#9 Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is a special place to me and my family. My Husband went on his church mission there and our Son went to Tufts Medical School there.  We have had the opportunity to visit a number of times and those visits are very great memories.

Infact, I realize that this should have been much higher on my list of places on Earth that I'm grateful for.  

 

 #10  Zions National Park - Angels Landing

This one has to be on the list . Because it was one of the most awesome places to be (for me). We didn't know what a trek we were taking when we climbed this rock about 2 years ago. (our son told us it wouldn't be too hard)  Well, it wasn't easy that's for sure. Here's a pic of how we had to climb parts of it:

Yes, and there were tougher spots than this! There was also a sign that said at least one person a year falls to their death climbing this Rock!  Well, we did make it and here is a pic of us at the Top:

It really is something we will never ever forget. And the view from up there was just incredible!

10 food things to be grateful for!

Ok, today it is Food that I'm grateful for. I know I could really Keep going on this list, but I'll try to limit it to 10:

1. Anything Chocolate, of course!

2. Pasta

3. Ice Cream and Yogurt

4. Chicken

5. Roast Beef

6. Seafood (Sushi, too)

7. Pizza

8. Mexican food (that covers a lot of food items...:)

9. Some veges......like corn on the cob

10.Most Fruits.......like Peaches!

Yes, I did try to put Sprite and Dt. Coke down as food things that I am grateful for.
But I can see that they are drinks and really not food. So I think I did the best I could here...:)


Well, I tried and tried to put some pictures of food in this post, but something is wrong w/my computer today and it won't let me do it. I hope it works next time........

10 More things I'm grateful for: (Material)

Today I'm feeling grateful for living in this day and age and being able to enjoy the material things that we have.  Here's my list:

1. Our home

2. Cars

3. Computers

4. TV's

5. Cellphones

6. Things that make cooking easier: (i.e.: stove, dishwasher, refrig, microwave, etc.)

7. washer & dryer

8. Clothes

9. Books

10. Bank Accounts


We really are spoiled.  I mean I forgot to say indoor plumbing and air conditioners and furnaces and Hot tubs.  I'm sure there is more.

10 more things to be grateful for: (things I can do)

I feel so blessed just thinking of all these things I am grateful for. I really do take a lot for granted.

Here's a list of things that I like to do and am able to do:

1. I can travel - I love to do that.

2. I can do a lot of walking/jogging.

3. I can play the piano/organ.

4. I can read and write.

5. I can type/blog.

6. I can organize and clean pretty well.

7. I can work hard outside (i.e: weed, move rocks, paint, etc)

8. I can Swim.

9. I can dance and sing (ok, not really well, but I can)

10. I can cook/bake. (I make a mean pot roast).

 

But as a side note:  I have to say that being a wife, Mother, and Grandma are the most meaningful things in my life.  The above things are just things that I'm thankful I can do at this stage in my life.

10 things a day to be grateful for.

 

Yep, I'm going to write down here 10 things I am grateful for.

I will try to do it everyday for awhile.

We will see how this goes.  But today I thought I'd put down 10 things in Nature that I'm grateful for:

1. The Sun is #1 of course!

2. Water - I guess I should say Rivers and Lakes.

3.  Salt Water  - Beaches

4.  Mountains

5.  Trees

6.  Flowers and plants

7.  Tropical Climate

8.  SKY

9. Clouds and Rain

10. Waterfalls


I'd say that's pretty good to start with, huh?!

Grand kids

Don't I have the most beautiful grandkids in the whole wide world!?!  I can't tell you how much I adore them. And, Here's a pic of the whole family:

This is a pretty recent pic. (about a month ago)

Our daughter, Staci, is their mother and our son-in-law is Chad Larsen.

 

I feel like telling you a little bit about each one of them. I don't think I've said a lot in past blog posts, so here goes:

The Oldest is the only boy : Weston Jay Larsen. He is 9 years old. 

This pic is when he was 7, I think.  But he is really an amazing kid and I'm not just saying that because I'm his grandma.  A lot of other people have said it to me, too...:)

He is always beating us at games -almost any game I've played w/him.  And I don't even try to lose either. He has a very competitive nature and does excel at about everything he tries to do.

He has always been amazing at putting together Legos - starting at 2 years old. One day when he was 6 years old, he said to his parents, " Do you know what the greatest thing in the world is?"

And they said, " No, What?"

And he said, "Lego instructions!"

Now what 6 year old would say something like that!

(Okay, I'll  have to just say one story each about these kids, or I'll never get this blog done...:)

 

 

 

Okay the 1st pic of Analee was when she was a lot younger. (But I just love that one). And the next one is a more recent one.  She is 7 years old now.

She is a very sensitive and loving girl. She is also very observant.  I'll never forget when she was younger and she asked me what were all those polka dots (freckles)  all over my face!

Oh, here is an even more recent pic of Analee below:

 

Then you've got Kallista, age 5:

 

And

here is a pic below of her at around 2 0r 3 years:

She has been the one that has said sooooo many funny things. I have quite a list of them in

my little Grandma's book of sayings.  Here's an example:

I had been w/the kids for almost a week one time during little Lydia's surgeries and helping w/a move that they were making to Rigby. And at the end of the week, I was driving them to a park - when Weston asked if I had to go back home soon. I said, "Yes, I probably will have to go soon."  Then Kallista piped up and said "  Don't go Grandma!  We are just starting to like you!"

(Oh, out of the mouth of babes....:)

 

Next there is Gwen. She is 3 years old right now:

Above is when she was younger and would just let me hold her like that forever.  She was the only one that would do that for so long. I'd say that she did that for at least the first 2 years of her life.

Gwen is a very strong willed little girl now. I get quite a kick out of her and how she is.

A few months ago,she was upset about something.  So she had gone into my bedroom and shut the door behind her and had started to tear up some pages in my scriptures. (Greg also did this once when he was little) Anyhoo, I caught her and her parents found out - so they were trying to make her say "I'm sorry Grandma."  She just couldn't do it.  They brought her to me about 10 times until she finally said a very quiet "sorry".   It was so funny that I tried not to laugh, but it was so hard for her to do.'

 

Then we have little Lydia:

 

Lydia will be one in June.

 

 

The above is a picture before one of her surgeries. She had a cleft lip and palate.

Even with all that she has been through, she will smile. She has such a sweet spirit about her.

We are so thankful for this little girl.

 

Okay, I had to do a little bragging. That's what a Grandma does.

I'm OCD

Yes, I'm pretty sure I'm OCD when it comes to keeping my house clean.  I've always been a cleaner.  It's in my DNA, I just can't help it.  I can't stand CLUTTER!! 
You know I don't care if other people are messy. And if they can live with all that clutter around them - it's none of my business.  But I sure do care about my own mess. 

I have to have a house that is in order.  I've tried all my life to be a little more relaxed when it comes to having a clean house and I just can't do it!  I can't relax until things are as they should be - in order.
I'm afraid that I've passed this on to my daughter (and to some degree, my sons).
I've noticed that Staci is a workaholic when it comes to her house.  She really cleans and keeps things in order.  And with 5 kids, that is hard to do! I hope it doesn't drive her to the looney bin - like it almost did to me.

Those hoarder shows don't help me a bit.  I almost get sick when I see how bad it is for some of them.
And it makes me want to clean more! Oh, well........I guess there are worse things. And it's been much easier to keep a clean house with just Jay and I.

My Best Friend

But oh...the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thought come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort-of feeling safe with a person-having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."   "Dinah Craik, A Life for a Life, 1859

I really like this quote. I do feel that I have a friend like this and that friend is my husband.  It's taken many years for me to feel that I can say almost anything to him and he will understand. I guess we had to pretty much grow up together - to finally understand each other.
It's true that we still have our days when one or the other of us feels grouchy and sometimes says something that may hurt the other's feelings. But we are quick to forgive each other.
I'm so thankful for this. It wasn't easy to get to this point and I pray that it can only get better from here.  I see so many couples that have crumbled as a couple and others that are crumbling. All I can do is be grateful that we have the relationship that we do and try every day to make it better.