Thanksgiving

Today I'm grateful.

For lots of things.
Sweet Potato Casserole.
Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie.
Homemade Rolls.
The Heater (it's 6 degrees outside right now!).
Good Health.
Money to pay the Bills.
Secret Friends.
All my other Friends.

But, on this most wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving,
I am MOST grateful for these treasures...


Adam & Lauren


Lauren & Audrey


Miss Sophie Bean


Mom & Jess


Mom & Sweet Evelyn


Russell & Dad


Auntie Belle with the Girls


The Whole Crump Clan
(except Bob...and I'm grateful for him too!)


The Cousins

Family is the greatest blessing of all.
And, we have the BEST family around!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Comments

I'm grateful for people that make comments on my blog.
It makes me want to write more...or less, depending on how you look at it.

Winne-the-Pooh

Tonight Audrey and I discovered the joy of reading "Winne-the-Pooh," by A. A. Milne, thanks to the free download on iBooks. We made it through chapter 1. After we finished, Audrey asked me how many chapters there are. When I told her there were 10, she was pretty darn excited. I'm grateful for free stuff, and books. I love books, and reading. I hope to pass that passion on to my girls while they are young, and impressionable.

Speaking of reading. I've lost a bit of my blog passion. Not just blogging on MY blog, but reading other blogs. It's funny how certain events in your life can make you step back and put some perspective on things. Losing my grandmother, and going through the motions or funeral, burial, and family togetherness this last week was one of those experiences. I didn't get on the computer much at all, and I realized that I didn't really miss it. Some of my favorite blogs, two in particular, have really lost me lately. I feel that they are only writing to make a few bucks, sell me something, or brag about all the amazing things they get to do...now that they are famous because of these blogs. I'm not sure why I suddenly feel this way, except that my personal experiences have made me change my perspective...or, they really could be seeking these things? Either way, I guess I'm taking them off my news feed.

I'm grateful for this new perspective. And, isn't it interesting that I'm giving the lesson next Sunday...on THIS talk? Hmmm. Coincidence? I think not.

Secret Friends

Dear Secret Friends,

Whoever you may be,
thank you for the kind gift on our porch last night.
At this time of the year I am continually amazed at
the generosity of others. And, it is this spirit of giving
that truly makes the season merry and bright.
Thank you for sharing that spirit with us.

Love,
The Crump Family

My Girls

Today I'm grateful for my girls.
They were especially sweet today.
That always equals a good day.
Gotta love 'um!

Graditude is...

getting through the day when your 5 year old has the flu.
Right before the 7th time that Audrey lost her cookies today,
(she was keeping track)
she started crying.
I asked what was wrong,
and she sobbed,
"Mom, I don't want to throw up anymore!"
Insert heart strings being pulled right here.
I'm proud to declare that we are now keeping fluids down...
here's hoping tomorrow morning finds us keeping foods down too.

And, all fingers and toes are crossed that Mom and Dad don't get it,
but...I'm really not that hopeful.
We should get it just in time for company next week.
Anyone want to place bets on that?

He's Got Skills

I'm grateful today for Adam's MAD construction skills.
He has been working hard the last two days,
without much help from me at all,
to get the two rooms and bathroom in our basement finished for company.
Because of these skills,
he's saving us loads of money...
and you can't be too grateful for that!

Heater Baby

I'm pretty grateful for my heater today because,
"It's frickin' freezing 'outside,' Mr. Bigglesworth!"

P.S. Bonus points if you know that movie.

So Many Gratefuls

Yesterday, I read a book.
It was a great book.
It is called, "Left to Tell."
It's about this woman.
It was truly inspirational.
And, as I was reading it,
a long list of gratefuls was forming in my head:

• I am grateful for my family.
• I am grateful to live in a country that is not at war with itself.
• I am grateful for running water.
• I am grateful for a bed to sleep in.
• I am grateful that I have food to eat.
  
• I am grateful for my education, and the opportunity to gain more education.
• I am grateful for my faith.
• I am grateful for parents who taught me what faith is.
• I am grateful for my health.
• I am grateful my children are safe each night.
  
• I am grateful for my life.

What a wonderful month to read this book.
With Thanksgiving around the corner,
it really brought my feelings of gratitude into perspective.
I am grateful Immaculee shared her story with the world.

To My Grandmother

We will dearly miss you.

You will always be one of my greatest heroes.
I know your legacy will continue,
and one day we will meet again.
I am so grateful for that knowledge.
We love you Grandma "Nell"!

I voted!

Today I am grateful that I live in a country where I can vote.
In secret, free from persecution for my vote.
We are all truly blessed to have this opportunity.
I hope you took advantage of it to!

A Little Wash and Dry?

Who's grateful for their washer and dryer today?

Oh, pick me!

10 loads later,
I'm grateful for those little gems...
they make life so much easier.

Birth Days

Another year older and wiser too...
that's what I like to think anyways.
(although, I'm not sure that's always true in my case...)
I'm grateful for birthday's.
I still look forward to them.
I hope I always do.
It's a day of celebration!
There's no one alive who is you-er than you!
Here's to many more!

A Post

Want to know what we did yesterday?
Check it out here!
It was GREAT fun!
I'm grateful my sis did this post.
It's just not as easy to post when you're far away from home...
(And no, I wasn't drooling in that last picture...I think...)

Things I Grateful For...

Over the last few days I have been grateful for:

• Arriving to Oregon, safe and sound.
  
• Girls that were fairly pleasant on that drive to Oregon. 16 hours straight is NOT fun in a car...
• The fact that my sister and her hubby decided to live in such a beautiful place! Coos Bay, OR is beautiful...it's my first venture to Oregon ever!
  
• Shore Acres, Oregon

I'm wishing I could get pictures uploaded, but it's hard to find time to even write a quick post! We're too busy having fun!

P.S. Fall in Oregon is GREAT!

The Human Body

I am grateful for the amazing wonder that is, the human body. This past weekend Adam and I hiked "the Subway" in Zion's National Park. (more on that to come!) It was amazing! And even more amazing than that, was the fact that my body got me through it. I haven't really been able to walk for 2 days since, and that is what has made me even more grateful for my body...when it does work right! I am grateful I have the ability to walk, run, climb, swim, shiver, sweat. All those things I did this last Saturday! Because without that body, I would miss out on so much!

Pumpkins Pretty Much Rock

I'm grateful that there is such a thing as a pumpkin today.

Because of pumpkins,

and dare I say FALL,
we get to do this each October...



Thank you pumpkins,
for being plump,
beautifully orange (or green, or white, or all three),
and really quite tasty in a plethora of recipes.
Happy FALL y'all.

A Canner For Me

Look at my cute helper in the kitchen today:



Miss Lauren faithfully stood by my side today
as I peeled and bottled tomatoes,
1 lone bottle of pickled peppers,
(peppers are not so pleasant to pickle)
flash froze carrots,
and shredded and froze all the zucchini you could ever want.
And she did it with a smile on her face...as you can plainly see.



Today I'm grateful for my little helper!
(Audrey would have been there too, but she was helping Dad...)
And, I will be grateful this winter,
when we enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Shopping Carts

Do you know what I think is great?

Those little mini-shopping carts at the grocery store.
Not the ones with the cars on the front.
I HATE those ones.
But, these little mini's.



They really come in quite handy when you have ONE
child with you at the store.
(and you're only getting a few things)
It makes them feel quite helpful,
and they want to do all the driving by themselves.
Like today when I took Lauren with me to the store,
and she was waving at the little boy we passed,
pushing his own mini.
They were so proud.
And it was so awesomely funny to watch.
Thank you mini-shopping cart,
for making my run to the store a more pleasant one today.

Where in the World?

Let's play a little game.

I will give you some clues,
and you can guess where I spent a lovely few days last week.
If you already know...don't cheat!
(It's going to be REALLY hard to guess)

1. I spent some time in what seemed to be:
Paris, Italy, Ancient Rome, and the Medieval Times.

2. I learned the joy that is shopping at H&M.

3. I had my picture taken with Angelina and Brad.




4. I spent my mornings basking in the warm sun,
and floating in a lazy river.

5. I ate delicious food every day. Some was homemade,
some was from a restaurant...But, the best BY FAR,
was Hash House A Go Go. You heard right.
It's Twisted Farm Fresh Breakfast Food! And it was
truly divine.

6. I stayed up late every night, playing games with 3 of
my favorite people (one being my hubby of course),
eating treats, and laughing my head off!

7. I missed my girls like crazy, but came home a rested
and better mother by far.

Any guesses?

Here's a couple more pics:



I wish to thank my AMAZING mother for making this trip possible.
She watched my girls the entire 5 days, with the help of Christa,
Zac and Grandpa Steve. She ROCKS, and I love her!