I'm thankful for...

well, so many things, really. But here are a few that I'm particularly grateful for right now (I meant to write this over the Thanksgiving weekend, but didn't get to it):

• Firsts. It is so fun to see Grant experience or do things for the first time. Smiling, cooing, sleeping for four hours at a time...I thought that these things might not be as exciting with the second child and I'm very glad that I was wrong. It truly is a privilege to be a parent and I'm loving my second go of it. Some of Sarah's firsts: speaking in full sentences, seeing things that are common to me for the first time through her eyes makes so much more meaningful and special (like the fact that she can open the cupboard door and find a strainer).
• Distance: Being so far away from everything and everyone I knew so well has been one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. Before moving to Kirksville I thought I knew myself pretty well, but I've become much better acquainted with me, my husband, and our children. I'm still figuring out who I am and how to be and I owe it to distance.
• Government Programs: WIC (gives us milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, dried beans, and peanut butter...and saves us at least $75 a month!), Medicaid...makes it possible for us to have our beautiful baby Grant and also my gallbladder surgery all at no cost to us.
• Stability: not talking financial (because that won't happen for a few more years), but because of my husband. I can always count on him to be himself. He always pulls through and does fantastically. He steps up and helps with the children on a daily basis, he makes dinner (he even made a delicious turkey roast the other day), he studies SO hard and does really well in school, he manages to keep the stress of school outside the home, he keeps us all laughing, he is the MVP of his basketball team (and loves to tell me about every play he made), he is very tender-hearted and always wants to do more for those he loves. I love him and am very grateful for the stability he provides in my crazy life.
• Enlightenment: I love to know that I can seek God and find him. I feel so secure knowing that He is interested in me and will enlighten me with what I need to accomplish what I should and want to accomplish. I wish I always felt enlightened...perhaps I should work harder on that one. But I guess it's those times of unenlightenment that make the enlightened moments so profound. I love when I feel that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to provide more information...what a blessing!

Sarah & Grant

Many of you have requested updated pictures of the two little ones...so here they are tonight in their jammies. Sarah is in the stage of giving a very fake smile for the camera, so this is the best I can do. Grant is just learning to smile and it's the sweetest smile ever. We love our kids so much!

I'm back!

The past two months have been a bit crazy, with the arrival of baby Grant, having both grandmothers visit, going to Utah for two weeks, finals for Steve, getting my gallbladder removed, having Jane visit, Sarah's second birthday, and Thanksgiving....it has been crazy, but I'm still alive and finally feeling like blogging again. I'll do my best to get things caught up in the next few days. It feels good to be back!