Thankful

This year we copied something I saw on Morgan Moore's blog. (Hers from last year was much cuter, I recall.) I stripped a branch of its leaves, "planted" it amidst old newspaper topped with gardening moss and made fake leaves in fall colors. On each leaf we wrote something for which we are thankful. Kevin, Zoey and I all took turns.

Here's what we came up with in no particular order:

The Temple

Cousins

Daughters

Awesome Husband

Good Health

Playing with daddy

Snuggles

Our Family

A Job

Grandma Redford

Grandma Gail

Zoey & Paige’s Mommy

Sunshine and walks

Papa and Grandma

Reading books with Mommy and daddy

I repeated my tradition of making a floral arrangement for thanksgiving. This year, Zoey came with me to the flower market. She wanted yellow flowers. Since her favorite color it pink I decided to put to two together. A little more spring than fall, but it ended up working.

Three centerpieces. This year I kept one and gave two away.
The recipients:
Marilee. She hosted us for not only thanksgiving, but really for the weekend. I'm so thankful she and Adam moved with the kiddies back to California. I'm especially grateful that she had Avery, who is Zoey's little buddy. Marilee is generous, fun, active, a great hostess and a good talker.

Carol Turley. She has been so lovely this year as I've struggled with Zoey. Carol has lent moral support, wisdom, humor. Zoey loves to sit with her in church and has really taken a special liking to Sister Turley. Carol has a little place in her heart for Zoey as well. My two favorite quotes Carol's husband Brent has shared about raising a stubborn and active child:

"This too shall pass.... much like a kidney stone."
"It is easier to tame a fire than to start one."