"K" Part 2.."Kickin' it with History"

As most of you know..I LOVE HISTORY..especially American History. I can't get enough of it. I am so blessed to live in such a historic place, and I am so grateful for that. I love Yorktown. The history of the Revolutionary war fascinates me! There are days that I like to just walk through the town and see all the landmarks. I like to sight see. I love to sit on the battlefield and imagine the battles fought. I am thankful that I have parents who inspired me to learn about our past. I am thankful that I have been given opportunities to see these amazing places. Today is Veterans day, and I can't think of a better place to live than in the town where our "Original Veterans" fought and died for our freedom from tyranny. I am honored to know so many veterans who continue the battle for not just American freedom, but for human freedom as well. So today, I would like to tell all Veterans and their families..you KICK BUTT.. (I had to get the "K" in there) and Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

"K" Part 1..Happy Birthday Kaylee

Yesterday, my beautiful niece turned 17! Wow! How could she get that old and I stay so young? Let me tell you a little about this young woman..

She is amazing. She is talented, she is loving, she is beautiful. She likes to cook, and she's good at it. She has a smile that can light up the sky. She has such a great sense of humor. She's got a sailors mouth (I think she got that from me..sorry Kim) She is so much fun to talk to. She works hard. She's great with kids. This little girl that I love has become a woman that I am proud to call my friend. Happy Birthday Kaylee! I am very thankful to have you in my life...

Today, the letter "J"

Most of the time I am a very sarcastic, humor seeking, push the envelope, cross the line, break the rules kind of girl. But today, I want to be a little serious. I am very thankful for Jesus Christ. I love my faith in him. I love the blessings I have received because of him. I truly believe that I am never alone..even in my darkest hours. I love that I can feel his arms around my shoulders, and his hand over my mouth! I love the knowledge that my sweet baby girl is with him, and that I will see her again. I am thankful for Jesus Christ.

I am proud to be a Christian. No matter what some may say about my faith, I KNOW what I believe. I believe in Jesus Christ. So, if you are reading this blog, and I know you are, take a little time today to give him thanks.

I don't say it enough, but I am so very thankful for all of you. May you have a blessed day today!

Below are the words to one of my most favorite hymns..I sing it, hum it, whistle it whenever I am doubting myself!

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,Confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me;I tremble to know that for me He was crucified,That for me, a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died.
O it is wonderful that He should care for me Enough to die for me! O it is wonderful, wonderful to me!
I marvel that He would descend from His throne divine, to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine;That He should extend His great love unto such as I,Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

O it is wonderful that He should care for me Enough to die for me! O it is wonderful, wonderful to me
I think of His side, pierced and bleeding to pay the debt,Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?No, no! I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,And testify all my desires He doth fully meet.

O it is wonderful that He should care for me Enough to die for me! O it is wonderful,wonderful to me.

"I" I am Thankful for my IN-LAWS

My Father-in-law..what a man. Hardworking and funny! Best role model I could want for my husband!

My mother-in-law...what can I say? SHE ROCKS!

Jeremy (with his wife Danyele) He's Grants "Brother from another mother" We adore this man. It doesn't matter how long it's been since Grant sees him, they act like no time has passed

Gina..Gina Gina Gina. She is so talented. She is awesome!

Rich..the man, the myth, the legend. We adore him (and his family) He is the hardest working guy I know

Alan. he likes me best out of allllll the in-laws...hee hee hee. He puts up with so much..and that is why I love him!

And..Sara. Oh Sara. You are the greatest sister-in-law a girl could want! Keep taking care of that brother of mine...

"H" I am Thankful for my "Husband"

Today is one of my most favorite things to be thankful for. My amazing, gorgeous, funny, faithful, strong, hard working, loving, hot, awesome husband! Oh! How I love this man. He makes me smile every day, even when he's hundreds of miles away. He is am amazing dad..Macen is just like him..humor and all! He works so hard, and works such long hours, but he still drives home every night to be with me! I wake up every morning happy that he's mine! I love you baby!

"G" I am Thankful for my GREAT GRANDMA Fail

This is a picture of my Mom, my Uncle Doug, and my Great Grandma Fail. I am sad to say I never got to meet her..but if any of you knew my Grandma Johnson, or if you are lucky enough to know my mom, you can imagine how great my Great Grandma was. I can only imagine her humor, her charm, her love. She must have been AWESOME!!! (I know, there's that word again..but I love anything AWESOME) So, today, I am thankful for my Great Grandma...and for all the great women who came before me! I hope to make you proud!
My mom, after reading this posted a memory of my Great Grandma on Facebook, so I had to share it..this is what my mom wrote:
"She lived alone in an apartment building in SLC. She babysit for income and on her days off she would walk to the temple. She would come and take care of us on each new baby. I asked her once,"grandma don't you get lonesome?" she would answer, "Kaylene I just open the door and say God I'm home" and he took care of the rest." Thank you mom..I love stories like this!

"F" is for Family

Oh how I love my family! We really do put the "FUN" in dysfunctional! We are all so different, and yet so very much the same! I miss you all so very much. I tell Macen so many stories about us growing up I'm pretty sure he thinks you all made me crazy! I look forward to the time when we can all be together again!

"F" I am VERY Thankful for my FRIENDS

Today was a great letter..because I have Two things I am Thankful for..the First, my family..Read the post above..

The Second?

My friends...I love my friends! I think that I have the greatest friends in the world. I only have enough space to put some pictures up, but I have so many amazing friends. Nan..She's the best friend a girl could ask for. Pam? Courtney? Wendy? Jana? You made my life so fun in Fallon...you still make it fun through Facebook. Santana and Cat..You make Virginia bearable! Beth, Susan, Kathleen...Old friends are always the greatest! Dru, Amy, Al, Misty, Bobby..(and Beth again) Camp Waziyatah holds my fondest memories! Angela...still the best Maid of Honor! Donna Darlene? One of the most incredible woman I have ever met. Nettie, Julie, Patty, Linda, Lisa Kent..You are all sooo big hearted and amazing! Tiffany..YOU ARE GREAT..(I will never do AYSO again though!! )Dan, Mark, David..Amazing men that I grew up with. (I think Dan and Dave ruined a few dates for me) The Sonju family...Grant and I admire you so much!

I know that as the day goes on I will think of a million more people, but for now, let me just say to all my Friends..."You complete me!"

"E" I am Thankful for EVERYTHING

Everything. Good, bad...I am thankful for it all, because it's my life. I have had an amazing life. Some of it was hard, some of it was boring..but most of the time, it was AWESOME! So today, I will not ask for anything, I will just be happy with what I already have!

"D" I am Thankful for my "DAD"

Dads and Daughters

Author: Reginald Holmes

Whole volumes have been written of fathers and their sons.

Why must daughters and their dads be such forgotten ones?

There are special ties that bind a daughter to her dad.

And a certain kind of feeling that sons have never had.

She goes to dad for counsel when things get out of hand.

She knows he has the answers,that he will understand.

From him she gets her courage;

she thrives upon his praise

and sometimes takes advantage of his kind, loving ways.

With due respect to Mother,

today I'm proud and glad

to write a little poem about a daughter and her Dad!

I love this poem because it's me and my dad. He's always been there for me. He gets mad, he gets frustrated, and then he forgives..

I know I'm his favorite (Just don't tell my sisters)

So, today, I want the world to know..

I am so Thankful for my Daddy!

"C" I am thankful for Challenges

That's right, CHALLENGES. They remind me that I still have so much to learn. They tell me that I have so much life to live. If things were always easy what fun would it be? Challenges make things exciting! They make me take a big breath and dig in. I am thankful for my challenges..whatever (or whoever) they might be!

Today..it's "B" and I am thankful for my "BOYS"

Yup..my boys. My reason for living. Humans and pets alike.

I am so grateful for Grant...the "alpha boy" he makes me smile daily.

Macen, my little love. I adore this boy more than anything in this world. He is Gods gift to me!

Bear, my oldest dog. He's old, and he's kind of a butt head...but life wouldn't be the same without him.

Scout..the middle child. He's loud, he gets into everything, but he makes my husband happy, so he makes me happy...

Bosco..what can I say..he's big, hairy..and so sweet! Tall dark and handsome has nothing on this dog!

So, my "Boys" thank you for all you do!

Grateful game..Alphabet Version...

Today I start my yearly ritual of saying one then that I am grateful for every day until Thanksgiving. This year, however, I am doing it alphabetically. So....today, is the letter "A"

I am thankful for everything "Awesome" I say all the time that I am the awesomest...and I really am..but not for reasons that you think. I truly believe that we are all awesome! I believe that within us all we have endless possibilities to be awesome! We can show others unconditional love. We can help anyone and everyone...we can be the awesomest neighbors, the awesomest friends..and we do it by simply being ourselves! So, go ahead, toot your own horn. Announce to the world that you are "the AWESOMEST" Maybe if you say it enough, you'll start believing it..that's what I do...and I am THE AWESOMEST..there's even a group on Facebook that says so!

Happy Birthday to the Queen and a Princess

October 16th is my Grandma Johnson's birthday. I miss her terribly. She was an amazing woman. A trend setter, and one of my idols~ Happy Birthday in Heaven you Grand lady!

One year ago my mom brought this cute little princess in to our lives. She gave new life to my parents! Happy Birthday Sadie Fay!