What I am thankful for - Day 11

Today I am thankful for our military. I am blessed to have come from a military family so from early on I was taught respect for the men and women who wear the uniform. Thank you to all the veterans especially my husband, Dad and my Grandpa's.

 

When Ken came home from Iraq. Ignore the date on the picture, it is wrong.

 

While I am on the subject of people who serve, I am also thankful for our police, firemen and others in business of protecting the people.

 



What I am thankful for - Day 10

Today I am thankful for traditions and eBay. A weird combination I know but trust me they go together.

 

It was our family tradition growing up that every Christmas we got to pick out a new ornament. This was something that I loved to do and looked forward to it every year. Somewhere along the way I started collecting Hallmark's Mary's Angels. For the angels that were made before I started collecting them I have purchased them through eBay. (See I told you they go together.) So I have them all now, yea.

 

This year was Mary's Angels 25th anniversary and to celebrate they made a special item. It was released in October but I totally spaced and didn't get one. They were sold out everywhere. I was totally bummed. But then I remembered eBay. I was just worried that people would be charging a fortune for it. Thankfully though, I found someone that was only asking $10 over the original price. Here is the piece, called Heavenly Harmony:

 

 

It is really cute. When you put the new angel ornament in the front it sings three different Christmas carols. Then if you press the other angels they add in the sound of the instrument they are holding. It is pretty cool. I am really happy I was able to get it! 

 

Here is the new angel ornament for the year:

 

 

Katie picked out this ornament for herself.

 

 

I love this tradition and I am so excited to pass it on to my daughter.

 

 

 



What I am thankful for - Day 9

Today I am grateful for LDS Temples. I am thankful I can go to the Temple and feel peace and stillness away from the world. I feel so close to my Heavenly Father there.

 

There are three Temples that will always have an extra special place in my heart.

 

The San Diego, California Temple is where I received my endowments. 

 

"The word endowment means “gift” or “bestowal.” As part of this ordinance, we are taught about the purpose of life, the mission and Atonement of Jesus Christ, and Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. We gain a glimpse of what it will be like to live in His presence as we feel the peaceful atmosphere of the temple."

 

 

The Las Vegas, Nevada Temple is were Ken and I were legally married and sealed for Time and all Eternity. 

 

 "The sealing ordinance is where the husbands and wives are sealed to each other and children are sealed to their parents in eternal families. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity."

 

 

The Dallas, Texas Temple is where Katie was sealed to Ken and I. In the records of Heaven it is like she was born unto us. We became an Eternal family in this Temple.

 

 

These Temples are so special to me not because of how beautiful they are or where they are located. They are special to me because of what happened insides those walls. I grew closer to my Heavenly Father in those Temples and I became a family there.

 

If you want to know more about the LDS Temples click here.

 



What I am thankful for - Day 8

Today I am thankful for random friendly people. On Sunday I ordered a Mitt Romney - Paul Ryan shirt. The day after the election I received it. I am still proud to wear it and today I did just that.

 

 

Every where I went I met friendly people and we talked about the election and how we were sad about the results. The cool thing was everyone said this, "Yesterday was a day of mourning but today we are moving on." I love meeting friendly positive people. They bring unexpected joy into my life.



Halloween

My Mom wanted to see my Halloween decorations so here they are.

Thank you Pinterest for this idea. We called him Fred.

Here are the cakes, cupcakes and cornbread I made for the trunk or treat. I spent all day baking...never again, lol. I will stick to bringing just one dessert and my yummy cornbread from now on. I did enjoy designing and making the cakes though.

Oh, one of my cakes won 2nd place in the dessert category. woohoo I think it was the spider cake but I don't remember. 

Chocolate cake with a chocolate filling covered with black and white fondant
 

White cake with vanilla filling covered and decorated with frosting

It took me 2 hours to make the chocolate spider webs but I love how they turned out. 

 

The cornbread

The trunk or treat

passed out!

I loved my hat!

There are a ton of pictures of Katie on here but I wanted to show all the fun faces she makes. It is really hard to get her to hold still and to smile for me. Enjoy her spunk. ;)

Our friends came to our neighborhood to trick or treat with us. They had a blast and filled up their pumpkins.