Grateful for...

Has another month really come and gone? It feels like I just did a gratitude post-oh wait...I did not 2 weeks ago! So it looks like your just going to have to bear with me through this one...

Needless to say, my emotions have been nothing but a roller coaster during May. We had a really busy month with schools, sports, church, etc. and in a way I'm glad it's over. But that just means that a new month is here to try and pack full of stuff all over again.

Here are the things on my mind that I'm grateful for this month (in no order whatsoever)!

1~The Weather. The weather has been absolutely perfect the last couple of weeks. Lots and lots of sunshine, but without the unbearable heat. There is moisture every so often just to make sure that the grass and the plants get watered too. Trae has been playing baseball a couple of nights a week and the temperature is perfect. I love to go to his games, watch him at bat, and sit in our camping chairs in what is a picture perfect evening. There were nights (not that long ago either) where it was freezing. We'd have to take our blankets to try and retain a little bit of body heat. But not anymore. We pulled our patio furniture out of storage last weekend and I've sat out on our deck every night this last week just soaking in the amazing weather that we're having. The sad part is that it is going to get way to hot before I know it so I want to savor every minute that I can.

2~The Summer movie season. I know this one seems trivial, but it really is a life saver for me. A couple of months ago me and Jordan would have a babysitter and head to dinner and a movie. The problem is that we would finish dinner, run up to the theater to see what was playing, and BLAH...there was nothing that we were even remotely interested in. Now that is NOT the case. Every week it seems like there is another great movie coming out that I really want to see. Here is my list of movies seen and thoroughly enjoyed or that I really want to see in the upcoming months: Star Trek*, Angels& Demons, Terminator Salvation*, Night at the Museum II, Wolverine*, Up, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaur, The Proposal, GI Joe, My Sisters Keeper, and maybe even Harry Potter. I've got my summer cut out for me and my movies...

*movies I've seen.

3~Our new BBQ. This is how lame I am...I never got my husband a anniversary present this year. There was so much going on and one thing after another, and...there really isn't any excuse...he got me one and I didn't. So, the other day I was browsing through the ads and came across a great deal for a BBQ. I know it's not a 'name brand' one and it may not even be that good, but it had everything I wanted in one. It is a 4 burner, has a rotisserie attachment, and could be hooked up to a natural gas line (that we just happen to have on our deck.) So far we've really enjoyed it too. We've used it a couple of times just in the last week. I must say that it's nice to heat the BBQ instead of the oven for a change!

4~My 90 day LOA. I wasn't sure (well, I'm still not sure) if I should take the leave of absence (LOA) that was offered me by my work. It's all unpaid and we are still trying to pay off debt, plus my work was like a release to me. So when Delta had to know in 1 day whether I was going to return to work or take the leave, me and Jordan really prayed about it. I wanted to take it and Jordan wanted me to go back. Well, the next day, 30 minutes before I was supposed to bid for my shift, Jordan called and told me that I should take it. At this exact time I was thinking that I should go back. I ended up taking the leave, probably all 90 days of it too. I love being home with the kids and thought that I get to do that all summer, something that I haven't been able to do for a long time, thrills me. Sure, we're going to be poor and limited on what we can do, but I took the leave to be with my kids so that is exactly what I'm going to do!

5~My Patriarchal Blessing. I was given this blessing when I was 14. I probably should have waited to have it, but I just had to have it after we had a lesson on them one week. Lately I have read this over and over and over again. It brings me so much comfort and insight and direction that sometimes it really overwhelms me. Every time I read it I see things in a different view or even for the first time in some light. It brings peace to my mind and soul to know the blessings that I'll receive if I just follow what I'm instructed to do. I do have to admit that sometimes it makes me feel a little guilty too for there are things it tells me to do that I know I'm not doing (or at least not doing them right), but that is why we have them, right? To have something to look to for guidance and direction, to reconfirm what we're doing right and what we could be doing better, and to give us confirmation of what we can achieve-what is promised to us. I hold my very dear to my heart and know that it has helped me in times of tribulations and will help me through out all my future trials.