Learning About Gratitude

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I've learned a lot about gratitude this past week.

This past Sunday we met with our Bishop to go over the financial donations we'd made to our Heavenly Father throughout the year. He pointed out to our kids that we had paid "Fast Offerings" to help people who didn't have enough money to pay for basic things that they needed and he asked our kids to thank us. As they did I thought about how this sacrifice also included them so I thanked them. I looked at Max, who was nearest to me, and asked him, "If we had kept that money what would we have spent it on?" "Extra things because we have all the things we need, " he astutely replied and a light bulb came on in both of our minds and hearts as the Holy Ghost taught our souls a principle. "Yep, extra things," I told him,  "like going out to eat and going to movies and things like that. Thanks for giving up some of those extra things so that people who need basic things can have them. We are so blessed that we have everything we need."

In that moment I felt so whole and grateful. My family has so many needs and all of them are provided for. 

Sometimes parents don't have all the right answers and I'm grateful to be able to reach out to experts in every facet of our community to help us fill in the gaps for our children. I'm grateful to doctors, teachers, cub scout leaders, primary teachers and leaders at church, therapists, Aunts, and Grandparents.

We have started seeing a Neuropsychologist with Noah to help us and him know how to manage his ADHD. This isn't just a normal therapist, it's one who specifically has knowledge about how ADHD affects the wiring of his brain and can help us with behavioral strategies that pertain just to that. How awesome to have such specialized help.

We've recently gotten some much prayed for answers about our Max's health. He has some doctors looking after him who have specialized in exactly what he needs. They are not only specialists but are the most qualified specialists in their field in the world. 

These answers to Max's health challenges have been a sweet confirmation that God is leading me in my life. As I look back I can see so many times when we were making an important decision and the choice felt right but we couldn't see exactly how or if that choice would solve the problem we were having. As I look back it is obvious that those choices were not only the right ones but that they were delivered to us by God. How grateful I am to have a living, loving Father and a Savior who know my family's needs and manifest their interest in our well being so clearly in our lives.

Noah gets his braces off today. I'm so grateful for our dentist and orthodontist and for the resources God has provided so that we can make use of their help. Before his braces Noah had a tooth that stuck way out. He felt self conscious about it and, because it wasn't in line with the rest of his teeth, it was in danger of being knocked out or being permanently damaged - especially because he is such an active boy. We made the decision to give him braces and at first the cost felt really huge but we managed and they are all paid for now. What a blessing!

All of my children have inventive, dedicated teachers who somehow, even with their classes full of other kids, manage to find the time and make the effort to cater to my children's individual needs. Marilyn has her Braille and O&M teachers plus my amazing twin sister who is her homeroom teacher and they are constantly mindful of her needs. Noah has a great teacher who finds creative ways to motivate him and works with him one-on-one at her desk every day. Max has a teacher who is always looking after him and watching for ways she can stimulate and challenge his busy mind. I'm so grateful for their efforts and I see the positive ways they influence my children every day.

My husband has always had a good job that he enjoys, that challenges him, and that provides for the needs and even some of the wants of our family.

I get to have my dream job.

We all have healthy bodies.

I've learned this year that my body is strong.

I have a house that feels like a home and it's full of memories of the people I love most.

I'm so grateful.

Johnny Appleseed Take 2

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Earlier this fall we had the pleasure of attending our family's 2nd "Johnny Appleseed" program put on by our school's First Grade. We'll never forget when it was Noah and Marilyn's turn because Marilyn was just fresh in our family and learning English. We LOVED hearing her sing, "Wasn 'e jus grand? Johnny Applesee, Johnny Applesee. Wasn 'e jus grand? John-ny Ap-le-see!" in her big grinning voice. Max was just as sweet too. He'd been singing the songs for the program around the house to anyone who would listen and for just himself too.

Grandpa and Grandma Parker made time to come watch and let Max know how much they loved him too.

Max Loves Math

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One of the amazing teachers at our children's school gave us these great manipulatives to bring home and practice with. Max was really excited; he loves math. He really does. It's one of his favorite things to think about and is one of his talents. I made a list of numbers on a paper and had him figure out how to represent them with the manipulatives. He was even able to do it with huge numbers like 1, 243. What a smartie!

Ready for Summer

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last day of 2nd Grade - Noah and Mrs. Arave

last day of 2nd Grade - Marilyn and Mrs. Anderson

The countdown is over; summer is here! Goodbye quiet days, hello sunny chaos. Welcome back sunblock, hammock, after-bedtime walks. Welcome tiny humans and their tiny human friends. Goodbye and good riddance to nightly homework, frigid temperatures, and shoveling the snow -I trade you for birds chirping and steepled twilghts.

I am ready for summer; it's my favorite time of year. I love sending the kids outside to play, seeing my sisters and niecephews more often, and setting up the backyard kiddie pool. I'm a little nervous about my young ones' growing independence and how that will test me this summer. Are they really ready to cross the street on their own? Do I really dare trust them to go off to the park on their own? Oh my, yes I do, but it will take a little getting used to. 

The kids were sure ready for school to be over!

(Our down-the-street buddy is celebrating with us.)

Well, that's not entirely true - Max isn't ready for summer. He'd have me all to himself all day every day if he could. He's moaned and groaned about the coming of summer almost every day for two weeks! Plus, he runs hot and his little black-haired head steams with sweat when it swelters outside. Poor little Chinese cutie.

My little baby-love graduated from preschool last week! Chris got off work to come and Grandma and Grandpa Parker came too. Max sang so enthusiastically at his program that my cheeks ached from grinning. Our favorites were his sign language songs. Cousin Andrew has been going to preschool with Max for the last half of the year because we've been babysitting him before he goes to Kindergarten. Those two best buddies had SO much fun together.

After the graduation husby and I took Max on a Mommy/Daddy date and had a grand, carefree celebratory lunch at Roosters, or as Max called it the "Chicken Place". 

Leaving Tiffiny's Flower Box Preschool behind is a whole new chapter in my life. There are no more "Preschool Kids" in my life anymore, just "E. G. Kingers"!