Thanksgiving is upon us and I wanted to list some things I am grateful for this year:

*My dear sweet husband who has been by my side for 21 yrs.
*My children who have given me some of my greatest life lessons.
*Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have become a better person because of it.
*My Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ who lifts me everyday.
*My brain. After all these years it's reassuring to be able to go back to school and do well.
*My extended family who loves and supports me and my family. I couldn't ask for any better!
*My calling in Young Women's because it has made me a better mother to my teenagers.
*My nice, warm, soft, cozy bed.
*My nice, warm, cozy home.

There is so much more, but these are at the top of the list.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

I can't wait!

YUM!



Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Today is my 3rd dd's birthday!

I can't believe I have another dd so grown up. She's 17 and is so cute and bubbly. She has been such a joy to our family!

I love you Shelby!

Thoughts for the day

These have really uplifted me this week:




"A miracle is not the suspension of a natural law,
but the operation of a higher law."

"Experience is what you get when you don't get
what you want."

I am learning new stuff everyday...

School has been very difficult this semester which adds a lot of stress to my life, but I have to keep saying "I think I can" because I know it will be worth it in the end!

Having depression and anxiety in my life tends to make it, and everything else, even more challenging, but I know there's a purpose in everything and I am trying to find it. It has definitely made my perspectives on life and in the gospel more understanding and open to what Heavenly Father understands and what I understand. He knows all and I don't. This is definitely making me a less judgemental person, and that alone is a miracle. I have seen growth in the struggle and today I'm in a good place. I can't tell what tomorrow will bring, but I do know one thing....that whatever it is, If I give it to my Father in Heaven, after all I can do, he will be there. I have learned so much about "grace" and the part it needs to play in my life. I just have to remember that Heavenly Father knows what He's doing and when I put my trust in Him, it all works together for good.

My life in a nutshell...

1. School is dang hard this semester. (I don't know why I need another challenge?!?!)

2. I've finally figured out what I want to do when I grow up....I'm changing my major to........Social Work. I'm finally goin' for the Bachelors.

3. I still love music, passionately, and it was a good thing to start back to school with. I will still take classes in music for fun, but it really was never what I wanted to do as a career.

4. Halloween was a blast this year. Our school had a fall fest which the kids loved and trick-or-treating was so easy with older kids and great weather.

5. Pmdd still sucks and I'm still struggling with finding a good mix of meds, but I'm finally coming to acceptance and I feel freer. It's all about accepting my limitations and realizing I'm still a good person.

6. My kids are all happy in school and that's makes my life easier.

7. My house is mess because so much of my energy is going to school. Oh well.

8. YW's keeps me busy in all the extra time I might have otherwise. But, I love it!

Life moves forward quickly and I look forward to Thanksgiving... spending time with family, eating good food, and no expections. Just togetherness!

It's been too long!

But summer has kept me from being on the computer a whole lot. Plus, my life hasn't been exciting enough to blog anything.

School starts in a week for the kids and I will have all my kids in school ALL day for the first time ever. That's 20 yrs. of always having at least 1 kid home with me. I am excited for this new phase of life, but it is bittersweet. Everytime I see a baby I miss having a baby. But, I also am glad that I don't have bottles, diapers, strollers, baby bags, car seats, and cribs anymore. My dh and I are feeling a new found independence. It is still weird though. My baby is going to be in 1st grade!!!! WOW!!!

My two oldest dd's and I start college the day after the other kids. I am excited! I'm taking Advanced Music Theory, Music in the Elementary school, private piano instruction, Acapella Choir, and Fitness for life, my last PE credit. Then I'm taking one institute class.

Other than that, life has been hard. I have changed meds for my pmdd and it has been hard on my body, but I can feel it getting somewhat better. I think changing meds will be good eventually, but the initial start up has whipped my butt. I read a story about a woman with bipolar and it took her 17 yrs. to find the right mix for her. 17 yrs. of hell to find relief. I don't know if I can handle much more of this rollercoaster ride of pmdd. I know I am still in denial about giving in to the limitations of this disease and making the best of it. I still find myself in the "life's not fair, why me" thinking a lot of the time, which I know is not good to my mental health. I just need to accept this new path and do what I can to make the best of it. People are doing it everyday. I just can't seem to get it. School will help me feel productive, so that will be good.

Wow, this is me for sure!

You Are a Turkey Sandwich

Conservative and a bit shy, you tend to stick with what you know and trust. You are very introverted, and you prefer to blend in whenever possible. Though you may be hard to know well, anyone who does know you considers you a true friend. Your best friend: The Ham Sandwich Your mortal enemy: The Tuna Fish Sandwich

What Kind of Sandwich Are You?