The Casts Come Off

 This little girl has been looking forward to that bubble bath for the last month. She finally got it. We decided to make a family day of going to Portland for her cast removal day. After we got them off and her new braces on we went out for crab sushi, then to the mall where Chewkie got fitted for new shoes (turns out they will be two sizes bigger than she would normally wear), and Doodah got a new lego set. We were supposed to get our Christmas tree as well, but wouldn't you know, Christmas tree farms aren't open on Monday's. Ah well. I guess that will have to wait until Saturday.

Chewkie was unhappy with how skinny and scaly her legs looked and was very wobbly for the first couple of hours but she seems to be doing better now (especially after a good scrub in the tub).

I should also give a shoutout to Doodah who was a super champ today - especially since he had to be in the car for most of the it. His only chance to get out between 9 and 2:30 was to go into Moonstruck to help pick out chocolates for everyone and at the mall. He was pretty carsick by the end but I could hardly blame him.

I love my children.

Give Thanks Day 9

In my continuation of #givethanks coupled with #lighttheworld I wanted to thank the women of my ward in State College (pictured here below) but along with so very many other women who overwhelmed me on so many occasions with their love and service. I did a few years of being the infertile woman. When I moved to State College I was welcomed in and for the first time in my life I felt like I had found "my people". I went through IVF and the successive pregnancy in that ward. I had many families fasting and praying for me. I had women crying out of joy when I told them I was pregnant. I was given the most lavish and well attended baby shower with the most amazing gifts. It is now many years since that time, but I want all the women in my life from State College to know that your service, your love, and your friendship still bring to me tears when I think about those magical few years I had the honor of spending with you. Thank you for lighting my life.

Give Thanks Day 8

From Matthew: Today I'm grateful I didn't fall off my roof and die as I put up Christmas lights. I typically don't do things like that but this year needed brightening, so I did it. I'd show a picture but I didn't take one and I was so cold after finishing I decided to quick hop in the shower and now I don't want to go outside. I'll get one later. Besides, a picture would probably just be a humblebrag anyway and in your mind you'll be thinking: "Mine are better." Let's let our collective imaginations wonder what I have and how they might compare, and just be glad I didn't do a swan dive off the roof.

#GiveThanks

Sara edit: I am so thankful for Matthew being willing to put up these lights that make me feel as if we are doing out part to light the little part of the world we live in. And I'm grateful for the #GiveThanks initiative our Church encouraged because it did just what our prophet promised it would do, it healed Matthew's heart and gave him the desire to up our Christmas game this year.

Give Thanks Day 7 - Thanksgiving

 

One of the purposes of the Atonement of Jesus Christ is to enable me to have joy. Joy that comes from peace of conscience as I repent of my sins. Joy that comes from hope in the world to come. Joy from overcoming weakness. Joy that comes in comfort from sorrow. Joy that comes from seeing the Lord's hand in my life as I turn my will to Him. Today I want to proclaim my gratitude for the many facets of Christ's atoning sacrifice for me.

From Matthew: With Thanksgiving, obviously family is an easy one to be grateful for, but I've sort of done that already this week. I've also done food items but again, today is a great day for that too. Particularly pie. I like pie. In an attempt to broaden my thankful horizons, I want to thank those who, over many years, have helped me hone a hobby of writing. There have been a few editors, and most particularly Lauren Miles, who has fantastic taste. My wife has been a constant champion and continues to believe there's a future for things I've written. But I suppose what I'm most grateful for is the imagination that I was blessed with, and being woken up in the middle of the night with a good idea. My wife commented that in my books the bad guys lose and the good guys fall in love. She's right. I like happy endings and when things work out. I'm grateful for the belief that for each of us, whether we know it or not, believe it or not, and have no clue when it will, things will work out.

Chess Club

 

One of the bright spots this year for this sweet boy has been chess club. He lives for this club. And let me tell you, figuring out how to teach chess to 8-year olds remotely was a feat for those brave teachers. But Dude has loved his time playing chess with classmates even if it means it has to be done virtually.

I am so thankful for their teachers, but I am also so thankful for the additional resource teachers willing to do small groups like this one that are the highlights of my children's weeks.

Give Thanks Day Day 6

Today I am grateful for that moment, that hopefully all parents experience, when your love for your children evolves to respect for the unique and amazing individuals they have been loaned for a few years. That moment when you realize they may look like you or have some of your mannerisms but the essence to their beings is something completely their own. That moment when you see them and all of their talents and you wish you could be more like them. I am grateful for that moment.
 

From Matthew: People have asked me many times why I like the rainy Northwest weather, and I really don't have a great answer except that it's where I grew up and even though the sun is mostly obscured for a good portion of the year, there is so much green and fresh air I feel like it's worth it. I'm sure everyone likes their own version of "home" but the Northwest is mine, rain, clouds, grey and all.

Give Thanks Day 5

 

This Spring, BYU magazine included an article entitled, "When Women Don't Speak". The article mentions that when women are kind and caring they aren't taken seriously but when they lead, disagree feely, are assertive, or speak out their likeability suffers. Well, I am getting better at being kind and caring but I have never been at a loss for being assertive or disagreeing freely. And although I may not always be liked for it, I am generally too obtuse to care or even notice. I owe my gratitude today to my parents who always taught me to speak up, gave me space for my opinion, and modeled the kind of environment where women speak and make positive differences. Thank you for raising four VERY strong daughters and four sons who appreciate the strength in their wives.

From Matthew: It's 7:52 and I just finished work for the day. They aren't all this long and I feel like I've been Zoomed nearly to death, but I'm grateful for work, for colleagues that I get to work with and that slowly (sometimes incredibly, painfully, agonizingly slowly), we make progress. I work in a unique industry at a time in the US when infrastructure projects are difficult, expensive, and cause a lot of angst, but I'm grateful for the struggle and patience it teaches me. I don't always feel grateful about work, but when I do, I don't mind admitting it.

Give Thanks Day 4

Sometimes in our lives the Savior will make our weaknesses strengths. And sometimes He will send someone else to be the strength for our weakness. (Think of God sending Aaron to speak for Moses.) Well this man is my strength. And in some ways I am his. Today, while I am grateful for my dear sweet husband, I am also grateful for marriage and its ability to make weak things strong as well as to be the strength for weaknesses.

From Matthew: Today I am grateful for Cinnabon and Vanilla Coke. I can't think of an unhealthier breakfast though I hope there are and I haven't hit rock bottom. Nothing else seems as fortifying though for a four-hour marathon of zoom calls and subsequent additional hours of work. I'll toss in a nod to Taco Del Mar too. Been a bad day health-wise, a great day taste-wise. Tomorrow I'll probably be grateful for my Pelaton that keeps me from keeling over because of a bad diet.

Give Thanks Day 3

Today I am grateful to have been able to teach seminary over the years. High school was a pretty dismal few years for me and somehow I feel Heavenly Father is trying to make up for it by giving me wonderful teenagers to know and love now.

From Matthew: I'm grateful for the freedom to practice my religion, and even more so for the technology that enables me to listen to leaders and fellow members via the internet. With COVID, so many things have been interrupted, but technology has enabled me to work from home and worship from home. I hope that's true for others as well.

Bathing Our Chewkie

We aren't supposed to get Chewkie's casts wet. We were told that putting bags on them was useless and that sponge baths were her best option. I tried that once. It was tedious and cold for my little one. Washing her hair was even worse. She ended up a dirty, greasy little girl until we got creative. I was pretty proud of myself when we figured out this little work around. And she was happy to be able to lay in the bath all on her own.

Look at those yucky casts. Only a week and a half until we move on to phase 2 of the recovery process.

Give Thanks Day 2

 

Today I give thanks for sewing projects. So many times when I have felt overwhelmed by life the answer to my prayers for help has been to sew. Creative outlets seem to have a calming and balancing power in my life. Grateful I discovered it so many years ago. It has blessed me so much.

From Matthew: I don't recall the last time that I posted, but acting on the prescription and invitation of my spiritual leader to "flood social media with thanks" I wanted to express my gratitude for my family. I recently was away on business and each morning and night, my daughter and/or my son would call to share what's going on in their day and what they were excited about. They were ecstatic when I got home, and what can be better than returning home to find people who love, care, and appreciate you? I'm thankful for my family, I'm thankful for family that I haven't heard from in years but can reconnect instantly with. I'm grateful that I can improve my relationships with family endlessly, with effort and attention. Most of all, I'm grateful for my wife who has been by my side for 14 years now, and I look forward to many more.

#GiveThanks

Today the prophet of my church - President Russell M. Nelson challenged us to flood social media for the next week with gratitude. Matthew and I have taken this challenge seriously and so for the next few days I will be posting the items that made it into our social media accounts.

I finally finished listening to Little Women. After watching the three most recent versions I had renewed vigor to finish. I'll post a more detailed review later but sufficeth to say today I am grateful to not have been born in the 19th century. I NEVER would have survived emotionally, mentally, or physically.