30 Days of Thanks #10

Seriously.

You have no idea.

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MR. LAUNDRY.

There are a million and one things about Vic that I'm grateful for. But I have to say...

The fact that HE DOES THE LAUNDRY is at the tip topity of the list.

Laundry is not even on my radar. Yes, I occasionally put it in the washer and sometimes the dryer, but I don't iron, I don't fold, I don't put away.

Give me any other chore and I'll gladly do it. But I hate laundry.

Vic is a whiz and it's all his.

Yessssssssssssss.

It takes such a huge "load" off of me.

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

30 Days of Thanks #9

Photo by Justin Hackworth

Photo by Justin Hackworth

I'm thankful for friends.

I would die without them.

30 Days of Thanks #8

Bubble baths by candle light with your 7 month old son in a large jetted tub.

Sorry, no photos of this one.

The squeals and kicks and shrieks.

I love it.

I'm all warm and sleepy and ready for bed. Wish me luck. I've been off Ambien for 4 days now. Magnesium and Melatonin are helping...but I'm not quite there yet.

Today was the Primary Program in our ward. Vic has his dream calling and is a Primary teacher. (I'm being serious)
He sat on the stand today with his gaggle of 11 yr. old boys.
He was nervous.
There was no question he was going to cry. But he was worried he was going to lose it and have to leave the chapel.
I watched him. My heart was bursting with love for him.
I listened to the beautiful children dressed in white singing about Heavenly Father's plan.
It began with a little blond girl singing a solo and the rest of the children slowly adding their voices. It was a heavenly choir but my little blond girl was missing.
On either side of me sat dear friends.
I was strengthened by their presence. Darci put her arm around me. She didn't need to say anything. I know she knows.
I rocked my little Peter and thought of our eternal family.
It hurt. It hurts.
Vic cried. He cried a lot.

The boys took Sunday naps.
Cookies were baked.
Dinner was prepared by the Vickster.
Beautiful music was listened to while the dishwasher hummed and I stroked my husband's hair while he cried some more.

My baby bubble bath with daddy standing by made everything better. For now. For tonight.




I always use extra bubbles.
For Lucy.

30 Days of Thanks #7

I am thankful for the insanely cold water that comes out of our tap.

It's delish.

And I don't need ice.

Have I mentioned I love Park City?

30 Days of Thanks #6

Lucy's Tree

Today I am grateful for the Indian Summer we've been having. The weather has been absolutely stunning this week. I've enjoyed my jacket-less walks with Peter and not turning on my furnace. I'm in love with Park City.
Thank you, Sunshine! Thank you, Mother Nature.

30 Days of Thanks #5

I tell the Vickster that he can't cut his hair that short. He has a pin head. Ladies, are you with me?

It's 8 p.m. and my husband is still at work.
I didn't sleep well last night. No sir. Peter had a huge blow-out today. I worked out too hard yesterday and I'm a little too sore. Many errands to run today. The grocery store, the Wal-mart, the bank, the library. House work never ends. And it doesn't help when you're OCD like me and want things perfect 24/7 (that'll be thrown out the window once pooper starts crawling). And I'm really not OCD though I've joked about it several times. Heck, I probably am. I haven't started my Relief Society lesson for this Sunday.
It's 8 p.m. and my husband is still at work.

Have you ever been unemployed? Had no money? Stress? Bills, student loan payments up the ying-yang? A baby on the way, no food...

We have.

And I promised that once Vic got a job I would never complain. I've done pretty well.

I am so thankful for Vic's job. He's a great attorney and works for a great firm with great people.

I'm so thankful for Vic's job.

I'm so thankful for Vic's job.

Not just the money (we ain't rollin in it) but all that it provides Vic and our family.
Stability
Courage
Growth
Involvement
Use of talents
Sense of worth
Pride
Connections
Chance to Serve
Incredible Health Benefits that don't come out of our paycheck (Praise the heaven's above)

I am so thankful for Vic's job.
It's 8 p.m. and my husband is still at work. Being able to say that is music to my ears.

30 Days of Thanks #4

THIS IS HUGE!!!!!

I'M THRILLED!!!!

YES, THESE CAPS MEAN I'M YELLING.

MY GOOD GRIEF WEBSITE IS FINALLY UP AND RUNNING!!!!

This is something that has been a long time in the making. Not too long after Lucy passed away, I had this idea to create a grief website. A site that would help form communities, love, understanding, and hope. A site that would raise money for Lucy's fund--

With the help of a very supportive husband, encouragement from friends and family, and brainstorming sessions with Jen Jackson (don't you love when your husband's cousin has the coolest wife?), I finally got my act together.

And today I'm so thankful for sticking with it!

May I present:

agoodgrief.com



Add a button to your website. Tell your friends. Look around the website and give me your feedback.

The story of Lucy's accident is written in greater detail on the website. I have had a few readers curious about exactly what happened. While I chronologically shared the events, there is much that I did not go into. Some things are too sacred and personal. But I hope that by reading our story you will again reflect on your own life and the fragility of mortality.

Please join me on agoodgrief.com

Start a discussion. Ask questions. Email me ideas. Ask about submitting an entry. While I am the main author and host, there will be guest authors each month. I am thrilled to announce that NiNie and Cjane will both be contributing. Look for Stephanie's entry on Nov 12th. I have some incredible people writing for this site...ranging from Broadway actors, to grandparents, to businessmen. It is going to be a great place to learn and grow and be inspired.

I am so thankful.

30 Days of Thanks #3

Every Tuesday from 10-11 a.m. you will find me downtown Salt Lake handing out money on the streets.

Really?

Yes.

I love being an actress. And I love my current job filming a Comcast on Demand television show. It's me, the camera man, a trusty microphone, and a wad of one dollar bills. Onto the pavement we gallivant to hand money to the masses.

Who? What? Why?

If you'll do crazy things on camera you can earn a dollar too. Yes, just one dollar.
Such as: ( the Iraq) just kidding
Such as:
Lick the side of a building
Show me your best moonwalk
Declare your love loudly in the middle of the street
Have a spitting contest
Stare at someone eating their food
Answer trivia questions
Pick a juicy booger. (Not burger)


And various other sundry ludicrous activities. I get dolled up, drop Peter off with a sitter, drive down the beautiful canyon and get to be someone else for an hour or two. I love being outside, I love talking with strangers, I love the studio and all the guys I work with, I love making calls while I commute, I love laughing, I love improvising, and I love watching people make fools out of themselves.

I'm so thankful for my job!

What would you do for a dollar?

30 Days of Thanks #2

My heart bursts with gratitude every time I hold him, lay eyes upon him, think of him, smell him, hear him, sing to him, read to him, tickle him, bathe him, feed him.

The healer of my heart. My connection between heaven and earth.

I will forever and always be thankful for my little Peter. My rock. There is nothing--no job, no vacation, no wardrobe, no fame, no amount of money--nothing, that could have helped to heal my heart like this little angel.

My little pooper. Poop dog. Poop doggie dog. Poopster. Pooper Bear.

And I called Lucy my "booger baby". I'm not sure what my deal is with the bodily functions.

30 Days of Thanks #1

Today I am thankful for such an enjoyable Halloween. It started off with a visit to Papa's office on Friday, followed by lunch with Nana and Papa. Then off to Daddy's office to show off our little pigskin a little more. Daddy left work early so we could all go to the PCHS Miner's football game--where the Miner's clobbered their opponents and Peter was a big hit.

Saturday we attended the Kimball Art Center Lego art exhibit (incredible!) and hit up Main Street for the doggy parade, complete with Shrek and donkey. Then a quick stop to meet Peter's new little friend, Liam, who finally arrived on earth after a long labor, and we finished off the night at a party with friends. Rock Band, yummy food, Taboo, and a very tired football, cheerleader, and quarterback.

I am thankful that, despite the pain of missing our sweet Lucy, I was able to enjoy my time with my darling son and hunky husband. The weather was perfect, I loved our costumes, and I was beaming with pride that I made Peter's all by myself without even a pattern. It's been a great weekend. Much to be thankful for.