Counting my many BLESSINGS

I feel that I  we have been very blessed this week.  My dad made it through a very high risk surgery on his heart and is now at home recovering.  He was in the hospital for 11 days undergoing some sort of testing every day including frequent dialysis.  He made it home though and that is a Blessing!  His kidneys no longer function and so he has to go to dialysis 3 times a week for 4+ hours.  He has had cardiac problems and diabetes for several years now but added to that is his renal failure now; so you can't even imagine the diet he has to be on.  It's crazy!  But we are blessed.  We were planning for a funeral so to have him home and have a little more time with him is truly a BLESSING!!

I have been in Utah for 10 days now and will be here a few more days. We are helping mom care for my dad, and getting other important things in order.  We  my brother, sister and brother-in-law are completely gutting mom and dad's bathroom and redoing/updating it to be more "disabled" friendly.  Tile floors, tile shower, new paint and bars installed so dad can balance himself while showering.  When it is finished it will be the best room of the whole house!   I am so thankful that I have been able to be here for so long spending the time with my dad and with my family!  To not have been able to be here these past few days would have killed me.  This is another BLESSING!!

And since I have been here in Utah I got to spend some quality time with my son.  He was able to come up to Salt Lake and be with me and the family for a few days; and when I took him home I was able to spend an evening with my daughter.  That was really a BLESSING!!

Another blessing is that I found a school that offers the degree program I want, sent them my transcripts and learned they will accept ALL OF MY CREDITS plus give me an ADDITIONAL 9 credits because of the types of classes I have completed.  This means that I have already taken all of the prerequisites and can jump right into the core classes.  I am so happy about this!  So ya this is most definitely a BLESSING!  I will graduate from CTU on April 14th and then begin the bachelor's program at Kaplan University on April 19th.  I am still a little sad that I won't be able to continue at CTU because I really loved it there and am leery to go somewhere new and unfamiliar.  Who knows though, maybe it will be an even better experience.

The final blessing I will share with you is the blessing of having a terrific husband who loves me and supports me in all I do. He works very hard to provide a good living for our family and takes care of so many things just because he wants to make me happy.  I am truly BLESSED!  I have missed him so much!

Of course there are many more blessings that I have received that I have not shared with you, but that doesn't mean I don't recognize them or that they don't matter.  I am very grateful for all of my blessings especially for a loving Heavenly Father who has watched over me and my family in our time of need.  

I really am a Blessed woman!

Worries...

What do I have to worry about?

Today its these four things....

Dad

Son

School

House

My Dad - My dad is in failing health.  He hasn't been well for some time.  However, he was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday.  He has been in renal (kidney) failure for a few months but on Tuesday they were barely functioning.  He was retaining tons of fluid and was basically drowning on the inside.  He couldn't breathe.  His heart was having to work so hard that he suffered a series of heart attacks over a 4 day period. They are starting dialysis.  Once they get the fluid out of his body they can then begin to look at his heart to see what is going on.  Me and my sister are heading to Utah to be with him and our family.  Prayers are appreciated!

My Son - Lets just say he is a troubled teenager in need of prayers too!  That's all I can say about this on here.  Just need lots of prayers for my beautiful baby (almost 16 yr old) boy.

School - I was contacted by my college a few days ago to tell me that the bachelor program I was due to start in April will no longer be a degree program offered at that school.  This means that I need to choose a different degree program or find another school that offers the program that I want and hope they will accept all my credits.  I was REALLY very excited about starting that program (Financial Forensics) and I do not want to go in any other direction.  I am really upset by this!  So I have been searching out schools who offer the program and sending them my transcripts to help me decide on what to do.  I love the school I go to and I don't want to change... but I suppose I may have to.  Just not happy about that!  I just hope my credits will transfer so I can stay with the decree program I have wanted to be in.

On a side note... I will graduate with highest honors with an associates of science in accounting degree on April 14th.  I am SO EXCITED!  I am now finishing up my last two classes.  

House - We had to fire the builders we had been working with to build our home. I hated having to do this because I really liked them personally. However, after 3 months they finally gave us the bid price to build it.  It ended up being WAY OVERPRICED.  After looking at other homes and other builders we realized we were going to get the shaft if we continued working them.  So we have chosen to go a different route with another builder.  We have a new builder, a new set of plans, and a more affordable price.  This makes me happy but it has been stressful and VERY worrisome!


Well I guess that just about covers it!  I sure hope I can move past the worry stage and into a much smoother, worry free life!  Is that even possible?

My Word for the Year!

I have seen several of your posts where you have chosen a word for the year that is like some sort of goal you wish to work towards for the year.  I decided that is not a bad idea and I have been tossing some ideas around in my head for several weeks.  There really is only one word that is appropriate for what I really want to work on this year and that word is.......

HEALING

Healing myself physically

Healing myself spiritually

Healing broken relationships

Physically - I just started the weight watchers program to help me make changes for a healthy lifestyle.  Along with this I have started walking regularly, well I started today!  I have had a gym membership for a while now but haven't been too faithful.  Well that is going to change.  I am planning to go to the gym at least 3 days a week (to start).  It will be easier once I get moved into my new home as the gym will just be down the street from my house (maybe a half mile). 

I have had really great results in the past with the weight watchers program and regular exercise.  In fact I lost about 65 pounds.  But then I got lazy again and gained it back!  The key is to make it a lifestyle change forever.  So I will do it again!

Spiritually - This would include creating a peaceful lifestyle while seeking out a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father.  I will do this through daily reading of the scriptures, attending the temple, praying more often, as well as regular church attendance.  

Relationships - To mend broken relationships between me and a few people that should be closest to me.  My children, my siblings, and friends.  It has been a tumultuous few years where nasty words were said, feelings hurt, and where I have pushed some of these people away. I will work on making amends for my part in creating these broken relationships.  I plan to work on forgiveness and in doing activities that will promote a more loving and open relationship with these people that I love.  

Wish me LUCK!  

Music that touches the heart

I LOVE this kid and I LOVE this song!  Put them both together and it is absolutely beautiful!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Let me know what you think!

A New Year!

Happy New Year my friends.  

Sending out all of my best wishes to you for a very happy, peaceful, successful, and blessed New Year!

Christmas Recap

Our Christmas actually began on the 13th because we had my parents here visiting and because Valerie and Parker were going back to Utah with them on the 15th.   So we each opened a gift or two or three.  

As mentioned earlier, Valerie, Bob and Parker went to Utah for Christmas this year.  So Dear Hubby and I got the job of dog sitting for them.  DH and I celebrated our Christmas in the usual way except it was just the two of us and the dogs... all four of them.  

So you could say that it was a Doggone Good Christmas!  Here is the proof!  Woof woof woof woof!

Aren't they sweet?

The dogs had more gifts to open than we did!  Really!  As you can tell by this picture we had a dog toy revolution!  

At noon DH and I headed over to Aunt Patsy's house for Christmas Lunch with some of the family.  We had a nice visit and excellent food.  It is nice to get to know DH's family a little more.  I am grateful to have a lot of in-laws around especially when I am missing my kids and my family so much.  

Later that evening we were invited to Brad & Shelly's house (DH's brother), for Christmas Dinner, White Elephant gift exchange, and Games!  We had such a great time and are so thankful to Brad & Shelly for hosting this get-together.   Next year it will be held in our new home!

And this is a picture of my cool nephew who was showing us how he rocks on his new drum set.  And boy is he good!  Great job A!  

I am so thankful for my DH's family for making Christmas really wonderful for me.  I will be honest and say that I was having a hard time being without my kids (again), and I was really missing my family... but Christmas turned out to be really nice and I am blessed and so grateful for my other family. I Love You All!

Nativity

A couple weeks ago Valerie and I went to the Arlington Texas Stake 17th Annual Nativity Display.  There were hundreds of nativities on display.  Here are my favorites....

This is the cutest nativity I have ever seen!  

This one is such a beautiful piece and is my 2nd top favorite

This is my top favorite.  It is so detailed and beautiful! 

Just Gorgeous and so Special! 

We had a great time viewing the nativities and being entertained by the Texas Children's Choir... they were amazing!

Tis' the season and so I just wanted to share these with you.  

Thanks for going with me Valerie  

It was a fun day!  

I Love my Sister!