Giving Thanks {2012}

We attended Thanksgiving with the Poulsen side again this year.  We could have gone with either of our families, really, but with Ryan's work schedule, staying closer to home seemed the more logical choice.  It was fun to see his brothers and their kids!  A few people were missing, but we hope to catch up with them soon.

I love the Thanksgiving Season.  The full heart.  The feelings of love, of compassion, of gratitude.

We had a wonderful time with Ryan's family, and we are so blessed to have so many loving family members, and know of their support.

I am so thankful for Ryan and the wonderful husband he is.  He is diligent in his spiritual endeavors, and is loving, understanding, and lifts me up when I'm having my moments.  He's also the most wonderful father to these three boys we have!  I am not quite sure how I lucked out to marry a man who loves his family so much.  He is patient, gentle, and supportive of each of our childrens' unique qualities.

Tanner is such a good sport, to put up with parents who are ever learning.  I'm grateful for his forgiveness, for his tenderness and for his willingness to be helpful.  In the last few months, he's been especially fun to be around as he's figuring out reading, math, science, and piano lessons.  He's so creative, and I want to keep every picture he draws and make them into a book.

Taylor is playful and a great helper with Kortlen while Tanner is at school.  I'm thankful for his sweet little voice and his happy disposition.  He is silly but also smart.  I'm always surprised at what he tells me about this or that, and am amazed at how quickly he has picked up on academic information.

Kortlen has the happiest disposition, and is constantly putting a smile on our faces with his little quirks.  He has no problem keeping up with his older brothers, and is very mindful of everything around him.  He's patient, quick to obey, and eager to help set the table when I ask.

This pregnancy has been fairly easy, with minimal nausea and minimal backpain (but we're only half way through!)  I'm so thankful for my good health, and it appears that baby's health is good, so far.  I have seen loved ones go through so many difficulties with their pregnancies, or lack of, so I am very grateful that my body is working the way it should, and that my health allows me to bring these precious children into the world.  It's been a great blessing to Ryan and I.

I will forever have gratitude for my Heavenly Father and Savior, for their love for me.  I am grateful to know of the fullness and truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to be worthy to make covenants with Him, and for the testimony I have of the Plan of Salvation.  I know that a living prophet is on the Earth today, and He, President Monson, is a mouthpiece of the Lord.  This knowledge is such a comfort to me.

My parents have been through both hard and happy times with me.  I am also forever grateful for their sacrifices and their love.  Their support and prayers on my behalf have buoyed me up countless times.  Their example is one I strive to follow, as I know they follow our Savior. I am grateful for the wonderful relationships I have with both my mother and father, and each of my six younger siblings.  They, too, have been wonderful examples to me, and I love each of my family members so much!

We are so thankful to be so blessed.  I know I say this often, and I will continue to say it as long as it is true:

My {heart} is full!!!

Just Around the Corner

Finally got all the Christmas Decorations up, which was fun and quite the feat, considering I've been putting them in the same spot for the last 6 years and this year I had to go and change it all up with a new house an all....but I love it!  Charlie Brown would be proud.  :)  I love my beautiful trees from my dad's ranch....it's such a fun mind game putting up ornaments so the branches don't droop too much, and so the ribbons curl just right and those lights.....9 strands this year!  Woot! 

some fun bokah.....

And light painting with....lights!  This would make a fun retro Christmas Card.  LOL!

The day I cried

It was obviously a late and stressful night.  But I was determined to make Sunday a wonderful day, even if Ryan had to work.  

The morning was all good and well, till I spontaneously burst into tears in the middle of Sacrament Meeting.  I don't even remember why I started crying or CONTINUED to bawl, but I looked a mess.  And when I got a wipe from the diaper bag to clean my sorry face up, I noticed not one, but TWO of my children were nearly undressed.  Kortlen was down to his diaper and shirt, and Taylor was starting in with his socks and shoes.  

WHAT ON EARTH WAS HAPPENING!?!?!?! 

The sweet sister sitting behind me, more pregnant than I with her hands full, too, dropped her kids in her husbands lap and came to my rescue.  

She re-dressed my kids.  Handed them coloring pages, goldfish crackers and pretzels, all with a smile.  Then she put her arm around me and I started bawling again.  I don't even know WHY I was crying....maybe I just felt the Spirit?  or had been holding some emotions in?!  I cannot say.  It was so bizarre-o! 

By now, it was a lost cause, but I was NOT going to get up and walk out, even though I wanted nothing more than to leave.  We were very near the front, and I just couldn't face our 'newish' ward with my puffy and blustery disaster. 

Moral of the story:  

Give a girl a hand.  HELP SOMEONE OUT.  Whether it be at the grocery store, the bus line, or in the middle of a sacred meeting.  And buoy them up with love, understanding and compassion. 

I am forever grateful to my dear friend who literally held my hand while I tried to pull myself together.  I hope that when the occasion arises (because I know it will....), that I can be the one comforting and helping. 

And that's the day I cried.  I'm laughing now, but it wasn't funny at the time.  

Love is Lovely

We are so excited to welcome a new member to our family!  Reed, my little brother, married Emily, on November 10th, 2012, in the Salt Lake City Utah Temple.  It was a snowy day, but beautiful, just the same.

***In hindsight, I wish I would have had my camera, but I had left it in the car, thinking it'd be too big and bulky to lug around.  Hence, the engagement photos.

Ryan and I and our boys drove down to SLC in the rain the night before.  Keith and Tricia were gracious to let us stay at their house, and we are so grateful for them!  The evening was spent practicing our music and having good laughs as siblings. The rain had turned into peaceful falling snowflakes. 

Saturday morning's weather was filled with white flakes, and the roads were covered.  We slowly made our way to the temple, where Katelyn, Clay and Deseret helped with the boys in the temple's youth waiting room.  After waiting for what seemed like for.ev.er, Reed and Emily were sealed for time and all Eternity, and their ceremony was simply beautiful!!  They were surrounded by family and friends, and it was so fun to see so many family members there.

Reed looked handsome and Emily was stunning.  Their smiles and the light in their eyes was evident of the love they have for each other.  

After the temple sealing, we made our way outside for family pictures, then Ryan and I rushed the kids to a baby sitter's house so we could enjoy the luncheon without them.  :)

A delicious and beautiful luncheon was held at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, where the closest of friends and family ate and enjoyed each other's company.  

I was supposed to play music for about an hour during this social hour, and had prepared for weeks my music selections.  Because the sealing was an hour late, Ryan and I missed this social hour because we took our kids to the sitters, and it sorta threw off the rest of my day.  I am so grateful to my sisters who filled in for me!  They're so talented to be able to cover for me like that!

Katelyn, Stephanie, and I prepared 'their song', Michael Buble's "Everything" on the piano and guitar, with vocals....towards the end of the song, I pretty much bombed the whole thing when I got ahead of myself.  LOL!  It was a little pathetic, but mostly embarrassing.  Reed redeemed our sad performance with a great Cello piece he had prepared to play for his new bride.

Once dinner and dessert was finished, Ryan and I booked it back to the sitters to pick up kids and dashed to Sandy for their reception.  By now, we were in full-fledged snow-storm mode.  Salt Lake was being plastered with the pretty white stuff.  But we carried on!

Reed & Emily's reception was beautiful, at Le Jardin.  It reminded me of a forest/greenhouse, and was beautiful!  We helped set up/stay out of the way as much as possible during formal family pictures.  The kids had a hay-day running, playing with Emily's nieces and nephews, and getting away with handfuls of mints and  dainty chocolates.  The rest of us enjoyed the pies and good company.

Tanner had BEGGED to watch them cut their cake (which was the MOST DELICIOUS wedding cake I've ever tasted!!) so we stayed to watch those festivities....then hit the road about 8:30 pm.  We still had to stop and Keith and Tricia's to pick up a few bags we thought we'd have time to come back for earlier in the day....so by 9:00 we were entering the on-ramp to I-15, North Bound.  And it was still snowing.

We drove 25 mph from Salt Lake to Farmington.  It took us much too long. We saw multiple accidents. The roads were terrible, but the kids had crashed their sleepy little heads.  Had Ryan not needed to work the following day, we would have spent the night in SLC.  My parents even offered to get us a hotel room. We stayed in constant communication with my aunt who was about 30 minutes ahead (but ended up staying in SLC anyways), and with my parents, who we convinced to stay at Keith and Tricia's....By the time we rolled past Tremonton, the roads were dry, and my eyes closed.  

Apparently we made it over the Malad pass without incident, but Ryan was too tired to drive on, and I couldn't wake up enough to see straight.  We pulled over at a little gas station in the middle of nowhere (Virginia) where we turned the car and headlights off.  Within 3 seconds, we realized we wouldn't be able to get ANY sleep because Kortlen was snoring so loudly.  After a minute or so of waking up, I took my turn driving.  

As we approached McCammon, and the roads instantly turned wet, then icey, then snowy.  We were back to 25 mph, inching our way along, pleading we'd be watched over and safe.  Inkom slowly came and went.  Pocatello slowly came and went.  And then we hit Fort hall.  And Fog.  Lots, of THICK fog!  Ryan had woken up, and we were surprised at how many cars were pulled over with their hazard lights on, then we realized we couldn't see the road, either.  Fervent prayers went up, as it was already 1 am, and we had been driving for 4 hours.....we thought we'd be home an hour previously.  

Towards Blackfoot, it cleared a little, but not for long.  After limping through the blindness, we could tell our exit was coming up, and then Kortlen woke up, screaming "out!  OUT!!!"  He'd had enough!   Can't say that I blame him....I was right there with him.  

We finally made it safely home at 2 am, dragged ourselves into the house and crashed in our beds.  

Despite the wild ride home, we are SO THANKFUL and glad that we could be a part of Reed and Emily's perfect day.

Love is Lovely.

I stole this one from her photographer.  ;)  Aren't they stunning?!