Happy Me

Perhaps you haven't noticed, but I complain a bit (what's that? You have? I do it all the time? Okay). So I want to take a post to clear some things up.

I love being a Mom! It's the most fulfilling, best thing I have ever done. I love when Afton first wakes up and I pick up her small little body and snuggle her. I feel so proud watching Jesse so bravely walk to school (and then I pat myself on the back for sending him with rain boots and an umbrella, because that might seem small to you but I always forget stuff like that). I feel happy when Breanna's teacher says to me, "she's always happy, isn't she?" I love hearing my kids laugh together. Breanna is so funny and can keep Jesse and everyone laughing. I love seeing how different she is from me-she is not a people pleaser! I love that Jesse is such a good sport. He has a friend who is so rough other kids cry when they play with him, but Jesse just lets it all roll off his back. So not me, I want to shake the kid :) I love when his teacher says he's  passionate about learning. I love reading to my kids. I love when I'm stomping around stressed out and mad and Jesse says something funny and then I laugh and feel like a tool. I love taking them fun places and having play dates and doing homework with them. I love cooking! I love when I give them healthy food and they eat it without me having to bribe them. I love listening to them pray at night, I love teaching them the gospel. I even love cleaning, though it takes a back seat these days. I loved seeing Afton take her first step. I love volunteering at the school. The other day Jesse got two invitations to two different birthday parties from kids in his class. After explaining to him the situation, I asked him which one he wanted to go to and he said "neither. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings." Yep, he's special.

I guess I don't mind that in this picture I have yellow teeth and lots of wrinkles.

I also love the gospel. I love the personal relationship I have with the Savior and that I can address my Father in Heaven in prayer every day, ask for things and get them. I am grateful for how the gospel asks me to be better and not make excuses for myself.

I have so much to be grateful for! Growing up poor (and I mean really poor) helps me because I never look at others who have more than me and feel jealous. I just look around at what I have and am amazed at how rich I am! I can afford rain boots and umbrellas for my kids. I have a warm home, we have all the food we need every day. We have clothing- for all kinds of weather! and cable and internet and a car that runs well and enough for babysitters and dates and other fun family outings. I love our lake and how close we are to Fish Creek Park. We have enough to pay the bills every month and some for putting kids in activities, properly dressed even (although a lot of that is hand-me-downs, I love hand-me downs). I am grateful for Brad who makes this all possible! I am grateful he is my best friend and that we will be together forever.

I am happy to be healthy and that my family and extended family are healthy.

I love this beautiful world.

So yes, I complain a lot, but deep down this is how I feel, so please keep that in mind! These things define who I am and how I feel on a day to day basis, through good and bad.