I'm Counting Down...

the hours until I'm off work again. I'm currently on my 4th shift in 5 days, and I'm really missing my family. Cole said that on saturday night, Talia said mama...mama...mama....all night. And on sunday, she was really, really happy to see me. I could tell that she'd missed me. So, today, when I got her up after her nap, and she saw my scrubs....she was not happy. I know she knew I wasn't going to be home tonight. And of course, I wanted to cry too, because I really didn't want to have to come back to work so soon. So, I'm counting down...4 more hours of this shift, then 1 more shift until I have a couple of days off with her (and the boys, who mostly don't care if I'm gone).

The kids had today off from school. They will only go to school 2 of the 4 Monday's this month...thank goodness they were really good today. Good to me and good to each other. They really are growing up so fast...they play pretty well together most of the time.

I've been looking for snow boots for Alec since the beginning of December. I waited too long, and there haven't been any in his size. I put it off during Christmas vacation, but after all this snow we've gotten (and watching him walk through the mountains of it in only his shoes), I've been hunting. The only thing left around my usual places, even on the internet, were not in his size or more $ than I really want to spend ($40 for snow boots for a 5 year old is ridiculous). To the rescue came my wonderful husband, who stopped at both the DI and Savers, looking for whatever we could find. He found some Shrek boots, 1 1/2 sizes too big, but whatever, at least I can let him go play out in the snow. The boys really want to jump on the snowy trampoline....

I am continually reminded about how blessed I am. At church on Sunday, I watched the parents of a family struggle with their special needs children, and I was reminded that no matter what my children are, they are perfect for me and I am blessed to be their mother. I thank Heavenly Father for them every night, but after that experience, I feel especially grateful and blessed. And I will be praying for those special needs children as well, because I really, really want them to be happy at primary.

Part of the yearly "Simple Abundance" Journey is to keep a gratitude journal. Every day, you write down 5 things you are grateful for. I think it will be enlightening to keep that journal here.

Today I am grateful for:
1. Talia's smile when I get her up in the morning.
2. A wonderful husband who went looking for snow boots.
3. Kyle and Alec playing nicely together.
4. My job, which gives me satisfaction mentally, emotionally, and monetarily.
5. Chocolate. Oh yeah, definitely Chocolate.