Shillig 4 Family

We had the amazing opportunity we had to visit Mexico with our children and see the newly built LDS temple.  We picked up Daddy from the airport and headed directly south.  It was easy to cross into Mexico, but crossing back into the US the next day was a long endeavor or waiting in line.  The temple was beautiful inside.  The stairways reminded me of the library of congress in DC.  Malachi seemed to be touched most of all and I loved watching him with such a happy heart and sweet joyful tears.  I am grateful for the opportunities we have to see and experience things with our children.

Day 17 I am grateful for the Sundays my husband is home.  The happiness we feel as we sit on the pew together.  The calm I feel knowing he is by my side.  The strength I feel as we hold hands and face the day with our children.  I love being a family.  I love being a mother.  I love knowing that we are a family forever.  I love what beauty we have created.  I am grateful for Sundays.

Day 16 I am grateful for modern medicine and medical insurance.  Mali Su fell and broke her hip and her arm back at the beginning of the summer.  Thanks to modern medicine she was seen right away and treated appropriately along with follow up visits over the next few months.  My sweet husband works so hard to provide amazing medical coverage for us and I was so grateful to see our portion we had to pay was almost nothing for such a traumatic event.  I am also grateful she is fully healed and all is well!  We also discovered she has an extra bone in each ankle, isn't medicine fun!

Day 15 I am grateful to be back in school.  I am grateful for affordable tuition through BYU online.  I am grateful to finish my degree I started all those years ago.  I am currently taking courses through a Pathway Program.  I attend classes on Thursday nights and do the rest online.  It is a wonderful little break during the week and I fill uplifted.  I am so excited to pursue courses that will benefit me and my family.  I am currently taking a religion class on the life of Jesus Christ and also a general studies class.  I have an A in the class and I feel blessed to have the time in my day to devote to my studies.  I am grateful for education in all it's forms, not only the scholarly kind.

Day 14 I am grateful we get to tag along on these little hotel stays with Jake.  When he has to work and it's relatively nearby we try to go with him.  These hotel stays give us a chance to be us alone (we live with my in-laws) and recharge my batteries more than they you can imagine.  They make me happy!  I am grateful that even though he's away for work he gets these points for us to have free mini  vacations pretty much monthly. 

I don't know where I thought I'd be at 31, but I love where I am. Married to my international businessman. 4 beautiful little ones. A dog. Educated and back in school. Seeing the world one adventure at a time. Enjoying life on a farm. I don't know what else I could desire! I am one lucky lady.

Day 8 I am grateful for my loving husband.  He works so hard for our family.  He sent me an article today that described his business man life so well.  It talked about how luxurious it is, but how lonely it can be.  We work hard to stay connected even though we are apart.  I am so grateful to have a successful marriage we work at each and every day.  Day 9 I am grateful for my mother and mother-in-law.  I love the support from these wonderful hard working women.  This picture was taken after I had Aimi Lark all those years ago.  I love knowing they each have such amazing strengths I have learned from. Day 10 I am grateful for our dear dear friends the Keetons.  Jake and Kenny have been friends from church, to high school to BYU and beyond.  I love that we have stayed close and kept in touch all these years.  Friendships are important and valuable. Day 11 I am grateful for the opportunity we had t...

I am grateful for the life we have here on Jake's parents' farm.  I am grateful we are able to show our children that food comes from real work not just the grocery store.  I am grateful my father-in-law gardens with them and has them help with farm chores.  I am grateful for farm life. Here is our Winter Squash harvest before the freeze set in too badly.  Our pumpkins got fed to the cow.  Now I just need to find recipes for these squash.

Day 3 I am grateful for my husband's love of doing nice things for people.  He is great at shopping and finding just the right gift for others.  He thinks deeply about it!  I love that all these souvenirs he brought back fit everyone perfectly.  I do not like to shop and do not personally need gifts so him being this way fits us perfectly. Day 4 I am grateful for the great amenities in this tiny little mountain town we live in.  The local library is beautiful and full of things for all ages.  We love to go by there and Solomon loves to bring us animal books to read to him.  This time I read to him about sharks.  I love that this tiny town has met our needs in more ways than I expected. Day 5 I am grateful for Costco!  When our tiny mountain town doesn't have what we need I find everything else here. I do not like to shop (as mentioned earlier) so to be able to get all that I need in one spot that I enjoy, I am grateful!  I lov...

Day 1 I am grateful to have a church we attend close by our home.  It is about 12 miles away, but in this tiny mountain town that is close.  The kids' school is further than our church.  I don't always love going alone since Jake travels so much, but I feel blessed each week.  I love that I joined this church when I was 16 and it has continued to bless my life ever since. Day 2 I am grateful for the trip that Mali Su and Jake have been on for the last 11 days.  Mali Su tagged along on a business trip with Jake to China.  I am so happy for her and for him.  I am so grateful we are able to show our children the world.  The world doesn't mean far off travels exclusively it means day to day life experiences as well.  I love exposing my children to life experiences.  I am grateful for the Chinese she has learned and will continue to learn each day she practices her Rosetta Stone and talks with her Daddy.  I am grateful for...