Tuesday November 26

Today we are thankful for Grandma Palmer.  Now let me tell you she was an awesome lady.  Randy would tell me story after story about his grandma and how much he loved going to her house and staying the night with her.  Randy was so thrilled that Noah was able to spend the night too with her and have the fun that he always did!  A lot of his best memories are with her.
She was one who TRULY knew the meaning of family.  Family always came first to her.  This was so evident at the holidays.  Christmas time we would all cram pack into her house and the smile on her face when each family entered is what I will always remember.  She had a way of making you feel like you were the only one there.  I know that she is missed by everyone in my family but we talk about you often so the boys will always remember.  We love you Grandma (Great Grandma)!

Monday November 25

Today I am so thankful for the times I got to spend with Nan.  She was truly so much fun to be with and I always enjoyed spending time with my grandma (Nan).  Days leading up to me visiting or her coming to visit I would get so excited.  Her and I would spend our time laughing, playing games, enjoying a glass or two of wine (or more) and just spending time together!  I got my sense of direction from her, my mom and aunt have no clue as if they are going north or south and there were a few times that Nan and I would set these two up just to see if they knew which way we were going...they rarely did know!  Nan, I miss you so much each day.  Noah misses you and I wish Memphis would have gotten the chance to know you better but trust me he will know who you are and what a cornerstone you are to our family!  I know that you will always be with us making sure that we live life to the fullest as I know that is what you always tried to do!

How we always ended up taking pictures like this, I don't know, but I do know that it makes me smile!

Love you more!

Saturday November 23

Today I am so thankful for Emma!  She has been so a blessing to our family.  She is always wanting to play with the kids.  The kids are always wanting Emma's attention and she is almost always willing to give it to them!  She is such a smart and beautiful girl, enjoys school, her friends and playing sports. 
We love you Emma Lou!

Friday November 22

Today I am so thankful for all of the time I got to spend with my Grandpa Bill.  I know I have said in previous posts what a special man he was.  But he was always there for me.  He gave me a place to live when I thought my world was pretty up side down.  His house, was my home.  Every time I left his house to head back to college he would always have a tear in his eye when we were saying goodbye and of course every time I drove away I would have plenty of tears in my eyes.
This man, never missed a game of mine in high school and in college he even got to travel with Dad down to Arizona to watch me play in the National Tournament.
He was always so proud of all of us.  He kept on his fridge all of the newspaper clippings that Tyler and I were in.  Well I should say not all but the ones where we were the highlighted athlete of the week or about the small article about me at Kirkwood playing softball and the honors I received. 
He was the best Grandpa in the WORLD.  I miss you and grandma each day!

Thursday November 21

FRIENDS!  I am so thankful for all of the many friends I have made along my 33 years! From my Creston Cronies, to my Kirkwood Buddies, my Central Missouri State University Pals, my Lamoni friends, to my Winterset Huskies Buddies, and now my Johnston friends!   I am so lucky to gain friends everywhere I have been.  It has made for some amazing times, great memories and lots of laughs and I am sure a few tears.
I am so happy you are all my friends and that some of you I have known for about 28 years, well mainly Brandi!  I am one lucky person to have all of the joys of the many friendships that I do hold closely to me.
Love you all!

I decided to show the oldest picture I had of all of us ladies from Creston on our Senior Prom.  Gosh, in May we will be 15 years out of high school!  I am so happy that we are all still friends today! Those that don't know us here we are from left to right: Brandi Miller, Leanne (Owens) Smith, Andrea (Briley) Gerleman, Ashley Ostroski, Mandy Harris, Kelli (Kinsella) Juravich, and Me!  And it looks like blue was the color theme!  ha!

Wednesday November 20

Brother-In-Laws!  Yep!  That is who I am thankful for today!  I am lucky that Chris and Tony are my brother-in-laws.  Both are almost always willing to help us out.  Chris will help Randy out with the mustang (Tony not so much, but he enjoys taking the mustang out)!  Both are great with Noah and Memphis.  Tony is always there when we need him to watch our dogs when we head out of town (I honestly think he just likes our bed, but I would have to agree, it is pretty comfy)!  Tony is always playing with the kids (Noah, Zach and Memphis) and all 3 love the attention from him.

Thank you Chris and Tony for loving us like you do.  I hope you two know how much you mean to us!

Sorry guys, not the best picture, I am making a promise that over the holiday season that I have my camera out and taking lots of pictures!  Love you!

Tuesday November 19

Today I am thankful for all of my extended family on both sides of my family!  My goodness you have all played such major roles in my life, Randy's and the boys'!  Thank you all for always being there for us.  I know I missed some pictures of a lot of you but trust me I have not forgotten who you are!  I just do not have a picture of you!  Love you all!

Monday November 18

My goodness, November is flying by!  My mind is definitely in the Christmas Spirit!  But I haven't given up on my thankfulness quite yet.  So today I am thankful for Christmas quickly approaching.  Over the weekend we went to see Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a reindeer (I believe it was Rudolph) arrive at the mall!  The boys did pretty well, Memphis didn't want to sit still for nothing, so thankfully I brought Peggy with me and between the two of us we kept him busy!  Noah was great, we ran into some friends there so he played with them while we waited in line. 
Memphis didn't seem to mind Santa too much as long as he was on Noah's lap and not Santa's!

Mailing their letters to Santa!

Noah telling Santa everything that he thinks he needs!

Checking out Rudolph!

Memphis and Grandma

After a long afternoon of fun we are tuckered out!

Friday November 15

Today I am so thankful for my niece and nephews!  Seriously, these 3 little bundles are so much fun.
 
Jaycee Mae-you are so full of life.  I love your smile and laugh.  You are one of the best little girls I know.  I love to hear your stories and watch you play with your cousins!  Love you more Jacyee!

Zachary Tate-You are one funny kid!  I love your sense of humor.  You tell everyone how it is and that I LOVE about you.  You and Noah are so much fun to watch play together.  Your big cousin and little cousin think you are pretty cool.  We love you!

Riggins Dean-I brag about you all the time.  Now you do the funniest things.  Memphis loves having you to play with and you play so good with him, well except when you two do not want to share!  I am happy you love your cousins so much.  And will sit with Memphis and watch about any cartoon in the world with him!  Love you more Riggins!

Thursday November 14

Oh today I am thankful for Sara!  I am thankful that she is my sister-in-law.  When I first met Sara she was so warm and nice to me.  Sara and I think a lot a like, now I just wish I had her creative bones!  She is so crafty and has the most ingenious ideas! 
Sara is always putting our family first and my boys just love her to pieces.  Thank you Sara for always being there for me and always willing to listen to me, whether it be good or bad!

This picture shows one of the reason why I am so thankful for you is that you have no issue jumping right in and being a kid.

Wednesday November 13

Today I am thankful for Tori!  And by the way Happy Belated Birthday, which was way back on November 3!  I know you had a good time :)

I am so lucky to have Tori in our lives.  She has been a friend of mine for many years.  Heck we played AAU Softball together through middle school and then against each other in high school in several sports.  Thankfully, she married my brother and became a part of our family.  Tori, you always add wit, humor and sarcasm to our family gatherings!  I love you for who you are and glad that you are one of my best friends.  Thank you for being my adviser on clothing and my hair...and it seems that we need to go shopping!
Love you Tori!

Tuesday November 12

Today I am so thankful for my dad!  This last weekend I was able to spend some time with him on Saturday night.  We had dinner and watched a movie and just hung out.  It was nice to be able to spend some time with him.  I am thankful for the times I do get to spend with my dad, he is always thinking of us.  I just wish we lived closer so that the boys could see him more often.  Memphis loved getting attention from him this weekend.  Melted my heart to see those two love each other. 
Thanks dad for always being there for all of us!

Time for a new picture!  Gosh I am slacking on pictures!

Monday November 11

Today I am thankful for Peggy (Randy's mom).  We are so lucky to have her in our lives.  She is always willing to help us out with the kids (and sometimes at a moments notice)!  Peggy is always wanting to help in some way.  It might be by making a meal, watching the kids, or helping us paint or garage!  (which is finally done!)
Peggy we are so grateful for all you have done for us and we are lucky to have you in our lives.  The boys truly love you.

Friday November 8

My mom, gosh I am lucky to have her in my life.  I have always looked up to my mom, she is truly an amazing woman and I am so happy that she is my mom!
Mom you have always been there for me and my family.  The boys love when you come to visit  (or when we visit you)  I just wish it was more often (as I know you do too)!
Words can't express my thankfulness for what you have done and continue to do for all of us. 

This was our last shot of mom and the kids...maybe its time for a new one?

Now here is an old one!

Thursday November 7

Early this morning Craig went in for colon surgery.  He will be laid up for a while as he will not be allowed to lift or doing anything much for several weeks.  We are so thankful that Craig/Papa is one of the best Papa's we know.  Randy and I are very blessed to have Craig in our lives.  He will, if able, watch the boys, take them somewhere they need to be or just play with them.  We are pretty lucky to have him live so close to us.  Randy is always thankful that Craig will help him with the mustang and anything else we may need.  Each day, Memphis will see a tractor and in our house it is not a tractor but "papa's tractor!"  HA!
Thanks Craig for being a great Dad, father-in-law, and papa! 

Wednesday November 6

My brother...I am thankful that I was able to grow up with someone that means so much to my life.  Tyler and I would play for hours together (yeah we would fight) but we had many more hours of us getting along.  We played cars, barbies, Nintendo, rode our bikes, spent the night at grandma and grandpa's house.  As we got older we found ourselves hanging out with our friends, going out together to have a couple of drinks, and then we both got to live together for a while again at Grandpa's house while we were both in college.
It is fun to see how we have grown, going from playing as kids, to not doing a ton together in high school (but always supporting each other in whatever we did) to going to college and becoming friends again (well we were always friends but just didn't see eye to eye) and living at grandpa's house when we would come home for any of our breaks.  Summer was the best as we got to play in many softball games together...hey maybe we should start that back up?!
Thank you, Tyler for being the best brother you know how to be!  I am glad you are a great husband, father and brother!

Tuesday November 5

Today I am thankful for Noah and Memphis.  These two boys are the best.  Yes, there are times they get in trouble and they don't want to listen.  But in a heartbeat they will turn around and all of a sudden give me that big smile and give me a kiss or a hug.  Then my heart melts!
I am thankful, that they call me mom (well Noah doesn't but he knows I love him and he loves me). 

Noah trying to keep Memphis from going anywhere!  Love the look of struggle on Noah's face! 

My football players!  Go Hawks!

Monday November 4

In a year with so many lows I have decided that I would once again post what I am thankful for to make up for those low times.  This year has been tough and one in which I could throw up my arms and just say you win 2013!  But I have never been one to give up, so this November I will look at the positive that this year has brought us!

So today I am thankful for my husband.  This year we did celebrate our 5th Wedding Anniversary and got to return to where we honeymooned (Fort Myers, Florida).  Randy has always been by my side and I couldn't ask for a better husband, father and best friend.