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{Day 15}

Today was Max's grooming appointment at Petco…it's where the pets go…  Since we now live in the blazing heat of Southern Utah I am grateful today for nice groomers that help clean up my dirty, stinky, hairy pooch and remember that he doesn't like the clippers around his ears ;)

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{Day 14}

So, after picking up a partial shift last night, and being scheduled to work tonight, I am grateful for a Swig!  I love, and am probably addicted to, a Dirty Diet Dr. Pepper with a sugar cookie that is offered at this little local establishment.  The 44 oz. of delightful caffeinated goodness helped get me through another 12 hours ;)

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{Day 13}

Tonight I am grateful for the flexibility of my job, I was asked if I could come in extra to work tonight, and told them I could at midnight...so I was able to eat dinner with my family, put my kids and husband to bed and then even went in a little early and had a good shift, all with time-and-a-half pay ;)
*cha-ching*

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{Day 12}

I try to plan a menu and grocery-shop accordingly to save money and hopefully have dinner ready in a timely manner, admittedly it often falls short and cereal or a Little Caesar's is on the table instead of a home-cooked meal, but tonight the stars aligned and I even tried a new recipe…Scott liked it ;)
I am grateful for my slow-cooker that made tonight's dinner a little easier to accomplish.

Thai Peanut Chicken

http://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/2012/07/recipe-highlight-from-archives-past_18.html

{365 Days of Slow-Cooking…Karen Bellessa Petersen}

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{Day 11}

I was told it would take about a year to appreciate where I live, that you do eventually get used to the bloody hot heat.  They weren't lying, it is delightful...9 months out of the year...and while it does get pretty hot, I am getting acclimated and a nice 90 degrees doesn't even phase me.  The other thing I am loving is the awesome trail system that is intertwined throughout the city, we have a trailhead right in our neighborhood and I can ride my bike or run right onto a fabulous paved trail half a mile from my front door.  I am thankful for the amenities my city provides and the experiences that come with them.
http://www.sgcity.org/departments/leisureservices/parks/pdf/trailsmap.pdf#zoom=50

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{Day 10}

Memorial Day is set aside to remember those who have gone before us, to honor those who have served our country…my little sister found and developed a couple rolls of film my grandpa took while serving in Japan at the end of WWII.  The images are humbling, thinking of all that was at stake at that time and the dedication of those men and women who fought and served so valiantly.  To forget them would be a travesty…I am grateful for the stalwart example and strength of those that serve our country and those that have died protecting the freedom I enjoy.

My grandpa Sorensen

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{Day 9}

Last night at work was beyond crazy…SO, SO BUSY!!!  I came home and crashed, so my sweet husband got all my kids ready for church and had everything ready for a Sunday dinner when they got home so we could all eat together before I went back to work.  I'm thankful for my 'Mister Mom', he is awesome!  *and I might add, a much better 'House Husband' than I am ;)

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{Day 8}

After a somewhat slight decline in judgement or loss of personal sanity, I agreed to pick-up an on-call shift at work in the middle of my weekend shifts--note-to-self: I have not done a '3-in-a-row' stretch since I delivered Jane.  After my shift on Friday night I knew I would be going back, so today I am grateful for the little things that help me sleep "snug as a bug"…

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{Day 7}

I like to pretend I keep my kids academically up-to-speed with the Summer Bridge workbook series…today I am grateful for the Pandora satellite radio "Classical for  Studying" channel while I subject my kids to learning and structure on their summer vacation *insert maniacal laugh ;)
Seriously, it is a delightful station, I found myself 'Liking' every song…extremely soothing!  While there may be some bribes in place for completing said workbooks, I think we are going to have a successful summer.

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{Day 6}

I am grateful for the first day of summer vacation…my boys have finished their first year of school in our new home and it signifies a lot of emotional milestones for me and them.  This time last year was full of angst and uncertainty and change, but now we have made it through an academic year with new friends and experiences.
I am certainly grateful to know that tomorrow morning I don't have to set my alarm clock for 6:30 am to get Jordo up for the bus and then a short 30 minute nap until I get Cam up at 7:57 am for the bus and then getting Jane and Gare up, dressed and fed before taking Gare to the bus at 11: 55 am.  All of that sometimes after a night shift where I am still in my navy blue scrubs with mascara under my eyes and truly in survival-mode due to fragmented, infrequent naps.  I am glad my kids have thrived in their classes, had excellent teachers to guide them and found buddies to hang out with.  Welcome Summer with all the pomp and circumstance it deserves!

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{Day 5}

'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'…isn't that the adage?  My iPhone4 is old, it doesn't have a fancy case, it is a smart phone but was getting slower, and slower, and s-l-o-w-e-r, and then today it displayed what I like to to call the "white apple of death"…it wouldn't turn on, it wouldn't take a charge, it wasn't doing anything.  I was at a loss, I should have been chastising myself for being so dependent--I use the thing to do a lot of…well, time-wasting, but it does help keep me organized, track Jane's feedings, help me monitor my fitness goals/progress, it is my watch at work so I know when I am going into a patient's room or when they want their next Motrin.  I am trying to keep it together as I think about losing this piece of technology, only tomorrow will tell…
  I am grateful for this day and age when the world is literally in the palm of my hand, how awesome is that?!?  The 15-year-old me would never have believed it, especially since we only had a typewriter and a set of World Book Encyclopedias lining the bookshelf ;)  #ourkidshavenoidea

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{Day 4}

I am grateful that I CAN run, lately I have been trying to get my body to remember that it CAN do hard things and I have been pushing myself to reach a goal that feels so far away…before we got pregnant with Jane, I trained for and finished a full marathon--the.hardest.thing.I.have.ever.done!  I also slimmed down and was at my pre-marriage weight.  Well, since having our little bookend and the extra pounds to go with it, I have found it difficult to get close to that number on the scale again or fit in the pair of shorts waiting patiently in my drawer.
I know if I 'just keep running' and refrain from devouring the treats I love so much I can get there...I'm grateful my body allows me to put one foot in front of the other.

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{Day 3}

Today I am grateful for 'Family Night' and impromptu visits to parks where energy is spent and then rewarded with the difficult choice of either a snow-cone or frozen yogurt…I love spending time with my family, it fills my bucket!

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{Day 2}
I am grateful that I didn't have to work tonight so that I could:

1) enjoy going to church *didn't get pooped on this weekend--Mother's Day was a doozy ;)
2) actually be on-time for church *epic
3) teach my primary class and feel the spirit flood the little room my 6-year olds meet in *there were tears welling in little boy's eyes
4) make dinner for my family AND sit down to enjoy it with them *1:00-4:00 o'clock church and a shift that starts at 6 pm aren't necessarily conducive to relaxed Sunday dinners
5) go to sleep at a semi-normal hour with my husband
6) read with my littles before they went to sleep *they thrive on routine, okay, so do I ;)

Attitude of Gratitude...

At work we are encouraged to participate in a program to help us be healthier, happier and more productive and if we earn enough points we can earn monetary rewards, win-win, right?!?
So in concert with my efforts of trying to eat better, exercise regularly and weighing myself everyday {not fun} I am going to keep a gratitude journal for 30 days…here's to commitment and a more positive outlook on life!  #IntermountainLiveWell #30daygratitudejournal

{Day 1}

I am so grateful that I have a husband with skills!  Seriously this man amazes me with his talents at making our home and yard gorgeous!  It's true that in the past this same man that procures the 'Wow' factor to all he touches, used to drive me crazy with "surprise" projects completed in the wee hours of night while I was at work for 12 hours…his catch-phrase was all-too familiar on many a morning when I would discover his latest endeavor, "Don't worry, you'll love it!"  At first I fought that notion, but he was always right, and always will be...on that note it is important to remember that we have now come to a blissful understanding and projects are only undertaken if the budget allows ;)

Provo House 

Kaysville House

Provo House

St. George House

St. George House

Kaysville House

St. George House

St. George House

Kaysville House

Kaysville House