Christmas Picture Time!

My fabulous brother and sister-in-law were in town this weekend and Jill took some family pics for us. Jill is a super photographer, her website is: www.jillynphotography.com so you should check her out.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I would love to post pictures of ours but since our camera is still broken . . . I will just tell you how great it was. We were lucky enough to have my brother and sister-in-law and their adorable daughter in town from Utah. It has been a lot of fun and was my first time doing Thanksgiving dinner all on my own. Justin even got off of work early and was able to join us for dinner, so we had a lot to be grateful for. Another wonderful year, we are happy and healthy and couldn't be more thankful for our family and friends.

Hot Pockets!

Thanks for all the great posts about the special, meaningful things you're thankful for. They've reminded me just how thankful I am for.......hot pockets.

I'm Thankful for . . .

Grandparents! I have to say that I think Abby and Emma lucked out with the BEST 2 sets of grandparents in the world! Even though they don't get to see them very often, they think and talk about them all the time. I am thankful for the wonderful influence they are on my children (and us too, of course). Abby is constantly drawing pictures of her with her grandmas and grandpas. What a blessing family is! I am thankful for my family - love you all!


Abby and Grandma Wilkinson "getting pretty".

Gwompa and Emma at the Logan Temple.

Grandpa T. and Abby making a run for it in Samoa.

Emma just loving her Grandma T. in Samoa - sorry you're sideways mom!

I'm Thankful For . . .

Diversity! I am so thankful that we are all so different. I've been so blessed to be able to visit a lot of different places and meet people from every walk of life. It has taught me to really appreciate our differences. (And has created a dangerous need to travel.) Living in San Francisco for 4 years was such a great experience because of the amazing diversity right there in that city. I'm grateful for all of the things that I have learned from others, thank you!


I thought I would share a little story from our trip to Ethiopia (see previous Ethiopia post for details about trip.) There was an Ethiopian health worker with us on that trip names Hade. He was truly the smiliest person I have ever met. I never saw him without his huge grin. He was married with 2 of the most adorable, well-mannered children I've ever seen. He and his wife had started a health clinic in his home. They invited us over one night to see it. He had his living space in one area, a room with a microscope served as their pathology lab, a room with a single bed was where they saw patients, delivered babies, and performed any other procedures. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which means that either he or his wife are constantly there and ready to see patients. He said that there hasn't been one night in the year he's been open that they haven't seen patients in the middle of the night. They do this in order to get the business they need to stay open. He is so happy to be able to have this opportunity to help out in his community. When we went to visit, he and his wife served 8 of us a huge meal. I would imagine it cost them a whole month's income to feed us, but they were so happy to do it. I am constantly amazed by the ability that some have to take the situation they have been given and make the best of it, and to do it with a smile that never fades. Thanks Hade for your example!

Hade in front of his clinic.

Me in the delivery room/procedure room/anything else that needs to be done room.

Hade's son washing everyone's hands before dinner.

The Pathology Lab.

Hade and his beautiful family.

I'm Thankful For . . .

JUSTIN!!!!!!!!!!! I just have to say that I love this guy so much and am so grateful for him in my life. (I am totally allowed to be publicly cheesy when it's Thanksgiving, right?!) Justin and I celebrated our 6th anniversary this year. It has been an amazing 6 years. We have lived in 4 different apartments, lived in 3 different states, visited 3 different countries, had 2 children, and have had SO much fun. I am always amazed at Justin's ability to work a 90 hour weeks, come home with a smile on his face and still manage to be an amazing father and husband. He never, ever complains about how busy he is. He is such a good daddy to his little girls. They love, love, love to be with him. He is an amazing example to me of working hard and playing hard. He is always looking for the next place to explore and never wants to waste a minute of life. Plus, he has a pretty sweet coin collection :) We are THANKFUL for you Justin!

I'm Thankful For . . .

Toothbrushes! I LOVE to brush my teeth, it is the best thing ever!

Okay, I decided that since our camera "got broked" this week by our littlest angel :) and I won't have any new pictures to post in a little while, I would dedicate this month to things we are thankful for. Seems appropriate right! I know it will most likely get very boring to all of you, but will be a good way to fill the space until we get the camera fixed and it's always good to reflect on our blessings. So, for today (since we are all sick and I just left the playplace with both kids screaming) I am thankful for toothbrushes. They are always there when you need them, always make you feel better, always yeild the same results, come in lots of fun razzle dazzle colors, are cheap, and make me happy.

What are you thankful for?