Sunday Grains of Gratitude......

Sunday again - wow - and September is quickly coming to a close - how can that be??? We're already five weeks into school - almost midterm - CRAZY!!!! Soccer season will be done here in a couple of weeks, well - outdoor soccer, anyway :) It's been a bit of a hectic week, but, that's nothin' new ;)

This week I'm grateful....

It was my honey's birthday :) He was away all week in Kentucky and Texas, but made it home the night of his special day - so we got to celebrate with him. I'm grateful he had safe travels this week. He was at the Ryder Cup last weekend and got to witness the US win, so that was exciting for him :) Then he was at a pretty successful business event in Dallas for the rest of the week. He hasn't travelled much for several months, so it was kind of an adjustment for us - although I think he quite likes hotels and room service - oh - and the quiet that comes from NOT having six kids running around ;) We were happy to have him home :)

that Little K's team won their game :) It was against the number 2 team in the division, so it was a big one. They won, and she got to play - which sometimes she doesn't get as much playing time when her team is in a crunch win/lose position. She isn't quite as athletically gifted as many players on her team, but she has definitely improved this season, although maybe not to their level yet. I'm glad she's had the opportunity to play on this team though, and get good coaching, cause even if she isn't able to continue with them, she's definitely learned some things that will help her transition to another team. They only have two more games left this season :)

that the kids all helped fold laundry yesterday :) Each had a basket to fold and put away - it was perfect - and oh so helpful! I'm grateful they were willing to help so our house could be tidy :)

that I got to chat with my friend Andi for a while last night! Brady and Riley brought us together as friends, and I'm so grateful our boys are birthday twins. Andi is just the cutest girl - so upbeat and fun and positive. If you would have told me 6 years ago I'd meet a friend on the Internet who I'd consider one of my best friends, and actually go and meet up with her in real life - I would have laughed my head off. But, here we are, 6 years later, and......it's true :) Here's to many more years of friendship and IRL gatherings :)

that Brady is feeling a little better - he's been sick all week, and was out of school from Wednesday on. He's still not 100% - not sure if it's sinus related or what. We've been doing the yeast medicine the GI doc gave us, plus the flonase and saline. Hopefully he'll be feeling better soon. I have a sinus thing too - and boyyyy does my head hurt, so if he has the same thing, I feel badly for him. He has gobs of gunk running down the back of his throat, so that can't be comfy either. I'll probably have to take him in here sometime soon and see what we can do to get rid of this stuff, I wish something would work!!!

that after a lot of testing/biopsies etc... our friend Randy has been declared to still be in remission from his cancer. He had a serious scare over the last couple of weeks, but the testing showed no new cancer, so we are so happy for him, and it is such an answer to prayers.

that we had some teaching/learning moments this week about friends/bullying etc... It's never fun to be on the receiving end, and I was appalled that one of my children was actually on the giving end. Really, it just showed me that sometimes good kids can get caught up in not so good things, and the power that peer pressure really does have. It was disappointing and discouraging to find out that my daughter had participated in something like that, on the same day, and at the same time that her own brother was on the receiving end from a different circumstance. It was definitely a teaching moment, and hopefully a learning moment on their end. Little K wrote an apology to the other little girl and has invited her to play with her and her friends, and even tailored their games to this other little girl - so hopefully, in the end, it has turned out to be a good thing. As for H, who knows how that will turn out - it's sad, cause he is a great kid - a little quirky, somewhat immature, but a good friend who has so much to offer - but kids can be soooo mean sometimes :( Hopefully it will be a learning experience for him, and for the other kids who were on the giving end, and that things will improve all the way around.

that the weather was BEAUTIFUL this week - although the trees are changing in the mountains, so I know fall is upon us. It is getting dark earlier too. I love summer so much, and I'm sad it's over - but I do love fall too - especially Halloween, and Big K is hoping to have a masquerade ball to celebrate her 18th birthday (18 - can you believe it? I'm not old enough to have an 18 year old!!!) Hopefully we'll make it up the canyon this afternoon, after church to get some family pics - keeping my fingers crossed that we get some good ones so we don't have to have a repeat trip - it's hard to get everyone together at the same time, the big girls are so busy these days!

that it's the primary program today. I always love the primary program and listening to the kids sing. Our primary is a bit on the largish side - about 180 kids - so it is somewhat of a mass production LOL I haven't been there for the practices, as Brady has been sick the last two Sundays, so it will be a surprise to me to see how it turns out - if we get to go - gotta see how Brady is feeling this morning.....

Hope you are all having a wonderful day - what are YOU grateful for today????