The Silence of the Turkeys

I'm so happy, and I don't know why! Of course, I am grateful for the Gospel, Mark, our home, his almost-job, our family and friends, and living in America. We're blessed as a people, and I'm quite aware of that. But now, just because of a sameness to our days that gives me a chance to relax and make goals and progress a little at a time. I think this is the longest that Mark and I have ever gone without feeling like things were up in the air (although we did have a little bump in the road a while back!). Also, I've been eating yams or sweet potatoes (Mark doesn't remember which) since Thanksgiving, and they're helping me be stronger and happier. Did you know they're the most nutrition-dense food in the whole produce department? Yay for nutrition! Today we all went to church. Another kid in Primary was disgusted and fascinated about my abruptly ending legs, but he got over it, as I just acted normal and we participated in Primary. His name is Alex, and when they talked about our Earthly home, he said, "I'm not an Earthling!" He was very adamant about that, even when we tried to help him understand. He became very friendly towards me by the end of Sharing Time. I think it was the super brake handles on my wheelchair. We had a great Thanksgiving week. Ben, Linda, Josh, Haley, Dallin, Hunter, and Danny, Melinda, Alex, Tristan, and Alaina came for an early afternoon, traditional feast. Then we put on the Polar Express, after trying some other movies, and Alaina and Tristan watched it with me, while everyone else was in the living room visiting. Alaina is such a cuddlebug! Tristan was having a hard time with worrying about everything imaginable, so we teased him briefly, asking him about fixing the economy, etc. Sadly, Justin couldn't make it up this time. So to Justin, Phillip, and Megan, Brooks, Aiden, Audrey, and Anya, I say, "Happy Thanksgiving!" And now, to the rest of the holiday season! We're trying to make little gifts for people, and we know that everyone is trying to save money, and it's actually more enjoyable this way. Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. We love you!!

Cute Kittens

The following is sort of a collage of some of the cute kittens out there on the Internet

(I also posted previously today, if you missed it)

Happy Pre-Thanksgiving Monday!

Just a little fatter than Tut

Sheesh, it's so late in the year already! Can you believe it? Mark is excited for Thanksgiving this week. He always enjoys cooking and baking for others, as you know, and we all gain from his talents. ;) Although I'm trying not to; I really want to just eat what I would on my own, and in the serving size that I'd eat on my own. That would help! Last week we went to see New Moon with Seth. We enjoyed it, although it lacked the music and the intensity and romance of the first movie. Also, I didn't like the new vampire contacts. Robt. Pattinson's makeup was not flattering! Also, his physique left much to be desired - and I don't even like muscle-y types! The Volturi encounter was also a letdown. What I did like was Jacob's hair being better, the story, Bella's dad, the huge wolves, and just seeing more of my favorite characters. Going with a crowd and hearing their laughs and sighs and screams was the best part of all. Especially Mark and Seth's moans of enjoyment! Ha! I got to substitute-teach in Relief Society yesterday, and it was on one of my favorite talks of all time: Elder Holland's talk, "Safety for the Soul." Unapologetic and very clear about the truth of the Book of Mormon, it provided a chance for us all to think about how we can be deceived in these times and how to avoid it, and to ask ourselves how we are testifying of the Book of Mormon. How do we want to do that, unequivocably and without fear? I could more easily talk before a crowd of strangers than share my testimony with individuals that I know. For that reason, I need to do the latter more often. I need to extend myself to others more, in friendly and helping ways. And we need to have more Family Home Evenings! It's just continuing to push the envelope a bit, not going overboard and then sputtering out, like an untrimmed wick. Never let it be said that my wick was not trimmed! Seth was home yesterday - he called in sick to work. He's had a cold for a while now, and he'd been working extra for someone else, and it caught up with him. I think it's the first time he's stayed home sick from work. Mark made us some beef tenderloin (which was too hard for me to chew - but that's just me, not the food) and cheesey potatoes, and then he baked some sugar cookies and we watched some old Farrah Fawcett movies. One was simply awful, and the second wasn't bad - it was verrry old, and therefore pretty funny. Called "Murder on Flight 502." Now Mark's gone to work and it's still snowy outside, from yesterday, and that's about all there is to tell you, except that Tut and Jasmine were really wrestling around yesterday. Tut throws his weight around, but Jasmine is more passionate, so they're pretty evenly matched. I felt sorry for little Jasmine. The night before, Mark brought her into our room and held her on his shoulder, which was something I've never witnessed before. It turned out, she'd killed a spider and Mark was grateful to her. Do you think if I would kill spiders he'd hold me on his shoulder? Instead, I hold spiders (or I've been know to) and kill Mark's shoulder! I write more when I think of something, okay? xoxoxo