Thanksgiving, Crazies, and Angels

Yesterday was great. The turkey was fabulous! I've never had such a moist turkey before. I'm telling you, brining is the way to go. You can brine and then cook your turkey however you normally do, but just add this step...you won't regret it. After an awesome dinner we all just played games. We had our Wii there too, so some of us played that too. Emma had a blast seeing everyone, helping with our games, and wathing movies. She also got to drink some rootbeer (normally she doesn't get soda), and snuck a few too many M&Ms. She wanted to stay overnight and cried a little when we told her we needed to go home. She just loves being around everyone so much.

I was wondering if any of you go out shopping on black friday? And I don't mean later in the day, I mean 4am or 5am. If you go, why? What is the pull? What is so great about getting no sleep, standing in long lines, dealing with huge angry crowds, and fighting for merchandise? I saw all the adds yesterday, and there wasn't anything that looked so fabulous that I had to go out and get it. I am highly in favor of not having these door buster sales at all. Of course that would never happen, but when you hear about people being trampled to death and women being trampled and then having a miscarriage, you gotta be wondering why anyone would want to encourage such behavior. And I know the stores don't want that happening, but since people are idiots and can't be stopped, the stores should stop offering what entices these people to crawl out of their holes. Dream on, I know.

On another note, have any of you seen the movie Errand of Angels? I have been told countless times that I should see it if for no other reason than it is about a red head who serves a mission in Austria (sound familiar?). Well, I don't generally like any of these churchy type movies (you know, Singles Ward, God's Army, etc.). I think they are stupid, and while sometimes slightly humorous, they are such a big waste of time. Errand of Angels came on TV yesterday, so I recorded it. That way I could watch it if I wanted and not have to waste any money doing it. I watched it tonight, and my ears are still hurting. I've never heard such bad German in my life!!! Even after her character was supposed to have better German I could hardly understand a word she said. Her accent was absolutely horrible, and her grammar wasn't much better. Some of the others had bad accents too. I won't say anything about my own German accent (you'll have to ask my companions, fellow missionaries, or husband for that report), but as for the sisters and elders I served with, their german was all much much better than represented in this movie. It was very cheesy like all movies of this type. The scenery was wonderful, and it was fun seeing many of the places I have been, but I should have watched it with the mute button on...I would have saved myself a huge headache. So if you speak German, this is my warning to you...beware the bad accents and grammar if you decide to watch this film. And for those of you who don't speak german, ignore the language, and relish in the beauty of the country. Austria is absolutely the most breathtaking place on earth.

More Gratitude Give Me

For as long as I can remember I have been asking Heavenly Father to help me see His blessings each day in my life. I think I do this because I tend to be more on the oblivious end of the spectrum. I don't mean to, but far too often, unless I really think about it, I just don't seem to recognize all that I am blessed with. And it is abolutely not because I am not blessed with much. Quite the contrary is true. I am so uber-blessed that I tend to take for granted all that I have and enjoy.

Each year at this time I really start to think about my blessings and what I am thankful for (don't we all?). This isn't the only time I do this, but it seems to be more focused. I think that the Lord has wanted me to sit up and notice my blessings a little more, and show more gratitude for them in a more obvious way. I'm under this impression because I was asked to teach Relief Society last Sunday and then also asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. In RS the lesson was on President Monson's talk Finding Joy in the Journey from last Conference, a large portion of which is gratitude, and gratitude was also my assigned topic for my talk. So, this last week that's what I studied. And it was a wonderful reminder of how much the Savior has done for me, and indeed all of us. I came up with a little equation (that's not new information), but it's a good reminder of the process we each should always be working on.

Gratitude = Humility = Abitlity to see more blessings = Happiness

When you're grateful and give thanks for what you have and have been blessed with, you become more humble. When you're humble you acknowledge your need for a higher power and recognize His hand in all things, which enables you to more easily recognize your blessings. When you realize just how blessed you are, you can't help but be happy. This process draws you nearer to the Savior, and helps you to become a little more like Him. It's wonderful being so focused on the positive that you don't have the time to see the negative in anything. The negative just kind of goes away.


I am grateful for everything I have been blessed with, especially wonderful friends and family like all of you. Thanks for putting up with all of my wierdness and forgiving me my many faults. This Thanksgiving I'm especially grateful for all of you. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Pilgrim Hat Treats

I saw this idea online and had to make them. There were so cute and easy. I gave some to my nephew and niece since I won't see them on Thanksgiving this year, but I thought I would make some more for the rest of the family too.

Are you excited for tomorrow? I am. This year we're making the pies again (we usually do dessert, either pies, pumpkin cheesecake, or both) and are just keeping it simple and traditional with an apple crumb and a pumpkin pie. Yummy. But we are also in charge of the turkey this year. I am soooooo excited!! We are going to brine the turkey the night before. Yay!

I think Emma is excited too. Yesterday after dance class she asked if we could go eat Thanksgiving. I love that it is now not only a holiday, but something to eat.

Adventures in Dressing

For some reason a few nights ago Emma decided she needed more clothes on. She put her nightgown on and some other items too. Don't ask me where she got the idea to put her underwear on her head. She's just silly like that. She came out of her room and this was the result. I guess the wierd genes she got from me are starting to kick in. Look out!