thoughts

It seems most of my posts as of late have been more about events and less about the thoughts that are running through my ever-busy mind.  I blog for so many reasons but mainly to share information with our extended family and to have a record of our immediate family for posterity. 
That said....I feel like I need to jot down an update on my thoughts as a Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister and Friend.  They are scattered....so bear with me.

• We are finally starting to really feel settled here and that feels good.  The kids have friends, I am getting to know their parents, our ward is great and Philips job is wonderful.
• We are so glad we have chosen the BSA as a career.  Those early years were so very, very rough.  We knew they would be.  I'm sure others thought that our time at Camp Bartlett was "such a treat" to be outdoors, etc.   The blessings from that experience have been plentiful to say the least, but there is no doubt about it -- those long hours and little pay were tough on our family.  Hind-sight is 20/20 and boy are we glad we had those tough years.  This move was another "tough" time but it's already proving to have helped us grow even more.   Not to mention the wonderful people we have met along the way.   The Lord has had his hand in our career from the beginning.  
• Love is so very important.  As I've prayed about and for our family since we've moved, I keep getting a recurring feeling.  "just love them"  It seems that almost every problem in life can be answered with love.  I fall short in this area for sure -- I do love but I don't show it as much as I should.  Wouldn't you know it -- when I show them I love them, they reciprocate!:)  I am so grateful for the power of prayer.
• I am also so grateful for Philip.  This is such a simple thing but we went to the movie tonight and he left during the movie to go to the restroom.  It may sound silly but while he was gone I felt unsafe, alone and sad without him.  It was only a few minutes and I thought about how it would be if it was a long while.  We've lived apart before and we will again -- but I am so glad to know that he is my eternal companion -- no matter what.  He is my rock and the best thing that has happened to my life!
• On a lighter note: The Weather.  Since when did weather become so important in my life?  It seems I am constantly checking the  weather.  I remember when I lived in New York and I would talk to my Grandpa Ranney on the phone...he'd ask "So, how's the weather there in New York?"  I would think "Seriously? Who cares."  Guess I'm old now because I have the weather programmed in my phone for every member of our family.  "Honey, it's raining in Ignacio, Co."  Geez, I am old!  The sad thing is...Philip is interested too.  We are both getting up there.:)
• We've known Philip has his mini-me (Gavin) Well, now it's come to our attention that (drum-roll please) I now have a mini-me.  I am not exactly proud to say it because she is totally emotional, deals with anxiety and is either totally wonderful or totally awful.  Yes, it's our Libbie and she is just like me!  Heaven help us!  
• Moving here has really helped to "bring home" the economic crisis that our nation is in.  The housing market is so bad here and people are still losing jobs left and right.  Many people are under-employed if employed at all.  Some of these situations have been because of poor decisions but most of them just happened.  We are learning to make sure we have our plan B in place!  We are also learning to keep an eternal perspective in all of this while watching and helping others through struggles.  The Lord is mindful...always.
• Finally, I am so grateful and humbled to know that we are a very blessed family.  I don't need to have or hear of trials to help me to know how blessed my life is.  I thank my Heavenly Father daily and many times a day for the blessings in my life.  They are numberless.