Today I am grateful for...

OK, lets finish this already. :)

kidding. I love being grateful and actually taking the time to do so. 

Its been good for me.

[November 20] Today I am grateful for my Mom. 

she is super woman.

never in my life have i seen 

her bed unmade

her house not in order

her kids misbehave (ha.)

her be mean to someone, unless they REALLY deserved it

her not mow totally straight and perfect lines in her lawn

her not drop everything to bring us our essay or yearbook treats we forgot at home

her pass up an opportunity to serve

her not brush her teeth in hot water

her not buy very tempting gizmos, gadgets, make-ups, pillows, etc. on QVC

her unexcited for a church calling or assignment

her not at one of our sporting events unless there was a very good reason

her not pray and read her scriptures every morning

her not write an "I love you today" or "I am so proud of you" note in our lunchboxes

her not wash her sheets every Thursday

her neglecting her beautiful yard

her not excited for a new pair of Smart Wool socks, Nike Frees, Danskos or anything Christopher Banks/Coldwater Creek

her not get totally sucked into a great book 

her ever question her testimony of the gospel
her not blast amy grant's holiday music the day after thanksgiving

her asleep until we got home every night

her not mix her peanut butter and honey before putting it on a sandwich

her not think of the most quirky ideas and saying to use in Mr. Ropers college english essays

her not do her visiting teaching each and every month

her make a gross meal 

her not write the most random and sometimes embarrassing beet season texts  

(i.e. On October 19, 2011 she wrote: So for some reason I have this amazing super power of being able to swat numerous flies with my gloved hands. Maybe its because the warm, noisy, bumpy, stinky truck lulls them to a complete relaxed state...so much for super powers." - this isn't even near as great as some of the other that she has shared with us)

her not write a thank-you note to someone who has done something nice for her or to someone that she is thinking about

her not do 'the surf' or her stretches in the kitchen

her not volunteer for a prayer

her let anyone use, touch or trample her pillow (i don't blame her)

her not setup a 'sick bed' next to her bed when we got sick in the middle of the night

or her ever not love my dad or any of us kids, even when we are late, stupid or not communicating. 

i love you mom. 

thanks for being so stinkin great.

best mom i ever had

i want to be just like you when i grow up.

[November 21] Today I am grateful for my health. 

especially after being sick last week.

i feel like i totally take my health for granted. oops.

what a blessing it is to be able to get up everyday 

and to be able to work and be active

(although sitting in front of my computer all day doesn't qualify for being active).

i've had some pretty weird illnesses and issues in my day 

and oh how grateful i am to be normal this very second.

but you know what i love most about my health?

i can eat a big fat (and fattening) quarter pounder with cheese 

and still feel great! (until after its gone, because then i want another)(not.)

[November 22] Today I am grateful for friends.

i have the best friends in the entire world -

friends from high school, college and now the married student kind. 

they're all the best.

friends, thanks for all you do and have done for me. i owe you big. 

[November 23] Today I am grateful for my in-laws: miss patty and bill. :)

there is no way on earth i could have picked better in-laws. 

first of all, lets chat about trish.

she is quite the gal.

I love this woman because:

she is spunky! 

i admire so much how she is not afraid to talk or voice her opinion to anyone no matter what!

and even though she is 60 (which you'd NEVER be able to tell), 

she is still the funnest, most current and fashionable grandma i know!

she loves the Lord.

i have never in all my life been in the Mendenhall home and not seen a set of scriptures open on the table. She is such a wonderful example of service and dedication to the Lord. She was the best Stake Young Womens leader and truly loved each girl in our stake.

she is strong{.}

last time i checked its not too easy losing your husband 

(especially when your husband is Bill Mendenhall) 

but this woman has never let her testimony of the gospel and the plan of salvation waiver 

and 

instead of worrying about herself without Bill around she worries about her children. what a great mom.

she raised one amazing boy!

spence has a pretty good mix of his mother and father in him.

he gets so many good qualities - like his goofiness - from his dad

but he gets his conflict management skills :), tender spirit and heart, willingness to serve, and amazing work ethic from his cute mom. 

Thanks Trish!

Now Bill...

man i miss this guy. 

he and i became pretty good friends (as most could say about their relationship with him) and golf partners. 

Spencer and his dad were best friends. 

They were sooo goofy when they were together. 

it was pretty cute.

Spence, like the rest of us, was smitten by him. 

There was nothing he couldn't do. 

It saddens me when I know spence is trying to make a decision about life

and wants so badly to talk it over with his dad, but can't. 

Bill touched so many lives and i am so grateful that i got to become friends with him 

and now get to be apart of the incredible family he taught and raised. 

He and I used to email back and forth after spence left on his mission

and the way he would end his emails was like a little cherry on top. 

Here's a few:

A fan of the Dork  =)   (Got ta love it!)

-Bill

You are a class act, and there aren't very many things I wouldn't do for you.

-WKM

Your biggest fan

-Bill

{you should know that my heart strings have been pulled extremely hard while writing this grateful post} 

[November 24] Today i am grateful for Thanksgiving.
That kinda sounds weird, i know, but doesn't this holiday just make you happy?
what other holiday is centered on being grateful {and food} and nothing else - no presents or dressing up or candy hunting - just family and gratitude. thats pretty neat.




We had a great Thanksgiving. I took some pictures that morning then we just hung out together as family, made a wonderful and very bounteous meal, sat and tried to digest, then ate pie and THEN...made the big plans for shopping! which leads me to my next grateful item...

[November 25] Today I am grateful for Black Friday and all its craziness.
this event is terribly strange to me.
people make game plans, wake up early and get mean to save a couple bucks on princess barbies, legos, scooters, cameras and socks. 
at least that's what me and my crazy family did this morning (except get mean, the garrard clan is a pretty fun group to shop with) 
every year without fail we gather round grandma garrard table and circulate the adds and make our list.
we then meet at AMI supply at 3:30 and go to a store or 2 in burley then head off to twin to get our socks and such.
its a tradition i don't ever want to miss. 

Today I am grateful for...

I promise I have not forgotten to be thankful everyday for the past week, I just have been a sick and super busy with work and such. So here I am being grateful for all to see. 

[November 12] Today i am grateful for my iMac.

Last Christmas my adorable and sneaky husband surprised and spoiled me with the most fabulous prize...

a big, fat iMac!

I'll be honest, i can work magic on this thing. I can have up to 6 screens operating all at once and I can get very up close and personal with the blemishes on my photo subjects faces...its almost gross. kidding. but seriously if anyone took this beauty away from me I would be somewhat worthless. 

Thanks Spence for this fabulous gift. I am so much more productive now. 

[November 13] Today I am grateful for Jesus Christ. 

I taught the lesson in Relief Society today on the Second Coming and wow...what a fun topic to teach.

I learned so much and it solidified my testimony of my Savior Jesus Christ 

and his Atoning sacrifice made for us.

I seriously cannot wait for the day, whenever it may be, that the Savior comes and reigns on the Earth - when we get to be taught by Him, when He prays for us and blesses us. So cool. 

I am most grateful for the peace I feel each day in knowing that I am not alone. That my Savior has felt and experienced all the pain, sadness, fear, discouragement, stress, joy and happiness that I go through and experience. 

[November 14] Today i am grateful for my Dad.

He is sooo cool.

He's taught me alot, like:

How to work.

which includes things like how to artificially inseminate a cow, how to drive a tractor, truck, loader, move hand lines, mow the lawn, hoe beets, etc.

How to play ball.

Ever since I can remember he and I would spend hours in the drive way or up at the church shooting, dribbling and passing the ball over and over and over again. I attribute all of my skills to him.

He's also me and my sisters biggest fan and coach 

even though sometimes we didn't always want him to be :) 

How to be kind and patient.

My  dad doesn't loose his cool very easy, unless he's at the dairy and in that case stay away because he's usually holding a hot shot :) 

I have never in my life seen my dad get mad at my mom. 

He is nice to everyone whether they deserve it or not, except to some referee's because like I said he is our biggest fan.

How to serve.

My dad is the best example of service. 

Even before he was the bishop of our ward he would help any chance he got which meant we usually got to help as well. 

I remember one time bucking bales of hay for an hour to take to a lady in our ward for her farm animals and she didn't have a clue. 

He's the best. I'd choose him to be my employer, coach, home teacher or bishop any day. 

How to enjoy the little things and have a sense of humor.

Some of my favorite dates with spencer were the ones were we watched a movie at my house and we would hear a deep chuckle coming from the stairs. 

Sure enough my dad was joining in on the movie date and we loved it. 

He loves movies and anything on TV. [he's easily entertained]

I remember one night my mom was gone and so my dad thought it would be funny to pour her a glass of ice cold olive juice with a pepsi can sitting next to it. She came in and thought he was so sweet for having a pepsi ready for her when she got home. As she lifted the drink to her mouth he was seriously bouncing up and down because he was laughing so stinking hard. he's a dork. 

I am so grateful for my dad. I am grateful that he holds his priesthood worthily and was able to bless me and my family whenever we needed. My dad always has the best advice and the right thing to say. 

i love you Dad!

[November 15] today I am grateful for the Book of Mormon.

Sometimes i am not always the best reader of this fabulous book but whenever I read I am filled with strength and with the spirit. It seems that whenever i'm searching for an answer in the Book of Mormon i can find exactly what I need. The restoration of the gospel and the translation of this fabulous book is such a miracle and I am so grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith. 

[November 16] Today I am grateful for the farm.

{how hick does that sound}

But really, i know it sounds silly but i have to attribute the person i am today to where and how I grew up.

i absolutely LOVE the farm. I love working there. I love going back and visiting there. I love the freedom of the country. I love the lessons and work ethic i learned there. I love the creativity we had to have to find entertainment there. I love the people there. I even love the cows there. :)

Whenever I am asked if I could live back in Raft River i say HECK YES. because I loved it there...except i don't know if spence would live there with me. 

[November 17] Today I am grateful for my education.

Some say that Utah State makes you take some crazy classes because they try to make you "well-rounded" and its true some classes were really quite pointless. But I am so grateful for the knowledge I received there, even if it was pointless sometimes. 

[November 18] Today I am grateful for my nieces and nephews.

all 14 of them + 2 on the way.

i think being an aunt is one of the coolest jobs ever. first of all, who doesn't love spoiling kids? its the best. second, no matter what you do they think you are the coolest. and they love you always regardless if you had to put them to bed or gave them a spanking. I was just home last week playing with ave and preston and jane and i accidentally bonked PJ's head but he still played with me all day and then I was playing with ave and had the idea to use the treadmill on level 1 as a slide. she thought that was the coolest! 

i am so stinking lucky to be an aunt to all my fabulous nieces and nephews. 

[November 19] Today I am grateful for modern medicine, namely Oscillococcinum.

I caught the flu bug and oh my it is not fun stuff. 

Yesterday i could not keep down my breakfast, lunch or dinner. BUT today I am feeling quite a bit better thanks to a yummy [no really it is yummy] medicine named Oscillococcinum. These fabulous, dissolveable sugar pellets work wonders and make me feel so much better. Give them a try.

today i am grateful for...

oops, i did it again.

i forgot to be thankful yesterday and the day before. 

November 9: today I am grateful for my bed.

can I just say that no other place makes me feel so happy. 

I haven't been feeling quite up to par the last few days and so my bed and i have done some serious bonding.

I especially love it when my sheets are cold and I can snuggle the covers up to my nose.

I'm pretty sure it has magical powers too.

Like seriously I can have just woken up one hour ago and if I walk into my room, my bed somehow forces me into it for a little morning snooze. 

but hey, i'm not complaining.

 

and this may be a little un-called for, but they say it on MTV Cribs so its gotta be ok..its where the magic happens :) 

wait a sec, before we move on: do you guys think I am shallow or vain for the things i am grateful for? pinterest, mexican food, my sweats, my bed.... 

don't worry, i am sure my churchy and my family posts are coming sometime within the month. 

November 10: today I am grateful for mexican food.

i always say that i think i was really supposed to be Hispanic in my first life...maybe in my next one?

i also always say that EVERYTHING is better in a tortilla. 

my little sister, ray j, and i and pretty much anyone who has ever eaten at the taco van in the bonaza motors parking lot in burley idaho knows what sparked my obsession with tacos and mexican food in general. 

salsa...mmm

tacos...mmmm

pico de gallo...mmmm

burritos...mmm

beans...mmm

tortillas...mmm

cilantro....mmmm

chiles...mmm

jaritos...mmm

mexi coke...mmm

oh how grateful i am for these things.

November 11: today I am grateful for callings.

(look a churchy one already)

my mom always taught us to accept and magnify our callings. no matter what they be. 

and she practices what she preaches. 

I recently was called to be a relief society teacher and let me tell you...i couldn't be more excited. i missed my first week of teaching and so this is the week. I am starting on the perfect lesson...the Second Coming. 

wowza.

I think the reason why i love callings and am grateful for them is because they teach me a lot. not only about the gospel but about myself. I served as the relief society president before my current calling and loved it. I learned how i want to parent my children, how close to the spirit children are and that i need to learn some patience before i start having my own. that calling also served as some pretty strong birth control :) 

Spencer is the elders quorum president and i can see how that calling has transformed him as a priesthood holder and as a man. before this calling he liked our ward fine but didn't have the love for the members until now. He is more friendly, social and compassionate. 

"Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies.”

-President Monson

today i am grateful for...

November 8: Today I am grateful for my talents and hobbies.

My Webb family was surely not blessed with the singing, dancing, instrumental or any of those other graceful talents. Instead we played basketball and volleyball...very gracefully. It was always kind of a bummer when school or church or family events would come up that involved a talent show because we had nothing to showcase. We showcased our talents every Tuesday and Thursday night out on the court. 

I wouldn't have traded to be a trendsetter or on the dance team though.

(no offense, I loved all your fancy dresses and outfits)

Anyways, despite the obvious fact that I cannot sing or dance, I am grateful for the things I can do and enjoy doing.

Here's some of my favorite:

1. golfing...especially with my husband

2. playing basketball (although I am too old, fat and out of shape to much of this anymore)

3. taking pictures

4. designing and creating anything digital

5. eating - I am a good eater...something only a new baby should be proud of

6. naps. oh i love these and am very good at them. 

7. being friendly and occasionally humorous.

8. memorizing or remembering. (while i stink at remembering names and faces, i rock at remembering book junk)

9. cooking. this is just one of my new found hobbies...it has yet to turn into a talent.

10. writing. i don't necessarily love this talent, but my i did graduate in PR and that's what we do. 

The talents we have come from our Heavenly Father, and to honor Him, we can develop and expand them and then return them to Him. All of us possess some talent which we can practice, increase, and offer. Are you regularly practicing your talents? Perhaps your talent is kindness or gratitude. How about being cheerful, helpful, and unselfish? How about practicing that winning smile? The Wise Men brought their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We can bring our talents.

(General Conference, 1992)

today, yesterday and the day before i am grateful for...

oops. looks like i failed to be grateful over the weekend. allow me to catch up...

November 5: Today I am grateful for saturday chores.

 Today was Saturday. What does that mean? Saturday chores. All growing up saturday was the day designated for cleaning the house. My chores used to be: 

1. clean my room

2. vacuum the basement

3. clean the garage

4. burn/take out the garbages

5. clean the bathroom -- toilet bowl and all

So today, I vacuumed, dusted, cleaned my bathroom, kitchen and bedroom. Just like my mom would have made me do if I still lived at home. 

I am sure i grumbled the entire time i was scrubbing the gross toilet all my sisters used or while i was getting the dead mice out of the corners in the garage but I am happy that my mom instilled in us the tradition of saturday chores, because now i have and keep a pretty clean home!

Thanks Mom!

November 6: Today I am grateful for Sundays.

This day could very well be my favorite day of the week. 

Everything about Sundays is perfect. 

Here's what I do:

[@ 6:30 am] I peek my eyes open at spencer who is getting ready for his meetings and then give him a morning breath kiss goodbye (ugh!) and then I go right back to sleep for another hour or so.

[@ 7:30-8 am] I get up and get ready at my leisure while listening to my favorite church hymns and contemplating what i am going to make for lunch.

[@ 8:52 am] i grab a pop-tart as i head out the door (a childhood activity that has and always will stick)

[@ 9:01 am] go to my fabulous church meetings (relief society, sunday school, and sacrament) 

[@ 12:30 pm] make and eat lunch, watch football or golf and take a long, needed sunday nap

[@ 5:00 pm] start a movie, edit pictures, go visit friends, play games, etc. 

[@ 7:00 pm] pop POPCORN! (love this tradition)

What is there not to love about a lazy sunday? 

I really actually love Sundays because it just feels like a re-charge day. After having a crappy, unmotivated week I so much look forward to sundays to give me that boost I need to start the week over again - spiritually, physically and mentally.

November 7: Today I am grateful for Pinterest.

Where in the world did this ingenious program come from? 

At first I must admit i was a skeptic thinking "oh, I'll just look at my sisters boards to get ideas...i don't need my own." And now I must admit...I was very wrong.

I got a text from Meag Saturday morning at about 9:32, after I just pinned like 8 new things, that read "is there any chance your addicted to pinterest?"

No meag, I just like it, a lot. 

and ps in order for you to be seeing that i pinned something that early in the morning means you were probably also on pinning away. so there.

but really guys, why couldn't i have been the one to have thought about this? all i can say is my hard drive is also very happy that I have discovered this.

Pinterest solves basically any question.

For example:

What should I make for dinner? 

or where did I see that fabulous chicken taquito recipe?

What do I want for christmas?

(Thanks mace...a $300 gold Nixon watch)

What's something inexpensive i can make to hang on my door? 

{of course... a burlap wreath}

How do I prevent pit stains from my husbands white shirts?

How do I keep my zipper from falling down? 

What should I pack for my next vacation?

Where do I want to go on my next vacation?

How do I want to do my hair tomorrow? 

How do I want to pose the next baby I shoot? 

[when I say shoot i mean take photos of]

How should I build my next kitchen, nursery, backyard, bedroom, breakfast nook, 

play room and storage area?

ETC.

ETC.

ETC!!!!

If you find that you have these same extremely pressing questions, refer to my pinterest page (mckell_m) for the answer.

Have a good Monday!

today i am grateful for...

November 4: TODAY i am grateful for life's simple treasures.

as i was contemplating what i was grateful for today, 

I was eating lunch [a quesadilla] and as my teeth sunk into those two 

glorious tortillas with melted cheese in between and sour cream smothered on top, 

I thought to myself how does something get any better? Seriously. 

How can something as simple as my quesadilla make me feel so happy. 

and then I thought about the hundreds of other simple things that me so stinking happy. 

Here's a few: (and don't judge if most of them are food items)

1. taking a hard earned paycheck to the bank...cha ching!

2. indulging in a good PB&J (there.is.NOTHING.better)

3. hearing the door open at 6:30 when spence is getting home from work

4. booking a hotel (i'm such a child..i think hotels are fun)

5. popping a bag of popcorn (or asking for extra butter at the theater)

6. the 'ding' noise when I get a text message

7. McDonalds McDouble....so delicious, so healthy :)

8. making the drive home

9. brushing my teeth (with warm water)

10. black friday. i love getting up at 3:30 to shop with the other crazies!

11. a quesadilla dipped in sour cream

12. a warm house

13. a warm car...even in the summer

14. jamming to Celine Dion's Its all Coming Back to me Now. (make me smile even thinking about it)

15. seeing my mom's name on the caller id

16. getting picture messages of my nieces and nephews

17. having lunch with fabulous friends

18. walking into the temple hand in hand with Mr. Wonderful

19. sweats and slippers

20. free t-shirts

 21. long baths just for fun

22. making a new list of something

23. pony tails + the BRAID! ... love my horse main

24. a good kiss :) 

25. sunday naps

I could go on and on about all the {little treasures} life has to offer but I won't. I am just so grateful for the pure joy these simple things bring to my life.

today i'm grateful for...

November 3: TODAY I am grateful for jobs!

It sounds really boring but if you think about it, our jobs enable us to live, 

to have shelter, to drive our cars, to go on dates, to do pretty much everything. 

So today that is what I am grateful for. 

Here's what we do:

I currently work like one million jobs that keep me very busy, 

but I love it WAY more than going to school. 

(i really only work like 3 jobs, but sometimes it seems like one million)

I still work as a receptionist at Murdock Hyundai and enjoy the people 

there but not necessarily the work I do.

My next, and second to favorite, source of income is at Harris Research INC. 

This little company houses the world's largest carpet cleaning company [Chem-Dry] 

and also a wood renewal company [N-Hance]. I work in the 

Marketing and Communications department for both companies and 

I absolutely love it. 

My third, favorite and least time committed {job} is taking photos. I love to take pictures but haven't really committed myself to it quite yet. I think eventually it will become my only job but until then I'll continue to piddle with it every now and again. 

As far as Mr. Spencer goes, well he is a hooker. 

{and a dang good one at that} 

Spence can and does do it all at Hooker Appliance. He sells, fixes/services, delivers, etc. 

and he is very proud to sport his big blue Big n' Friendly Hooker Appliance 

shirt with his name on it to work everyday. 

Can you believe that slogan?

joining the bandwagon.

since everyone is talking about what they are grateful for each day this month,

i didn't want to sound un-grateful so i guess i'll do the same. 

YESTERDAY (nov 1) I am sure I was first and foremost grateful for my most fabulous husband. 

I cannot even begin to tell you how fun and great life has been since I married this guy two 

short years ago. He makes me smile everyday, even when I really don't want to. 

I am so lucky to be able to get to spend forever with him.

TODAY i'm grateful for sweats and sweatshirts. 

These never lose their value to me. This morning when I woke up it was 18 degrees outside...burrr. 

So the first thing I did was throw on a pair of my most comfy sweats and an over-sized 

sweatshirt (hood and all) and some slippers. then i turned on my space heater 

(which i am soooo grateful for, but i will leave that for another grateful post :)

we're boring.

you could call us Halloween scrooges if you'd like. 

we did absolutely nothing for the spooky holiday.

no pumpkin carving, painting or decorating.

not a single bag of candy bought.

no thoughts about costumes.

no scary movies.

lights off.

no trick or treaters.

and i liked it. 

thanks mom.

hope you had a good one.