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.