The Henderson Family Chronicles

As 2011 comes to a quiet close, I find myself obligated to reflect upon the year, review the goals that I set in attempt to be more like the person that I think Christ would like me to be. ( Review Here ) I have been hesitant to review, afraid to catalog all the places that I fell short. I have procrastinated thinking about 2012, in fear of the potential possibility of maybe failing. Just reading that makes me blush, I am so absurd. Maybe I shouldn't get out of bed, in case it's a bad day. Phhhht. Time for me to (wo)man up, wear my big girl panties and face myself. As I type this, I am reviewing (and discovering) my success and failure during the year for the first time...We are finding out together, friends! Goal #1 - More diligent and frequent scripture study Like I do in most aspects of my life, I over-complicated. I was always want a plan, a program, forms to fill out, a schedule. It's too complicated, and takes too much work so nothing happens. I felt torn, we are ...

Someone else said it recently. It's easier to type a two line status update, than to make a blog post. Why? Do we feel like a blog post has to be wordy? Maybe my blog should murder my facebook, before the reverse can happen... And so in lieu of a creative, wordy blog, I present my Facebook status updates over the last few weeks... Nov. 18: Em has my ukulele out. She's singing the blues: I jump-ped on mom's laundry, she spank-ked my bum when I was jumpin' on furniture.... Nov. 22: I asked the kids last night what they wanted MOST for Christmas, more than anything in the world. Nate can't decide (are we surprised?)... But Em knew right away. She wanted her own car with money in it so she can go buy things. Nov. 29: Got the Our Best Bites cookbook for my birthday (thank you sister Amy ). I made Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos for dinner last night. What a hit!!! We will never buy frozed fried taquitos ever again!!! Dec. 5: Are you looking for a family activit...

Well, See, I told you. Double LAME-O. I just can't keep up. But I have a solution. I will list ALL 30 items here, one thing I am thankful for for each day of November. Here we go: 1. The things that my mom taught me...teaches me...still learning... 2. The tender mercies of the Lord  (Click here to read David A. Bednar's talk on the subject) 3. Service 4. Family- the concept of families... 5. Mawage...Mine, my parents, the institution in general. 6. On the 6th I was simply grateful that the wedding festivities were over! 7. Relief Society 8. My Nannew - my best friend, my true love. Forever. 9. Sunshine...On my shoulders, makes me happyyyyyyyyyyyy... 10. The sound of music...not the show, actual music. Just to clarify. 11. Food, glorious food!!! 12. The internet, and all the good, fun, helpful things that come from it. 13. My extended family - the Andersons are one wild and crazy and fun and helpful group!!! 14. Amazon - Shhh, don't tell how good of friends we ...

Today I am grateful for fall. I love the smell, the colors, the holidays, the temperature, the start of school. I especially love sunny fall days. Oh, and snowy fall days. The first snowy day....I love leaves. Today the kids and I raked at my mom's house, and I let the kids jump in the leaves. They were both shocked to death when I started a leaf fight halfway through the bagging process. I love the food in the fall. I plan to savor every bite, because the time has come for me to put a little more effort into losing weight, and so it becomes necessary to take fewer bites. Fall is when I am happiest, ask anyone who spends time with me. The beginning of winter is good too. I'll be thankful for that another day!

We've all suspected it, now we know. I have no excuse to be so far behind. Absolutely none. I just am. I'm LAME. So, before the homemade pizza comes out of the oven, a quick catch up: 11.11.11 - I am grateful for food, glorious food. All of it. I am not particular. I just love to feel it in my mouth. The flavors, the textures. I love it. 11.12.11 - I am grateful for the internet. I love research, it is really great for that. I love the way it is good for sharing the gospel.I love being able to keep in  touch with people that otherwise would have been lost. I love the way it is good for ideas. We are making a LOT of Christmas gifts this year, and it is awesome for idea collecting. 11.13.11 - I am grateful for my extended family. We are greatly blessed with non-interfering parents, great siblings, most of our grandparents (as in mine and Andrew's) still around. We are doubly blessed that almost all of our family is in town, all are within a day's drive. 11.14.11 -...

I am SO grateful, on this, the 10th Day of Thankfulness, for Music. I am grateful for how it feels as it comes into me(through my ears, folks, if that isn't clear), I am grateful for how it feels inside of me, and how I feel as I release it (that would be out my mouth, y'all).  I feel the spirit more through music than any other source. Music has incredible power to affect people and inspire action. I have been singing in a real live choir (as opposed to a fake dead one?), and didn't realize that I had forgotten how much I do love the way it feels when you get the notes and words and tone and blending right. PS, shameless plug... It's free, it gets you in the holiday spirit, and you get to see me. (and my sister. And about 48 other women...) And in parting, I'd like to share some thoughts on music. You can pretend I am singing this to you. Or not, maybe you'd rather I didn't... Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing ...

I really don't think there is much more to say. On Day 9 of my 30 Days Of Grateful (do you notice I call it something different every day? I am totally doing that on purpose, it IS NOT because I can't for the life of me remember what I decided to call it on the first day...) I am grateful for Sunshine. Especially when there is none. And I would like to reiterate that one of the top three things on my life's wishlist is a sunroom. Not the glass type, but one with a regular roof, and wall to wall windows, 6 foot tall. So I can open them and smell the rain, and so it's warm enough to enjoy all winter. Mmmmmm...