National anthem

Today at Church we sang the National Anthem since it is close to the 4th of July. As we stood and sang Maggie started to sing as well. Every time we sing it(each year at least) and we sing all the verses a tear comes to my eye. I really don't know why it just does. I am grateful to be in the US I am grateful to live where I do and have the neighbors I do.

My Boys

This morning I headed over to my folks so I could help my dad. He had called last night and asked what time I would be there. Well, since I am old I told the boys to come over in case I needed there help. Well turns out dad changed his mind but the boys came over anyway and mowed the lawn for me. This is after being out late to a show. It wasn't a midnight showing but a 10:10 show. They invited me to the movie and it was fun.
I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my boys (and Jo and Maggie as well).

Les Mis

As I was at the gym last night (I know hard to believe but I went). I had my iPod on shuffle as usual. I came across several songs in a row from Les Mis. This prompted me to stop the shuffle and just listen to the songs in order. I love this musical! I am grateful that I have been able to see it many times. I am also grateful that my wife loves it as do my kids. Sharing this experience for the first time with them is one of my sweetest memories. My kids used to (well they still do ) make fun of how easy I cry at plays and movies. Les Mis taught them the power that a play or movie can have and for that I am most grateful of all

Our Birth Mother

Yesterday was our birth mothers birth day. I have to say how grateful I am for her and the courage and unselfish love she has to place Maggie with us. Maggie is the best thing to happen to Nat and I and without our wonderful Birth Mother we would not have the joy we do.
Birth mothers all over are special. They demonstrate the most unselfish act of love by making the miracles happen that only they can.
I heard it said before that a birth mother has basically 3 choices.
1. They could have an abortion. Then the baby would not be around at all.
2. They could decide to parent. (Most often in a one parent home) and hope that the baby would have the life and chances of success it would otherwise. Knowing that they will show the baby love and support.
3. Place the child in a 2 parent loving home to be raised by a loving family that might be able to offer the child better chances of success.

So today and everyday I am grateful for our families super hero, our birth mother. We hope and pray for your happiness and success. A day does not go by that I do not say thank you in my heart for all you have done.

Grumbling but grateful

I don’t know if this is a grateful item or not but, I ordered a new laptop for work. The company was nice enough to deliver it to the wrong address. It went to Plano Tx not Utah. I called and thought I had it straightened out, but no word, no laptop and my old one is on the verge of dying.
I am grateful that I can send a quick email to ask about it rather than sit on hold and not get calls returned.
Once it gets here it won’t be a big deal I guess but….ok stay positive…I am grateful I can at least order a new laptop with out any expense on my part.!

Power of Blogs

I am truly amazed at how the world is connected simply by blogs. I love looking at my families blogs as well as our friends. It is great to know that our friends can keep up with our lives by a simple click of a mouse.
It also blows me away at the amount of people world wide that get to your blog without much effort on your part. Look at the map (at the right or a better shot at the bottom of the page. Click on it to see a bigger view)
That just makes me smile and grateful to live in an age where it is all possible!

What makes me smile

Ok so at 4 am this morning (and yesterday morning) I was awoken by Maggie stating to fuss a little. I go in as soon as I hear her now due to the fact that she loves to roll over on her stomach and I don't want her falling asleep again on her tummy with her face buried in a blanket etc.

Well every time she does this I roll her over and she gives me that smile that just melts my heart. I change her and if need feed her. This morning she stayed up so we watched Saturdays nights Robin Hood together.

I am so grateful for a wonderful family and that Maggie saw fit to join us in her special way that she did.

The Dump

I spent today working in the yard and mainly in the carport cleaning and organizing. I ended up going 3 times to the dump with my dads pickup.
Wow the place looks better! I am grateful that we have a dump close by. Round trip it took 45minutes to drive there, wait in line, dump and then drive home. Only for the cost of 3 bucks!
I am tired but glad to see the yard and carport coming together.

BBC Robin Hood

As I stated before, I got a new DVD recorder for father’s day. I have spent the past week starting to record the shows I have saved. I must say I really enjoy Robin Hood. This is a BBC show that is in it’s 2nd season. The shows first were shown earlier in England and through the miracle of You Tube I was able to watch the entire season (It was in 10 minute pieces)
So as I have recorded the ones that have shown here I am happy to sit through and watch them again.
If you want to see a good version of Robin or the Sheriff or really any of the characters tune into BBC America on Saturday nights.
I am grateful for good TV when it happens!

DVD Recorder

I got a new DVD player/recorder for fathers day. My old one finally burned out and would not even play regular dvds. So now I start the long process of taking everything I have saved on my cable dvr and burn them onto disc. Natalie says she doesn’t understand why I have to have TV shows to watch later. (This coming from a lady who will watch Americas next top model or John and Kate plus 8, whenever it comes on no matter how many times she has seen it before).
Will, I enjoy good shows. I only have 2 that I am saving and burning to disc. BBC Robin Hood and Heroes. I have the first season of both and now want the 2nd. It saves me having to buy them when they come out on DVD since I record straight from the tv. I also enjoy some of the commercials. (Well, that might be a lie) But I am grateful to record the programs I want and watch them wherever

Randall

To is Randall's birthday. So I must talk about how grateful I am for him.

He is a riot to have around. Nat says he is a mini me in every detail. His sense of humor and his approach to life is quite admirable.

Growing up he was always close to his sister and brother. He has a special bond with Maggie. She gives him a smile that only he gets.

Now if we can just find him the perfect girl, that will put up with comics, belt buckles, not much money and his quirky comments that I find so funny.

Don't worry bud she is out there...(Please send contact info to.....)

Homemade Taco Soup

When Maggie was placed with us the neighbors brought in a few days of dinners. One of those dinners was a homemade Taco Soup. It was so good that we got the recipe and have had it several times in the past 4 months. Tonight Nat made it once more and every time I have it I am grateful for neighbors who worried and prayed with us as we worked on our adoption miracle.

Also Last night Jo and Josh as well as Cody came over for fathers day. It was a blast. I am so proud of all My kids and what they have done and are doing in their life's. I am also grateful for how Maggie loves them all. Jo and her have a special bond. (So do The boys and Maggie) but when Jo holds Maggie she just seems to snuggle in. She wont even do that with me....

Drive in Friends

Last night we got together with 11 other families to watch a movie in a friends backyard. Now it was not on a regular TV but with the use of a HD projector on the side of the house. We were getting together for Families Supporting Adoption.
I am so grateful that we have this tie in with other adoptive families and those waiting/working on their own adoption miracle. As the years go on it means that Maggie will have friends that were adopted and know that it is a positive thing.
We watch Ratatouille and it was wonderful, a little cold but neat all the same. We even had fresh popped movie popcorn from a machine we rented.

Midnight is now kinda late

My wife told me yesterday that I am getting too old to act like a kid and go to midnight showings of movies. Of course I ignored her and headed off to see my favorite Green guy with Randall and Cody. A father and sons bonding moment.
Well this morning I have to admit she is sort of right. I am grateful that she let me take a nap before we left for the show and really grateful that she lets me go.
As for the movie I will post more on my other blog

Weather

Ok so in Utah we are used to weird weather. But it is the first time in a long time that the following has happened. Yesterday as I was driving into work I looked toward the mountains and saw that it was snowing at the tops. Wow here it is June, last week we had temps in 90s and now it is snowing. That is just weird. I guess I better count us lucky since Friends in NJ say they hope it rains so it will cool down to the 80's.

PS on TV watching...Maggie does not seem to like watching friends. She adores Spider man cartoons though!!!!

Sense of Humor

Last night Cody came over for the night. He along with myself holding Maggie, and Randall sat and watch a TV show. I started to crack up how my boys were laughing at the same dumb jokes I was. Maggie of course just sat and stared at the TV then at us. She would smile but that was at us acting so goofy.
I am grateful that my boys have the same sense of humor as me. I know at times it drives Natalie and Laurie Jo nuts, but oh well....We just have to make sure Maggie follows us and not them.

Rain on my garden

Ok so I have to say I am lazy. Due to this fact I am grateful that we had so much rain the last week that I have not had to water the lawns or my newly planted garden.
The garden does seem to be starting well. Time will tell but for now the plants are good. The bugs have not started to attack them and it looks to be a good summer.

Workers

For the past couple of days we have had 2 hard working guys here at the house replacing our furnace and installing central air. Nat decided that if she was staying home with Maggie she would need to be cooler than what our good old, held together with wire, on its last leg swamp cooler would do.
I am so grateful that there are people who do this kind of work, since I pretty much suck at manual labor.
They still have to come back Monday and finish up.
Thanks guys
PS Sorry about the ceiling in the wash room falling on you

Graduation

So last night I went to my sister in laws High School Graduation. I must admit I am grateful that I am done with the grad things for awhile. The one last night was...well, lets just say I am glad I have no more to go to. I really think that the only reason the school board talks at these is because they want one last shot at glory or power or i don't know.
Well, I am grateful that I have no more to go to for a few years.
Oh and CONGRATS WENDY You are now an adult.

Family

As I have stated before, family means everything to me. Yesterday I heard from my daughter Jo, things are not as great as they could be for her and Josh, Their marriage and all is great, they are just facing a trail as a family. We have all had trials and rough spots.
I was very touched that they reached out to chat with me and as I shed some tears on the phone with her I was also grateful that we have such a relationship that she can reach out when she needs to. (even if there is nothing I can do or say)

A tough Dad

Yesterday my mom called me to let me know that my dad had fallen down the stairs and had hurt his leg. A large gash about 6 inches long as well as cuts on his toes.
I am grateful that my dad was not hurt more. He could have been really hurt but was not.
His tolerance of pain is high (I guess I take after my mom ha ha)
Any, today I am grateful all we had to worry about was alot of stitches and not broken bones or worse.

Family Fun

Yesterday we got together with my family to celebrate Mothers day (I know its late) and birthdays.

The family just adores Maggie. My nephew and his wife had a baby girl one month after Maggie so there were 2 little ones.

As you can see Maggies was the result of dress up with her brothers and brother in law.

I am grateful for family and how they have quickly bonded and accepted Maggie.