taking things for granted

We have great friends. We get to see them all of the time. Some have moved away, but most of our close friends live right near us. A good number of them live right in our neighborhood. We pass each other on the street all the time  and manage to get together a couple of times each year to go on vacations. But, we don't really spend a lot of time together other than that. I think we have started taking them for granted, knowing they are always there if we need them, but not putting anything into our relationship with them. We used to have the excuse that we were so busy keeping up with all of the things our kids were involved in. However, that really isn't the case anymore. So why does it seem to be so hard to get together for simple date nights like dinner or a show? I think we have gotten lazy, and by "we" I mean me. It's so easy to just jump in my pj's in the evening after the sun goes down and settle in for the night. Last weekend, a couple of our good friends asked us to dinner and a Jazz game. We had such a great time just being together and enjoying a relaxing evening as friends. As the new year approaches, I'm going to make it a priority to spend more 'hours' with my friends. Life is short, and I've still got a lot of memories to make! Thanks Cal and Lori, for reminding us why we love you guys so much:)

sweet surrender

I love to make Christmas candy this time of year. I can make a pretty mean batch of fudge and divinity, but I have never attempted caramels. They happen to be one of my all-time favorites, but for some reason they intimidate me. Enter my neighbor and friend, Heather. She invited a bunch of ladies from the hood over to her house yesterday to learn the fine art of caramel making. It was much easier than I thought it would be. After sampling a small piece, I surrendered and wolfed down five more. They were delicious, soft and mmmm mmmm mmmm. I'll definitely be making my own batch soon. They're sure to put a smile on my hubbies face:) Thanks Heather!

day at the lake

We are spending what little bit of summer there is left at Lake Powell with some of our dear friends. The weather is perfect and the company is even better. We took a ski run today and the water was great. Bob took advantage of some of that smooth LP water and showed us all up. Good times. 

Focusing On A New Year

As I sit down today to write a few of my thoughts, 

I am replaying in my mind the many events of this past year:    some happy, some sad, 

but all important in helping me to become who I am today.  

I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude 

for the little things in my life

--the simple things that truly make all the difference.  

Things like family, friends, a warm bed to sleep in at night, 

food on my table, cozy socks and scarves 

and an amazingly blue January 1st sky. 

I tend to take all of these things for granted.  

I lost a special friend two weeks ago.  

She was an amazing person 

who taught me so much, through her example.  

Shelley lived her last days 

clinging to every moment she had left on this Earth.  

Each day was so precious to her.  

I found myself 

wanting to express to her just how much I loved her 

and what she meant to me.  

In the end, there were no words, 

just "I love you."  

Perhaps that was enough.  

This experience got me thinking about my own mortality.  

How much time do I have left here on Earth?  

Have I lived each day to the fullest?  

Have I expressed my love and appreciation 

to the important people in my life?  

Have I thanked my Heavenly Father 

for this beautiful world I am so blessed to live in?  

Have I really lived in the moment 

and appreciated that moment for what it was, 

good or bad?  

For this reason, 

my new focus this year 

will be to really pay attention to the small things in my life 

and to give thanks for them every day.  

There are so many little things that bring me joy.  

I want to notice them more, 

to document them.  

These things will  be photographed along the way.  

A 365 project of sorts.
I hope to make a book 
to help me remember this experience always.  

It has been said that

thankfulness is measured by our words 

but gratitude is measured by our actions.

I hope to end 2012 not just by being thankful 

but by being more grateful 

and by showing that gratitude through my actions.

Thanks, Shelley, for inspiring me yet again.
I miss you already. . . .  

I love you always:)