More Blessings!

This post is all about the in-laws.

When Elsie was born, my mom was in Italy. She tried to get back but couldn't make it until we were home from the hospital. My mother-in-law stepped in and played the roll of my mother while we were in the hospital. We weren't prepared. We thought we were just going in to be monitored and then sent home. I didn't have anything. No clothes, no toothbrush, no deodorant, no nursing bras/pads, nothing. Tina took care of EVERYTHING. She even brought me Popsicles and cleaned my house! She came to visit every morning before she went to work to make sure everything was okay and that we didn't need anything, and to see Elsie, of course! She has been nothing but supportive from day one. She has welcomed me into her family with open arms. She is easy to talk to and has opened up to me as well. I love listening to her talk about her family. It is very important to me to learn all I can about Tyler's side of the family so that I can teach Elsie where she comes from. I want her to know that I appreciate everything she has done and continues to do for our family. I love her very much!

--------------------------------------Nana Tina and Elsie---------------------------------------

My father-in-law, Burt, is a wonderful person. He is so calm and gentle. I love watching him interact with Elsie. She is so tiny and he is so tall. It's a definitely a sight too see. I am grateful to him for being such a wonderful father and such a hard worker. He is very intelligent and talented. He can build things, fix things and gives great hugs! I'm so glad Tyler had a good example to follow. It gives me reassurance of the kind of father he will be. Burt raised Tyler to have a good work ethic and to stick with his responsibilities. I know that because of Burt, our family will be stable and strong. I love him too!
------------------------------------Grandpa Burt and Elsie---------------------------------------
My brother-in-law, Clay, is something else! I haven't spent much time with him. He works on a custom harvest crew and is gone for over half of the year. The time I have spent with him has not been dull! He is intelligent and funny. I'm not sure if he knows he's funny. He's always so serious. He is very strong willed and will gladly share his opinion with you about anything! It's kind of refreshing to meet someone who is just who he is; no apologies and no sugar coating! He hasn't met Elsie yet and I am excited to see his reaction.

I am also grateful for all of my new aunts and uncles.

Tina's family:

Joel and Deb Warren: Deb has always been so polite and smiley. I've only met her a few times but each time has been very pleasant. I appreciate Joel's pioneer spirit. He is always trying something new. I love that he is not content to just be. He likes to experience new things and has interesting stories to tell. He recently graduated truck driving school and went on the road. At a party to celebrate his accomplishment, I watched how he treated his grandson. He was so respectful and positive with him. I admire him for that.

Bo Bo: I LOVE Bo Bo. She has such a sweet spirit. She accepted me as part of the family before I was part of the family! She is very talented. She crocheted Elsie a beautiful blanket. She is thoughtful and fun to talk to. She is a very spiritual person and I love that she feels comfortable talking to me about her beliefs.

Barbie: Aunt Barb is such a strong person. She has gone through so much and whenever I see her, she has a hug and a smile for me. She loves talking to Elsie and Elsie tells her stories I've never heard before! She has such a great sense of humor :) She came and helped Tina get my apartment in order before we came home with the baby. She loves her children and her grandchildren and she is a SURVIVOR!

Scott and Tammy: Scott is such a big kid! He is always joking and smiling. He brings a funny dynamic to all of the family gatherings. Tammy is a very strong willed person. She treats me like I've always been a part of the family and I appreciate that. Their kids, Andy and Ethan, are some of the nicest boys I've ever met. Ethan even officially welcomed me to the family at our wedding and gave me a hug. It was so sweet. Andy was a groomsman and he so well spoken especially considering he's a teenager. He out spoke all the 'adult' groomsmen hands down.

Burt's family:

Grandpa Buck: You can really tell that all of his children love him so much. I know he loves them too. He came to visit us out of the blue shortly after Elsie was born. It meant so much that he would drive all the way up from Table Rock to see us. He held Elsie the whole time he was here. He was so happy. I am also grateful for the father he was to Burt. If it weren't for that, Tyler wouldn't be who he is.

---------------------------------Great Grandpa Buck and Elsie---------------------------------

Julie and Ned: Julie has come to everything I've ever invited her to. She brought us food after Elsie was born. That meant a lot to me. She has two boys so I know she enjoys Elsie when we visit. I don't know Ned very well but I do know that he has a good sense of humor. He came with Julie to visit us at the hospital. I appreciated that they took the time to come visit us.

Bev and Barb: Bev is always so warm and welcoming. She makes family gatherings a lot of fun. Barb is always smiling. There is something about her countenance that draws people to her.

Roger and Carla: Roger is pretty quite but you can tell he really cares about his family. I appreciate the relationship he has with Tyler. Carla is so sweet. She makes it a point to come talk to me and include me. Both Roger and Carla came out for Elsie's baby blessing at church. It meant a lot that they took the time to share that moment with us.

As you can see, we have quite the support system. I'm not used to having extended family in the same state. I have really enjoyed the family get together. I am excited that Elsie will be able to have that experienced. I am quite blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life. I wish I had pictures of everybody. Nana Tina has them on here camera :)

Don't forget to comment with something that you're grateful for!!!

Count Your Many Blessings!

Some recent happenings with friends and family have got me thinking how grateful I am for my life and for my many blessings. I've decided to post a series of blogs on what I'm grateful for. this blog is about my family. When you're done reading, please comment with one or two of the things you are most grateful for in your life!

I am grateful for my husband, Tyler. He works so hard so I can stay home with our daughter. He provides a good home and always makes sure we have what we need. He is my best friend. He listens to me when I'm upset and when I'm happy and that's no small feet. I'm quite the talker and I have a wealth of emotions that require his attention. He is a wonderful father. He does everything in his power to make sure that Elsie is happy. She knows he loves her and misses him when he is gone. He is honest, trustworthy and has good family values. He's so big, he makes me feel safe. I know he makes Elsie feel that way too. Sometimes, all he has to do is pick her up and she relaxes and starts smiling. He is my helper. He works 10 to 12 hour days and still comes home to help me fix super, give the baby a bath, put her to sleep, change diapers, help with the laundry and anything else I ask him to do. It amazes me that he doesn't get tired of all my "Sweetheart, please's". Most of all he respects me as a wife and mother. He respects my faith even though he does not share it. It means so much to me that he is supportive of how I want to raise our family. He is the leader of our home and makes his decisions with us at heart. I love him very much. ----------------------------------------My Sweetheart

I am grateful for my baby. She is the greatest gift I could ever receive. She makes me smile when all I want to do is cry. She makes me cry when she smiles. She's a peacemaker, an entertainer, a reality check, a motivator and a beautiful child of God. She is so innocent and pure and I pray daily that I will be able to help her stay that way. I pray that I will be able to help her develop her talents. I pray that we will have a good relationship and that I can use my experiences in a way that will help her be better person. She is also a somber responsibility. It is up to me and her father to set her feet on a path that will lead her back to her Heavenly Father. I know there will be times when we clash. She'll want to be awake when I want to sleep. She'll want to grow up when I want her to stay little. She'll want to go out when I need to keep her home. She inspires such a dichotomy of emotions. I'm so excited to see what kind of young woman she will become but there is a tinge of reluctance to see her become less and less of a baby. I am so grateful for her health. She was born at 37 weeks. She was perfect. The nurses and doctors kept saying how perfect she was considering she was early and only 5lbs 6oz. The sun rises and sets on every little coo, smile and funny face. Some people will tell you the mother is the glue that holds the family together, I disagree. Elsie has strengthened our family exponentially. We are kinder to each other because of her. We are more peaceful because of the sweet spirit she brings to our home. She makes us want to be better people and has inspired several changes for the better. I love my little girl more than anything else in the world. She has been such a blessing to our family!--------------------------------------- Sweet Little Girl
I am so grateful for my parents. They have supported me through so many trials. I know I have broken their hearts a time or two but they love me unconditionally. They have taught me to love unconditionally. I have learned the importance of family, hard work and honesty. All of the good qualities I have come from them. I am thankful for the way I was raised. They chose to raise us in the country and we attended a small school. Being raised outside of town gave all of us a handle on life that is not usually gained by city living. The circle of life was a part of our everyday existence. I learned about birth and death by watching our animals. I learned that sometimes it seams like life is taken before it's time. I also learned that, even though we may not understand it, its all a part of God's plan. Learning all of this at a young age helped me deal with loss later in life. The foundation I received from my parents has helped me through many dark places. My mothers cheerie attitude always saying, "Smile, Desi!", "I'm so excited for you!" and of course, "Keep your nose clean". Her little motos have stuck with me through the years. She is a rock and my hero.
------------------------------------------My Mom :)

My dad is so supportive. He is patient and understanding. He is dependable. I know that if I need him, he will be there. He is a wonderful speaker. I love listening to his stories and he has a way of tailoring them to apply to his audience. Even if it's just a 15 year old girl. He taught me to drive when I was probably 5. He taught me to take pride in my work. He shows me that what I have to say is worth listening to. No father could have better taught his daughter about individual worth. I love him very much.

-------------------------------------------- My Dad

I love my sisters and brother. Cheyenne is so supportive and is willing to help me with anything. I can talk to her about parenting questions, craft ideas, she helps me plan events. She helped to make my wedding day so special. When we were young, she protected me, played with me, taught me things she had learned in school. I have always looked up to her and she has never failed to set a good example. Ian and I were the middle children. I think that bonded us in a special way. He is a very intelligent person and I love discussing his different views. He is a good father and husband and his boys are some of the cutest in existence. Growing up, he was someone I could talk to like a friend. Savanna is something else! She is a wonderful person. I look up to her so much. She isn't afraid to be her goofy self and I love it! I have rarely heard a cross word come out of her mouth. She is a true example of selfless love and acceptance. She listens to me when I need to talk and I love that she feels comfortable calling me when she needs to talk. I love her so much. I love all my siblings very much and feel blessed to have such a wonderful family.
--------------------------------------- Ian and Triston

-------------------------------------- Cheyenne and Elsie

----------------------------------------Savanna and Me

I am grateful for my family! Stay tuned for more of my list of blessings!!! Don't forget to post your blessings!