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Tomorrow...

I have been a follower of the NieNie Dialogues for a while now. I started reading after Stephanie and Christian were in the plane accident. I didn't read before so I didn't really know what her blog was all about...now I do. She is an amazing person, filled with so much hope & has endured SO much. I feel so selfish and horrible when I think of how measly my trials are compared to hers...to others. I feel like I should have nothing to complain about...nothing to worry about...nothing to stress out about...but I do. I guess we all go through our own "fires." Maybe not literally...but non the less we all have difficult situations that we have to go through. Still tonight I feel so blessed. As I type I can hear my children laughing and they are so excited as the take in the magic of the Polar Express. Christmas is upon us and I won't have to worry about where I will be, or if I will have food on the table. The Lord has taken car of our little family, blessed us with so many things and I am grateful.

But today I was a horrible person! I scolded my husband for taking 2 little cans of tuna to the church for the donation box. How selfish can I be! I mean seriously...2 cans of tuna. Did we really need it...NO! Would someone else benefit from it...YES! I feel awful...so terrible...selfish, and yet I am thankful for repentance. I am so thankful for the atonement, that I can repent and be forgiven, that I can wake up tomorrow with a better attitude and a different outlook. That I know I will be given a second chance, that I can find more ways to serve others and I will be given more opportunities to do so. I am thankful for a husband who forgives me and makes me see my weaknesses and helps me to be a better person. Thank goodness for more TOMORROWS!

(I don't know why I felt like confessing what a bad person I am on my blog for all too read...but I did and it makes me want to do better!)

Now back to this amazing story of Stephanie and Christian...if you haven't been following or know their story you can now read it here. It is a beautiful, heartbreaking story that will make you appreciate life, for second chances and hope for brighter tomorrows.

SHOPPING!!!

Last weekend my mom, sisters and I all headed down to Kalispell for BLACK FRIDAY! We have done this for a few years now and we always look forward to it. Getting up at 3:00 a.m. to stand in line for all the GREAT deals. This year proved to be so much fun. We arrived in Kalispell early on Thursday to find NOTHING open! Zip...zilch...nothing! But we knew there wouldn't' be from years past. We did manage to find a Burger King open so we grabbed a bit to eat. Then we relaxed by going to see the movie, "The Blind Side." What a GREAT show...for the whole family. It has such a good meaning and was very clean. It just put all of us in a good mood. Then it was time to head back to the hotel to look over the PILE of flyers. It is like looking through the WISH book...there are so many flyers enticing you to SPEND MONEY! LOL! I managed to find a few great deal, one being a video camera for $200 LESS than what it is up here. I was happy about that. Early the next morning we got up and were all excited about SHOPPING...the whole purpose of our trip. It was a great day...and we were exhausted by 11. So I treated myself to a pedi cure in the mall. LOL! It was so much fun to get way, to have a break from everyday life. To laugh...a LOT! To spend time with my sisters and mom. I have to thank my great husband for taking care of the kids for 3 days even with a very bad shoulder injury. He knew how much I had been looking forward to going and seemed to manage very well while I was gone. The house was SPOTLESS when I got home! That's a first. LOL!

The Christmas season is upon us now. It is snowing as I type, and I am happy that it is. I have had ENOUGH of this crazy wind that I am welcoming the snow. Even if it means freezing temperatures, I know I will be safe and warm in my house while the storm rages on outside. Isn't that how our lives are these days..the storm rages on and I am so thankful for my home which is a safe haven.

I found this Cookie Countdown (thanks Tiff) and thought I would share it.

http://allrecipes.com/features/holidays/christmas/cookiecountdown/2009.aspx

Looks like this will be a great weekend to stay inside and bake!