131. Today I am grateful for the innocence of newborns

I love newborn babies! There isn’t anything else like holding a newborn baby in your arms, knowing that not too long ago the spirit inside this tiny little baby was living with our Heavenly Father. There is a sweet sense of purity and innocence about them. It is wonderful to know that we start life free of sin and free of responsibility, being totally dependent on others. It is also wonderful to know that we can be forgiven of our sins and that we have the opportunity to make choices for ourselves, to learn and grow. Hopefully most of those choices bring us happiness and joy.

Here is my new favourite newborn:

130. Today I am grateful for paid vacation

Since moving to Edmonton, I have taken at least 2 weeks’ vacation between semesters to go home. However, this is my first time not being a student but luckily I work for a place where I was able to take 2 weeks off for the Christmas holidays. It is also my first paid vacation!

129. Today I am grateful for a new year

Happy New Year! I had a great New Years Eve party, dancing with my nieces. All 3 of them stayed up to welcome in the New Year and loved dancing, counting down and watching the fireworks, because in the USA anyone can light off fireworks in the neighbourhood. Of course it was wonderful to welcome a new baby into the family on New Year’s Day as well.  

I enjoy reflecting on the past year and anticipating what the next year has in store. I am a goal-setter and also enjoy setting and accomplishing New Year resolutions. While I feel that it is important to look to the future and determine what I can do to progress in various areas of my life; I also feel that it is important to remember the past and enjoy those memories with people and places and things of days past .... or Auld Lang Syne.

128.Today I am grateful to have a nephew!

Joshua James Lee

Today we welcomed our newest family member and my first nephew, Joshua James Lee. He was born at 1:18pm, weighing 6lbs 14oz and 19” long. I am so grateful he was born while I am visiting here in Utah. He is so precious and I am so in love with him. It will be hard to leave him and his sisters.

We were expecting little Joshua to be born earlier this morning but it was probably better that he wasn’t born until the afternoon as I was able to take the girls to church and give their parents some quite time just before, during and after their new baby’s arrival during their planned home birth. The girls were so good at church and I think with only a handful of cheerios on the ground it was a successful sacrament meeting.

Me holding Joshua for the first time

I called JJ after I had dropped the children off at Primary and nursery for an update and was excited to announce during relief society that Melissa had her baby. Of course the girls were really excited to go home and see their baby brother. Seeing him for the first time was an amazing feeling and was truly one of those moments I will always treasure. When I first went into the room and saw him, Melissa looked up at me and said, “Isn’t he so cute?” I thought that was really precious too. He really is adorable!

127. Today I am grateful for the past year

As we prepare to leave 2011 behind and welcome in 2012 I think it is a good time to reflect on the past year. I am truly grateful for the past year and feel that it has opened a new chapter in my life with beginning a career. This time last year I had completed all my course work and getting ready to begin my practicum. My practicum was with Crossroad Family Services, a foster care agency. I was able to learn a lot about the foster care system and the support that both foster children and foster families require. My practicum also helped prepare me for the job I have now as a family support worker for a Head Start Program. I am grateful for my education and the career path that I am on now. However, the career I desire the most is to be a mother, I am happy with the career path I am on now.

I also moved out of a place where I had lived for almost 4 years and it was a change that I really needed for several reasons. I was blessed with the opportunity to live in the compassion house as a live in volunteer which included free accommodation and the opportunity to associate with some amazing people. I then found a great place to live in September. Looking back, I can really see the hand of the Lord in leading me to where I need to be.

I am also grateful for the times I was able to spend with my family. It was great to have all of my family members come out to Edmonton to visit me on three separate occasions, including for my convocation. I am also grateful for the times I have been able to visit my family out in BC and Utah, as well as Scotland. It was wonderful to be able to see my Grandma again as well as cousins, aunts and uncles. I have also had some memorable moments with friends, including being part of a wedding. 2011 was a good year! I am excited to see what 2012 has in store.

126. Today I am grateful to be in Utah!

I am so grateful that I was able to get two weeks off work and to split that time between BC and Utah and see everyone in my family. I don’t get to see Melissa very often so I am always grateful for the time we get to spend together. Melissa has a baby due any day now and I really hope I get to see him while I am here. I am also excited to spend some time with my nieces, they are so much fun! At the airport my two older nieces, Sariah and Rebekah, were excited to see me and gave me a hug but the 18 month old, Miriam,  was a little unsure. I picked her up and right away she put her arms out to her mom. However in the car I sat beside her and gave her smarties and then at their home I gave the girls their Christmas gifts. Miriam loved her baby doll and now I’m her best friend. I work hard to be the favourite Auntie. J

125. Today I am grateful for getting together with old friends

Even though I live in Edmonton now and met so many wonderful people and have met great friends it is nice to get together with the friends I have here in Surrey. I had one friend over and we played phase 10 ... just like old times. Another friend and I went out to Tim Horton’s and it was nice to chat and catch up on our lives.