134. Today I am grateful for a friends’ wedding

Tonight I went to a wedding reception of a friend of mine. Actually, I am friends with both the guy and girl but more so the guy. He is from my stake in BC and we both moved out to Edmonton at the same time. I was really happy to see him marry such a great girl, and although he doesn’t remember, I actually told him that he should date her about a year before they did start dating.

133. Today I am grateful for my bed

I got back to Edmonton today and although I had a wonderful trip, there isn’t quite anything like sleeping in your own bed. I am not much of a napper but I did enjoy a nice nap in my own bed this afternoon.

132. Today I am grateful for my dad driving to and from Seattle

I am grateful for my Dad, who took time out of his day (twice) to drive me to the Seattle airport on Friday and then come back today to pick me up. Thanks Dad!

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!