GRATITUDE DAY #30

FAMILY DANCE

This was the only picture I could find-- stolen off of facebook-- but I LOVE the annual family dance with Dave's family! We had one tonight and it was so much fun!!! It's a great tradition that started about 15 years ago! And we still love it! It goes strong at every family reunion too! Great times! Love the new crop of youngsters joining in on the dancing this year! It's the BEST!! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #29

Dave's family

I have been blessed with some awesome in-laws. I am truly grateful for them. They are like siblings to me and I have learned SO much from being a part of this family. It is truly one of my greatest blessings! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #28

THANKSGIVING!

I love Thanksgiving! I am truly grateful for a day (or month) to remember and count my many blessings. I think November really is my favorite month. I love fall and I love Thanksgiving!

This morning we did a family 5K turkey trot... I hope to get some pics of it later... it was so much fun! Then the boys played basketball while the girls cooked the food! We made 250 rolls at my house and Cheri and Grammie did the same at their homes!

Then we had the grand spread at Cheris-- with 76 people! it was lots of fun! Great food! We all hung out until around midnight. GOOD TIMES! :) I hope to steal some pics from others later on! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #27

A clean house!!

We worked all day today (and yesterday) to get our house all shiny clean for our company this weekend! I love having a sparkling clean house! It's a great feeling! I also am grateful for the ability to clean my house. I know it is a privilege to work. And the satisfaction that comes afterward is sweet :)

GRATITUDE DAY #26

MY COMPUTER!

I am grateful for my computer! I am grateful for the internet, being able to look anything up, read the news, lds.org, email, etc... etc... It really is awesome --the technology we have today!

GRATITUDE DAY #25

DOWN TIME

I really appreciate some down time once in a while... the past few weeks have been busy and crazy... today it was nice to have an hour or two at home alone... without any noise... preparing for our thanksgiving company and more noise :) Can't wait!!

GRATITUDE DAY #24

My Car

SO, I have to admit that the Honda Odyssey has been my favorite car EVER... But after nearly 10 years and 185,000 miles we had to get some new wheels last year. Lindsey and Katie drive the van, it only has 2 gears working now, so they can only go 25 mph (perfect for a teenager-- dont ya think?) But last year I got this Mazda... it's awesome. I can get through any kind of weather in it. It's the best! I really do like it! My gratitude for a good car also stems back to the first 10-15 years of our marriage... we have owned MANY lemons!! I truly appreciate reliable transportation!! 

GRATITUDE DAY #23

My washer and dryer

I went for the first 10 yrs of marriage without a washer and dryer. I had to use coin operated machines. I am still thankful everyday to have a washer and dryer. Especially this weekend. Lindsey and Katie came home with a TON of laundry from their trip. It took FOREVER to do all the laundry! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #22

CROSS COUNTRY!!

I am so thankful for Cross country in my girls lives! It has richly blessed them -- in so many ways! With a love for running/exercise, wonderful friends and an awesome work ethic!! :) This is them on their trip to Arizona this week :) They had a blast!

GRATITUDE DAY #21

LDS.ORG

I love this website. I go to it frequently. I love the mormon messages, being able to read  my scriptures from there if needed and the awesome talks and lessons available on it :)

lds.org

GRATITUDE DAY #20

THE YOUNG WOMEN'S PROGRAM

I have been involved in Young Women's in one way or another for about 12 of my 24 married years. I love the Young Women's program and I love the Young Women. We had YW tonight and it was especially good!! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #19

My Bertoch Family

This week my family all came together to help one of our siblings in need. It has been a very emotional time and I am thankful for the support of my siblings. When times are hard, they are there to do all that they can.

GRATITUDE DAY #18

This girl came to stay with us for the week... I love Abbey! She is such a cutie!

GRATITUDE DAY #17

THE SABBATH DAY

I am grateful for Sundays... It is always so awesome to be spiritually rejuvenated. I am thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love it! What an awesome blessing!

GRATITUDE DAY #16

Recreation

I am thankful for fun moments and the chance to unwind, decompress, have fun :)

Katie and I ran a 5K today... it felt good.. was hard... but fun!! AND FREEZING! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #15

MUSIC



I love my ipod. Music pumps me up, soothes my soul, helps me run, and brings awesome dance parties to our family! :)

I also love hearing the music my girls make!! I am so glad that Katie has stuck with the cello!! She had a great recital Friday. I love hearing Lindsey on the violin and Ellie on the piano and ALL three of them on any instrument they play. I also love to hear Dave on the guitar! :) 

GRATITUDE DAY #14

PRAYER

I am so glad that I can talk to my Heavenly Father. I love him and am so thankful for the love he shows me and the comfort and peace that prayer brings to my life. I have been sending up quite a few extras this month for my dear siblings who are struggling so hard. I  know He hears my prayers.

GRATITUDE DAY #13

LIVING IN UTAH!

I honestly honestly honestly NEVER thought we would EVER get to live back in Utah county again. We've been here just over two years and can I just say... that I truly am grateful to be here EVERY single day? While our family grew and learned so much in Las Vegas... I missed it here. It is such an awesome place to live. Here's another list--

Why I love and am grateful for living in Utah County.

1. It's BEAUTIFUL here!
2. My job--being a nurse in Utah county is soooo much better than anywhere else. The patients are TOPS!
3.  The change of seasons.
4. Being close to family.
5. The schools are SO MUCH better!
6. NO CRIME.
7. Daves job- SO MUCH happier at this job than his previous one!
8.  TEMPLES are everywhere!
10. The mountains!
11. My kids are so happy here!
12. Living close to BYU (going to games-- having Matt and Casey live here)
12. Living close to SLC :)

I could go on and on and on about this post too... Let me just sum it up by saying that going through the things we did in LV has truly made me a more grateful person for the luxuries and niceties of living in Utah.

I love the mountains!

I love fall!

It is seriously beautiful EVERY SINGLE DAY here... rain or shine!

GRATITUDE DAY #12

MY JOB

I love my job SO much!!! Especially because of some of the other jobs I have had that were super hard for me-- it makes me love and appreciate this job SO MUCH!Here are some other reasons I love my job:
1. I go visit awesome elderly patients every day (M-F).
2. I make my own schedule.
3. I am my own boss (basically)
4. I get to know some awesome people.
5. I get to help people who really need help.
6. I only work 2-3 hrs a day.
7. I love the staff at the Charleston.
8. I get to wear scrubs to work.
9. Envision pays for my scrubs.
10. It has made me LOVE being a nurse -- something I wasn't loving so much before!

I could honestly go on and on...

Me getting ready to leave for work

in the Envision scrubs

THE CHARLESTON!!!

typical lobby scene

one of my sweet patients, Marie.

me in the elevator (I am in this thing constantly!)

Some of my cute patients :)

GRATITUDE DAY #11

This is truly a simple pleasure... but I love that Christmas is coming... and that these are available to buy and EAT now! My favorites!

GRATITUDE DAY #10

I am so grateful for the conference Ensign. I truly love it. Lately there have been some super hard things going on in my extended family. I love the answers and the peace that these great talks give me! :) I am grateful for a living prophet and apostles who tell us the things that Heavenly Father wants us to know.

GRATITUDE DAY #9

rUnNiNg!!!!

I am so glad that I am running!! I am grateful that I discovered that I CAN RUN!!!! It's been so enlightening to me on so many levels. It makes me feel SO GOOD!

My pink running shoes after a good 3 mile run today! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #8

CASEY

I am so grateful for Casey! What an awesome addition to our family!! :) I am so grateful that Matt has such an incredible wife! Who would have known 6 years ago when I met Casey at girls camp that she would be my future dtr in law? So awesome!!! She has it all-- she is beautiful, sweet, smart, kind, happy, positive, determined, dedicated, and most of all an awesome testimony!! :) Love her!!!!!!! :))

GRATITUDE DAY #7

MATTHEW DOUGLAS

I love this boy. Period. He is one of my heroes and I am so grateful to have been blessed to be his Mom. I am so happy for him-- for the happiness he has in his life with Casey! They are an awesome couple! :) What a lucky Mom I am to have the BEST FOUR KIDS on earth and the BEST daughter-in-law there is! :) Honestly. These are my greatest blessings. My children have blessed my life SO RICHLY.

GRATITUDE DAY #6

LINDSEY ANN

I love this Lindsey girl! She has become the most beautiful person inside and out! I am grateful for her maturity, her spirituality, her kindness and her desire to be good. She is always willing to step in when I am not around and take charge of being the "Mom". She is awesome! I love her so much!

Gratitude day #5

KATIE ELIZABETH

I love my little Kate the Great. She is one awesome girl! I am thankful for her sweet, quiet spirit and her righteous example. I love her very much. She always laughs at my jokes when no one else will... that is my favorite! :)

GRATITUDE DAY #4

GOOD HEALTH!

Nothing a like a nasty case of the stomach flu to make you appreciate your health!! Ellie and I have been down and out with the flu for the past two days... NO FUN!! BOOOOOO!!! HISSS!!! I am so grateful for my body and for the ability I have to do all of the things that I want and need to do with it. I am grateful for good health and for modern medicine.

GRATITUDE DAY #3

DATES WITH DAVE

Dave and I were able to go on a great date Friday night...
We saw the movie The Saratov approach about 2 mormon missionaries kidnapped in Russia. It was really good, but kinda scary... then we went to dinner at Communal. It's super trendy place. We both decided that fancy, gourmet isn't our thing... we prefer ice in our water, thank you very much and our fish cooked all the way through and generous portions.. haha. We had a good laugh... then Saturday morning we woke up and went to the temple together and out to breakfast. It was fun! Dates really are awesome! :)

In case I don't get to later part B of this post is that I am grateful for the temple. I pass by this  beautiful building every day on my way to work. I love it so much. It brings me peace and I especially love being there with my hubby.

GRATITUDE DAY #2

ELLIE

I am so thankful for this little girl (who is quickly growing up to be a young woman!) She is a light and a joy in our family. She is full of energy and always tries her best to help her family! We were able to go for a fun hike together yesterday! LOVE HER TO PIECES!