Counting My Blessings

Our family at our 50th Anniversary Party December 18, 2010 (missing are Devin and Irene)

The end of 2010 is here. Tomorrow a brand new year. I am not a person that makes new years resolutions. I figure if I need to change something that I should not wait to the beginning of a new year, that those changes need to be made immediately.

What I do at the end of each day (not at the end of the year) is to count my blessings and look for the Lord's hand in my life and in the lives of our children and grandchildren. Brent was in a sledding mishap, and after a few bumps, bruises and a concussion can now laugh about it. Recently Breann, Devin and Irene, and Brent were in car accidents and even though their cars were messed up, all of them walked away with no injuries.

Our family has been blessed with good health, have the strength they need to accomplish the things they are involved in, each of us have faced the challenges and trials that have come our way with positive attitudes, and we all recognize that life is good and meant to be grateful for and not taken for granted.

Of course, the greatest blessings are my sweet family. How I love each and everyone of them. Our Rees' Pieces are multiplying. Two new great grand babies will be arriving in 2011.

Do You Have Room?

This time of year is the best. We truly need to remember the "reason for the season"...the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Two quotes come to my mind.

The first is..."Are you part of the Inn crowd or the Stable few"

The second is..."Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus" from Neal A. Maxwell.

People are so busy being caught up in the shopping, baking, cleaning, decorating, etc. More and more I know how vital it is to be caught up in our families, serving others, and following the example of our Savior.

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

The closer it gets to Thanksgiving the more I realize how much I am grateful for. My family, my relationship with my Heavenly Father, special friends, and all the good people in my life. For my faith, for the opportunity and privilege to serve others. For my good health. For life. Etc., etc., etc.

Thanksgiving Daily

I was out buying food for our Thanksgiving dinner I was thinking more about the chore rather than the fun time we will be having together as family.

Came home and saw this video and my whole thinking processes changed. I truly have so much to be thankful for every day, and need to express that gratitude more often.

I am so very grateful for my family, my Heavenly Father, and my Savior Jesus Christ. For the opportunity to dance in the kitchen at 10:30 at night with my grand daughters and the gifts of laughter and love.

Hope

Woke up this morning and felt such a need to thank my Heavenly Father for hope and the gift of the Atonement in my life and came across this video.

Too Sweet

Nevaeh, Danny, and Bella

Nevaeh turned 4 years old on October 11th. Early in the morning (around 6:30 a.m.) I went to WalMart to get Nevaeh's birthday gift. Ususally I am well ahead in doing so. There is a reason for everything.

As I was checking out I noticed the most adorable little girl and her daddy sitting in McDonalds. She was eating breakfast and feeding her dad hash browns. The cashier was looking at them, too. She said..."Isn't that the sweetest thing you have ever seen? Don't you just want to kiss those chubby cheeks on that little girl."

I told her that I indeed wanted to and that I got to do that often. That she was my great granddaughter. I couldn't have been prouder!

Danny and Bella had gone to the store to buy Nevaeh balloons and flowers and doughnuts for her birthday. In the meantime, Bella and Danny had a daddy and daughter date.

I am so very proud of Danny and Whitney, and the parents that they are. My heart is so filled with joy! What sweeter gift could I ask for!

Some of our Rees' Pieces

Kelsey is currently living with us...and we are loving it. She invited her cousins over for an old fashioned family dinner. We ate and laughed and laughed and ate. That's what we do best around here!!!

Standing: Danny, Whitney, Mandy, Irene, Devin, and Kelsey

Seated: Bella, Kai, Tatum (minus a few teeth), Macy (the birthday girl who turned 12 on Oct. 6), and Nevaeh (whose birthday is on Oct. 11 and will be 4 years old)

One of Our Sweet Treats has turned Twleve

Macy turned 12 on October 6. Some of her cousins got together the Sunday before and had a surprise party for her. She is really growing up so fast.

How I love each and every grand and great grand child. How very blessed I am to have the family I have.

Continue in Patience

How I wish I would have seen this video a couple of weeks ago when my patience was being tried. Sadly, I let my trials get the best of me, and really struggled through a trial of my faith. Gratefully with the love of my Father in Heaven and understanding more about the Savior's atonement I am indeed in a much better place today.

I am so grateful for the love and patience of my family and special friends and some very special Heavenly help!

Love Those Little Pieces

How I love these kids...the older ones, too. I am so blessed to be the Grandma to such sweet grandkids.

This summer has been so much fun with water fights, baking, watching movies, making homemade ice cream...yummo!, learning differenct skills and different crafts.

Can't wait to get started with the cooking classes with the older grandkids this fall.

Being a mom and grandma is the absolute best. Thank you, Heavenly Father for this great blessing in my life.

Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

This video really touched my heart. Especially as I have been watching my children and grandchildren raise their families.

Families are so precious, important, and worth whatever sacrifice is necessary to keep them close, safe, and loved.

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

Feelings of Peace and Joy

Today has been a day of many feelings as I have been pondering on the many blessings that I enjoy.

I have felt so blessed and realize how much my Heavenly Father loves me. As I was sharing some events of my life with my family and special friends today, I got so emotional. I realize even more that my Savior, Jesus Christ suffered so much for me because He loves me.

Then when I was checking my email, my "brother" and favorite business partner, Ellis Valentine, sent me the following video to watch. It touched me so much that I want to share it with all of you.


So please go to http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

I am so truly grateful for my family and friends. Also, I am grateful for all the trials and challenges that I have had and will continue to have in my life. It is great to know that Heavenly Father can trust me to build my faith in Him and His son and strive to face whatever may come my way valiantly.

Life is great!

There is a line in a song called "Coming Home" that goes like this..."when you change the way you look at things...the things you look at change." The next few lines are..." I can see the world so differently...seeing things Your way. There is a path right in front of me that has been calling me for days. And I know that when You walk with me it will be for always.""

We have all been so blessed! I have the greatest family in the world. I have such good friends that I can trust with all my heart. What more could a girl want!

Free Hugs

This is something my brother, Mark, shared with me.

Maybe we all should give this experiment a try. Imagine how much the world would change...and how great we would feel.

A Week of Fun and Games, Hugs and Kisses

We had Macy, Tatum, and Kai with us for the past week. Damian and Kristy went to Costa Rica for their 15th Anniversary.

What fun! What work!! What joy!!!

Their cousins, Nevaeh and Bella came over to play as well. So we had a houseful of laughter, hugs, and noise!

We did everything from a water fight, baking treats, making blankets, going to a wild feline compund, to playing in a friend's pool and in a small wading pool, to going to the movies to see Toy Story 3.

What a blessing family is. Wouldn't trade any of them for anything.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

When motherhood seems overwhelming...and it does...what a blessing it is to reflect on the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in this video.

I wouldn't trade my role of "Mother" for anything. Watching my kids as they have grown, struggled, enjoyed much joy and happiness, as well as sorrows and disappointments has been a roller coaster of so many mixed emotions, many tears, smiles and laughter.

Kenneth Cope - Broken

Our Youngest Rees' Miniature and her 3 Little Pieces

This is Kristy and her three children-Macy age 11, Kai age 4, and Tatum age 8. They live in Ventura (lucky them). Dad-Damian-took the picture.

For my birthday, we met in Santa Clarita for dinner. Each of the kids made me a card. Once again, the words of one of my grandkids had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. Tatum wrote the following:

On the front is written "Happy birthday Grammy!" and in a heart "I love you". I open the card and written inside is, "Happy Birthday Grammy! I love you so much!...WOW your 67...I thought you were 56!"

Hmmm...didn't know whether that was a compliment or that Tatum was shocked that I could be that old!

Macy's card was so typically pre-teen with "Happy B-day Grammy! I (heart) U!"

Kai drew a portrait of me...oh if only I could look like that...wait a minute...I just looked in the mirror...he drew the exact image of me!

I wouldn't trade any of my family members for anything in the world. Being a mom is so great...being a grandma is pure heaven!

Meet Kai

Meet Kai Grant Schmidt-our youngest grandson. Kai is 4 years old and his parents are Kristy and Damian. He is definitely all boy! and a joy.

John and I recently went to Kai's preschool program. He and his friend, Nathan were absolutely adorable. So like any other proud Grammy...I am sharing his performance with you.

Things Will Get Better

So many times we struggle through life and feel so overwhelmed. This morning as I was getting ready for a very busy and hectic day, I cam across the following video.

Please take time to click on the title below and watch this inspiring message.

Good Things to Come

Things can get better. Takes much prayer and positive thinking, and a lot of faith!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Our "Littlest Pieces"

Meet Nevaeh Sky and Bella Moon...our Great granddaughters. Our oldest grandson, Danny, and his wife, Whitney, are the parents of these two cuties.

The other day when I went to pick up Whitney and the girls to go to Nevaeh's last day of pre-school and swim party, I was greeted at the door with great big hugs ffrom both of the girls. Nevaeh then looked up at me and asked..."Grammy (as she gently squeezed my arms), how come you are so squishy?"



Being at a loss for words and not wanting to spoil the moment, I looked at her and said..."Oh that gives me more to love you with"! She seemed very content with that answer, and I am now thinking..."maybe it is not so necessary to work out any more. This must be the way Grammy's should feel"



Thank goodness I didn't celebrate my squishy by eating a huge Banana Split.

Entering the World of the Blog

This is truly something I never thought I would be doing...yet here I am!

So why title this "Rees' Pieces"? Years ago for a Church activity we were asked to decorate a hat that best described our family. Our grandchildren: Danny, Mandy, and Devin were living with us at that time.

We got a big hat and on the brim we glued Reece's Peanut Butter Cups; around the outide of the top of the hat we glued miniature Reece's Peanut Butter Cups; and on the very top of the the hat we glued Reece's Pieces.

The following story was then told by our family: John explained that when he and I married we were young and poor...all we could afford to eat was peanut butter. One day we treated ourselves to some chocolate and we dipped it into the peanut butter and what did we get??? a Rees' Peanut Butter Cup.

I then eplained that as we started having children we made 'miniature Rees'; and the grandkids explained that they were the beginning of the family's 'Rees' Pieces'.

Now all this may be a bit boring to those who read this, but it still brings back smiles and happy memories to those that wre involved.