Everyday Should Be Thanksgiving

My friend's blog inspired me to focus on gratitude to prepare for Thanksgiving. I feel like it often comes all of a sudden, we say what we're grateful for before we dig in, and then the day passes and we go back to not focusing on our blessings. So, since I only have 1 week before Thanksgiving, I'd better get crackin'. If I don't post any other things I'm thankful for, I thought I'd at least start with this one:

I am Thankful for...Braden

On Sunday, when we met with the Stake Presidency for Braden's new calling, I was interviewed first. They asked me a bunch of questions and then asked 2 very important ones: Is there anything in Braden's life that would prevent him from serving worthily? and Is he a good husband to you and a good father to your kids? I got so choked up at the questions because it was WONDERFUL to be able to answer with the truth!

(excuse this picture...we both weigh about 30 pounds more than we do today. then again, I am 8 months pregnant in it.)

NO, there is NOTHING in Braden's life that prevents him from being able to serve worthily. He strives to be worthy all the time and he is. He holds and exercises the Priesthood worthily, goes to the temple worthily, takes the sacrament worthily, leads our family worthily, and serves worthily. I am SO grateful for that!

And YES, he is a tremendous husband and father. I told the counselor that I couldn't ask for anything better. He is amazing and, though I "nag" him about this and that, he never ceases to amaze me at the incredible things he does for us. He jumps in to help, picks up where I leave off, comforts me, loves the girls, plays down on the floor, jumps up when I need him, and so many things there aren't words for.

A silly example of the kind of person Braden is: when we were dating, he learned I HATED it when he and others cracked their knuckles. Braden had a bad habit of doing that, but he had a worse case of whooped-for-Cheri. So one day, he decided not to crack his knuckles anymore. And he hasn't since. He can be so focused, so determined, and so disciplined to do, become, or excel in anything he puts his mind to.

I'm so proud of his trying so hard to learn this new job, to go out of his comfort zone and do things he isn't used to doing to support our family. In the last 2 years, he has held a dozen odd jobs just to provide and I am SO grateful for that. For 4 years, he worked for BYU Vending Services when he was in school. When he graduated and we moved to Arizona, he started as a server for Johnny Carino's (an italian restaurant). Then when we moved to the valley, he worked for his bro-in-law's landscaping company and then Walmart until FrostBite opened. He worked there for the next year until it closed. At this point, he worked for a few days for a farmer plowing a field, for a friend's landscaping company, and then the post office for 6 months. Now he's working at University of Phoenix and he is happy. And that makes me happy.

When we were dating, he told me about this little book of memoirs by President Boyd K Packer. There's one entry called "The Teacher is Taught" or something like that. In the story, President Packer was Home Teaching this older lady who told him that she and her husband determined to never raise their voices to each other. President Packer testified that this was possible and brought great blessings. From that, Braden determined that he would never raise his voice to me. He has kept that promise and I feel so blessed for it. He is so patient, forgiving, loving, gentle, and kind.

I love bringing our children into this world thru natural childbirth, but I cannot do it without Braden's 100% help and attention. I am so grateful that he is not only willing to stand by my side the whole time and work almost as hard as I am, but also that he defends, supports, and encourages my decision to do this. Because it is important to me, it has become so very important to me. He has NEVER encouraged me to get an epidural or discouraged me from giving birth naturally. I am SO grateful for that.

I love doing projects, often at the expense of dinner, a tidy house, and happy kids. I don't know why, but I love to create and I get all sorts of ideas of how to do things or make things for our home for little or nothing. Or ways to make money thru what I make. There have been many nights that my house is destroyed with thread, fabric, poly-fil, pins, and junk everywhere and Braden overlooks it, enjoys what I'm doing, and encourages me along. He has never discouraged this desire to create! I love that!

There are also many times that I have reached my breaking point, like last night when the kids were whining for hours because I was trying to get my counties done. They were taking way longer than usual and I just couldn't do them and take care of the kids at the same time. So I called an 8-year-old for backup which helped a ton. But when Braden walked thru the door and saw the scene, I just told him, "we're not having dinner tonight." Next thing I know, he's got dinner whipped together with Taryn on his hip and Keara by his side.

One of my favorite sounds in the world (which I haven't heard since Braden's schedule changed) was when I would wake up to the dishes being done. He has always unloaded the dishwasher without me asking and would often do it first thing in the morning. It's a beautiful sound.

Braden isn't perfect. He knows it and I know it. There are some of places he falls short or whatever, but when I stop and remember that none of that truly matters and these things are such blessings, I have to say I could not ask for anything better. He is amazing and I love him so much.