I am Thankful For...

...this time of year.  People are a little more thoughtful and try a little harder to be Christlike right now.  Granted I have not gone shopping and don't plan to for a month outside of grocery shopping.  But I notice that people on the street smile and nod this time of year whereas any other time of year they duck their heads and just walk by.  It is truly a magical time of year.

I am Thankful For...

...Christmas writings.  I love the books, stories, poems and thoughts that float around at this time of year.  They all have pretty much the same idea but make the Season so much more fun.  I am looking forward to the First Presidency Devotional on Sunday.  They always have such a wonderful way of starting Advent for us (though technically Advent should have started last Sunday).  I love the Christmas messages that these men bring to us each year.

Happy Birthday Luke!

Today is Luke's birthday (I hope).  Luke LOVES cars and trucks.  He has since he was very little.  He is a very mellow child and for the most part is pretty easy going.  We are so glad he is part of our family.  He adds another dynamic.  We are very blessed to have such incredible grandchildren.  Happy Birthday, Luke.  We love you very much.  (Since our computer crashed this is literally the only picture of Luke I had from this last year.  I had one of him as a baby but I will save that one.)

I am Thankful For...

...people that are always stepping up to help out.  We feed the military students every Sunday because they can't get back in time to eat if they stay for the whole block.  I am grateful for willing people who help me week after week and prepare part or all of the meal so these men and the missionaries can have a meal.  It makes my life so much easier when I don't have to prepare a full meal every week.  The students are so grateful it makes the effort worth it.  Plus so much good has come from it.  We have had several baptisms and reactivations from people coming just to get a home cooked meal and then gaining testimonies.  It is amazing what a little food can do.

I am Thankful For...

...an amazing family.  I have a wonderful husband and beautiful daughters.  They are in turn married to the perfect husband for each of them.  I have 11 incredible grandchildren.  I am so blessed.  I also have an amazing extended family.  I love them very much too.

Yesterday Clyde and I went and saw the movie, Hugo.  It was wonderful.  Of course it wasn't quite like the book but it was more like the book than some movies.  Ben Kingsley was amazing as the toy shop owner but then he is one of our best actors out there.  The imagery is mind boggling - especially when you watch it in 3D.  If you do watch it in 3D you might want to take your glasses off for the first few minutes (try it and see) but it was so uncomfortable for me, I had to take mine off.  It is as if you are going through people but not really.  An odd sensation.  Other than that it was incredible.  The next movie for us will probably be "The Adventures of Tintin".  We might have to take the grandkids at Christmas.

I am Thankful For...

...a few days with my husband.  Today we are going to go and see a movie and just spend some time together.  It will be a fun - laid back day.

I am Thankful For...

...for my heritage.  As I think about Thanksgiving today, I realize that I am who I am today and where I am today in part because of my ancestors and the decisions they made.  I am a citizen of the United States of America because of the choices my great-grandparents made on my father's father's side and my ancestors made generations before in my other lines.  I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of decisions my great grandparents, and great-greatgrandparents (+) had made over 100 years ago.  We do live in a great country and at a great time.  Sometimes it is overwhelming when I see all of the negative things happening on the news.  Then I realize - that is what the news wants to dwell on.  For the most part our family and friends are doing quite well - even though the economy is rough right now - we are getting by.  We have family and friends to support each other and help each other.  We are there for each other.  I am thankful for my amazing family - the ones that came before me and the ones that surround me with their love now.  Happy Thanksgiving!

I am Thankful For...

...a warm place to live.  It is raining hard right now.  I am grateful I a have warm snug place to live.  I need to get ready for tomorrow.  I will be thrilled when I can get to my Christmas decorations and decorate like I want to.  It just isn't worth it here.  I have our tiny tree up and my nativity scenes out.  That will be it again for the third year in a row.  Oh well.  One of these days I can go all out - like I really like to do.

I am Thankful For...

...Sedona and the people that work there.  I have been going there for several years.  They are  understanding of my health problems and are patient with me.  I love the atmosphere and the friendships I have made there.  It is a pleasant place to work out.

I am Thankful For...

...good medical care.  I am really thankful I found Dr. Thomas Fantes again.  I have been more at peace about my status - even though it is not the best - since I have been back with him.  Now we just need to get my Rx balanced and me balanced than all will be well.

P.S. I just got back and I am in better shape than I thought.  Life is good!

I am Thankful For...

...for my Kindle.  I have loved my Kindle from day one.  It has been almost 3 years since I got my Kindle.  Today it wouldn't turn on.  It has been acting up for a while and the battery - when I turn it on - is depleted in minutes.  If I keep the battery off, then I can read for a few hours before depleting the battery.  Today for some reason - even though the battery light is green - it will not turn on at all.  Good thing my new one is coming this week.  I just hope I make it for the next few days without it!  It is truly the best invention ever.  I have loved having a book at my fingertips whenever I have wanted one.  I have loved being able to hold a book with one hand at night a not really move as I cuddle under the covers and read.  I have a friend that was teasing me and telling me that I was going to get carpal tunnel in my thumbs because of all of the page turning they do on my kindle.  It is so minimal that there is no danger of that! 

Amazon has free current releases that I have loved and I have a wide array of authors that I now call favorites that I had never heard of until I had a free book from them.  I have my old classics too that are like old friends to read over and over.  The best thing about the Kindle is the books don't take up space.  In our tiny apartment that is a big deal.  I am very thankful for my Kindle.

I am Thankful For...

...music.  I love music - especially at this time of year when the holiday music becomes so important.  I love most kinds of music - everything but Jazz.  For some reason jazz makes me absolutely crazy - screaming angry in fact.  It is weird but I can only listen for a few minutes before I am ready to scream.  Most people find it relaxing but I don't.  Any other music and I am Okay.  My version of torture would be being forced to listen to jazz - especially when they riff and play phrases over and over on different instruments at different tempos.  That would make me insane quicker than anything.

I am Thankful For...

...the opportunity to be able to be an ordinance worker in Boston Temple.  It is so wonderful to be able to go every other week and spend time in the temple.  Tomorrow we are having a youth temple trip so Clyde and I are spending the night in Boston.  We would only get a few hours of sleep if we tried to come home tonight.  We are very blessed to live so close to a temple.

I am Thankful For...

... Holiday movies.  My favorite is "The Bishops Wife".  It has been for forever.  I saw it for the first time when I was a little girl on a Saturday afternoon at my Grandma and Grandpa Tuttle's house.  We didn't spend very many Christmas's at a Grandparents home and that could be why this movie is even more special.  It is a feel good movie and one I have to watch every Christmas Season at least once (but usually two or three times).  This is my movie during the year when I am down, that I pull out and watch.  It always makes me feel better.  When I would watch this any time other than Christmas, my girls would know that I was in the depths of depression.  However after I watched it, I always felt better.  


What is your favorite holiday movie?

I am Thankful For...

...fun authors.  I have been reading some very fun books the last few days.  I love to read and I love it when I find an author that makes reading a joy.

I am Thankful For...

...people that care.  It is hard to be without a car all of the time.  It is nice when people step up and help me with my Visiting Teaching and just get little service projects done.  They willingly pick me up and help me with the project as I am doing it.  I am very grateful for wonderful caring people that are just there.  It is makes life so much easier.

Happy Birthday Dad (Popi)

 When Dad would come home from work, he would be exhausted.  He was a Doctor and worked in the emergency room most of my early growing up years.  His way of playing with us was by laying on the floor and taking a nap while we jumped over him.  When he had his catnap he would play 'horsey' with us for a few minutes.  I was about 6 when this picture was taken.  It is my dad, my brother Bob, me and my sister Marianne.

 This is my dad and I think my sister on Smokey at my Uncle Raphael's farm in Venice, Utah.  I think at this time it was still Grandma and Grandpa Brugger's though.

This picture was taken on the 4th of July 2011.  We were at my sister Marianne's home.  This picture is my brother-in-law, Frank, Marianne, Doreen and Popi, me and Clyde.  


I am thankful for a wonderful father.  My dad has been an incredible  influence in my life.  He has guided me to become the person I am today.  I am grateful that he is my father.

I am Thankful For...

...spiritual experiences in unexpected places.  Yesterday Clyde and I were asked to speak about the Telestial Kingdom for a Youth Activity.  Even once I got there I wondered how this was going to go off but after as I was listening to the youth at the ice cream social, most were really touched by the Spirit and really glad they came.  So often we adults project our negativity onto our Youth and we mustn't.  Because they didn't have other things to compare this to they were thrilled with what this taught and the experience they had.  I need to remember that.  The point of the whole evening was that Patriarchal Blessing guide you through life and help you get to the Celestial Kingdom. 

I am Thankful For...

...holidays.  I love the holiday season, though as I get older and live so a far away from family, I find I don't like it as much as I used too.  My family would be surprised how little I decorate now.  It is just not worth it. But I love the season of giving, the wonderful movies and music.  That makes me happy.

I am Thankful For...

...all the Veterans in my life.  I grew up as an Army BRAT so I know what it is like to live the life of the military.  I know what it is like to see your father leave in the middle of the night and not know when you will see him again.  To always have his 'kit' packed so at a moments notice he can leave.  To wake up with your mother crying because she isn't sure where your father is.  I had it easier than most.  My father was a surgeon so he was in the MASH tents and was protected but many of my friends fathers - especially when they went to Viet Nam - never saw them again.

My father served in WWII and so did Clyde's dad.  Clyde's Grandfather, Dr. B also served in WWI.  My father got his medical degree and then went back into the military in the 50's and stayed in until the late 70's.  He had quite an amazing career.  I met Clyde because of the draft during the Viet Nam War.  Without that we would have never met.  We now have a son-in-law, Brandon Nordell - in the Air Force.  He is with our daughter and their two daughters in Okinawa.  Of all of my daughters, Heather was not the daughter I thought would be a military wife but she is doing an admirable job.  Clyde works at the Newport Naval Base and about half of our ward is military.  I am proud to be here to help make their lives easier so they can serve our country and make our lives easier.

I am Thankful For...

...Indian Summers.  Our autumn here has been incredible.  The colors were not all that spectacular because of Hurricane Irene but the weather has been in the 60's and 70's so far for most of November.  We had such a miserable and cold October I was really concerned.  We even had snow the last weekend of October with the big Nor'easter that blew through here (it didn't stick but it was flying in the air here on the island.  It stuck other places in the Northeast).  Since then it has been October weather to make up for having November in October.  It has been beautiful.  Today we have Tropical Storm Sean making its presence known with rain but even then the temperature is in the upper 50's.  Can't complain to much.  We will see how long this lasts.

I am Thankful For...

...my amazing hairdresser.  Mariana is fun and has been my hairdresser for 7 years.  The only time she has not cut my hair was when I had my surgery and I couldn't get out for a few months.  Then a friend from the ward came in and did my hair for me.  Mariana has told me so much about her family that I could probably go and visit one of their dinners and know who was who and how things worked within the family.  She is so much fun.  Today is my 3rd of 9 free haircuts for a year.  I am looking forward to a fun visit with a good friend.

I have to say one thing I am not thankful for - being so far away from family.  This is ongoing with me.  I want to be close in proximity to grandchildren.  I so envy the people that get to have family close for all of the holidays or can just run down for a weekend.  It was so wonderful when the Davis' lived in Pennsylvania and we could literally take off and go for a few days.  Life moves on and pretty soon we will be around family - I hope.

Happy Birthday Mallory!

Yesterday was Mallory Hope Bahlmann's first birthday!  I cannot believe she is already a year old.  This year has certainly gone by fast.  Here she is at Hogel Zoo at about 7 months old.  She was so proud of herself.  She had such a cute halo of hair but her mother informs us that it now lays down flat most of the time now.  We love you Mallory.  We hope you had a wonderful birthday and you have a great second year of life!  I am very thankful you came into our lives.  So my thankful post today- Today I am thankful for Mallory and always - all of my grandchildren.  They make life worth living.

I am Thankful For...

Today I am for so many things I don't know which one to pick.  I will choose the opportunity to teach seminary.  I have a great class and as happens with most teachers in the Gospel - I probably learn more than they do.  We are studying the Old Testament.  It is interesting and a good challenge.

Thankful Post #1

Every year during the month of November I write a post about something I am thankful for everyday of the month - or I have up until this year.  Today I realized it is November!  Do not ask me why but for some reason I thought it was Ocober 35th or something but it just had not registered that it was November yet. 

Today I thankful that Stake Conference comes only twice a year.  I am a home body and becoming more and more of one.  To travel over an hour one way to get to a meeting is not my idea of fun.  To do that two days in a row is torture.  If the meetings were not so incredible it would not be such an incredible experience.  Today we are going to have sacrament as part of stake conference.  We will see how that goes.