Day 132

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I'm grateful for the small amount of progress we're making towards Tagen being weaned. Although it is only a small amount, it is progress. This is a sight we're seeing more and more... for about 5 seconds at a time. Maybe there is hope out there.

Day 131

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I love this smile! I love it when Olivia is happy and helpful.

I love that this almost-four-year-old can make us laugh out loud.

She's a blessing to have in our family, and I'm grateful for her.

Day 130

© 2009 Carrie Morris

There is a "Mormon-Ad" from when I was a teenager that had a single daisy in a vase with a bunch of roses. It read at the bottom, "Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful." I have often thought of that ad and tried to find beauty in everything around me... Not just the traditional things we think of as beautiful, but the things often not associated with beauty. I found beauty in these old, drying up weeds up the canyon last fall. They are their own kind of beautiful, aren't they?

Day 129

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I don't know the technical name for these railroad fasteners, but I love how strong they look and how securely they are holding the track to where it needs to be. This photo reminds me to strengthen my testimony and to hold securely to the Iron Rod. Life definitely has it's trials, but they are much easier to navigate and to get through if we are following the teachings of our Heavenly Father.

Day 128

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I have said it before, and I'm going to say it again. This adorable little baby of mine makes me smile. It's so fun to watch her learn new things. She was playing with this lid yesterday and quickly found her reflection in it. She entertained herself for the better part of an hour with it. She is one of the true joys in my life.

Day 127

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Life is full of options.

These are some of my favorite options to choose from.

Day 126

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Do you ever feel like your trying to fit in a place that is the wrong shape? Either you've been put there by others or by circumstances. Sometimes I wonder if we are trying to fit in to a space where we "think" we should be. But if we step back and take a good look at how things really are, we would see that we're much more beautiful as we truly are, rather than trying to fit the spot that's not meant for us. It's hard sometimes to be different and to be ourselves, but I know that if we are true to who we are, we will be happier and more at peace.

Day 125

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I'm grateful for the Sabbath Day. I love that it's called the "Day of Rest." To be completely honest, since having children, it's not often that we get much rest on Sundays. But, I'm grateful for them anyway because it's the day we're all home together. It's nice to sit back, relax and enjoy our time together.

Day 124

© 2010 Carrie Morris

The beautiful ladies in this picture are most of Brad's sisters. We're missing Trish and Marianne. I was able to spend most of my day with them. We laughed, ate, laughed and ate some more all in honor of their mother. I've never met Brad's mom. She passed away while Brad was on his mission. It was fun to get together and hear stories about her. Elizabeth is an amazing woman, and hearing about her helps me better understand my husband. Thanks ladies for sharing your memories.

Day 123

© 2010 Carrie Morris

In this often gray and dull time of year when we are sick of the gray clouds, the gray snow and the gray moods of everyone, it is refreshing to look for and to find some color in life. That color can come in the form of good friends, a girls night out, family parties, church, our children, or having a prayer answered. I'm looking for the color in my gray world, and I'm finding it, daily.

Day 122

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I love to see my children's accomplishments. Tagen tested herself on the stairs on Sunday. Her very first attempt at climbing stairs and she made it all the way from the bottom to the top without any help. She's fearless. You can see her concentration on her face with her little tongue sticking out. She was so proud of herself when she made it to the top. We were pretty proud of her also. I'm thankful for my daughter's healthy bodies and for their continued development in the right direction.

Day 121

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Relax. Life is too stressful. I am thankful for the quiet peaceful moments that we are blessed with in life. I need to enjoy and take advantage of them more often.

Day 120

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Very rarely in an emergency will you only get one vehicle responding. In the fire service we have learned that there is safety in numbers. It is always better to have too many hands than too few. It is easier to be able to turn away numbers than to be caught behind the eight ball and have to ask for them when things have already turned really bad. I've learned a lot from this practice.

I've learned that my safety comes from family and good friends. Those who are there for me in a moment's notice. Those who inspire me to do better, to forgive others, to love others and who encourage me to continue "enduring to the end." I'm grateful for these people in my life. I would be nowhere without them.

Day 119

© 2010 Carrie Morris

As I read through this talk from President James E. Faust, I was touched, inspired and humbled by his closing remarks.

"The counsel of the Lord to “arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations” should energize all of us. Great opportunities await you dear sisters to fulfill. Technology will continue to increase. The avenues for expressing your talents may exceed your fondest hopes and expectations. Challenges will come to each of you, but you can find happiness by doing all that you know to be right. You will need faith and determination to find your place in the world, but with perseverance and the help of the Lord, you can do it.As daughters of our Heavenly Father, each of you can be a partaker of His divine nature. It is inherent in your beings. I testify that each of you young women has special gifts from our Heavenly Father. Some of these gifts are unique to womanhood. As you cultivate these gifts, you will grow in strength, purpose, and nobility.This is the work of God. We are all His servants. He is watching over us. He wants us to succeed. We all have some part of the holy work to accomplish, even though it may seem small and obscure.I hope and pray that the Lord’s choicest blessings will be with you wonderful young sisters to sustain and watch over you. I bless you that you may be strengthened and magnified and that happiness and fulfillment will come to you, and I pray for this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen." James E. Faust, “Your Light—a Standard to All Nations,” Ensign, May 2006, 111–14

We need to "Arise and shine forth, that our light may be standard for the nations." I need to make sure my lamp is full and that I won't run out of oil. I want to be a shining example of our Savior.

Day 118

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Life is all about the paths we take. Every choice we make puts on a path to somewhere. Hopefully our choices will put us on the path that leads to Christ. We may not be able to see the consequence when we make those decisions, but there is One who can. If we make those decisions with prayer and faith, we will end up where He would have us be.

Day 117

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Respect your elders. We need to respect where they've been, what they've accomplished and what we can learn from them. Treat them with honor and respect... they have earned it.

Day 116

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Old and New.

An old leaf on new snow.

Reminds me of how I feel at a new year.

Lots of old problems falling into a new year.

But, I hope to face them with renewed strength and energy.

Day 115

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Tagen LOVES her bath time. I LOVE her smile.

Seeing this smile just makes me incredibly happy inside.

Day 114

© 2010 Carrie Morris

My mother made this picture for me. There are LITERALLY thousands and thousands of stitches in this piece of art. I know it took her a lot of time and a lot of patience. I don't have the talent or patience to do something like this. But, I am so grateful for my mom's willingness to use her talents.

I love that each individual stitch comes together and creates such a masterpiece. It reminds me that each of us have an individual role to play in our Heavenly Father's masterpiece. Without each of us, the picture won't be complete.

Day 113

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Olivia told me this is the outfit she plans to wear to her wedding!

Yes, she picked it out ALL. BY. HERSELF.

I'm learning to choose my battles in life.

I'm grateful for the laughs she brings into our home.

Day 112

© 2010 Carrie Morris

I love this baby. Poor thing was so tired by 8:30 this morning, that this is what happened... While I was feeding her breakfast. This is only the second time she's fallen asleep in her high chair. Needless to say, I put breakfast away, and laid her down in her crib for a good nap. I'm glad that her sleeping is getting a little better... even though it takes Benadryl to make most of sleeping happen.

Day 111

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Baby it's cold outside!

But, even with all the cold, there is still lots of beauty.

Day 110

© 2010 Carrie Morris

This is my anniversary rose. Beautiful, isn't it? I'm so in love with my husband. I think that is a true gift. To find someone you love and that you like to be with, and then to be able to marry that person.

Love is a gift.

Day 109

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Is anyone else ready for some fresh flowers and green leaves?

Let's start praying for an early spring, but thank our Heavenly Father for the snow and moisture of Winter.

Day 108

© 2009 Carrie Morris

This beauty is now a Sunbeam! I can't believe it. I'm excited to watch her grow and learn in Primary. She had such a great time on Sunday. I'm grateful for the last 3+ years of experiences that Olivia has blessed us with. She's a joy and a true sunbeam in our home.

Day 107

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I love my Tagen. She's such a happy, cheerful and playful baby. So much so, that when she started screaming uncontrollably at the top of her lungs tonight, I knew something was wrong. I put three doses of Orajel on her front top teeth breaking through, I gave her a dose of Tylenol, I tried to feed her dinner, gave her a bath, (which worked for approximately 4.35 minutes), tried dinner again, and then tried nursing her. Finally! After about 45 minutes of screaming, she quieted down and promptly fell asleep. I don't know if it was a combination of all the above or just some quiet bonding with mom that did the trick. It hurts my heart to see her cry so hard and to be in such obvious pain. I know it's all a part of our earthly experiences, and sometimes we will have pain that will help us grow. It's hard to watch from the parent perspective. It made me wonder, how does our Heavenly Father bear to watch EVERY one of His spirit children go through so much pain? And then I realized... Because He loves us, He is willing to let us have the pain so we can have the growth that comes with it.

Day 106

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Beauty can be found in all of our Heavenly Father's creations, if we just learn to look for it.

I'm grateful today for all of His creations.

Day 105

© 2010 Carrie Morris

Tagen LOVES watching out the front window for daddy to come home. Olivia used to do the same thing in our big picture window at our old house. I'm so glad my daughters love their father so much. I'm so grateful Brad is such a great father to my daughters.

Day 104

© 2010 Carrie Morris

My love,

Thank You for the past 6 years!

I LOVE YOU!!

Happy Anniversary!

Day 103

© 2009 Carrie Morris

Sometimes we just need a good cry! It cleanses our souls.

Day 102

© 2009 Carrie Morris

I'm looking forward to the coming year. I'm ready to move forward and do things better this year than last year. I want to be the person my Father needs me to be. 2010 will be a year of progress and improvement. I'm ready and willing to keep moving forward on life's path.