i am thankful

Have you experienced listening to a song that just totally changed your attitude that day?!  By 7am I just knew today was going to be a rotten kind of day.  Trying to cheer myself up I turned on some tunes while getting ready and I certainly received my attitude check.  I'm so thankful for that song.  Today I am just thankful.

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I am so thankful for music and how it does change my mood and attitude in a split second!  Thank you mom and dad for make music such a big part of our lives!

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I am thankful the sun is shining through the clouds today!  (Even though it's only in the low 40's... I wasn't sure if spring existed here BUT everything is greening up haha)

I am thankful for good hair days and make up!  Makes life easier as I am still struggling with my self image.

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I am thankful for a healthy body that allows me to work out.  Can't wait to get my spin on tonight! :)

I'm thankful Eric is mine.  I'm so lucky he loves me.  Plus he's hot ;)

I am thankful for so much more.  Really, I could go on and on.  But I won't :)  I will say that I am thankful God has blesed my life so much.  He truly loves me and has surrounded me with His beautiful creations so that I can be happier.  

What are you thankful for today?!

longest post ever about...food storage?

Food storage has been on my mind a lot lately.  Why?  I dunno.... maybe because I'm getting old?  Is food storage what old people think about?!  ..... awkward.....  ANYWAY!  I was taught to have at least 1 year's worth of food storage in my home and with all these natural disasters happening, that seems like the BEST idea!  The problem I've had with that is this:  when do I start building up my food storage? 
The first year of our marriage we lived in a box.  Haha seriously, a studio apartment.  NO room for food storage.  When we moved into a 2 bedroom apartment I was just starting to feel comfortable with the food we had in our home.  I didn't have to go to the grocery store and buy every ingredient for a recipe, I had most of it on hand.  Now my excuse is... our parents!  Our parents have food storage so we'll be ok.  Um...hello Courtney?!  We don't live by our parents!!  It is time to start filling our home up with food, not kids.  Haha...kidding!  Seriously though.  Here is an email I was forwarded from an American who is stationed in Japan:

Hi Everyone,
We're doing "fine" here. Considering what is going on around us.
When the first big quake hit, around 2:45 in the afternoon on Friday,
I ran to baby's room and grabbed him out of his crib. We've had
plenty of earthquakes in the 2.5 years we've been here, but this one
was huge. Boy started crying and calling for me --I got him too and
we huddled on the stairs away from windows and light fixtures. The
two boys were walking home from school and came in while the
house was still shaking. They thought it was exciting. I yelled at
them to "GET BACK OUTSIDE!" because I'd just been told if you're
outside, you're supposed to stay outside! I sat on the stairs
praying: "Please protect my kids, please protect my kids, please
protect my kids..." It seemed to last forever (around 5 minutes I've
heard) and then the aftershocks just kept coming and coming. They're
still coming.

They evacuated the hospital and Husband was able to come home around 4.
[I can't tell you what a relief it was to have my whole entire family
safe and together. And how upsetting it was/is to think of people
all over Japan who have family unaccounted for. It's really hard for
me whenever one of the husbands has to leave.]

Since then, the power has been out and we haven't had any heat or
access to phones (to the states) or Internet (except Husband getting one
e-mail out from the hospital.) Yesterday they opened the commissary (No lights, cash only) and we grabbed some extra food, water and diapers. Since we
have the standard Mormon "food storage" I wasn't too worried about
running out of food or water, but I didn't have any spare diapers so
was happy to buy three big boxes yesterday for Baby. (And yes,
I bought two big cans of hot chocolate. Priorities, people!)
We were asked at church to see what extra coats, blankets, food and water we can round up to donate to the Japanese people nearby. I feel heart sick thinking of those who've lost homes and loved ones. Although you probably know much
more than me, I hear the devastation is extremely great. We were
lucky to be so safe on base and grateful our off-base friends and
neighbors were okay.

The earthquakes (aftershocks) haven't stopped and I spent all night
last night having nightmares about running from collapsing and
buckling buildings. The kids are on edge and tantrums are at an all
time high. They keep busy playing during the day, but when it gets
dark and we have to ration flashlights and candles it gets extra hard
to keep the peace.

A few things I've been wanting to tell people and note for the
future:
*Get an old school, corded phone. If the power goes out, your
cordless won't work.
*Speaking of accountability, in an emergency, if you're going to
leave your house--leave a note on the door saying where you are going
so when guys from church or work coming looking, they'll know where
you are.
*When the power went out, people off base couldn't get their cars out
of their garage. Turns out there is a special crank to use but most
of our friends didn't have it or know what it was.
*We've been cooking with our camping equipment. Note to self: Buy a
20 pack of small propane tanks. We've also used our outdoor BBQ (in
the cold) and I'm wishing I had a spare tank of Propane for that.
(We still don't have power and don't know when it will come back on
On Base. Estimates have said 24 hours (we're way past that) to 1
week, to indefinite.)
*Do you have an extra refill of your prescriptions in your 72 hour
kit? It's terrifying to imagine running out of the things you take
every day. Also, the thought of my kids getting sick and not having
enough Children's Advil and/or Tylenol made me pretty nervous until I
verified we had some of each.
*For ONCE I was glad to be doing Dave Ramsey yesterday when we had
plenty of cash on hand to shop at the commissary. But we also have a
cash and yen emergency fund hidden in the house for back-up which was
very comforting.
*While I'm making notes to myself: Buy a hand crank wheat grinder
and blender! (We have a freezer full of frozen fruit to make
smoothies but no way to blend anything.)
*Also, I'm buying all my kids a down comforter. We have one on our
bed and we've been fine at night, but the kids need 20 blankets piled
up to stay warm.

Again, it takes something so tragic and devastating to kick my butt into gear!  I'm not going to go out and spend all of our money on food storage.  We just can't do that right now.  This is what Eric and I decided we can do: 
*Instead of buying 1 or 2 canned goods, buy 3 or 4. 
*Each time we go to Costco buy a case of waterbottles. 
*Each week put $5-10 (small bills) away for emergency cash. 
*Put money aside to save up for a shopping trip to complete 72 hour kits for the both of us.
*Make a list of where everything of importance is in our house in case of an emergency, I won't be thinking clearly and won't remember where I stashed everything.
What other ideas do you have?!
Congratulations if you're still reading...this may be the most boring post I've ever done.  But it's so incredibly important.  I need to be prepared for my family!  So I'd love input, ideas, anything you've got for me! :)
Because every post needs a picture, and I failed to have one with my last post, enjoy this picture of our little, crazy, happy family! ;)

life

I just had to take a minute and talk about life.  Life is so fragile.  I've learned that lesson, and will continue to do so again, and again, and again.
I had such a great, busy week of work last week.  I got to spend time with my parents, my girlfriend's and my clients.  I truly am blessed with the most amazing people in my life!  I have so many good friend's and I could not be more grateful!  (I'm talking about my St George friends, northern Utah friends, bloggy friends, clients, everyone!  So grateful!!)  Even though I had a great week I was really missing Eric (as you all know ha) and I was so ready to get home to him!  Unfortunately the weather was supposed to be horrible with winter spring storm advisory's and lot's of snow.  I called Eric to talk to him about whether I should drive home on Saturday or not when he told me, "I'd rather wait another day to see you, than never see you again."  {insert cheesy sigh} 
I decided to brave the storms and drive home.  I was so lucky, there was only one tiny patch of bad road.  There were other's who were not so lucky.  Just a few minutes before I drove up on the bad patch of road there was a horrible accident.  I just kept thinking about what Eric told me and I realized it wasn't so cheesy.  I wanted to cry because someone wasn't going home to his/her family that night.  As I finished the drive home I saw a couple more accidents on the side of the road and it really made me think and reflect on my life. 
I am very blessed.  I feel so loved by all of the amazing people in my life....BUT...do they know that I love them?  The Lord will take my life when it is time,  but it is my responsibility to live my life to the fullest until that time.  I am going to try my very hardest to love more openly and to serve everyone I can.  I do not want any regrets.  I am going to live my life to the fullest.

Who's with me?!

missing...

I am missing this face!!  :)  I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband who loves me no matter what!  And let's be honest here.  Look at that face.  He is freakin' hot.  Haha.. I am lucky! ;) (I LOVE this picture! So cute and funny!)

A huge thank you to my clients who keep me busy enough to spend a week working in warm, sunny St. George.  In case I haven't said this enough... I am one lucky girl!

Can't wait to catch up on my blog stalking next week!  I am loving all the friends I'm making here in bloggy world!  I miss you guys too!! :) :)

do you love me friends?

Alright ladies, (I'm assuming we're all ladies here, but you know why it's bad to assume right?.....Never mind!:)  I'm testing out our friendships right now.  I was asked by one of my best friend's to guest post on her blog!  Please go take a look here and tell me what you think!  I need lots of love and support ;)  First time guest posting!  So nerve-racking :) 

Plus you're going to love Randi's blog! 

Have a happy weekend filled with love and sunshine! :)