{attitude of gratitude}

day ten:
{attitude of gratitude} i am grateful for such supportive friends and family...

you all RoCk!!

{attitude of gratitude}

day eight:

{attitude of gratitude} I am grateful for the gift of patience and learning.


day nine:

{attitude of gratitude} I am grateful that I am now gainfully employed! What a ride it has been these past few months!

{attitude of gratitude}

day six :

{attitude of gratitude} i am grateful for the ability to enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

day seven:

{attitude of gratitude} i am grateful for the education i have received and the ability to finish this masters program.

{attitude of gratitude}

day five:

I am grateful for reliable transportation that allows us to visit friends and family.

Today we went down to Sandy to be with the Adam Family for Brynn's baptism. What a beautiful experience and so much fun to be with good friends.

{attitude of gratitude}

day four:

I am grateful that our home is covered under a warranty...wrong time of year to have a heater play games...it's a wee bit chilly in here...

The fellow who came out to check out the game playing furnace told the warranty company it should just be replaced. It is 27 years old, and though it was the "ish" in its heyday...that day has come to an end. New furnace here we come! YAHOOIE for warranties! {now to wait till next week for it to be installed....and there is snow in the forecast...hoping it stays a bit warm in here...}

{attitude of gratitude}

I have much to be grateful and thought that I would take the opportunity to record them during this month of thanks.

day one:

i am grateful for my darling sweetie. ♥

Gailon does so much to keep our home running financially. With me not working, our budget is tighter...but we make it every month! He makes sure that all is well. He makes me laugh! He has encouraged me in my efforts to go back to school...a big step!

day two:

i am grateful for a warm home and the joys of life.

It has been cold here, so having a warm home and all that is within, makes me happy!

day three:

i am grateful for helpful people within government organizations, like DCFS...

I have been working on some paperwork regarding our foster son Joey and a little project I have going on right now. In order to get dates and such correct, I had to call DCFS in Los Angeles. It is amazing how much better a conversation goes with someone who listens, is calm, and willing to assist. I spoke with the caseworker he had when he was with us...so not the same experience. I am just so grateful for those who are willing to go the extra distance to help.

InSpIrEd

I have been having a wee bit of difficulty dealing with the fact that I am not employed at the moment, had a contract offered and then removed, and so on.

So as I am finishing up a paper for my gifted and talented endorsement, my computer begins to act a bit wonky. I get frustrated, shut down the silly thing, and go upstairs, lie down on my bed and turn on KBYU because I knew that the devotional for the day is on.

The speaker begins discussing how we need to "Carry On", like the hymn says to, be patient, He knows. I, of course, begin tearing up. I keep listening about how we need to find peace in the plan, there are things for us to accomplish, and He is there to help. Have patience.

Just what I needed to hear...

One of my favorite people is Gordon B. Hinkley. Quotes from him calm my heart. Like this one:

"Life is just like an old time rail journey ... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."


or this one...

"It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us,...if we put our trust in Him, if we pray to Him, if we live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers."



This too shall pass. Everything will work out.

** ogden river parkway **

i have been teaching a summer scholars program with incoming fifth and sixth graders.



we, two other teachers and myself, were able to use the parkway as our classroom for the week.




what a grand adventure!



the article about our adventure can be found here....

{time}

I have been thinking alot about the concept of time.
Where does the time go? It's about time, dontcha think?

One of my favorite places to think is at the beach, so Iwent on a quick trip to Cali. Unfortunately my cutie patootie sweetie was not able to go with me, but I had fun nonetheless. I dragged momacita along with me instead. Thanks momacita!



We went to the Korean Friendship Bell to get a great view of the ocean, kayaking, and surrounding beauty. Ahhhh...!






Next we went to my Grandparent's former home. SO sad to see the loss of roses, trees, and beautiful plants that they had worked so hard to maintain and cultivate.



When I lived in Cali, I had been to the L.A. County Fair but never to the Orange County Fair...so we went. I couldn't believe all of the fried things! So CrAzY!!

Fried butter?! Chocolate covered corndogs with sprinkles?!

Yup...I tried it.
And it wasn't too bad, for something fried and odd... Kool-Aid donuts with a sprinkle of
Kool-Aid powder on top.




Following the adventures of the Fair, we visited with friends and family in the area, had breakfast with Mama Becky and Daddyo Larry, went to the 24th of July activity in Palos Verdes, Hung out with my besties Teesha and Mike their kiddos, and had a great time in general!

Time...on with the adventures associated with this time in our lives.

{learnings of late}

Much has taken place in the last few months, not all of the peaches and cream variety either.

But I have come to an understanding, kinda late in the game, I know...

...but...



...even though the road may be rough and the way covered with thistles and thorns...

...i have so much to be thankful for...

...wow...

the passing of a decade! so much has happened in the last ten years!

*graduation from Weber State University*

*marriage to the one and only Gailon Tucker*

*the loss of dear loved ones...papa, grandma sokoloff, and grandpa sokoloff*

*discovery about true friends*

*change in employment*

*change of home site*

*purchasing our first home*

*with so many changes and events of the past decade, here's to hoping and praying that the goals and plans for 2011 come to fruition....*

{goodbye fall}

I guess that we can officially say that Fall is over here in Ogden.





We had quite the storm last night! I got caught in it at the grocery store and then at Home Depot. But I got all of the fixins for a great Thanksgiving dinner and snow melt! What a combo!! If you need a place to go, come on over! With usual Tucker flair, we will surely have plenty!

The one thing that I have noticed this year is that we have had some of the most amazing sunsets! This one was so amazing, the picture does not fully capture the brilliance of it all! This is straight out of the camera too! BeAuTiFuL!

great photography props and such giveaway!

check it out!

yup...

...i am grateful that we have good insurance!

{gratitude}

I am so grateful that I have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are so many times that I rely on Him to help me understand the events around me. I am so grateful that I have a knowledge that there is a plan and that even though I may not like the plan right now, I can find strength in knowing everything will work out in the end.

I am grateful that I am employed and that, most of the time, I enjoy my job! I have some amazing kiddos this year and they make it worth it all!

I am grateful that my report cards are done and that we are on to term 2!

I have much to be {grateful} for..

I am grateful for a wonderful husband. We have so much fun together, even through the tough times! Thanks cute stuff!!

Another thing that we are so grateful for are our families. Where would we be without loving parents and siblings? I am ever so grateful that my mom and sister are close by! I miss my dad so much, but I am glad to know that he is not that far away!

I am grateful for holidays! What fun it is to remember the fun we had as children! Even in the matching homemade costumes mom made us wear each year!

*thousands of words*

the beginning of a beautiful adventure...

a work in progress! i {love} having friends with talents! a good friend of gailon's from work needed something and we needed something ....presto! a match made in fireplace heaven!

almost there! the mantel arrives this week!
CAN'T WAIT!!!


our first jars of tomato sauce that are from our garden!! i learned some really valuable lessons! let's just say that, well, steam is hot and can burn you...oowie!

a sneak peak of the cutest little guy!


friends are so fabulous, wouldn't you say? i can't imagine my life without amazing friends!

........wishing ...hoping ...dreaming....

so much has happened in the last little bit, i don't know where to start. between the summer ending, beginning a new year at school with older kiddos, being selected to adopt a baby girl and then a change in the plan...

no wonder i am ready for life to take a bit of a break so i can catch my breath.

i am feeling so blessed to have such a wonderful husband! i truly am glad to have him for my best friend. he reminded me the other day that i was his best friend and that we needed to set up a date to wander....oh, i am so ready!!

i love you my dear gailon!

{oh what do you do in the summertime?}

This summer was a very nice one, given the fact that I did not teach summer school. I had many classes that I took instead....a science course, a semester course in field biology in one week, a math course, computer course, and in a few days a history course! cRaZy!~

I made my first, from scratch peach pie...
....I also was able to go to California for a wedding....
...congratulations morgan and jessie! What a beautiful wedding ceremony

and reception...




....enjoy the beach!

.....be gouged by gas prices! OUCH!

and enjoy the company of friends.

sadly i was unable to see "my kiddos" and their parents...who gets strep throat and the chicken pox's at the same time? seriously?! hopefully all will be well soon...but i missed seeing my t...

** fOuRtH oF jUlY **

We had a great time on the third for the Fourth!

~ {in Utah, if a holiday falls on a Sunday, then it is celebrated the Saturday before} ~

We had about thirty people over for a bbq and watch the city fIrEwOrKs from our backyard. I, unfortunately, forgot my camera during the fireworks in the front yard and in the backyard!
But I did get a few of the crowd~


It's hard work swimming and playing with new friends!

{Munching on Cajun Burgers, ribs, BLT salad, fruit salad, fruit, chopped salad, chips and fresh from the garden salsa, and dips. Not to forget the yummies like german chocolate cake, carrot cake, the always needed flag cake with a tucker twist, and the cutest and yummiest star sugar cookies!}

Thanks to everyone for their contributions!!

My little buddy wondering when he is going to get his shot at the yummies!



* i came in to get a picture of the amazing spread, and this is what i met instead! a crowd! *



... picture this: our dinning room table stretched to its largest length and then filled from end to end, and everywhere in between with bowls and platters. got it?...



Only one picture of the BLT salad!

Oh well! Happy Fourth of July!