Grateful!

I am an avid Facebook junkie... I don't participate in the games or what not on there I basically get on there to see how my friends and family are. One of my friends on facebook is a wonderful mom by the name of Lisa, right now her daughter is having a rough time, and just reading Lisa's blog about what she is going through is heartbreaking. I admire Lisa and what a wonderful mom she is, and I hope that if I were in her shoes I could be like her, and be so optimistic, and to carry On, as she says. After reading her blog I realize just how wonderful life is and it makes me so grateful for all that I have and am. So I am going to share with you my very long detailed list of what I am grateful for. I know I am going to leave many things off but you'll get the gist of it and realize that nothing is more important to me than anything else...so no particular order.

First off... I am grateful for my family. I don't say this enough. I am grateful that I am a daughter of George and Shirley Ransom and have 4 sibblings in whom I know I can always rely on for anything.

Andy is the oldest and he is the best brother a girl could ever ask for. He is never judgemental, rude, or acts as if he is better than anyone else. He always makes time for everyone if you want his time, at least his family and friends. He is one of the smartest men i know and you would never know that just meeting him, because he is not prideful, he is very modest, it is a very good quality and something that is very comforting to be around. He is always in a good mood and always has the best things to say. He loves his family and is a great father as well. His wife is a great sister in law she has adjusted to a family of 4 sisters well. She can hold her own and is always so thoughtful. She never forgets a birthday and never forgets to send a thank you card. Some how she always knows just what people need and she does her best to help with that.

My oldest sister Cindy lives in Utah and has 6 kids. She is the sister I go to for any questions about my kids and whenever I call her for advice she comforts me. I will never forget the day before i was to go into to be induced for Sami, I was so scared, and she told me everything to expect it made my nerves go way down. Her husband is a good father and very smart man as well. He is very honest and gets straight to the point. My husband and me look up to them as examples of how to raise our children and live our lives in the gospel. They like us had children while in school and so they know exactly what we are going through.

My second oldest sister Suzie is very smart as well .Whenever I want to discuss a movie or a book I call her. She has a degree in English something that I someday want to get. She is very book smart and raises her kids that way. She always has a way of surprising me and so I think that is why it is so hard for us to get along. Growing up she was a pro at beating me up and cheering me up at the same time. I always know whats in style by seeing what she wears she is so stylish and well put together... I admire her for that trait that I never did receive...

My youngest sister Torrie is the youngest of 5 kids but you wouldn't know it by how independent she is. I am always curious as to how she acheived that after being home for so long by her self, with mom and dad at her finger tips. She is a first time mother and handling it very well. She is a lot like Suzie in the sense that they figure things out for themselves through study and reasearch. I do the reasearch and studying but just for good measure I throw in a second opionion and usually take a combination of all the advice... I guess we are all different for a reason...

Dave's family is something i am very grateful as well.

His dad Jeff even though his family is going through some rough times right now he is always aware of our needs and is there for us when we need him.

Barbara, Dave's mom is someone that I dearly admire and appreciate. She has so many talents that I hope to someday have. She is a great gardener and loves to be outdoors. She appreciates my home made gifts as I appreciate hers. When I went to visit her last month she was knitting Ezra a pair of socks... so cute and wonderful. She is such a great mom to Dave and is always so proud of him and excited for our adventures, always so supportive.

Brent, Dave's brother. Brent makes me laugh... Dave loves him so much and they have such a great friendship as brothers. They have both acquired the love of video gaming and share that as a bonding connection. Dave has so many fond memories of his brother and whenever they are together he is always so happy that he got to see his brother...

Laura, Dave's oldest sister... Dave has lets see here... 5 sisters... Laura is the oldest and she lives in Post Falls. Her family is a very fun loving family. They are always very generous and loving and so happy when they get to spend time with the family. Laura is as about as fit as they come and I admire that and hope that someday I can be like that...

Shelley... she is the 2nd sister... Shelley is a very loving sister... she always has the nicest things to say and always remembers our birthdays... she is so sweet and happy and so optimistic.

Sarah, I don't know very well but from what I here of her she is extremely talented and I admire talents especially of ones in the crafting department. She sews clothes and makes felt food... her husband is a super nice guy too and prevented me from electricuting my self a few years back.

Emily, her and her husband and daughter live in Germany and they are having a blast. It is so interesting to see how they live and learn about life over there. Emily is always so interested in family and so happy. It was fun to see her go through her pregnancy when her daughter was born...

Rachel is the youngest... she is gonna be finishing school here soon, and trying to find a job in the process. She is such a pretty girl and I see so much of Dave in her, they are very a like... at least to me. She does a great job of keeping her mom company and having fun in the mean time.

My Cheney family...

I am very grateful for my Cheney family. Moving here was an adventure that after moving here I partly regretted, since it is always so cold. Once it warmed up and I found my place in the ward in the Young Women's Presidency life got a lot easier. We are moving this weekend and everyone has been so nice. All my mia maids are so excited for us and ask some fun questions about Ezra. They are such cute girls and I love them all, they are all so different but yet so wonderful in there own special way. I admire all of them so much, and they teach me a lot. I have such a great time when I get to spend time with them, and get to know them better. They'll probably release me here soon and that will be a sad day but least I will still be in the same ward so I can see them on Sundays.

I am grateful as well for the influence the ward has had on my kids...

Sami has learned so much from her Primary teachers, the teachers and the choristers. She loves to sing and it feels my heart with joy to here her. Daphne has had a great time in nursery she is a bundle of laughs I just know it in there, I am just grateful that she is confined to one room for 2 hours and we aren't having to chase her around the church... what a handful. Her nursery leaders are saints.

Since September Sami has been in a co-op preschool with 6 other kids in our ward, and it's been so great. I have loved getting to know the kids and the moms... they have really become some of my favorite people and I am very grateful for them. Seeing them every week is just so comforting. Sami learns so much from preschool and I know she will do great in kindergarten in the fall.

I am very grateful for all the friends we have made while living here. Everyone is so excited for me and the baby and always making sure I have enough help. It's so comforting to live in a ward where several of the families are students at Eastern as well, we fit right in and it helps us have a lot more in common.

I could go on and on about Cheney friends... I love them!

Before I talk about we Mason's there is so many other things I am grateful for.. again in no particular order...

- my hair straightener... it's broken and needs to be replaced but it's holding in there and makes my day so much better.

- my husbands shaving cream... he is not a big cologne fan but I love the days when he shaves it smells so good and i can't get enough of smelling his face... I know weird...

- The CTC... turning into my favorite groccery store... currently I am collecting stamps for every $10 I spend and I can get a free pot... hey why not. It's also got some of the nicest people that work there, they are so nice. Asking the fruit guy for boxes he was so nice and making sure I had enough... it's also next to the Ben Franklin...

-the Ben Franklin i seriously need a discount card for that shop I go in there enough... your typical hobby store. It has everything that I enjoy basically and tides me over til I can get to Michaels or JoAnn's. I love the fabrics they carry, and my girls get there princess doll fix. And are gaining a true love of fish, since they discovered they sell them there... Again super nice workers there...

-My Iphone... Yeah I know I am extremely spoiled but with out this phone I wouldn't be able to get through my days... google maps alone is just plain wonderful, and my apps about pregnancy and my email access for when our internet is down is nice since that happens a lot... I have had it for almost a year and it's still in great condition... I can't wait til we can afford the next one that has the camera with the flash... than you can see non dark photos...

-Food... so grateful for good food. This is why I never loose weight I love food way to much. Lately it's fruit and chocolate... yeah crazy but I love food I love to make it and eat it... and I love how impressed my husband gets when I make yummy food.

Ok my back and hands are getting tired gonna finish it off...

Grateful for my daughters... Sami is my charm... she is amazing... drives me up a wall most days but I love her through and through... she always knows what I am feeling and she always knows what I need. Can't imagine life without my Sami.

Daphne... the funniest girl in the world... she can always make me smile and laugh... she is so easy to take care of to please but so hard to contain...

Dave.... my husband the love of my life... how I got so lucky I'll never know but wow I got myself a handsome man... he is my handsome man. He is so great and so grateful of everything. Hardly ever is he in a bad mood and usually it's when he is stressed or just got bit by a kid. He takes such good care of me and the girls and is so protective of me being pregnant... i don't know what it is, I am guessing we are just so stunned that after two girls we get a boy... a mini Dave... well we made a boy.. impressive to us.. we are thrilled. he is so protective of me and Ezra... when I am tired he makes me rest, when i am upset he comforts me, when i am hungry he makes sure I get good food. If i get a sausage mcmuffin he doens't get mad he says... you needed it... he reads my mind so I don't have to tell him what I need or want. he is always so grateful of me and never is upset if the house is a mess, or if we have cereal for dinner, he is just so grateful to have us and and it's so great. He always admires in me that which everyone else skims over... he calls me the Machine because I can accomplish so much. He builds me up and never drags me down... and did I mention he does all this while obtaining his second quarter for 4.0's across the board.. yeah I just know he is going to be Valvictorian or something...

well of course I could go on and on but it's 11:20 pm and I have A LOT to do tomorrow so it's bedtime for this prego momma... 7 weeks... left can you believe it... so excited to meet Mr Ezra and love him and dress him and spoil him... he is going to fit right in when our craziness. Our fun happy craziness of a family! Well wish us luck with the move and I will post pictures of course once we are settled so excited to show off my cute place.. I have such great plans...

Sara