Top Ten Reasons to be Grateful for 2008

10. Caleb finally potty trained (hello cheerio toilet targets!), got rid of his binky, and graduated from "peach dare pee" (i.e. speech therapy)
9. We were able to finally go camping, somewhat successfully, several times as a family this past summer
8. Joseph was successful in 'getting up' and 'staying up' on the wakeboard at the EQ summer boating party activity, unlike 2007
7. Elizabeth turned 18 months earlier this year and was dropped off with great relief and anticipation to the Rosewood Nursery...
6. Emma grew 2" over the last 6 months and climbed back into the 3rd percentile for height and weight, and will no longer need to consider growth hormone therapy at this time
5. There were no issues with small infantile posterity mishandling the Christmas tree
5A. All four children still believe in Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Easter Bunny, but not Big Foot:)
4. Our family as a whole was much healthier than 2007...$400 healthier, as of today's Flex Spending surplus update
3. We did what the government hoped we would do, which we didn't agree with, by spending the stimulus package on a backyard fence
2. I got to meet two of my heroes this year: Glenn Beck and Jenny Oaks Baker

And the top reason the Kelly's have to be grateful for 2008...

--- no, I'm not expecting more infantile posterity--- just checking to see if anyone's awake

1. We received the confirmation tests back on the bizarre nightmare blood tests. Joseph does NOT have a rare and fatal disease (which shall remain nameless) that the BioLife Plasma Center told us he tested positive for. Yeaaa! We will get a chance to see our 401K gain back some of the serious loss and use it to pay, someday several decades from now, for wakeboarding lessons for him in retirement.

What a glorious year despite worries with the economy and future of our country. God bless us, everyone!

Confession: I Told Another Man Last Night I Loved Him

Last night I stood in line with my son Josh and my parents at Barnes & Noble so I could get an autographed copy of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater". Luckily I had purchased my copy on the day of it's release last month, because as of yesterday, there were no copies available in Idaho Falls. They are completely sold out. We stood in line for 90 minutes, and Glenn signed over 1400 books in an hour! He was so gracious, too. When we got up to him, Josh had been reading his Harry Potter book and didn't look immediatley up at Glenn. GB said to Josh, "Don't put Harry Potter down for me! I just want to shake your hand, young man. God bless you."

I told GB I loved him. (Don't worry-- my husband and I had this full disclosure confession when I got home last night.) GB responded, "Thank you so much for coming. Sorry about the long wait!" Shown in this picture, which was taken by a sweet stranger in line behind us named Stacey, is Glenn reaching to shake Josh's hand. My mom is to the right. Glenn's bodybuard Adam is the tall dark man behind him. The book, by the way, is wonderful. It is our ward's book club book for this month. The message is one of hope and forgiveness, and above all, redemption. It is so touching because it is all based on his true life story. He simply changed the name of himself in the book as well as a few of the details. It is well worth the read, and a perfect Christmas gift. Because of people like GB, with a voice for true conservative values and clear thinking, we have hope for our country. God bless you all!

Reason #71197 I Married Him...

My sweetheart has started a new 'part-time' job to help pay off some medical bills quicker:
He donates blood plasma twice a week for an extra $200 a month. Well, the idea was actually conceived by him to "support his habit." (He knows he is getting a hand gun and concealed weapons permit for Christmas... what I didn't realize is that purchasing the gun isn't the ONLY expense... you have to purchase a safe, safety mechanism thing-eys, ammo, the optional undercover-covert-wannabe-CIA-agent-inside-your-waistband-holster...) So JP was originally just going to donate for a month to earn his cash to pay for accessories for his new toy, but when he started going, he realized it was a pretty cool way to earn a little extra cash. Who doesn't like vampires? (I'm an Edward fan myself) and what guy doesn't enjoy getting paid to sit in a recliner and watch t.v. for $25 an hour? So tonight he mentioned going permanently and using the extra money to help pay off medical bills quicker. I love him for it. Don't get me wrong, he consented to taking me to the Sandpiper for dinner in a couple of weeks. (I'm a great negotiator.) I do have my own Edward, after all, don't I? After all, 'tis better to give than to receive...