Count your blessings

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. This has been a crazy year for us, full of changes and transitions. I am thankful for my blessings big and small this Thanksgiving.

I'm thankful for God who loves me and my faith that keeps me secure. I'm thankful for Matt, who is such a great best friend, partner, love and constant source of humor in my life. I'm thankful for my parents and their support. My in-laws and the way they always treat me like the 5th child. For Andrea and Margaret who support me and always know the right things to say. I'm thankful for my grandparents and for the example my Grandpa was to me. I'm thankful for Michael and Martin. I'm thankful for my extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who are like family. I'm thankful for the ladies of the Burns family and SO SO excited for our party this weekend. I'm thankful for Stevie and Wil. They are good companions and a source of entertainment and comfort. I'm thankful that I'm blessed enough to have 2 roofs to choose from for shelter. I'm thankful my pantry is always full and the good health of myself and my family.

Now for the not so serious, but still things I'm extremely blessed to have. I'm thankful for my air conditioning, Michael's craft store, weekend escapes to Disney World, college football, my camera, my dishwasher, the ability to fly home for holidays, down comforters, DVR recordings, Netflix on the Wii, my netbook, blue skies, changing seasons and M&Ms.

There are so many other people and things that bless my life and I am truly grateful for them. One of my favorite movies is "White Christmas" with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. They sing a great song in that movie called "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep":

When I'm worried and I can't sleep. I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings.

I hope everyone falls asleep counting blessings this Thanksgiving.

After you've stuff yourself with turkey and dressing! Happy Thanksgiving!!

Yosemite 2010 - Day 5 - Mariposa Sequoia Grove

None of us wanted to leave Yosemite without seeing some sequoia trees, so on our way out we stopped by the Mariposa Sequoia Grove. We walked 2 miles down to the grove and 2 miles back. Add that into the almost 4 miles we did that morning and you've got an eight mile day! Totally made me work for that steak dinner I had planned that night.


These photos just don't do these huge trees justice. They are enormous.

Me and Matt in front of a great sequoia.

As you can see, I'm about 5 feet tall - so this tree is probably at least 7 feet wide. Amazing.

And the pine cones are humongous. So cool to see something like this in person.

This trip was a wonderful once in a lifetime experience for all of us. I had a great time despite the physical exhaustion and fatigue. Matt, Martin and Maggie were perfect hiking companions. We laughed, talked, ate and spent a lot of time together in close quarters (and without showers, I have to add). I couldn't have asked for better companions. I'm so glad I let Matt talk me into going on this trip. I love looking back on these photos and still being in awe of myself for climbing that 3.5 mile hike up 4,000 feet. I honestly didn't know I had it in me and I was so proud of myself for accomplishing that feat.

Yosemite is a great vacation spot. There's a lodge and campsites if you're not into the wilderness camping we did. The hikes are strenuous but the views are completely worth it. I can't wait to carry my kids back there someday.

Yosemite - Day 5 - Heading down the mountain

We finally started heading down the mountain. The entire way down we had amazing view of Half Dome. We got started early to avoid the hot sun and I am SO glad we did. It's a good thing we were excited to be heading down the mountain because that adrenaline was much needed. Going up was rough, but coming back down requires an entirely different set of muscles. We were basically doing deep knee bends over and over again while balancing on rocks and carrying 40 pounds of extra weight. My knees are still not the same.

An idea of how steep the trail got on the way down. We are all so lucky not to have twisted an ankle or worse.

Finally made it down below the tree level. The folks who built these trails are hardcore, y'all.

Finally made it down the mountain to Mirror Lake which was kinda marshy, but still lived up to it's name. As we rested here we were pretty close to the more touristy areas of the park and folks kept walking by talking about how gorgeous it all was. We felt pretty awesome because we had actually been up there and walked around where these tourists were only pointing and talking about it.

We headed back into the Camp Curry area of the park where our car was parked. We loaded the car, emptied our bear canisters and got some lunch. No Diet Coke has ever tasted quite so good.

Yosemite 2010 - Day 5 - Martin's Birthday

Day 5 - Martin's Birthday! We've been with Martin during his past 4 birthdays! We've been camping in Florida, sightseeing in Tallahassee, partying in Orlando and now camping in Yosemite. We carried birthday candles, a banner and a birthday breakfast surprise up the mountain for his birthday celebration.


Matt lights the candle on our blueberry muffin crumble.

Great cold morning for a warm tasty breakfast.

We pack up camp for the last time. Matt's attending to some blisters on his foot. His shoes broke in on the first day and we repaired them with duct tape. The duct tape made his shoes a little tight and gave him a couple blisters. But it was nothing a few strips of moleskin couldn't handle.

We were incredibly blessed as we suffered no health problems or injuries on this trip. I believe the only problems we had were Matt's blisters and Martin cutting his toe on a rock in the water the day before. We were so lucky that nothing serious happened. We were well prepared. But so glad to see most of the medicines and supplies in our first aid kits were never needed.

Me keeping warm. Loved those chilly mornings. I was excited to start down the mountain.

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Turning in for the night

How could a day of playing in the water and napping get any better? By sitting around a campfire that night! Martin did a great job with our campfire. It warmed us up and was absolutely wonderful to sit around on our last night in the wilderness.


Martin, Me and Maggie keeping warm.

Matt and I walked over to the ledge again to see Half Dome at sunset. Love this Ansel Adams replica I shot!

Love these nighttime photos of the fire. Warms me up just looking at them.

Me and Matt snuggling by the fireside. Absolutely wonderful end to a great day.

Tomorrow morning we're waking up bright and early to head down the mountain!

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Afternoon

The afternoon of Day 4 we settled in and relaxed.


Found this huge swimming hole. Matt was the only one brave enough to actually swim in the water (though I think Martin had gone in earlier). He also jumped off of that ledge you see with the waterfall. Scared me to death.

I made him sit out of the water and warm up for a while.

After a nap, we headed a little farther on and made it out of the woods an onto the edge of the mountain with a beautiful view of Half Dome.

Wonderful day and it actually got better!

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Told you he was crazy....

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Water (Part 2)

As I said before, Day 4 was definitely everyone's favorite day. Here is one of the major reasons. Snow Creek. We set our packs down and just had fun.


The crew before the guys stripped down and started looking for more water slides.

Matt doing a toe touch into the water.
(no, that water isn't very deep)
Yes, my husband is crazy. Let me refer you to his actions last Christmas.

More sliding and fun.

Even MORE sliding. We laughed and enjoyed the water for hours. Totally relaxing after all the crazy hiking. And nice not to be wearing our heavy packs for a while.

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Meadows

After playing in the water and eating some lunch we got back on the trail. We passed through some beautiful terrain. Meadows of butterflies and tons of trees.


Probably one of my favorite photos. The butterflies fluttering around the flowers was like something out of a story book. Absolutely magical. Something I was glad to kinda capture in this photograph.

Tall tall trees leading the way through the trail.

A great photo of Matt and I with all our gear. Everyone's pack weight about 40 pounds. Unbelievable.

Heading down the trail to Snow Creek. More water fun is soon to follow!

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - WATER!

I think everyone agreed that Day 4 was their favorite day. We finally started heading down the mountain and were SO excited to be going downhill again. Then we came upon these gorgeous cascades. Awesome rock formations, water and rapids. They were begging to be played in. So we did!


You can see Matt standing on the top of the flat rock in this photo. Kinda puts the hugeness of the rocks and the water in perspective.

Love this view. Brings back such good memories.

The guys immediately started enjoying the water.

Matt sliding down the rock slides. That big rock in the left hand corner catches his fall.

Yosemite 2010 - Day 4 - Finally heading downhill

We got up on Day 4 and were SO ready and excited to know we were finally going to start heading downhill. Turns out, the downhill portion started just a few feet past where we made camp the night before. I think we all practically ran down the trail. We were so happy not to be using the same muscles we used for climbing up the hills.


Me checking the map and hoping we'll start moving downhill soon.

Me and Matt - We had a wonderful time together. Living in such close conditions without proper bathing facilities really brings you closer together. It's almost like couples therapy.

See that downhill incline? I was so excited to see it I took a picture of it.
(Sad, I know.)

Gorgeous mountain wildflowers greeted me on the way down. They probably greeted me on the way up too, but I was way too tired to care about taking photos of them.