Day 22… November 22

Today I am thankful for music.

Music has always been a part of my life. Growing up our family was always singing and playing instruments, creating music.

Silly songs, classical songs, holiday songs, songs from church, songs from the radio, musicals, old songs, new songs, you name it ….my family sang it.

Our house was always filled with music growing up. Records (now referred to as vinyl :)) playing on the stereo, cassettes of our favorites, piano lessons, piano practice, violins, and violas. We all learned to play for at least some period.

I do regret that I have not kept up with the instruments, specifically piano and violin, that I learned to play in my youth. I think that might be a goal for next year. And maybe one day who knows, I will do something about my dream to play the flute.

I love that my kids all played instruments at various times. Not necessarily for very long but that’s okay.

Lots of violins, but we also had at one time or another a couple of trumpets, a baritone, percussion instruments, an alto saxophone, and a few piano players.

So many concerts from elementary school choir, strings and band on to junior high and into high school.

Tegan was the only one who chose to continue playing her instrument into junior high.

But after all the struggles to practice, we mostly stick to using our voices as our instruments. 🙂 All the kids have been in choir since elementary school. It has brought me so much joy over the years.

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 21… November 21

Today I am grateful for our “bonus daughter” Julie.

Julie is Karai’s (our oldest son) girlfriend. I would love to say daughter-in- law ….. but no pressure Karai 🙂

Julie is maybe the smartest and kindest person I know.

As I said before, it is easy to love the people who love your people, and I am so grateful she is one of our people. She is easy to love!

Hanging out with our family has been a little rough sometimes I’m sure. We can be what you might call “abrasive”. But she hasn’t given up on us yet.

She is so thoughtful and kind that she is a vegetarian (leaning toward vegan) because she would hate to harm anything. Our kids have openly debated on which of the siblings they would eat first in a crisis. Haha

Julie and Karai met at the University of Arizona when they both worked at the campus Rec Center. It is hard to believe that was nearly 4-1/2 years ago now.

After graduation from UofA, Julie began law school at Louisiana State University. But that first year she missed us so much (or maybe it was HER family and her twin sister!) that she transferred to Arizona State University – Sandra Day O’Conner College of Law.

She only has some finals and one more semester before graduation. Then she just needs to take the bar exam. Easy peasy. So exciting!!

Julie is determined and hardworking. She began her first internship the summer after her first year of law school, finishing in the top of her class. She did such a good job for them that they kept her on part time throughout the next school year.

She had an internship that second summer doing more great work as well. So much so that she has already received a full time job offer post graduation.

When she is not busy with work or her actual classes, she is busy as one of the Managing Editors for the ASU Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. You can enjoy one of her articles here.

She loves Disney, especially Wall-e, and ALL the animals, most especially her dog Ozzi and cat RockoRoo. If she could meet the Erwins it would be a dream come true!

She loves the law, the beach, travel, Harry Styles and family. She loves to find thoughtful gifts for others. I’m just glad she loves our family.

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 19… November 19

Today I am thankful for friends.

I will start with my “birthday twins” friends.

I have 2 friends that are near and dear to me who both have birthdays today.

The first one I met in 2005. We both had boys in the 5th grade together, boys in the 3rd grade together, a daughter for me and another son for her in the 1st grade who played on the same baseball team, other small children and we were both pregnant with our 6th kids. We both had daughters that year. 🙂

Though we were both members of the same church, we were in different congregations. We got to know each other through the elementary school and the baseball team and it was fun to make that connection.

Fast forward about 20 months and we were now in the same congregation for church due to some boundary realignments. (Our congregations are determined by geographical locations) It was nice to have a familiar face in this “new to us” congregation.

I am so grateful for her and love her dearly. We have both gone through a lot over the past 17 years and I am so glad we still connect. (We need to do lunch soon!!)

The second of the “birthday twins” is my dear friend, Brigitte. To many, it might seem like an unlikely friendship. Today she turned 94!!!!

She is an amazing woman with a fantastic sense of humor. And she has been through and experienced some pretty amazing things.

Born in 1928, her mother died 8 days later from an infection transferred from the midwife. Soon she was adopted by her maternal uncle and aunt and raised in Berlin, Germany.

She didn’t learn that she was adopted until she was 14 yrs old and her mother and father (aunt and uncle) still never said a word about it but acted as though it was not a thing.

I love Brigitte for so many reasons. And I am amazed by the life she has lead. From Nazi Germany to England to be a nanny, to the United States where she joined the military to receive her citizenship faster, she has amazing and heartbreaking stories to share.

I know that at age 94 time with her is a gift for me that I don’t know how long it will last, but I want to take advantage of it every chance I get!

So “Happiest of Birthdays” to my birthday twins!

There are so many wonderful friends that have blessed my life so much.

• My kid’s friend’s moms who have become so dear to me – and the mom’s that I wanted to be my friends so we led our kids to be friends 🙂
• My neighbors that have become friends
• My friends that are in my church congregation
• The friends that I decided on and made them be friends with me 😛
• New friends that I have made through this world of coaching – the process of becoming a coach, meeting others on the same path, working with The Life Coach School, as well as my coaches who continue to help me grow and develop my skills
• My “new” book group friends – It is fun to get back together after a long break for some reason I forget…..something that starts with a “C”?
• My two most dear friends that have helped me survive high school, junior high, and elementary school as our kids did it together, brought me so much laughter and joy at the bus stop, shared and helped me carry frustrations, and broadened my perspectives on the world – Anne and Nina, I love you!!
• My “old” book group friends – I mentioned them in my post about books. “Prose before Bros” (a recently adopted name due to some of us relating a little too close to any name with the word “old” in it!) has been meeting for around 20 years.

Brigitte

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 18… November 18

Today I am grateful for my second born son Chase.

Chase is an amazing example to me of being yourself to the fullest.

As the second child, Chase taught me the beauty of individuality. As a new parent I thought I was starting to figure things out. I quickly learned what I had kind of known but never really internalized.

Genetic bonds are one thing, but you truly are born with your own unique personality. Your “spirit” has traits that are eternal and those traits influence the way you interact with people and the world around you.

Even as a baby he was always moving and never wanted to miss out on something.

From the start Chase was a very “strong” person. But how could you not love that smile?!?

Chase is kind-hearted, intelligent, athletic, determined, independent, fun-loving, and has a heart for adventure.

I love that he is willing to go after what he wants in life. He was the first of our kids to decide to move far away for college. He came up with his plan and executed it as he moved out of state to attend Utah Valley University.

Some things he has loved for a long time….Lego for example.

His 6th birthday.

His 26th birthday

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 16… November 16

Today I am grateful for nature and the beautiful world that we live on.

I don’t have too many words to say today other than noting the immense awe and wonder I feel when I take in the beauty of God’s creations.

I enjoyed a discussion of this talk (Our Earthly Stewardship) given by Bishop Gérald Caussé at the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

It was a good reminder of the stewardship we have in creation ….. caring for, being mindful of, participating in.

Just know these are simple photographs taken with my phone camera so they do not do justice. But they were moments of beauty that I wanted to remember.

So without further adieu, I will just post some of my favorites to enjoy.

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 15… November 15

Today I am grateful for my son that chose our family. Well at least he chose our daughter to marry and got stuck with the rest of us in the process! 🙂

Jordan is everything you didn’t know you always wanted in a son-in-law. He is thoughtful, respectful, patient, considerate, kind, …. a Jazz fan….. so many things.

My husband loves him even more because of his love for basketball. He is always up for a game of one on one or Around the World or HORSE… even though we will lose. He finally brings some height to our family!

At 6′ 4″, Jordan is the basketball player my husband always hoped for in his boys. Besides the height, he has some skills too! Our other boys didn’t get the height or the desire to play all that much.

I love how mindful he is of others. Before they got engaged, Jordan called and spoke to my husband on the phone. He asked for Robert’s blessing as they planned to get married. And I don’t know if he asked for any advice, but the advice Robert offered, Jordan listened to.

Then not long after, he called me and spoke directly to me about their plans to get married. He asked for my blessing as well. That was so thoughtful and appreciated.

He is a hard-working ICU nurse and is working towards the goals he has for continuing his education. It seems like he is always working toward improving himself.

I look forward to sharing book recommendations with him and reading the things he recommends.

He is a loving and supportive husband. I love the way he loves Ally. They are so good together it is almost hard to believe how much they love each other.

He is so supportive of Ally and her goals as well. So much so that they are enjoying an adventure in Florida for a couple of years while she works towards a master’s degree.

As a parent, it is so easy to love the people who love your people. That’s why it was easy to love Jordan from the start. And now I am so glad that he is “my people” too!

He puts up with all the crazy things our family puts him through……nerf wars for Christmas morning, individually wrapped bottles of Nesquick, family reunions with extended families (on both sides), multiple photo shoots (Haha!! His favorite!), multiple parties to celebrate the “happy couple”, and “alternative” wedding send-offs, just to name a few.

Not your typical couple!!!

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

He followed his father-in-law’s advice and “properly” asked Ally to marry him.

Day 14… November 14

Today I am grateful for my youngest son Bryce.

Bryce is an amazing young man. He joined our family in some difficult circumstances. He was born 2 years after the death of his older brother whom he was never able to meet in this life.

He was the sweetest baby and a soothing gift after heartache. I feel like he was shortchanged at times with so much placed on him to help heal my heart. He has always been a gentle soul and so very thoughtful.

He is quiet and unassuming. He is generous and extremely kind. He is determined and sets goals for himself. And then he goes to work.

He is currently working in the VIK before and after school program where the elementary kids love “Mr. Bryce” and think he is pretty great. Especially when he plays 7 on 1 soccer with them.

He is also going to college, after taking a year off to work on his plan. His goals include degrees in exercise science and sports medicine.

Bryce is a man of many talents.

He has played soccer since the age of 4 and is very skilled. His one flaw on the soccer pitch may be that he is too willing to sacrifice his body. This unfortunately led to some injuries over the years. But it is because he is always willing to give 110% effort.

Besides soccer, he also played volleyball and did track and field. He is quite skilled in the long jump and triple jump events and did well on the track as well as in the pole vault. Unfortunately, an injured hamstring cut his last season short and made things more challenging for him.

Using those skills and his knowledge he was able to be the Jumps coach for Mesquite High School’s last track and field season.

Outside of the sports arena, he is a very talented singer. He was able to participate in the highest choir, Advanced Vocal, for 3 of his four years in high school.

Bryce has faced more than a few challenges in his life but always met them with strength and determination along with love and kindness. I am so grateful for him and the strong characteristics he has.

He is thoughtful and willing to serve others. He is very good at helping others to feel included. He has been this way, always looking out for others, since he was very young.

He was a watchful older brother to his younger sister and always wanted to be included with his older brothers.

I think that is one reason he has been such a skilled soccer player. When you learn how to play with your brothers who are 7 and 9 years older than you, especially when they don’t make it easy for you, you gain skills fast 🙂

I feel bad that I don’t have more recent pictures of him but he is too busy for those things. When he is not working or at school he enjoys playing soccer, both in real life and online, playing volleyball, and going to the gym, and has done quite a bit of work to achieve his goals there as well.

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.

Day 13… November 13

I made it 12 days in a row before I missed!!! That’s pretty impressive for me!!

I am a little sad that I didn’t post yesterday but I am allowing myself to be human and not perfect.

And I am going to keep moving forward.

There were a few minutes this morning I thought about doing two posts for today to “make up” for not posting yesterday but I decided that wasn’t necessary.

So today I am grateful for my home.

I mentioned in my post on Day 3 how my home was one of my dreams/goals that I achieved.

I love and am extremely grateful for my home. We have been in this home for over 17 years now and have shared so many memories with our family and friends in this home.

“The most powerful feeling in the world is to love and to be loved in return. Home isn’t just about walls and roof. It ‘s about being with those who make you feel safe and warm.” – unknown

My home is still a work in progress, but it is the place I feel most comfortable and most able to be myself.

I have loved being able to make my home my own through various projects. My sweet husband puts up with a lot of crazy ideas that I come up with. I will share just a couple.

My favorite project is my laundry room floor.

If you remember the coin shortage in 2020, my kids say it is my fault….. haha

For several years I wanted to create a “penny floor”.

After removing the tile. pouring self leveling concrete, and painting the concrete, I was ready to begin.

I’m Michelle. I am learning how to minimize my overwhelm, perfectionism, and people-pleasing and I am ready to help you do the same. I’m a certified Life Coach and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Come with me and learn how.