We took family pictures right before driving over to my mom’s house for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a very foggy morning, cold, and clammy, but I think our photos turned out very well.  I am so in love with this family of mine.

Here is my big “number three helper.”  I tell her every day that she is my number one helper and she quickly corrects me, “I’m three!  I’m your number three helper!”  She is such a joy and challenge to have in my life.

Can I take a moment and give a shout out to her amazing, curly hair!  It is so beautiful, wild, and fun, just like her whole being.

Here is our best attempt at a family picture.  Babies and cameras have a love/hate relationship.

Me and Mr. Rancher.  I love this guy.  He makes my whole life better, busy, and beautiful.

Heehee.  If this isn’t the best picture EVER to describe my two girls, then I don’t know what is.  Becca is less than impressed with the camera-toting-mama trying to get her to smile.  Henley is a little ham as always.

Ah, there it is!  The most two most beautiful girls!

On to our little squirt.  This girl has been such a fun, challenging, and sweet baby to have in our home.  I smile as I write this, thinking back to the days when she couldn’t move from the location she was placed…oh the ease of caring for a baby that can’t crawl into mischief!

Me and my girls.  I’m the luckiest wifey/mama on the planet.  Even amidst the day-to-day struggles that come from this wonderful existence here on earth, there is so much joy and beauty in my life.  Though I tend towards despair and stress over the little things, when I step back and really take a good look at my life, I realize that I am so very blessed.

I came across a very refreshing and reassuring scripture yesterday, during one of my frequent “freak-out” moments, I would like to share it with you:

“And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.  And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.” 1 Nephi 17:3

Oh how true this rings in my life.  I often feel like this journey to building a ranch from the ground up is a “sojourn in the wilderness.”  But when I really look at the journey, I can see that the Lord has indeed nourished, strengthened, and provided means for me personally, for my marriage, for Mr. Rancher, and for my family.  I’ve made a pact with myself and my hubby to make gratitude more of a conscious effort each day.  I would encourage each of you to do the same, the benefits are so worth it!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!