Thankful Thursday - My Mom

Today I am really Thankful for my Mom. She does so much for our family. She babysits Jackson and my BFF's son Gavin. She takes care of my Grandma's finances (even though she can be a pain in the butt), he doesn't get a lot of recognition for the things she does. I hope she knows how much I appreciate her always being there for me and the rest of the family.

I didn't know how much moms do for their family until I had my own. She really does so much. She has 6 grandkids now and loves each one of them unconditionally. She makes sure each one is taken care of and that each one of them spends time with her and my Dad. I love her so much.

Thanks Mom for being the best mom anyone could ask for. Thanks for doing more than you should and more than your share. Thanks for taking good care of Jackson, even though he is a busy little boy. Thanks for walking with me and always helping me out, especially when I have needed it most. Thanks for always taking me to the doctor when I was little and making sure I was in good health. Thank you for believing in me when I don't believe in myself. Thank you for trusting me to make the right decisions and for supporting me even though the choice I made wasn't the best one. Thank you everything! I love you Da Mama! To the moon and back.

Kamberlie

If anyone knew me growing up and even well into my 20s that I loved to babysit. People in the ward would call me "The Nanny" because I always had someone's child or children with me. One family was the Binks, I loved their children. While working at Sutherlands I would babysit for Kim while went to the gym. I babysat their 3 children Staley, Kamberlie and Stockton. I love them!! They were little balls of energy that I would brighten my day. One day on October 8, 2007 everything changed. I remember I had just bought a new bed frame for my room from Kmart and I was putting it together and my mom came in and said, "Nicole, Kamberlie Binks is missing while they were at Lake Powell, they aren't sure what happened at this point." That was a Monday, for days I read online and watched news reports that they were looking for her in the water and possibly someone took her. I prayed for her safety and wanted her to be okay. That Thursday, October 11, 2007 I heard they located her in Lake Powell, drowned. My heart stopped. She was this blonde spunky 3 year old and I couldn't believe she was gone. I had just watched the kids not too long before. Going to her funeral was so surreal, I couldn't believe this little Angel was no longer with us. Seeing her in her little white casket and her heartbroken family made me so grateful for the opportunity to get to know her.

I was watching this video today and I cried and cried. I keep thinking about Jackson, he turns 3 this year the same age as Kamberlie when she passed. I can't imagine the hurt the Binks have gone through and hope I never will. My son is everything to me. A few weeks ago he almost got hit by a car and I was so upset with him and myself. I would have been devastated if something would have happened to Jackson. I wish that she could have had more time on earth with her adorable brothers and meet her little brother and sister. I just hold onto my little man so tight and know that life is short. I hope the Binks know how much I think about them and how much I look up to them.

 

Thankful Thursday

Lately I have been feeling very ungrateful for what I have. I have gotten caught up in the world and in life that I forgot to look around me and remember that I have a beautiful family who I love and who loves me more than anything. So I am going to try and post every Thursday something that I am thankful for. Today I am thankful for my husband, Tom, who loves me unconditionally even when I don't love myself. Everyone's toughest critic is themselves. I love in the mirror and I pick out all the flaws. But when my husband looks at me he tells me I am beautiful and he loves me just the way I am. I am grateful for a man in my life who takes good care of me and always wants to put his family first. He is the best Dad and I love seeing those two play together. They make all the worries go away, put a smile on my face and make my heart happy. 

Family Photo October 2013

 

I am also thankful for this little guy. Before I was a mom, I saw my friends having babies and becoming mothers, they'd say "I never thought I could love someone so much". I thought to myself well of course you are going to love your kiddos. But when you set eyes on your baby for the first time, it is the most wonderful feeling of love. Something that you can't even begin to describe to others. He has my heart and I am wrapped around his little fingers. He is learning so much and is so smart. He talks a lot, just like his mama! He likes to tell me in the morning "No work" like come on Mom just stay home with me. I wish I could stay home everyday but alas I can't I would go crazy. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be his mom, I have been given a precious miracle and I'll never take that for granted.

Jackson December 2013