Sunday, July 13, 2008

I'm so grateful for...

Just the other night Jake and I were watching Sportscenter (the standard at our house) and the news story came on about Andrew Bogut and his contract he just signed for something crazy like $80 million dollars! $80 million dollars - hello?! Just signing that knowing that you are "set for life". So I started asking Jake what is the first thing he would do once he signed the contract and left the building? As I was knitting a blanket I was telling him that I would buy new cars (a white Range Rover), pay off mine and Jake's families homes, buy them cars, take them on trips, buy a new house "not a huge one but like 9000 sq feet" (hello that is HUGE), buy a vacation home in Newport, a loft in NYC, hire a nanny for a few hours a day, put some in savings, and of course SHOP, SHOP, SHOP!! Jake just looked at me and said "pay your tithing." After I listed a few more items he said in a nice way"stop talking about that, be grateful for what we have." How grateful I am for Jake and his ways of thinking. After he said that I have been thinking about it all week. I know that there is like a .0001% chance that either Jake or I would sign any contracts for $80 million dollars. It is fun to dream, but I really need to be grateful for what I have in my life right now. I am so lucky to have a home, family, a car, a job, food in the fridge, and the gospel in my life. I find myself complaining about what I "don't have" and dreaming of all the things I want in the future. I decided that each day I am going to write down 2 items that I am grateful for. So today Sunday July 13 I am grateful for: Extended Family: I love getting together on Sunday's with family to enjoy dinner and hang out with everyone. I am so lucky to have them so close. Walker has the best time crawling around trying to keep up with all the kiddos that can walk. My House: I love living in Sugarhouse. Most of the time I am complaining about how small it is or the fact that I don't have a pantry - but I really need to realize that as times in the world get harder for everyone I am so lucky to even have a house. I am sure everyone has heard this great quote from Sister Hinckley, but it is one I think of often when I get in these "ruts" of "I wish I had this, or why can't I have that"- "I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived." Sister Marjorie Pay Hinckley I am trying to remind myself everyday how lucky I am and I don't need $80 million dollars to make my life great!

7 comments:

Ryan and Tori said...

LOL! That is great. That totally sound like me and Ryan. The other day, Ryan and I figured out that Tiger Woods makes like $3.50 a second!!! What is that? $210 a minute... We were saying- "If only Tiger Woods would give us one minute of his earnings a day..." and always talk about what we'd do with our money like you were to Jake. But like you said- we really do have SO much especially compared to some. Kind of the same reason I wrote that little post of all that I am grateful for, because we really do have a lot. Love that quote by the way- thanks for posting!

heidijogoody said...

I think this is a great post. I think you are like a lot of people out there in that fact that we all dream and think of what our lives could be like if we had money. It is so important though to be greatful for the things we do have because we for sure could have it a lot harder. Thanks for this nice uplifting post.

The Barneys said...

Funny I read your blog right now because I am actually watching this special on E! about people who have won the powerbowl lottery and how all of them have been to jail, claimed bankruptcy, gotten into drugs, and a few died! So right now I am thinking, "I guess having a lot of money isn't all it is cracked up to be."

p.s. I would want to shop shop shop though!

Brandis said...

Hey Teylor, I found your blog through Kelsi/Morgan's blogs, I am so excited to hear how you're doing and see your cute boy! I am so happy for you guys!

The Goffs said...

I really appreciate this post Tey! I love that Jake just immediately thought "pay your tithing"! I laughed when I read that cuz I was w/ you... houses, cars, etc! But you're right... Be grateful for what you have right now. THANKS for the reminder!
~Jenn
P.S. Scotty is doing the same thing... whenever there is a camera around, he won't look at you! hahha. Walker is so cute!

Shanna said...

you know something?! that is a great reminder! I find myself doing that here and there too! I have been blessed so much with all that I have! You are so cute!

The Royal Family said...

Tey,
your so funny! Anyway cute cute kid ya got there! anyway hope all is well, what is the status of the craft store?

Later!