Happy Turkey Day Eve Everyone!

As I sit here at work, my mind keeps running through all of the things that I have been given in my life. Yes, not all of the things I received were what I wanted, but it always worked out. If I asked Heavenly Father for something and I didn't get the answer I wanted, I was always upset, until I realized that he knows what is better for me. "What I Need" is a song by Michael McLean and I can't help but think of it as I think of all the blessings I have been given. Here are the lyrics so you can read them and hopefully reflect on all the blessings you have been give because you "need" them:

"What I Need"

All I ever wanted

All I ever dreamed of

Everything I hoped

And all the things I prayed for

Couldn't hold a candle

To what I've been given

I've been given what I need

A mansion on a hill

Or love like in the movies

Perfect little dreams

Where no one has a problem

Instead of all those things

I thought I really wanted

I've been given what I need

Even when I didn't understand

When I thought you had no heart

Thank you for rejecting my demands

And always giving me the better part

Thanksgiving!

As I sit here nearing this wonderful Thanksgiving, I can't help but think about what I'm thankful for. Family, friends, a job, food, heat, clothes, music, and the list goes on and on. I think of all the people in the world that have to do without during these cold months. I think of all the small children in Madagascar that Justin helped and when we sent them old, worn out clothes of mine last year, how grateful they were. Just listening to them talk to Justin and express their gratitude was unbelievable. I couldn't understand them, but I could hear the joy in their voices.

I am so gratfeul that Justin and I have the opportunity to live up in Nezperce/Orofino and for the blessings that it has brought to our lives. The only hard thing is missing out on all of these fun times with our families; Thanksgiving, the annual Armstrong Christmas Party, even the small get togethers on the weekends. I'm missing out on all of the annual traditions that our families have every year. Amber's famous layered JELL-O (which she better make for Christmas too =), eating turkey until we are all about to pop, watching the parade with mom and dad, sometimes even plowing snow all day with dad! These are the times that make it hard for me to be away. We are such close-knits families and thinking of all the fun times they are going to embark on makes me wish I didn't live so far away.

It seems like everybody I talk to has somewhere to go, people to see, and then I think of how it will probably just be Justin and I. All of our friends are going out of town. I guess that I will have to make a turkey and the trimmings for Justin and I. Maybe we can feed some to the horses so they feel involved! I guess this way that if I ruin it, I won't have to feel so bad about it!

"Knee"dles & Scopes

Surgery day was yesterday and all went well. The nurse told us that we had to be there at 7:00 a.m. and so we left our house at 5 to make the drive. Well, when we got there, the nurse at check-in told us we were early and we in fact didn't have to be there until 8:30. Luckily, Wal-Mart is right below the surgery center on the hill, and so we went and walked around. We went in looking for a break light for the truck, and walked out with 3 bags of stuff. I gave in to Justin and bought him a hunting game for the Wii since I knew he would be bored watching TV all day. We went back up to the surgery center and we didn't wait long before they came and got him.

In the meantime, I didn't want to just sit there and stress, so I went to Winco and did some grocery shopping. I figured that I better take advantage of Winco since I have to drive 2 hours to get to it! It was really nice because it wasn't packed and all the shelves were stocked. What was even more crazy was that I was back up at the surgery center by 9:30! I don't think I've ever had my grocery shopping done that early!

It wasn't long before the doctor came and got me and explained to me the outcome. It was a little bit worse then what we thought. He said that once he found the tear, he also found a dime-size piece of arthritis and he thinks that's what was causing the pain. He shaved it away, fixed the tear, and then discovered a small crack on the femur! CRAZY! He said there is nothing he can do about it now, but to just watch it and not to be to rough on that knee for 1 year. Justin has to go back on the 30th to get the stitches out and they will then fit him for a specialized brace designed especially for him. He only has to wear it when he is playing sports, exercising, etc. He has to wear it for a year and then he will be free and clear.

Justin was really excited when he asked the doctor if he could ride buckin' horses next summer and the doctor told him it would be fine! This darned knee is the reason he didn't do too much riding this past year.

He had a good day when we got home yesterday and a good night. He just gets frustrated because he doesn't like to sit and he didn't sleep too good because he had to keep it elevated! He also has the tights on and can't take them off until Sunday morning and is using crutches until Sunday morning. He is going to get a bath tonight and it's going to be interesting because he can't take the tights off or get the bandage wet!

So far, he's not milking it! The nurses told him to not be "tough" and to take the pain pills. I told him that I don't want the pain to get the best of him! They prescribe pain pills for a reason. He said that it is aching more today and I told him that it will be more sore today then yesterday because the numbing is gone!

As for now, that is our lives. Nothing too exciting. I'm just trying to be Susie Homemaker and Bob the Cowboy all at the same time! It's very difficult to feed the horses when they are eating it faster than you can get it spread out!

Sickness & Surgeries!

This week has been crazy and crazy. I have been going to the chiropractor lately and been trying to fix my back again. I was doing well until one night it was raining and I was feeding the horses and I fell on the mud. But not to worry, like any other human being, I DIDN'T drop the hay. I just fell and hurt my back instead of trying to catch myself. I have to go and get x-rays on Monday to see if the lift that I have been wearing is working. Hopefully!!

When I went to bed Monday night, all of a sudden my stomach started hurting. I was hoping that maybe I was just tired and that it would go away. To my dismay, that didn't happen. I woke up at 3 am with my stomach cramping. I ended up watching TV and couldn't fall asleep because my stomach hurt so badly. I stayed on the couch all day Tuesday and most of the day on Wednesday. I really felt like somebody had tried to kill me.

Thursday, we had to go to Pullman to have a doctor look at Justin's knee. Well, come to find out, he has a torn meniscus and a cist is growing on it. He is going in on Wednesday to have it scoped and fixed. Then he is going to be out of commission for about 4 weeks. He'll be on crutches for a few days, but after that, it's just going to be swollen and stiff. I told him that he's not allowed to play "tough" with this one. If we are going to get it fixed, I want him to take care of it so we don't have to keep having the same surgery.

Yippa-de-do-da-day!!

So, I'm not sure exactly sure who reads my blog, but I update it anyway just to keep myself informed!

Football is officially over!! YAY!! The last game was on Friday and they won. They ended up going 4-5 which isn't too bad for the team. I guess they won more games this year then they have the past 4 years!! That's right! 4!They didn't make it into play-offs which is a bummer, but what can you do about it?? I'm just excited that I can actually have my husband back. Maybe we can get our lives back together now that I don't have to share him with about 15 other boys! After the game on Friday all the coaches and their wives went to the bar in Ferdinand to eat dinner. Justin and I were the only ones that didn't drink, and everybody kept looking at us. They all sort of giggled when Justin asked for water! We got to the bar at 7 and didn't leave until 11:30. For all you bar-flies out there, I don't know how you do it! I didn't even have any alcoholic beverages and I was exhausted and ready for bed. I can't even imagine having kids and drinking! That's enough to make your head spin.

We didn't do anything fun or exciting for Halloween. We stayed home and I cleaned the house and Justin worked with horses. Then we watched a movie. Everybody up here is so spread out that there were trunk 'r' treats everywhere. Yesterday after church, Justin went and helped some of our neighbors move cows. He took Chill because he wasn't sure what the other horses would do around cows. He said that Chill was like a kid in a candy shop. Ready to go and not wanting to stop.

I'm happy to say that I'm getting a new calling!!! No more nursery for me! I'm going to be the Laurel Advisor and I'm pretty excited about it. We have some way fun girls in our ward and I'm way happy to be able to work with them!!