I have been thinking about positive thinking and can it really change your life? Can you really accomplish that which you think you can't do by saying that you can? i think the difference comes in your attitude. Did I ever think I could raise 15 kids? Ummm...NO! But here I am doing the impossible every day. Okay, maybe not impossible but the difficult and challenging and the most rewarding.
So, I reflect on the things that I have experienced in my life. Well, I often think that my attitude either helped or hurt what was happening. Positive thinking helps you to feel good about where you are but can you do better on a paper or succeed in the work place just by positive energy? I think people reward you differently just based on your attitude but does it make you more competent or just pleased with the results? do you know what I mean?
The end result is that I like to be around happy positive people. I don't like to be an Eeyore or hang around one. I want to be like a Tigger and hang around more Tigger's. I may not perform any better but I am sure happier.
So, what do I need to do to be better and improve more? The truth is change takes time. So find one thing and be better at it! My one thing this week? Engaging with my children more. I can do this and have fun doing it!

What do you do in the winter time?

I don't know about you...but we headed to Disneyland! We escaped from the snow, cold weather with the highs of 7. And headed on over to Anaheim for a little Disney magic and what we found was even better! On our way, we enjoyed a brief respite and some naps until...Boom! the tread from a tire blew off the bus. We stopped and while inspecting the tire noticed that our luggage was on fire! We were blessed to put that it out and only lose the clothes from 1 child (YIPEE!). We continued on our way after a brief stop at an amazing Shell gas station in Beaver (andrew loves that name...) A nice man from Montana bought each of the kids a candy bar from the store while we waited. then he invited us to his horse ranch in Montana "to put everyone of those kids on a horse" :) Next we drove onto St George and our battery blew up. This was well timed as there was an autozone less than a mile down the street and John was able to replace it. Then the regulator in the alternator was acting weird. We said our 8th prayer and knew who to call to get help. Unfortunately, Papa lives in Michigan and he was plowing snow. Then, we called our mechanic at Doug's Auto and he helped us limp our bus to Covina, CA (our first official stop).
Here are some of the pictures from our wonderful stay....

It's a small world

Big Thunder railroad full of Thill's

Our friends the Boyd's showing us around for 3 days.They also got some friends together and comp'd our whole trip to Disneyland!

Tom Sawyer's treasure

Ever Clear Windows

Okay, I have done the unthinkable! I had my house windows cleaned by professionals. It was FANTASTIC! I wish I had done it sooner and I plan to keep doing it at least twice a year. They even got off my hard water stains from the sprinklers. They cleaned inside and out and it didn't take them long and it was so affordable! I can't wait to have them come back. they were so nice too. Thanks Andrea and Justin. It has been years since my windows have looked so beautiful. I can see each and every snowflake falling. And on my downstairs windows we actually close the blinds now because it is sooooo bright down there. See you in 6 months!
there are some things that I am not sure I should pay for but when I do I sure love the results! I want to now hire someone to clean my house too.

the saga of the Thill's continue

Well, let me just start by saying , I really do like my kids a lot. As a matter of fact, i would go so far as to say that I love them. *wink* Anyhoo, this has been one of the most difficult weeks of my life. So as not to complain again, I will just say this, "john has been gone a lot this week and sunday was super long".
That is all I will say except that the kids went into overdrive on behavior. Now, my kids are not usually very crazy and the reason I feel they need to be some what under control is this, I am totally afraid of what will happen if they get free reign. Also, I am not really for the whole one child taking "care" of another child thing. Is that stupid? should I let them "parent" a sibling?
So, needless to say, the whole new calling for john has a few kinks for me to work out at home.
Also, my math is going a little slower than I expected. I am working on quadratic equations and the vertex of parabola. I have been working on these for days and I still am not sure what either of those things mean. Something about graphs and lines not intersecting, I think. Jenn?
Meanwhile there will probably be no Christmas cards this year :( but, I do have neighbor gifts done and ready.
I also want to be done whining and complaining. It doesn't help at all and usually just makes me feel worse about the situation. In church yesterday, we talked about gifts that we have each received, and all I could think of were negative ones: for example: I have the gift of whining, the gift of judging well, you get the idea. That really clued me into the way my thinking has deteriorated over the last week. So, time to make a change.
well, after I make one more comment....:)

Well, Christmas is upon us. I usually feel quite stressed at this point in the Christmas game but I think I am doing great.
I am almost done shopping and my friend, Jenn, gave me the idea to wrap a few presents everyday. I am not sure why that never occurred to me but what a great idea.
John was released, sadly, from elder's quorum president last sunday and was asked to serve as second counselor in the bishopric. That was pretty exciting.
I have gotten some interesting comments from people like, "How are you going to get the kids to church now?" I would like to address this by saying, John has been gone from home on Sunday's for years now. This will not present a difficulty. As a matter of fact, I think it would be fun to actually have him home on any sunday morning and then I could laze around in bed and get ready for church at my leisure. LOL! Okay, that is so not reality but it sounds nice.
I am also in the end stretch of my schooling. Can you believe that? 20 years after starting my college career, I am almost done! I am so excited!. well, I have a year left but it is within my reach.
The kids are hanging in there. we are getting a court date soon for Abby. Wahoo! we should be able to adopt her in early 2011. I was excited to start processing that paperwork.
well, I just wanted to make sure I post something today so here you go....

Criminal Minds and more

Do you ever find yourself hooked on a tv series and you can't figure out why you like it so much? well, that is me and criminal minds. It is so intriguing to me. I think it is the way they put all of the clues and profiles together. anyhoo, it sure keep me up watching all of the shows. My DVR will thank me when I am done recording all of the episodes.
So, I took my Praxis I test and passed! that is a test that will allow me to student teach. Now, i am doing my application to get into the program. It is a little nerve wracking but I am excited. I have to decide if I want to student teach or intern. There are pros and cons to both but I am very intrigued by the idea of interning.
My problem is, after 20 years of being at home, I am ready to be working a little. But, I still have a 4year old. That won't be easy but I am sure that i will work it out. I have never thought I could be someone that stays home when my kids are in school. Maybe I should be. Maybe I shouldn't. Who knows? what a predicament. I get what is most important in life but...I am not sure i can adequately express everything in a blog or even in person.
So, on to school work. The kids are doing well in school. They are finally starting to stop challenging the teacher as much. That is always good. This is the time of year that things start to settle down and they really start to work and bring up their grades. it is always interesting to me how the kids challenge in every new situation.
Many people say that there kids have done the same things as mine but I think unless you have older adoptive children it is hard for you to imagine the challenge they bring every day. It sure it worth it for those moments when they are just regular kids.
Just found out that we are adopting our little Abby in January! That is exciting! I always thought I would do foster care/adoption forever but the older I get the more tired I become. I never want to get to the point when my kids are being raised by other siblings because I am too tired. Maybe, my energy level will kick back in one day and I can do this again. For now? I am not sure. My plate is awfully full so, we shall hold those thoughts til a later date.

Still trying to keep the blog rolling

Well, this has been an interesting week for me. I was able to see many "old" friends at the funeral of our friend, Craig Hiler. It has been really interesting as I have decided to contemplate what is important in my life. The answer? My family!! that is it. Don't get me wrong, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, my religion and relationship with my Heavenly Father is VERY important to me but temporally nothing matters but FAMILY!
renewing acquaintances is always interesting. This time it was natural with NO awkwardness. Okay, the only "nerdy" part was me professing my love (embarrassingly over and over) for my friend Brian's wife Christina. This woman is a wonder and I truly admire her. I haven't even met her yet! she is one of those people that you want to be like. She makes me strive to be better.
Okay, so I probably should have stopped with my first fawning but talking to her husband (who is awesome as well) i thought "this is my opportunity to express how wonderful i think she is" well, enough said. I should have just stopped the first time.
Anyhoo, my family has been CRAZY! some of the kids are on meds. This means that sometimes these have to be adjusted. YUCK! It always takes a few days for the changes to take effect. that is the worst! Then, when you find the med isn't working right you have to wait for the new med and hope for the best. This is really challenging if you have one child on meds but try 7. We are in the process of getting the newer meds. I will be happy when they come. so, will my children.
Well, my volleyball team is seeded 3rd in the "league" YEAH! we play in our first tournament game on Thursday. I hope we do well. I am not ready for the season to be over yet.
This is just a big Blah! There are so many random things that have happened around here. the weight loss is still progressing. this week it won't have been too good but I am down 13 pounds since I started! that is good especially with the 2 weeks that I didn't do as well with. I keep telling myself that this weight loss will be permanent because it is coming off at the right rate. I signed up for the Christmas group that wants to lose 20 pds by Christmas. I am feeling optimistic about that.

School is moving right along as well. i have a final this week (statistics...YUCK!) and a final next week. i signed up for the first Praxis 1 test which is a 4 hour test in three areas. It was expensive at $165.00 (ouch!) Then, I have 6 months to finish 6 classes and be scheduled for the Praxis 2 and have a plethora of other things completed. I can fell my heart accelerate at the thought of getting all of this done by april. We shall see how it goes. At this rate, I will be student teaching in January 2012 and graduating in May 2012. after 20 years, I see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Well, that is my boring update! On me. The kids are struggling through the med changes and trying to enjoy the fall break. John is working hard. He split our winter wood today. WAHOO! We are having our fun fall barbecue today. That will be the end of the grill for a little bit. We do love to grill randomly in the winter but we grill A lot in the summer.
Okay, I had better go, the BYU v. TCU game is going on and I hear a sack just happened (ouch!).