Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God’s love.

- Sister Bonnie D. Parkin

Wow! Can't believe it is time for Thanksgiving again! I absolutely love this time of year. I love to sit back and just think of all the many blessings I have been blessed with.

Family

Loving Parents

An amazing and loving boyfriend

My best friend, Tyler

Siblings

The gospel of Jesus Christ

The Atonement

Scriptures

Temples

a job

running shoes

a healthy body

good friends

books

a car (though it is kind of ghetto) that works

a job

great co workers

half marathons

date nights

movies

Gilmore Girls :)

good TV shows

prayer

My awesome, comfy bed

yoga

memories

nail polish

manis and pedis

My family (again)

Tyler (again)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

To my little brother Josh

I am so proud of this guy!!! He had an amazing football season that unfortunately was ended by a close close game. Too close. Josh worked so hard and deserved more than what he got. But sometimes that is what life gives us. Along with a 9-1 season he also earned a District Championship. He earned all conference center and all conference linebacker. And, defensive player of the year ( I think!) He is such a great leader and as a big sister, I am super super proud! Just wanted a little shout out to my little bro! Love you bud!

This was the game at the Holt Arena in Pocatello. Brooky kept putting her hands up to her mouth and it made her look like she was so nervous!

The mighty Savages!!!

Brooklyn

Just a fun video of Brooklyn. She loves watching Uncle Josh play football and anytime we scored she would throw her hands in the air and say "down". Anytime she even sees football (usually it is when we are watching highlights on TV) she gets a huge smile and points to the TV and says "Yosh" It's so cute. Brooklyn is one of Josh's many fans!

She also loves Gramps. We were trying to get her to throw her hands up in the air and say down but she was more interested in cuddling with Gramps!

The latest from Elder Stokes

Here is the latest email from Nathan. He is doing great and is down to about 5 (plus a few weeks) months left! Crazy. Just an FYI, the reason it was a tough week was the disappointing loss we had to Snake River. This is all I have to say about that...Go Marsh Valley!! Snake River got lucky, but no worries, the Stokes' will survive! :) Enjoy Nate's email...

hey everyone
how is you all? sounds like its was a pretty rough week but i hope it
will get bettter for you all this next week. well this week i kind of
had one of those bitter sweet ones so we were supost to have two
baptisms joel and efren adn they were both so great efren is just a
21 year old punk that has changed a ton and joel was just awesome from
the begging but on friday after we got done filling up the baptismal
font he texted me and said that he cant be baptized because there was
some kind of family issue so it broke my heart it hurt so stinkin bad
so saturday came and we went and talked to him and he told us what was
going on adn it was just so sad i didnt want to leave him but people
got there agency and you make anyone do anything but later that day
efren got baptized and it was so amazing when he was baring his
testimony after he almost stated to cry as he was sharing and then i
just felt so amazing will i guess to sum it all up for the week i am
just thankful for the lord and his love for us i have felt it so much
this week it has been so hard but he has always been there for us in
the hard time and the good times no matter what he is there just
waiting for us to fall so he can help us back up well i love you all
tons and miss you all so much
love elder stokes

Halloween Part 2

I made this bean deap that sort of looked like a spider web. It tasted great but there was a lot left over. It went perfect with the soup and bread bowls that looked like pumpkins. I also made these dirt cups that looked like headstones. Kind of! I did my best. They tasted great anyway!

And yes, I was an incredible again! It was such an easy costume because I had it already and I had to dress up for school. And the girls loved it! I just kept hearing all day "Have you seen Miss Stokes? She looks so cute!" It was a fun day at school and a fun Halloween night. So next year....any ideas for a good costume!!

Halloween Part 1

Happy Halloween!!! We had a great evening with Tate and Amber. We had a delicioius dinner with appetizers (see Halloween Part 2- someone can't figure out how to put more pictures on here from Picasa...never mind!)

We played some fun Halloween games, ate some good deserts and watched Hocus Pocus (which I slept all the way through!) I am not taking credit for this cake or the pumpkins. Both Tate and Amber are extremely talented!

Halloween was really fun this year. Now, one more post of Halloween coming up!

The Stokes' love football!!!

Football playoffs here we come! Our all-star brother Josh and his undefeated Savages start the playoffs. And we were there! Last Friday, American Falls and they went down!!! It was close and very scary but we pulled it out. Tomorrow, the Panthers of Snake River will attempt (notice I say attempt) to beat us. We're tough and focused. It was be a great game. But, here are a few highlights from last weeks game.

This girl.....definilty the life of the party. Anytime she sees boys playing football (on TV or in real life) she yells "Yosh" And everytime we score a touchdown she throws her hands up in the air and yells "down" So cute. She sure loves her Uncle Josh (we all do!)

Good job little brother! So proud of you! Keep working hard and let's get em this weekend!!

Where is Mary?? She is supposed to be in this picture. It was freezing but so fun!

There were lots of bull rides and lots of book reading with this one. She loves bull rides and loves to read. And she loves Gramps and Uncle Josh!

The cutest ladybug for Halloween!