Unintentional

It's not even December yet and I am so overwhelmed. Why do I feel like I am so far behind? In the past I have never gotten my tree up early. But this year I feel awful that we haven't done it yet. Every where I look is more stuff. The kids have lists with items on them I could never afford. Is this really what it comes down to? Ick. What happened to joy, peace, and love? Where is the contentment?

Last night Gavin and dad put together some wooden tree project that I purchased after Christmas last year at Lowe's. I envisioned it being this wholesome father/son activity. It was not.

We also had our church family night. We have a potluck and then put the decorations in the church. I envisioned it being like a soft, warm fuzzy caroling night. It was not.

This morning I was cozy on the couch shopping online for new scrubs for my hubby when my daughter brought me the fire. "Mom, I can't get this game to start." The screen said, "Thank you for your purchase of coins through the amazon app store". Say what? So I spent the next 10 minutes on the phone explaining why I would never purchase $19.99 worth of gold coins for a farm game. They were extremely understanding. I asked if they had a password protect for digital orders. They said they had a lot of people suggesting that and that they were "looking into it". Really? Until then I have to call every time one of my children accidentally purchases something using amazon's awesome 'one click' technology. They actually have an app that you enter your phone number into and customer service calls you. And yet they don't have a password protect for digital purchases. Crazy.

All of these unintentional experiences frustrate me. I want to be more intentional. I want to intentionally think of baby Jesus' birthday. I want to intentionally spend quality time with my family. I am thankful for the free will that God gave me. I pray that I will use it to glorify Him.

One more day of November thanks;

friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

devotions

free will

Monday Thanks

Today was catch up day. I cleaned bedrooms, did laundry, organized chaos. It was needed. I feel a bit more complete for the moment. I want to do Advent devotions with the kids again this year. I love the Jesse Tree Journey. The Old Testament is good to review while we hear about Christ's birth in the New Testament. I hope that we make time each day to complete it. So today I am thankful for devotions.

Advent thanks today;

friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

devotions

Saturday and Sunday

How can it be that a long weekend seems shorter than a regular one? We packed so much into this weekend that I find it hard to find just a couple of things to be thankful for.

Saturday morning brought us back home and Ryan worked on grinding up his deer meat for jerky. I made a few treats for dinner at my mom's and then we went to her house for dinner. It was a cold and windy day almost the complete opposite of Fridays weather. We had delicious food and a nice afternoon of playing with the kids. My sister called while we were feasting to see how her sweet potatoes fared. She was unable to make the meal so she dropped them off at my house a few nights before. I put them in the freezer and they are still there. Oops. Guess we'll be having sweet potato casserole this week :) Thanks, Josie!

Sunday was a pretty normal day. My husband tagged along with me to ABC (adult Bible class). I thought it was because we decided to grab a bite afterwards but I just now caught him reading on my Fire, in the same book that we studied this morning. We are talking about the plagues and how Pharaoh had several chances to avoid them, but his free will and hard heart kept him from believing that God was real. 

Ryan got several batches of jerky dried today and the lights up. He was very productive, me? Not so much.

It is a crazy busy week. I am hoping to finish out the month of thankfulness and then take a little break from this blogging every day. It is a bit of pressure that I just don't need this time of year:)

So for yesterday and today I am very thankful for sweet potatoes and for interesting Bible stories.

This list is getting long! I am thankful for;children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

sweet potatoes

interesting Bible stories

a deal on a Keurig

To those of you who read my blog looking for deals, this one is hard to pass up. Go here to read about how to get a Keurig for only $71.51 shipped...

Keurig deal at Kohl's Thanks Hip2Save!

Words with Friends

Um, today I am really thankful for this app on my Fire. I love it, too much. I spent WAY too much of the afternoon playing it with my sister in law. It is the modern version of scrabble. Don't even try it, you won't be able to stop. I promise.

Many blessings;
children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

scrabble

Moments in Time

Today I am thankful for making memories. Every moment we spend together with family is quite special. We made some pretty good memories on Thanksgiving this year.

Thankful for much more than this list;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

making memories

Turkey, gravy and stuffing oh my...

I love food. I am sure I have mentioned this before. Food is my best friend. It loves me when I am happy, sad and in between. I have tried not to love food. It just doesn't work. So I have to make better food choices. Which has been sort of working most of the time. The funny thing is we don't have a ton of money, but I always have food. What does that say about me? Am I a food hoarder? Don't answer that. Anyway tomorrow is the king of all food days and my taste buds are excited. My brain is swirling with thoughts of turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries, green beans, corn, buttered buns, salads, pumpkin pie... The only thing that keeps me sane is that I am not cooking hardly anything so I won't have leftovers which is a very good thing:) The thing about leftovers is that I eat them. Anyway, today I am thankful for the the meal. Good food in good company always tastes the best. I am so blessed to have an amazing family to share a meal with. We will be celebrating twice this weekend, double the meals, double the blessings. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

Thanksgiving blessings;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

the meal

November warm weather

Have you stepped outside today? It is gorgeous, almost like spring. Crazy the weather we are having, huh? Nuts. I am thankful for the nice days, though. The moon has been GORGEOUS this month. I don't think I have ever seen such a beautiful moon. It helps that I am up early :) I am really more of a stayinsideunderablanket hermit during the cold season. I know every day I can get outside and move is one more day I won't be a hermit. Not that being a hermit is all that bad. I kinda like hermits.

Twenty two days of thankfulness;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

springlike weather in November

Mama always said

...there would be days like this. Today was one of those days. It seems the whole day has been one bumble after another. I would go into the boring details but they are just that...boring.  I broke down at 2pm and went downstairs and put in the 30 day shred workout. It helped a little. For 30 minutes I didn't think about my awful day until it was over and I really needed water and realized that the water was off (boring details - the outside faucet broke when I was watering the dog) which reminded me of the terrible day I was having.
I have been spending WAY too much time playing my fire. I barely have time to read books with all my game playing. But today I decided to open the online Bible and I found some really wonderful reading plans. I am going to start a month long plan about the Christmas season. There are tons of plans to choose from and I am excited at the distraction from real life. Hopefully, I will follow through with reading. It will be a great distraction from broken faucets, sick children, hunting husbands, loads of unfolded but clean laundry, piles of dishes, unanswered emails, and a lack of decision making when it comes to choosing a cookie for the swap I want to participate in. In short, today I am thankful for distractions, schwew!

Some days are harder to find things to be thankful for, today was one of those days, but once I sat down and thought about it I had a hard time finding one thing to post about!


children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

distractions, healthy ones :)

I guess it's our turn

Today I am thankful for homemade chicken noodle soup. Because the morning started WAY too early with little ones getting sick in bed. That is about all I have to say about that, except it is probably going to be a long week. If we each get one day we should be healthy by...Saturday, sigh.

I am thankful for this list of thankful things to look back upon today;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

homemade chicken noodle soup

Riches

I was straightening up the living room today when I found a pile of change at the bottom of the basket I use to store the blankets. The girls love to play with the little tin can bank I use for spare change. It is painted like a gumball machine. They take the lid off and pour out the change and then put the coins back through the slit in the lid one by one. The basket is right below the shelf where I store the bank and I suppose the girls just dropped the change when they were playing. As soon as I saw the change it triggered a memory. I remembered when I was first married and I was babysitting for Ryan's sister. The kids had both went to sleep and I decided to pick up the living area. I picked up change in several different places. I was shocked that people could have that much money lying around. At that time in my life every penny counted and I knew where every dime was all the time. I remember thinking that this family must have a lot of money to be able to lose that much change in the sofa. I smiled today as I pushed each penny, nickel and dime back through the hole in the lid. I was partly amused because I was thinking about what my babysitter would think if she found a pile of money in the blanket basket and because I know we barely have enough money to pay all of our bills each month, let alone afford to have money lying around the house. 


I am not a millionaire. But I far from poor. I have everything I need and most of the things I want. I have a home, a healthy family and a stocked pantry. I have vehicles that get me to and from where I have to go. I have warm clothes and fancy scarves and running shoes.I have a large family and a Heavenly Father who loves me dearly. I live a life full of wealth and I am thankful for that kind of riches.

Many blessings to be thankful for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

riches

Do you have time?

There is never enough of it, is there? It sure makes me pretty darn appreciative of the time I do have. I whisper out a prayer for my Aunt Pam who just had a biopsy. I spend a moment combing through one of the girls'hair. I say the words out loud for my son to study them for his spelling test. I cuddle in the early morning with my youngest who wakes up when I open my bottle of vitamins, she is SUCH a light sleeper. I am so thankful for every minute that I have. Several years ago I wasn't sure how much time I had. Tonight I got to spend an hour with my wonderful sister in law Kim, visiting. My friend Duane posted about his time today, too. Today I am making the time to be thankful for time. I savor the moments in time when the little ones share their wisdom with me...

I ask Nora if she likes her hair cut. She puts one hand on her hip and says, "Well, I can't SEE it."

I put Addison's hat on her head and say to her, "This hat is so nice and warm." She put her hands to her chest and replies, "Yes, mom, I can feel it in my heart."

Take some time to be thankful for;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

time

Baby it's cold outside

Brrrrr. Well, it's about time, I guess. Rumor has it the white stuff is coming this weekend. That sounds about right since my husband has a hunting weekend planned. Usually I am home alone during at least one measurable snowfall. My plan is to stay inside. Hopefully there isn't enough for the kids to want to go out in it...
Anyway, it is cold. At least there is always hot coffee, blankets and well,...Just Dance Kids on the wii to keep our blood pumping and our bodies warm :) Today I am thankful for the warmth I have in whatever form it comes.

Seventeen thanks so far;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

warmth

Fire

It came today. My Kindle Fire. That thing is amazing. In minutes it had all my books and music uploaded from amazon cloud. I can facebook, watch netflix movies, listen to pandora, and check my email. I can even access google reader. I can't post to my blog and I haven't figured out how to upload photos otherwise in the whole four hours I have had it I am convinced it is SO much more than an ereader. Lord, where would I be without technology. I uploaded two versions of the Bible and I can't wait to take it Bible Study with me. I have the ESV and King James now and I can compare the two. Thank you Lord for giving us the creative genious to make things like computers and laptops and ereaders.

Now I just have to wait my turn...sigh.

Thankful for amazing things such as;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

technology

I like to move it

The scale has not been my friend this past week or so. I can't seem to get the numbers to stop climbing up. Wonder if it has anything to do with chocolate? Today Ryan put two quarters in the glass machine to get a couple of York peppermint patties and then he set them on the dash of the car. Moments later he asked where they went. I had no answer. I cannot be trusted if there is chocolate anywhere near me. I have no will power. None. So this week I decided it was all about the two a days. Yep. I am working out twice a day for the rest of the week hopefully the scale goes my way by Friday. Chocolate, I love you but this week I am thankful for my two a days. Gotta love a great sweat. I think I may need to stock up on body wash.

Blessings this month;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature Reece's

music

working out 

Today

I am thankful for music and my new favorite noise is this song originally sung by Jamie Grace but I cannot get over this little girl's version. 

Music sure does make my world go round...

Singing and dancing your praises today for thankfulness;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature reece's

music

Honestly

Today was the kind of day when I bawl at every sappy commercial, the thought of making dinner overwhelms me, and listening to the kids bicker makes me want to shoot chocolate into my veins. I just want to snuggle up with my soft blanket all the livelong day. So the most I can imagine being thankful for today is the fact that those little reece's miniatures come individually wrapped. Otherwise a year and a half of work might have been lost in one bag of those bad boys.

Thank you for reminding me of these blessings, Lord;

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness
trying new things
freedom
colors
opportunities to be successful

stories

my husband

individually wrapped miniature reece's