Bowling or gymnastics

We went bowling with my sister and her family and my brother and his kids and my mom on Friday evening for Callie and my birthday. We are going to have to do this more often. The kids have no idea what they are doing but they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They were on the floor most of the time :) Thank goodness for bumpers!

Sunday's thankfulness

Sunday came and went and I forgot to post but I was thinking about it all day. I am thankful for forgiveness of sins. I wish I could learn from my mistakes and not keep making them. Forgiveness from Jesus wipes my slate clean and reminds me of His unending love for me. I am forgiven. Thank you Lord, I am not worthy.


I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games
forgiveness

Really quick before tomorrow comes

I would like to say I am thankful for warm fall nights that we can watch our local football team play and win, together as a family. Sort of a family tradition. We drove three plus hours tonight to see my stud muffin nephew,  with the help of his team earn a game in the DOME. What an exciting time for those youngsters and their parents, friends and family. I am tired, and sort of cranky, but thankful to have been a part of it.

Tonight I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one
warm, fall nights to watch high school football games (especially ones where my nephew plays and wins)

"Today was a fun day."

It is hard not to be thankful on your thirty-seventh birthday.

The day began with an early morning run. I could not have asked for a better way to spend that hour. It was almost warm, the stars were out in full force and I had an amazing running partner/coach.

I walked for a bit after my run, thinking and praying and counting my numerous blessings. I prayed hard for my family, those who are well and those who are not. My heart filled with emotion and the water flowed from my eyes as I prayed hard for my family.

I had planned on taking the day to myself and just doing what I wanted, but my prayers tugged at my heart and made me lonesome for my family. So I asked my husband to come along with me on my errand trips. It took longer than I had hoped and I did not get to dig for deals at the thrift stores like I had wanted to but we made it through.

We made it home in time to unload the groceries and get back in the car to head to the bowling alley. My niece shares my birthday and she was having a party. It was great fun watching those kids try to knock down pins and just spend time together. Afterwards we ate supper and then on the way home a little voice came, exhausted, from the back seat of the van, "Momma, today was a fun day."  That about sums it up.

As I sit here tonight exhausted from my long, fun, day I think hard about what I want to focus my thanks on today. My family is so important to me. My mother is so strong and independent I hope that I age as beautifully as she has and accomplish half as much as she has. My husband is a rock and without him I could not be who I am today. My sister is an intelligent, creative, passionate woman who I adore. My brothers are almost polar opposites but I love them both dearly and am so proud of who they have become and what they have been successful at. My other parents, Ryan's mom and dad, have always made me feel included like I was their own. They have a large family and it is a blessing to be a part of the chaos. I always joke that I was more attracted to my husband's large family than I was to him. The truth is sometimes funny.

Today, I am thankful for family, each and every one.

This month (and forever) I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises
family, each and every one

Day three of a month of thankfulness

I had to run to the big city today for an errand and I helped a friend out by picking something up for her. When I returned with her items she handed me a bottle of Cupcake Moscato. We had visited about this wine way back at the Christmas party and she remembered that I wanted to try this brand. I love moscato.

What a wonderful surprise gift! Today I am thankful for little surprises like that. They just make you feel special.

So the tally thus far;

I am thankful for

children
friends
little surprises

Ever have

one of those days where every time you turn around you find something you are thankful for? Perhaps it was just on my brain today but it was a blessed day here, and I mean blessed.

The day started with a walk with a friend (blessing) where I spotted lots of smashed pumpkins, none of them mine (blessing). I check my email and get an awesome message from another friend about God (blessing) read another amazing friends' (blessing) blog about being thankful and then get two excited (blessing) girls ready for daycare with another friend (blessing). A quick peck on the cheek from husband (blessing) getting home safely (blessing) from the night shift and off we went. Driving up to drop the girls off I notice (blessing) a highway patrolman. Returning, I keep an eye on my speed when I pass him. He does not (blessing) pull me over.

Another day at the school (blessing) where I see my children (blessing) and know that they are safe and learning. I get to read with kids and have a generally wonderful day minus junior math which I am not very good at :) I stay busy enough to only drink one cup (blessing) of coffee and reach my water goal for the day (blessing).

After school I pick up the girls. After we get home I throw together a tuna and noodle casserole which everyone eats (blessing). Dad leaves for work and I get on face book to see one of my friends (blessing) has posted her second blessing of November, too. Which brings me to right now. Now can you see why it is hard to pick just one blessing for today

Today's blessing reads something like this,

walk with friend whole pumpkins God story friend blessed friend happy kids friend who watches my children kiss from hubby no ticket school with kids one cup of coffee enough water good food full bellies blessed friend

I guess the theme is friends. So today, my friends, I am thankful for you.

Blessed in November with;

children
friends

A month of thanks *updated

Today is the first day of my favorite month of the whole year. To celebrate I am going to try and post every day. To make it even more special I am going to post something I am thankful for every day. If you would like to join me I would love to hear about the things you are thankful for on your blog or in the comments. Happy November.

I subbed today. I was tired this morning and skipped my morning workout with the girls because I stayed out too late at the football game. I was feeling run down and cranky. I kind of did not want to work. A few minutes after arriving at the school I found out about a beautiful young girl who had been tragically injured in a car accident, she died later in the day. It made me realize how thankless I have been.

Today I am thankful for every moment I have spent with my four children. Every moment is so precious because who knows how long each of will be in this temporary life? Who knows exactly when Jesus will say it is our time to go? So right now, at this moment, I am so very blessed to have four wonderful, healthy, vibrant kids and for that I am eternally grateful.


UPDATE:  Our God is an amazing God. Last night I was friended on Facebook by one of my friends husband. Shortly after we became friends he posted this and I just knew it was about the girl, he mentioned her name, too but I have removed it from his post...what an amazing testimony!


My Dad is up and walking (praise God)...he should be out of the ICU tomorrow and moving to pulmonary unit. He is looking forward to getting some nutrition in his feeding tube tomorrow. P.S. A young teenager was taken off of life support. She was surrounded by 30+ family/friends who loved her very much...in her last moments a palpable sense of a pressure change could be felt in my left inner ear (like taking off in a plane)...my brother confirmed this (also felt in left ear). My mother also felt a tremendous peace fall upon us...eternal perspective...the angels welcoming her home...