count your blessings

About this time a week ago, we were still reeling over the sudden death of our little family car. Since then, I've been stressed, moody and having some pretty bad luck. My poor Hubby has taken more than his fair share of my meltdowns. It has been a rough week all the way around. So I thought it would be nice to list a few things that have brought me joy this week. In dark times, even small glimmers of light shine brightly. And on a normal week, I might take these things for granted, but this week, they made me really thankful.

70. Cold leftover steak, eaten straight out of the fridge, with bare hands. It sounds gross, but it is so good! Almost as good as chocolate cheesecake straight out of the fridge with bare hands.

71. My wonderful mother-in-law who took care of Bri today, while I attended a teaching class. (I'm not nearly as thankful, though, for the time spent in said teaching class.)

72. I was very thankful when the claims agent FINALLY told me that the teenager's insurance would be held fully responsible for the damages to our car, and that they would start the process immediately. (And I will be very thankful when we eventually get a check.)

73. On Friday, we dissected starfish in my Biology classes, and the kids loved it. I was thankful for the opportunity to let kids explore life in a way that most people never see. They were full of wonder and awe as they dissected their specimens. It was one of those days that just felt like a gift.

74. After a day spent with formaldehyde, I was very thankful for the hot shower that awaited me at home. It brought back memories of anatomy lab and the long hours spent exploring our cadavers. Yum!

75. All week long, I have been ever so grateful for my Daddy. He has been just a phone call away. Whenever I needed information about dealing with insurance stuff, he always had a patient reassuring answer or some really helpful advice. His expertise has been a life saver through all of this. He's coached us through the whole thing.

76. I've been really thankful for sleep this week, too. Mostly because I'm not getting much. The other night I had a horrific nightmare that ended with me watching Officer Hubster get shot by a bad guy. Still shaky when I think about it. But the little bit of sleep I have been getting has been precious. Hopefully, tomorrow will include a nice long Sunday afternoon nap.

77. Did I mention that I'm thankful for my Hubster? He's wonderful. He drove halfway across the county today just to kiss me! Isn't he great? Not only did he kiss me, but he sang silly songs to the baby, and all of this took place right in front of two of the other officers on his shift. He really loves his family!

78. This week was the first week of the new marching band season. We had a week of fundamental practice and then a parent show. I missed most of the practices because I had to deal with the car stuff after school, but I came to the parent show and the girls were amazing! I think the overall effect was much improved by missing all the in-between practice. It made me so thankful for my responsible captains and my fabulous girls.

There were many more happy moments over the course of this week. And they each stood in stark contrast to the stress that loomed like a dark cloud over me. Now that the cloud seems to be lifting, I felt the need to capture the memories. I'm looking forward to taking things for granted again!

Thankful list

64. I am extremely thankful that two weeks from today is April 4th!!! That particular day marks the beginning of Spring Break around here. Woohoo! There's light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are a few other things on my thankful list today...

65. My beautiful daughter who seems to grow a little bit everyday. She loves to giggle and slobber on her toys.
66. My wonderful dependable husband. He makes everything better.
67. Jesus. He took a beating for me on a Friday like this one. But more importantly He rose again on that Easter Sunday.
68. Fabulous friends. Like my lunch buddy today!

"My chains are gone; I've been set free. My God, my Savior has ransomed me. And like a flood His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace." ~Chris Tomlin Amazing Grace.

life is perfect

The sun came up this morning over the horizon and filled the sky with gorgeous colors. It's a beautiful day! And the temperatures are finally dropping back down to Christmasy weather. I am so thankful right now for the blessings in our life. I think I'll pick up my thankful list again this morning.

More things for which I am thankful:
58. The lovely view from our front windows.
59. My beautiful sleeping angel who loves to cuddle up with me.
60. This amazing husband of mine. He's turned into such a wonderful Daddy. I love his silly voices and the way he won't leave her sitting alone in the next room.
61. My wonderful Mom. She sent Bri a note and a Christmas bib that says "I love Santa." Later she told me that she's been looking for one that says, "Who needs Santa when you have Grandma!" So fun!
62. Our married life. Today, my sister is a bridesmaid in a friend's wedding. It's made me think back to our own wedding day and honeymoon year. I could only make one meal with confidence and we ate it twice a week! My Hubby asked for seconds every time. He's wonderful.
63. I am so thankful for my Heavenly Daddy these days. This week someone told me that she sees God as a robot maker. We are little robots who must say, "Praise God. Hail the King." And if we should choose to say something else, even something simple like, "The sky is blue," then He will make us suffer for the rest of our lives. All I could think to reply was, "I wouldn't love a God like that either." Somehow it wasn't the right time to tell her that God is like a loving Daddy to me. He knows what is best for me. When He holds back on something that I desperately want, it's not a cruel punishment but a loving act. He would not give me a rock when I needed a loaf of bread.

thankful list: Thanksgiving Day edition

Because I may be unable to blog from my Thanksgiving destination, I'm posting this early so that I won't have to drop out of NaBloPoMo. Thanks for understanding!

Today I am especially thankful for these things ...

44. family~ especially surprise visits from far far away
45. that we live close to most of our relatives
46. our healthy beautiful daughter that I get to dress up and photograph and embarrass for the rest of her days (not on purpose, though)... it is so fun to be a parent!
47. broccoli and cheese ... yum!
48. a very patient and extremely handsome husband
49. Japanese Hibachi fast food ... one of the best parts of every trip home
50. traditions
51. the freedom we have as citizens of this country
52. that brave officers are protecting us while we celebrate
53. less than ONE day until Black Friday ~ this will be Bri's first DAT shopping experience ~ this is one of those family traditions I mentioned
54. drop-in liners ... mylicon drops ... and infant tylenol drops
55. our church family ~ i need to devote a whole post to how awesome they are
56. my Savior Jesus Christ who forgives me despite my hypocrisy and evil tendancies
57. and ... for all of the lovely changes that have occurred in our lives over the past 365 days ~ new jobs, new house, new baby, new friends, and lots of love from all of you!!!

Reverse thankful list...

This morning I am really thankful that most days are not like today. I'm thankful that on most days...

34. We do not wake up 6 times in the middle of the night.
35. The Brimeister does not puke all over herself and the carseat requiring a bath at 7:30 am.
36. I don't have to figure out how to take a drippy puky carseat apart and wash the puky drippy padding.
37. The electricity does not go out.
38. The cable TV does not go out.
39. The internet works.
40. I don't have to call the cable company and wait on hold with a fussy baby.
41. I don't have to call the pediatrician's office about a sick child.
42. We don't have to make an emergency run to Wal-Mart for Pedialyte.

But most of all I'm thankful for the fact that until today ...

43. I've never had to take a rectal temperature!

Being a mom is quite an experience. Whew! Is this day over yet?!?!

Thank the Lord for...

23. my fabulous Hubs who offered to take me out to lunch and then shopping today!! Isn't he wonderful?
24. medela pumps. Need I say more?
25. friends who generously share their medela pumps. (Don't worry. I practically autoclaved ever single piece. I'm a germaphobe.)
26. my sister-in-law who is awesome with photoshop and all things computery!
27. dry roasted sunflower seeds. I thought this whole craving thing was supposed to stop after pregnancy.
28. magnetic list pads. I have a gazillion of them! And I use all of them all the time :o)
29. footie pajamas. The Brimeister can't kick out of them.
30. nicknames on top of nicknames. I like Bridoodle too!
31. peace and quiet. Like when the baby is sleeping {insert Hallelujah chorus}...
32. Grandpa's handmade changing table. It's beyond cool! I have to take a picture of it to show y'all. Don't let me forget.
33. free cases of formula in the mail. They are awfully generous with that stuff because they know it's more addictive than crack!

This is really fun! You should try it for yourself. Especially if you're a fellow NaBloPoMo-er... What are you thankful for? Let me know where your list is and I'll link to it!

things i'm thankful for today...

12. a good night's sleep!
13. my dusty old laptop :o) hang in there baby!
14. warm sunshine spots on the cold tile kitchen floor
15. listening to the sweet coos from my baby girl
16. we lit our first fire in the fireplace last night and snuggled up to watch Jeopardy (I know we're wild and crazy kids, right?)
17. my mom's coming to visit soon! Yay!
18. the flood of comments that I've been getting here lately. I'm spoiled now y'all.
19. tiny chances to paint between feedings
20. cranberry grape juice
21. the Pioneer Woman's love story
22. that the holiday season has arrived! A fabulous excuse to go shopping

Thankful List

I started a thankful list a couple of years ago but lost track of it. I had a journal where I kept adding to the list over several months. I've decided to start over and keep it online this time so that I won't lose it.


I'm thankful for...
1. Jesus.
2. our family - my fabulous husband and our beautiful daughter.
3. the view outside our kitchen window.
4. my husband sleeping on the air matress so we can all be together in the living room at night.
5. sleeping in on a Saturday morning.
6. getting packages on our front porch.
7. watching Bri discover her hands.
8. my mother-in-law's casseroles.
9. footie pajamas.
10. my sister living nearby (and her skills with scissors ;o)
11. jumbo bags of candy... yum ... we'll have to buy more before Halloween.

Thankful List

47. for getting off work early! woo hoo!
48. that only one paper-clip got thrown at me today
49. for happy meal toys that Lilly can chew on
50. that I'm getting my hair cut on Friday (keep your fingers
crossed for me)
51. for my Grandma Ginny who loved everyone who ever crossed
her path whether they deserved it or not
52. for choclolate pudding cups with a light saber spoon
53. for blueberry popsicles even though I can't get my whole mouth around them yet
54. for IM's with my sister ~ it's fun to stay close ~
55. for deep conditioner which makes me and Lilly nice and soft
56. for e-bay "buy it now" options (even though I know they defeat the point of ebay)