18...19...20

I am thankful for:

18.  Entertaining movies and books.  My mind is always going...thank goodness I have things to keep it occupied.  Plus, I love to read!  I can't imagine not knowing how or living in a country or area where books, magazines, and movies were foreign concepts.

19.  my husbands painting skills!  This past weekend he spent hours painting our entry way and living room.  He is so patient and steady-handed.  The rooms look great!  I'll post pics once the furniture can be pushed back and things hung up on the wall.

20.  the new appliances in our home.  When we moved, we purchased all new appliances, sparing no expense on some options.  The bigger washing machine, the convection oven, the fridge...all have made my life much more simple....and for that, I am truly grateful.

Irony, Perspective, Humor....Not neccissarily in that order.

A Story of Growth

Humor:  As I'm sitting in Sunday School this past Sunday, I got to chatting with a woman who was new to the class (and our church).  She, of course, asked if I had any children. Those of you who know me know that I really wanted to tell her, "Yes, I had one.  But,  he/she died and is in Heaven waiting for me.  I've since been told that I will never have any other children.  However, we DID just finish up the process of becoming foster parents and our looking forward to that adventure."  What my ACTUAL answer was:  "No...I'm waaaayyy too young for that!"  :0)  I think she thought I was serious.  Whoops!

Irony:  Our conversation continued until class started.  We took prayer requests and, like always, started with a prayer.  During this prayer, my mind was focused on children (I've been praying for our future fosters, where ever they may be) when I felt a chair move next to me and looked up.  There, sitting RIGHT NEXT TO ME, was a woman in our class who just had her baby literally that week!  AND, she had her baby with her.  MY NOSE WAS ABOUT 5 INCHES FROM ITS BEAUTIFUL HEAD!  How do I always seem to end up in situations like this?!?!?  How is it that the barren woman seems to always end up surrounded by babies or preggos? 

Perspective:  I quickly gathered my items, said a goodbye to my new friend, and was out the door before the tears started to fall!  The good news is, I was done crying by the time I made it to my truck.  That, my friends, is an improvement!  From this situation, I am able to know in my heart several things:

1) this beautiful new mother was NOT trying to hurt me when she came in and sat next to me with her lovely child.  She does not know my story, and she probably never will. 

2)  There are many, many, many in this world who will (or have) gone through worse things than me.  I'm learning that while sometimes it feels like my heart will break, I really am stronger today than I was yesterday, and I thank the Lord for that.  I thank him that my hurts are so minor in comparison to others. 

3) Time is the great band-aid.

4)  I have friends in the church who notice my pain and are willing to acknowledge it.  One lady came up to me last night after choir practice and, after giving me a big hug, said "I saw what happened in Sunday school and I felt so bad for you.  I know that must have been hard."  Just hearing someone accepting of my feelings like that goes SO FAR towards healing!  Thank you!

Humor/Perspective:  A few days later, I can write this story with a smile on my face (and a few tears there too, but that's okay) because I now know I get to go to class next week and see that beautiful little baby again.  I love babies.  Seeing a baby, a pregnant woman, a new mom, a proud father...those things do not bother me when I've had time to mentally prepare.  I wonder if God allowed this situation to occur to show me just how far my healing has come (a year ago I would have been a bawling mess for the rest of the day.)  God sure has a sense of humor, doesn't he?!  Maybe this new mom will someday let me hold her little one....I hope she doesn't mind if I anoint it's head with my tears...some from laughter and some from pain.  :)

Twelve thru Seventeen

I'm THANKFUL for:

12.  Nature and all the beauty it provides.

13.  The word of GOD, the Bible, to uplift and encourage me, to set my paths, to provide direction

14.  My little Weenie dogs that keep me on my toes and make me smile

15.  Perspective

16.  Irony

17:  Being an early riser.  I love getting up and having half of my to-do list completed by 9 AM!



SIX thru TWELVE

Whoops!  It's not that I have not been thankful the past few days, it's just that I'm consistently inconsistent.  :)  So....let's play catch up.

I'm thankful for:
6) good jobs for my husband and I.

7)  Family.  I've enjoyed getting to know Dustin's family over the past few years and also getting to know my brother and Sis in law better as well.  I've also made more of an effort to make it "back home" to see my mom more this year.  I'm so thankful for the times we all have together and hope to make it more of a "habit."  We love you...each of you!

8)  a free country.  Thank you to those who have fought, or are fighting, to keep it that way.  God bless the USA!

9)  Beverages.  Seriously.  If asked my favorite food, I would probably say coffee, diet Mountain Dew, diet Coke, apple cider, MGD 64, water.  I know fluids are not technically a food, per say, but I'm a drinker.....and therefore, I'm thankful for beverages.

10)  a hubby with a great sense of humor.  Exactly how many times can we watch Super Troopers in one lifetime?!?! 

11)  those who have influenced my past (good AND bad!).  Today we said "goodbye" to the woman I knew as Grandma Gerber.  It was a melancholy day filled with tears, laughter, and family.  *sigh*  She will be missed. 

12)  my favorite sneakers:  my purple and black ROOS!  I wear them EVERYWHERE!

I'll keep working on my list.  What are you thankful for?

IV and V

IV:  I'm thankful for a warm bed to sleep in at night.  There are so many people around this world who don't even have such a simple thing as a soft bed to sleep in at night and that, that breaks my heart.  We have so many things in the world that we take for granted.  I think we all, me included, take things like food, shelter, and even a bed, for granted.  We think we are entitled to them.  And yes, maybe we are.  BUT, isn't everybody?  So...today, I'm thankful for my bed!

V:  I'm thankful for my friends, family, and my awesome husband.  I would not be the woman I am today without each of them (and if you are reading this, I'm sure you are included in that list as either a friend or family) and I am so thankful for you!  Thanks for sticking by me over the years, for supporting me during the hard times, and laughing with me during the good.

Days Dos and Tres

Dos:  Im thankful for a warm home with big windows that allow me to watch the sun rise and set.  Two of my favorite times of the day!  I will have to come back to this post and add pictures when Im at my computer.  I have some great ones!

Tres:  Im thankful for good friends who make me laugh until I pee!  Im at "home" right now for cousins wedding (Congrats, Brandon and Stacy!) so I got to go to dinner this evening with two "old" friends.  Old as in we've been friends for a LOOOONNNGG time, not as in age!  We had such a great time!  And, we learned that I am TERRIBLE at the animal game!  :)  Thanks, Doug and Melanie, for a great evening!

30 Days of Thankfulness

For the month of November, I have decided to discuss something I am thankful for every day. 

Day 1:  Musicals

I love music, I love movies and shows.  Put them together and you have a perfect union.  Musicals make me smile!  Some of my favorites; check them out today!