34 Balloons for 34 Years and 34 Things

Age doesn't really bother me.  I didn't get all freaked out when I turned 30 and I am not freaking out today.  Today I am 34 and I'm thankful for another year.  I can honestly say I physically feel better (concerning arthritis) this year than I did last year, so I celebrate that blessing!  Actually I'm quite blessed and I don't mean I only have one thing to celebrate.  So in honor of my 34th birthday I am posting 34 things I am thankful for and some of them are not so obvious.  ~Smile~

1. God.  Everything about God.  Cannot, will not and do not want to live without Him.
2. My Bible ~ it keeps me sane.
3. My hubby ~ 14 years together and we are both still alive. Love him with much muchness. ~Wink~
4. My kids ~ 13 years of being a mommy and everyday I still pray I am getting it right.
5. My parents ~ couldn't ask for a better set of parents.  They rock!
6. My girlfriends ~ where would a girl be without them??
7. My Pastor and First Lady ~ They have blessed me more than they can ever know.
8. My family ~ blood and otherwise, our family is awesome!
9. Homeschooling ~ I am thankful I have the right to choose and I love it! (most of the time)
10. Yarn ~ it gives me a hobby, a way to earn a little cash and inspires creativity.
11. Fun crochet hooks ~ they make my already fun hobby even more fun.
12. My iPhone ~ it is not a necessity, but it keeps me smart ~Smile~
13. Books ~ it allows me to travel to different times and places without leaving my cuppa tea and my cozy couch.
14. My iPad ~ for many reasons, but mostly for electronic books.  See above.  ~Wink~
15. My dishwasher ~ Heaven knows I do not enjoy doing dishes, so my dishwasher is very special to me.  
16. Flip flops ~ I hate wearing shoes.  Flip flops allow me to, almost, not wear shoes from April to October.  Divine.
17. Ginger ale.  Yes, I truly love ginger ale and today I am thankful for it.
18. My journal.  I pour all my words into that journal and therefore I run my mouth less otherwise.  ~Wink~
19. Toilet paper.  I think that one is self explanatory.  
20. My mini van.  It's older and not the most fabulous van around, but it gets me where I need to go and it puts space between the children.  ~Smile~
21. Ear buds.  I love being hands free to talk.
22. Our homeschool group ~ They are an awesome group of homeschool families and I'm truly thankful we are apart of HELPS.
23. Facebook ~ Some days I'm thankful for FB and other days not so much.  But I am thankful that it keeps me close to friends and family far away.
24. St. Louis Bread Co CWE ~ I'm thankful for them because they are awesome and welcoming to our church plant.  
25. The Movement ~ I am thankful for our church plant for so many reasons!!
26. FroYo ~ Who doesn't love frozen yogurt??
27. Bobby pins ~ Those little pieces of mental make a world of difference in hair style.  ~Smile~
28. Maxi dresses ~ Comfy clothes are a must.  Because of maxi dresses I can be comfy and still look nice and modest.  
29. Washer and Dryer ~ This is a no brainer.  When you have laundry in the quantities we have, these are a blessing!!
30. Hubby's job ~ It's a blessing, with good insurance and benefits.  I thank God daily for it.  (Which by-the-way, he started at exactly two years ago today.)
31. Trees ~ I love trees, the colors, the flowering varieties especially.  They provide shade and oxygen.  I am thankful for oxygen, despite the pollen, I do love the trees.
32. Ability to move ~ Because I have a debilitating arthritis, I am thankful for another year of being able to move.  I may not get to do everything I would like too, but I'm better this year than last and for this I am abundantly grateful!
33. Fresh fruit ~ There is nothing sweeter and yummier than fresh strawberries, grapes, watermelon, cantaloupe and the list goes on.  God out did Himself with the Creation of fruit.  ~Smile~
34. My gray hair ~ I don't have an abundance yet, but I do like them.  Why am I thankful for them?  At least it's still hair on my head.  I'd rather have gray, than none at all.  ~Wink~

So today, my 34th birthday, I shall play with my kids and have a milkshake with them, we will go to the bookstore, we will read a funny book, possibly do a lapbook, fold laundry (because that's a given) and do a load of dishes (another given), we will giggle and laugh as much as possible and I will end the day with Bible study in the Central West End.  

It will be a great day.  

I Am So Very Thankful

I try to be thankful on other days too. But on this holiday, when my washing machine is silent and we are eating turkey till we can't breathe, my mind wonders to how blessed I truly am.

I am thankful that I know God and He knows me. And that I live in a country where I am free to worship Him and read my Bible.

I am thankful for my family. I have a wonderful Hubs. My kids bless me everyday with their cuddles and hugs and sweet kisses. I love to hear them laugh. I love my family and they love me. Even in hard times, sad time and times of bordering insanity~I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world!!!!

I am thankful to be alive and somewhat healthy. I can see, hear, talk, walk and play.

I am thankful for a place to live and plenty of food in my fridge. I am thankful for clean water and electricity.

I am thankful that the car accident my Hubs was in, didn't hurt him, at all. No pain, no injuries, nothing. I am so thankful for that.

I thankful for so many things, the list just keeps going. So to all of you bloggity friends, I only have this to say:

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
~~Anonymous~~

Oh! Did I mention I am thankful for the funny things that come our way in life. Laughter makes our heart happy and our face crinkle with smiles. If I am going to have wrinkles, I want them to be laugh lines! I hope you have a joyous Thanksgiving. One filled with reflection on blessings and one filled with laughter, lots and lots of laughter!

My Thankful Basket is Full and Running Over

Well, dear bloggity friends, I didn't have as much time as thought this week to post (or read blogs, I'll be catching up soon). So I will re-cap our holiday today and give you all the things I am thankful for, they are many.

First the things I am thankful for, these are not necessarily in order, though God is first:

1. God. I don't know where I would be without the Lord. The cares for me like no other, and I don't even deserve it.
2. My Hubs, he is truly dear to me.
3. My wonderful children who challenge me everyday to be a better mama--and I love them muchly.
4. My extended family, though sometimes I don't want to claim some of them, I love them.
5. My church families, one here and one in St. Louis--I love them.
6. My freedom.
7. My home. I have a roof over my head, food in my frig, clothes to wear, electricity and heat, toys abounding and love.
8. Blogging, yes, I am thankful for blogging and all the people I have "met" online.

There's my list, I am sure there are a few that I have missed, but I think I can say that I am truly blessed.

Our Thanksgiving was really good. We went to my parents and had a feast and then we played UNO until we were cross-eyed. Then we drove out to a friends house for more food and games. We played until late, but then decided to leave, because she gets up early to go shop on Black Friday. I also had to rise early to go on a mini road trip.

Friday my mom and I took the kids north to see more family. We went to see my grandma and all the aunts, uncles and cousins up there (about 2 hours from where we live). We ate more good food (I am going to have to roll to church in the morning) and had a good time visiting with everyone. I got to see some cousins I haven't seen in over 7 years. It was really great.

Today our big plans are (drum roll please). . . . the circus! The kids are really excited and I have to say I am too.

I hope each of you had a great Thanksgiving.

I'll be back to tomorrow with tales of elephants, lions, trapeze artists and all sorts of things to talk about.

Have a blessed Saturday.

Thankful, Installment No. 1

I just want to say this. . . today I am thankful for, well many things, but really on my mind today is our freedom.

On Sunday, in our city, one division of our Armed Services ran from buses into arms of loved ones. We rode down the street and there were flags lining the drive, banners were being waved welcoming our troops. I did not know any of the soldiers there that day, yet I welled up with emotion, how could you not?!? I felt happy for those families, I felt grateful for their services, I felt sad for those who mourn on this holiday. I thought of all the things I do in a day, taking for granted that I have the freedom to do those things. Taking for granted that my spouse is here, with me, with our children. I have no idea how they feel, those families, but I know that I am thankful for their sacrifice. They voluntarily choose to protect our, my, country--I am truly grateful.

Freedom to worship THE God of my choice. How I want, where I want, when I want. We may live in a land of different religious beliefs, but at least we get to choose.
Freedom to homeschool my children. To have as many children as I want.
Freedom to walk down the street in the clothes I choose.

That's just to name a few. How many mothers in this world wish, hope, pray for that freedom. That freedom I take for granted.

There are so many things I am thankful for, yet I take them for granted. We shouldn't just focus being thankful at Thanksgiving, but everyday we have something to be thankful for.

~~I wrote this post on Monday at really late thirty and thought I clicked on publish, but apparently I just saved it. So it's Monday's post. I'll post Thankful No. 2, later today. Probably at late dark thirty again. ~~

I Love My Lights, Microwave, Computer. . . . .

I am so thankful to have electricity again and my heart goes out to all those who are currently without power. You just don't realize how much you love electricity until you don't have it anymore.

I am back online, but mostly just thankful that I don't have to replace all the food in my fridge!

Those who have been devastated by Ike, I am praying for you and a speedy journey back to normal.

Just Countin'

The other day Samuel was sitting on the couch and was counting. Nothing in front of him, just his fingers and he was counting. Now this isn't new, he has been counting for some time and can get up to 13 without getting off track, but usually he is counting something. Usually blocks, cars or cereal that he has scattered throughout (you know because he can reach the stuff on top of the frig), but that day he wasn't counting anything. So I asked him, "what are you counting Sam?" He looked at me as if I had three heads and none of them were working properly and replied, "I jus countin".

Duh mom.

I said all that to say this.

So today I am saying, "I'm just countin, my blessings".

Yes, today friends I am contemplative and I am thinking of all the things I have to be thankful for, here a few:

~~ Knowing God and Him knowing, really knowing me. I am so thankful and wouldn't want to live this life without Him. God has carried me through really bad times and allowed me to dance on the mountain tops of life.
~~ My Husband, who, God bless him, puts up with me and has patience that is greater than Jobs. Lord knows I needed someone with patience.
~~My wonderful children that God has blessed me with and I love them more everyday. They never cease to amaze and amuse me. Even on the worst day, I wouldn't trade them for anything.
~~My parents, who are just the best!! I just can't even tell ya.
~~Good friends that love us and pray for us, even across the miles.
~~Great In-laws (not everyone can say that).
~~A roof over my head and food in my frig (that wears seat belts!).
~~Anointed mentors who still help frame our decisions.
~~Freedom to worship how I choose, dress how I choose and school my children how I choose.

Sometimes it is good to just sit down and think of how blessed we are. Sometimes we take for granted all that we have that doesn't have a price tag on it. I'm no millionaire, but the things I count as wealth are way more important and way better than money.

What are you all thankful for (all 2 of you that read this)? Comment back and tell me what you have been blessed with.

May each of you that drop by here remember all that God has done for you and have a thankful heart.

As I was typing this post, I heard something strange going on behind me, a noise that is not familiar. I turned and there sat my two year old blessing EMPTYING THE TISSUE BOX all over my couch. I'm truly thankful, I'm truly thankful, I'm truly thankful. . . . little booger.

Happy Fourth!!

Hope you all are having a Happy Fourth and enjoying your families.

I always seem to be a little more reflective on the fourth than most days about my freedom and how it wasn't free. I am very thankful that I live in a free country, as crazy as it seems at times, it's still better than the best third world country and we are blessed and spoiled.

I am also thankful to all those men and women who are currently serving our country and whether or not you agree with the war, that's not the point, they are serving their country and doing a great job at it. Say a prayer today for all those who are putting themselves in harms way so that we can live in freedom. While we eat BBQ and watch fireworks they are hard at work for us.

One of my friends from Gateway is currently serving as a Chaplain in Iraq and my thoughts and prayers are with him and his wife.

Thanks to our Armed Forces--you guys are awesome! To the families who have a husband/wife serving our country thanks to you too.

May God bless our troops and this country (even when we don't deserve it).

Oh the Insanity

This week has just been crazy. I have ran from Monday to now and I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. Well, I have accomplished a few things here at home, but not nearly enough packing is done. I have been busy with church things and tomorrow is basically gone and it's not even here yet.

After tomorrow I should be able to fully concentrate on the packing. I still have toys to go through (it's a big job, trust me) and clothes (I really don't know where these clothes keep coming from), and I am anxious to get this over with. Did I mention how much I hate moving!!

Daniel has done nothing but eat today. He must be going through another growth spurt because he is chowing down the food. Course that means he is also puking a lot. I hate reflux, I feel so bad for him. I am calling the doc tomorrow (if I still have the marbles to remember) to get him on some meds because the puking is worse than it's ever been. He's a cutie though. As I was going through a box tonight I ran across a picture of Nathaniel when he was three months old. He was so little that Daniel is his size at that picture. I didn't realize how much he looks like Nathaniel. I held the pic beside him and was like WOW!! So he is going to seriously resemble his big brother, to bad Nathaniel isn't here to enjoy his brothers and drama-queen sister. *Sigh* *Sniff*

I just want to say how blessed I am. I love my children so much and they bring such joy to our lives. Tonight as I reflect on the craziness of the week and all the things we have going on, I remember the most important task(s) I have--my family. I wouldn't trade being a SAHM for all the money in the world. Some things ya just can't buy. The Lord has intrusted us with three (four, but God took him home already) miracles and I am so thankful.

I am so blessed.