A Fun Concert

Tonight I really enjoyed a community chorus concert! So many beautiful voices! Watching Sarah thoroughly enjoy singing in the youth chorus & festival chorus definitely added to the fun :). I am thankful for the chance to sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Sarah's Coat Drive

Today we delivered 415 items (including 157 coats) to South Side Mission! What a success! So many people got involved and gave generously. I know it has helped our family take a closer look at our posessions and feel a little more free to let go of things we don't need. Sarah did a great job, especially for her first time working on something this big. I am thankful for her servant's heart.

Laughter

I had this post mostly written, but then it disappeared. Instead of trying to write it again, I will sum up my thoughts with quotes from others. Victor Borge once said, "Laughter is the shortestdistanc between two people.". Also, Kurt Vonnegut said, "Laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion. I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less cleaning up to do afterwards.". I am thankful for laughter! (I am not, however, thankful for the auto-correct feature that will not let me usecorrect punctuation at times!)

The Bare Necessities

I am thankful for clean water to drink, to cook, to bathe, etc. I have been looking through the World Vision Christmas catalog and it is another good reminder of how good we have it. I don't know what I will have for lunch tomorrow, but I know I will have one. You see, my problem ia not a lack of food, but a lack of planning. There are still plenty of things that I would like to get, but I have everything that I need. Contentment is not a popular concept in our society, but it is a worthy goal. I am more comtent than I used to be...and I am thankful.

Musical Opportunities

I am amazed at all the musical opportunities in our community! Over the last month or so, the girls have been able to sing, play piano, & play violin in various performances. This weekend included the homeschool choir concert & singing the "ah's" in the Nutcracker. Although stressful at times, they are fun & rewarding experiences. I am thankful for these opportunities and the wonderful people we get to meet along the way.

Rosie, the Guinea Pig

Today Regan's Guinea pig, Rosie, passed away. Regan got her on the day after Christmas a couple of years ago. She has been a good pet. I really believe that she helped Regan learn how to be quiet and gentle. She is really the only Guinea pig I've ever known, but I would say she was very sweet & cute. I'll always remember the red beard she would have after eating a strawberry. Another fun memory is from when Pewter was just a kitten. Chuck offered a piece of peach to Rosie who was out of her cage. Pewter joined her and they enjoyed the peach together...it was very cute :). Pewter also liked to bat at Rosie, trying to get her to play. Lucky, our other cat, liked to rest on a chair right in front of Rosie's cage. We all enjoyed her, but Chuck probably spoiled her the most. She would beg the loudest when he came into the room, and she was always rewarded well...tomatoes, peppers, greens, and strawberries fresh from the garden. Sometimes Regan & Dad even let her graze in the strawberry patch. She loved those dandelions too! Rest in peace, Rosie. We love and miss you...

Warmth

Tonight I am feeling especially cold for some reason. Therefore, I am especially thankful for a warm house, warming drinks, and even a night light that casts a warm glow. I am also thankful for a warm bed, in which I am about to drift off to sleep...

The Laundry Room Shelf

Yes, I am thankful for the new shelf Chuck made for the laundry room. I know this doesn't sound very exciting, but it really is. The girls even clapped to show their appreciate to Dad for this completed project! You see, it is replacing a metal tower of very small shelves that used to be part of a closet organizing system. The new shelf is deep and wide, allowing for plenty of storage space for laundry soaps & stuff, and separate piles of clean clothes for each person. This makes the laundry flow easier and anything that can help with the laundry flow is a good thing! It is part of ongoing work around the house to stream-line things by getting rid of stuff and organizing. So, silly as it may seem, we are very thankful for our new laundry room shelf! :)

Musical Fun

This weekend I took Sarah to her first Madrigal Dinner, and she loved it! She would love to be involved in one someday. Tonight I really enjoyed watching the girls rehearse for a community chorus part in The Nutcracker. Then we watched The Sing Off. Vocals, violin, and piano fill the air much of the time at our house. While it can get to be too much, I am thankful for the joyful noise in our family. I am also thankful for a community with many musical opportunities...opportunities to perform and to enjoy the performances of others. The rest of December, it seems, is all about performing. I pray we aren't too distracted to properly celebrate the birth of Christ!

Sarah's Coat Drive

Sarah had her first food drive, around our neighborhood, when she was 5 years old. She had another one when she was six, then switched to a coat drive when she was almost 9 years old. This year, she is 12, and heading up her second coat drive. This year she is coordinating it at our church, so it has gotten much bigger. I am so proud of her. God calls her to do some pretty big stuff, and she just does it! Today she led worship in KidsLife, and went up front in Central with a pastor to do a promo. for the coat drive. She did a great job :). God has done, and I know will continue to do, some amazing things through her. I am thankful that I get to be part of it!

Great Customer Service

It isn't very often that I experience, or even hear about, great customer service. Today, I received most of my order from Christian Book Distributors (www.christianbook.com), but there was a mix-up. One of the CDs I ordered was missing, and a different one was included. I emailed them, wondering how long it would take to hear back from them, especially this close to Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised by their prompt response. They will ship out the correct CD, and the one I received by mistake is ours to keep. This seems to be the proper response, yet it was unexpected. It is sad that we have become accustomed to poor customer service. So, I am thankful for great customer service.

On the flip side, I was reminded tonight that I spend too much time in consumer mode. So much time is spent aquiring stuff, dealing with the stuff we have, and even getting rid of stuff...so that we can get more stuff, of course. I'm feeling the need to spend more time and energy helping those who don't even have what they need. Their "wish list" is made up of things we take for granted every day. I am thankful that we are so blessed, and want to find more ways to help others. I will be praying about this, and I look forward to God's answer(s).

Games & Giggles with the Girls

Tonight the girls and I stayed up too late and played games (A to Z Jr. and LCR). It was a good reminder that we need to just spend time together doing fun things. I think we normally do a pretty good job of making time for family fun, but we've been distracted lately. I am so thankful for opportunities to play and laugh together. For some reason, tonight it reminds me that there are many people facing a sad and lonely Christmas season. When I get caught up in the hustle & bustle of the season, I pray I will remember to focus on the Reason for the season, and be thankful. After all, I keep hearing that it's the most wonderful time of the year ;).

Comfort

As I sit in a big comfy chair and type this on my ipad 2, I am thankful. I don't have to try very hard at all to be comfortable. I am so looking forward to drifting (actually, more like diving) off to sleep in a warm, dry, soft bed. I don't have to wonder about where our next meal is coming from. We all have clean, comfortable clothes to wear tomorrow, and the next day, and the next... Lately I talked with an employee of a local charity and found out that every year they run out of coats, hats, gloves, etc. I suppose I should not have been surprised, but I was. It is very hard for me to imagine what it would be like to be cold, hungry, alone, & helpless. Though I don't like to admit it, I am spoiled...but hopefully not rotten!

Our Library

Wednesdays evenings are a little crazy for our family. By the end of the night I feel like I've been driving in circles all night...probably because I have been! Tonight I realized that the library is a convenient place to spend the short gaps of time I have between dropping off & picking our kids. Once again, I was reminded of the wealth of resources at our library. There are just so many good things to read, watch, & listen to there. In one 30-minute gap I had tonight I found several books on origami, several on essential oils, and a movie I have been wanting for family movie night. I also discovered some music I would love to check out, and I will when it is available. The staff is always so friendly and helpful too! A trip like that is fun and relaxing for me and redeems some of my "waiting around" time. So, tonight, I am especially thankful for our local library.

I Don't Wanna

I'm just feeling contrary, I guess...do you ever feel that way?  It's ironic, because yesterday I was just so thankful for being thankful and feeling pretty good about life.  Today I don't want to do what I'm supposed to do, but of course I want everyone else to keep doing what they are supposed to be doing.  I didn't wake up feeling this way...I'm not sure what happened.  I'm embracing my inner Eeyore today and part of me doesn't want to stop.  Oh, I'll snap out of it soon.  Until then, though, I'm going to be thankful for the family & friends who love me even when I insist on walking around with a big rain cloud over my head.  I'm also thankful that my God is big enough to handle all of my frustration, anger, sadness, & questioning.  He knows me better than anyone and loves me more than anyone.  I'm just going to cling to that and do my best, knowing that He accepts me right where I am...there I go feeling thankful again!  I really just want to be in a bad mood...oh well, maybe later (smirk).

Southwestern Pot Pie

I am thankful for squash, in general, but tonight I am especially thankful for butternut squash...in Southwestern Pot Pie...YUM! It is so good that the little bit that was left over will disappear quickly. Unfortunately, I don't see a way to copy the recipe. You can find it, though, at www.bettycrocker.com. The ingredients list may look strange at first, but the flavors work so well together. We just love it...hope you enjoy it some time soon!

So, not all of my posts will be deep and meaningful. This one runs deeper than you might think at first glance, though. I am thankful for the local farmer's market at which I got a great deal on the squash. I am thankful for the time & energy to prepare a good meal. I am thankful for our daughter's help...she chopped the onions and made the salad. I could go on listing the many things connected to tonight's supper for which I am thankful, and that is a wonderful thought. You see, I am thankful that I am thankful. This "attitude of gratitude" feels good and right. It is a habit worth keeping!

Good Friends

Friendships can be wonderful.

This week I was able to catch up with a dear friend on the phone. We don't get to see each other often, and I miss her. We have been through a lot together, in person and over the miles that separate us most of the time. Another good friend sent me a note this week, and I was touched by her thoughtfulness. We have had some great fun together, and weathered some storms as well. One friend is alive today only in memories...she lost her battle with cancer over 2 years ago. I feel cheated, as do many others, by the loss. I was reminded again today, as I sometimes need to be, that my husband is my best friend. It is easy for us to take each other for granted, but I sure do miss him when he is gone a lot. There's a heart of gold beneath that rough exterior.

I am truly blessed by these friendships and others, and I am thankful.

Internet Access: The Double-Edged Sword

I am so thankful for internet access! I am able to do research, shop, connect with people (sort of), and spend countless hours wandering around in cyber-space! Yeah, about that last part...well, let's jut say it can be a welcome distraction when I need a break, but can be an easy excuse when I need to be engaged in real life. While the internet can be a very useful tool, it can be dangerous too. In my life it can be a serious waste of time. I have discovered in recent years that I am quite competitive. This means that when you beat my score on the game that I am currently obsessing over, I feel a powerful urge to play until I'm on top again. I am ashamed to say that I have spent way too much time playing games. I have done it to escape from real life, and to get that high score. Reading "Taming the Techno-Beast" by Todd Wilson was a humbling experience. It is a small, yet powerful book. It helped me begin to see that I had been letting the computer control me.

No more! Well...much less often at least! I am better about using the computer, and internet access, as a tool. Today, for example, I was able to accomplish a fair amount of Christmas shopping while nestled in the comfy chair in our living room. Our daughters helped me preview music so that we could know if we like a CD before we buy it. I enjoyed reading updates from friends that I don't get to see much these days. Today, this ipad has been a very useful tool. Now that I am getting better at taming the "techo-beast," I am very thankful for the internet! :)

A Thankful Heart is a Happy Heart

Perhaps you remember Madame Blueberry and her trip to "Stuff Mart" in a Veggie Tales from long ago...I was reminded of her again on this "Black Friday.". I actually think of her often. You see, I can sometimes relate to her desire to acquire more stuff to make her happy. I used to have a strong desire to acquire things, especially when I could get a really good deal. It really became a problem for me. I used to go to an auction weekly. I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and snagging the best bargains of the night. Some of the things filling our home were useful...others, not so much. It became clear that it was a problem when the inability to go to the auction caused a fair amount of anxiety. It is embarrassing to admit, but I was a "shop-a-holic" of sorts. It has been years since I realized my problem, and I am so thankful that my family is now more focused on taking good care of what we've been blessed with, and getting rid of the things we don't need. It has been a prayer focus of mine for quite awhile now, and God is faithful. We have a long way to go, but we have certainly come a long way. As part of this journey, I am beginning a year of thankfulness. I plan to share something I am thankful for each day. So, on this day after Thanksgiving, 2011, I am thankful for God's faithfulness.