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.