Day 23-29 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

Day 23-29!
Just looking at that makes me giggle!!
I did so well with my 'I'm ganna blog everyday ... for 30 days straight' aspiration ...
up til day 23, that is!
I had every intention ... til my laptop kind of konked out.
{I am NOT thankful for that, but I AM thankful that I did not lose all my stuff on it!
It's all able to be retrieved, but will be out of commission til it's repaired.}

So, this will be a mass 'I'm thankful' kind of blog ...a catch up, of sorts.

Day 23 ~ Thanksgiving eve
If one is thinking of Black Friday shopping, one should surely shop on Thanksgiving eve!
Why go to the grocery earlier in the week when it's NOT all crazy, when you can go
just a few hours before Turkey Day & witness the food frenzy!
I heard one husband warning his wife over the phone that she better be sure that's all
she forgot cause he was not coming back out!
He probably should've tossed an extra turkey or two in the cart, just in case.
I made it home unscathed, fully prepped for the madness of Black Friday.

Day 24 ~ Thanksgiving Day
This year, my sister had the dinner at her house.
The food was delicious, as always.
We have much to be thankful for.

Sweet Potato Casserole

Day 25 ~ Black Friday
I'm usually out in all the chaos, & was this year too, only with a later start than usual.
I did some online shopping before I left the house at around 5:15 am.
The only 'must have' was a camera that I've had my eye on.
With a $100 savings, it was worth getting out for.
What was different this year about Black Friday shopping was that so many stores
had been open since 10p & midnight.
By the time I hit the stores at 5a, they weren't bad at all!
The mall was less crowded than it would be on a typical Saturday.
I got everything I intended to & met James for breakfast at Flap Jacks by 10a.

Day 26 ~ Thanksgiving Saturday
We traveled to Connersville for dinner with the Penningtons.
This has been our usual tradition since we've been married.
We enjoyed visiting with family ... & lovin' on sweet baby Brystol.
One of our favorite things about the trip, we love seeing all the Christmas lights
on our drive home.



Isn't she perfect?  She's modeling her Shabby Bowtique flower headband





~sisters

James & Brystol

Day 27 ~ The Lord's Day Sunday
What used to be our most hectic day {one that certainly didn't feel like a day of rest},
has now become our most restful day.
I am thankful for Sundays!
Due to our current facility, we only meet for worship one time a week ... on Sunday.
We set up at 10, begin worship at 10:30, usually dismiss for our fellowship dinner at 12:30
& by 3p, we are heading home.
We spend the rest of the day resting & enjoying each other's company.
When Monday rolls around, we feel refreshed, both spiritually & physically, & ready
to start a new week.

Day 28 ~ {Cyber} Monday
We were ready to get back into our regular routine yesterday ... school & house work.
While it nice to take a break for holiday's, getting back to the day-to-day schedule is good.
Everything is cleaned up & back in place, with the exception of the fridge.
We're still working on leftovers ... pies, candies, & fudge.
The scales will probably groan a little louder than normal over the next few weeks ;)
Between schooling, vacuuming & dusting, I fit it some cyber-shopping.
I purchased 8 items at great prices & no shipping fees!
Can't get much more convenient than that!

Day 29 ~ {day before my honey's birthday} Tuesday
I got up early today to do some work on the computer before time for school.
I'm thankful for modern conveniences ... a warm bed to crawl out of,
heat, lights, technology.
It's been raining for days & I've yet to see one drop leaking through my ceiling.
The comforts of home, 2 Christmas trees, a candle glowing on my desk,
music playing on my computer ...
these things that make my morning cozy are things I don't want to take for granted.
I've been blessed far more than I deserve.

our little kitchen Christmas tree

Today, the boys & I will scheme about how to make James' birthday special.
He deserves far more than we could give him.
Since this is his last birthday in the 30s, maybe we should give him permission to say
"39 & holding!"


For all my blessings, great & small, I am thankful for them all~

Day 22 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

These will be the cutest lil' things to hit the dessert table!

Super easy to prepare!

Here are the ingredients you need:

mini Nutter Butter cookies, separated

peanut butter

Hershey Kisses

chocolate chips

Add a smoodge of peanut butter to adhere the cookie to the kiss ...

& again to hold the chocolate chip on top!

They're not only cute, they are yummo!

According to my friend, Jody {who knows her chocolate & peanut butter},

they are the perfect mix of both.

     Perfect lil' treat just in time for Thanksgiving.

Day 21 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

Thankful for motivation & accomplishment!

credit: bethtourik.com

I've been in a big way of cleaning out, throwing away, taking things to the consignment
store & donating to Goodwill!
I've cleaned out the garage & several closets.

For the last couple days, I've been tackling a large tote labeled 'my music box' that was
full of sheet music, cds, & binders filled with instructional material.
{I used to give piano lessons & was the choir director for many years at the church
I attended.}
To say I had amassed lots of material would be an understatement.
I cleaned out my piano bench & another storage basket, sorting & organizing
everything that I needed to keep.
All in all, I think I threw out 20 larger binders!
It's amazing how wonderful it feels to simplify.


This is an especially good time to de-clutter ... right before Christmas.
More than likely, you will be bringing some new items into your home from gift
exchanges, especially if you have small children.
The new toys will have to have a spot in the toy box.


Here are a few simple tips to help take control of the clutter:

1}  Make a list

Write down your plan of action & get to work on it, marking one thing off at a time.
Seeing your goal on paper {& your progress as you complete each task} can be just
the right motivation.

2}  Give yourself a time in which to complete the project

Don't kill yourself to do it all in one day, but set a feasible goal & stay on target

3}  Recruit helpers

Your children can be a big help! 
Give them age-appropriate tasks & rewards when they thoroughly follow through.

4}  Give your children a box or a bag & send them to their rooms to find 10 things
{or more} to get rid of.

Doing this often helps to minimize clutter.
Also, have them keep drawers emptied of items that are too small or no longer used.

5}  Throw away & donate liberally!

They say you use 20% of your 'stuff' 80% of the time {& vice versa ...you use 80% of
your stuff 20% of the time}.
If you haven't used it in a year, chances are, it's safe to go ahead & get rid of it.
Don't keep hanging on to things that are only cluttering your space.

Put out several bins or bags marked for trash, donation, garage sale, etc.
As you are sorting & organizing, place items into the appropriate bin.
The next step is just as important.
Instead of scooting the boxes & bags into the corner, take them where they need to
go immediately!
Drop off the donations right away.

Clearing out & getting rid of things somehow makes you feel lighter ...
kind of like peeling off layers of clothing.
I think you even sleep better.

Day 20 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

Today, I'm thankful for the little things.
This past week has been full of them.

I discovered I had forgotten to pick up an ingredient for a recipe late on Saturday night.
I sent Gunnar to go it get for me ... & he came home with these too!

Talk about melting momma's heart.


While the guys were on their hunting trip on Friday, I drove down to spend the day
with my beautiful sister-in-law & aunt-in-law, Christine & Lisa.
There's a bit of a drive between us, so we don't get to see each other often enough.
We spent the day just talking & catching up ... & I got to have plenty of quality time
lovin' on my new little niece.
Isn't she adorable?!

We had top-notch entertainment from Lisa's little guys.
They sang to me 'O Christmas Tree' & a brand new song, "I Am Da Tiga" ...
their interpretation of "Eye of the Tiger."
They were lots of fun.

While cleaning out my piano bench on Saturday, I found a card from my precious
friend, Stacy.
I remember how much I loved it when she gave it to me ...
& all this time later {several years}, I love it just as much.

It says, "If you need to lean awhile, I'm here."
Is there anymore that needs to be said?
I think not.
She's been the most loyal friend I've ever had ... & I count her as a true blessing from God.


I think this quote sums things up just right:

"Enjoy the little things ... for one day you may look back
& realize they were the big things."
~Robert Brault

 

Day 19 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

Thankful for an evening out with a treasured friend.

Gina & I have known each other our whole lives.
There's only 6 months between us.

Gina's dad pastored the church that my family attended, so we spent countless
Wednesdays & Sundays together.
We were always in the same Sunday School class, went to the same youth camps,
& the same slumber parties.
We played babies & barbies together {she says I cut her barbie's hair},
talked about boys {complete with code names like MAS WAG},
& who we'd marry someday {we surely thought it would be E.D & S.S},
& took crazy pics of each other {Fiero & silly string}.
Oh the memories & funny stories I share with this girl.

We grew up to be mommies ourselves & visited each other when we had our babies ...
and now we are watching them grow up as very close friends.
They say they feel like brothers & sisters.

Not only that, our husbands are great friends!
They work together every day & still like each other ;)

Gina & I needed 'talk' time, so we met for dinner on Thursday.
She was just what the DR ordered.
What a blessing to be able to pour out your heart to a friend who will cry with you,
laugh with you, keep all your secrets & give good advice.
I am so thankful for her.

Day 17 & 18 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

Hunting 'stuff' has taken over my dining room ... completely taken over my dining room!

James & the boys have moved all their hunting gear to the dining room so it's ready to go
out the door for their early morning deer hunting trips.

James saves a couple vacation days to spend with the boys in the woods.
Course they want to bag the big one, but they have a good time even when they
come home empty handed.

I am thankful for a dad who loves spending time with his boys ...
and the strong 'manhood' bond that comes from hunting.
They are taking dominion & making provision!

Day16 ~ 30 Days of Thanks

I CAN HEAR!!!


You cannot know how thankful I am for this!


Since Sunday, Nov. 6, I've had limited to no hearing in my left ear.


I've had no pain, no fever, no symptoms ... just no hearing!


At first, it was just kind of odd.
As the days passed, it became more annoying.
And as of a couple days ago, I was convinced that I was suffering from a brain tumor
or something equally as life threatening.
After much prodding from family & friends, I decided to do something that I rarely do ...
& that was make an appointment to see the doctor.


The nurse entered all my info {I can't hear out of my ear!} into her laptop &
then took a look with the handy-dandy ear thingie with the light on the end of it.
She immediately said that I had a very small ear canal & very far back in the canal,
my ear was plugged.
She said it was so far back that there's no way I could've taken care of it at home.


I told her that several folks had shared stories of wax causing loss of hearing but
due to my love affair with Q-Tips, I was certain that wasn't my problem.
Plus, I had done all the home remedies to ensure that wasn't it.


Guess what she said?!
She said that using Q-Tips was most likely the problem!
Uuuh boy =/


When she came back into the room, she had this ginormous thing that looked like
a turkey baster that had a long plastic tip.
She said she was going to do an ear lavage ... an ear irrigation.
So, for the next 10-15 minutes, she forced an ocean full of warm water into my ear ...
HARD!
It didn't hurt, just uncomfortable.
She said the force of the water would clear out my ear.
And it did!!


My hearing came back almost instantly ...
& everything seemed SO loud that I thought I may need to put in earplugs
until I adjusted to it!
Uh-maz-ing!


I had her check the other ear, since this was my once-every-10-year-visit ...
& she said it looked perfectly fine.


By the time my doctor came in, his nurse had me completely fixed up.
All he did was look me over & tell me to STOP using Q-Tips!
After he gave me a thorough explanation of the ear, I was good to go.


Verrrrry thankful to having my hearing back!!!
It could've been something much worse & I am so glad it wasn't.