Wordless Wednesday: I Give Thanks

Today I am thankful for my family. Enjoy your Thanksgiving Day and be grateful for all of your blessings!

Oprah, You Let Us Down!

At this very moment I am chatting with my gal pal about Oprah's "Favorite Things" special. Bottom line: we need to refocus, people!

Are things nice to have? Sure. I enjoy having my DVR and HD TV. The internet is a wonderful tool as well as an iPod. But these are temporal. You can't die and take them with you. To witness an audience going all gangbusters over so much stuff was almost sickening. Haven't we said over and over again that Christmas isn't about things, but rejoicing about Jesus being born and being with families? What message are we sending out here? I guess we are getting off to a rough start this holiday season, huh?

What did you think? Sound off!

Oh, and I almost forgot, today I am thankful that I can choose life over stuff and I hope my boys are getting that message too.

Tooth #4

Matt's other front tooth was hanging down and it started interfering with apple biting and waffle chomping. Friday night he requested Mommy Dentist to pull it. It was loose enough, so I felt comfortable.

Today I am thankful for Matt's bravery. (Mark's is a different story.)

MOPS @ 9am

Today I am thankful for my community of believers that surround me and keep me on target. You know who you are. Thank you!

He Was Born In A Small Town

Most of you have listened to John Cougar's song "Small Town", right? Well, that describes Steve's childhood neighborhood to a T. There isn't a 10 minute drive to Target or ample choices of where to eat out -- like Chilis or even a McDonalds. Steve and I were married a year when the town got a Burger King (attached to a gas station) and a few years later they were blessed with Subway.

The hustle and bustle of the holidays are coming soon. Traffic will get frustrating where we live. Shops are crowded. Parking lots become a boxing ring as individuals fight for that premium parking spot. It's enough to drive any person crazy and I realize this time is getting closer and closer. Ugh. I am already trying to remind myself to put on the character of Christ, but it gets difficult.

Thanksgiving Day we spend our time in Steve's hometown with his family and relatives. I absorb the quiet drive out there in the middle of corn fields and farms. I appreciate the courtesy most drivers give at a 4-way stop. For me it's a time to rest before our holiday schedule makes our whole family tired.

Today I am thankful for small towns (especially Steve's) and the simplicity they bring. I look forward to next Thursday. What are your plans?

Wordless Wednesday: Sunday Morning Breakfast

Today I am thankful for gluten free blueberry pancakes and the joy it brings my boys before heading to church.

Parents' Party @ 8pm

I have said over and over again that my boys' early bedtime saves this mommy's sanity and I know my marriage benefits from it as well. In our home that time is 8 o'clock, which leaves a few hours to watch TV/movie, make a late night DQ run (shhh, don't tell our boys) or read some magazines while Steve is engrossed with "American Chopper". Peace and quiet -- a really good thing!

Today I am thankful for my boys' bedtime......and the humor they put into it!

Make a Loop & Pull

Yes, Matt conquered tying his own shoes this weekend. Gee wiz, our family is full of firsts lately! He was dead set on getting these new Sketchers shoes like his daddy, but our one request was if you want them you must tie them yourself.

TASK ACCOMPLISHED!

Today I am thankful for Matt's willingness to learn new things.

We Have Lift Off

Mark said, "Pee pee," while running around naked after his bath last night. I asked him to go to the potty and he grabbed the toddler seat, put it on the toilet and sat. This coming from the boy who hasn't desired to go on the commode at all.

We heard the wonderful sounds of urine hitting the toilet water. YEAH! Praises rang throughout our home.

Today I am thankful that soon we will be diaper free and Mark isn't petrified of the john anymore.

UPDATE: Ditto for Saturday night. Twice in fact!

Smarty Pants

Parent-teacher conferences were Thursday. No surprises really, except we found out Matt tested above average in reading and was placed in an accelerated reading group. My heart swelled with pride and I am sure his teacher caught me holding back a gleeming grin. This sure made my day!

Today I am thankful that my son absorbs education like a sponge and I pray Mark follows in his big brother's footsteps.

Days of Thanks

One thing I have come to appreciate about blogging is when I am having a bad day I can look up a time when I posted about a previous life battle and know that God worked everything out. In the midst of any rotten situation it is hard to look for the light at the end of the tunnel, but it is there....eventually you find it.

Thanksgiving is approaching. It is a time to be, you guessed it, thankful. From now until Thanksgiving Day, I promise to post something that I am grateful for -- little or big. And during a future trial I will look upon these days of thanks as a promise that our "God is good and His mercies endure forever."

As I type Steve is at a PTO meeting and will be home long after the boys are in bed. In fact there are many nights Steve works late and I am left home holding up the fort and sometimes dealing with not so happy children. However, I am thankful that Steve has a stable job. It allows me to have a choice to stay home and raise our kids without worrying about monthly expenses. This truly is a blessing.