7. The internet - Being thankful for the internet may seem like a very strange thing to be thankful for, but chances are, if you're reading this blog, you're probably a blogger too, or slightly addicted to the internet like I am, and you can understand! LOL.
I have met so many wonderful people on the internet in the last ten years. People I've had many great conversations through email and blog posts. Some online friends I've even met in person. My friend Karen is one friend I met online over ten years ago and first met in person in 2001, and have spent several times with her since then, in addition to that, she's actually stayed with us once.
The people and friends you make via the internet is the biggest thing I'm thankful for. But the internet is also a huge source of information. When Rachel was born with her cleft lip and palate, it was the internet that I turned to for information. I found a blog that a Mama was keeping for her daughter's journey and it helped give us an idea as to what was to come, and it inspired me to start a blog of my own, which has since turned into three blogs. LOL.
We've used the internet for 'how to' videos on YouTube, for looking up up new recipes, ideas for the weekly menu, and for keeping in touch with people. When I began my blog for Rachel, it was for family and friends to stay up to date with her progress, her surgeries, etc. But I have a blog for each of the girls now and the family that reads our blogs keep up with the girls, what they are up to, etc. And vice versa, my sister in law has blog and it's fun to keep up with what they do as well. It also makes it feel like you know your nieces and nephews better, especially when you don't see them buy every few years, by keeping up on their blogs!!! :)
8. The Freedom to Go to Church - We are fortunate that in this country, we still have the freedom to go publicly to church. Believe it or not, there are many countries who don't have that freedom. And for now, we still have the freedom to worship as we desire. And I'm so thankful for that.
9. Today marks the first day of our school break and I'm so thankful! The girls will be off for three weeks and will return the weekend after Thanksgiving. I know many people just at our school who weren't looking forward to the break, but I sure was/am!!! We are usually up and out the door every day by 7:35am and it's so nice to still be sitting here this morning, writing this post, still in my jammies, hair not combed, and no make up!!! The girls are already settled into watching a movie and the first day of vacation has officially began!!! I'm thankful for the break of not running to the school three times a day, for no homework!!!! and no packing of lunches!!! Whooo Hooo!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Family From Oregon
Steven's sister and her husband and their two kids drove down from Oregon yesterday and are currently staying with Steven's mom. Today we drove up to his mom's house and spent the entire day hanging out, visiting, and conducting light saber battles.
When it was discovered that we would have two girls and no boy, Steven had a goal of getting our girls to love Star Wars, and boy do they! We have 4-5 light sabers in this house, Jedi cloaks, Darth Vadar masks, and Princess Leia honey buns. The girls love Star Wars. But really, they were no match when it came to cousin Ryan's knowledge and love for Star Wars. He can make light saber noises with his mouth! And very good ones at that!!! We're going to Disneyland on Tuesday and we're all very hopeful that Ryan will be chosen for the Jedi Training Academy and ultimately fight against Darth Vadar or Darth Maul. Uncle Steven led the kids in training today in preparation for Tuesday. A battle commenced following the session. LOL
The four kids had sooo much fun playing together all day long, in and out, to the front yard to the back. They got along great and are looking forward to spending more time together. It'll be fun on Tuesday to be their official Tour Guides at Disneyland!
When it was discovered that we would have two girls and no boy, Steven had a goal of getting our girls to love Star Wars, and boy do they! We have 4-5 light sabers in this house, Jedi cloaks, Darth Vadar masks, and Princess Leia honey buns. The girls love Star Wars. But really, they were no match when it came to cousin Ryan's knowledge and love for Star Wars. He can make light saber noises with his mouth! And very good ones at that!!! We're going to Disneyland on Tuesday and we're all very hopeful that Ryan will be chosen for the Jedi Training Academy and ultimately fight against Darth Vadar or Darth Maul. Uncle Steven led the kids in training today in preparation for Tuesday. A battle commenced following the session. LOL
The four kids had sooo much fun playing together all day long, in and out, to the front yard to the back. They got along great and are looking forward to spending more time together. It'll be fun on Tuesday to be their official Tour Guides at Disneyland!
Friday, November 6, 2009
My Husband
Today's thing that I am thankful for requires a post all of it's own, for today, I am thankful for my husband.
My husband is not only the sole provider for our family, but he is also a man of integrity. He is loyal. And he stands up for what is right - Biblically, as well as politically. Which can both be hard in these times we are living in.
My husband is a hands on Dad and helps with our children, always has been, right on down to the changing of diapers and getting up with me in the night. Because of his job, he's able to come to school functions and award ceremonies and that means a lot to the girls.
My husband loves me unconditionally. He takes care of me and our girls. And I couldn't ask for a better husband, and for that I'm so very thankful.
My husband is not only the sole provider for our family, but he is also a man of integrity. He is loyal. And he stands up for what is right - Biblically, as well as politically. Which can both be hard in these times we are living in.
My husband is a hands on Dad and helps with our children, always has been, right on down to the changing of diapers and getting up with me in the night. Because of his job, he's able to come to school functions and award ceremonies and that means a lot to the girls.
My husband loves me unconditionally. He takes care of me and our girls. And I couldn't ask for a better husband, and for that I'm so very thankful.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Reliable Cars and Friends
Isn't that a great title for today's post? LOL.
4. Being thankful for reliable cars may seem a bit silly, but with all the running I do as a Stay at Home Mom, I need my car to be up and running. Four of the five days a week, I make three trips to the school alone. That doesn't include all the other errands and running that I do. There have been times when my van has been down and out and in the shop and thankfully we have a second car to get us around. I do like my mini van better, but it's still a great car and very reliable.
5. Friends - Growing up, I didn't have a lot of friends. And at times, it was very hard. But I think it's for the very reasons of not having many friends growing up, that I know now that you don't need a lot of close, best friends. You only need a few friends that you can totally rely on, confide in, and get Biblical and sound advice and encouragement from.
Since we changed churches over 5 years ago, the Lord has blessed me with quite a few girlfriends. And I truly cherish each one.
Then there are the friends who you don't talk to regularly, or see regularly, but whenever you do, it's like picking up right where you left off. Yesterday, I met five of those friends for lunch. It was great!! And we need to do it more often. It's nice to meet up with friends who are in different stages of motherhood who can encourage, advise, and laugh with.
4. Being thankful for reliable cars may seem a bit silly, but with all the running I do as a Stay at Home Mom, I need my car to be up and running. Four of the five days a week, I make three trips to the school alone. That doesn't include all the other errands and running that I do. There have been times when my van has been down and out and in the shop and thankfully we have a second car to get us around. I do like my mini van better, but it's still a great car and very reliable.
5. Friends - Growing up, I didn't have a lot of friends. And at times, it was very hard. But I think it's for the very reasons of not having many friends growing up, that I know now that you don't need a lot of close, best friends. You only need a few friends that you can totally rely on, confide in, and get Biblical and sound advice and encouragement from.
Since we changed churches over 5 years ago, the Lord has blessed me with quite a few girlfriends. And I truly cherish each one.
Then there are the friends who you don't talk to regularly, or see regularly, but whenever you do, it's like picking up right where you left off. Yesterday, I met five of those friends for lunch. It was great!! And we need to do it more often. It's nice to meet up with friends who are in different stages of motherhood who can encourage, advise, and laugh with.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
November - The Thankful Month - Part II
I was thinking about this current project of making a list on my sidebar of the things I am thankful for this month and I got to thinking that rather than just list them, I would like to write more in depth as to why I listed that particular thing in which I am thankful for. There may be some days I group a few together, but rather than just write my list, I want to to write in more detail of my gratitude.
So here goes:
1. My Husband's Job - In these difficult and hard economic times, where so many people have lost their job, are out of a job, are struggling financially, I am thankful for my husbands job.
My husband is a web designer. He programs and does all the technological stuff behind websites. He works for a company that was once based in Los Angeles, but about 7 years ago, they shut that office down, laid everyone except two people off, and moved to the location of the parent company in Phoenix. He was one of the two that survived many levels of lay offs, and has worked from home ever since. I'm thankful that he works from home. I know a lot of women who question my liking him being home all the time, but I love it. He is available and flexible to attend parent/teacher conferences, student of the month assemblies, the girls' performances, Rachel's major medical appointments, and the list goes on. I absolutely LOVE having him work from home and I would be heart broken if the day ever comes that he has to actually commute farther than our bedroom down the hall to the office.
His job is the sole provider of income for our family. And despite a small pay cut last March, which has since been given back, we've for the most party been just fine through this 'economic crisis'. We've made a few adjustments here and there, mostly requiring us to be better steward of our money, but I've not had to find a job and go back to work. His job pays the mortgage, all the bills and provides for our every need and a lot of our wants!
2. Our Health - It seems like so many people these days have health issues of some sort. We have been very blessed with good health. Yes, we've had a daughter born with a birth defect, but she is healthy, and her defects aren't anything that surgery hasn't already and will fix in the years to come. I am very thankful we are healthy. As are the immediate members of both our sides of family.
3. Our Health Insurance - We've seen our share of medical/hospital bills through the years. We've seen our explanation of benefits and the amount of what the bills should have been, had we not have insurance. I'm so thankful we have good health insurance.
Besides being thankful for coverage, I'm extremely thankful that as of right now, we still have the freedom to choose our doctors and medical facilities. Just this morning, I say my GYN Nurse Practitioner for my yearly appointment. I've been going to her for almost 20 years. I've established a rapport with her and she knows a lot of my history, as well as saw me through my pregnancy with Hannah. I'm thankful my insurance allows me to choose to go to her. My pediatrician is another doctor I would hate to loose. I've been with him nine years and I trust him, he's a good doctor and my kids love him and aren't afraid to go to the doctor.
We don't know what lies ahead of us as a nation and whether or not we'll be forced into a Universal Health Plan. So it's for this very reason, I am so very thankful for our current freedom to choose.
So here goes:
1. My Husband's Job - In these difficult and hard economic times, where so many people have lost their job, are out of a job, are struggling financially, I am thankful for my husbands job.
My husband is a web designer. He programs and does all the technological stuff behind websites. He works for a company that was once based in Los Angeles, but about 7 years ago, they shut that office down, laid everyone except two people off, and moved to the location of the parent company in Phoenix. He was one of the two that survived many levels of lay offs, and has worked from home ever since. I'm thankful that he works from home. I know a lot of women who question my liking him being home all the time, but I love it. He is available and flexible to attend parent/teacher conferences, student of the month assemblies, the girls' performances, Rachel's major medical appointments, and the list goes on. I absolutely LOVE having him work from home and I would be heart broken if the day ever comes that he has to actually commute farther than our bedroom down the hall to the office.
His job is the sole provider of income for our family. And despite a small pay cut last March, which has since been given back, we've for the most party been just fine through this 'economic crisis'. We've made a few adjustments here and there, mostly requiring us to be better steward of our money, but I've not had to find a job and go back to work. His job pays the mortgage, all the bills and provides for our every need and a lot of our wants!
2. Our Health - It seems like so many people these days have health issues of some sort. We have been very blessed with good health. Yes, we've had a daughter born with a birth defect, but she is healthy, and her defects aren't anything that surgery hasn't already and will fix in the years to come. I am very thankful we are healthy. As are the immediate members of both our sides of family.
3. Our Health Insurance - We've seen our share of medical/hospital bills through the years. We've seen our explanation of benefits and the amount of what the bills should have been, had we not have insurance. I'm so thankful we have good health insurance.
Besides being thankful for coverage, I'm extremely thankful that as of right now, we still have the freedom to choose our doctors and medical facilities. Just this morning, I say my GYN Nurse Practitioner for my yearly appointment. I've been going to her for almost 20 years. I've established a rapport with her and she knows a lot of my history, as well as saw me through my pregnancy with Hannah. I'm thankful my insurance allows me to choose to go to her. My pediatrician is another doctor I would hate to loose. I've been with him nine years and I trust him, he's a good doctor and my kids love him and aren't afraid to go to the doctor.
We don't know what lies ahead of us as a nation and whether or not we'll be forced into a Universal Health Plan. So it's for this very reason, I am so very thankful for our current freedom to choose.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Look What the UPS Man Delivered...
...it's my Pioneer Woman Cookbook!!!!For the last couple of years, I've been following The Pioneer Woman and using a lot of her recipes and cooking techniques she shares on her website.
Over the course of the last year, she put together a cookbook and it was released last week!
And the UPS man delivered mine over the weekend! I can wait to sit and thumb through it and start cooking some of her YUMMY recipes!!!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
November - The Thankful Month
Thanksgiving is more than the big Thanksgiving feast, football games, the parades, and the Black Friday shopping ads. It’s a day to celebrate thankfulness. And rather than just be thankful on Thanksgiving, I’m going to list things throughout the month for what I’m thankful for. Watch for my growing list in my sidebar.
The idea came from Leah, over at South Breeze Farm. If you would care to join in on “The Thankful Month”, visit her blog for the creative link and be sure to add your name to the list, so others can stop by and see what you’re thankful for.
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