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Sunday, December 20, 2009

thankful for contests!

I've recently been introduced to the fun world of blog giveaways!  I'm thankful for the free entertainment that it provides!

This is definitely one of my favorite ones so far -

Want a New HP Touchsmart Computer?
Check out MckMama's giveaway here!

Thankful for...drool!

We spent the morning at church and then off to lunch with Nana, Papa Tom and Uncle Chad.  The little man slept through most of lunch, but once he woke up, he only had one thing in mind.

Guacamole!

Yes, this kiddo definately has his favorites.  So far, he's tried Avacodos, Asparagus, Green beans, Sweet Potatoes, and Peas. Avacodos are his favorite.  Not sure if he likes them that much, or just loves to see his Aunt Jubie squeal with delightment that he loves the same food as her...

I love the look he gets when he sees avacodos.  (or coca-cola, but that's a different story...)
I love how his response to teething is to chew on his cheeks.
I love that he is happy about 99.9% of the time.  I love the way his big blue eyes twinkle when he is happy!

 I am so thankful for this little man,


 
how much he loves his dogs,

and his drool...

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Thankful for....Options

This has been a roller coaster of a year.

It has been great.  It has been stressful.  It has been sad.

But, most of all - it has been amazing beyond belief.

I am thankful for a God who is full of surprises.

Today, I received an offer for a promotion at work.  The job would be really challenging and fun.  I'm thankful for a God who hears our prayers and answers - even if in a surprising way!

Long term -
I want to be home with my kiddo.  Playing with him.  Learning with him.  Worshiping with him.

Instead of being upset that we need money or that I have to work away from home, I am thankful for a God who provides.  The provision (for right now) is a job.  For me.

My new job would allow my husband to finish his degree while continuing to work at our church.
It would allow him to continue ministering to the hearts of those little kids in the after school program.  It would allow him to continue following God's direction for his life.

for our life.   

for our family.

I know that if I take this job, we will face conflicts.  It will be hard going to work full-time with my kiddo at home.  It will be hard for me to be working a few hours away.  It will be hard for us to listen to other people tell us what we should or shouldn't be doing.  I know that people will tell us we are doing the wrong thing.  That I should be home with my child full-time.  But, I know that I must follow what I feel God is telling me to do.  I must ignore the others and listen to HIM.

As the little guy grows up, I want to be his main (but not the only) educator, playmate and friend.
So, for right now, I will work outside the home.
I will help us get to a place where I am able to return back home full-time. 

And I am thankful for the option to do just that.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Where have I been?

I have been home.

Playing with my baby, sleeping in my bed, eating my food, hollering at my dogs, cleaning my home, decorating my tree and watching my tv, driving my car and locking my front door.

I have not been in an airplane, rental car or hotel since last Friday.

And, it has been grand!

I am thankful for many, many things. I'm learning to be more conscious of my gratefulness, which is really fun!!

For tonight, I will list my blessings as I can remember.

Grateful for:
  • my new obsession with cloth diaper and wool diaper covers.  They are unbelievably amazing. (112)
  • the Little People Nativity set (113)
  • Christmas cards arriving in the mail (114)
  • baby legs - they keep my little man's legs so warm! (115)
  • the smell of my sheets in my home (116)
  • my kitchen (117)
  • chocolate chip cookies (118)
  • peppermint candles (119)
  • our bright blanket made by some sweet ladies - Brenda and Emily Ford.  Man, does he love that blanket (120)
  • knowing that God will help us find our little giraffe Sophie.  We've misplaced her, but I know that she is somewhere. (121)
  • knowing that if I don't find her, I can replace her fairly easily (122)
  • the fact that God provides us a warm and cozy place to live (123)
  • the fact that I only have to go to work 2 more times before the end of the year! (124)
  • My next night without my baby boy is not until after the first of NEXT year!!!!!!!! (125)
There are so many more things that I can't even remember at the moment.  I am so thankful for the idea to journal my blessings. If you want to read more from the very cool website where I found this idea - check out A Holy Experience.  I'm not great at remembering to blog every night, but I am noticing a shift in my daily thinking.  I'm learning, in every situation, to ask "In this, what I am grateful for?"  This shifting of thought is making a difference in me.  I'm learning to be grateful for parts of each day.  I'm learning to find things that are good, even in the icky and boring.

I'm learning to be grateful for being here.

now.  this instant.

not yesterday.  not tomorrow.  not in Tahiti.   

Here.  thankful for today.  thankful for right now.

Right this moment, I'm Thankful for a chunky little boy who is currently sleeping on my pillow.  I'm off to go snuggle with him!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Thankful for.....Cookies! (111)



When I saw that The Mom Creative was having her first ever Cookie Recipe Exchange, I was so excited!!

Why?

Seriously. Must you ask?

Cookies. plain and simple. yummy, yummy cookies.

Tons and Tons of recipes for cookies. Does that answer your question?

The cookie exchange, in conjunction with the fact that I am off the next two weeks, makes for a messy kitchen and a well fed Mummy. Augustus just might have to learn to eat solid foods by helping me eat through these recipes. Or, at least watch as his Mum eats her way through the holidays.

Then, in January, Augustus will get to watch his Mum exercise 10 hours a day to work off the aforementioned cookies. But, let's not worry about that little part right now!

So, join in the fun and post your favorite cookie recipe!

I have so many favorites, but the one that sounds the best right now is:

Aunt Thelma's Ginger Cookies. mmmmmm.

2/3 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup molasses
2 cups sifted flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 cup sugar for dipping

Blend the butter and sugar thoroughly
Add egg and beat well
Add molasses
(Try not to eat all of this concoction before the cookies are finished)
Add sifted dry ingredients
Form in balls
Roll balls in sugar and place on ungreased cookie sheet 3 inches apart
Make a small indention on top of cookie with your thumb or baby's palm :)

Bake in 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes.
Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes. (while you pour a glass of milk)
Grab a cookie and your glass of milk - Enjoy!

blessings in orlando...

106 - temperatures above 70
I love warm weather! 85 with low humidity is just about perfect.

107 - Spark...

It is an amazing drink mix from Advocare that keeps me kicking. Last night, I wasn't able to get to bed until around 5am and I needed to get up for work about 7:45. Thanks to Spark, the day went by quickly and I didn't even feel that tired.

108 - Fun people who God unites us with...

Last night, due to flight delays, I was put on a totally different flight than I had planned. One that arrived in Orlando much later than I had hoped. I had planned to get work done at my hotel. I had planned to relax and chill. I was bummed.
But, halfway into the flight - a sweet girl who wasn't feeling too well needed some help. She was traveling with her 8 month old and had some health complications mid flight. I was able to play and sing and pray with her sweet baby girl during the flight - I totally forgot about being bummed!
Once we landed, she was taken to the hospital and I went to find her mom (who was arriving on a different flight) and we went to the hospital. After a few hours of testing, they were able to leave the hospital, get their rental car and be on their way. Although, I will probably never see this family again, I am so thankful for the hours that God gave me with them. It isn't often that you are placed with like-minded company, but when it happens (even if for a short time) is is so sweet!!
I am so grateful that God chose me to help this family. I am also thankful that I listened to Him instead of ignoring Him and going on my merry way.
To my comfy hotel bed and TV.

His
merry way was so much better!

109 - Kind people...
The Neiman Marcus @ Millenia Mall in Orlando has some of the nicest employees! In this industry and season, people tend to be selfish and unhelpful to co-workers. But, at this location, every employee is helpful, considerate and just plain nice. What a great place to work. I'm thankful for every day that I get to spend at this store!

110 - Ginger...
During my pregnancy, I was addicted to Ginger. The baby arrived. The addiction hasn't left.
I love ginger.
I love the sweet, yet spicy taste. I love the flavor that it gives to chicken and rice. I love its semi-crunchy texture when used in my favorite Phad Ginger.
Ginger is a perfect example of not choosing a book by its cover. Ginger is not very pretty, but it makes up for it in yumminess!

Sunday, December 6, 2009

up to 105!

blessing 101 - $10 sales at gap. I found the cutest little fleece for Gus. Great for the freezing days at Mom and Dad.

blessing 102 - zantac. I'm hoping one day (when I lose all this "gus"weight), I won't need it anymore - but until then - I will continue to be so grateful for the researchers that came up with this beautiful drug.

blessing 103 - fat baby toes. they are just so darn cute.

blessing 104 - hot cocoa

blessing 105 - a clean floor. Daniel just swept and mopped the floor while I played with Gus. It is beautiful.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

91-100

I've been traveling so much that when I am home, I've been hanging out with Augustus instead of being on here. I'll catch up, I promise!

Blessing 91 - my wonderful friend Yira! I don't get to work with her very often anymore, but when I do...Oh, do we have fun!

Blessing 92 - watching the 3rd Lord of the Rings with my husband. I love that he lets me cheer when the girl is told "You fool, no man can kill me" and she responds "I am NO man!" Seriously, one of my favorite movie scenes ever!

Blessing 93 - The fact that Nelsen can pull of the "creature" look so well. See, when we were leaving my parents house the other day, all of the dogs had burs and weeds beyond belief. The only way I could solve the problem was to shave them off. So, not I have dogs that look like strangely shaven creatures.

Blessing 94 - Jeremiah's AWESOME clippers. I've always tried grooming my dogs with clippers that I purchased from Sallys, Petsmart, or Walmart. No matter what I buy, they never work. Emphasis on NEVER. When Jeremiah saw what I was trying to do, and realized that it wasn't working - he brought me the COOLEST clippers ever! $300+ show clippers for the cows. Cordless. Sharp. Miracle workers. Did I say unbelievable? They clipped those burs off so fast and left the shaven patches velvety smooth. If only, I could get Nelsen to sit still and let me finish.

Blessing 95 - Coca-cola. Does that even need an explanation?

Blessing 96 - Baby smiles

Blessing 97 - Little scars on Gus' feet. They are a reminder to me of his days in the NICU and a constant reminder of what a wonderful God I serve.

Blessing 98 - Sophie the Giraffe. She is such a comfort for Augustus' poor, sore gums. Plus, I like the squeaky sound she makes.

Blessing 99 - Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie. Yira and I split one at lunch and it was divine.

Blessing 100 - Peppermint Boogie Wipes. What a pleasant thing to use to wipe a sore nose. Pleasant enough, in fact, to qualify for #100!