Hi from Anguilla (and a book giveaway)

Updated:  

What seems like decades later, the girl who wrote this post was able to get back on the computer to post who random.com chose to win Beautiful Outlaw.

"All my Monkeys" - it's you! Please send me your mailing address so that I can get your book in the mail to you!

To all those out there who are wondering - hand surgery is not as easy as one might expect it to be.  Turns out you use your hands a LOT more that you realize and having one sliced open really makes writing, typing, dressing, eating and life in general...a little harder. 

But, the hand is healing and the other one is prepping to be sliced in a few weeks.

Original Post:  

I've been in Anguilla for about a week. 

I am staying at the Viceroy and it is fantastic.

All of the employees are beyond friendly and the property is ridiculously a-maz-ing.

Beautiful pools, yummy restaurants, a cool rock wall and couches in the tennis courts. 

Yep, it's pretty awesome!

If you are ever thinking about visiting an island - you should stop thinking, buy a ticket to Anguilla and stay at the Viceroy. They even have an awesome area for kids!   

(They are currently adding a water fountain play area and a tunnel for kids to crawl through. Yes, I said tunnel.  Fantastic idea, right? I would have been all over that when I was little! Who am I kidding?  If my little one was here, we would both be crawling through that tunnel!)

My training is going well and I've been able to get most of my schoolwork completed! 

Yea for wifi that works!

 The water here is ridiculously blue and the waves are amazing.  

Actually, amazing doesn't even begin to cover it.  

They aren't as big as waves that you see in surfing magazines, but they are big to me! 

But, it isn't the size of the waves that keeps me mezmerized. 

What amazes me is how they don't stop. Ever.

Last month, I was blessed to be able to attend the Ransomed Heart Captivating Advanced retreat with some friends.  While at the retreat, we were able to hear John speak about his new book, Beautiful Outlaw.

I bought a copy while I was at the retreat, intending to read it when I got a chance.  I started reading it on the plane...and actually stayed up that night to finish.  I loved it! 

One of my favorite chapters in the book is about God's love.  To make a point, John compares God's love to the ocean waves.  When I first read it, I loved the visual picture.  Then, when I was on the cruise and saw the waves, 

I remembered that illustration and it made me smile.

But, the waves here - In Anguilla?

These waves make my heart smile.

As you will see, in Anguilla, around this time of the year, the tide rises. 

They call it "ground sea" because the sea tears up the ground underneath. 

The waves are more intense, more heavy,
continually dumping enormous amounts of water on the beach.

What amazes me is how the waves don't ever stop.  

(I'm sure someone can give me some great scientific reason for the continual wave motion, but I'm just fine being amazed...and knowing that it happens because God created it that way!)

Waves in Anguilla from daysofgratitude on Vimeo.

A huge wall of water crashes onto the rocks and the beach and then the water slips back for a moment.  The area seems full of water. 

But, more water just keeps coming. 

With each wave, I am moved with how it continues to dump 

more water, again and again.

These waves are heavy and full and they just don't stop.
Even when there seems to be enough - more pours in.

Just like His love for me.

Would you like to have your own copy of Beautiful Outlaw to read?  Just leave a comment and I'll randomly choose a winner on November 11.   
(Unless I can't access the internet next week- in which case the winner will be chosen on November 16)

My favorite artist and a few photos

Tonight, while I was waiting for my school website to allow me to login, I scanned through my instagram feed. It's fun to look at pictures...each one has a memory attached. It also keeps me from being frustrated that I can't log in to take my test.

I noticed one trend throughout the feed...many of my photos tagged #1000gifts are nature. 
Yep, I'm a pretty big fan of the most fantastic artist to ever exist.

So, I took photos of all my #1000gifts photos...didn't want any of you to miss out on them!  

Happy Wednesday!

last weekend

When I arrived in Baltimore, I picked up my rental car and headed to Harrisburg, PA.  Up until this moment, I was really excited about going to Relevant 11.  But, when I was driving, I realized what I had done - I had signed up to go to a blogger conference. 
The kicker?  I'm not much of a blogger. 
I love the idea of being able to make connections online and keep family updated, but the actual habit of blogging seems to stay on my to-do list most of the time.
But, I knew that Ann was speaking and I knew that the attendees last year had such a great time, so when the tickets went on sale - I bought one.
I’m glad I did.
I met many amazing women over the past few days.  I’ve never been with so many wonderful Christian women who seriously love Jesus and who want to share His love with others.
As I've grown up, I've been hurt by girlfriends. I learned quickly that girls can be a fickle bunch and that it is easier to just stay away.
I've never been around so many women who have felt the same way and who truly want to step out of their comfort zone and be a true friend to other women.
Women who smiled and reminded me that everything has a season.
Women who hugged me and told me to continue on my journey, reminding me that His plans don’t always make sense to our small human brain.
Women who shared their stories, even through tears, in hopes that their story will help someone else.
Women who repeatedly told all of us to stop comparing our lives and blogs to those around us, but to simply follow Him instead.
Women who were empathetic to the fact that following God is not always comfortable, but encouraging of the fact that God has great plans and that we need to continue following Him.
Ann spoke on Saturday night and it was brilliant.  Brilliant - brightly reflecting Him and His love for all of us.  If you aren't familiar with Ann and her blog, A Holy Experience, then you should stop reading this silly blog and go read hers - like, now.
It was definitely a surprise to hear such comforting words and to connect with so many wonderful women.
On a side note - I was also able to hear some fantastic artists - Aaron Shust, Christa Wells and Nicole Witt, Shaun Groves and the amazing David Nevue, (3 times - Friday night, Saturday afternoon and as Ann walked on stage Saturday night.  For that moment, I was living in my computer and her blog had come to life!)

And the frosting on the weekend?
God sent fluffy, white frosting.
Ridiculous amounts. Gracefully falling from the sky.
The little one would have loved it.



Thanking Him tonight for...
Meeting online friends IRL
3 days of conversations all anchored with Jesus
The light at the end of my “late assignment tunnel”
A sweet friend who made my heart smile by simply hugging me and using the word serendipitous.
Huge, fluffy, graceful snowflakes - like nothing I’ve ever seen before
This picture of my little one...captured by my sister...

just a few things I love

clear, bright blue skies
fluffy, stark white clouds
storm clouds rolling in...and the breeze that tags along with them
ridiculously bright green grass
pictures of really cool starfish...purple ones...starfish that I hope to one day see IRL
velvety baby cows and their bossy mama's that keep me away
a silly, annoying donkey and his ignorance of our dislike of him
dogs who think they own the ranch
one specific dog who things he owns everything.  Well, everything except for that one specific little boy who thinks he owns the dog.
cackles and giggles from an unnamed little one while he harasses the aforementioned dog.
temperatures under 100
temperatures over 100 {as long as the humidity stays away}
air-conditioning. {on days when the humidity wants to stick around awhile. pun intended.}
laughter with my family

a rusty, but working tractor that we can all sit on and hang around while watching the storm clouds take over.

 the little one beating his own little drum

 the best youngest sister a gal could have

 the best youngest brother...who loves my little one no matter how many socks he wears

 my smiling Jahna Pali

glistening, beautiful storm clouds

 brothers and little ones playing and laughing until their guts hurt

tonight

Tonight I am in North Carolina at a retreat hosted by Christa Wells, Nicole Witt and Ann Voskamp. I'm pretty excited about being here - even if I did come to the retreat all by myself!
I'm also excited that I was able to see my little sister Jenia last night and that we will be able to sneak in a little shopping tomorrow night before I head back home.
The trees here in North Carolina are REALLY tall. I like it. It seems to make the nighttime animal noises just that much cooler. That, or I'm crazy. Either options are totally plausible.
I so enjoyed getting to hear Ann speak...she is such an encourager, and I love that! I realized tonight that she is pretty much my virtual mentor - if that is even possible... :)
And the music session tonight with Christa and Nicole was great. They are both blessed with some pretty amazing talents. It was such fun to be in the room and sing along all of the awesome ladies who were able to come to the retreat.
I know that tomorrow is going to be even better!

Thankful for:
encouraging words (505)
praise songs (506)
tall {really tall} trees (507)
crickets and bullfrogs at night (508)
junebugs (509)
the way the moon sneaks through the trees (510)
fellowship with Godly women (511)
My "tart and sweet Island treat" from Trader Joes - Green Mango (512)
The USB plug that charges my iPhone in my attention grabbing rental. (513)
The obvious reminder from God to not speed - a bright red mustang as a rental. (I reserved a compact car, but there weren't any clean ones readily available, so the kind young man was excited to upgrade me to the mustang. I smiled and said thank you, while I cringed inside.) (514)
The mere fact that I have finally recorded more than 500 gifts - Obviously, I'm still learning to recognize and write them down... (515)

a weekend full of fun

This weekend, someone turned two.

TWO!
Seriously?
Um, I totally did NOT authorize that.

But, I did authorize the ridiculously fun weekend that we had with our family!
No work, No hotels, No alarms.
Too much sugar, Too much sleep, Too much fun


Want a glimpse?

Sparkly Shoes #493

 Backseat Entertainment #494

 Sugar, Sugar, Sugar #495

Serious Painting #496

 and more sugar...

 more backseat entertainment

 camera phone Easter pics #497

We had lots of fun playing and hanging out!
We even had family in from Virginia - we were just having so much fun with them that the iPhone was MIA - which means the pictures are on Jimmy {the real camera, who doesn't travel with me for work}
So, you will have to wait to see those beauties!

Speaking of beauty...we also took a few senior pictures of a pretty fabulous little graduate!
Here's a sneak peek...

and...we're off!

Tomorrow morning I embark on one of my longest trips I've ever been on.  Correction, the longest trip I've ever been on...as long as you don't count the near year long stint as a nanny in Chicago.
Thankfully, the little one and hubs will be able to travel with me for parts of the trip - and on the other parts, I'll at least get to be in cool places. {part of my trip is to H-town, which is pretty much like home to me}
I just need to remain calm.
This week is the most stressful - we are doing a pre-Oscars event in LA. Prayers for peace are greatly appreciated.  Then, off to see my little sister at Fort Bragg get PROMOTED.  I'm so proud of her and thankful for the sacrifices she has made to serve in the military. Then- San Jose, Denver, Edwards, Vail, Aspen, Barcelona {YEP - SPAIN!}, H-town and Charleston, New York and then home...in the middle of APRIL

deep breaths.

Thankful for:
the way clouds dance across the sky
frequent flier miles
dry cleaning services
friends near and far...doesn't matter the distance, I'm never home anyways :)
a husband who braves a park full of Nannys to let the little one play
soft little baby feet
freeze dried green beans and beets
air conditioning...and the thermostat to turn it off.
My Davide Nevue album that I purchased on iTunes
the hourly chime on my wrist, re-aliging my day, every hour. (thank you, Ann Voskamp)
my paid registration to the In the Image of the Maker Retreat...it can't come soon enough!
Spark

Gratitude. My Scottsdale version...

There is something about Scottsdale that makes me smile.
Not sure what it is, but over the last 9 years that I have traveled to Scottsdale, something always makes me smile.  I could live here.  Not many places outside of Texas receive that award. Ha! :)

~Rabbits outside my door and aren't bothered by me standing there talking to them
~Camelback Mountain
~Bright, crispy blue skies
~Bright, beautiful sunset
~Carolina's flour tortillas {with butter}
~Cool, dark, starry nights
~Porch swings
~Trader Joes - NEXT door to my hotel room
~Surprisingly amazing pillows and linens in my steal of a deal hotel
~lizards and geckos...oh, how I wish they could talk...darn those geico commercials.

where?

That seems to be our question for 2011.
We are fairly confident that we are not supposed to be in the house that we loved, seeing as how it is under contract with a different family.  
We fasted and prayed for clarity and guidance.
He answered.
and we are thankful for His answer.  
We want to be where He wants us to be. We want to follow His direction.
We will find out what that is, when He decides it is time.
We will keep praying for patience...and perseverance to follow His will.
Who knows - maybe we will move to Africa, South America or the South Seas...the little one would do well to grow up in a jungle...and the people there need to hear more about Jesus.
For right now, we will hang onto His promises.  {and take our living situation one day at a time...}
On a different, yet similar note...I am in an Educational Philosophy class this spring and it is amazing.  I am having to create my personal Educational Philosophy and the first few weeks are directed at what I believe.  More specifically, what I believe to be truth.  
Perfect timing...participating in this class during a season of life when lots of things are up in the air.  
I may not know a lot of things, but I know that God loves me, cares for me and has plans for me. He knows where we will live and He promises me an amazing life with Him.  Our life here on earth may not always be peaches and sunshine, but it is shaping us into who He wants us to become.  
I love the encouragement from Hebrews 10:23: 
"Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what he promised."  
This is what I want to teach my kiddo...and as I am learning, I need to live it in order to effectively teach it.  
My class involves a lot of reading and studying, but thankfully, I currently travel a lot of work and tend to have some down time in my hotel room at night.  Working away from home might not be my ideal thing, but right now,  I totally see God's hand at work through it.  
Due to all my travel, I am able to study at night from my hotel room. 
Just another example of Ecclesiastes 3 at work.  As a kid, my parents read this passage to us fairly often.  As a child, I did not necessarily like this passage. But, as I have {somewhat} grown up, I have learned to appreciate both the passage and my parents routine reading of it...


There is a time for everything.
And, I am really thankful for that promise.


Gifts from Him today:
~pig snorts from my sleeping little one on the drive to the airport
~sticky hands that grab my fingers
~a loving husband who is frequently a kind chauffeur
~spicy tomato juice. yum.
~Chapter One of One Thousand Gifts...re-reading it with the Bloom Book Club and learning more the 2nd time.
~twinkling lights 30,000 feet below
~cold, brisk air- outside
~warm, crackling fire- inside
~bouncing, playful, loving puppies
~slobbery kisses from my furry creatures
~jealous looks from my little one to my puppies...I know we need to work on the jealousy part, but the little one's look was definitely a *gift*
~warm coats {on sale!}
~the smell of clean laundry
~a little bit more salt than normals on my french fries
~only 3 more nights and I will, once again, be back home...

just trust.

We've been trying to get a house.
We found one, but it wouldn't pass FHA
We found another, but we couldn't agree on a price.
Then, we found the perfect one.
It's been a interesting process.
We were pre-approved.
We made offers back and forth and finally agreed on a price.
We were waiting for closing.
The hubs spent the entire day with the home inspector.
The home inspector was very impressed with the house.
Impressed with the stability of the home.  Of it's foundation.
That's what I wanted.  A stable, old home on a good foundation.
We thought we were on the downhill side.
Today, we received a message that the FHA guidelines changed and that our pre-approval was no longer valid.
I don't understand the home buying process.
Nor do I want to.
But, I understand that He loves me unfathomably.
He has a perfect plan for me.
For my family.  For where we will rest our head each night. For where we will find the extra funds.
I pray that His plan involves this house.
I pray that tomorrow we get much happier news.
But, no matter what - He loves me.
More that I can ever understand.
And He will provide.
I don't need to understand.
I just need to trust.

Thankful for:

• 435. shiny, mermaid colored toenail polish
• 436. fizzy Dr Pepper
• 437. Cool nights
• 438. Warm Blankets
• 439. Squishy pillows
• 440. family pictures
• 441. the knowledge that I am not the one in charge...He is.
• 442. not having to work on Thanksgiving...or the day after
• 443. cute, cold noses
• 444. a titanium band that reminds me of love despite craziness
• 445. an impish smile covered in melted ice cream
• 446. a floor covered in melted ice cream.  it screams of fun that was had by a little one
• 447. friends far away who send notes that brighten my day.

Grateful? Today?

Sometimes, I wonder...how can I be grateful on a day like this?
Many times people ask me...why are you happy on a bad day?  Why be grateful when things aren't going well?
Sometimes, although I really do have a good answer, I can't seem to find it.
But, on other days I can and I do.  On other days, I remember that it's not all about me.  It's about so much more.
It's about more than the missed flights, icky hotel rooms, tummy aches, sore throats, test grades under 95, missed moments with my little one,  burned briskets, papers due in an hour, flat tires, rude drivers, stubbed toes, arguments, wondering where we will live in a week, bills, ill-mannered people and life in general.
It's about Him.
It's about remembering who created me and why He did it.
Remembering He created me for His glory.
His Glory.
With that in mind, I will strive to be grateful in all things.  When I am unhappy, I will find something good. Something to thank Him for...it is in finding those things that I direct my gaze back to him.  It is in finding those things that I work to stop being selfish, to stop sulking in my own mire, to stop making it all about me and will instead, turn to Him. He is the only one who can get me out of this mess called life, so it is to Him I will run.
I know that I can only feel one emotion at a time, so I will choose to feel grateful.

grateful for...
429.  phone calls with my mum, she loves me regardless...she reminds me that He knows where we will live next week and He will let us know when the time is right.
430.  silence from the realtor.  I'm praying "no news is good news"
431.  brothers who will drive their massive gas-guzzling truck to come move our belongings
432.  a sweet friend who slips an encouraging e-mail into my inbox
433.  acorns falling on my head, reminding me of many fun childhood memories
434.  the end of a school quarter and the beginning of the next...

fight feeling with feeling

I need to get this tattooed on my forehead.

I need to remember it faster.  Apply it to my life sooner.  Force myself to think differently than I want to right now.  The way I want to feel is not very nice.  I could sit and stew on why people act like idiots on a continued basis.  Why they think that they are so much better than everyone else.  But, instead I am going to force myself to quit thinking about them.

Instead, I will be thankful for:

419. my little one sleeping soundly right next to me...
420. conversations between my father and little sister.  Humor galore....
421. a jogging stroller waiting in my car for me to get home and put it to good use...
422. a wonderful Aunt who will take me and my craziness in...until we find a home...
423. my amazing parents who will jump in a car and cross state lines to bring me my little one at a moment's notice...
424. my fabulous family who loves my little one as much as I do...
425. dinner in an hour with my dad, sister and little one...
426. news for the realtor that she hasn't heard anything back about our offer...I'm praying that this is a good sign....
427. All my "friends" at The Relevant Conference.  I'm so excited to learn vicariously from them....
428. The music I recently purchased on iTunes...thanks to Ann Voskamp for introducing it to me....

Now, off to continue my gratefulness while going on a walk with my dad and little one...

such good manners

My little one is such a gentleman.  

He loves to help. 

Currently, his favorite things are to sign the credit card machine and then to carry my bags for me.  

Now, if only I can get him to keep this habit as he grows up!

Thankful for:

• 408. crisp, autumn days 
• 409. crazy crows that come way to close for comfort 
• 410. Magic pop rice cakes and the crazy machine that makes them. 
• 411. the Pioneer Woman - without her recipes, my sister might starve to death
• 412. the Pioneer Woman's meatballs - tonight my little one ate 5 - quite a feat for my little vegetarian.
• 413. Club Soda - oh so fizzy, but NO sugar!  HA!
• 414. an evening spent baking with my sister - it doesn't get much better!
• 415. amazingly happy pictures that inspire me to teach the little one to throw leaves.                               See for yourself here.
• 416. my baggage being returned by American Airlines - those 2 days without my luggage helped 417. to remind me that life can go on without all my stuff.
• 418. Tuesday - its arrival means that I'll see my hubby in 3 days!

Barbados, Part One

I've been in Barbados for almost 3 days now, and I just can't stop thinking about how cool the Garden of Eden must have been.  I'm staying at a resort on the west coast of the island...and it pretty much resembles the Garden of Eden that I remember from picture books.  Greenery like I've never seen before.  Noises at night like I've never heard.  Evidently, the noises are millions of tiny frogs trying their hardest to sing everyone to sleep.  No one ever said that frogs were smart...
This morning, as I sat on the porch eating breakfast, the oddest little thing happened.  A cheeky little sparrow hopped right over to me, cocked her head to look at me, then hopped on my glass and started drinking my Spark!  I'm not sure that they have much Spark here in Barbados, so I'm thinking that she might have ended up with a little energy jolt.  I was surprised to see her do that, but what was even stranger was that she then hopped onto my toast and started to have a nibble.  She's cheeky, I tell you!

So, after sharing breakfast with a {bird} I was off to work.
After work, we walked to the grocery store where I purchased the largest Avocado that I have EVER seen.  I also bought some rum cakes, Mauby drink and Bajan Hot pepper sauce.
Food.  That's my version of a great souvenir!
After the walk to the grocery store, I returned to my hotel.  As I was going to dinner, I stopped to sit on the beach for a minute.  I noticed something moving next to me and as I looked down I realized that there were A LOT of things moving.  About 100 baby turtles.

It was unbelievable.  Quite a while ago, a mummy turtle laid her eggs in the sand, and they decided to come out to our world as I was sitting there!  CRAZY!!
One of the dining servers and I rushed to capture them and put them in a box.  Evidently, there is an institute on the island that will take care of the babies until they are a little bigger.  Right now, their shells are still soft and it seems that fish like to eat them up.  Sorry fish - no baby turtle dinners on my watch!
Afterwards, I realized that all of the little babies running around would have made for a great picture, but by the time I thought "picture" they were all safe inside the box.
So, I started the morning thinking about how cool the Garden of Eden must have been and now I'm ending my day with the same thoughts. Seeing this place makes you wonder why they ever tried that apple...
Then, as I'm sitting in bed, reading the hotel book, I come across the following advisory:
 "Beware of the Manchineel Tree which grows around the shores of Barbados and bears fruit similar to a small green apple.  Just a touch can produce blisters and the apple is poisonous if eaten.  During rain, never shelter under the Manchineel Tree as the drips can affect sensitive skin"
My first thought?  "Hmmm, I wonder what it looks like." 
SERIOUSLY!  Did I not learn anything from Sunday School?
I sit here thankful for self control.  For a NEW heart.  A heart that will resist finding the Manchineel Tree.  a heart that will choose to not care to even see what it looks like.  I know what an apple looks like and I'll stick to seeing and eating the apples that they sell at Whole Foods.
I don't want to get kicked out of Barbados.  I'm still waiting to see a monkey.

Thankful for:
warm, coastal breezes, singing frogs, a hotel room without a TV, internet to stay in touch while thousands of miles away...

Getting back on track

I've totally fallen off the blog wagon.  I've been traveling across the country, back and forth between time zones, forgetting to pause and write a post.
My bad.
I'm going to be better.  As I've said before, I love that I serve an unfailingly loving God.  Who allows me to stumble and is right there to pick me up again.  Something about this blog reminds me of Him.  (Probably the fact that the entire reason I started it in the first place was to chronicle the blessings that He gives me on a daily basis.)  I wanted to learn to find the gift even in bad days.  To see His love and blessings on days when I would normally only see clouds.
Such great ambitions.  And then, I fail.  I get busy.  I get sidetracked.  I write blessings but am too busy to figure out what number they are... I don't remember to see His good in my everyday.  Yet, He is right there, not waiting to punish me for overlooking Him, but waiting to welcome me back with open arms.  It just doesn't get any cooler than that...
Oh, how I want to be that parent to my little one.  I want him to feel that he is loved unconditionally.  I want him to know that his family will always be there for him.  That even on bad days, when things go terribly wrong, we are there for him.  Not to point blame or question if he actually tried his best, but to be there with open arms.  To love on him.  Just like his Heavenly Father.
And so, I will get back up and start again.  I will continue my list of my 1000 gifts.  I will go back and number the gifts that I listed without numbers.  And, I will move on and get back on track.

His gifts to me today:

• Fresh vegetables grilled to perfection (394)
• A day without Coca-cola (395)
• A gentle breeze during my entire walk to work (396)
• Life sans mosquitos, if only for a few days (397)
• Blog posts that help keep me in the "mummy" loop, even when I'm currently working away from home and unable to make Mummy and kid play dates at the park.  (it is evident to me that Mums might get more out of those playdates than the kids do)  MckMama has some of my favorites...We've implemented quite a few of her ideas for eating and now, my kiddo who lived in the NICU because he refused to eat, now joyfully eats any vegetable given to him! Now, I'm off to soak up some of her suggestions for tantrums!  :)  (398)
• Fun "words with friends" games with friends I've never met in real life... (399)
• No USA channel in my hotel room...His perfect gift to me to allow me to actually get my schoolwork completed...  Yes, I'm taking a few classes this fall.  Obviously, I've lost my mind (400)
• Friendly Texans eating dinner at the table next to me.  This anti-social girl actually carried on a conversation with strangers and lived to tell about it. (401)
• Number 4 from the Manifesto for Joyful Mothering. The phrase "Fight Feeling with Feeling" - one of my favorite quotes from Ann Voskamp.  It truly is impossible to be irritated at people who irritate you if you are busy thinking about things you love. (402)

thankful for . . .

• a great weekend my my family (386)
• the smell after a rain (387)
• my little one waddling across the room (388)
• the way my little one nuzzles in my neck as soon as I get home (389)
• clean, fresh water - everyday (390)
• fun little kids who sit next to me at the airport and make me laugh, laugh, laugh (391)
• window seats (392)
• antibiotics.  they are my friend. (393)

2 years ago . . .

was a good day.

My life changed more than I thought possible. 

And it was a good change. 

Thankful for:

smiles (376)

belly laughs (377)

agreements that prove that He made us for each other (378)

arguments that teach us more about each other (379)

arguments that draw me closer to Him (380)

the giggle from a little one that makes us question if life can get better (381)

the way a hug can take away the worries of the day (382)

4 hours with wonderful friends while the little ones play away with a fabulous sitter (383)

watching bright colors fly across the sky (384)

a weekend together - just the three of us (385)

grateful for . . .

• time well spent with a sweet friend (367)
• laughter between mums (368)
• a sparkle in the little one's eyes when he and his adorable friend play with bubbles (369)
• God's grace (370)
• blue skies (371)
• mint Oreos (372)
• Self control to not eat the whole package of aforementioned Oreos (373)
• 4 top teeth and the new smile they created (374)
• the little one's head resting on my chest (375)

RAW(e) - pets and animals

Have you ever heard of RAW(e)?  It is quite cool.

Sami @ Sailor and Company chooses a different RAW(e) theme every week - You should make a note to check out her blog.  Or, better yet - just do it right now!

This week's theme was perfect for me - Pets and Animals.  I'm out of town- missing my family, my dogs and especially my sweet Maggie Mae.  Tonight, I spent some time looking for some pictures of my little girlie.  

Looking for a picture of her was sad, but fun.  (Thankfully, I only have my laptop with me, so I didn't have tons of pictures to look at!) When looking at them I cried, but I laughed even more.  She and I had such fun together!  So, here is one of my favorite pictures of my crazy little girl...

Blessings today:

• A great group of girls who I was blessed to spend the last 2 days with - I love my job, but days like today make it that much better!  (360)
• Pictures of Maggie Mae - such a great way to remember her fuzzy little face! (361)
• My little one is having a BLAST with his cousins - knowing this throughout the day keeps me smiling. (362)
• The way the sun shines when setting on the Pacific (363)
• Crisp, ocean breeze (364)
• A beautiful bungalow that I have been blessed to stay in for the past 2 nights (365)
• a little box of chocolates, waiting patiently on my pillow... (366)

Last Days of Crawling

This little one loves to crawl,

inside or outside,

laughing and smiling, while

racing to his Mummy.

He loves to crawl...that is, until he learns to walk.

Once he starts to walk, the activity in these pictures will only be a memory.

Thankful for:

• Drool - it's like his photo signature.  It miraculously shows up in all pictures and always makes me smile (355)
• Cranky old ladies who come in for facials even though they obviously don't want to be there.  Thankful for the reminder to pray. (356)
• Fireworks every night at Sea World and being able to watch said fireworks from my hotel balcony (357)
• Vegan buffalo chicken salad from Whole Foods - it is my newest favorite food (358)
• 10 minute trainer - I might be able to finally shed some of this year old baby weight. (359)