ThankFULL

November 29

Well, it's been a few days...but you've been too busy to notice, right?!  Me too.  Today I am thankful for gifts.  I don't mean physical objects, but I mean gifts given to us by God.  Mostly I am referring to the ones listed in Romans 12:6-8.  From Biblegateway.com...

Romans 12:6-8

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

There are so many people in my life who have these gifts and share them w/me and my family!  Just the other night I had an inspiring conversation w/a friend who has the gift of prophesy.  I am constantly encouraged by my friends and family.  I find that being involved in foster care and adoption, it is easy to see the mercy shown by others to many. Other people I know are amazing givers while still others are humble servants.  I am so thankful to be around people who use their gifts in my life, my kids' lives or in the body in general.  

Naturally

November 25

I am thankful for God's creation.  Yesterday we spent a good hour outside exploring my Uncle's property.  We find lots of black mud, animal trails in the woods, mossy rocks and trees, piles of decomposing materials, places where the deer lay down and a turkey feather.  There were brown things, black things, green things and gray things.  We climbed, slid and walked.  We splashed mud on our boots and laughed about how we sank into the Earth.  We felt the cold wind and the warm sun on our cheeks.  I don't get to spend a huge amount of time outside these days (I always wish is it was more!) but if I lived in a place like that, I think my life would be a little different.  I am so grateful we can go visit people who live in the north woods, on a huge property, or on a lake.  We can visit people who live in the city and the country.  We can visit people who live near a Gulf, an Ocean, a desert and a volcano.  Of course I wish we could do it more often!!  Anyone want to fund our future outdoor adventures?!  =)

Turkey cake!

November 24

Today I am thankful for the birthday boy - my husband!  Have I told you much about him?  (If you say yes, and you think you've heard these stories already, stop reading!)  

When I saw him for the first time, I of course thought he was the cutest boy I had ever seen!  He was the piano player at Intervarsity, a Christian fellowship group I started going to in college.  Because he sat down to play the piano, I couldn't really see him during the worship part of the service, which was probably good since I was supposed to be singing anyway.  My favorite part about going to IV was the end.  Dave and 'the band' would play a fun song or just 'jam' and after they finished, he would stand up and you know my head snapped right around!  He was always laughing, loudly, and I wanted so badly to be part of that crowd.  He seemed so happy and here I was, not so happy.  Our first meeting didn't go too well but I can't blame him (I hadn't accepted the Lord yet, so I was the 'old me', as in trying to be something I wasn't.).  Despite being cute, he seemed arrogant and I figured that he was just another guy to add to the eye candy list.  

The next school year, I was the on my way to being the new me and we met again.  As it turned out, we had many classes together and had many things in common.  He used to come to class from his job as a teacher at a Christian school, where he got a free newspaper every day.  The paper was always folded, open to the crossword puzzle.  I'll never forget the first time he set it down on the desk next to mine and didn't sit down right away.  YOINK!  He came back and looked on the floor for the paper.  Then he noticed me w/a big Cheshire grin, the crossword already started!  After that it kind of became our thing...he'd sit next to me and we'd whisper clues and answers back and forth.  Then he started to offer me a ride home and since it was cold, I wanted to say yes.  He told me it was on his way - LIAR!  It really wasn't that far out of the way, but it wasn't ON the way either =)  Our first real date started out as a group date.  He asked if I wanted to go to a Badgers' football game w/a bunch of people.  Later he told me no one was available or wanted to...so it turned out to be just us.  Before the game, we wandered around the Madison farmer's market and he asked to hold my hand.  

(Time out - I am leaving huge chunks of the story out.  If you want to know more, you can always ask.  But one background detail is that before I got saved, I wasn't exactly...um...boyfriend-less.  Let's just say I had a few boyfriends or just plain boys in my life.  I was...rather relaxed w/the boundaries, when it came to boys.  I am not proud of that fact, but it is part of my past.  I had pretty much come to the conclusion that was what an adult relationship entailed.  Despite asking forgiveness for sins and inviting Jesus into my heart, I hadn't revised my definition of an adult relationship.  Time in.)

HE ASKED TO HOLD MY HAND.  Did you catch that?  MY HAND.  I couldn't believe that he asked to hold MY HAND.  Not some other body part, but MY HAND.  He had more respect for my hand than most other boys had for any of me!!!  This is the part of the story where the girl who thought she had fallen in love w/the boy fell a lot harder.  

I am so thankful for my husband.  Truthfully, when I had gotten saved, I pretty much made a deal w/God that I would 'quit boys'.  I just was going to focus on school and stay out of trouble and someday I would find the man I would marry...less than a year later, I met my husband.  Less than 6 months after that I was engaged.  About 6 months after that, we were married!

To the hottie behind the piano - 

     Thank you for giving me a second chance.  Thank you for asking to hold my hand.  Thank you for being a happy, cross-word loving, gentle man.  Thank you for saying you weren't afraid to have 12 kids.  Thank you for playing frisbee w/me on our wedding day.  Thank you for holding me when I cried over not having a baby right away, and then all those months after either.  Thank you for supporting me as a new teacher.  Thank you for helping me when I was sick and pregnant.  Thank you for always singing to our boy and reading him the Bible.  Thank you for taking the leap into foster care w/me.  Thank you for allowing me to be home w/our kids while you work.  Thank you for all the hard work you do around the house.  I would be so lost w/o you.  Thank you for leading this family in the way the Lord leads you.  Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord, to me, our kids and to the church.  Thank you for sharing so many trips w/me, even if I have forgotten the details of them!  Thank you...for your love.  I have many flaws, some of which only you know.  But that doesn't stop the look I see in your eye when you hold me.  Besides the Lord, you are my best friend.  Happy Birthday!!!  I love you.  XOXO

Dear Heavenly Father - 

     Thank you for this man, this man who has curly hair and blue eyes and a laugh so infectious...thank you for this man that respects and cares for me.  Thank you for putting this man in my life at a time when I was quite broken and newly learning about you, Lord.  Thank you for making my husband the kind of leader and servant who is calm, gentle and compassionate.  I pray you bless my husband in a special way today as we celebrate both his birth and Thanksgiving.  Amen!

SNOOPY

November 22

Today I am thankful for the Peanuts' Thanksgiving episode.  I went to Dave's school today and he put it on for the class.  I must be in a really good mood today because I couldn't stop laughing at Snoopy!!  No I mean I had tears streaming down my face!  When I was a little girl I can remember rushing to get my PJs on so I could get set up on the couch w/a blanket to watch a Peanuts' program.  Each one started w/upbeat music and Snoopy dancing happily!  I had a stuffed brown dog that looked a little like Snoopy so I named him Droopy.  He was pretty droopy - floppy and filled w/beans or something =)  Maybe my love for Snoopy and friends will go on another 30+ years...!

What's the plan, Stan?

Today I am thankful for God's plan.  I was reminded by a friend today that God has a plan and even when we don't know it or are bitter about it, we believe it is the best plan, regardless, because it is from Him.  There are so many things in my life now that were not part of my plan.  I really didn't plan to be doing foster care and adopting.  I really didn't plan to marry that guy.  I really didn't plan to go to school for that.  I really didn't plan to be living in this town.  I really didn't plan to make choices that got me labeled as one who cares for creation so much.  I really didn't plan to be so heavily involved in church or any kind.  I really didn't plan to be a clutter-bug.  (Who does?)  I really didn't plan to consider home schooling.  I really didn't plan to lose touch w/those good friends.  I really didn't plan to...you get the drift.  But despite all my emotions and anxieties about what I didn't plan, I am so grateful for what God had planned!  And not just for me, but for my friends and family too.  It's absolutely amazing when you can see God's plan unfold for someone else.  I find such joy in the fact that that family was able to adopt, or that family was taken down the path of a new job, etc...maybe they see it at the time or maybe they don't, but being outside of the situation often allows others to see God where they might not.

for the love of tech stuff

Today I am thankful for technology.  Again one of the kids are sick and my husband and I are skyping church!  It is so nice to hear my pastor's voice and keep up w/the sermon series.  We also use skype to 'talk' to Grandma and Grandpa some nights and of course I am on face.book, connecting w/friends.  Yes, sometimes these things can take away from our lives, but I argue that they can be useful too!  I am also thankful for the technology my husband has in his phone.  Many times on trips we have looked up our route on a map program on the phone, or we've looked for a phone listing online so we could call ahead.  I am thankful for photo sharing capabilities - it is so cool to see pictures of a friend's baby or something when I know I won't get out to meet him/her in person any time soon!  It sounds so silly and unnecessary but to a super social person like me, it's really special.

Overflowing!

November 18

I don't know if I mentioned it here, but today is the day some college friends make the adoption of their 3 girls official!!!  We have so much joy for them!!!  And on top of that, today I went out to the farm where we used to buy our eggs (!!) and found they have a first time foster placement, w/a possibility of adopting him and 2 siblings somewhere down the road.  I am so happy for these families!!!  Another thing I am thankful for is deer hunting season.  I used to eat a lot of venison summer sausage sandwiches growing up and I am thankful my dad went deer hunting.  Well, not thankful that he was gone, exactly, but thankful he enjoyed himself and brought back some meat.  He told some funny stories, about skunks in his boots and the deer that swam into a river to go die on an island...and then him dragging it back!  I remember seeing the trailer or truck loaded down w/frozen deer, their tongues frozen hanging out of their mouths!  I pray everyone and anyone going this year will stay safe.  I also secretly pray some friends would like to share their venison w/me!!!  So yeah, today I'm thankful for adoptions, fostering families and um...venison...ha!

Heart, soul, mind and strength

November 17

Today I am thankful for this body God gave me.  Many times I complain about it - it's too mis-shapen, it's too weak, it's doesn't look like what our culture defines as beautiful - but truly, I am able to do so many things w/the body I have!  I have not lost hair, or at least not that anyone would notice!  I do not need corrective braces to walk, I do not need a wheel chair nor do I need assistance to feed and dress myself.  I am also thankful for my mind, my mental health and stability.  Yep, I have ca-raz-ay days like everyone one else, but I don't have an unnatural fear of the what ifs or an unnerving sense of suspicion all the time.  Anxiety is present in my life but I think I have come a long way in taking care of myself (and allowing myself to be taken care of) so it doesn't get the better of me.  I am thankful for these things and I pray for those that are not able to say the same.  

If I'm being honest...

I am super thankful for laundry baskets.  But probably not for why you think!  I use laundry baskets for EV.ER.Y.THING!  Switching winter to summer wardrobe?  Put winter clothes in laundry basket, empty seasonal bin into drawers, empty laundry basket into bin.  Working on a project (baby book!) but need to stash it somewhere not on a counter top?  Laundry basket.  Have 4 kids and lots of library books?  Laundry basket.  Can't carry a lot of pumpkins?  Laundry basket - or not!  Taking everyone's boots along but don't want mud to get on the carpet of the van?  Put them all in a laundry basket!  Have a million papers you need to go through but don't want them on the counter top (seeing a theme here??)?  Laundry basket!  Oh yeah, and then I forgot about all the laundry I do!  So there you go, I'm being totally honest about my habits, or lack there of, when it comes to organization!

An Addendum

In my last post I talked about my best friends.  I failed to include some!  There is my pen pal from 4th grade, though we are still not physically close, many letters have passed between us over the years.  Now in the face.book age we leave comments for each other here and there.  I still think of her as one of my closest friends!  Also, my husband's best friend and his wife/family are so important to me.  I am very thankful to be raising our family alongside theirs and sharing so many life experiences!  I couldn't leave these people out...

It's a gas!

November 14

Today I am thankful for best friends.  I am blessed to have more than one.  But it is the day of birth for one in particular...I have known this friend for going on 20 years.  We met the summer before high school.   We were not best friends right away - she was a poms girl and I was a bookworm.  As it turned out though, we were both band geeks!  (Don't take offense at these cliquey terms, I am describing us and we're ok w/that.  I won't use these words to label you.)  We ate lunch together w/a large group of friends every day and we knew each other pretty well.  But still - we didn't really become best friends until college.  Most of my bookwormedness (it's a word, I just used it!) started to fall away and I made some dumb choices.  Most of my high school friends didn't stay in touch and I was making new ones.  But this friend, she didn't lose touch.  She came to visit and called and seemed to care.  When things started to fall apart for me, when I felt like I couldn't reconcile the old me and the new me, she was there, pointing the way.  She got saved before I did and she was like a mentor to me when I became a completely new new new person!  Mentor, counselor, life coach, best friend.  We used to sleep in, talk, watch the fish tank...I could tell you stories!  I think I've already written some of them here.  We rode a tandem bike, rode the city bus, slept in bunk beds and argued over who would clean the toilet.  She grilled a potential mate, who turned out to be my husband.  She was my matron of honor who cut her own honeymoon short to stand by my side.  I am so thankful for her, I can't even begin to describe the reasons!  I love you!!!  I also have other best friends.  My best friend from college I met the first day on campus.  He saved my butt more times and ways than I probably even know.  In so many ways he is the opposite of me.  I was the silly fun girl and he was very serious and calculated.  HA!  Every girl needs a best friend like that.  He is like a brother to me.  His family and mine are good friends now - I love his wife - she is truly an inspiration in motherhood.  Another best friend is here in town.  I want to be her when I grow up.  She and her family just became homeowners - of an RV!!  I am planning on removing a spark plug from that rig before they drive away for good.  Or maybe it will be something else...?  SH!  Don't tell, ok?  (I know she is reading this and hopefully laughing!)  But seriously, I don't know what I would do w/o any of my best friends.  Last but not least is my husband.  My best friend.   When we first met, I was the old me.  He didn't like me.  He really thought I was an airhead.  I thought he was HOT and out of my league!  When we met the second time, we found out we couldn't be apart much.  Engaged after 4 months, married after another 6.  We talk all the time...he is so considerate of me and has grown with me in many ways.  I change our diets, I quit my job, I make plans for future changes....he goes w/it.  He supports me.  Us.  He helps me live the good life, the life I dreamed of.  Another best friend like him cannot be found except in Jesus.
***edited to add - I failed to include some of my best friends, so I added an addendum =)***

It's a wonderful life that gets more beautiful every day!

November 14

Today was an AMAZING DAY!!  I almost can't believe it after our week of mega-sickness.  Don't get me wrong, it seems everyone has round 2 of colds and noses are running and shooting boogers everywhere, but today was still awesome.  At church we enjoyed the music and the girls colored quietly during the sermon.  After church we met my mom to pick up Moses from a sleepover.  I am so thankful my parents live close and can do that!  Then we all had hot ham for lunch - second week in a row!  Tasty.  After lunch we went to the children's museum here in town.  The kids all got to run around and go down slides!  We came home to an improvement in the weather so we let the chickens out and spent some time outside - sunny, 50+ degrees and little wind!  Dave worked on the tree fort, I raked, Mo helped carry boards, the girls rode bikes...then a friend came over and we went for a quick walk.  I am so thankful for friends who like to walk and talk!!  I really needed to get out of the house and have a few minutes of momma time today.  We did a quick errand and had chicken and bean quesadillas.  Dewey ate lots of chicken and some tortilla while the kids and I shared a quesadilla or 2.  The best part of the meal is that it was cheap.  We laughed a lot during dinner =)  Silly stuff but we were all laughing!  Now it is past 7 and all the kids are in bed and I am feeling like this day was long, but in a good way.  I needed a day like this. I am grateful for it!  And now I'm watching Simpsons w/my hubby, who laughs so hard!  I love it!  

On trees and fruit, things you can grow...

November 12

I am thankful for the huge trees that are in our backyard.  For about 2 months Dave has been working on a tree fort out there.  I used to hate the big pine tree - actually I prayed it would fall on the garage.  The garage was in such poor shape that I was thinking if the tree fell on it, we'd get to start all over again.  Not to mention that if the tree fell in the direction of the garage, it would hopefully be far enough away from the house.  Anyway, then Dave went and sided the garage and now I pray that no trees fall down.  Another thing that bugs me about the pine is the sap.  It gets all over the kids clothes when they are playing!  But I do know how to get it out now, so all is not lost.  I am also thankful for the apple trees out front.  Those are the trees that we take first-day-of-school pictures by =)  I am thankful for the blueberry bushes out back, even though we've never gotten a blueberry off of them since we planted them years ago.  I am thankful for the asparagus and raspberries out back.  Sometimes I wish we had more food-related plants, but I can't think of much else that I'd want/that grows well in this climate, besides what you can find in a garden.  This is the first year I noticed the neighbor had a peach tree!  Weird.  I guess he has a hard time getting to the fruit before the birds, but I can't believe I never noticed that before...thankful for the little surprises in life too!

Viernes de paz

November 11

I'm thankful for peaceful days when everyone is feeling better!  I am thankful for things that make me laugh, things that make me smile and things that energize me.  I am thankful for holding my husband's hand while the kids run on ahead.  I am thankful for obedient kids who impress people at the mall =)  I am thankful for babies who clap and sing every time they hear music.  I am thankful for coconut oil!  And I am thankful for my rubber boots.  It is so muddy...I feel bad for the chickens, their whole pen is muck.  But I know they are animals and they're fine...it still seems weird.  I am thankful for popcorn too - we haven't had any in a while....it was really good last night.  Hit the spot =)

I think I can, I think I can...

Can I be thankful when everyone in my house is sick, w/a vast array of symptoms and illnesses??

Yes.

November 10

I am thankful for these 4 beautiful children that God has brought to me through different methods.  I can't believe I get to parent them, hold them, serve them and clean them when they are sick.  Friends, not everyone gets to be a momma.  I hate days like this but then I remember the days when I was dying to do anything for any child and I had none.  Yes I said hate.  Yes I said dying.  Yes I can be over dramatic but I don't think I am here.  I am an incredibly social person who hates to fail and lately I have barely been able to converse w/anyone and I look all around and see failure - dirty stove, dirty dishes, crumbs on the floor, things in the wrong place, unfinished projects, papers littering the counters and chairs (!), towels on the floor, used tissues wadded up near the trash but not in, etc.  So I hate these days.  And I was dying on the inside (a lot!) back in the kid-less days.  So many people talked about my job as a teacher, it was such a great job, life as newlyweds must be great, yadda yadda great great great.  Um, no.  The best job is a mom and I know I snapped back towards at least one person when they said I had such a great job.  I am working on forgiving myself for that.  But the 'me' I knew was shriveling....wow, now I'm off track.  The point is, I am so grateful to be here.  Even though here may not be where I feel like being, here is so fulfilling.  I kept telling everyone that all I wanted to be is a mom.  And I am.  Thankful.

SNOW!

November 9

Today I am super thankful for SNOW!  I love it!  I am also thankful for some relief from sickness.  I am thankful for two 4yo girls who love to play together and are excited to dress alike, eat alike and keep each other company.  I am grateful for our RV, in which we made many memories!  Some friends just bought a motorhome and it makes me miss camping!  Yes, I know, I'm excited for the snow today and lamenting the summer...I'm a muti-faceted person!  Another thing I am grateful for is my washer.  I talk a lot about my wash lines and how much I love hanging wash, but now w/4 kids I am truly appreciative of the washer too.  I thought I did a lot of wash before...phew!  I suppose having a baby again increases the loads.  I forgot how many times a day we change babies' clothes!  Plus, Dewey drools.  A LOT!  Well, it's quiet in my house right now - baby in the crib, maybe asleep, maybe just working on getting himself there - but NOT crying!  Huge improvement!  Everyone else is gone - I need to get cracking on the housework!

Kicked when we're down

Yeah, I bet you didn't think you'd see that as the title for a thankful post...

November 8

Today I am thankful for encouragement!  We are all varying degrees of sick.  Best?  Curly Sue, she has maybe a sniffle.  Worst?  Dave.  Flu.  Not the nice kind.  So here I am, feeling crummy myself, administering no less than 3 different types of antibiotics and other assorted OTC meds, running this show.  I feel like yelling at someone, whining, complaining about how these new kids have just arrived and we could really use a break from the sickness to settle into a routine.  We're all tired.  Doing too much on too little energy.  Surprisingly, we are not really arguing much, even the kids have been so good.  You probably don't believe me but it's true =)  Maybe we're too tired!  Anyway, I am so thankful for the encouragement our friends have given to us!!!  As much as I feel like this is hard, I honestly think that it's kind of easy when people say nice things, pray for you, and just in general are supportive of you.  I was coming here to write this big list of nice things but that pretty much sums it up.  So thank you to all of my friends!  

November 7

I'm thankful for lovely sunny days!!  I am thankful for peanut butter.  Moses requested PB and bananas in the oatmeal today!  And not to mention we all eat PB sandwiches just about every day.  You can imagine that we go through a jar a week.  Maybe more.  Do you think peanuts would grow well here?  Probably not.  I am thankful for neighbors who are so kind to get up in the middle of the night, grab some bread and put our hens back in the pen.  We're still not sure how they got out.  Maybe they were left out.  Either way, the neighbor mentioned a coyote and I know I've seen hawks, so it's so nice that he did that.  I am also thankful for kids who are super polite.  =)  It seems to come naturally to all of them to say thank you and please.  I am very proud of them!

Still here!

November 6

Ooh, did you think I was going to miss a day??  Nope!  Busy as ever w/4 kids in my house, but I'm still on track.  Today I am thankful for the dishwasher!  I can't believe how many dishes we all use in one day...but it's so awesome not to have to handwash them all.  I am also thankful for so many people who have helped give suggestions for doing Curly Sue's hair.  I am not quite as worried, but I just need an afternoon to practice or something.  I am also grateful for the extra clothes we saved from when Mo was little.  Right now it helps that I can just dig into a bin and find some things for Dewey.  Some of those things are hand-me-downs from the sisters-in-law and their sisters, so I am really grateful for that too!  We have been blessed w/some nice things we can use for our kids.  I am also grateful for the apples we collected at my aunt and uncle's house up north.  Free apples!  The kids have been eating about 4 a day.  I made some applesauce, dehydrated some and got some ready for a pie.  My first attempt was awful.  I need to figure out what I did wrong.  We couldn't even eat it.  It was really dry.  Blech.  But I will try again!  Another thing I must say is that I am so thankful for everyone's prayers.  I appreciate knowing that many of you are lifting us up each day!  Keep it up!  Thank you!

Lucky guy

November 5

So many things to be thankful for today!  Thankful for extended family, for services to help and protect children and families, for friends in our community, but also for the community of friends we have built in the foster/adoptive world.  Today I am thinking about my maternal Grandpa.  He has passed away, but is still on my mind a lot.  When I read in the newspaper about Andy Rooney passing away (he was one of my Grandpa's favorite reporters!), all I could think of was how my Grandpa would be so delighted to meet him in heaven!  But I hope he doesn't ask him for an autograph!  Those 2 old guys would have a lot of fun together.  Anyway - I remember how my Grandpa would always love Rooney's commentaries.  Sometimes when we'd visit, the TV would be on the news in the background, volume low.  We'd be talking, but if Andy Rooney came on - the volume immediately went up and the conversation was suspended.  We'd laugh or nod soberly at whatever the topic was...I found myself tuning in to Rooney's last broadcast.  Pretty sure my love for my Grandpa brought me to make sure I didn't miss it.  Just like I can't watch Wheel of Fortune w/o thinking of Grandma whispering the answer as the rest of us fumbled around to spit it out.  =)  Well, this thankful post has gotten a little of track.  I am thankful for a lot of things today but I guess I am thankful for special memories!

New math

1+1=2
1+1+1=3
1+1+1+1=4
1+1+1+2=6.

Today 2 foster kids joined our family!  We have a foster daughter who is 4yo and a foster son who is 17mo.  Since it is almost positive they will be here long term, they are going to need blog names.  Is it weird if I call her Curly Sue?  She has curly hair!!!  =D  And he will be called Dewey.  As always, we appreciate your prayers as we all adjust to our growing family.  There will be stories of our adventures to come!

Full of it

November 4

I am thankful for date nights and reliable, consistent babysitters.  It means so much to be able to out of the house w/my husband, no matter what we do!  Sometimes we just sip coffee and work on crossword puzzles, sometimes we stroll through a store, and sometimes we eat.  I am also thankful for SUN and laundry lines!  Have I mentioned them in my thankfulness posts yet?  =)  Today is a good day to hang wash.  I am thankful for the bond between my kids.  This morning they were both in one bed, snuggling and giggling.  When I tried to tell them to come in by us, they didn't want to!  They were having too much fun on their own.  It's not every day that they play harmoniously, so I need to remember that.  Last night I was also reminded how thankful I am that my kids are good eaters.  Moses is not a teenager yet, but he eats like one!!  Should I be worried?  He doesn't seem to care that I only offer fruits, veggies and decent sources of protein as snacks, he'll take one of each.  Dinner was soup and I was being adventurous (again - 2 nights in a row!  I'm becoming a regular chef!) and no one really complained.  I heard, "What is that thing?"  Garbanzo bean.  "What is this green stuff?"  Kale.  But they ate it.  The sausage was a little spicy for them so they ate one and then just polished off the beans, kale, and potatoes.  I was very proud of them.  The night before it was veggie sushi rolls.  The seaweed paper was a bit difficult to chew/bite through, even for me, but I think we'll do it again.  It's a great way to let everyone build their own and gets lots of veggies in our meal.  I'm thankful they are all willing to go along w/my adventures!

Yours, mine, ours

November 3

Today I am thankful for adoption.  It's national adoption month and I just have been thinking and praying about adoption lately.  A lot of friends and family have been involved in adoptions one way or the other.  Most of you know me in real life and you know I'm more than happy to talk your ear off about it =)  Other things I am thankful for today - a family who is willing to try new foods, progress made by my girl when it comes to eating and drinking (she still has the McKey button, still getting tube fed, but there's progress!), slippers, and day light savings time switches.  I am also thankful for laughter.  Yesterday morning I was asking Moses about his ear, if he was having trouble hearing since he kept saying, "What?"  I was grumbling about how he couldn't hear well and wasn't listening.  The alarm went off and the weatherman said, "Brad the umbrella...it's a wet one out there!"  I wondered out loud why he would name his umbrella after his co-anchor on the news show...???  Or why he would call poor Brad an umbrella!  I just didn't get it!  Moses started laughing at what I said, especially b/c we had skyped w/my friend Brad just the day before.  "BRAD THE UMBRELLA!!!!"  He thought it was the funniest thing!  "Mom, he didn't say BRAD, he said GRAB!"  Oh.  Yeah, pot calling the kettle black.  Or Brad.  Needless to say we laughed pretty hard for a while and it was a great way to start the day =D!

Day 2 - haven't forgotten yet!

November 2

I am thankful for my son's school.  He is in a bilingual school and rapidly picking up Spanish!  I am also thankful for my daughter's school.  They have many services and teachers/therapists who are truly inspiring in the way they are constantly seeking new ways to help her grow.  I am thankful for lots of different ways to treat/prevent illness - antibiotics, immunizations, medicines, vitamins, probiotics, tea, good food, exercise, etc...I am thankful for the multitude of options I have when it comes to shopping in this town.  I never thought about it much b/c it seems I don't shop (for fun) much anymore, but when I need something, I can usually find it here.  There's consignment shops, thrift stores, grocery stores, a co-op, big box stores, department stores, international food stores, home improvement stores, etc.  I am also thankful for a former student who cuts my hair.  She has become a friend!  I don't know why but I am thinking about her right now.  Maybe it's b/c I am growing my hair out, probably for the last time in my life.  Since I trust her more than anyone else right now w/my hair, it's getting to be a bigger deal I guess.  Finally, today I am thankful for the 4 seasons.  But of course fall is my favorite!!

Gracias, merci, danke, xie xie, toda, arigato, takk, dziekuje, spasibo, efharisto

Today marks the first day of the month that includes Thanksgiving (in case you didn't know!).  Many people are writing one thing a day that they are thankful for.  I like this idea and have tried it before...this time I'm just going to try to write each day about whatever comes to mind - so it may be more than one.  Not exactly a list, just essay style.

NOVEMBER 1

I am thankful that a church friend has come out of her coma and is starting to talk.  I am thankful I serve a faithful God who hears our prayers and who I know can heal any and all in His time, if He wills it.  I am thankful my son loves music and legos.  I am thankful for good friends, with whom we can go on family dates.  I am thankful for a big bed that all my kiddos can climb in on frosty mornings and we can giggle and laugh and snagul (as Moses spells it) as a whole family.