Thanksday #37

I have to get this out before I bust:

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Have I mentioned we're going to Maui? I haven't? Oh, just a little trip we're taking for my brother's wedding. No big whoop.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOP!

We leave in four days. Yes, that's right. FOUR DAYS. You're probably thinking there are suitcases lying (or laying?) around with clothes half-packed, laundry completed and to-do list tasks crossed off. But you would be mistaken. There is nary a shred of physical evidence that we're embarking on such a long journey in my house. But really, I'm practically a road warrior these days and can pack just like this (snap of a finger sound effect inserted here).

Right?

Oh please, let that be right.

Anyhoo, the trip -- it is a-comin'. And should you begin to feel resentment, bitterness or jealousy rise up, first think on these things: we are traveling with both children. One is not quite two years old. The total travel time (not including the three-hour drive to the airport) is 12 hours. When we arrive in Maui, it will be a six-hour time difference. Did I mention two kids? Did I mention one was not quite two years old?

I'll let you ruminate on that mental imagery for awhile. And as you ponder, I'll fill you in on my gratitudes for this week:

1) Answered Prayer. In case you weren't aware, I've dedicated Mondays on my blog to prayer and prayer requests. Please check it out and join me in praying for some serious issues! It's been two months now, and the best part is the praise reports I've been receiving. The best one was a phone call I got yesterday from a dear, dear friend. She's been on the list every week (and on my personal list for over a year) as she and her husband have been trying to get pregnant. And she called yesterday from the parking lot of the doctor's office to tell me I can take her off the list! She's pregnant, the baby is healthy and active, and everything looks great. I teared up, I was so excited. I won't remove her completely though, because now we're shifting prayers to that precious little one.

2) Eight Hours of Sleep. I-love-sleep-the-end. And have been getting between seven and eight hours of sleep a night lately. I've read a zillion times in my health magazines how getting good sleep helps you lose weight. I figured with all this sleep I'd wake up one day 10 pounds lighter. Stupid magazines.

3) Professional Hair Cuts. With the wedding looming, and Paxton being the Ring Bearer, I decided his hack-job of a hair cut I had given him needed a professional touch. I had no clue how he'd do, but that kid surprises me daily. We went to the salon, and he sat so still and did so great! (And don't worry, his hair didn't stay stuck straight up like Dolph Lundgren in Rocky 4.) (Which Greg and I watched part of on TV last night.) (Which was so seriously cheesy, I can't believe I used to have a crush on Sylvester Stallone.) (Oh yes, I did.)

4) Pumpkin Spice. No, not the latte. (Because seriously, I think if I talk about that any more about the PSL, Starbucks will owe me some royalties for sales in the Southeast.) I'm talking about the actual McCormick Pumpkin Spice that you buy in the baking aisle at the grocery. I've been sprinkling it in with my coffee grounds, and it's satisfying the craving for the latte. Sort of. Well, not really, but it'll do, pig.

5) The Pee-Chee. I'm obsessed about this right now. Does anyone remember using these in high school? I had about 12 million of them, and they came in assorted colors. But the goldenrod was my favorite. And since they were a manilla-envelope type material you could write and doodle all over them. (The ones I used had a little bit different illustrations on them...all athletic...but these are missing the cheerleader with the pom-pom. And mine had brown lines instead of blue.) (Sigh.) The inside pockets were on the sides, so your papers never fell out of them. Every single Fall I succumb to my Pee-Chee obsession, yet I never just suck it up and buy them. So when I return from MAUI, guess what?? I'm taking a new trip...to PEE-CHEE CITY, BABY.

6) Dogs. Jaana, Paxton and I are so desperate for a dog. We have puppy fever so very badly. And it hasn't helped that our neighbor's dog has sort of adopted us during the day. She'll come over and just hang out on our front porch for hours. Paxton loves going to the window and just yelling her name and trying to pet her through the door. After hanging out for six hours the other day, we had to leave, and told her bye. She just sat there with this stick and was like, "Sounds good! See ya. I'll just hang out here while you're gone." After MAUI, Operation Family Dog goes into full effect. Greg will never make it out alive.

7) Girlfriends. I told you last week how I was heading to The Big City for a night for a belated birthday celebration. Well, it was a fantastic time that included a Publix AND a Target run. Plus, two of our other girlfriends showed up to surprise the birthday girl, and it was just like old times. The posse was reunited (and it felt so good). I love friends that can just pick up where you left off, regardless of how often you see each other.

8) Cheap Kindle Books. I also mentioned recently how I have loved finding Kindle books on Amazon for $2.99. Well, prepare yourself -- I've also found some fun reads for just 99-cents! Seriously, when you can read a book in 24 hours, it's a treasure to find a book for a dollar. (Here is where all the people I work for say, "So THAT'S why you haven't finished my project yet!" To which I reply, "Huh? What? I have no idea what you're talking about." Followed with, "Don't judge me!")

9) Pseudo Picnics. Jaana wanted to eat out on the back porch since it's not totally a storage unit right now (just semi-storage unit). So I sat them out there to eat, and died laughing listening to the two of them play, laugh and sing. Nothing fills a heart with joy like watching your kids play together. Seriously, it almost makes me tear up (if it were easy for me to cry, that is).

10) Psalms. I've told you how much I adore the Psalms, yes? (Good heavens there's a lot o' links in this post today.) I simply adore Psalms. And this week I sat down most mornings (okay, a couple mornings) and drank my coffee-with-pumpkin-spice and soaked in some psalm-age. My most favorite verse from this week:

"Your statues have been my songs in the house of my sojourning." (Psalm 119:54)

Oh my heavens. Slay me. I'm slain. That, my friends, is good writing. I love how the Bible has something for everyone -- a person, a book, a chapter that so uniquely speaks to the heart of a person. And for me, that is Psalms. I have read and re-read Psalms about three times. And yet I never tire of it, and always find something new to love. I highly recommend pouring over it. With a little pumpkin'd coffee.

Have you stopped thinking about our extremely long journey with two kids, one of whom is not quite two? Should we pop into your mind in the next few days, you wouldn't be wasting a prayer to PRAY. FOR. US.

Your turn! Let me know what you're thankful for this week and share the love. Leave a comment below or link up with Candra. It'll put some aloha in your hula for sure.

And one last time for good measure:

MAUI.