Thanksday #44

Good morning.


Actually, it's a great morning. I lost an entire day yesterday in bed with The Sickness. Paxton had a stomach bug for 24 hours on Sunday. Jaana came home from school on Wednesday after being there for 20 minutes with a stomach bug. You'd expect that being the Mama taking care of her young would make her immune to The Sickness, but you would be wrong. Mama got it too. Fortunately, I never threw up. Unfortunately, it turned itself into flu-like symptoms and between the hours of 7 am and 4 pm yesterday, I was literally awake for only two hours.


It was actually rather nice, if I'm being honest.


I am so very, very, VERY blessed that I have such an amazing husband. I called him at 7:20 yesterday morning and told him I almost passed out getting Paxton dressed. He came straight home and was on duty the rest of the day. Kids to school, went to work, picked up Paxton, came home and put him down for a nap, went and picked up Jaana, came home, and then took them to the school meeting and out to eat afterwards. 


All while I slept the beautiful day away in a dark, dark room.


Gloriously, I woke up this morning feeling a million times better and jumped in the shower and stripped the bed immediately. I wish I was up to going for a run, but I'm afraid to push it. However, eating only crackers and ginger ale yesterday I think equaled the effect a run would haven given me today.


At any rate, I have a lot to be thankful for…even if I'm a day late.


1) A husband who can (and will) drop everything to pitch in when I'm down for the count.


2) Jaana. Who made me this precious Get Well card yesterday.

3). Keurig. I have an amazingly beautiful Breville Keurig Coffee Maker that I was able to purchase years ago with a very generous gift card I was given to Williams Sonoma. It's my pride and joy (as far an inanimate objects go). However, being the coffee snob that I am, I've mostly used the K-Cup that came with it so I can use my own coffee grounds. (I'm not a fan of Caribou or Green Mountain or any of the other options that are available.) Well. Lo and behold, guess what was just released to the public this month? Christmas has come early, my friends. Good things come to those who wait (and wait and wait and wait). 

4) Georgia Football. All the in-laws came for a visit last weekend, which allowed Greg and I to go to the UGA vs. Auburn game with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. It was my first game this season, and it was a very, very important game for Georgia. I'm sure you know by now that Greg is a rabid Dawg fan. Season tickets, superstitions and and the whole nine yards. By the grace of God, Georgia came out of the gate with oodles of touchdowns, and by the end of the third quarter, my sweet husband was simply euphoric. SO MUCH SO, that he did this:

Now, let me give you a little history. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, all the fans stand up and hold up the number four on their hands. Then, as the quarter starts, they pump their hands up and down. (The why in this equation is what I can't begin to explain. I just know this is what they do.) Now, in the nine years I've gone to games with Greg, he has never, EVER participated in the fanfare. No cheers, no chanting with the crowd, no "goooooo dawgs, sic 'em" at the kick offs, no number four at the fourth quarter. NE. VER. 


But this game, on this day, with this level of euphoria over the score, he just suddenly stood up and held up his four. And Kristy and I picked up our scraped jaws off the floor and scrambled for a camera to capture the image for all of eternity. 


Shortly thereafter, these fabulous girls found us and I got my most favorite picture of the game.

It was a great, great day. (And for the record, every game Kristy and I have gone to for the past few years has ended in a Dawg win. Jus' sayin'.)

5) Speaking of In-Laws. I have the greatest ones ever. EVER. Y'all who have stories of difficulties with your mother-in-law, or not getting along with your sister-in-law…I CANNOT RELATE. I hit the jackpot. 


6) Friends. The friend I've had the longest in my life, since I was eight years old, lives thousands of miles and an ocean away. She's going through an incredibly difficult time right now, and needs a miracle of healing in her life. And while we haven't seen each other in person for about 20 years, I'm so thankful that we're just an email away and that I can still be there for her during this time. God is so good to create lifetime bonds where you can pick up where you left off without ever missing a beat. (And if you think of it, please lift up a prayer for her. God knows the need.)


7) Spotify. Yes, I know I'm a late bloomer, and just discovered this gem. I currently have the free premium 30-day trial, so I don't know if I'll be un-cheap enough to continue it when the 30 days wears off or not. But it's been so fun to create myself a bunch of playlists of new music for free! Especially Christmas music, which yes, I know, it's early. But Ella Fitzgerald Christmas tunes have been calling to me from beyond and I just had to respond. Nothing like her crooning to "White Christmas." Really, there's not.


8) Wedding Pictures. Did y'all know I went to MAUI in September? For my brother's wedding? Wasn't sure if I ever mentioned that. Well. HOLY COW, we finally got a link to the wedding photos. Seriously, they are amazing. I don't know how we'll afford to get all the ones we want, but certainly are getting a couple for our Christmas cards this year. And how fun is it to have Christmas card pictures done already? Relief. (Don't hate because of our rich golden tans.)


9) Threats That Work. I know you're going to give me Mean Mommy of the Year award for this, I do. But I have hit my tolerance threshold for toys that are left out around the house (from the almost-8-year-old, not the toddler). Seriously, I'm done and over it, the-fork-has-already-been-stuck-in-me. In a fit of frustration the other day, I blurted out to Jaana that the new rule is that any toy left out at the end of the day that's not put where it belongs gets thrown away in the garbage. She immediately started crying and saying, "But what if I have nothing left to play with ever?" I told her she's the one with the power here, and that she can keep every single toy she owns as long as she cleans it up. And that if she loses everything, it's because she didn't learn her lesson each time a toy got thrown out. 


And yes, I realize that's a little harsh. But I said it and put it out there, and am of the belief that kids need to know we'll do what we say we're going to do. So now I have to follow through. Except that she totally believes me, and no toys have been left out. None. 


To which I say, "WHEW." Because I'd really hate to do that.


10) Thanksgiving Break. I'm really looking forward to the kids being home for the next week, and getting to The Big City for pictures with Santa, getting my hair done and general hanging out with no responsibility. And most importantly, drinking coffee and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from start to Santa.


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 make you feel better than an entire day's worth of sleep. Really.