Thanksday #58

Last weekend was very odd.

On Friday night I wanted to go to bed so badly I could hardly stand it, but it was only 9:15 (gasp! shock! awe!). Saturday night I kept thinking it was Sunday, so I'd be just about to tell Jaana to get stuff ready for school before realizing what day it was. Then I'd be so excited it was only Saturday…to turn and then instantly be sad I still couldn't sleep in the next day because of church. On Sunday night, I was way too productive for my own good. We're talking two loads of laundry, pre-making half of Monday night's dinner, cleaning the house and bathing the boy and the dog productive.

Who am I??

It was an identity-crisis filled weekend.

And evidently, I need a lesson on what it means to take a true Sabbath rest.

Thankful for this week:

1) Naps. I think my productivity on Sunday night came from the fact I actually took a nap earlier that afternoon. My first in over six weeks.

YES. I WAS COUNTING.

2) Adobe. Having the Adobe Creative Suite on my computer allows me to do really important, hard-hitting work. Like making my own wallpaper for my iPhone with a personalized motivating message to cheer me on throughout the day. My current mantra is "Stay the Course." So anytime I unlock the phone or get a phone call, I see "stay the course" and it just reminds me to keep my head down and stay focused and just keep doin' the thing.

Or thang, if you're feeling a little sassy.

(If you need your own wallpaper mantra, I'd gladly make one for you FOR ONE - MILLION - DOLLARS.)

3) Spring Fever. I've admitted repeatedly I get bored easily, so I knew it was just a matter of time before I changed the graphics on the blog. Since Spring has decided to come early to the mountains, (requiring, I might add, all sorts of unexpected and low-rent preparations like painting toenails without a professional pedi, wearing short-sleeved shirts without my arms feeling fit enough, too many low-lights and not enough highlights, you know)…I decided to overcome my feelings of frustration with a new look on the site. So there you go.

4). Pest Control. I came home yesterday to the first real sign on Spring; the ants were marching one-by-one across the kitchen counter and up the wall. It was an antfestation. Which proceeded to make me feel itchy and scratchy all over and I'd randomly just shiver. (Gaw…even now I'm scratching like crazy just thinking about it.) (And holy cow, I just said "gaw." I really am turning into MeMaw.)

I called Bug Guy, but he couldn't come until the next day. So I attacked the ants with Lysol until I could get to the store for real ant spray. I swear I heard a tiny laugh when I sprayed them, and even saw little ant hands in little ant ears sticking their little ant tongues out at me. My husband, knowing full well how poorly this was going to fly with me, called Bug Guy and talked him in to coming that very afternoon.

So I left to pick up Jaana with the ants marching one-by-one in a synchronized dance welcoming spring and picnics, and came home to only one straggler, frantically trying to find his family.

Hoorah! Hoorah!

5) Thursday Mornings. On Thursdays, Jaana heads to school and it's the day Paxton has Mother's Morning Out. So Greg and I have turned some of the morning time into date time, and we linger over breakfast together, talking and sharing like real life grown ups and drinking coffee while it's hot. It's become my most favorite part of the day. Sometimes we "work" and talk about budget stuff (boring but necessary), sometimes we just chatter, sometimes we do Bible Study. It's like throwing caution to the wind, is what it is. "What are we going to do this morning?" "I don't know! Isn't that exciting? I just don't know." I'm so incredibly thankful my husband has a job that allows him this kind of flexibility. There was a time back in the day when Greg had to be at church every Wednesday night, Thursday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night. And now we're finally at a place (literally and figuratively) where there's balance. It's a joy and never goes unappreciated. NEVER.

6) Little Feet. Oh my gosh I love these feet.

7. She's Got Spirit, Yes She do. It's Spirit Week at Jaana's school, and she's been able to wear free dress all week. There was Favorite Team Day, Western Day, School Colors Day and tomorrow is Funky Friday. The girl has been all up in it. And her personality has changed with each outfit. And she can pose. God love her.

8. Blue Like Jazz. THE MOVIE! This book was amazing -- Donald Miller is one of my favorite writers. They've been working on this movie for a couple years, and it finally (finally!) comes out right after Easter. Can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. Did I mention I can't wait? 'Cuz I can't wait. 

9. Dancing With the Stars. Let me preface this by saying, I have never been into this show. Not one single season. Sure, I've watched hither and yon (not an appropriate use of the phrase, but I've been really wanting to use it), but I've never been a "watcher," if you know what I mean. Well, by sheer happenstance, Greg and I started watching season premiere earlier this week, and we were oddly intrigued. The line up this year is pretty interesting - Jack Wagner, Gavin DeGraw, Gladys Knight and Martina Navratilova to name a few. There was one particular comment Greg made about one particular contestant that had me absolutely rolling off the couch and onto the floor. (And for you Facebook friends keeping tabs, it was not a sarcastic comment, I assure you. He's doing great with that challenge.) With that kind of unexpected fun, I think we'll just have to tune in for more.

10. Spring Break. Jaana's on break next week, and the kids and I are hitting up The Big City for a day or two. I'm looking forward to a break in the routine and some time with the kids, for sure. But let's be honest - I'm most excited about my hair appointment and shopping for Easter clothes. 

Your turn! Let me know what you're thankful for and share the love. Leave a comment below or link up with Candra. It'll keep you from getting your identity wrapped up in the wrong stuff. Like cooking and cleaning.

Thanksday #57

I had no idea I'd have all this free time this evening, since when I pictured it, there was no March Madness anywhere on the radar. Instead, I pictured my sweet husband and I curled up watching Interior Therapy with Jeff Lewis that we recorded last night. Life hasn't been the same without bonding over Flipping Out.

And nothing says romance like a little bit of Jeff Lewis OCD and full on C-R-A-Z-Y.

But here we are anyway. Greg flipping back-and-forth (and back-and-forth) (and back-and-forth) between three different games, his brackets in hand.

I also filled out a bracket today. But you have to know I did it out of love for my husband, number one. Number two was because of the off-chance I did in fact win, and how awesome would it be to say, "I didn't even have a clue what I was doing. I closed my eyes and just picked!"

Because that's pretty how I made all my selections.

But just so you know, I put Gonzaga down to win it all. Why? Because I'm tired of seeing Duke/Kentucky/UNC blue for one. And B) I gotta represent the Wesssside. I went to college an hour-and-a-half from Gonzaga. And if Washington State isn't an option (when will they be an option???), then I'm going all in with GU.

(And just for the record, it's pronounced Gon-ZA-ga, not Gon-ZAY-ga.)

Go Wildcats. Bulldogs.

Whichever.

Things I'm thankful for this week:

1. I'll Take Joy for $2, Alex. So the grocery had this life-sized Bugs Bunny balloon that the kids think is a real person. For over a week, every time we went to the store (I feel like I pay rent there), they both would yell out, "BUGS!!" And want to go over and "play" with it in floral.

The store manager happened to hear this one day and came over and said (and I quote): "We were just talking about how to unload this thing. We have to keep putting helium in it. It's a $20 balloon…but I'll give it to you for $2."

It was a no-brainer.

It just required a booster seat. 

2. Canastas. When I was pregnant with Jaana, I had this glorious pair of camel velour pants. You know, like the Juicy ones, but more civilized with no wording across my bee-hind. I adored those pants. After all, how can you not love an elastic waistband? But every time I wore them (every. single. time.), Greg would say, "Ahh. Got yer Canastas on today." He seemed to think I looked like a MeMaw who would go play cards with the ladies before the early bird dinner.

Well.

I hung on to those Canastas as long as I could. But eventually, I lost enough baby weight to not wear them. (Jaana might have been four.) (Don't judge me!)

So imagine my utter delight and sheer joy at finding a bright turquoise pair on sale the other day for just $7!! I brought those suckers home, put them on one leg at a time (see, I'm just like y'all) and proudly strutted out to the living room.

"Ahh. Got yer Canastas on today."

Yes, yes I do. And dinner's at 4:30. Don't be late.

3. Rear Fader on the Car Stereo. Which allows me a quick phone conversation without "Larry's High Silk Hat" booming in my ears.

4. She Speaks. Going to the conference. Boo yah.

5. Women's Retreat. Our church had it's annual women's retreat this past weekend. Y'all, it was awesome! My dear friend Tracy was the speaker, and that girl has a gift…let me tell you. She can break down the Word in a way that lets you put it in your pocket and actually use in your daily life. I honestly can't say enough about her. But beyond that, it was a fantastic group of women…wonderful support and prayer, and just plain fun. So. If you go to CBC (or not, hey, thas' coo'), you have to try to make it next year the end.

6. Off-Leash. We're getting lazy adventurous and letting Luke run off and play once or twice each day around the neighborhood. I'm only comfortable with this because we're the only ones that live here full-time -- therefore, it's like our own private Eden. And now he'll either come to the door when he's ready to come in, or come as soon as I call him. Either way, it's been a great way for him to explore and get some energy out. Because OH MY GOSH THE ENERGY.

7. Moments of Pure Joy. After school the other day, we came home and enjoyed the glorious sunshine. The kids rode the 4-wheeler, drew with sidewalk chalk and Luke ran around free driving us all crazy. It was one of those moments you always dream about when you have babies and puppies and finally (finally!)...I think we're there.

8. Switchin' Up the Menu. And making French Dips and Honey-Bourbon Chicken this week, much to Greg's pleasure. Two hits. Sides included! Just call me Butta…'cuz I'm on a roll.

9. Getting My NC Driver's License. Finally after two and a half years, I'm officially a licensed North Carolina driver. I procrastinated for ages primarily because I was scared to death of the written exam. Yes folks, no matter that you've been driving for 23 years, if you want to get a license in NC, you have to still take a written exam. And I personally know about three people who failed it the first time or two. The handbook is about 100 pages long, and there's only 25 questions. How on earth can you study for something like that? It's been ages since that kind of pressure.

Either way, I sucked it up and I passed. And now Greg can stop asking me every day if I've gotten my license yet.

Yes, yes I have. And dinner's still at 4:30. Don't be late.

10. Enjoying Every Moment. I am LOVING the freedom my new schedule gives me. For the first time in years, I don't feel like every email is urgent. I'm ignoring a lot until my slotted "work time" and just saying no. Ironically, it's allowing me to actually enjoy my day. Which baffles me and makes me wonder if the whole "eat less, exercise more" thing has any validity to it.

Hmmmm.

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 bring clarity that'll help you with your March Madness selections.

Clearly.

Thanksday #56

This week has been very experimental. I'm testing out my new work schedule that Greg helped me develop, so as to keep our household running smoothly (which really means, keep Mama from jumping off the nearby mountain).

And it's been wonderful…things have really worked well. But it hasn't been a true week…because Jaana didn't have dance or tennis this week. Which gave us more free time to play. Which means that next week, when we're back to life (back to ree-al-a-teeee), things might look a little different. But I have to say, so far it's worked well. Greg can be a lifesaver, he really can.

Jaana and I had a lovely 30 hours in The Big City last weekend, as we went down to celebrate her cousin's 10th birthday. She was the only 8 year-old there, and I tell you what…all she did was giggle the. whole. time. All those other 10 year-old girls absolutely cracked her up, and I heard her do nothing but laugh hysterically at their conversation, antics and shenanigans.

I got a little sad at the party…because in just two years, Jaana is going to seem as grown up as her cousin. And that doesn't seem as far away as it used to. There's a lot of growing up girls do between 8 and 10.

And I'm not sure I'm ready for all that yet.

Which is why I appreciated my new schedule all the more this week. It helped me to really carpe each moment and be fully present during my free time with the kids. We laughed. We played. I left my phone in the car at the playground. I even made a non-taco, non-pasta meal for the family.

It's as if someone invaded my body.

Which would explain the extra pounds I saw on the scale.

But enough about me. Here's what I'm thankful for this week:

1. Three Hours. I love that it only takes us three hours to get to The Big City, so we can make it for cousin's birthday parties even for just one night.

2. Potty Humor. So this didn't happen this week. But I forgot about it until the other day when I laughed out loud all by myself when I remembered it.

After dinner one night, we were all driving back from dinner - Greg, Me, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jaana and our niece. Our niece was talking about the stars and constellations and was wondering what planet a particularly bright star was.

And then she asked, "Daddy, what planet do you think that is?"

And Greg said, "If it was Uranus, you'd know."

And then Greg and his brother fell into a fit of hysterics, and Greg got his weeping-woman sounding laugh.

Listen, ladies -- you can take the boy off the potty, but can't take the potty humor out of the man.

And that's the honest truth.

3. My New Schedule. By working the plan, I was able to fully engage, stress-free with the kids. To really be present when I was with them…not worrying about emails or projects since my time for that is specifically carved out. I left my phone in the car when I took them to the playground -- two days in a row. I even got to watch a show or two I had recorded, and did it guilt free. (Except for the guilt that comes with watching junky TV.) (Okay, so I didn't really feel all that guilty.) (Don't judge me.)

I struggled a little bit later in the week with "hopping on the computer" to just "do one or two things really quickly"…and thus my stress levels crept back up.

But you can't build Rome in a day, people.

4. Lollipops. And the way Paxton stares all googly-eyed at them as if he's in loooooove when he sees one.

5. Time with My Girl. After just 30 minutes in the car with Jaana on the way to The Big City, she said, "Mommy, listen! It's so PEACEFUL with just us!" She loved having just Mommy-Daugther time in the car. So much so, that when I asked her what her favorite part of the weekend was, she said "I had two favorite parts. One was the whole party and sleeping over. The other is it just being you and me on the road trip."

Ahhhh…music to a Mommy's ears. And thank you God for the verbalization of how important it is to carve out special time for just her.

6. Speaking of Mother-Daugther Time. If you haven't heard about Secret Keeper Girls, and you have a daughter between the ages of 8 and 12, you need to get up on it. Secret Keeper Girls is a book that helps moms teach their girls about beauty, modesty, and keeping your beauty a secret until you're married. There are Eight Great Dates outlined for moms to do with their girls -- to teach them about their value as a girl, how much God treasures them, how to dress modestly, and more. Some of it is too advanced for the age Jaana's at now so I'll save it for another year or so. But I'm very excited to start this with her and have this special time together…and to lay the foundation before she's influenced by society or peers, and help her understand what makes her beautiful.

7. Being a Boy. I took Paxton and Luke to the meadow this week, and Paxton's favorite thing to do was pick up sticks and throw them in the water. He did it for over 30 minutes. Find a stick, throw it in. Find a stick, throw it in. "Mommy, let's get more sticks!" "Good job, Mommy!" It was awesome.

8. Well Visits. For a year now, I've only had to take the kids to the doctor for their annual check ups. I'm so grateful for healthy kids.

9. Odd Vernacular. For no reason whatsoever, I've started saying "That's not cool" all ghetto-like in response to sarcastic remarks to Greg. Which amuses him immensely. Then with another friend, I was using "mad" as an adjective - as in "mad discounts" or "mad skillz." I'm not sure why I'm channeling my inner Fly Girl, but it's fun.

10. Geeky Fun. The worst apps I could have possibly downloaded onto my phone are the "Pimp My Screen" and other wallpaper apps. Not because of the awful app names, but because it's frightening how much time I can waste reviewing various wallpapers, downloading them, and trying them out on my phone. But I finally found a wallpaper I'm really happy with (for this week) and it goes well with my phone case. It makes me so happy.

I never said I wasn't superficial.

Your turn! Tell me what you're thankful for and share the love. Leave a comment below or link up with Candra. It'll reduce your self-imposed stress and help you have some mad fun in life. Thas' coo'.

Thanksday #54 & #55

Yes, that's right. I've been slack and am combining two week's worth of thanks.

My name is Monica, and I'm a bloggy slacker.

It's been an insane couple of weeks…and really an insane month. Which led me to being thisclose to losing it this week. Fortunately, I'm married to a man who realizes if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. And he helped talk me off the ledge and figure out a good schedule and strategy for attacking all the things I have to do (and want to do) in a day.

He's a keeper. I'm so thankful for him.

Get your readers on and grab a snack -- here are the other 19 thankfuls from the past two weeks:

(drum roll, please)

2. Easter Candy. It's the most wonderful time of the year, really. My most favorite Easter candy is plain old jelly beans. Not the Starburst kind, not the Jelly Belly kind. Just good, old fashioned, regular jelly beans. I could also harm someone if they try to take away a Cadbury Caramel Egg from me. Thick caramel covered by milk chocolate? Hush yo' mouth.

3. Pepsi Max. Because driving around with what looks like a beer bottle in the afternoon is like a fun prank. Oh you think I'm drinking and driving? PSYCHE! You just got faced.

4. God's Protection. A dear friend of mine fell 15-feet through her attic onto the stairs.

She only broke her arm. Now, it broke in several places and required surgery, pins and a metal plate. And she did get stitches on her face for a bad gash. BUT…it's an absolute miracle that she didn't break her neck, her back, a leg or worse. That all the major damage was limited to her arm is God's amazing grace.

5. Roller Girl. Jaana was dying to get roller skates for her birthday and to go skating. So we did. And I have to tell you, I was reliving my entire childhood through her. I had my own skates at her age and skated all. the. time. So to share this joy with Jaana was such a bonding moment for me. I did have to teach these eight year-olds what real skating music was (none of this "Party Rock Anthem" nonsense), so I requested "Eye of the Tiger" and made them come dance in the middle of the floor under the disco balls. It was pretty epic. And just the other day, I found her wearing her skates while playing in her room, just because she can. I heart her so much.

6. Dermatological Advances. Look what I found the other day.

I cringed just looking at it. And then immediately thanked God that in the past 20 years facial products have evolved and don't sting like a thousand bees when you apply.

7. Work. I've complained a lot about it the last couple of weeks, but I really am so thankful to have work to do. A lot of people don't, and I get convicted every time I'm a little stressed out and vocalize it. I need to hush it.

8. The Number Six. Because that's how many emails I have in my inbox right now.

9. Sauna. Our gym has a sauna, and I fired that thing up recently and just detoxed after a good workout. It feels soooooo good. The Fin in me felt right at home.

10. Spring. It's March now, so I'm ready to begin the slow welcome of spring. I'm just confused about shoes right now. It's March, but a little chilly. Are boots still okay? Until when? Where are Clinton and Stacey when I need them?

11. Big Glasses on a Little Girl. This makes my heart happy.

12. Two Year-Old Exclamations. I picked Jaana up from school early the other day, and let Paxton sit in the car since it was just going to be a second. Unfortunately, it ended up being about 10 minutes or so before she got the message to come to the office. When we reached the car and opened the door, completely unsolicited, Paxton exclaimed:

"Really Jaana?? Are you kidding me Jaana?? Are you kidding me?"

And we absolutely cried laughing.

13. Veggie Tales. I avoided it as long as possible. But finally crumbled and let Paxton listen to "kiddie" music in the car. And I tolerate the Sesame Street CD. Really not a fan of The Wiggles CD. I burned the Dora the Explorer one shortly after Jaana outgrew it. But Veggie Tales, y'all? I ADORE THE VEGGIE TALES. I listen to each song and am thoroughly amused and almost always in awe of the creativity of the music and lyrics. My current favorite is "The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps." Give it a listen. You won't be disappointed.

Yodel-ay-hee-hoo.

14. Things That Make Me Laugh Out Loud Even a Week Later. Greg and I have started enjoying the show Happy Endings recently. Last week there was a scene that made me cry laughing…actually, I couldn't even catch my breath. And I thought about that exact scene yesterday while driving along drinking my beer (aka Pepsi Max), and almost had soda coming out my nose I was laughing so hard. Again. Those moments make my entire week.

15. Going to Atlanta. The kids started playing this game they call "Going to Atlanta." Paxton will say, "Come on, Sissa…let's go Atlanta." And they'll don hats and scarves and then hold hands and "walk to Atlanta" (which means circling the living room and kitchen a few times). Melts my heart.

16. Growing Up. Y'all know about Paxton and his Elmo fixation, right? Once a week at Mother's Morning Out, we tell Paxton that Elmo is going to take a nap in his backpack while he's in school. And for a solid month now, Paxton has gone without Elmo for the whole four hours. He's even actually playing on the playground now when I pick him up instead of sitting on someone's lap sucking his fingers and holding Elmo. It's great progress, but I'm good with just that. Don't want him growing up too much, you see.

17. Ingles' Chicken Salad. Y'all, I adore the Savory Tarragon Chicken Salad from Publix. And any time I'm near a Publix, I buy and eat it straight from the container. So when I saw that our Ingles makes a chicken salad, all I could do was assume it's not good and have refused to even try it for two years. But I took a chance last week, and bought some for a party. And I have to say, it was a hit. I loved it and am now a fan. It's still no Savory Tarragon from Publix, but it'll do. It'll do.

18. Trying Out a New Recipe. I made my first Artichoke Dip last week and I thought it turned out so good! And since it was chock-full of Parmesan and Greg is lactose-intolerant, I had the leftovers all to myself.

19. Mom's Group. There's a small group of us moms that get together twice a month for a Bible Study, and it's a fabulous little group. I'm so thankful that everyone is honest about their parenting struggles, as well as their successes and failures. Groups just don't work if no one is honest.

20. Clean Sheets. There's nothing like climbing into a bed with freshly washed and softened sheets. Really, there just isn't.

Your turn! Let me know what you're thankful for and share the love. Leave a comment below or link up with Candra. It'll keep you off the ledge and make you shout with a yodel of love.

Thanksday #53

I should call this "Three Days Late and Twelve Dollars Short," but since it's still technically a Thanksday post, I have to waste a perfectly good title. And because the story behind the title is too short to turn into a post.

(But I am three days late with this post.)

(And I do have $12 that I left on the bench in the women's locker room at the gym, which they called to tell me they were holding for me, but I haven't picked it up yet.)

As you may remember (or remember but not care a lick), Greg and I left last week for an overnight excursion for an Anniversary-slash-Valentine's celebration. It was just a quick trip to Asheville, but it was simply marvelous. We talked. We laughed. We slept in. We enjoyed our time away as grown ups.

But of course, we talked about the kids.

I won't bore you with all the things I'm thankful for from that overnight getaway…but this was a great one:

1. Eating Breakfast at 10:30 am and Lingering Over Coffee and a Newspaper. And hearing a young boy at the table near you asking for "the blue one! the blue one!" and then high-fiving your spouse.

2. Free Sweater. I had 20 minutes one day, so I stopped by the local consignment store for a quick look around. I found a fun mustard-yellow sweater I really liked, but the price was a bit high (for me) (for a consignment shop). But then I overheard that everything was 20% off that day. That coupled with a few dollars I had on my account there enticed me to suck it up and buy it.

Well.

I brought it to the counter, and as the lady was removing it from the hanger, she noticed a small (repairable) hole where the tag was on the back. She then said, "We just got this in today and should have caught this. Here. You can have it for free."

Sha-bam!

And I still have $6.80 on my account to spend later.

3. Kashi GoLean Cereal. I'm currently uuubbb-sessed with this cereal. 13 grams of protein. 10 grams of fiber. Stay fuller longer! (Which means I'm ready to eat again an hour and a half after breakfast, instead of 45 minutes.)

4. Russell Stover Chocolates. And biting into a caramel one on the first pick. Sha-bam!

5. Morning Fog. I love watching the sun rays shine through morning fog. Without the fog, you wouldn't see the glorious intricacies of the sunshine…and it always makes me think of God. I remembered this week, while marveling at the fog, that I wrote about this very thing over three years ago, and was reminded…yet again…that the light shines brightest against the backdrop of darkness. And that instead of focusing on the fog, to focus on Him as he shines through.

6. Baby Shower. I have a friend who's pregnant with twin girls. One of the girls has a medical condition that will require immediate surgery upon birth and she'll have to spend months in the NICU. The other girl was thought to have developmental issues as well, but we've recently learned that is false and the doctors don't have a medical explanation for why things so suddenly changed. Of course, we know the explanation: PRAYER. The ladies at the church got to have a baby shower for her last week, and it was perfect timing having just received the good news. Now we're believing for a complete miracle for the first baby. We're getting greedy.

7. Having My Car Back. I had to have some work done on it which required it being at the shop for several days. I was beyond thrilled to have it back; there's nothing like driving your car and not your husbands. (And having a $0 due amount at pick up is the icing on the cake.) (Sha-bam! Thanks, warranty!)

8. Sha-bam! I have no idea where this came from or why I'm using it.

9. Mocking By Your Husband. On our way out of town last weekend, Greg pulled up my most recent Thanksday to read, since he hadn't gotten to it yet. (How rude.) He decided he'd read it as if he were me writing it. He was mocking me intensely, and I couldn't even drive for the tears streaming down my face (in laughter, not anger) (because really it was stinkin' funny). I love that we have so much fun together. 

10. Quiet Time. I've been really good about getting up early for quiet time the past couple of weeks. I wish I could say it was soley the lure of alone time with the Lord that draws me out of my warm bed at o'dark thirty. But I have to be honest -- drinking coffee in complete silence while doing my Bible study is almost as enticing as Jesus Himself. 

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 as rich as if you had $12 in your own back pocket instead of in the gym locker room. You big spender, you.

Thanksday #52

Okay…I have exactly 15 minutes to post this. As I type, my mother-in-law is playing balloon volleyball with Paxton. The in-laws are here to watch the kids while Greg and I spend 36 hours alone with no children or dogs or computers. Can you even imagine?? LUXURY.

So, while Greg and Jaana are walking Luke and the volleyball tourney heats up, I'm stealing these few precious moments to tell you all the many things that made me oh-so-thankful this week.

1. An Entire Weekend with Nothing to Do. And to celebrate, we let Jaana stay up until 10 pm on Friday night to watch Nanny McPhee Returns, which Greg and I enjoyed just as much as Jaana. If not more.

2. The Way Luke Looks Up at Me Anytime I Go Anywhere in the House. It's pretty cute, how's he's always making sure he can see me. Cute, but a little annoying, too…since he tries to pry open the pocket door when I'm in the restroom.

3. Brownies. My aunt makes the best brownies ever. She's made them the exact same since I was born -- they're thick with lots of icing (yum). But since she lives in Washington (the state, not the district), I'm not able to partake often. (For which my waistline is grateful.) But I received a box o' goodies from my dad and aunt this week, and at the bottom were four loaves of brownies! They're freezing now and will be enjoyed and lingered over for days to come. (I'd say weeks to come, but let's be honest. Nothing that delicious will last long with me around.)

4. Second Graders. Earlier this week, I helped out in Jaana's class. I took six kids and we did research on polar bears and worked on a presentation board. Typically when I visit Jaana's class for lunch and recess, I leave exhausted -- 24 second graders can wear.you.out. But in groups of six, they are so much fun! And sweet. There's one boy in particular that I just want to put in my pocket and take home. (And I will love him and squeeze him, and I will name him George…) (10 points if you can identify that reference.)

5. Sleeping In. Greg gave me the best anniversary gift ever last Saturday; I slept in until 9:15 am the end.

6. Anniversary Card. Seriously, how sweet is my girl??

7. Bath Night. I know, this sounds totally ridiculous…but I love nights where Jaana, Paxton and Luke all get baths. Love having everyone fresh, clean and messy-haired.

8. The Local. Greg's and my anniversary was on Tuesday, which means there was exactly one place open to eat besides Wendy's. It's not really called The Local, but since it's local and I've been there twice in two weeks, I'm naming it that. So thankful I didn't have to spend my anniversary night eating Natural Cut French Fries with Sea Salt. (Or am I?)

9. This Article. I can't even remember how I came across this…but it floored me. This woman is strong, strong, strong. I wish I could say I'd be as strong as her in the same situation, but I think instead I'd be a blubbering heap on the floor.

10. Salad. I made the torturous mistake of actually stepping on the scale at the gym after months of avoiding it. And my worst fears were confirmed. So I've rediscovered my love tolerance for salad, and have been getting as creative as I can at home making them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks…you know.

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 might not make you as blissful as 36 hours alone with your spouse will, but it'll be close.

Thanksday #51

I've seen a few new trends that seem to have popped up out of nowhere…I read about them all over Twitter and various blogs, and now I feel behind the 8-ball.

The first is the show Downtown Abbey. Who watches it? Because all I hear these days is how great a show it is, and how everyone watches it, and I've yet to see it. And I hate feeling left out when it comes to new shows. So now I have to set the DVR.

The second is a trending topic about First World Problems. As in, "The hot water ran out in the shower. #firstworldproblems."Or, "There's someone sitting in my chair at Starbucks. First World Problems." I've never considered the possibility that we could label daily American inconveniences as such, but I think I like it. I'll have to test it out a couple times to see how it feels.

Incidentally, I left my laptop's power cord at home and the battery is now down to 44%. (First World Problems.)

You'll be pleased to hear (or maybe you could not care less) that this week has been much better than last week. I think I figured out what contributed to my Cybill-esque demeanor, and while PMS might have played a part, there was also some testing from the Lord going on. You know how if you pray for patience God actually places you in situations that test your patience?

Well.

As you may know, I'm currently doing a weekly blog based on our church's current sermon series. It's called "Identity Theft," and is based on how we let Satan steal our true identity instead of standing firm in who our identity is in Christ. Anyone who knows me well knows I struggle with insecurity (and "struggle" is an epic understatement). So naturally, since I'm blogging about finding identity in Christ, God is saying:

"Do you really believe this? Do you think you're acting this out daily? Because I know for a fact you're not. So here -- I'm giving you AMPLE opportunities to walk this out. Are you going to allow gentle critique or disagreements to define your worth and value as a human being? What about now? And what about now?"

I love how He has more faith in me than I have in myself.

After the FOURTH opportunity to react properly…I think I'm starting to get it. Or at least I'm recognizing the root of my reactions and working on stuffing my flesh back down into place instead of letting it get all bent out of shape.

So I'm thankful for that.

I'm also thankful this week for:

2. Girl's Night. Even though it took days of finding a restaurant open on a weeknight in the winter in the mountains, we did it. And it was fun. (First World Problems.)

3. All Alone in My Bed. Greg was away one night this week. Now don't get me wrong...I miss him desperately when he's gone. I'd always much rather always have him here. HOWEVER, if he is going to be gone, I don't mind a bit sleeping in the bed alone. Because there's something luxurious about sleeping smack in the middle of a king-sized bed. And you can bet I take up every single square inch of it, too.

4. Guard Dog. I have to admit I slept better while Greg was gone knowing Luke would bark like crazy should anything happen. At least I hope he would. Since he barks like crazy at the construction trucks, I'm assuming this would happen.

5. Raising of the Roof. Paxton's new thing is to tell Jaana to "raise the roof, Sissa!" when an upbeat song comes on. And that is joy complete.

6. February 7. It doesn't come until Tuesday, but I'm thankful already. It'll be the ninth anniversary of the most favorite day of my life -- marrying the man of my dreams. I'm usually tempted to think back to that day and focus on all I wish I would have done differently (like a different dress, for example)…but then I realize the wedding day isn't nearly as important as the marriage. And I love my marriage. I got the best man, ladies. Sorry.

7. "Drastic" Hair Changes. I'm being ironical. I got my hair done while in The Big City last weekend (thank God!) and decided to go one shade darker than my usual color. Primarily because I'm afraid the really blonde looks like I'm trying too hard. And as 40 is making its slow and steady crawl toward me, I thought something a wee more natural would look better. So I did a shade darker. And while a shade isn't much, but Greg declared it "drastic!" even though "drastic!" is what his hair is after using a 1-guard on his head just days before. But he likes it, and I like it. So we're good. (First World Problems.)

8. Chick-Fil-A. We don't have one here where we live, so going to The Big City means we stop there pretty much once a day. I got my Cookies & Cream milkshake fix and was happy camper.

9. Dance Class. Jaana started a jazz and tap class this week, and loves it. I love seeing her happy…participating in activities that light her up from the inside out. I'm still amazed at how my once painfully shy girl loves performing.

10. Grown-Up Moisturizer. I finally bit the bullet and bought moisturizer that cost more than $6.99. Here's to hoping it helps.


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 help you recognize that your First World Problems are really not problems at all.

Thanksday #50

This post is sponsored by the word "grumpy."

This hasn't been my week. It vacillated back-and-forth between physical exhaustion and emotional exhaustion. I've felt a little Jekyll and Hyde, if you want to know the truth.

Jekyll: Over the weekend, I was talking with a friend about her dreams and goals, and she was telling me where God was leading her. As she shared, I was taunted with whispers of "you could never do that,"and "she's more talented," and "you might as well give up on your dreams now."

Hyde: Saturday night, Paxton threw up three times in the car on the way home from dinner. Which kept me home from church on Sunday.

Jekyll: The next day, something happened that really hurt my feelings (because I'm too sensitive), which led to more whispers.

Hyde: Paxton was up from 11 pm -4 am on Monday night. Which kept me home from my plans on Tuesday.

Jekyll: Another something happened that hurt my feelings, which led to even more whispers. (And at this point I'm wondering I'm simply suffering from a good old-fashioned case of PMS.)

Hyde: Greg came home with a cold-turned-sinus infection and fever.

Welcome to my Pity Party. Would you like a slice of cake? We also have a goodie bag for you to take home. It includes Midol, massive amounts of chocolate and a mirror with two faces.

What I'm thankful for this week:

1. Breathe Right Strips. They are so very, very sexy. The perfect accessory to my Paul Frank flannel PJ pants and oversized hooded sweatshirt for bed. However...never, ever, ever have I ever slept as good as I sleep now using these strips. I now sleep like a normal person. And I don't wake up feeling like I licked up sawdust off the floor. And I wake up without a headache. If you know anything about me, you know how much I love sleep. Healthy, proper sleep is icing on the bed.

2. Coffee. Because Paxton was up Monday night. And my Breathe Right strips alone couldn't help me through that.

3. 24 Hours. Because it's at this time tomorrow I'll be in the midst of a long, long, LONG overdue hair appointment. Goodbye Amanda Woodward roots, circa Melrose. It's been real. (Real ugly!)

4. Having a Puppy. Listen. All the people that tell you having a puppy is just like having a baby are DEAD WRONG. I won't even begin to pretend they are close to the same thing, because they are not the same AT ALL. Why? Because after two weeks, my dog sleeps through the night. And I remember quite vividly (and still with some lingering resentment), that it took both my kids about four months to accomplish that feat. And I don't have to change his diapers. And he doesn't cry for no reason. And he feeds himself. And entertains himself. So while there are a separate set of frustrations (and joys!), I'm grateful for just puppy-hood right now.

5.  A Happy Progress Report. We had Jaana's parent-teacher meeting yesterday where we reviewed her progress thus far this quarter. Her grades are great, and her behavior is wonderful. Greg, the ever-focused leadership guru, basically interrupted the teacher and one point, and said (in so many words), "Yeah, yeah…she has good grades. That's all well and good. But is she a good leader?!" And he was thrilled to hear that yes, she's a good leader. He walked away a happy daddy.

6. AZUR Jazz. It's a French radio station I listen to on iTunes. And when they do announcements and updates in French, je fonds comme le beurre sur un croissant (translation: I melt like butter on a croissant). (And one of these days, I'll be able to say that without using my translation app.)

7. Open Sunroof. We had some uncharacteristically warm weather this week (to which Jaana and I grumbled since we're dying for enough snow to go sledding). But, it was quite nice to open the sunroof and drive with the music loud and the sun shining on our faces. Yes, it was nice indeed.

8. Small Group. I'm very much enjoying our small group. We meet twice a month, and the group consists of couples from different seasons and walks. But it's fun and we're learning a lot from each other. And growing closer together. It's a pretty special little group.

9. Girl's Weekend. There's this little group of five of us that used to be tight-knit. We'd get together for fun, for prayer, for support. Then one of us moved to Nashville (ahem-Supa C) and then another of us moved to North Carolina (ahem-me), and life interrupted and we haven't seen each other all together in years. But just this week, we finally confirmed a girl's weekend together! It's not until June, but I'm very (VERY) excited about it, and wish it were sooner. I miss them all like crazy, and miss our times together even more.

10. More Writing. I've recently had the opportunity to do more writing, which has been a much-needed outlet for me. It's really pumping my creative juices and helping me resolve things internally. It's so funny how the more you do something, the more you want to do it. Unless it's cleaning or cooking or laundry. You know.

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 ease your PMS symptoms and help you breathe better at night. For shizzle.

Thanksday #49

I might have to officially move Thanksdays from Thursday to Friday. Would y'all be okay with that? I used to spend Thursdays alone at the coffee shop while Paxton was in MMO and Jaana was at school. Which meant I was alone and could just write. Now (gloriously and praise Jesus), Greg and I are spending those mornings together for date time. Not as sexy as a fancy Friday night out, but it's consistent and has been the highlight of my week.

Regardless, by the time our date mornings are over I pick up Paxton. Then get him home for a nap. Then take out Luke, who's been in the crate for a few hours. Then sit down to check on email and take care of a few work things. Then wake up Paxton to go pick up Jaana from school. Then stop at Ingles because I simply can't avoid the grocery store every.single.day. When we get home, we scoop up Luke to take him to The Meadow and run him like crazy since he had been in the crate for another our or so. After that, it's time for homework, dinner, baths, bedtime.

Then I crash on the couch with a cup of tea and try to stay awake for Up All Night, my current, most fabulous, most favorite show. (As a side note, I really want Christina Applegate's character to be my BFF.)

And that, my friends, is more information than you ever cared to know about my Thursdays.

Hopefully you're still there and haven't nodded off on your keyboard. The drool will kill your mother board.

My thankfuls for this week:

1. Date Mornings with Greg.

2. The Meadow. The Meadow is this huge clearing that was specifically designed to be a "backyard" for the neighborhood. It has streams, small ponds, picnic tables and tons of flat lands to run amok in. We've been taking Luke there regularly, and he absolutely loves it. I also bought a Chuckit this week (the doggie tennis ball launcher) and Luke has gone ballistic (pun intended) chasing that thing down. The Meadow is awesome. The kids love it, Luke loves it, I love it. And it'll be a perfect way to spend summer afternoons having lunch and playing in the streams.

3. Daniel Fast. Our church is smack-dab in the middle of a Daniel Fast, and have another week or so to go. At first, I balked: no meat! no dairy! no coffee! no fried foods! no sugar! But I soon made one quick heathenistic adjustment to the diet (guess which one), and now I'm loving the fast. Yes, I miss burgers and fries (I'm narrowing down your guesses here). But I do get to have hummus, which is now its own food group in our house. But really, I feel fantastic. I haven't needed a nap yet (even on Sunday, which is HUGE). I'm sleeping amazing at night. I have energy all day and don't feel bloated and gross after I eat. My skin has a new glow to it (which might be because of my new rejuvenating moisturizer). And I'm actually productive during the day (gasp! shock! awe!) Oh yeah, and the spiritual benefits have been ah-mazing.

4. A Calmer Pup. We finally got smart and realized our Luke needed some real training beyond getting him housebroken. We had (unknowingly) allowed him to be pack leader. To prevent ourselves being on an episode of The Dog Whisperer (you know…the paparazzi), we decided it was time to get serious. On Monday I decided I'd teach him to sit. 10 minutes later, he mastered it. Since then, between Greg and I, he's walking on a leash beautifully, sitting, staying and coming on command. And now that he doesn't have to bear the burden of being pack leader when he really didn't want to be one, he's finally calm and submissive. If we had a DVD of Doggie Einsteins he'd probably play a Beethoven score on command, too. Yes, I'm becoming that person.

5. Visits from Friends. Last weekend, our good friends Schtefanya and The Camera Man (names changed to protect the innocent) came to visit, and it was such a great time. We hung out, we had lunch, we shopped, we played. I hadn't seen them in ages. And since Schtefanya is pregnant, it was a good immersion into the chaos of what having children looks like. Just a little something for them to look forward to. (Maniacal laugh...maniacal laugh.)

6. Speaking of Maniacal Laugh. Did anyone see The Muppets? I never mentioned this, I don't think. But I AH-DORED the movie. In fact, I laughed harder than Jaana. In another fact, I didn't feel the freedom to laugh at first, because two 20 year-old guys that looked like Edward Cullen were sitting next to me, and I didn't want to look the Old Mom Fool. But at their first chuckle, I was free to let loose. (And the fact I hadn't seen a movie in months I'm sure did not factor into my glee one bit.)

7. Focus on the Family App. I have always, always been a big fan of the Focus on the Family daily broadcast. But it's hard to find on the stations up here. I discovered an app for it awhile back, and eagerly each morning play the day's broadcast when driving Jaana to school. I love the encouraging discussions, and it helps lay some godly foundation for Jaana, too.

8. My Precious Little Family. I know I frequently get on these little emotional kicks about my family. But really, I've had quite a few times this week where I'm just so full of joy. I adore my husband, my kids make me laugh every day, and our sweet puppy just makes it all feel so complete. I'm happy.

9. Candles and Flashlights. Our power went out this week during a rainstorm. You never appreciate these things more than if you live in the middle of nowhere, and it's pitch-black at night when the power is out. No streetlights, people. Not a one. (I was also grateful for my book light so I could read while sitting in the dark.)

10. Clearance Items. A cute home store in town had some adorable little ceramic pots on clearance for just $2, so I bought eight of them. They are a perfect fit for the short top shelf of the built-ins, which have needed something but I didn't want too much. Now, let me say…I'm not happy with what I've got going on on the rest of the shelves…I just haven't figured it out yet. And yes, I need to paint the back walls there. But in the meantime, the pots are a perfect fit and add just enough to the shelves. (And if you're dying of curiosity, the show on the TV is Tabitha's Salon Takeover. Luh-uv it.)

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 bring as much pleasure to you as a big ol' burger and fries (with a fried green tomato…and pimento cheese…and applewood smoked bacon). Yep, for sure. It will.

Thanksday #48

Santa brought a puppy for Christmas. Did you know that? His name is Luke, and he's precious. He's a puppy…so you know, he's got some energy. But overall he's a pretty mellow, calm and low-key dog. It's more work than I expected -- this puppy-ness stuff -- but fortunately dogs grow and mature at warp speed so it's not like it'll last forever.

(Please tell me it doesn't last forever.)

So it's been awhile since I've Thanksday'd. I should call this post Bloggy Resurrection. It's not for lack of thankfulness, for sure. It's just been this DOG. I suddenly have so much less free time -- the precious two hours Paxton's napping is now full of feeding the dog lunch, taking him out for a walk, watching he doesn't chew up my rugs or pee in the house…so my computer time has been cut waaaaaay down. Of course, I know this is temporary. But to say it's been an adjustment is like saying I drink a little bit of coffee.

As we've spent these past few weeks adjusting to a new addition to the family, I've got things to be thankful for I hadn't expected. And if a lot of them revolve around the dog, I'm sorry.

(And a lot of them revolve around the dog.)

(So I'm sorry.)

Things I'm thankful for this week and new year:

1. Luke. Honestly, I had my first meltdown of frustration with the dog today. But really, I do love him. I just didn't like him so much this morning. But then I look at this face, and how can I not melt?

2. Tall and Skinny Shadows. I love anything that makes me look tall and skinny. And like I'm wearing bellbottoms. Stayin' alive, people. Stayin' alive.

3. Mandatory Fresh Air and Exercise. The dog, you know. I HAVE to take him out to walk even if it's freezing cold and even if I really, REALLY don't want to. And once I'm out there, I'm so grateful for the sunshine, the fresh air and the activity. Once he gets really leash trained well, I can't wait to take him running.

3. Text Message Conversations That Make Me Cry With Laughter. I have a friend that used to say "high kicks!" and then would high kick with any exciting news or general happiness. And she'd make you do it too. Over the years the high kicks have died down (low kicks, you could say), but recently via text she started leaving smiley face emoticons that have two parentheses -- a Double Chin Grin, it seems.

During a recent text conversation, I asked her about the Double Chin Grin, and she replied that they were "Super Smiles."

To which I retorted, "Is this the high kicks of emoticons?"

And both of us, hours apart and only via text message, were at home on our couches dying laughing with tears streaming down our faces.

Even as I type this now, I'm realizing it's not that funny. But at the moment, I couldn't contain it and even got the hiccups.

Guess you had to be there.

4. Glorious Sunrises. Morning walks have been so calming and peaceful, and a great way to start the day. We have an amazing neighborhood full of natural beauty and tons of places to explore. And some phenomenal views of the sunrise. There's a farm nearby, and on our morning walks I get to hear the birds singing, the donkeys braying, the bull snorting and the llamas llama-ing (what do llamas do?). It's lovely, dah-ling. Just lovely.

5. Jesus. Something reminded me recently of how easy it is to say you believe in God…but how the name of Jesus can be left out of the equation entirely. It made me wonder if that grieves the Father, and if so, how much? And I was convicted that I don't do a good enough job giving praise and honor to the Son, to Christ…and don't proclaim enough that it's all because of Jesus, and for Jesus, and through Jesus, and in Jesus. There's probably a deeper post coming about this. Until then, it's sufficient to say I'm thankful for Him. Without Him, I'd be nothing.

6. The Most Perfect Surprise Christmas Gift that Came Directly from My Favorite Things Post. And most grateful to the thoughtful friend who gave it. Incredible.

7. These Two. They make me laugh so hard. And they adore each other. Only Jaana would climb into a leafless tree and call it a fort, and only Paxton would risk poking his eye out to follow her in there.

8. Snow Days. It's snowing. Right now...as you read! There was a snow day last Tuesday; then it jumped up to 60-degrees. And now it's snowing again. Call me crazy, but if it's mid-January, it should be snowing. And never over 40-degrees. I love it.

9. KPLU. The jazz station from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington State. I adored this station growing up, and just found they have an app. And now I can listen anytime, anywhere. And the traffic and weather updates from home make me happy. The only thing that would be better is finding a WKRP app so I could listen to Venus Flytrap late night.

10. iPhone Reminders. Or as Jaana calls them, "ramadars." Back in my BlackBerry days (BiP, as I call it), I used to always put tasks on my calendar so I could have the alarm pop up to remind me of my things to do. But hello? A cluttered and full calendar freaks me out. It's pure genius that the iPhone has reminders. GEN-IUS.

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 keep you from yelling in frustration when your dog pees in the house.

Not that I have any experience with that.

Thanksday #47

I don't ever want to be accused of being stuck in a rut. So often out of sheer determination, I'll branch out to try something new.

But you know what? That ol' rut sometimes gets a bad rap.

At home I'm a Coffee Mate Sugar-Free Vanilla coffee creamer girl. For years and years, this is all I've use. (Not regular Vanilla, and not Fat-Free, mind you. Sugar-Free only.) (It tastes better.) (I can't explain that.) Once in a great while, I'll feel adventurous and pick up something new to experiment with. And then I end up hating it.

And have wasted a good $3.98 (everything costs more up here).

So this morning, as I eagerly prepared my Christmas Blend Espresso Roast (thanks, Dad!), I was so eternally happy to be in my Sugar-Free Vanilla Creamer rut.

I've got quite a few other ruts I could share…but I'm saving a "Confessions" post for another time.

(Aren't you thrilled.)

My thankfuls for this week:

1. Palmetto Cheese*. It's truly "The Pimento Cheese With Soul." And I, for one, can testify that I've let out an "Ow! I feel good!" a few times after eating this. There is the regular and the jalapeño…both are equally delicious. I personally recommend eating it with Ritz crackers, but whatever floats your boat. Just get some! (One piece of advice, however…don't read the nutritional content label. Just eat it.)

* Editor's note: I almost passed it up because of the Comic Sans font on the label, but once I got past that I hardly even notice anymore. (And by 'hardly' I mean I want to redesign that thing every time I open the fridge.)

2. Elf on the Shelf. We've been playing a bit of Dawgopoly in our house this week, and our silly little elf decided to get in on the action. He even participated in an auction with himself, which tickled Jaana to no end. He's been the source of many a laugh this past week.

3. The Internet. I never cease to be amazed at the power of the internet. Just this week, a friend and I were discussing the theme song to Laverne & Shirley, and we were confused about the words in the very beginning of the song. I pulled up the lyrics in about 5.4 seconds and we were able to move on. As my friend so eloquently put it, "We're able to cover so much more ground on our phone calls because of the internet." It's so true. Because a solid 10 more minutes could have been wasted trying to figure that out if we didn't have the Google. Instead, we were able to delve into much more important topics like the origination of the term "up in arms" and me trying to explain what's in my mind's eye when I hear it. 

4. The New & Improved* Good Housekeeping Logo. Seriously. I'm aware of how completely random this is. But I see this logo a ton, and I really love how they've updated it. The simplicity, the new clean fonts…it actually makes me want to buy products that carry this logo on them. (And yes, I also totally judge books by their cover.) See for yourself -- doesn't the new one make you take a visual breath of fresh air? Ahhhhh. Less is more.

* A bonus random thought, free of charge - the phrase "new and improved" is an oxymoron and doesn't make sense. It can't be improved if it's NEW. I was being ironical in my heading.

5. A Free Weekend in Which to be Sick. So the weekend before last was a crazy weekend full of family in town, Jaana's Narnia production and Paxton's birthday. But this past weekend was the only totally empty weekend on the calendar, and I was really looking forward to some quality family time and the freedom to be all "devil may care" with our schedule.

Well.

I woke up Friday morning feeling a little off. And as the day progressed and we Christmas-shopped, I felt worse. I ended up in bed before 9 that night, and spent all day Saturday laying down. That night I was in bed before 9 yet again (thus further putting myself in the "MeMaw" category) and I woke up Sunday feeling about 50% better. I'm still not back to normal, but when will I ever be normal?

All this to say…this was the perfect weekend to be sick. Sandwiched between Paxton's birthday and Christmas, it was truly the best time for me to be down and out, if I had to be down and out.

6. The Book of Luke. Yes, I'm talking about the Bible. In my quiet time this week, I was so happy to discover that in the first few chapters, at least half of the sentences start with "And." (At least in my ESV Bible they do, I haven't compared other translations.) 

And I start sentences with "and" all the time. 

And I sometimes wonder if people think it's improper. 

And then I think if it's good enough for the telling of the arrival of our Lord and Savior from heaven to earth, it should be good enough for me. 

And good enough the handful of you who read this.

So there.

7. Being Ahead of the Curve (for once). This is the first Christmas in years in which I have not had to absolutely s-c-r-a-m-b-l-e to get things ready for Christmas. My gifts arrived to the West Coast last week and are ready to be opened. Christmas cards were also sent out last week (we ordered half of what we used to, so if you didn't get one I'm sorry!). Got Greg's last gift today. All Jaana's gifts are wrapped (minus Santa's gifts, natch) and so are Greg's. All I have left to do, honestly, is wrap Paxton's presents and then buy groceries for Christmas dinner. FOR REAL! It's a Christmas miracle. I wonder if this accomplished feeling is how Ma Ingles felt after plopping the orange in the girls' knit stockings after they went to bed on Christmas Eve? I'm sure it is. 

8. My Bible Bookmarks. Jaana made these for me a few years ago, and I've kept them in my Bible as bookmarks ever since. Every time I open to them, I think of my sweet girl. And I smile big.

9. A Musical Genius. I'm just going to say it - Paxton is well on his way to being the next Chris Tomlin or Matt Redman or Christy Nockels. (Okay, maybe not Christy so much.) He is in love with music, and knows all my choir music as well as I do. Note for note, even. (Sadly, he's best at alto since that's all I listen to.) His only problem right now is tempo, but at two years old it's hard to sing as fast as your uber-pitchy Mama. He's very adamant about listening to particular songs in the car, and will belt it out with you when you're learning. 

He's the mountainy version of Harry Connick, Jr., really. 

But cuter.

10. Quiet Time. I've had the pleasure of awaking early quite a few mornings this week to enjoy my Christmas Blend and creamer, and Bible reading. It's been a wonderful time for me…and sadly, too long since I've been really consistent with it. Jaana woke up early one morning, and the two of us read Luke 2, and had some great laughter and conversation about what it must have been like to be Mary in each situation. She particularly loved how everyone said, "Behold!" all the time, and has incorporated it into her daily repertoire. I'm trying to make any Bible stories we talk about really relatable and fun…I don't ever want her to think reading the Bible is boring and a chore.

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 be the best rut you'll ever be in.

Thanksday #46

I have no business writing this afternoon. I'm totally discombobulated.

As I've mentioned before, I'm quite a fan of the 99-cent Kindle book. And I've found an author that writes cute stories and they're all a dollar. I started a new one at 10 o'clock last night, thinking my love of sleep would lure me away around 11.

Well.

Lo and behold, at 2 am, I shut off the Kindle completely satisfied with the ending of the book.

Yep, I read an entire book in four hours.

And so I turned off the light and waited for my sweet love to arrive (sleep, not Greg)...and sometime around 3 it did.

And then at approximately 6:32 am, Paxton starts babbling on the monitor.

Three-and-a-half hours of sleep.

Who am I??

But I have no one to blame but myself.

And Amazon.

My thankfuls this week:

1. Rehearsal. Jaana has an upcoming production, and last Friday was a special rehearsal. Since Greg's home on Fridays, he stayed home with Paxton while I drove Jaana and her friend to practice off the mountain. It's located next to a Wal-Mart and a nail salon, conveniently, so I took advantage of my situation and hit them both up. It's amazing what I can accomplish in an hour and a half when I really put my mind to it.

2. Advil PM. 'Cuz...wow.

3. MP3 Auxiliary. We traded in our car for a different one about a month ago, and since it's a 2007, it comes with an MP3 Auxiliary plug-in. You have no idea how wonderful this is unless you've listened to your iPod via a static-y radio station that comes in and out depending on your location on the mountain.

4. Date Mornings. Greg and I are trying to take advantage of Paxton being in Mother's Morning Out on Thursdays (and Jaana already in school), and have made the last few of them date times. Today, we had breakfast and then bought a puppy! How's that for fun? (Well, really, we helped Santa pick out a puppy that the kids don't know about and won't get until Christmas. You'll help us keep that secret, yes?) (If not, I'll hunt you down.)

5. I Spy Nintendo DS Game. I'm not ashamed to admit it - I'm addicted to this game of Jaana's. And I've been playing it on her hot pink DS while she's at school.

6. Orville Redenbacher's Natural Lime and Salt Popcorn. 

Oh. 

My. 

Lands.

7. Iced Drinks. It makes no sense, but I generally don't make sense, so this should be nothing new. But in the winter time I really love cold things like ice cream and iced drinks. And I've recently rediscovered just how delicious an iced mocha is...especially now that you can get them sugar-free. And considering the night I've had, I need one NOW.

8. Progress. I'm not where I want to be, but I'm not where I was. Thank God.

9. Home for Christmas. Our own home! Our first Christmas in our own home after two years. It's been such a joy to decorate and get a live tree and do all our Christmasy things in our own place. I haven't taken a single minute of it for granted. And to wake up Christmas morning...just our little family in our little place...opening gifts and eating breakfast and being together...it's going to be extra special for me this year. I'm a bit sappy about it.

10. My Handy Man. Really, I am so thankful that Greg is handy around the house. Last week he fixed the dryer, hung Christmas lights outside and in general can pretty much do most "manly" things around the house. And he can make a pretty good bed and sweep a floor mighty fine. I'm a lucky lady.

Your turn! Let me know what your thankful for this week and share the love. Leave a comment below or link up with Candra. It'll make you feel better than a good night's sleep. (Maybe. No guarantees.)

Thanksday #45

Isn't it ironic, that I do a weekly post of thanksgiving each Thursday, but didn't on Thanksgiving last Thursday?


Don'tcha think?


I wanted to post, trust me. And had it all ready to go in my head. The problem was with my computer, though. For one, I was out of town in The Big City and very busy with family and whatnot (and by whatnot, I might mean hair appointments, manicures and pictures with Santa). For two, my computer has decided to automatically shut down and reboot every single time I punch a letter on the keyboard.


Every.


Single.


Time.


So yes, I could've updated on my phone and posted that way. But have you ever tried to type more than one paragraph on an iPhone without any typos or auto-correct changes? 


Exactly.


My computer is still on the fritz, by the by. The only thing saving me now is a borrowed temporary computer for which I'm trying not to fall in love with even though it's a high-def, glossy-screened new iMac with like a 23" screen. 


So now that I have to make up two weeks worth of thanks, let's get this ball a-rollin'.


1. Borrowed Temporary Computers. And all 23" of their glossy, high-def screen goodness.


2. People That Can Help Fix Laptops. 


3. Successful Santa Pictures. I took the kids to visit Santa while in The Big City last week, at the same place Jaana has had Santa pictures done for about five years. I wasn't sure how Paxton would take to the whole affair. Jaana didn't smile for a Santa picture until she was four years old. Her brother, though, took to Santa like I take to borrowed temporary computers with 23" glossy, high-def screens. So much so, in fact, he pitched a naughty-list-worthy fit about leaving Santa. Fortunately, Santa is compassionate and didn't count it against him. 


This time.

My only worry now is that Santa will bring them everything on their list, because they're so darn cute and how can he resist the cuteness?


4. Elf on the Shelf. We finally got our own elf here in our house, and we named him Simon. He's turning into quite the mischief maker, it seems. He was found sitting in the ornament box with morning with my Starbucks coffee cup ornament in his hands like he was drinking it. Jaana bounds out of bed each morning dying to find him. He even changes spots while she's in school. 


That sneaky little thing. 

5. Stores Open on Thanksgiving Day. And no, I don't mean the stores that opened early for Black Friday deals. I mean stores like Kroger, that I could run to at 10 am on Thanksgiving morning to re-buy all the ingredients to remake my Gluten-Free Pumpkin Goat-Cheese Cheesecake. (Because we have gluten and lactose issues in this family.) (I just thank God no one is allergic to sugar, because this would have put them in a coma.) I made one on Wednesday night, you see. But it seems I was overzealous in greasing the pan. Because this happened:

After throwing the pot holders across the kitchen of my mother-in-laws house with ugly groans, she and Jaana and my niece all came in to see what had happened. I stood there wanting to scream, curse, cry and laugh all at the same time. And that, my friends, is quite the feeling. Everyone encouraged me to remake it. But do you know how much goat cheese costs? Anyhoo, I fortunately found my saving grace in Kroger and the goat cheese was cheaper than it had been at Publix so that was a bit of a consolation.


6. Early Shopping. Remember how I mentioned a couple weeks ago that I typically am more of a last-minute gift getter at Christmas-time? And how I had at least made a list so I felt a little bit better? Well I can top that: we've done a good amount of shopping already. In fact, shopping for the kids is 97% done. It's insanity. 


7. Hope for the Cougs. No, that's not the name of a very touching and heart-felt ministry. It's hope for my beloved Washington State University Cougars. We are the football team who does really, really well once every 15-20 years. (But you've seen our flags flying at every ESPN College Gameday in the very back for over 112 consecutive Gamedays.) Our most recent claims to fame were the years with Drew Bledsoe, and the infamously famous Ryan Leaf and the Rose Bowl of 1998. We also can claim a brief stint of publicity when Coach Mike Price went to Alabama and then was fired before the season even started. But let's not rehash ancient history. I'm talking about the here and now my friends. And it's about time that the Cougs regain acclaim in the polls and bowls. And now that WSU has hired Mike Leach as the head coach, you're hearing it here first: TOP 25 NEXT SEASON, MY FRIENDS. And I can assure you I will be the biggest fan in North Carolina screaming from the mountaintops to "...oooooo Cooouuuu...." (and you'll only get that if you're one of three people).


8. Christmas Blend. With deep sincerity I give thanks for this each and every morning.


9. Maturing. I've been working on a post about this for a few weeks, and I'm still not there. But God's growing me up. Imagine that.


10. Puppies. This household has puppy fever badly, people. B-A-D-L-Y. Fortunately the kids have put a puppy on their Christmas list. UNfortunately, Greg and I keep finding puppies we have to have right. this. minute. Only to discover they have been adopted merely hours later. Or we're not ready to financially commit in a matter of minutes. FORtunately, we trust Santa-ahem-God and that He will provide The Perfect Puppy at The Perfect Time. Right??


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 bring more luck than rain on your wedding day. 


Ironic?


It figgurs.