Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #9

Today I am thankful for a working refrigerator and ice maker!

The ice maker has been on the fritz for a while, and finally the repairman came to check it out today. Seems the motor was fried, which was a 10 minute fix for him.  PLUS, the home warranty covered the repair! So, while it's not a nice, new, pretty replacement model fridge, I am very happy that we now have ice!


This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #8

Today I am thankful for bubble baths and a good book.

Today was a long day and the end didn't come fast enough. And even though the end came at 7:15pm (gotta love it getting dark and the girls going to bed earlier), I was creaking. Really. I can't be old enough to be CREAKING.

Which is why tonight called for a major bubble bath and a new book to read on my Nook. And some prune-y skin later, I almost feel  . . . less than old . . . again. A little chocolate helped too.

So that is it for today.


This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #7

Today I am thankful for our country.

We've lived in four countries so far on three continents. Living overseas has made Joel and I more patriotic and appreciative of "home." It is pretty common to hear one of us say, "God Bless America" over just about anything. Grocery stores. High school football games. Basically anytime we find something easily and/or when things work the way they should. Heck, a trip to Walmart and I practically break out in song. 

I know many of you guys won't get that. I understand. But after getting used to two-hour grocery trips that cost $200 for what we'd get here for $50 (without couponing, because that does not exist overseas) where the bulk of those two hours are spent attempting to read product labels in a different language (am I buying canned peas or canned tomatoes?), yeah, shopping in the US is pure joy.

And there are parts of life that are taken for granted here that we revel in. Small town parades. High school football games. Good Chinese food. (No lie- we have yet to find decent Chinese food in any of the other countries we lived in or visited.) Libraries filled with books in English! You guys seriously don't know how good you've got it. We do, and we're loving that we've got to spend the past year or so "back home."

And just as soon as it all seems like "old news," we'll head back out to start learning to appreciate the good ole' USA all over again.

This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #6

Today I am thankful for a sense of humor.

My children crack me up. I know, I'm the mom and of course everything I think everything they say is hilarious.

But they are!

Lily, at the age of three, is the biggest comedian. She loves making up jokes. Three year old jokes aren't always the most complicated in the world, but I love them anyway.

Maybe it's really the pure pleasure she takes in telling them that I love so much. She has so much fun telling her jokes, that sometimes she will literally fall down on the floor laughing too hard. And her laugh is infectious, partly because she's so quiet and reserved in public and rarely shows that side of her personality.

This afternoon she asked me if I was going to stay in my pajamas forever. (Umm, I'm in a pair of yoga pants. No need to be uncomfortable if I'm not leaving the house, right?)

And may I point out she asks this as she is wearing her Cinderella princess costume? Complete with tiara, heels and jewelry? And she's been wearing the exact same outfit for two full days?
My yoga pants are apparently not up to her standards.

She also likes to tell me, "Yes Sir," instead of "Yes, Ma'am." (We've been working on manners.) She knows exactly what she's doing. But in three-year-old humor, there is nothing funnier than using boy words on your mom, and girl words on your dad. She actually slapped her leg when she cracked herself up with that one.

And tonight at bedtime she had me laughing so hard when I was trying to be stern. I was giving the girls the nightly, "GO TO SLEEP" (with the implied "OR ELSE") talk, and Lily told me she needed to give me a kiss. I go over to her bed and say, "Okay, give me a big one then."

She promptly blows her mouth up with air like a huge balloon so she can give me the biggest gift possible. And blew a raspberry. On My Face. I had to leave the room.

So yes, I am thankful. Thankful I have a sense of humor, or at least one that loves preschool jokes.

This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #5

Today I am thankful for a great shower. No, really.

You moms know exactly what I'm talking about, don't ya?

This morning my girls woke up early. TOO EARLY. Which is of course nothing new.

But they actually played quietly in their room until a respectable hour. And then went downstairs to the playroom to play. So I decided to take a shower.

And they were still playing happily.

So I decided to go ahead and get dressed. IN REAL CLOTHES.

And they were still playing.

So I did my hair. REALLY. I pulled out the flat iron and straightened my hair.

About that time, they came and started asking for food. (Sigh. I know, right?)

Thankfully, I was able to distract them for about five minutes.

AND PUT MAKE UP ON!

Seriously, when does that happen? It's like a Mommy Miracle.

Too bad I didn't have anywhere to go with my great hair day.


This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #5

Today I am thankful for a great shower. No, really.

You moms know exactly what I'm talking about, don't ya?

This morning my girls woke up early. TOO EARLY. Which is of course nothing new.

But they actually played quietly in their room until a respectable hour. And then went downstairs to the playroom to play. So I decided to take a shower.

And they were still playing happily.

So I decided to go ahead and get dressed. IN REAL CLOTHES.

And they were still playing.

So I did my hair. REALLY. I pulled out the flat iron and straightened my hair.

About that time, they came and started asking for food. (Sigh. I know, right?)

Thankfully, I was able to distract them for about five minutes.

AND PUT MAKE UP ON!

Seriously, when does that happen? It's like a Mommy Miracle.

Too bad I didn't have anywhere to go with my great hair day.


This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #4

Today I am thankful for Naptime! And I'm so thankful that my girls still take them.

Really, does anything more need to be said?

This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #3

Today I am thankful for snuggles.

I am thankful that my girls are so affectionate and lovey! I love little arms reaching around my neck and kisses demanded and given freely. It's a great way to end a long hard day.

Makes it hard to let them grow up, but that's a whole 'nother story.

This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #2

I'm thankful for my Bible study group. I'm so very thankful that I am able to host the group in my home each week. It makes me attend whether that day has been easy or not, there is no flaking out. It makes sure my house is clean and company-ready at least one day of the week. It gives me a chance to interact with adults and have adult-type conversations. It has introduced me to some wonderful people who have supported me during rough weeks and challenged me to dig deeper and live more authentically my faith. I'm thankful for all that I've learned and everyone I've gotten to know.


This is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other! Follow others that are participating HERE.

Thanks-Giving Blog Challenge, Day #1

Today I'm thankful for the laundry I had to fold, because that meant we had clothes to wear, and clean ones at that.

I'm thankful for the dishes that needed washing because that means I had food to feed my children.

I'm thankful for the dirty disaster of my house, because that means I have a home to clean.

I'm thankful for the headache meds I took earlier today because that means my girls are happy and healthy and love playing (loudly) with each other.

I'm thankful for the sinus infection Abby has because that means we have access to the doctor and the medications (antibiotics and Motrin) that will make her well.

This post is my first attempt at a blog challenge, something you might see friends doing on Facebook - "__ days of Giving Thanks." I thought this was a very fitting challenge to get myself back into a regular habit of blogging again. Feel free to join me, and post your own blog link in the comments below, so we can keep up with each other!