Day 20: The Little Things!!!!

Day 20:  The Little things

As most of you know, I have found myself at my “fluffiest” this year.  I used to blame it on having three kids with only two years between each birth. I think that was the beginning, but I can no longer use that. My last pregnancy was eight years ago!!!!Now it’s a combination of eating the wrong foods and little to no exercise. I have lost weight using medication before and gained all the weight back plus some after coming off of it. I also did not want to use a “shake” or supplements. I needed this to be a permanent lifestyle change for the weight to stay off. So, a few months ago my hubby found a book that has changed my life!!!! =) The book is called “Wheat Belly”. I was not interested in reading it, it is too technical for me…..but he worked through it and told me the high lights. After changing the way I eat over the last 11 weeks I have lost 9 pounds and 13 ½ inches over all!!!!!=) I expect I will continue to lose weight, but for now I have achieved a small goal…..I can now zip my knee high boots all the way up!!!! Before I would have to zip them low and pull them up, now I can just zip them with no pulling!!!!!! =)=)=) One little change >>>no more wheat<<< one little vistory!!!

Blessings!!!

Day 19: Cold Weather!!!! =)

Day 19:  Cold Weather

Today I am thankful for cold weather!!!!! Now, keep in mind that I live in the south and really, it does not get that cold down here.  We lived in Wisconsin for three years and got a taste of true cold!! I loved it!!! My hubby, however, still gets pain in his back when he sees snow. Some sort of residual memory pain….I did not have to shovel the snow! I just got to play in it, drive in it, and look at it!!! =) I miss it. So when we get a day or two of temperatures in the low 40s down here I like it!!! I get to wear my boots and not feel ridiculous!! I get to wear my cute sweaters and not burn up in them!! I get to wear my red scarf that my friend made for me (thanks Angel!!) and be completely adorable in my fuzzy red hat!!! =) So yes, I am thankful for the brief time of cold weather!!!!

Blessings!!!

Day 18>>>Christmas Movies!!!!

Day 18: Christmas Movies!!

I am a sucker for a good romantic comedy or drama!! So the Christmas movies that come on Hallmark during this season are perfect for me….especially when I am sick and in bed!!!! =)  I would still watch them even if I weren’t sick!! Apparently, some of them I have seen a few times because my husband came in a few times and told me the whole story (which I did not remember…) and the ending.  He always asks me when they are over if the guy and the girl worked it out and fell in love. He is always smiling when he ask because he knows the answer. But secretly, I think it’s because we have the greatest love story and it makes him happy to remember that we worked out!!!! He is a closet romantic and I adore him for it!!! So today I am thankful for these Hallmark Christmas movies that remind me of my true love and our love story. We are living happily ever after!!!!!

Blessings!!!

Day 17: Dog Sitting!!!

Day 17:  Dog Sitting

Today I am thankful for Woody’s people.  We are the honored dog sitters of the goofy and completely adorable Woody when his people need to go out of town. Woody is a grey hound and pointer (?) mix. He must weigh about 100 pounds. He is a big boy and as tall as me when he is on two feet. Yes, he can look me in the eye. On all fours he comes up to my hips!!! He loves playing fetch with his tennis balls. You can’t just throw the ball though, that is not far enough for him to get a good run. You have to use a tennis racquet to hit the ball waaaay out into the yard to give him a bit of a challenge!!! =) Today he is happily napping next to my bed while I am typing this out. He is slightly orange around his feet and legs (Sorry Renee) because he loves traipsing through our creeks which have red clay!!! He is a talker too. He likes to use his vocal chords, not barking just talking. He is a bit of beggar, especially when I am cooking. We don’t give table food to dogs though. Bella (our dog) gets offended if people try to give her table food! He does have the cutest “puppy dog” eyes when he is trying to get you to feed him though!!! He is a treat to have in our home. We are glad that his people trust us with his care!!!! =)

Blessings!!!

Day 16: Randomness

Day 16:  Randomness

Well, for those of you that know me, know that I have been sick off and on for the last week!! Not the way I envisioned spending week before Christmas!!! =/  However, I am thankful that my husband insisted that I go see my doctor on Christmas Eve morning!!! I have a sinus infection. After I started the antibiotic I felt much better and was able to enjoy my kiddos Christmas morning!!!!! =) Happiness!!!

As for being sick…..I just want you all to know that I am married to the most amazing man!!! He not only cares for me when I’m sick, he cares for the kids and the house!!! I never have to worry about the laundry or cooking, or dishes, or vacuuming, or whatever!!! He does it all…..even if he has to come home and do it after work!!! Here is the biggy…..he had a minor surgery on his neck (nine stitches) the day I got so sick. Do you know that man come home and took over so I could stay in bed and rest and watch Christmas movies to my hearts content?!?!?!!!!! I am so blessed!!!! =)

I live in the south. We had some major storms roll through Christmas night. We are all safe and sound and only a few random branches down around the yard!! All is good here in the boonies!!!! We are blessed!!!

You know how you’re never really sure about the “big” Christmas gift you get for your kids?? We are anyway…..Well, my husband has been right on for the past three years!!! This year it was 2-way radios to use around the “propetty”. I really wasn’t sure how well they would go over so as a backup I got a new to us Wii (I know, we are waaaay behind the times, but we like it that way!!). Both were HUGE hits!!!! My kids think they have hit the mother load this year!! Yay!!! They are in complete Christmas bliss!! Never mind the awesome Legos that they got from Granny!!! The kids love being outside, but having radios to keep in contact with each other and with me is a treat they didn’t realize they were missing!!! They are so much fun to listen to!!!! And the Wii…..they have waited “for-ev-er” for one of these and they are so excited!!! They are completely adorable playing the resort games and boxing!! Oh my word!!! It is more fun to watch than the T.V.!!!! =) We are some happy parents!!! =)

Here is hoping that you and yours had a wonderful Christmas!!!! There is so much to be thankful for! Enjoy every moment!!!

 

Blessings!!!

Day 15----> FrIdAyS!!!! =)

Day 15:  FrIdAyS

Today I am thankful for Fridays!!!!!! Even though I do not work outside of our home I look forward to Fridays….I home school our children….

I know I may offend someone, but there are days when I wish I could send my kids to school and get something done around here!!! There are days when I do not want to be their teacher. There are days, sometimes weeks, when I feel like I’ve made a complete mess of their education, and I need a weekend just to regroup.  But then, there are days when I hear my (almost ADHD) youngest son read words out of the Bible that I thought he would not be able to. Or days when my daughter has finished memorizing a long poem that is 12 sections. Or days when my oldest son spouts out strange scientific facts that he has stored in his brain just because he has read them in his science textbook. Those days make me so thankful that I do get to be a home schooling mom.

So Fridays are wonderful, and I desperately need them.  I know I have two whole days coming up to get myself together and do better by Monday!! =)

Blessings!!!

 

PS……After I wrote this I saw the news of this awful shooting in Connecticut…..As I hurt for these families and pray for grace and peace for them, I am so very thankful that my kids were with me today!!!! We home school, so they are with me all day! I know anything can happen anywhere, but I know where my kids are at all times and it is one less thing to worry about!!!!

Day 14: **Bella**

Day 14:  Bella

Ok...so we have the BEST dog ever!!!!! Today I am thankful for our Bella!!! She is a Border Collie mix. She is a rescue dog, abandoned in the Atlanta area. She was fully house trained and somewhat command trained when we got her. Our best (vet) guess was she was about two years old. We have had her for 6 years now, and can’t imagine our life without her!!! She has been very patient with our moving around and absolutely LOVES “her” new 6.5 acre piece of land to explore and be queen over!!!! Squirrels be warned, Bella is watching!!!!!! =)

Blessings!!!

Day 13: Piano Lessons!!! =)

Day 13: Piano Lessons

Today I am thankful for Piano Lessons!!! I never had the chance to take them when I was younger. My mom plays the piano and showed me some things and I self taught a few other things. So I say a Piddle at the piano, not play it. However, my children are taking lessons (my dream come true for them) and they are LOVING it!!!!!  I have two kiddos in lessons now, and will have the last one in the first of January!!!! While I love knowing they are getting to do something I’ve always wanted to,  I also get to listen to every lesson twice (three times in January) and all the mistakes and wrong notes and the same song over and over and over again. And again… But I am very thankful for this time in my kid’s lives. Watching them learn is priceless!!!!!=)

Blessings!!!

 

Day 12:::Helping

Day 12:  Helping

Today I am thankful that we are in a position to be able to help others. There was a time not long ago that we would not have been able to. Would have wanted to, but couldn’t. I am so thankful that now we can!!!! =)

Blessings!!!

CoLdNeSs---Day 11

Day 11: Coldness

Today I am thankful for coldness.

Let me explain…..I am 36 years old (young, I think) and my body is not what it used to be!! My sleep was terrible last night because I was so hot.  (?)  I could not get comfy and felt slightly nauseous, but didn’t know why…..I did not realize the ceiling fan was on low. LOW!!!! How could this have happened??? I do not know. My husband claims innocence. Hmmmmm…… I don’t change the fan speed because I like it on HIGH all the time!!! So after my horrific night of little to no sleep, I had to nap, which of course was wonderful because I had turned the fan back up to HIGH and was able to snuggle under my fleece blanket.  Best nap ever!!!!! So, I am thankful for my bit of coldness provided me by my fan!! Can’t sleep without it!!! =)

Blessings!!!

Day 10...My Mom ((hugs))

Day 10:  My Mom

Today I am thankful for my Mom!!! I believe I take for granted that she will always be around, but that is not the case. No person knows when they will meet their Maker ….. I have a good friend whose mother passed away suddenly. My friend tucked her children into bed, had her normal routine, she went to bed and the next day her mom was gone into eternity.  I cannot imagine the pain and loss of that. I still have my mom. I cannot imagine the pain of going to call my mom and remembering that she is no longer there. My mom is still here. I cannot imagine the loss of holidays (especially Christmas) knowing that the gift I had loving selected/made for her would never be opened by her.  I have my mom for now. I am so very thankful for the time we have together (not enough of it because we are both busy) and hopefully with this reminder y’all will cherish the time with your mom as well.

If you think of it, say a prayer for Sher and her family, she no longer has her mom.

Blessings!!!

Day 9: Hard Work

Day 9:  Hard Work

Today I am thankful for hard work…..crazy!!!! I just spent the day with my children (and some other kids form church) at our new church site raking leaves in the playground. This may sound like a smallish job, but I assure you it was not!!! We raked for 4 hours, and bagged 16 construction site type trash bags full of leaves plus picked up all the sticks and branches!!!!!! They were paid with marshmallows!!!! They loved it!! Well, until about 1:30, then they were done!! Not even a marshmallow could get them to do anything else!!!!! But it is a joy to work alongside my children. They have been trained to obey and not to fuss, so every time the play break (we took one after we finished a pile of leaves) was over they happily came back for more hard work!!!!!  It was hard work to train them, but I am so glad I took the time to do it!! It is so worth the effort!!!=)

Blessings!!!

Day 8....Cookies!!!! =)

Day 8: Cookies!!!!!

Today, I am thankful for cookies. This may seem strange since yesterday I was thankful for exercise!!!! However, the cookies are not for my house (thankfully, because seriously? I could eat every one of them!!) =/   No, the cookies are leaving my house and going to a local military center where they are preparing for a Christmas party!!!! The center services our local military men and women who want a Christian environment to spend their free time. My church supports the folks that run it and I am delighted (and thankful) to have this small part (really, 3 dozen cookies is all…) in their ministry!!!!! =)

Blessings!!!

Day 7>>>>Exercise!!!!

Day 7: ExErCiSe (ß-anytime I type like this, it means a sing-song voice…)

Today, I am thankful for exercise????  Yes, afraid so…..This past June I injured my calf playing volley ball (in my defense, I hadn’t played in three or more years!!!). I tore it in two places---one not as bad as the other. But as part of the treatment I had to go to physical therapy. It was excruciating the first few times, but after that I really enjoyed going. Weird, I know. So after all my appointments were finished and I was medically dismissed, I started going to the gym on my own to keep doing the same things I learned in therapy. I am not where I want to be, but, “Hey, Jack” it took 12 years for me to get this “fluffy”, it is going to take time to get healthier, which is my goal!!! =) I would like to work up to running, but first, just plain old elliptical and weights for me! I am happy. My body is in better shape than it has been for too long. I have a goal, and I will reach it!!!!

Blessings!!!!

Day 6.....New Rides

Day 6:  New Rides!!!!! =)

Today I am thankful for new rides, er, vehicles!!! As I type this, my hubby is driving home my totally awesome new (to me, that is) Suburban!!!!!!!! Decked out with a DVD player (!!!!!), a sunroof (!!!!!!!!!), a Grill guard rail(?) (looks pretty tough), leather, heated seats (!!!!!!) and a BOSE sound system!!!!! I cannot wait to play some Adel in this thing!!!! This will be the newest model of any car I have ever owned!!!! A 2004!!!!! We have a thing about going into debt, so all of the cars we have purchased these last 12 years have been paid for in CASH!!!! This really just means that we have been buying older cars with higher mileage.  My Chevy Astro is a 1999 (classic!!) with 201,000 (that’s two hundred one thousand) miles on her. She has by far been the best van!!!! I hate that she must move on, but we really need more space!! Sad, for a family of 5 to need so much space, but camping gear takes up a lot of room….so does the dog, and groceries and stuff!!!!  So on to newer and bigger things!!!!! Happy Driving!!!

Blessings!!!

Day 5: Hot Water!!!

Day 5:  Hot Water

Oh, yes!! Hot water is what I am thankful for today!!!  I have been helping my hubby (as all good wives should…) put up a field fence. I said a field fence!!!!! Yes, I am a wife of extreme rarity. Well, I guess, it was my idea to go ahead and do it at 3pm with only an hour and a half left of daylight….So, there we were, finishing up another section of fence in the DARK (in the boonies!!!)!!!!! We did manage to actually get it to look mostly decent. Now for a gate, but that is for another time. Far, far away…. And as far as I am concerned, a man job!!!! Roger will just have to find a friend of extreme rarity that will come help him!!!

But, back to my thankfulness…….I managed to strain my back a bit in all of that work I was “helping” my hubby do. (I really think he just enjoyed the company!!!) So the HOT shower I took after working really made a difference in my back achiness!!!! Of course, I have “had” to take a hot shower quite frequently due to the discomfort, but I’m not complaining!!!!! Nooooo, I LOVE my hot water!!!!! =)

Day 4.....TREES

Day 4: TREES

Today, I am thankful for trees…..probably not in the sense that you are thinking. Yes, I am thankful for the function of trees. The oxygen they produce, the beauty of the foliage, the fragrance of the blooms all are wonderful things, but I love that they provide great entertainment for my very active little boy!!!! There is nothing like looking up into a tree and seeing that proud little face that seems to say, “I am king of the world!!!”  There are times when look up and am terrified by how high he is. He is somewhat like a little monkey! But he always finds his way down and so far we have only been to the emergency room once for an unrelated (to tree climbing) injury! =)  He feels like he has conquered the world and I feel like I am growing a boy that is not afraid to try things---even if it seems impossibly high….er….hard!!

Blessings!!

Day 3: Kiddos

Day 3: Today I am thankful for my children!!!!

I will go into more details later I’m sure, but for now, let’s just say the best  (and possibly the worst...) parts of me and my hubby are found in my kids. They are so different and similar it is amazing!!! They are very fun and funny. They are a delight to me, their dad, their grandparents and to most who meet them! They bring a joy to my life that I would never have guessed as a young, married, pre-child woman. With each child (I have 3) my love just expanded. I would do anything (within my power) for my kids. So, second to being a wife to my awesome husband, my favorite job is being a stay-at-home mom to the best kids on the planet!!! =) My cup runneth over!! I am so blessed!!

Blessings

 

Just a test!!

 

 

 

This is just a test of my computer/photo uploading skills......I find that I am more computer challenged than I like to think that I am!!! =/

 

 

 

 

This a mountain laurel bloom from out woods here at the "Propetty"!! =)

Day 2: My Love

Day 2: Today I am thankful for my husband.

How did it start?? How did we meet?? How did I get so lucky?? How did I know what I wanted to do for the rest of my life???

Some people know exactly what they want to do when they “grow up”. Some people know at a young age, some as a teenager some as an adult. I was part of the latter group! I had no idea what I wanted to “be” when I “grew up”!! I wrote a paper once in high school about becoming a cosmetologist. Dreams of doing makeup on a movie setting quickly became a nightmare of just cutting people’s hair in a quick stop salon. I had no desire to be covered in hair from whenever to whenever, possibly forever! From there I just had no idea, no desire to pursue anything!! So after graduation I got a job in JC Penney.  I liked my job. I later started working at Gayfer’s (now Dillard’s)in the men's department. I liked working there.

(There really is point to all this history!)

During my high school years and on into my working years I only dated two boys. They will remain unnamed to protect the innocent (or guilty). I cannot imagine my life with either of these boys (now men) now. God protected me form myself during those times and I am forever grateful!!!!!

While working at Gayfer’s (while I was dating one of the unnamed) I met this young man in passing. He worked up stairs, delivering the stock to different departments. He was a porter. I only saw him once a week or less as I worked downstairs. He moved on to another job out of town. I didn’t know, I hardly ever saw him. As it goes with many young people, it did not work out with the person I was dating. I was devastated at the time, but now I can see God’s hand moving in my life.  I had to come to a place where I was ok on my own… ok without a boyfriend… ok with myself.  I went on a double date (a totally “just friends” date) and ran into Roger who was on a date himself with a young lady. He asked me out that night. And we have been together since!!!! 16 years this last September!!!! WOW!!!! What a ride!!!

I have the most adoring, helpful, wise, loving, supportive, handsome,  encouraging and wonderful in so many ways husband!!!! I love being his wife, his help meet, his lover and his best friend!!! I have the best job in the world.....I get to be a stay-at-home mom and wife because of him---I LOVE my job!!!!  He is amazing and I am so blessed!!!!

Blessings!!