Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Walking Thankful

This morning I got up on time, so I had a few extra minutes to go on a walk.  I leashed up Sugar Dot, threw a coat over my pjs and got walking.  No one else was around, so I had a chance to compile my thankful list for this morning.

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Snores
Everyone in the house except for me and Capt. Midnight Sugar Dot Express Boyette is asleep.  It was easy to slip out of the house undisturbed.

2.  Stars
Last night I was too distracted to notice them.  This morning I was able to recognize several glittering constellations.

3.  Safety
We live in a quiet neighborhood filled with retirees and young families.  I'm grateful I can walk around in the dark and not worry about being hurt.

4.  Sugar Dot
If anyone ever did try to cross my path, I am assured that Sugar Dot would bite the hell out of their ankles and anything else he can jump to reach.  Walking with a dog also takes the weirdness out.  Otherwise, people might wonder who the lunatic is walking through the neighborhood in her pajamas at 5:30 a.m.

5.  Ice crystals
As sparkly as the stars are in the sky, the grass glittered just as much.  A few minutes from now all the ice crystals in the dew will be melted, but I got to enjoy their twinkle at just the right moment.

6.  Crunchy leaves
The kids love to stomp in piles of leaves.  There is quite a satisfying crunch when you step on a stack of dead leaves.  Icy ones are even better because they pack a bigger crunch.

7.  A mummifying scarf
As I wrote before, Adam's godmother Kaa, made me several scarves for Christmas.  This morning I wrapped my entire upper body in a scarf and still had enough left to go again.  I wasn't cold at all.

8.  A warm jacket
We are so spoiled with coats at our house that I can pick one to go with my outfit and the exact temperature outside.  I am grateful.

9.  Quiet
I do my best thinking when there are no distractions.  Sugar Dot and I saw only three cars on our 20 minute walk.  The only sounds I could hear were from the highway, which is about 2 miles away.  Immediately around me it was perfectly quiet.

10.  Darkness
I hadn't brushed my hair or teeth yet and I was walking in my pajamas.  I was glad that it was dark outside and I didn't have to worry about what I looked like.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thankful for nothingness

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Delicious food
If anyone didn't eat too much over Thanksgiving break, I haven't met them.  We had several days of deliciousness.  And considering that much of the world doesn't even have clean water, I am spoiled.

2.  Time to read
We went to Texarkana for Thanksgiving and I read three books.  I love days when the most pressing item on my agenda is finishing my book.

3.  A husband that enjoys driving.
Adam drove to and from Texarkana.  Yesterday I drove to Kroger, the first time behind the wheel in several days.  He actually enjoys driving.  I am thankful for him.

4.  Kids thankfulness
Every day this past week, Paul has prayed aloud at the table, thanking God for his whole self, his whole family, his dogs, and the food set on the table.

5.  Family time
We spent all our time this weekend together, doing stuff as a family and enjoying it.

6.  Mainstay Farm
Yesterday we took our sixth annual trip to Mainstay Farm in Burleson to get our Christmas tree.  We rode go-carts, slides, a hay ride, and Adam and the kids bounced on a giant pillow.  Fun!

7.  A fresh tree
Although part of our tradition at Mainstay Farm is to cut down our own Christmas tree, the Texas drought cleared them out this year.  Instead, we are currently enjoying a lovely tree from North Carolina, where, according to the salesman, got 80 inches of rain in the last few months.

8.  Wii Sports
Today Paul and I played competitive games on the Wii.  We boxed and played golf like pros, or at least animated ones.

9.  Scarves!  Scarves!  Scarves!
I mentioned to Adam's godmother that I'd like some new scarves.  She sent me home with so many, I can't even count.  Half of them she made herself, which makes them extra special.

10.  Independence regained
Last week, my grandfather asked to be moved back home.  I checked with the appropriate people at the nursing center and took him home on Wednesday.  This did cause a rift with my cousin, who apparently disagreed, but my granddad says he's doing great.

11.  Nothingness
This past week was full of days with nothing on the schedule.  We had fun with each other, ate too much, and had a blast.  I am thankful.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Rattlesnakes!

In March every year in Sweetwater, TX, they have a Rattlesnake Roundup.  I don't really know where all the snakes come from, but they do a lot of slaughtering there. Claire has now been to the Rattlesnake Roundup twice.  Paul's been once.  It's become a daddy-kid destination.  Adam always comes home with interesting tales of watching snakes get killed.  One of my favorite visuals is the beautiful blonde in gorgeous jewelry and nice clothing who dons a white coat and starts hacking a rattlesnake to death.

I've never been and don't really have any desire to go.

The first time Adam and Claire went, he took a video of some slaughtering and we posted it on youtube.  Despite all the darling videos of our kids, the rattlesnake slaughter video is by far the most popular with the public.  Last night I noticed it has more than 7,000 views and more than 100 comments.

So today if you have one minute and want to be disturbed, watch this.  If you have five minutes, read the comments.  They are delightful.  Apparently some people are passionate about snakes.  "Kill them all!" or "Snakes are God's creatures, too!"



http://youtu.be/4JeTgJZC72U

This is my all-time favorite comment:
"How sadly ironic that you bring your little Church buddies to this disgusting event which goes against your Gods wishes to only kill animals for necessary sustinance. Might as well quit that Church, you're all going to Hell sweetcheeks."

I love how the word hell is followed by sweet cheeks.  Hilarious.  (And the mistakes were theirs, not mine.)

One of the comments suggested I check into the Facebook group, "Rise Against Rattlesnake Roundups".  I did and was able to join.  These people are very passionate about saving rattlesnakes.  I don't really understand it, but I find it entertaining.

I would like to share a picture from my new group.

The guy that got this tattoo really loves rattlesnakes, obviously.  He was asking for suggestions for further tattoos he could get.  Several users suggested other rattlesnake breeds and offered photos for him to take to the tattoo parlor.

Because Adam and I were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe, I decided to both post the photo on my FB page and e-mail it out to family.  I claimed it was Adam's new tattoos.  I haven't gotten one response which leads me to believe two things.  1.  Our family is pro-snake slaughtering and anti-snake rights.  2.  They believed me.

So to clear up any confusion, this is not Adam's back.  He would have to find a new wife to accompany this tattoo.  We are neither pro- nor anti- snake rights.  We are intrigued by the campaigns, though.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

My Body

Last week I read the book Women, Food, and God.  Basically this book teaches you to be more conscious of what you are eating.  This follows with my personal mantra of late which is, "Pay attention!"  I constantly am reminding myself to pay attention to where I am at that moment so I can appreciate it more.
I'm a thinker, so sometimes I feel like I just live in my brain and that my body is just a vehicle to haul my brain around.  Today my Bible study prompted me to be thankful for my body, so I thought I'd share a thankful list with you about this thing that is much more than a vehicle for my brain and heart.

Today I am thankful for:
1.  My big feet. 
I wear shoe size 10.  If my feet were any bigger, I'd be special ordering shoes.  However, at this size, they are just perfect for providing me with a firm foundation for standing, walking for miles, running barefoot, or whatever I ask them to do.

2.  Legs and knees that answer their call, whatever it is.
I don't have a regular exercise regime, but often I go for long walks, or short runs, or excursions to the park.  Whatever I have in store for my legs, they carry me there with ease.  I am grateful to not report any knee problems or other pain in my legs.

3.  Wide hips
My hips are just wide enough to allow two children to sit in my lap at once.  I'm big enough to be able to embrace both kids while I read them a book.  Sometimes we squeeze a small dog or two in, also.

4.  A stomach that doesn't complain
I am grateful for a stomach and digestive system that is happy with whole grain oatmeal and salads as well as hamburgers and enchiladas.  I'm not a picky eater and I am grateful that my stomach complies with whatever I put in it.

5.  A back that reminds me when I'm over-doing it.
I don't have back problems, but occasionally when I'm cleaning house like a madwoman or doing other manual labor, my back lets me know when I need to quit.  It's also strong enough to give  many piggy-back rides.

6.  A complete set of fingers on a complete set of hands
I have hands that don't hesitate to shake other hands in greeting, to pat friends on the back, to fold laundry, wash dishes, cook a meal, and hold the hands of my husband and children.

7.  Curly, low-maintenance hair
I believe God knew what he was doing when he made me.  My hair is curly and in a way it fixes itself.  I spend approximately one minute on arranging it every day.  I'm grateful that for the most part, that is enough.  It doesn't usually stick out or look bad.

8.  Clear, low-maintenance skin
I clean and moisturize my face, but that's about it.  Some days I wear makeup and some days I don't.  I'm so grateful that I can choose whether or not to add cosmetics to my face.  I look mostly the same regardless.

9.  Ears that work
I can hear two kids conspiring in whispers across a room and I can survive two kids shrieking with joy right next to my ear.  I am grateful for my ears.

10.  My nose
My nose appreciates that sometimes smelling food is just as satisfying as eating it. 

11.  Eyes that see
With the aid of glasses, I can lay on the trampoline and see details on leaves at the top of our cypress tree.  Claire and I did that yesterday, appreciating how tall, strong, and beautiful that tree is.

12.  My brain
I can think of approximately ten items at a time.  While I am writing this, I am also writing my grocery list, to-do list, and thinking how to get Claire to school on time.  There's a few other thoughts as well.

So today I am thankful for my human body.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Thankful Twosday

Last week I didn't get to do this.  I handwrote 10 things I'm thankful for, but I just didn't get to it.

So here's a double dose.  Grab a cup of coffee and make yourself comfortable because the list is long this week.

This week I'm thankful for:

1.  Days off school
Yesterday Claire had the day off of school due to teacher inservice.  Adam took care of himself for lunch, and without lunch obligations or having to pick up a kid from school, we were footloose and fancy free.  We stayed at the zoo longer than we ever have.

2.  Quiet benches at the zoo.
One of the best parts of having a zoo membership is that we can go any time we want for however long we want and we don't feel the pressure of needing to see the entire zoo to justify our appearance.  Yesterday the kids wanted to watch the giraffes, so watch them we did.  We sat on a bench in front of the giraffes while crowds came and went.  We snuggled and just enjoyed observing the animals.

3.  Happy Meal toys
Also yesterday for a special treat, I let the kids get Burger King at the zoo.  We have never eaten at that location before, so the kids were so excited to get the Burger King version of a Happy Meal and sit in front of an aquarium and eat.  The meal included a ring toss, a crown, and a zhu zhu pet.  Several zoo visitors had to step around us, but the kids had a blast scooting their new toys on the floor.

4.  Warm cookies
Today in staff meeting at church, we were served fresh, warm cookies by Sue.  They were delicious!

5.  Medicine that prevents dr. visits
Yesterday Paul was developing a cough, so I made sure to get to CVS and get him some Mucinex.  This afternoon I think he's coughed twice, both times for dramatic effect.  I love it when we can stop sickness right when it starts.

6.  Knowledge of bathroom locations
Several times this past week Paul, who is three, had to go to the restroom immediately.  If we know where we're running, we always make it in time.  Having to ask directions to the restroom usually ends in disaster.

7.  Another Aha! book
Apparently I'm on a roll with reading good books.  This evening I will wrap up my reading of Women, Food, and God.  Much of the book resonated with me and I read it with a highlighter close by.  My next read is "I is an Other", at the recommendation of Rev. Jason Valendy.  I'll let you know how that goes.

8.  Fashion Freedom
Today Paul wore his rainboots.  He wore one fireman rainboot on one foot and a larger, blue rainboot on the other foot.  He paired those with camouflage pants and a striped shirt.  Claire has to wear a school uniform but personalizes it every day with fancy socks and hairbows.  This morning she walked to school with a hand made crown on her head.  I love that my kids feel they can express themselves through the clothes they wear.

9.  Snow hats
Last week when we had a cold snap, Claire wore her snow hat to school.  It was then that I realized not only was her hat too small, it was the same one she'd been wearing since she was six months old.  She was a big baby and I bought her a big hat for that first snow.  Five years later, she's finally grown out of it.  I love all the memories attached to that snow hat, and look forward to the memories she'll make in her new Minnie Mouse hat.  We purchased her a new hat at Target with a pom pom on each side for Minnie Mouse ears.  It is one of the cutest sites I have ever seen.  She's been wearing shorts, flip-flops and her snow hat everywhere since we bought it.

10.  Kids that bathe dogs
The kids bathed both dogs today.  They love it and do a good job.  All I did was turn on the water.  Now I have two sweet smelling dogs and two entertained kids.

11.  My new wireless mouse
I just got a new mouse for my laptop and it is beautiful.  It moves with such fluidity and perfection that I am in awe.

12.  Trunk or Treat
Each year our church has an event where the family gets dressed up, decorates our trunk and passes out Halloween candy.  It's always a blast.

13.  Theme Halloween costumes
The kids were fish and we were fishermen.  It was pretty cute, even if the designer says so herself.

14.  Generosity of candy
The day after Halloween, the kids decided they wanted to share their candy with Adam.  I told them also that the church collected it to pass out during Christmas.  They filled two gallon bags with candy they wanted to give away and left little for themselves.  I wanted to shout "Hallelujah!" for several reasons, including less hyperness.

15.  Patient, instructive zookeepers
Last week when it was just Paul and me at the zoo, we went to the fish petting tank.  The zookeeper asked Paul if he wanted to pet a giant snail.  He said no.  She calmly encouraged him to pet "just his shell" and "just his side" and before Paul knew it, he was petting the slimy part.  It was a good experience for him and I could tell the zookeeper knew what she was doing.

16.  Mandatory naps
Last Tuesday everything was looking kind of glum for a number of reasons.  After Claire got home from school, I ordered mandatory naps for everyone.  We all felt better and happier after an hour of rest.

17.  Gracious web support
I just revamped our church website.  It's not completely done and it's not perfect, but I did it!  I was quite proud of myself, but I must give props to my web support guy, Scott, who answered my emails quickly and helpfully, even if they were titled, "Auuuugggghhh!"

18.  Catching up with good friends
In the last two weeks I've had some opportunity to put the brakes on the schedule so I can catch up with some of my best friends.  I cherish the times when I can have meaningful, adult conversations with friends.

19.  Backup
My cousin Jeff and I have been sharing the duties of helping care for my grandfather, who is currently in a rehab center.  Jeff does more than I, and I am grateful that we work as a team to make sure my granddad gets the best care possible in the place he's at.

20.  Trees that think it's spring
A few doors down from us a family moved out with haste.  They didn't water their yard for a long time, so their tree was on death's door for a while.  With the rain lately, the tree is now in full bloom.  It's beautiful.

21.  Blankets
When it's cold outside, we have plenty of blankets to cuddle up under.  We have so many that we can actually chose which blankets best fit our decor and the weather outside.  We are spoiled and grateful.