Seasons of Thanksgiving

Since November started, I have been posting one item on Facebook a day that I'm thankful for.  This in turn has lead me to be more thankful.  I already practice gratitude  but now I find myself being even more thankful for every single tiny thing in life.  I try not to take anything for granted.

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Central heating and air

Fall weather has arrived, and with it, warm afternoons and cool nights.  We are so fortunate here to be able to change the weather inside our house with a flip of a switch.  Air conditioner off, heater on.  Oh, it's a warmer day.  Heater off, AC on.

2.  Multiple pairs of comfortable pajamas

Some people only have the clothes they wear on their backs.  I have an assortment to choose from for day or night.

3.  Variety in grocery shopping

I did all my shopping on Sunday.  First Trader Joes, for items available only there.  Then Costco for my bulk items, then Aldi for generic groceries, then Wal-Mart for price matched groceries.  Do you know some people have to do all their shopping in one place?  Not me.  I travel the city to get the best deals by ounce.

4.  Alarm clocks

When I'm distracted (ahem) and haven't gone in to wake up the chillens and Adam, their alarm clocks start the job for me.

5.  Stuff

The clutter around the house is both a blessing and an albatross.  We've got stuff.  But, we've got stuff!  We've got multiple blankets on each bed, books in every corner, newspapers, food, toys galore.  We've got stuff!

6.  My laptop

Today I'll be doing some work from home (after my other job).  Tomorrow I'll be doing work at church.  Do I need to transfer files or change gears?  No!  I take my laptop and work with me!  It's nice to have a portable computer and a portable job.

7.  Opportunities to serve

Some people have hidden talents that are waiting to be used.  Not me.  I am blessed with knowing what I am good at and being able to find places to use it.  Nearly every where I go I am able to help others.  It's nice to be able to help in multiple situations.  I've even found places for my leftovers!  I've discovered that some people at church will eat anything I cook!  

8.  A break

This weekend Adam took the kids camping and I was left by myself.  It was a glorious time.  I went shopping.  I read an entire book.  I watched a movie.  I crocheted.  But by the end, I was ready for them to come home.

9.  Election excitement

The kids both voted at their schools, and when it was election night, Adam turned on the TV to watch the vote tallies coming in.  Both Claire and Paul were asking all sorts of questions about who was winning and what those colors meant.  It was educational and fun!

10.  Security

I do not live my life in fear.  I don't worry about bombs destroying my house or my children being injured at school.  Terrorism is a far-off word and world for me.  For all those who make this country, state, city, and neighborhood safe for my family, I am grateful.

Thankful Tuesday

Good morning!  It's Tuesday again and time to count my blessings.

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Synchronized wakeups
This morning I had planned on trying to get up at 5, but both dogs and Paul started making noise at 4:45 a.m.  A little early, but I was very appreciative that they did it at the same time and I was able to sleep uninterrupted until then.

2.  The excitement of small wonders
A couple of days ago, Paul asked about the washing machine, so I held him up and put a screwdriver in a hole to trick the machine to start working without the lid.  We stood there for almost 10 minutes just watching it fill up with water and rotate.  He was captivated and I was aware, once again, of what a miracle it is that we have a machine that washes our clothes for us.

3.  Xerox machines
File this under the small wonders category.  Claire was asking what they do the other day and I spent some time explaining it.  This caused me to think and appreciate what a miracle it is that you put one paper on top and then identical papers come out of the machine.

4.  Free activities
There are many free activities in our area for kids and we are thankful.  The kids even get excited when they hear the word "free" because they know it's something I won't say no to.  We've visited the Kimbell Art Museum's permanent collection several times this summer.  The kids like to talk about what is happening in the paintings.  It's air-conditioned and it's FREE!

5.  Mouse cars
Claire has requested that we attach ears and a tail to my Jetta, but it wouldn't quite be as cool as the Truly Nolen exterminator cars that look like mice.

6.  Songs that bring you back
For every season of my life, there is a song that reminds me of it.  Hearing the Dire Straits or the Eagles reminds me of quiet nights of dinner and playing cards with my family growing up.  Hearing the Toadies reminds me of the college nights Adam and I attempted to play pool at Gilligan's.

7.  The power to limit quantity and still be satisfied
On Saturday, we took the kids to Lone Star Park to see the horseraces.  We stayed for about two hours in the sweltering heat.  The horse races continued, but we were beat, so we went home and were satisfied.  Last night we introduced the kids to Slurpees with their own individual cups filled halfway.  Sure we could have stayed for every horse race and filled the kids' cups up to the brim, but then we would have had exhausted and cranky kids one day and hyper kids another.  Instead we had perfectly content children.  It's about quality, not quantity.

8.  Staying home
Yesterday we stayed home all day.  We took the dogs for a walk, played at the park, splashed in the kiddie pool, I scraped paint, we all went swimming in the big pool, painted our toes, read books, took a short nap, and a few other activities.  When it's so easy to be busy, it's also a blessing to be able to be at home.

9.  Sprinkler systems
This weekend our neighbor was watering his grass by hand.  I'm sure he was doing it for hours, but I didn't stay to watch the entire event.  I am thankful for our sprinkler system.  While it's fun to water my special plants, it's also nice to have green grass without labor on my part.  (Of course, Adam will argue that the green grass is plenty of labor on his part, but he's not writing this blog.)

10.   The power to say yes
We're certainly not lottery winners, but it makes me happy to be able to buy the children items they need and sometimes items they just want.  Claire had been asking for a tutu for about a month.  As a rule, I don't just buy her what she asks for every time because she often changes her mind and I don't want to waste money.  Last week I got her a bright yellow and pink tutu from Costco and she was tickled pink.  It makes me happy that Adam and I are able to purchase some items for the kids that they really want and all the items they really need.  When I was buying school uniforms last week, I said a prayer of thanks that we had the ability to get those, because they are not cheap.  Many families will struggle this school year with keeping their kids clothed in uniforms and we are blessed to not have that problem.

Thankful Tuesday Number Five, I Think

Hello!  I've been out of the blogosphere for a few days because we took an anniversary trip to Fredericksburg.  Lots of shopping and wine and fun.
That leads me to my Tuesday thanks list.

1.  Dog-sitters and Babysitters
This week I am thankful for my friends the Carlton family, who watched Wesley Eugene over the weekend.  I'm also grateful for Adam's sisters for both watching and thoroughly entertaining the kids all weekend.  The list of what the kids did is long...horse-riding, tea party, trampoline ring-around-the-rosy, and on and on.  Thanks to all of you!

2.  Stacy and Matt
I would like to also extend thanks to Stacy and Matt, who went with us to Fredericksburg.  We had a lot of fun, and they even bought dinner one night.  Love, love, love them.

3.  Adventurous eaters
According to Adam's mother, he was raised on PB&J, Kraft Mac 'n' Cheese, and pepperoni pizza.  I am proud of everyone in my house, all with expanding taste-buds.  Last night we ate spinach salad and Greek goulash with gnocchi noodles.  It was healthy and everyone ate it.  I won't say it was a make-again recipe, but I am proud of my adventurous eaters.  Claire and Paul even had seconds on salad!

4.  The garage
Yesterday we had hail and my car stayed dry and damage-free in the garage.  I was also able to load the kids up during a rainstorm without getting wet.  We are blessed.

5.  Growing things
We are successfully growing lavendar, cilantro, tomatoes, squash, okra, bell peppers, and daisies.  This is my most successful gardening year ever!

6.  Ann-Marie
Preschool is out, and I didn't have anywhere to take the kids so I could work.  Luckily, our friend Ann-Marie was actually thinking about watching kids over the summer so she could pull out all her old teaching supplies.  Every Tuesday the kids will now go to Ann-Marie's preschool....for free.  We are all ecstatic.

7.  Pandora
Last week I was trying to explain Vanilla Ice to the kids.  Unfortunately I don't have him on my Ipod.  Fortunately, there is Pandora Internet Radio, where I typed in a search for the classy rapper and instantly produced both that song and many more classic 90s dance hits.  I was dancing all day.

8.  The Blue Chair
When Adam and I were newlyweds, we splurged and bought him a recliner.  It still sits in our living room and was the perfect chair for nursing babies, and is still pefect for rocking kids and reading, and doing my devotional each morning.  It's so big and comfy, I can sit anyway I want to in it.  I love that chair.

9.  No flooding.
When we first moved into our home, the kitchen would flood during heavy rainstorms.  We bought a little gadget for the door that basically looks like an absorbent snake.  We have rarely had to mop up rain since then.

10.  Ministers and new perspectives
Sunday was our senior pastor's last day at church.  We love Dr. Rev. Jerry Chism, and will surely miss him.  He's become family.  Today, though, I get to meet our new senior minister, and I can't wait to see all the new perspectives and excitement she will bring.

Thanksgiving Tuesday Number Two!

As part of my new Tuesday tradition, I will list items I am thankful for.

1. Fort Worth's balance between urban and rural.

I love living in a big city. Every destination I need is within reach. I also love trees and flowers though, and I think Fort Worth has the perfect balance of them. You go downtown, which only consists of cement in many cities, and you see trees and flowers in beds. If you get tired of the gray, you just have to turn your head for some green, and if you get tired of the green, you just have to turn your head for some gray.

2. Texas weather.

Last week we were sweating and this week we're wearing sweaters. I love that I never have to stick to one item in my wardrobe. You never know what tomorrow will bring.

3. My tomato plant.

I bought one of those cheater plants at Wal-Mart that was already blooming and I have managed to keep it alive and healthy. We'll have tomatoes soon.

4. Quotes and Quips from kids.

Yesterday Claire confessed that she thought Pat-a-Cake said, "Bake your hands" but now understands that it is "Baker's Man."

5. Half Price Books

Last week I took two bags of books in and a vague idea of a Bible study book I wanted. I found what I needed and almost paid for it with what I didn't.

6. A cold glass of clean water.

I'm drinking one right now and I'm lucky. Millions of people in the world can't do that.

7. E-mail

I HATE talking on the phone. It's paralyzing and there's something that draws the children to me when I'm on the phone. They'll be busy making crafts but if I get on the phone, all the sudden they are hanging on me like monkeys. I am so grateful that in this day and age, I can e-mail instead of talk on the phone with most people.

8. Birds singing.

In our neighborhood, I often hear the birds singing even at night. It's beautiful.

9. My Steam Mop

I highly recommend my Shark Steam Mop. No detergents and you wash the mop pads. It's wonderful.

10. Flavored coffee creamers

For years, I have been wanting to buy the fancy flavored coffee creamers, but denied myself because I thought they cost too much. Recently I discovered they are only $1.28 at Wal-Mart. It's changed my coffee-drinking experience.

Post-Thanksgiving Post

Since my last post was all potty-talk, I decided to post a listing of my blessings. This is by no means a complete list.

On Sunday mornings, I am thankful for my church. My entire family is accepted and loved and we are constantly met with grace. I am also thankful for the lifelong tradition of Sunday naps. We take the day of rest seriously around here and usually stay home and spend time together after church.

On Mondays I am thankful for my husband, who goes to work so I don't have to. When I was teaching, Monday was a day of anxiety for me, but now I enjoy it. Monday is the day of catching up for us. On Mondays I am thankful for a working washer and dryer.

On Monday nights, I am thankful for my prayer group. They accept me as I am and have helped me out in countless ways countless times. I am grateful that I can tell them that I've had a poopy week, haven't done any Bible study, have yelled at my kids, and they love me all the same.

On Tuesday mornings, I am thankful for Ms. Carol's music class. Ms. Carol takes rules and procedures seriously and I am grateful for that. She insists on the children raising their hands and following rules. I am quite laidback by nature, so I appreciate the structure and formality that she provides to my children. Of course they also have fun in her class.

On Tuesday afternoons, I am thankful for our zoo membership. We can pop into the Fort Worth Zoo whenever we feel like it and for whatever length of time is convenient. I love taking the kids to the monkey house and letting them observe chimpanzees for as long as they like.

On Wednesday mornings, I am thankful for our library. I am thankful that we can walk to it, and often do. I am also thankful for each and every employee. We are always treated with courtesy and grace. My children and I feel quite at home and I'm not ashamed to ask for what I need, even if it's a roll of tape to repair my shoe.

On Wednesday afternoons, I am thankful for my husband that comes home for lunch and then leaves before naptime. I'm usually exhausted after hauling the Radio Flyer wagon full of books and kids to the library and back.

On Thursday mornings, I am thankful for my grandfather. He's 86 now and still lives alone. He doesn't mind that I invade his house weekly with two enthusiastic children who interrupt his silence and routine. He is always doing sneaky and thoughtful things for us. He's constantly "accidentally" buying too much breakfast sausage or corndogs.

On Thursday afternoons, I am thankful for the homeless ministry at our church. It has been such a blessing to us to be able to put a face on homelessness in Fort Worth and do our small part to help. Our church provides a safe and loving environment where my children adopt the ladies and call them friends.

On Friday mornings, I am thankful for our museum membership. The kids learn about the world every time we enter the building. From the planetarium show with Big Bird to the Children's museum with X-ray charts, they explore learning in ways I can't do at home.

On Friday afternoons, I am thankful for payday and coupons that help our money stretch.

On Saturday morning, I am thankful for late sleepers and catching up on laundry and Bible study.

On Saturday afternoon I am thankful for our two dependable vehicles that get us from place to place. I'm thankful for our many friends who have birthday parties on Saturdays. Sometimes I'm thankful we don't have any friends with parties that day.

Every day I am thankful for our friends. We are blessed beyond measure. Even though Thanksgiving was last week, around here we give thanks every day.

Being Grateful

My elderly friend Jo lives alone with her dog, Sir Charles Lowe Throckmorton. She calls him Charlie for short, but we all know he's royalty.
Jo is almost completely blind, has constant dental and dietary problems, but you would never know it. She is the happiest, most grateful person you've ever met.
We used to live next door to Jo. One of my first memories of her is after we moved in we were talking to her and she stopped abruptly. "Let's get something straight," she said. Adam and I both froze. I was worried we had somehow offended her and she was about to put us in our places. She put us in our places, but not in the way we were expecting.
"My name is Jo," she said.
We had been calling her Mrs. Throckmorton. And thus was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Before work, I would go to her house and have a cup of coffee. I would walk our dog Wesley and her dog, Bucky, around the block and then sit down in her front yard for coffee and conversation.
I started purchasing her groceries with ours. Because she's blind, she obviously can't drive or see items on the shelves. She gets around her home because she's lived there since the 1950s and knows exactly where everything is.
Seven years later, I'm still buying Jo's groceries, she still makes me coffee when I come over, and she's still exactly the same wonderful lady she's always been.
Jo is the most grateful person you will ever meet. Whenever I bring her something I've baked, she eats it and exclaims, "Now I don't want anything better than that!" Or if I give her a gift, she replies, "This does my heart good." She is genuinely grateful for anything she receives, from a paper clip to a something big, like Adam trimming her trees. Her thanksgiving is always at the same level. I once teased Adam that she would thank me for a dirty diaper, and one day she did.
When Claire was a baby she once had a gigantic poopy diaper at Jo's house. I apologized for having to place it in her trash, and Jo said to me, "It does my heart good to have something of Claire here at the house."
I wish I was more grateful for the things I have, even poopy diapers.