Day 25

Today I'm thankful that I did not have to go out and fight the crowds on Black Friday.  I know a lot of people that do/did and actually enjoy it.  I just can't get into that.  I have went a time or two and I will tell you, it was not a "joyous" experience.  One time I went,  I actually had a person try to take something out of my buggie.  Seriously???  I realize we all want to give and receive presents,  but that is not what Christmas is truly about.  For us as adults to go out and "fight" our way to the gifts we want to get does not really set a good example of the Christmas Spirit.  I saw where a woman in LA was pepper spraying people to get the items she wanted.  WOW!!  I'm all about saving some money, but I really didn't see anything that was worth losing my happy mood (or possible eyesight) about.  Besides,  there are a lot of deals out there, and there will be a lot more between now and Christmas. 

Happy Shopping to all!! I hope the ones that went out got what they were after.  To those of us who didn't,  I know there will still be some deals between now and Christmas!!!  After all, there are still 29 days, 11 hours, and 9 minutes until Christmas...

Day 24 - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!! A day late of course.  I was a little busy yesterday:)  I am so thankful for all my family and the opportunity to spend the day with them.  I'm thankful for the cooking skills I have acquired over the years from watching my mom, grandma, mother-in-law, and now the internet.  That's right, the internet!! I've acquired some of my kids favorite recipes from the internet.  I have tweaked them a little,  but they are pretty good.  Hard to believe huh??

  I so enjoyed fixing our Thanksgiving Feast this year!!!  It was a lot of work and my hubby and oldest daughter pitched in and helped a lot.  Thank you both!!

On the menu:
              Turkey of course (I must say I think this one was the best I have made, EVER)!!
              Mashed Potatoes, sweet potatoes, turkey gray,  stuffing,  green beans,  corn,  glazed carrots,
              homemade mac n cheese,  five cup fruit salad
              Pumpkin pie and apple dumplins

It took all morning to make and about 30 minutes to eat, but was worth every minute.  My children declared I should fix meals like this every day.  Are they CRAZY???  On the bright side,  I did not have to do ANY of the clean up.  Hubby and the kiddos were on that all day.  Love Them!!!

Hope everyone had a very wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day!!! 

Catching Up Days 16-23

So, I got REALLY behind while I was in WV.  It's time to get caught up.  16 - I'm thankful for safety while traveling.  On the way to WV,  I drove in rain almost the entire trip.  I saw 4 accidents before we ever got out of SC.  17 - Thankful for dear friends!  I have some very dear friends and only one of them still live in SC.  That leads me to 18 - modern technology which allows me to keep in touch with my far away friends (you all know who you are!!)  18 - God's provision - plenty of food in the cabinets and the mortgage and utilities are all paid for the month.  19 - Dependable transportation; 2 full size vans that get us where we need to go when so many have to juggle schedules due to one vehicle.  20 - I'm thankful for the blessing of being able to provide the wants as well as needs for our family. 21 - Thankful for time spent with family.  I enjoyed the few days I was able to spend in WV.  22 - I am thankful I was able to get some Christmas shopping done and get EVERYTHING I need for our Thanksgiving feast.  23 - Today I am thankful for this beautiful weather.  Sunshine this morning and temps in the upper 60's!  Whoot Whoot!!!  Love this South Carolina weather, even when it's cold, cause I'm here to tell you it could be worse, I know from experience. 

Days 12, 13, 14, and 15

Well, I have finally rested up from my work weekend.  So, time to catch up on my thankful list.

Day 12 - I am thankful for my health.  This past weekend we had several young patients on our unit (and by young, I'm talking early 30's)  and they were SICK!!!!!  It could have easily been me or hubby laying in that bed with all the respiratory junk going around. 

Day 13 - I am thankful that I had a good weekend at work (so rarely happens).  Most nights I'm doing dual roles because we don't have enough staff, but this entire weekend was nice.  We had all the nurses we needed and I only had to do my job.  That makes for a good weekend at work.

Day 14 - Now, I know this will sound silly, but I'm thankful for working appliances in my home.  We had to replace our washer and dryer back in April and just recently had to replace our dishwasher.  I'm here to tell you, this house would be miserable without any one of those items.  So thankful that God provided the means to replace them when they kicked the bucket.

Day 15 - Today while I am packing all my children up to take them to WV, I am thankful for home away from home.  I know that anytime I head up to WV, there is a place for me and my WHOLE crew.  Hubby and I both grew up there and our parents still reside there, so we can go back and forth and give them breaks.  Especially since I don't just travel with me and a few.  Now, it's me and a half dozen :)

So, now time to get back to packing.  I was suppose to leave today, but I'm gonna spend another day with hubby and not rush this packing thing.  It takes long enough as it is. 

11-11-11

Day 11 - Today I'm thankful for all the men and women who have given their freedom and some their lives for us to be free. We truly are blessed to be called an American.  Though times aren't always easy,  it could be so much worse.  

A portion of one of my favorite songs:

I Have Been Blessed

We live in a country, the greatest on earth, our flag stands for freedom and what it is worth.  She stands in the harbor, Ms. Liberty called, all have gave some, but some gave it all for me to be blessed.

30 Days of Thanksgiving Days 9 and 10

Once again, missed a day!!  So, here's day 9 - Today I'm thankful that God knows just what we need when we need it.  Today my darling hubby traded his beautiful truck for a 12 passenger van.  That's right a cool truck for a passenger van.  We had been looking,  but just hadn't found one that was all that we needed.  Hubby needed to be able to tow with it and of course we have to fit all the youngins in there. This one is everything we need (even if it is white) and he got a good deal on his truck.  Thank you Lord.

Day 10 - With tomorrow being Friday and my work weekend,  I am thankful for my job.  I don't always like it and most days don't want to go.  However,  I also realize that there are many people who would love to have my job, my paycheck, and even my schedule.  So, thank you Lord that you again worked everything out for our little family so that I can work and provide and still be a stay-at-home mom too.  I wear ALL my hats proudly!!!

30 Days Of Thanksgiving

Day 8 - Even with the craziness it presents at my house EVERY day, I'm thankful for the privilege to homeschool.  Sometimes it is very frustrating and I wonder if they are getting what they need.  Then, I hear them talking and recalling what we've learned.  I've even heard them correcting each others grammar. It makes me feel so good.  I love spending every day with them.  I also love the fact that I'm in control of what they learn and when.  Isn't that sheltering you ask?? Well, aren't we suppose to protect our children?? That's all I'm doing.  There are just some things I don't think they need to be exposed to at the age of 10, 11, 12, or even younger.  That's not to say I'm not preparing them for "the real world", but there is a time and a place to let them know what's out there.

30 Days Of Thanksgiving

Well, I told you I would repeat some.  I did my parents twice already, sure do love them and miss my momma.

On to today, Day 7 I am thankful for a beautiful house that meets our needs.  I've been in bigger more beautiful homes, but this is what God has given us and it's just what we need. 

Pretty huh?? I'm also pretty thankful that the little bit of snow we get each year doesn't hang around long!! Just enough to be pretty and give me my dose of snow.  Sad enough, this is the best pic I have of our house.

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Well, as usual, I am behind......story of my life.  So time to get caught up!!

4th - I'm thankful for loving, caring, christian parents.  I'm glad that they were more concerned with raising me than being  my friend.  As a parent,  I often find myself saying something just like my mom, or doing something the way my dad does.  My mom once told me, it wasn't her job to be my friend, but as an adult I did consider her my dearest friend and miss her greatly. As a child I thought life was pretty rough what with all those chores and rules and all!!!

5th - I'm also thankful for some wonderful in-laws.  You always hear such horror stories.  I'm so glad I don't have any of those.  I was blessed with sweet, caring, christian people.  Do we always agree?  Probably not,  but it always seems to work out.

6th - Since today is Sunday,  I'm thankful for my church.  We are truly blessed to be involved in a church that stands on the Bible and has not sacrificed the tried and true Word of God for the more contemporary, don't want to step on anyone's toes messages.     

I have so many things to be thankful for.  It is hard to just pick one (or in this case three).  I'm not sure 30 days will cover them all.  I may have to start combining :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving

I'm going to keep this simple.  I'm so very thankful for my parents.  Hubby and I were both blessed with a Godly heritage;  parents that serve the Lord, encourage us to do the same and I know pray for us daily.  Fortunately, we still have three here on earth, but my mom is waiting for us in Heaven.  I can also say that I know I'll see her again and I'm thankful for that as well.  SO BLESSED!!!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Well, on facebook and I suppose Twitter (I'm not on there) everyone is listing out something they are thankful for each day.  So,  I'm going to do that on here.  But, as usual, I'm late getting started, so today I have to do two. 

First of all, I'm thankful for my salvation and a loving, forgiving and merciful savior. I'm thankful He paid a debt I could not pay so that I could spend eternity in Heaven. 

Second, I am so very thankful for my family.  Today I'll just start with my loving hubby and 6 beautiful children (I think that's a lot to be thankful for).  I'm so blessed that they love and support me no matter what.  Of course we have our disagreements, but overall, there is a whole lot of love in this house!!!

We all have so much to be thankful for.  It should be very easy to list out thirty things.  I probably will even repeat a couple, they are just such blessings.  :)