Barf.

Presley projectile vomited while we waited in line at the border today. She was in the middle of crying about her tummy hurting and then BAM out came 5+ cups of mostly liquid. I had to backtrack in the border line to get over to the duty free parking lot to clean her, and everything in the backseat, off. In the midst of such a smelly and widespread disaster I was STOKED to remember that a few months ago my mom stuffed a big ol pack of baby wipes in my glove box. All I had in the car other than that was a dirty beach towel, so the wipes pretty much made my day. Who would have thunk my reason for gratitude today would come from Presley's pineapple juice barf?!

PS. Presley is fine. Totally better after she coated my car.

Em, Siah, Fire.

Today I am thankful for my sister, Emily. I love spending time with her- no matter the circumstance.

I am also super happy to be raising a kid who says things like "Mom, when you win the lottery, will you please give all your money to homeless people?" Aside from the obvious, I like that he chose to say "when" vs. "if". He also said today as we pulled up to the border to enter Canada, "I don't think we are in America anymore. It doesn't smell like our country, it smells like cardboard."

AND I am happy that the kids playing with matches on our porch while no one was home didn't burn our house down, even as they held the flame to our siding. THANK YOU GOD.

Miniiima Babidibaba Cooniti Whip Cream.

Presley and Travis decided to speak to each other in a new and foriegn language today.

Also, I have had one of those days where I pretty much want to eat everything in sight, or that I can think of, which led to this- and it was amazing:

Revelation.

I went to church this morning, tired from a short amount of sleep, and not particularly interested in being at church at all- which is not something new. I have felt kind of distanced from the idea of church as whole for some months now. I couldn't put my finger on why, till this morning. I just started attending Grace Community Church, this was my second Sunday, and the pastor Andy is in the middle of a series having to do with Paul and his letters to Corinth. Mostly what I have heard is along the lines of our culture, trying to make the gospel likable in order for our own comfort, and how closely related this idea is now to the city of Corinth that Paul writes to.

Today the service was great- I nodded in agreement and said "amen", and meant it. All the while I just felt kind of dead inside trying to think about relationship with God, and not being comfortable and so on. I had this image of a plant, more specifically my plant- the only one I have ever kept alive. It is some sort of non floral thing I bought at Walmart only because I found an awesome owl cookie jar that I wanted to use as a planter. My plant is alive. It grew a lot in a few spurts, but now it is just alive. It receives sun and water, but not enough to grow, just not enough to die. It is mostly green, sometimes a leaf becomes brown and I clip it off when I remember, or it falls off on its own. I thought about this plant, and then myself. I have received salvation and will live forever with Christ. I am alive, but I am not growing. I have grown before, and am further along the road than some, if we are to compare- but I have hit a wall. I am receiving sun and water because of salvation, but no one is dumping miracle grow on me. More importantly I am not at Home Depot shopping for miracle grow. I can't tell you how many months I have felt like this. I think I may have attempted the miracle grow formula for a short amount of time in the beginning, with no real results, so I gave up and decided it would all have to pass sometime and soon enough I would be feeling all holy again. But it didn't pass. I have just accepted the feeling of stunted growth, and even more so, run with it. It occurred to me this morning that I am more comfortable around my unsaved husband and my unsaved friends, than I have been at church in awhile. I don't cringe at ugly language and crude humor. I use ugly language and crude humor. I have taken bits and pieces of the gospel that I like right now, because they fit where I am, and I hold fast to them- but I have let other, just as important concepts and ideals fall to the wayside. My life is wonderful. I am blessed. I have no major issues biting at my ankles- so I have somehow equated that with mine and Gods relationship being solid. It isn't. I love God- no doubt, but you sure wouldn't know it hanging out with me these days. Not really. Not the way I would want you to know it. I am a Christian, but what does that even mean? It means nothing if your life does not reflect it. Right now, my life does not reflect it anymore than some nice girl down the street.

Today I am thankful for whatever has led me to Grace Community church, which is somewhat of a mystery all its own, since it isn't often a person decides to up and leave a church they love and consider family to attend a new place 3 months before they leave the state. I am thankful for Andy as a pastor, who is open and honest and accepting. I am thankful for Jesus. For being treated like the scum of the earth so I have a shot at living like I am not. I am thankful that He forgives me no matter how many times I ask, even if my crime is the same as it was last week. I am so glad for today, for this morning. I can't wait to start growing again.

Yard Sale.

Today we had a yard sale and it went surprisingly well. I didn't expect it to go badly, but you never know what the outcome will be when you throw all your crap in boxes and on blanket in your yard and try and pawn it off on other people for cash. We made way more than I thought we would, and got rid of almost everything. ALSO, (and this is the best part), it gave me a legit opportunity to wear my WCW fanny pack. It has two pockets, one for bills and one for coins and was PERFECT for being the banker. Not only was I making money, I was looking AWESOME doing it. (I had a really fantastic picture of myself during the sale with it on, but apparently my memory card stops working when it is most needed- which I am not thankful for by the way.)

I attained this fanny pack at a WCW Live event when I was approximately 8 years old. I hadn't seen it probably since I got it until I was at my Nannies house last April. I am glad she had it, and I really honestly wish I could wear it always.

I Know My Calculus.

•  Michael Upchurch
  

  • mickey parks got one hoe, and one hoe only, and dats mickey parks bitch!
• Brooks Decker
  

  • did you just quote 2gether?
• Michael Upchurch
  

  • yeeees- did u just immediately know what i was quoting?
• Brooks Decker

  • yes, because i spent much time during my adolescence watching that movie. and he was my favorite. i actually just saw him on csi the other day and decided i needed to watch that movie soon.
• Michael Upchurch
  

  • i saw the same csi, and immediately thought of you, i got the giggles, errbody thought i was fucked up or somethin, but i remember you always used to say that line.
    
    

    Today I had this convo with an old friend and it was a nice reminder that my teenage years weren't all bad. I think when I look back I see lots of the bad because it was overwhelming, but I also had some really rad friends, and awesomely fun times.  I am so glad people remember about my life what I don't...it makes for some sweet conversation.

    
    

    
    

    If you have never seen this fantastic made for TV movie by MTV, I suggest you illegally download it immediately. I kid- do it legally through Netflix or some other law abiding method.

Better Than Art.

I have StumbleUpon to thank again today for the amazingness I am about to share with you. I have been in my house for the past week doing nothing in an attempt to not spend money we don't have to spend, thus I have been "stumbling" more often than usual. Thank goodness for the interwebs. I know there is so much time wasted and ugly on said subject, but it sure is useful when absolutely nothing else is going on.

First off all, there is this. Secondly, this.

I am thankful for randomly coming across things like this because it reminds me how little I am, but how enormously beautiful and creative the God who loves me is.

"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." -Romans 1:18-20

Pablo and Judith.

StumbleUpon is really awesome. Today I came across a whole ton of qoutes about poetry and taken from poetry. Listed was a poet called Pablo Neruda, who has apparently won a Nobel Prize for literature, but I had never heard of him. A piece of his work was sampled and it swallowed me whole. It is as follows:

"I crave your mouth, your voice, your hair.
Silent and starving, I prowl through the streets.
Bread does not nourish me, dawn disrupts me, all day
I hunt for the liquid measure of your steps.

I hunger for your sleek laugh,
your hands the color of a savage harvest,
hunger for the pale stones of your fingernails,
I want to eat your skin like a whole almond.

I want to eat the sunbeam flaring in your lovely body,
the sovereign nose of your arrogant face,
I want to eat the fleeting shade of your lashes,

and I pace around hungry, sniffing the twilight,
hunting for you, for your hot heart,
Like a puma in the barrens of Quitratue."


If that does not move you, please never speak to me again. I kid, we can speak, just not about anything worth while apparently. I kid again. Really though, I am overjoyed at having discovered this man and cannot WAIT to purchase his complete works.


I finished a book this morning that I began yesterday. It is called "Fat Girl" written by Judith Moore. It is an autobiography about a little girl turned woman whose entire life has been spent obese. It details a terrible childhood and an adulthood not much better. It made me think a lot about my own eating and issues and parents and childhood and good memories and bad memories and despite all of it how God somehow kept his hand on me and I turned out okay. No matter the mistakes made by my parents they always loved me and I always knew it. Only for a moment, (in the grand scheme of life), did I become so lost that I grabbed for the ankles of anyone or anything that could fill the hole in my heart. It came and went quickly and I, without much hesitation let the only person who could fill it do so- God. All that to say, today I am thankful for being reminded how blessed my life has been regardless of any major downs.

I am reminded of the following scripture:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
  “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that
neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:31-40

Little Rascals.

I remember being young and playing out in the street with my friends till the street lights came on. These days the thought of letting your children out in the street alone is close to nonsense in most cases....but not on my street. I live in an amazing little community, in an amazing neighborhood, on a safe street full of kids who run rampant from early afternoon till bedtime. Most days Jesiah goes out after lunch, comes in to eat dinner, back out and then back in covered in dirt and sweat and smiles just in time for bed. It is such a huge blessing- for all of us. Him because he gets to be a kid- a real kid with dirt under his nails and skinned knees and a bike left in the rain after a long day of riding with no hands. Me because frankly, I appreciate the break...and I am elated that he is making such awesome memories.

 

(Note: The faces of these children have been altered to hide their true identities.)

Presley goes out with the kids often- but only when I feel like sitting out there. When she is not outside she is inside, usually naked. Tonight all the kids were in our backyard and Presley was at the sliding glass door, naked, and shaking her booty at them. Jesiah stormed in saying, "Daddy, shut this door, this is so inappropriate- close the blinds!!!!"

I am also very thankful today for this blog. I assume it was God who planted the idea in my heart to create something that kept me accountable for thanks giving- and I am so glad he did. It forces me all day to pay attention and recognize all the little things I could talk about being thankful for. In the short amount of time I have been doing it, even on the most boring of days, I see light and joy- and it is awesome.

Summer Rain and Pizza.

It rained today, which was awesome. I know what you are thinking, "GOD she has NO clue what she wants!", and you might be right. I think the rain was good today because it came after a week full of sunshine, and with a brisk wind that made it feel sort of fallish. The kind of day where you look outside and know you must not go anywhere and you must read as much as you possibly can. The kids even wanted hot chocolate, which can only be served in our special Starbucks Christmas penguin cups- and who doesn't want a reason to use special penguin cups?

Travis is hooked on this show called Restaurant Impossible, where this enormously muscular chef called Robert Irvine goes into failing restaurants with $10,000 and 2 days to completely turn them around. He says watching it makes him "jazzed". (Aside from where I am actually going with this, I would like to side note that the fact that my husband uses the term "jazzed" to describe his feelings about something is in and of itself a reason to be thankful.) So he and I have had a dream about opening up a pizza parlor since as far back as I can remember, quite possibly the entire 8 years of our relationship. Watching this show propels us into conversations about our own dream, which I think in the hustle of life at its current state and pace, we forget about. I feel so blessed have someone so amazing to share dreams with. I cannot wait to be managing and cooking and serving the best  pizza you will ever have in my own place, with my best friend.

Saturday-Sunday Collabo.

I missed my blog yesterday because I was busy doing things to be thankful for late into the evening. Our friends with the fondue pot came over again and we made real fondue- with steak, shrimp, chicken, brocolli, mushrooms, greenbeans, sweet potato's and more. It was fabulous- but the food did not compare with watching Travis and Brandon trying to fry everything and getting grease spit at all their body parts. THAT was awesome. (The picture quality is awful- but that is the price you pay when trying to capture grease pops and their aftermath on film.)

I tried to get Brandon and Travis to take a nice, casual BFF picture, but apparently they are incapable. (A valiant effort on my part, though.)

Today I went to Grace Community church with my friend Tasha. It was awesome, because I love the pastor there, and the worship was faaaantastic. I feel blessed to have such great churches in my community, and the opportunity to live freely in my faith, and visit them all. Also, Tasha is my soul sister. She is someone who connects with me on a level left untouched by any other friends I have- even the best ones. She and I share a spiritual playing field, and always tend to find ourselves in the same part of the game. She is absolutely priceless and anytime spent with her follows suit.

I am sure I will have more to say later, as we are going over to some other wonderful friends place for dinner, *coughBeemanscough*, however I have a feeling I won't want to write after said good time, so this is it for today!

Life is Good, (in a way that is better than what is represented by those dumb t-shirts).

My children dressed themselves this morning. Jesiah said he is from the circus and Presley told me she was from the grocery store. She has also been walking around with random objects, placing them above her lip and yelling "MUSTACHE!!". My kids never cease to amaze me, even when I want to throw them out a window because they are driving me mad.

In addition to that, I have awesome friends. For the first time in my adult life I have a handful of lady friends who really mean a lot to me. People who life just wouldn't be the same without. Recently a few of them have said really thoughtful, caring and beautiful things to me- about how they appreciate who I am, and it is just such a blessing.

Also, the other day I had an awesome devotional, and I wanted to share it but have been too lazy to type the whole thing out. It is titled, "I will Give Thanks", and taken from, "Timeless Truths in Changing Times" by David Cooper:

I will give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever...for the Father and His inescapable presence...for Jesus and His amazing grace...for the Holy Spirit, my companion and guide. I will give thanks in all things...for God works in all things...and God works for the good of those who love him and who are called according to his purpose...there are no coincidences; only divine opportunities. I will give thanks for all things; for things pleasant and for things painful. In pleasant times I experience the heights of happiness; in painful times I learn to lean on Him. I will give thanks for the overlooked blessings of life...the serendipitous grace...the kind word...the encouraging letter...the daily provisions I tend to take for granted...the opportunity to work and be productive...the common routines of every ordinary day. I will give thanks for the hassles of life...a demanding schedule...traffic jams...daily stresses...personal responsibilities...meaningless tasks...inspiring challenges...interruptions...cell phones that make me ubiquitous...all these remind me of the sacred privilege of being alive. I will give thanks for the household of faith...my spiritual family which surrounds me with favor and love...the source of God's grace...the body of Christ which enables me to share my gifts...the sanctuary of grace which calls me upward and onward in my spiritual walk. I will give thanks for the Bible...the enduring Word of God...a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...a sure word in an age of confusion...a timely word in seasons of pain...a reassuring word in the prison of fear...a healing word in the wounds of the soul. I will give thanks for America...for the cost of freedom...the promise of opportunity...the courage of patriotism...the sacrifice of warriors...the glory of the Constitution...and a government of the people, by the people and for the people. I will give thanks for this day...for it is the gift of God...it is the only day I have...it is a day filled with endless opportunities and bright promises...and I shall get everything I can from it and give everything I have to it.

The bold is my doing- but I thought it was a pretty awesome little reading, and wanted to share!

Juan's Painted Shells.

It feels tedious always writing "Today I am thankful for....", so from now on I am just going to write about things as if you already know why I am writing about them, which you do.

The sun was shining again today, and after my 2.5 hour nap with the Pizee, we went outside and painted shells, (every time we go to Double Bluff I find as many whole shells as I can for painting). I love painting- especially things that are low pressure, like shells.

 This one is my best in show for the day- I would like to dedicate it to my sister and fellow unicorn appreciator, Emily.

When the shells are finished they furnish Juan, (pronounced Ho-wan), the flamingo's dirt pad. Juan is my first plastic pet flamingo and I think I love him as much as my real pet turtle.

Chocolate Covered Everything.

Have I mentioned how thankful I am for every moment I get in the sun?! That to say I am thankful today for the opportunity to take my kids to the park. Jesiah's friend was there, which was awesome because he had someone to run amuck with, and Presley met an awesome little girl to argue over who gets to pretend to be the mommy with.

Travis borrowed a friends pressure washer and killed our driveway with it, which I am super thankful for because our driveway was a mess of oil and dirt and juice stains and paint marks and dirt and oil.

Lastly today I am thankful for the Burts and their fondue pot. I had never experienced fondue of any sort before tonight. I will speak no more, but let the pictures guide you.

That, my friends, is gluttony at its finest. Strawberries, bananas, pound cake, brownies, Twinkies, marshmallows, coconut sugar coated marshmallows and graham crackers- all dipped generously in melted Ghirardelli chocolate mixed with condensed milk and half&half.

Oh Happy Day!

I had a great day today, beginning when I got to wake up from the everlasting bad dream I had all night long. Today I am thankful for *takes a deep breath*:

The free gym provided to me by my housing people, the fact that that gym has TVs to watch Two and a Half Men on when I am attempting to run 6 miles but only get through 4 because of AWFUL side stitch I couldn't kick, the sun and its warmth that provided incentive to drive to Double Bluff with the offspring and play in the sand and water for 3 hours this afternoon, Warren Barfield because he makes good music that is Jesus loving, (which is a rarity), and strawberry yogurt mixed with granola and bananas.

OH HAPPY DAY! YAY!

Reconciliation.

First off, I am SO thankful for bedtime because Presley has been ON IT today.

I want to talk about something that is really important, so this might be a bit less fluffy than what I usually write here. Today was a non-running day, (which I am also thankful for), which means I do the elliptical at the gym. When I do the elliptical I watch TV, usually Intervention (on demand). I have noticed the past couple times I have watched it that the people being intervened on needed to hear someone important to them say they were sorry for something. They needed this so much it was eating them alive from the inside out. It wasn't anything huge that they needed, just a recognition that a wrong was done, and an "I'm sorry" to start making it right.
I understand this. I understand the need for recognition of a wrong from someone in order to make things right. It took a really long time for me to get to a point where I genuinely understood that that was what I needed, and approach the person who I felt needed to admit the wrong. When this person and I had that moment, where they said sorry and meant it and knew what they were sorry for, I became completely free to love them the way I always wanted to. There was complete reconciliation. This person could have chosen not to apologize. They could have thought in their own mind there was no need to say sorry for anything at all, that they did the best they could with the hand they were dealt. At that point I would have had to find a way to let go of my need for an apology and move on from it- which would have been really hard and I had already failed miserably at this for many years, (whole other blog for this scenario). All that to say, I have been there.
What I really want to get at though, is this: if you screwed up and hurt someone, say you're sorry. Big or little, say you are sorry. I don't care what anyone says, people by nature are fragile, so easily broken- don't be the kind of person who breaks something and doesn't fix it.
Also, if you are living there, in that place of needing an "I am so sorry"- talk to the person who you need it from. The worst that can happen is for them to blow you off, which is no worse than living needing it in the first place. But maybe they don't know. Maybe they need you to tell them how broken you are.

Today I am thankful for my own reconciliation. I am thankful for the weight of needing an apology being lifted from me. I am thankful that I understand all of this, so that if it is ever me who needs to do the apologizing, I will recognize it, and do it.

Ho Ho Ho Ho Santa.

Once a month I teach Sunday school at my church, K-1st graders. It is something I do mostly because they take such good care of my kids when I am not there, the least I can do is take really great care of other peoples kids once a month when they aren't there. That to say, it isn't something I get stoked about- but I always end up having such a great morning. So today, to start, I am thankful for Sunday school and the little girl named Sylvanie who when asked what song she would like to sing, excitedly shouted out "HO HO HO HO SANTA!"- which is really quite humorous because what she was talking about was a song that goes, "Ho ho ho ho-sanna...." Totally adorable. (I have no picture to offer for this because I am against taking pictures of other peoples children and
posting them on the inter-webs.)

Secondly I am thankful for a whole day spent just me and my little man. We had lunch together at Red Robin where we successfully completed the entire children's menu activity sheet together, (minus finding the hidden crayon, because neither one of us could spot it to save our lives). We went to numerous stores where I let him pick out new clothes he wanted for school. I loved watching him look through things and find what he really liked without my guidance. I am so pleased with the little person he is becoming. Somehow, through all the mistakes I have made as a parent, Jesiah is the most amazing 7 year old I know, and I am pretty sure I would think that even if I wasn't his mom.

As a part of this second heaping of thankfulness- I am thankful for fake plugs, because they are awesome.

 Lastly today I am thankful for our friends the Burts. Brandon is awesome because he gets along with my husband, (which can be a bit of a challenge), he is from Oklahoma and wears Carhartt and cowboy boots and because he laughs at everything you say even if it is only a little bit funny. Whitney is awesome because she also likes my husband and has a dry sense of humor which humors me. She is also really smart and a great conversationalist. The two of them made the most amazingly attractive boy child ever and named him Jacob. He and Presley are best friends. We are arranging the marriage.

(Jacob is not pictured here because of the whole "other peoples children inter-webs" thing I mentioned earlier, but trust me, MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY EVER.

Acknowlegdement.

It didn't rain today, which is AWESOME because either way I would have been stuck outside at a car show. I am thankful for that. I am also thankful that my husband got to be in it. To have his peers acknowledge that what he loves and is passionate about it is worth while to them as well. I think I might understand what that feels like, maybe not to such an extent- but I know it must be awesome.

 I am also thankful to have stumbled upon the "A Room of Her Own" writing contest. I will be sending in the manuscript for a full book of poetry first thing tomorrow. Even if I don't place, it is the first time I have sat down and worked through and typed up and edited 12 years worth of poems. I am proud to have sealed up such a chunk of who I am in that manila envelope to be judged- no matter the outcome.

Tampons&Magazines&James Frey OH MY!

My kids say the most amazing things, and for this I am thankful. Here is a moment of conversation taken from this afternoon- we are on our way to the store:

SIAH: What are we going to the store for?

ME: Tampons.

SIAH: What is a tampon?

ME: Don't worry about it.

SIAH: Oh, I know what it is.

ME: You do?

SIAH: Yeah it's what you buy when you want to win the lottery.

I am also thankful all the collage materials I have accumulated from family and friends! Collaging is  probably one of my most favorite artistic activities of all time, and it is even better when you have a TON of material to work with.

Lastly today, I am thankful for James Frey. Honest or not, the man tells some fantastic stories and has no regard for grammar or punctuation.

Busy B.

Although I spent most of the day washing walls, baseboards, toilets and dirty clothes- I have a ton to be thankful for! First I am thankful that my kiddos entertained themselves almost all day so I COULD do all that cleaning. They were both very patient and stayed out of my hair, (and cleaning space), almost completely.

Secondly I am thankful for my friend Molly, who had I not made a commitment to run with today I never would have gone the length I did. Plus, she has awesome stuff to say, and the banter makes the running feel easy....er.

 Third I am thankful for the top layer of my homemade lasagna. Crispy noodle and mozzarella.

Lastly I am thankful that I live in America. I know we have all kinds of problems- debt ceilings, seemingly endless and pointless wars and lying squirmy greedy pharmaceutical company reps, (to name a few)- but really, we are SO BLESSED. We have no need to jump borders in the night with our babies wrapped around us in order to be free and have hope. We don't have to listen to some backwards, insane leader who tells us what to eat and drink and watch and listen to. For the most part we are free to be, and live and love and do as we please and I am really thankful for that.

AND- it's been sunny all afternoon!

Safe Travels.

Today I am thankful for kids who were happy to be on a mini road trip, and who can appreciate the soundtrack to Chicago as much as their mom.

Also, making it home safe and sound to a house that had been kept up, even in between massive amounts of sleeping. Travis rules. Oh- and the little bit of on and off sun- and the truth that lies in my heart that tells me no matter where my life goes, God is behind, inside and in front of it.

SAD.

Days like today are the reason I created this blog, mostly for myself. It has been a stretch to find something to be thankful for, (I know- it sounds terribly ungrateful and disgusting when I say it aloud). It has just been one of those days. The sun disappeared leaving the feeling of fall lingering in the air- which would be awesome if it wasn't August. I think I have the cloudy weather disease. Seasonal Affective Disorder it is called in real life. Yes, I am diagnosing myself with SAD. It's cool- whats one more mental disorder, right?

ANYWAYS- today I am thankful for Coffee Crisp chocolate bars, available here in the great country of Canada where I have been temporarily residing. They taste nothing like coffee, but are light, crisp and the perfect mid afternoon medicine for my SAD. I am also thankful for good books. Ones that in and of themselves remind me how thankful I should be for every moment.

The Bucket.

(I decided to start a new blog, something to keep me accountable everyday in the way of being thankful. Far too often I get lost in the mundane, routine bordom of everyday- forgetting that every single day, everything that happens is puposed for me. There is always a reason to find joy, even if it is just that I am breathing. I will do my very best to include pictures.)

Today I am thankful that God listens to even the tiniest of prayers. I was down by the river with the kids and my mom, and Pizee let go of her prized "Tinkerbell and Friends" bucket. The current down the river is very fast and it carried the purple bucket away swiftly. Pizee, knee deep in river wearing only her sherbert orange "Saturday" panties, lost her mind. I waded out as far as I could, and my mom did also- no bucket. Atleast 4 minutes passed and I thought for sure it was gone forever. Just then, my mom, a good number of feet down from me said, "I have it! I have it! I prayed that God would just send me the bucket and it floated out of nowhere right to me! I don't even know where it came from!!!"

Thanks God, for relieveing me of the stress that comes with a toddler meltdown, and for safely returning P her favorite bucket.