Usually we are thankful and express gratitude at Thanksgiving. For some reason, this past week, I have been reminded over and over again that I am thankful. What does thankful mean?
Thankful: adjective
feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative
Here is a list (I am a bullet point list type of girl) of 10 things I am thankful for at this moment:
1. I am thankful for Skip. He is a Godly man that honors his family, serves his community and is an all around great person. He never draws attention to himself or wants to be recognized. He is my rock, he is my best friend, he is my number 1 supporter.
2. I am thankful for my 3 wonderful babies. They drive me nuts at times but that is how the parent/child thing can roll at times. They are wonderful individual creatures. I am thankful for the time we get to spend together as a family. I am thankful that they are respectful and happy children (most of the time). I am most thankful that they know Jesus. Grant's health is 100% better. What a miracle!
3. I am thankful that we have a home that we love. This is our 5th house and we have been here 10 years. Yes, I get the urge to move into a bigger or newer house the my kids remind us that they LOVE it here. This house is big, bigger than we actually need. Most importantly, our neighbors rock! My kids have 20 instant friends to play outside on any given day. My kids still love to play kick ball, hide and seek, tag, build forts, etc. with the neighborhood kids. My neighbors would help us in any way at any time. We could buy a 'nicer' house but we couldn't buy these neighbors. As they say, priceless.
4. I am thankful for my parents. They are wonderful. We are all very close. They are still my mom/dad but they are more of my friends, counselors, supporters, encourager's now. The roles are evolving as we age.
5. I am thankful that all my medical tests this year have been normal. We are ready to battle anything thrown our way but we have been given clean results so far.
6. I am thankful that my hubby and I still have good jobs. I work part-time from home for an incredible company. Skip has a flexible schedule that allows him to be a part of the kids lives more while still succeeding in his job.
7. I am thankful for our little dogs. I never really considered myself a dog person but I love these little creatures. They are my company while I am working during the day.
8. I am thankful for our church. Our church has been instrumental in changing the focus of our family.
9. I am thankful for the opportunities we have to be together as a family whether that is watching a movie by the fire, traveling for vacation, to visit family/friends, going to dinner or having family dinner at home. I am thankful that our lives allow time. Or shall I say that I am thankful that we all value time with each other so much that we make our schedules fit "our" time?
10. I am thankful I am forgiven. I am definitely not perfect, never have been, never will be. I have had moments in my life where I was 'better behaved' than others. I am thankful that I am forgiven and restored. I am thankful that God forgives us and loves us for us. He created us to be individuals. I finally get that! God created each of us individually, why do we want to be 'like' someone else? That is no who he created. At 42, I get it!
Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
"Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever."
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
2009 Oh what a year...
2009 is a year I will remember for some blessings, some sadness and a bit of frustration. Yes, all 3 rolled into one year.
Frustration: For most of 2009, I have been battling some 'illness'. I basically consider myself a doctor so I have been frustrated with the profession and the time it is taking to find a diagnosis. I can say that my husband has been absolutely amazing. Skip allows me time to sleep when I need to sleep. He does most of the laundry and cooking. He even put the lights on the Christmas Tree and decorated the mantle this year. Waverly, Kendall and Grant has been very cooperative and understanding.
Blessings: Where to start? My dad and step mom, Martha, treated all of us to an incredible cruise to Alaska in June. It was more beautiful than I imagined. I recommend everyone go to Alaska at least once during their lifetime. It was great to spend time with our family.
A Fresh Hope has been such a blessing. We participated in quite a few outreach projects this year that kept us very busy. We did an Egg Hunt with Cedarcrest Church in April, Community Makeover at Compton Elementary in July, Back to School Celebration in August, Flood relief effort in September then October - December was geared towards the Hope for Christmas event.
Sadness: My step grandmother died this year, Mary Kaney. She was a dear sweet lady who loved her son, my mom, her husband, grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. She was my kids' step grandmother but loved just the same. My uncle Clayton died this fall. He was a man that supported me my whole life. I look back at all that I went through in my 42 years and he ALWAYS supported (maybe not agreed) but supported me. That means more than someone that just says what you want them to say. Uncle Clayton was a Godly man who loved the Lord and his family dearly. He is missed by many.
I also saw sadness with people that have lost jobs and suffered from the economy. I am a fixer and get obsessed with fixing things. I can't fix this issue and it is frustrating. I feel guilty because we are so blessed so I try to give to others as if it were Gods (and we know it is).
I was also sad because this illness has taken something from me. I used to be up and dressed by 6;00 AM every day. I never napped and was able to work 30 hours, be room mom, deal with doctor's appointments, drive car pools, etc. Now, I struggle getting what needs to be done accomplished.
So, what for 2010.. First and foremost, I am going to find out what is making me feel bad and tackle it head-on. I want to eliminate some things on my 'to-do' list and really be strategic in my day. I know i want to keep working with Liberty Mutual and am so blessed to have this opportunity for almost 19 years. I will keep volunteering with A Fresh Hope with more delegating. I will eliminate 'unnecessary' To-do's and learn to say NO. I use free time to rest, eat healthier and just be with my family. My incredible husband and family deserve my undivided time.
Odd post, especially after 6 months with no posting. Just a few things on my mind from this year and plans going forward.
Frustration: For most of 2009, I have been battling some 'illness'. I basically consider myself a doctor so I have been frustrated with the profession and the time it is taking to find a diagnosis. I can say that my husband has been absolutely amazing. Skip allows me time to sleep when I need to sleep. He does most of the laundry and cooking. He even put the lights on the Christmas Tree and decorated the mantle this year. Waverly, Kendall and Grant has been very cooperative and understanding.
Blessings: Where to start? My dad and step mom, Martha, treated all of us to an incredible cruise to Alaska in June. It was more beautiful than I imagined. I recommend everyone go to Alaska at least once during their lifetime. It was great to spend time with our family.
A Fresh Hope has been such a blessing. We participated in quite a few outreach projects this year that kept us very busy. We did an Egg Hunt with Cedarcrest Church in April, Community Makeover at Compton Elementary in July, Back to School Celebration in August, Flood relief effort in September then October - December was geared towards the Hope for Christmas event.
Sadness: My step grandmother died this year, Mary Kaney. She was a dear sweet lady who loved her son, my mom, her husband, grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. She was my kids' step grandmother but loved just the same. My uncle Clayton died this fall. He was a man that supported me my whole life. I look back at all that I went through in my 42 years and he ALWAYS supported (maybe not agreed) but supported me. That means more than someone that just says what you want them to say. Uncle Clayton was a Godly man who loved the Lord and his family dearly. He is missed by many.
I also saw sadness with people that have lost jobs and suffered from the economy. I am a fixer and get obsessed with fixing things. I can't fix this issue and it is frustrating. I feel guilty because we are so blessed so I try to give to others as if it were Gods (and we know it is).
I was also sad because this illness has taken something from me. I used to be up and dressed by 6;00 AM every day. I never napped and was able to work 30 hours, be room mom, deal with doctor's appointments, drive car pools, etc. Now, I struggle getting what needs to be done accomplished.
So, what for 2010.. First and foremost, I am going to find out what is making me feel bad and tackle it head-on. I want to eliminate some things on my 'to-do' list and really be strategic in my day. I know i want to keep working with Liberty Mutual and am so blessed to have this opportunity for almost 19 years. I will keep volunteering with A Fresh Hope with more delegating. I will eliminate 'unnecessary' To-do's and learn to say NO. I use free time to rest, eat healthier and just be with my family. My incredible husband and family deserve my undivided time.
Odd post, especially after 6 months with no posting. Just a few things on my mind from this year and plans going forward.
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