Thanksgiving 2009

I love having a time to stop and reflect on all of the things that I am thankful for.
They say that in order to see the rainbow, you must endure some rain.
I have endured some rain.



People who have always been wealthy may not appreciate small things as much as those who weren't.
People who have always had good relationships may not deeply appreciate a wonderful, healthy relationship.
But me....I have endured the rain. Storms. Hurricanes.
I believe in gratitude.



I am grateful to have many things for which to be grateful.




I am grateful for four awesome kids. I am sometimes blown away by the people my oldest two children are becoming. Yes, they drive me crazy on a daily basis. But they are truly great kids. They have good hearts. The little ones are equally wonderful and when they're not making me pull my hair out, they are quite cute.

I am grateful that my relationship with my parents has improved greatly this year.

I am grateful for my wonderful friends. I'm the type of person to have a small circle of close friends. I don't warm up easily to new people. But that's just me. I don't need to be BFFs with everyone I encounter. I'm very content with my group of friends. This includes my wonderful bloggy friends, also, of course. xoxoxoxo

I am grateful for the wonderful church that we have found. We were led to this church by Shelbie, our 13 year old daughter. She started going to their Acteens group with some of her friends, and we attended some of the Acteens events at the church and then began attending services. It is the perfect fit for us,(and that's a big thing for me....I am very picky about churches) and we've made some great friends there as well.

I am grateful that, although our house that we loved fell apart, we were able to find a nice home in the same neighborhood that we love so much.

I am grateful that, through financial hardships, (including a layoff and a sudden loss of another source of income) we have still been able to provide our children with a comfortable home and the things that they need.

I am grateful for our pets and all of those that we have fostered.

I am grateful for my wonderful husband. I don't know what I'd do and where I'd be without this man. He works so hard to provide for our family, including three children who are not, biologically, his. He does so much for my children. He spends every moment with us, other than when he is working. He is a true family man. He makes me laugh, keeps me grounded, puts up with my craziness, and loves me the way that I am. I could not ask for more.

Friday Fraggin'

Finally, Friday rolled around again! I thought it would never come.
So, you know what that means! It's time for Fragments!


~*~ I have a date tonight. A date with a friend. Just the two of us! There will be more details to come on this later! But I am SO excited. =)

~*~ I started a fragment list earlier in the week. Sometimes I think of things that will make perfect fragments, and I write them down. The problem is....I can't find my list.

~*~ Are you ready for Thanksgiving? I can't believe it's almost here. Fortunately, we will just be going to my parents' house so there's not much prep I have to do, I'll just be making a few dishes. Christmas, however, will be held at my house this year for the first time EVER! That will be interesting.

~*~ One afternoon this week, we went to our pastor's home to visit him. He brought out his young golden retriever.....who was wearing a PullUp! She is in heat and as you may know that can be quite messy, so they got the brilliant idea of putting a PullUp on her. Hilarious!

~*~ Is anyone going to see New Moon this weekend? I want to see it at some point, but it's SO not worth going through teeny bopper hell. (I'm much more of a fan of the books, notsomuch the movies.) I'll wait, thanks!

~*~ And now, I'm off to an Honor Roll celebration for my straight-A student, Elayna! :o)

Hope y'all have a great weekend. Visit Mrs4444 for more Fragments!

Right Place at the Right Time

Thanksgiving Thursday

I haven't done a Thanksgiving Thursday in a while,

and this week's edition pretty much wrote itself.

My oldest son Tim, who lives primarily with his dad, came over on Sunday for Andrew's birthday dinner. While he was there, he told me about his close friend getting into a car accident. The boy was driving his Jeep Cherokee and said someone was trying to pass him. He ran off the road and into a tree. The Cherokee caught on fire!! But he was very fortunate to be able to get out, and he escaped with only a broken arm and nose.
So, obviously, I'm very thankful that he wasn't hurt more, or even worse.

But what keeps running through my head is...what if Tim had been in the passenger seat? As he has been so many times. Would he have been hurt worse than his friend? Would he have been able to get out of the burning truck?

How different may my life be right now if my son had been riding in that truck with his friend?
It gives me chills; I can hardly stand to think of it.

I am so incredibly thankful that Tim's friend is OK, and that Tim wasn't in that truck that night.

~*~*~*~*~

I'm also thankful that my husband is now working and likes his job. I'm thankful for our fantastic new home. I'm thankful that my friend, who thought she had a blood clot, only has a pinched or bulging disc. I'm thankful for four healthy kids.
I'm thankful for all of the many blessings we have received recently.

Today & every day, I am thankful.