A Month of Thankfulness-Day 22

Today I am thankful for two new pages created on Facebook by a local resident. The are called O***** Give and Take. This is a place where locals can sell, buy or trade things they need or need to get rid of.

I have already sold a few items that Hallie Jo has outgrown and tonight I am picking up some clothes for her and two Christmas presents, one for Hallie Jo and one for Jordan.

I have seen many different items on there from clothes, shoes, toys to furniture and collectibles. The sky is the limit as long as you are not promoting your own business or advertising garage sales.

Thank you Cyndi for giving this opportunity to our area.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 14

Today I am thankful for Mom's Night Out or MNO. I am on the MNO commitee in our local homeschool group. I volunteer so that I could make sure I get to participate each month. The moms in our group each to spend a few hours together sans husbands and kids. It does wonders for my sanity.

So far this school year we have played Bunco, went to dinner at Ted's Escondido Cafe, went to dinner and a movie and finally tonight we went to an Amish dinner in an Amish home. We still have more dinner/movie nights planned as well as recipe exchange night and a cookie exchange night.

This committee also plans a yearly retreat which is an overnight getaway. We share yummy food, gifts, crafts and many stories.

This is one of the things I look forward to every month.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 13

I missed yesterday so here it is and it is a good one!

I am so thankful for my best friend, Kim. We met at Oklahoma State University almost 14 years ago. We were in the same interior design class, I was pregnant with Hannah and she had just found out she was pregnant with Zach.

We immediately hit it off and have always been two peas in a pod. Even when her family moved to Virginia, we talked almost every day. We quickly found out that we had the same taste in many things like movies, books and decorating.

Our kids have grown-up together and are more like cousins. Our kids even call the adults aunt and uncle. Her last name is my maiden name and her hubby grew up in the town where my paternal grandparents lived.

The longer I know Kim, the more I know that nothing will tear us apart. We can be frank and direct with each other and still come out smiling. We stick together for every celebration, sad event or stressful moment. We know if we need to, we can call the other one for a last minute pick-up of a kid or take turns watching the kids for a week while one serves with the church.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 12

Today I am thankful for Jimmy's family. Most of them live close and it is a blessing. They are there when we need them and our children get a chance to know their relatives better.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 11

Today I am honored to try to give enough thanks for all of our men and women who faithfully serve in any branch of the armed forces. I also believe that the family of those serving also deserve a thank-you for taking care of all other aspects of home while their precious one is away.

A list of friends and family that are serving/have served:
My Dad - Air Force
My Papa - Air Force
My Daddy Coach - Coast Guard?
Uncle Mike - Air Force
Uncle Joe - Army Reserves
Uncle Gary - Air Force?
Cousin Donnie - Navy
Brother-in-law, John, - Marines
Cousin's hubby, Jeremy - Marines
Best friend's hubby, Troy - Army Reserves
Dad's best friend, Bruce - Air Force?

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 10

I am more than grateful for the parents God chose for me. They have been my support system since the day I was born. No matter what, I can always count of them for ANYTHING!

My mom is so good at solving my many cooking "tragedies" and shows a loving, caring attitude when it comes to my family.

Daddy is a jack-of-all-trades and has saved me from mishap after mishap and has graced us with wonderful creations for our home and yard.

I will always love them to the ends of the earth.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 9

Today I am thankful for our preschool ministry staff. Our church is in a transitional stage and we have a new preschool director who has a heart for preschoolers and their families. Our assistant preschool director not only helps out the director, she recruits workers and keeps our immense resource room and workroom immaculate and in working order.

Our preschool families and visitors are more than blessed to have them on our staff.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 8

I am a day late with this post because I fell asleep on the couch before I got it posted. Oops!

Anyways, I am very thankful for the wonderful adults that are willing to give of their time and energy to serve in activities so that my kids can participate. They are in scouts, dance and church. My kids adore all of them and you make a great impact on their lives.

A Month of Thankfulness - Day 7

Today I am thankful for my little blond, Hallie Jo. She brings a special gift of entertainment to our family. All the time she is giving us her version of everyday life.

She loves playing dress-up, coloring and following her brother and sisters all around. She isn't shy to tell anyone that will listen her full name, and usually more than once.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 6

Today I am thankful for my drama queen, Harlee. She wears her heart on her sleeve but has a heart of gold for others. She is a girly diva but can take down her brother in a moments notice.

Harlee brought to my life something I was not expecting and I have been blessed more times than I can count.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 5

Today I am thankful for my only son, Jordan. He is the one that is most likely to question everything but also the one that is willing to cuddle with me and really hates to see his baby sister get in trouble.

He is usually quick to make me laugh and I always know that if I need the details, he will have remembered and is happy to recite them to me. He loves anything to do with Star Wars, Legos and any battle/war.

He loves to recreate a battle or action scene while spending a lot of his free time outside. When he can, he is playing football, basketball or baseball or is at a scout activity.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 4

Today I am thankful for our oldest, Hannah. She has shown great responsibility when it comes to helping me with her siblings, especially the youngest.

Hannah has a heart for God like no other that I have seen. She chooses church activities over almost anything else. In fact, she is currently at the IGO Missions Conference put on by AweStar Ministries. There are many area youth at this weekend long event. She was so excited that she was going to get to hear Afshin Ziafat and Walker Moore.

She is determined to complete her Bible study each day and is participating in a mentor program with an older teen in our youth group. Hannah was asked and participated as a fifth grader in our church's visitation program and continued for over a year.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 3

Today I am thankful for my hard working, ever faithful husband of 18 years. He is my rock and best friend. We have been through so much together that most couples face but I would have given up a long time ago had he not been there for with me.

He is also an amazing dad to our kids and they adore him. They bombard him as soon as he walks in the door, they love that he takes the time to tickle them when he tucks them in bed, and they want to spend as much time as possible with him.

I am thankful he is the Christian leader in our home and that I do not have to go down this road alone.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 2

I am so thankful for our local homeschool co-op. I have amazing friends who have the same experiences as I do and we love to help each other when needed. I try to stay involved as much as possible but I look forward to seeing my friends as much as the kids love seeing theirs.

We can bounce ideas off of each other. The more seasoned moms are more than willing to share their thoughts on curriculum choices, activities and even high school requirements. Our younger or newer moms get a chance to see that they are not alone and that they can also accomplish what they have felt God has led them to do.

A Month of Thankfulness-Day 1

I am using the month of November to really focus on what I am thankful for each day. I am sure some of the days will be stretch when it has been a stressful day but I imagine most days will be meaningful.

So, I am already a little late for day one but for November 1st, I am thankful for the one and only God. He created this wonderful world we live in, he gave his only son and then allowed his son to die on a cross for our sins so that we may enter Heaven one day.

God also forgives me for each one of my sins, loves me unconditionally (as a parent should), allows me to struggle through hard situations and celebrate the fun when we overcome the difficulties.

I never have to go anywhere to be with my Father. He is always right there through prayer and reading my Bible. I can not ask for a better parent than the Lord. He is the One and Only.