Day 30: Our Savior

I decided at the beginning of the month that I would save the best for last...our Savior. I realize that He is the Reason we have so much to be thankful for! He has blessed us beyond my wildest dreams. I do not take for granted that He blessed me with a wonderful husband who loves me unconditionally and will fight for us because of his unconditional love. I do not take for granted that He blessed us with two wonderful boys who bring so much joy to our lives. I do not take for granted that He has blessed us with a roof over our heads, all the amenities and more material possessions than we'll ever need.
I also do not take for granted that Jesus was sent to Earth, to walk with men and women for 33 years before He gave His life for my sins. In all my humanness, I can't wrap my head around a lot of things in the Bible. But I do know that God has created a mansion for me to spend eternity with Him because I chose to accept Him in my heart and live as He requests. I am so incredibly thankful for His sacrifice, His unconditional love. I am thankful for all that the Lord has blessed us with and I can't wait to spend eternity with Him. Our Savior is, hands down, the best Thing I have to be thankful for!

Day 29: Our Youngest

This guy is a miracle in a sense because I was struggling to get pregnant. It was our last attempt at getting pregnant and we figured that at some point we'd have to explain to P why he didn't have a younger sibling. Thankfully, I got a call from the doctor's office that I was in fact pregnant. Our youngest has been giving me a run for my money ever since. But you know? I wouldn't have it any other way! He is quick witted and has us laughing continually. He is strong willed and marches to the beat of his own drummer. He has taught me that there are other ways to deal with a situation because he is so stubborn. But, although he can be stubborn, he definitely sees things as black and white. He's quick to spout off the rules to anyone who is breaking them. He is our all American athlete and loves playing every sport he can. Not only does he play them but he dominates them when he put his mind to it. Just like his older brother he, too, loves music and wants to start taking piano lessons soon. He doesn't love reading but he still maintains straight A's without really trying. He enjoys doing homework even though it's not mandatory this year. He is like me and doesn't really like watching TV....unless it involves hunting, fishing or sitting on his daddy's lap to watch something. He is also a cuddlebug. But he wants it on his own terms. He constantly wants me to hold him when we're walking into a store and can't wrap his head around the fact that he's almost 7 and way too big to be carried. He acts tough but gets his feelings hurt easily or gets scared during a movie. He has struggled with sleeping since he was about a year old until recently when we got him a weighted blanket. Now he sleeps soundly and wakes up much happier. He is passionate about hunting and loves going to deer camp with Rob. There are few other places that he'd rather be than in a deer stand with his dad. He idolizes his older brother and does everything he can to get P's seal of approval. He is VERY quick to share anything and everything he has with his brother. He loves playing with him and gets his feelings hurt when his brother shuns him. He is an excellent eater and eats just about anything that is put in front of him. I love that he has such a diverse pallet. In fact, I love everything about him. I am thankful that the Lord created E to round out our family. I can't imagine life without him!

Thankful: Extra Edition

I was not looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. It's not my favorite holiday to begin with but I do love having people come to dinner to celebrate holidays together. This year it was only the 4 of us so I knew it'd be a quiet day. But, despite it being a small Thanksgiving, it was a great day. We started the day with a family game of football. The boys named it the Turkey Bowl- me and P against Rob and E. I thought it was going to be a blowout because I know very little about football. But the boys were patient with me and P and I only lost by a touchdown. (P encouraged me....and laughed at me...several time during the game.) After the football game, P and I went for a run to prepare for the 5k we'll be doing next weekend. The weather was so beautiful that I sat by the pool and read for awhile before we made dinner. We decided against turkey this year since E is the only one who really likes it. So Rob and I tag teamed making a nice, but small, meal together. I loved that no one cared that we used Christmas napkins or didn't drink our beverages out of glasses. No one cared that we combined Tupperware and fine china for our serving dishes. Everyone just enjoyed being together. After we cleared the table, I hit a few Black Friday sales. We closed out the day by me reading the book "Elf on the Shelf" to the boys, in preparation for our elf showing up in the morning. It was a great day, much better than I thought it'd be. It was the perfect combination of relaxing, family time and creating memories. I am thankful that we enjoyed the entire day together. Happy Thanksgiving to our friends and family!

Day 28: Our Oldest

I know I have blogged a lot about my husband and how thankful I am for him. I am extremely thankful for Rob, for how hard he works for our family and how he always makes me feel so loved. But today and tomorrow I want to focus on the other special boys in our family- our boys. Today I am extremely thankful for our miracle child, our oldest son. He's a miracle because I wasn't supposed to get pregnant, yet I was pregnant with him within 4 months of getting married. He's a miracle because he was extremely sick at a newborn. We were told that, if he lived, he'd most likely have brain damage. That couldn't be further from the truth (isn't our God AWESOME??)!
At 10 years old, he's still a lovebug. He loves cuddling and telling us how much he loves us. He loves when Rob is out of town because he gets to share the bed with me. He loves family time and often encourages us to do Family Movie Night because he loves when we're all together. He loves when he gets 1:1 time with me or Rob. He is very well mannered and has a heart the size of Texas! He's always wanting to help people who don't have a lot. (He wanted to use his allowance to buy Christmas presents for a classmate.) He is a crazy talented musician. He plays the guitar and writes beautiful songs. He is also crazy smart! Last year was the first time he ever got a B on a report card. He loves to read and is often caught with a book in his hands after he's supposed to be in bed. He's a talented artist and enjoys drawing. He's an animal lover, especially when it comes to dogs. If he had his way, we'd have a house full of dogs. He loves telling jokes, asking trivia questions and learning song lyrics. He loves telling very detailed stories. But most importantly he loves learning about Jesus. He looks forward to Sunday School and can't wait to tell us what he's learned every Sunday. I can't imagine life without him. I thank God for him every day, several times a day. He has greatly blessed our lives!

Day 27: Family Time

I looked at the calendar this morning and realized that I only have 4 more days of "Thanksgiving blogs". How can that be possible when I have so many more things to blog about being thankful for? Today I'm going to highlight one of my favorite things I am thankful for...family time. When my brother and I were little, I remember so many family memories: trips to Apple Hill, cutting down a Christmas tree in the mountains, Friday night golfing, board games, WWF (not the fake WWE that they have today) on Monday nights, craft shows, dinner at the dining table most nights. After college my parents and I started a Tuesday night Family night tradition. I'd go to my parents' house, where we'd enjoy a nice meal and then watch Gilmore Girls together.
It wasn't until I was married and had a family of my own that I realized the value of family time. Thankfully, Rob and I do our best to have family time, a time that the boys will hopefully cherish when they're older. Despite our busy schedules, we try to do Family Movie Nights and we eat dinner together most nights. We go on family trips, where we create a lot of memories. Sometimes we go on family walks together or play family football games in the front yard. We cheer each other on at sporting events (the boys' sports at PARDS and my runs) and we go to local parades together. In the Springs we take the boat out and fish. I love our time together, the memories we create together. I know that, even at their age, the boys appreciate our time together as a family. And I don't take it for granted.
I know friends who have been divorced and they juggle custody of their kids. I am thankful we don't have to do that. I am thankful that Rob and I have a solid, honest marriage that becomes stronger each year. I am thankful that no matter if we're just enjoying a homecooked meal around the table or going on vacation we're spending time together as a family. That is something I will always cherish!!

Day 26: Our Neighborhood

Today, and every day, I am thankful for our neighborhood and our wonderful neighbors. A few years ago I don't know if I could have said that because we had moved from an awesome neighborhood full of lots of kids and great people. We moved to a neighborhood which was scarce because of the flood recovery. But now I can say that, honestly, it's one of the things I love about living in Louisiana. We have a neighborhood where I am okay with the boys playing outside, unsupervised. I know that neighbors are watching them and will step in if needed. I also love that there is open land where the boys can explore. Last night P had a friend spend the night (another thing I am thankful for) so this morning they went to explore the Amite River by our house. Now, as much as I trust the boys, I don't want them at the river by themselves. So I did go stay close to make sure everyone was okay. But I loved that they spent about an hour there, using their imaginations and exploring along the river bank. I love that afterwards we walked along the fenced in hunting property to see if there were any wild hogs that we could see. I also love that, at the moment, it still feels like we live in the country. I know that will change as they build a new high school down the road but for right now I'm thankful for where we live. I am also thankful for our neighbors. We have become very close to one family in particular. Our boys play with their son every day and we have been to each other's houses several times for meals. I know that, if I need someone to keep an eye out for our boys while I run errands, I can count on our neighbor. We have been very blessed, with the exception of one house that-thankfully-we only lived in 1 year, to have had great neighbors and great neighborhoods where the boys can play and be boys. For that I am thankful.

Daay 25: God's Creation

There are a lot of things that fascinate me about God's creations- sunsets, animals, trees, oceans. Sometimes I think, "Why did God create that?" (Think mosquitos, snakes, fire ants....) And sometimes I think, "Wow! That's one of God's best creations!" (Think sunsets, puppies, ALL of my boys) Well, yesterday we went to the big zoo in NOLA. We had only been there once before when the boys were young...and it was miserably hot....so the boys didn't remember it. Yesterday was the perfect day to be there and we had so much fun! We were in awe of a small member of the cat family that the zoo featured at a Zoo Chat. We laughed hysterically at the monkeys and their crazy antics. We were mesmerized while watching the elephant and giraffes eat. More than once I thought, "Why would God think to put that animal into existence?" Or "Wow! God sure knew what He was doing when He created that animal." I am thankful that we got to enjoy a beautiful day at the zoo, admiring and learning about so many of God's creatures.

Day 24: Work Ethic

Growing up, I remember that my mom always had a To-Do list by the kitchen phone. As she got things done she'd mark them off. I used to check it throughout the day, amazed that she got so much done. Later in life, I found out that those To-Do lists stressed her out if everything wasn't checked off by the end of the day. What I saw as accomplishments she must've seen as failures. But she and my dad both taught me good work ethic. They were always working on projects or cleaning things around the house. I am thankful that work ethic was instilled in both me and my brother. As a home owner, I always find things that need to be done- weeds being pulled, cabinets being wiped down, baseboards being cleaned, leaves being raked, closets getting organized. I'm sure you get my drift. I am thankful that my mom wrote those To-Do lists because that is something I do as an adult. However, my lists are different. Mine consist of a running To-Do list. I continually write things down until there's no room left on the paper. Then I transfer what's left to do onto a new piece of paper.
As I get closer to retirement age, I worry about retirement, about getting bored. But I see my parents and how they keep busy. My dad is always working around the yard, in his garden or on his boat. My mom is always cleaning or sewing. They give me hope that retirement doesn't have to consist of sitting around all day, watching the paint peal. I know that, because I am like them, I will keep busy with different things. I am so glad they taught me how to work hard and be proud of what I have by keeping it looking its best. I am thankful that, when I hit the pillow at night, I can look back on all that I've gotten accomplished throughout the day, knowing I made the most of my day. I am thankful that I work hard, play hard in life- the perfect balance for me!

Day 23: Weighted Blankets

You may have heard of the fad- weighted blankets. They are meant for children and adults that have anxiety. Well, E has always had a difficult time sleeping through the night. A few weeks ago I was exhausted from being woken up 2-3 nights a week. So, as a last ditch effort, I bought him a weighted blanket. I told him it was a magic dream blanket. For almost 3 weeks he has slept through the night perfectly. Last night I went to bed before he did so I was not able to tuck him in. (Well, I did but then he got up to play with P.) And last night was the first night in almost 3 weeks that E woke me up because of a nightmare. At 4am I was thankful that his weighted blanket has allowed him to get so much sleep the past few weeks because, let me tell you, we were both cranky when he woke me up. Something so simple can make life a bazillion times easier. And for that I am thankful.

Day 22: Grace

It's been a long week. Not a bad week by any means. Just long days and sleepless nights. So tonight I am thankful that we're enjoying a relaxing family night. The boys and Rob have been playing video games and I'm catching up on my People magazines. It's wonderful just sitting around with nothing on the agenda.
That being said, I try to make a homecooked meal 5-6 nights a week. So I feel guilty that that hasn't been the case lately. Some nights we eat cereal. Some nights the boys eat Top Ramen or quesadillas. Tonight there was no reason I couldn't cook a nice homecooked meal. Rob was home by 6 and we didn't have to run off to football- the perfect night for a family meal at the dining room table. But I didn't have it in me. And everyone showed me grace, even when I failed to provide them a well balanced, homecooked meal. No one complained about eating cereal once again. No one guilt tripped me for not cooking dinner. Everyone graciously ate what was put in front of them without complaint.
It made me thankful that my family shows me grace when I fail to meet MY expectations as a mom and wife. They love me just the same whether I cook them a full meal or scramble up a bowl of cereal of $.25 noodles. That's unconditional love!

Day 20and 21: My Husband and A Week Off

Day 20: It goes without saying that I am thankful for my husband. In fact, I know I blogged earlier this month about how he helps out. But today I am thankful for how he parents our boys. When they were younger, Rob and I fought a lot about how to parent them. We would both raise our voices at the boys or at each other. As they've grown up, however, Rob's approach to parenting has changed and I am learning more from him than he is from me. (Who's the one with the Child Development degree??? HA!) Last night, while the boys played their football games we sat on the sidelines and talked. I loved just sitting there, cheering on our boys, and being able to talk about things. He said something that I've thought about a lot today. We were talking about getting the boys to do things and he said, "Sometimes you've got to make them think it's their idea." Brilliant. I don't do that. I tell them to do something and expect it to be done. That doesn't always get the results I strive for.
Later, on the way home from football, I grounded E for being disrespectful. When the boys were getting ready for bed, I told Rob what had happened (He had driven seperately.). He gave me a different perspective to think about. I did and it resulted in an open, honest conversation between me and E.
I don't always agree with Rob's way of parenting. But, that's what happens when you have two different people growing up in two different homes by two different sets of parents who have two different sets of values who then become parents themselves. As the boys get older I realize there's definitely different ways of dealing with their behavior and choices. Yelling and grounding them isn't always an effective way to discipline. I am thankful for a husband who has made me realize that and who gives me parenting advice when needed.

Day 21: A Week Off
I don't need a week off. I love my job and don't feel like I need a break. But I am so glad we have one coming up. Mainly because I think the boys need it. E has been under the weather off and on the past couple weeks. P is struggling with school and his brain probably needs a break from math for a few days. And I just want to do some fun things with the boys. Because we aren't going anywhere and don't have company coming to us, we planned to do some fun things that we don't normally do. We are going to go see "Frozen 2" (I was surprised P wanted to see that!). P is going to have a friend spend the night one night then we'll go to the big zoo in New Orleans with his friend. We are going to go to the new jump park that opened by our house that the boys have been dying to try out. And then the boys get to go Black Friday shopping with me that neither one is really looking forward to. (Truth be told, I'm not either but I can't leave them at home for hours while Rob is at work.) I am looking forward to sleeping in, drinking a hot cup of coffee and going at our own pace next week. I am thankful that we'll have a week to relax and do a lot of fun things together!

Day 18 and 19: Gym Dates and Internet

Day 18: Our life has been inundated with football for the past month. Our boys have played football games 3-4 nights a week. That doesn't allow for extra time to get to the gym or even enjoy a homecooked meal together. Yesterday, E had to go to the doctor because he had been sleeping non-stop and said he didn't feel well. It turns out that he just has a virus that has to run its course (Praise the Lord it isn't strep or the flu, which is going around the school like wildfire!). Rob and I decided he should miss his football game, which meant I had a free night to get to the gym. Woohoo!!! Not only did I get to work out, but I got to see one of my good friends AND close all my circles on my Apple watch for only the 2nd time since I bought it. It was so refreshing to get to the gym and feel good about my workout. I always love my gym dates and can't wait to get back into the routine of them after Thanksgiving. I am thankful that I love going on gym dates with my friend.

Day 19: To save a few bucks, a Cox representative recommended that we buy a different modem. She was very specific about what to buy. Over the weekend I tried to change out our modems, causing us to lose internet. No big deal. Except it was because I kept getting the run around from two different companies as to why our internet wasn't working. After spending well over an hour on the phone during the past few days, I decided to unplug the new modem and use the other one. It was such a relief when I started up the laptop and saw the internet icon in the corner, signaling that we once again had internet. On top of getting internet again, we are getting a free new modem and our bill is lowering $5/month. It's amazing how much we rely on technology these days. But I am thankful that ours is reliable once again.

Day 17: Devotions

My favorite part of the day is the morning. I particularly like lazy mornings, when I have time to enjoy a good cup of coffee and a hot bath. But, regardless, my favorite part of the morning is my devotions. I sit at our picture window with my coffee, my breakfast and my devotional, watching the day awake all around me. A couple years ago my parents bought me a devotional that I love. Sometimes, when the boys are arguing nonstop or I haven't slept well, my devotional is my saving grace. It calms me in the midst of tiredness or chaos. It brings things back into perspective. It reminds me to change my focus and spend a few minutes in prayer (which is usually about all I have). My quiet time, which is rarely quiet, is my favorite part of the day and I am so thankful that it has become part of my morning routine.

Day 16: Voting

As an adult, I have come to understand and appreciate my right to vote. My right to have my voice heard. I enjoy when the elections come around because I feel like I can voice my opinion about how things are going in our parish, the state and the nation. This morning, after my photo shoot, P and I toured the state capital. I showed him the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. We discussed how bills are passed, how it's important to vote for someone who shares similar morals and political beliefs as you. Afterwards we stopped by the voting polls so I could vote for state officials. I had P come into the booth with me to show him how you cast a vote. He was very impressed. Then I let him have my "I Voted" which he wore with pride until it fell off. I am thankful that we have the freedom, right and privilege to voice our opinions in elections.

Day 15: Dates

Growing up, I loved my 1:1 time with my parents. Today, when I visit my parents, I cherish my mother/daughter lunch dates and my father/daughter The Habit hamburger dates. As parents, I find it is so important to have 1:1 time with each child. Just to listen and to talk, not to criticize or punish. A couple weeks ago I got to have a 1:1 afternoon with our youngest on his fieldtrip day. We spent the morning at the children's museum with his classmates. Then we came home and did art before we had to get P from school. Tonight I got to have a date with our oldest. He's been struggling this year with school. He's been grounded a lot and I feel like we're always fussing at him, always criticizing him, always telling him how he can improve (which sometimes seems like we're telling him how he can change to fit into society's little box). So our date was about him, I let him choose where we'd go to dinner. We tried a new sushi place. I let him direct the conversation, which was mostly about football. He talked a little about his problems at school and, together, we tried to solve them the best we could. After dinner he asked if we could rent a movie. Now he's been grounded from TV for the past few weeks. But I gave in to him tonight because I enjoy when grace is extended to me. I wanted to give him a special night, not one reminding him that he's grounded. We have enjoyed our evening together, just mother and son, that 1:1 time that I've always enjoyed as a child and now as a parent.
I also love my dates with Rob! Sadly, we don't get to go on dates as much as we'd like but it's nice when we get a babysitter, get dressed up and go out to enjoy a nice dinner as husband and wife. Last week we were fortunate to be able to go on a date...virtually for free. We had a business dinner to go to for Rob's company so we enjoyed fine dining with each other and a couple of Rob's co-workers. We have to be more intentional about going on dates because they are just as important, maybe more important, than my dates with the boys.
I am thankful for all of my dates with my boys. It's special time that I do not take for granted!

Day 14: Co-Workers

As you probably know, co-workers can make or break your work environment. They can make your job enjoyable or miserable. Yes, there's always one or two that people struggle to like but that's par for the course. I have been blessed with great co-workers at so many of my jobs. This week I was thankful for my current co-workers. On Tuesday we tag teamed a situation that no one wanted to touch-literally or figuratively. (And by tag team, I mean I stood there and cheered my co-workers on.) Yesterday we encouraged each other through a rough observation. Today we laughed and enjoyed our students to the fullest.
We confide in each other. We vent to each other. We vent about each other. We encourage each other. We have each other's back. We laugh together. We are in it through thick and thin.
This year I am in a new teaching situation- I work hand in hand with 2 other teachers....and we all share the same classroom. It's had its challenges as you can imagine when you put 3 strong personalities in the same room. But we've also gotten to know each other. We've learned from each other (I think??). We've become friends in just a few short months of working together.
The teachers I share a classroom with and I are also blessed to share a bathroom (hello, pre-k!!!) with another set of wonderful, fun-loving teachers. I absolutely love the other pre-k teachers! We peek our head into each others' room to share a story or ask a question or pull a prank on each other.
I honestly look forward to going to work. I enjoy my co-workers. I enjoy the students and the overall school climate. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me with this job and with wonderful co-workers, who make every day fun.

No we don't always dress like this. It was 80s theme day for Red Ribbon Week.

Day 13: Enjoying Holidays

Can I be thankful and gripe all in the same blog when it's supposed to be THANKSgiving month? I guess since it's our blog I can do whatever I want. Today I am thankful for the history of holidays. I love what each holiday means and the memories it creates. That's why I get frustrated that so many people rush over one holiday to get to another. Yes, Christmas and Easter are the most important holidays because of what they mean to me as a Christian. But I don't want to skip one holiday to get to the other. If I'm being completely honest, Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday. This year more than ever because we won't be eating a big feast with family or friends. Since it'll just be the 4 of us there's no point in cooking a big meal (we're not big leftover fans). So we're going to have gumbo and call it good. I also don't get to do Black Friday shopping (my fav!) because Rob has to work and I can't wake them up early and take the boys to shop for their presents with me. But, that being said, it still doesn't mean that I want to skip it and go straight to Christmas. This year, more than any I can remember, it seems like everyone decorated for Christmas the day after Halloween. I don't get it. Why can't Americans enjoy the moment before rushing to the next one? It seems that's Americans' motto these days- Don't enjoy. Rush to the next moment in life. It's time to slow down and enjoy each day, and holiday, as it comes. For me, I am thankful for every holiday and what it means to my life, the memories that each holiday has created throughout my life.

Day 12: Books Galore

I read every day. I have been a veracious reader ever since I was in elementary school. When I was younger I'd be told to go to bed and my parents would find me in bed, reading by flashlight under my sheets. Even today, during school breaks (Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc) I can read a book within a couple days. I love getting lost in a book, completely consuming myself with it. After a hard day at work, some people choose to exercise or watch TV to relax/relieve stress. Me? I pick up a book. I don't have an aversion to e-books or hard copy. I am just thankful for books and the world they take me to when I pick one up.

Day 11: Veterans

There are certain jobs I can't imagine that people willingly do....plumber, exterminator, fireman and soldier are just a few that come to mind. Soldiers go through hardcore training where they learn how to detect bombs and kill people if necessary. They go to unknown areas to spend months in horrible conditions (horribly hot, bitterly cold, limited food choices, little communication with home). They know, signing up for the military, that they will most likely spend months or possibly years away from their family to fight for Americans' freedom. A freedom that most seem to be abusing these days, getting offended over every.little.thing. Throughout history, brave men and women have gone off to war, knowing that they may have said their final goodbye to their family when they left. I can't even imagine. So, today and every day, I am so thankful for veterans. I am thankful for my freedom that they fight for. I am thankful for their selfless sacrifices, most of which they never discuss. I am thankful that there are men and women who proudly sign up for the military, never knowing me or my family, but willing to do right by us. THANK YOU VETERANS for ALL that YOU do!!

Day 10: Kids and Their Friends

Today I was sitting at the dining room table, watching the boys play outside with their friends. Laughing, running around, a front yard full of boys playing football. Later I took E to a birthday party, in which a lot of his school friends had been invited. While there, I was talking to the mom of one of P's friends. We were talking about how thankful we were that our boys are friends. I looked around the party room and was immediately thankful for all of our boys' friends. They have friends at school, in the neighborhood and one or two at church. (I hope that increases soon.)
I love that the neighborhood boys feel comfortable enough to come and go as they please, treating our home as their own. I love that our boys' friends watch for our cars to come home, knowing that means the boys will be home to play. I love that our boys will play outside well after dark, trying to make the most of their time with their friends. I love that our boys' friends' moms treat our boys like their own!
I love that the boys get excited to go to school to see their friends. I love that their friends know me and say hello or give me a hug when I see them around school. I love that they feel comfortable talking to me even when the boys aren't around. I love that they challenge the boys academically.
Maybe next year I hope I will be able to say that I love that the boys have a lot of friends at church. In the meantime I will say that I am thankful for the friends our boys have. Our boys are blessed with great friends!

Day 9: Sales and Coupons

We're a "sale" kind of family. My mom shops sales and can get away with paying little to nothing for an item. My dad researches purchases until he finds the best deal for what he wants. My brother buys 90% of his stuff from Ross or TJMaxx. Me? I bargain hunt everything! It kills me to pay full price for anything. I will drive across town to save a few cents on a tank of gas. I won't buy bananas or Milk at Albertsons if I know I'm going to Costco in the next day or two because Costco's stuff is cheaper. I will, however, use the Albertsons app, which saves me anywhere from $20-$40 per shopping trip. Today I used a Subway coupon to save $.90 on my sandwich that I bought for lunch. My favorite is the free kids' meals that Cane's gives away at community events. I can buy the boys and I an entire meal for under $3! I've returned things that I've bought when I've looked at the receipt and found I had paid full price. I will NEVER, I repeat never, pay full price for a pair of shoes for any member of our family. You get the point, right? Well, last month I had scouted one of E's "wants" on his Christmas list for sale. But at the time we had 2 car repairs and a costly pool repair so it wasn't feasible to buy the toy. I was sick about missing out on the great sale but I was not about to put it on the "emergency" credit card. Fast forward to today. I was looking at the store's pre-Black Friday sales and saw that the toy was listed on sale. Imagine my disappointment when I saw it was on sale for less than a dollar off the original price. (What kind of sale is that??) Right after that someone on FB posted a 25% off coupon for the same store I had just been looking at. But, I figured it couldn't possibly work. Too good to be true. Well, I was wrong. I ended up being able to use it, and saving MORE money than I would have from the original sale! The way I see it, Rob and I give up stuff to work full time. We work hard for our pay. So why waste it? I'm okay spending a few extra minutes to save a few extra dollars. And around this time of year I like to use those few extra dollars to help out people in need. I am thankful that there are ways to save money and I am equally thankful that there are ways that we can help others with those few extra bucks.

Day 7 and 8 combined

A week in and I'm already slacking. (Insert eye roll emoji) But I have been under the weather the past couple days and have just been surviving instead of thriving. Any hoo….
Day 7: I am thankful for modern conveniences. I was reading about all the destruction in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic from hurricanes the past few years. One sentence jumped out at me because it said that 1500 houses in Puerto Rico still don't have a roof. I can't imagine. Not only do we have a roof over our heads but we have central heat and a/c. We have running water and can adjust it to our liking. We have an oven and stove. And if we want to eat it even faster, we can use our microwave. It's easy to take that stuff for granted. But when you read an article about so many without it's an eye opener to just how blessed we are. I am thankful for the things we take for granted, things that make life so much easier than our ancestors or people in other countries. If I had more time, I could blog an entire page on things I've seen in other countries that really, truly make you appreciate how good we have it here in the USA.
Day 8: I am so incredibly thankful for my niece. I never in a million years thought I'd ever have a niece or nephew. So, imagine my surprise when my brother told me that my sister in law was pregnant. A year ago today my sweet niece was born. Although I've only seen her a handful of times, I enjoy our FaceTime "conversations". She has blessed our family in the past year that she's been on this Earth and I can't wait to see how the Lord uses her life to bless others.
I would write more but I've got to get to the store and I am on a time crunch. So expect a longer blog tomorrow. Until then.....

Day 6: 4-legged family members

I debated all day whether to share my thankfulness for great co-workers or wonderful neighbors (who have become good friends). But, I settled on our 4-legged family members. I have been a dog owner ever since I was rewarded for bringing up my grades in 6th grade. Since then I have never been without at least 1 dog (with the exception of a few days when we had to put Roxy down). Sadly, not all of the dogs we've owned have been a good match for us. But for the past 5 years we have been blessed with the most perfect mutt who adopted us to get away from an abusive home (at least that's what we think happened before she came to us). And for the past year we have been blessed, and sometimes annoyed, with our little black lab/Korgi mix. Both dogs have been a perfect match for us.
Fetcha, our yellow mutt, is technically P's dog. He found her, begged for her, named her and worked with her to trust others. She's a faithful dog, so mellow you hardly knows she's around and you can set your clock by her because at 9pm she'll pace until one of us put her in her crate. The only time she'll show any form of aggression is toward another dog if she feels her boys are in danger. If I am walking her and another dog approaches us, she wants to play with it. But if her boys are walking her, she'll snarl any time a new dog gets close to them. Her only quirk is running away if the door is left open. Unfortunately, she has run to the main road outside of our subdivision and we worry about her getting hit by a car. 9 times out of 10, P is the only one who can get her back home. Most nights she'll curl up in her bed in his room as he falls asleep. If he's had a rough day, she will sit by the side of his bed so he can stroke her fur until he falls asleep. Sadly, she is a shedder so she is not allowed on any furniture. (Although once in awhile we do catch her up on P's bed!)
Our other mutt, Charlie, became E's dog last October when we fell in love with him at a fall festival. They have been inseparable ever since! He's a tad high strung but, when we get home from school, we let him out to play with his best friend (who, ironically, is the dog of E's best friend). Playing with Otis usually wears him out enough to relax the rest of the night. He never strays far from the house or the boys. If he gets left outside he stays by the door until one of us let him in. He plays with other dogs fairly well (once he lets them know he thinks he's in charge) and he wags his whole butt when he gets excited about something. He loves to lay next to me on the couch and for some reason he loves to be rubbed by my feet. He'll sit under my foot until I "pet" him with my toes. Sometimes he will crawl up on the boys' beds at night but most of the time he has "his" place on the couch. If anyone sits there, he paces until the person gets up. I think his favorite place in the whole world is deer camp. We've only taken him there once but he ran ALL weekend, scouting out new scents! He wagged his butt the entire weekend and it seemed like he smiled for 48 hours straight.
It took the dogs a few weeks to get used to each other but now they get along great. We quickly learned to feed them separately and not to give them bones when they're together. So now they get along as well as any siblings. They look as different as night and day and their personalities are polar opposites, but they are both perfect for our family just as they are. I am so thankful for our faithful, fun loving 4-legged family members!!

Day 5: New Days and Coffee

There hasn't been a day recently where I thought, "I want a do-over". But the nights are when I am thankful for new days....and good coffee. I usually average one good night of sleep a week. Sometimes it's every two weeks that I actually wake up feeling rested. Most nights I'm woken up by a nightmare (like last night) or Rob snoring or a leg cramp or E waking me up because of a nightmare or our neighbors' floodlight or having to go to the bathroom. Once I wake up I have a difficult time going back to sleep. Sometimes I get about 4 hours of sleep and I'm a 8+ hour a night sleeper. By the time morning shows its first light I am ready for the new day and a couple cups of coffee. I am thankful that the good Lord provides us with new days. It energizes me and makes me ready to go, despite my lack of sleep. I love drinking my coffee by the picture window, watching the morning wake up with birds singing, and reading my devotion. I used to love the nighttime but now I am so thankful for the new day, new beginning, new light....and a good cup of coffee.

Day 4: Helpful Husband

This season of life is busy. Between both of us working full time, football season, guitar lessons, finishing up the last of my photography sessions and everything in between we have little down time. So I am so thankful for a helping husband, someone who steps up when he has down time, someone to help around the house and with the boys. Yesterday he made sure P got to his guitar lesson and tonight got him to football practice. Today, on his day off, he did laundry and washed dishes. Little things like that mean so much to me. It was his first real day off in over a week and he could've spent the day sitting on the couch. But he didn't. Instead he made my life easier by bringing something to the school that I needed and doing things around the house that I would've had to do after a full day.
One of the characteristics that I looked for in a spouse was someone who would be a team player. I wanted someone who would be a partner in all aspects of married life and parenting. I am so thankful that I have found him.
P.S. He brings so much more to our marriage than just that but today I am extremely thankful that I have such a helping husband.

Day 3: Friendships

Saying that I am thankful for all my friendships, both near and far, is an understatement. My friendships are one of the biggest blessings in my life. The other night the boys were trick or treating and, as we walked down the road, I looked to the left to see a good friend and looked to the right to see another good friend. We spent the hour laughing, watching our boys make memories and pouring out our hearts to each other about parenting while our boys brought in the motherlode of candy. Last night, after a day of photo shoots, I met up with a couple good friends for dinner. One friend announced that she was pregnant (surprise!) and one talked to us about her health issues. I drove away from the restaurant, thankful for my friends and the different phases of our life. Right before I went to bed last night I got a text from a newer friend in life, wanting to tell me that her husband wants to reconcile and work to save their marriage. (yay!)
As an adult, making friends has been more difficult for me. When I walk into a room of people I become a wallflower. I don't feel comfortable approaching a stranger to introduce myself. But when God does bring people into my life as a new friend I cherish those friendships. I appreciate how each friend brings something different to my life. I have friendships in life that started as children. I have friendships that began in college. And I have friendships that have begun in the workplace. Sadly, I have had good friends come and go in life as well. But the ones who have stuck around amaze me.
I have some good friends in California, Nevada and Louisiana. I can go years without seeing a friend and when we do see each other we pick up right where we left off. One of my dearest friends in life and I only see each other every few years at best. The last time we got together we took a girls' roadtrip to the beach. That was one of the best weekends of my life! We caught up on life. We cried over heartache. We reminisced about our college days together. And we laughed until our stomach hurt and we had tears rolling down our cheeks. It's times like that I don't take for granted.
But I also don’t take for granted when my friend opens up about her depression or her heartache or her marital problems or her parenting issues. Because I know my friend trusts me to share those things that are heavy on her heart. I also know that I can celebrate with her when life starts looking up again.
There is a saying that I am sure you've heard that says, "As we go through life, we start to understand that it's not important to have a lot of friends. What truly matters is that we have real friends." I am blessed to say that I have a lot of real friends and I am forever thankful for each and every one of them!

Day 2: My Photography Business

I have loved photography ever since I was a little girl. I remember searching the film rack, trying to find just the right film speed for what I needed. I remember anxiously waiting for that roll to be developed to see if I captured things just the way I wanted. I also remember putting those pictures in photo albums, those same photo albums that I will still look at, laughing about certain memories captured on film.
I remember borrowing my dad's digital camera and Rob buying me my professional camera. I remember taking classes to learn about the art of photography. I remember how nervous I was at my first official photo shoot. And yes, I remember how I've screwed up occasionally, making life stressful for me.
My photography has been my creative outlet for so many years. For the past 6-8 years, it has also been a source of income for us. It has provided me the chance to think outside the box. It has introduced me to people I may not have met. It has given me the chance to make people feel beautiful, to allow them to see how other people see them.
My photography business has been so many things for me. It has been a blessing and a source of ministry. I have loved every minute of it! But, for the first time in 10 years, I am working full time. So I feel a peace that it is time for me to close my photography business. I don't have a desire to work 50-60 hours a week and miss out on so much of our boys' lives. This time of year, my business can consume me. I don't want that anymore. So I will enjoy the next three weekend of photo shoots and then I will close the door on Nov 16. My thankfulness for my photography business goes beyond words. I know how blessed I have been with it.

Day 1 of a Month of Thanksgiving

Last year I skipped doing a month of gratitude. At the end of the month, I was sad to see that I didn't document all the things I'm thankful for on a daily basis. Because, in reality, we have so much more than 30 things to be thankful for. As always, life gets busy and I may forget to post every day. But, I will sit down and catch up when I can. So just bare with me on days I don't get a chance to blog my thankfulness.
Today I am thankful for Rob's job. This week his job has been a blessing and a curse so to speak. A week ago tonight we had a tropical storm make landfall in Southeast LA. It did damage similar in nature to a hurricane. Normally this wouldn't affect Rob too much. But, he just got promoted to a new job 3 days prior to the storm hitting. We took him out to dinner for his birthday Friday night and then he and I watched our shows that we taped. By Saturday morning his phone was blowing up with texts and calls and he was out the door. Since he left Saturday morning, I have seen him for *maybe* a total of 30 minutes. He was supposedly going back to his normal work schedule Wednesday but that didn't happen.
It'd be easy to focus on the fact that he hasn't been home, other than to sleep, this week. But, instead, I focus on the leader that he is for the crews. He's out helping them-making sure they aren't too tired, making sure they are safe. He wants to be home with us. He wanted to go trick or treating with us. He's wanted to be eating a homecooked dinner with us. But, instead, he's leading by example. And in return I'm sure he's earning mad respect from his guys.
On top of helping the guys, he's earning extra money. With a costly truck repair and Christmas coming up, the extra money will come in very handy. It will help ease the financial stress that keeps me awake this time of year. In fact, his job has always provided for us and allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom or a part time worker for several years. Something I'll be forever grateful for!
While his job occasionally keeps him away from home, I am so incredibly thankful for a company that acknowledges and rewards his hard work. He has climbed the management ladder because of his dedication, knowledge and people skills. I am proud of his accomplishments and thankful for his job today and every day.