With a Thankful Heart

I suppose I’ll end my unplanned hiatus…I miss blogging.  I miss writing down my life – documenting our life.  And I find myself saying, “I should blog this.” Yet, I don’t.  I’m going to be honest and call it lazy.  Because I have been. :)

So, with Thanksgiving tomorrow, here’s what I’m thankful for, but “deep” and superficial. :)

• Marc – he makes life fun.  I’m blessed to be married to him. :)
• Family – which covers a LOT.  My Mama and Daddy are awesome – again, blessed with them.  They have their flaws (don’t we all), but they have loved me unconditionally all my life, and taught me that I could be and do anything I wanted to.  Then, they helped me do just that, sacrificing their wants and needs so my brother and I wouldn’t have to do without.
• Family Portraits. :) A friend at church took these for us, and we’re using them as Christmas gifts.  Who says you have to have kids to give pictures of yourself to family?!?  That’s blasphemy. :)
  I mean, who wouldn’t want a photo of us with our dogs?!? :) That’s our family. :) And then for my family, we got this one for the grandparents, our parents, aunts & uncles. :) My brother has a beautiful family!! :) Love those girls (and him and Wendy)!! :)

 

• I’m thankful for my favorite TV shows.  This fall, I’m loving: Hawaii 5-0, NCIS & NCIS:LA, and 2 Broke Girls makes me laugh.  Not a huge fan of Glee this fall – just not really loving the songs.
• My dogs – they make me happy.  They need a bath right now, but I love giving them belly rubs before bed.
• These two ladies – best friends for a long time. :)
• Friends that can get together for a baby shower, but have a blast just catching up. 
• My friends – all of them – they get me through the rough weeks, and good times.  They are there for everything and I’m so, so glad to have an abundance of good friends in my life.
• Events that I’ve been to this year – MotoCross Race in California, Carolina Panthers game in August, and one of my favorites – Def Leppard concert for my birthday with the help of Groupon and friends. :) A little rain didn’t stop us from singing Pour Some Sugar on me at the top of our lungs…it represented our undying love for trashy rock music! :)
• I’m thankful for a job, for a raise in January, and that God provides when we need Him most.
• Love my church and my church family.  Love that my education allows me to contribute to our church and God’s plan.
• I am thankful to God, for everything.  My life, while I’m sometimes disappointed that the direction it takes is not the one I had planned, it’s the life God has planned.  Thankful for that above all else. :)

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!! :)

Thankful

Today, I am thankful for…

a God who loves unconditionally.

a God who sent His son to die, so that I may live.

a husband who loves me, and puts up with me, difficulties, and all! =.)

a family who has supported me my whole life; who lifts me up and believes in me.

friends…who are friends.  Friends I can trust, hang out with, be myself around, be silly with, and enjoy their company. =.)

a home in which I live.  A place where I feel completely comfortable and blessed to be in.  In an area that I’ve lived in my whole life…and feel safe in.  And it’s close to my family.

a country where I have the freedom to believe what I want.  Where I can worship God without being persecuted.  A country founded on Christianity.  A place that fights to keep our freedom, and help others achieve that same freedom.

for those who sacrifice their lives, who leave their families and homes, so that I might continue to live free.  Oh, how much you mean to me.  And for families who watch their loved ones leave, never sure if they will return to them.  For those people who FIGHT for little me.  What a blessing you are for that.

for my puppies.  They love unconditionally.  Who greet me with one wagging tail, and one wagging body every time I come home.  Who are just so darn cute and loveable! =.) Those two pups just put a smile on my face with their goofiness! =.)

for a church who believes in the Bible.  A church that teaches by the Bible, and expects it’s members to abide by the Bible.

for the Bible…God’s guide for my life.  He gave me everything I need to know in one book.

for the Holy Spirit and a faith that live inside of me.  Who point, and sometimes push me in the right direction – in God’s direction.

for a job.  A place I get to go to each day, even if I get frustrated, sometimes.  God is providing for me.

for co-workers that care about me.

for Love.  Because my life is bursting with love, and I am blessed.  And I sometimes take that for granted.

 

So, I hope that you are surrounded by all that you are thankful for this Thanksgiving.  =.)  There is so much to be thankful for. =.)

Happy Thanksgiving! =.)

Thanksgiving Weekend

So, our holiday really started on Wednesday, when Marc's dad and stepmom came up from South Carolina to stay with us. We had a wonderful time hanging out with them and with Matt, Tammy, and Karleigh. Part of Melinda's (Marc's stepmom) Christmas present is a picture collage of all of us, so I had my Mama come over to take a picture for the center of the collage, and here it is:

I think it came out pretty well. I'm satisfied with it. =.)

Matt and Tammy had to leave early because they had to get Karleigh to bed. She was just too cute! She absolutely loved the dogs. She would go up to their doggie gate and wanted to touch them, but she didn't want them to lick her, so she'd pull her hand out when came close. Karleigh would follow everyone around, and she was just so much fun! It was really great having everyone over!

After they left, the rest of us stayed up until after 1 a.m. playing spades. Melinda and I won the first game, then we let Lyman and Marc win the second game. =.)

Thanksgiving morning was spent with Lyman & Melinda. Then we went to Marc's mom's family for a quick lunch, then finished up with dessert at my Mama's family. Then, all the ladies gathered 'round the sales papers to plot out our strategy. =.)

On Friday, we started shopping around 5-5:30 at Wal-Mart. Then, Mama went with me to Best Buy. They had a great deal on a dishwasher, and Marc's dad let us know that the pump on ours was done. However, the dishwasher is 20 years old, so it was definitely time for a new one. It's silver and pretty and quieter than the old one, so I'm happy. Then, we went to Kohl's, Old Navy, TJ Maxx, Target, Chick-fil-A for a yummy lunch, PacSun, Charlotte Russe, Bath & Body Works, CompUSA, Sears, BACK to Wal-Mart, and finally home! I was so tired when I got home, that I was just lazy! This is the back of my Explorer filled with my purchases! And yes, that is my dishwasher purchase in there. It fit perfectly!

Yay for Shopping on Black Friday!

On Saturday, Brock, Wendy, Allie, Ava, Marc and I all went and had a "family portrait" done for Mama's Christmas present. Here are the ones we picked and liked best. They were cropped better for the prints we purchased, but you get the idea.

This is the one for Mama

This is Brock and his family:

This is Allie - acting innocent =.)


This is baby Ava - She's just too cute!

And last, Marc and me:

It looks so much like an engagement picture to me, but oh, well. It's the only 'professional' picture we've taken since our wedding.

I really think she's gonna love it! =.) I'm excited to give it to her (I don't really want to wait until Christmas, but I will). =.)

Sunday, we did lunch at my paternal grandmother's house to celebrate Wendy's birthday. It was great getting to spend time with cousins, and of course to see Allie & Ava. I just LOVE those girls! =.)

Needless to say, I don't feel like I really got a "vacation" over Thanksgiving. I dreaded going into work on Monday, but that's life.

If you could please pray for Alex's friends and family. I mentioned him last week, and I know that some of his friends are just taking it really hard. His funeral is Thursday night, and I just know that prayer works.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." Matthew 5:4

Thankful

I feel like Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting on my life, and where I'm at. So, below are 10 things I'm most thankful for this year:

1. A resurrected Savior in Jesus Christ. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride in my relationship with God this past year, but I know I'm headed in the right direction, now. God has given me this awesome new church and church family, which includes my true family, and for that I am beyond grateful. =.)
2. A wonderful and loving husband and best friend. Marc has been my best friend for over 10 years now, and my love for more than 8 years. I can't imagine where or who I would be without Marc in my life. He drives me nuts sometimes, but I know I do the same to him. I truly feel that he is my soul mate, the one God intended for me from the beginning.
3. My family! I'm blessed with a very close immediate family, and an even closer extended family. And they're all so close in proximity, as well! My Mama and Daddy have shown me what a true marriage is supposed to be - equal partners, who put the other first. Their love for each other and for Brock and me has taught me how to love and be loved. And our dogs, who are our family. They love unconditionally and are a comfort to us, just by being them.
4. Family! Marc's family is super special to us, as well. My family is closer (by a LOT), so we see them more often, but Marc's family is great! His mom has this great devotion to her sons, and she loves them both so much. You can tell she just wants them to be happy and successful and loved. His dad and step mom are in SC, so we don't see them nearly enough. They've been so generous to us from the beginning and we're thankful for that. Matt and Tammy - we're blessed not only to be related, but to be friends, as well, and that's awesome.
5. Nieces! I can't wait to have children of my own, but until we're ready, Marc and I get to enjoy our 3 nieces. Allie is 3 and half years old, Karleigh is 1 and half, and Ava is almost 6 months. I'm sure our brothers would love a little boy in there somewhere, but they're all thankful for their little girls, as are we.
6. Friends - Tiffany and Kelli -what would I do without you girls? Tiff - my favorite roomie! I never would have made it past freshman year without you. And the craziness we lived through (especially with other roommates)...you helped make college an unforgettable experience. I'm even more thankful for the friendship that we've shared. You've been there for me through so much, and I thank you for that. Kelli - you are just too special. One of my confidants and just awesome person. You make me laugh, and I love to hear what you have to say. Thank you for what you bring to my life, and to our CODE dinners. =.) Love, love, LOVE you girls!
7. Friends - the weekend crew. I've made so many new friends over the past year, two years - Katie H, Katie M, Krystle, Megan, Sarah - you girls are awesome! I'm glad our guys are friends and we've all gotten to know each other! And I'm ready for the next girls night. =.)
8. Job - in a time where not everyone in employed, Marc and I are both blessed to have a job to go to every day, and paycheck that continues to come in, even if the economy isn't at its best. I know that this is all God's doing, and even if we didn't have jobs, God would provide for us. He's just making it easier for us, right now.
9. Health - so many others suffer from ailments and terminal illnesses, and we're just really lucky to be healthy, and to have a healthy family. We've lost some loved ones this year, but they lived long, full lives, and they are all in a better place right now.
10. Shelter - not only shelter, but a home that is our own. We have a place we've worked hard to get to where it is now, and in a place where we love. Our little piece of heaven is ours (of course, it's on lend from God, but He's letting us use it).

Alright...I hope you've enjoyed my reflections. May God bless and keep you as you enjoy your holiday with the ones you love most.

And for those who have an unexpected opening at your table this Thanksgiving, I lift you up in prayer for comfort from above.