30 Days of Thankfulness

November 24, 2010

Today I am thankful fo r quiet family time.  After a very busy day trying to get everything done (and it is!) it sure is nice to be able to sit in my warm living room as the rain hits the windows and relax with my hubby, playing on our laptops.  Candles are burning, we had some yummy dessert, an awesome dinner, and our va(stay)cation has begun.  I love my life. 

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 23, 2010

Today I am thankful for my printer.  In a way, this is not true . .. but I'm trying to be thankful in the midst of adversity!  A few months ago we tried out Cartridge World and got ink for 1/3 of the cost.  It worked great.  Than I had to get more, and there was a problem with the cartridge which they replaced.  Another one went bad, Darryl took it back and got a new one .  .I put it in and guess what? It doesn't work!  So I'm trying to be thankful despite the fact that I have things to print.  Instead I'm learning to be thankful and patient until I can get a new cartridge this weekend :-)

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 22, 2010

Today I am thankful for the unexpected balmy weather!  I had windows open due to the almost 70 degrees.  Now we are listening to the rain . . .it is the calm before the . . .. cold :-)  Tomorrow we'll be below freezing!  Which makes me thankful for living in Michigan - I love all the seasons.  

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 21, 2010

Today, I am thankful for my brother Ken.  Ken is the youngest of the three boys but he is STILL older (much older hahaha) thank I am!!  Ken is a Pastor and I really enjoy the times I get to sit and hear him preach.  I've been listening to him preach since his first job as a youth pastor and I can honestly say that he has gotten better with age.  He is powerful when he preaches and it is enjoyable to listen to him teach the Word of God.   Beyond that, Ken is fun.  He is funny. He is kind.  He's the brother I've had the opportunity to spend the most time with through the years.  Ken was on staff at the college I attended, so he was there my Freshman year; he lived just a few miles from me for years when I got my first teaching job - he and Lynnette always watched out for me.  And now, he lives just a few hours away.  I appreciate his friendship, leadership, and example :-)

Ken with Nate at Easter.



30 Days of Thankfulness

November 20, 2010

Today I am thankful a husband who works very hard.  He works two jobs, 80+ hours a week so I can stay home and some weeks, he works 7 days a week for us.  How can I not be thankful for that? He works a very, very physical job Mon-Thursday, 12-14 hours a day.  Than he gets a "rest" on his other 2-3 days of work while driving around town - but he never stops.  If he wasn't willing to do this - I wouldn't be home with our boys. 

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 19, 2010

Yes, I should have posted this yesterday - I thought about it all day but than never had a chance to post it.

This is a silly one but it is true!  I'm thankful for my new phone :-)  AND I'm thankful for "free" phones every two years!  Yep free!!  I've had Verizon since before it was Verizon - back when AAA gave out phones to their members.  When Darryl and I got married he took over my phone but the battery didn't even stay charged . . he made a phone called and we learned about the "new every 2" thing and got our first new phone.  A few years later we added a line and now we just wait for that 2 year anniversary so we can pick out the best phone we can get for free :-)  This time mine has the full keyboard, some awesome fonts, and great ring tones.  I'm so excited to have it ! 

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 18, 2010

Today I am thankful for quiet mornings.  I enjoy the hour or two I get in the morning when everyone is sleeping.  I get up with my husband, sometimes between 5 and 5:30, make his lunch and than snuggle back in and watch some news until 6:00.  I than have from 6-7:15 to get ready for the day, relax, have my devotions and just enjoy the morning before the little munchkin arrives.  Normally he is still sleeping so than I have until one wakes up, normally around 8:00 to get some things marked off my list.  All that time really helps my day run smoothly and as I sit here this morning enjoying the calmness, I am thankful.  Plain and simple.

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 17, 2010

Today I an thankful for  . . .my soft bed!  Today was a really long day - not a bad day at all - just long, lots of things going on and we seemed to be going non stop (even no naps for two little boys!).  It was so nice to fall into bed (last night since I forgot to post this I was so tired!), crawl under the covers, snuggle in and drift off to sleep! 

30 days of Thanksgiving

November 16, 2010

Today I am thankful for milestones and music :-)  Naturally I am very thankful for my two boys but tonight we had a milestone and fun with music.  Nate took his first few steps tonight.  We have been working with him for a week or so and he has been standing on his own but no steps.  Tonight, he took four little steps from me to Darryl :-)  Josh loves music and tonight Darryl, Josh and I all played together.  Darryl and I had little tamberines and Josh sat at his little piano, clapping and tapping his foot to the beat.  It was so adorable!!!  Needless to say, we had a great night :-) 

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 15, 2010

Today I am thankful for the unexpected!  Isn't it funny how sometimes the unexpected can totally make your day?  I was getting ready to head to praise band practice when I got a call with the decision to cancel for tonight due to various reasons.  What a nice surprise to be able to stay home with the family tonight - we laughed, played, and found my new phone on the Verizon website :-) hehehehe  I love getting a free phone every 2 years!  And this picture has nothing to do with this post but isn't it pretty - I would love to live there :-)

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 14, 2010

Today, I am thankful for my church.  We had a great church service this morning, lots of people, a good message, and wonderful music.  We don't always get to our church as much as we like due to Alive Concerts and other commitments but it is always nice to get back into the groove once again!

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 13, 2010

Today I am thankful for my home.  It may not be the biggest, newest, nicest house on the block but it is mine.  It is my little piece of the pie where my family gets to laugh, live, and love.  And we do a lot of all three! 

30 Days of Thanksgiving

November 12, 2010

Sometimes it is good to be thankful for silly little things so today, I'm thankful for McDonald Frappe's.  I don't know who thought up that idea but it was the best thing ever.  I love them.  They make a bad day better and a good day great!  And yes, we had one as a treat tonight :-)

30 Day Thanksgiving Challenge

November 11, 2010

Today I am thankful for my country.  For the freedoms that we have and the privileges that we get to enjoy.  I am also thankful for those who serve to protect that freedom.  I have family and friends who have served or are serving - thank you for your sacrifice.

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 10, 2010

Today I am thankful for Alive!, the praise band my husband is part of currently.  The door opened "oddly" about 4-5 years ago.  Darryl had been searching for several years to find a Christian Band to play in and express his musical talents.  He had several groups ask him to play but as he asked questions, he learned that many times they played in the bars on the weekend and that is something he did not want to do.  Instead, he spent hours jammin' in the basement and we just kept praying.  We even searched out churches with music opportunities hoping that would meet the need but instead the doors kept closing.  Through his job at Clothing Care, he met a guy at one of his stops named John.  John invited us over for a music night at his house.  Darryl had fun playing guitar with both John and his son, thinking this might be his new outlet.  Well, John happened to work with this guy named Paul and he knew that Paul was looking for a guitar player for his group.  So John mentioned that he should talk to their delivery guy.  Paul invited Darryl out to check the group out and the "rest is history".  It has been such a blessing to get to know the people in the group, to attend the concerts, and to see my husband get to stand on stage and do what he loves more than anything else - play music.   Some days, honestly, it is a struggle, when he has worked a 12 hour day on a Wednesday and barely has time to change clothes before making the 45 minute drive to practice, getting home often after midnight only to get back up at 5:00 Am to work a 14 hour day on Thursday.  Or when Sunday is the only day he has off and it is taken up with a concert yet we are always blessed in end and are so thankful that God worked out the details.  

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 9, 2010



Today, I am thankful for my brother Jeff.  Jeff is the middle brother.  He is the smart one :-)  (Seriously - he really is - not that the rest of us are dumb, but Jeff is REALLY smart!)  I used to call him when I had to take a Statistics class in Grad School.  He would have to explain whatever the teacher taught every day because I was so lost.  He is also very caring and encouraging.  Jeff is an administrator at a Christian school and, plain and simple, he is GREAT at what he does and it makes me very proud to hear what he does.  He loves his family more than anything and is a wonderful example to those around him. 

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 8, 2010

Today I am thankful for family days :-)  We don't get many of them but today we got to enjoy our family.  We laughed a lot, played a lot, and even got some work done!  Than we had some family pictures taken by a friend and I can't wait to see them!  Every once in awhile, we just have to take time out for us - and yes, I do schedule those days at the very least, once a month otherwise, we get too busy :-)

My boys!! :-)

Josh got creative today.  He moved his little chair up on the couch and sat in it so he could watch out the window :-)

Darryl giving Nate a bottle - he doesn't get to do this very often!

And yes, I'm thankful we were able to stay in our PJ's until early afternoon when we had to get ready for pictures!!

30 Days of Thankfulness Challenge

November 7, 2010



Today, I am thankful for my brother Kelly.  Kel is the oldest of us kids and we have lots of funny stories about him.  He still thinks of me as his "baby" sister because he left home when I was still so little (there is almost 10 years between us!  He told me recently that he really doesn't remember me at home - I told him it is because he is getting so old :-)  Kel is a hard worker but he is kind-hearted.  He is organized and a planner and I like it because I'm like him :-)  He's fun and has a great sense of humor.  I miss him a lot because he lives in Brazil - I am looking forward to seeing him in a just a few short months though :-)

30 Days of Thankfulness

November 6th, 2010

Today, I am thankful for snow. Yep you read that right!  We our first snowfall today and it put a huge smile on my face.  It was nothing that stuck or hung around but those sweet little first flakes that fly through the air and land on your nose, your hands, your clothes.  I love the big black snow clouds and that incredible sky where the sun shines just beyond the clouds and is EXTREMELY bright.  There is nothing like the mix of dark clouds and sun.  You only get that mix from snow clouds.  This year, I am so excited to be able to be home this winter when we get those snowy days.  My husband doesn't like it but I'll keep the house warm for him :-)



30 Days of Thankfulness

November 5, 2010

Today I am Thankful for the Parents!  My parents are great!  They are so willing to help us out and love to watch our kids for us so I can have a day out or we can have a little break.  They have always been super supportive of  my brothers and I and are a great example to all of us.