Thankful: Day 23

The seasons I taught Sunday School.

For a few years I was blessed with the

joy (most of the time) of teaching Sunday School

and leading Children's Church.

Yes, it was stressful, chaotic, even crazy at times.

But, the joy of watching a child's face when they "got it".

Wow!

My season is over, for now. 

But, I have grand kids, watch out!

Thankful: Day 22

Music....Contemporary Christian is my favorite

Casting Crowns, my all time favorite group!

Music calms my soul.

Puts me in the right mind for my day.

Reminds me to focus on God.

It's NOT about me, but HIM.

 

Thankfulness: Day 21

I'm thankful for eyeglasses.

Without them, I would be house bound...

I am almost blind in one eye, can't see out of the other...

LOL

Sadly, that is true.  My prescription is so strong,

it often has to be sent out special order.

So, thankful, thankful for the invention!!

Thankfulness: Day 20

Today I'm thankful for books.

I love to read....love it a lot!

Passes time, I learn new things

I'm entertained.

Thankfulness: Day 19

I'm thankful for cars.

Especially cars that are paid for.

While we many not have the newest car on the block.

Our car may not have all the gizmos others have.

Ours is paid for! 

Thankfulness: Day 18

Today I'm thankful for running water.

Not just running water, but clean water.

So many throughout the world do not have this luxury.

Again, I'm spoiled.  I want, and have, clean water.

I can just turn the tap on and wash dishes, take a bath.

Thank You, Lord, for this awesome gift!

Thankfulness: Day 17

I'm thankful for electricity.

I admit it, I'm spoiled.  I like being able to turn on a light.

I like being able to turn the knob on the stove.

I like being connected to friend and family via the internet.

I like heat in the winter and cool air in the summer.

There are those that live without as a matter of choice.

There are those to whom it it not available.

There are those that do without because they cannot afford it.

I'm thankful it's available to me, and, at the moment, I can afford it. 

Thankfulness: Day 16

Today, I'm thankful for days I can spend with my hubby.

We work opposite shifts, which right now is a double blessing.

My car died just before I got home from a trip to see my family.

My honey works overnights, and I work the morning shift.

So, we really only see each other after he gets up to get ready for work, and that is just a for a few hours.  I only get to actually sleep with him two nights a week.  It's a hard routine, but you do what you have to do to make ends meet.  That's what makes those few and rare times so special!  Instead of spending our time wishing for something we can't do, we choose to spend our time together as a gift.

  

Thankfulness: Day 15

Today I'm thankful for days off.

Because of my psoriatic arthritis, I choose to work six days a week.  That way I only work six or seven hour days, which seem to be my limit per day before I'm ready to cry.  Some days are good, and some not so good.  But, because of this choice, I don't get much done around our apartment.  I often let the dusting go...until even I can't stand it anymore.  Thank the good Lord, my husband understand and does not complain.  I do the little things that don't take much of out me, like taking care of the cats, putting away the laundry, and cleaning the bathroom.  I'm truly blessed to have a such a wonderful man!!

Thankfulness: Day 14

Slipper socks!

If you know, you know I have an intense love of all things Eeyore!

I actually own two pairs of Eeyore slipper socks, though, not the pair above.  (Hint, hint)  LOL

Seriously, I am thankful for slipper socks.  We have wood floors throughout the apartment (except kitchen and bathroom, where we have linoleum).  So, in the winter, my feet get really cold.  And, if you know my lack of gracefulness, you know I can trip over a hairball, so these things work as well for me, as they would a toddler. 

Throw Back Thursday

Christmas at our house on Mitchell.

With:  Charlotte, Amy, Scott, and myself.

Thankfulness: Day 13

Today, I'm thankful for pets.  

We have two cats, Jasmine and Miranda.  Unless you have fur babies of your own, it's hard to explain...when I get home from work, my husband is sleeping.  (he works over nights)  But, when I open the door, I have two little (not so little, really) fur balls waiting for me.  It's nice to know that I will be greeted, even if they only want me home to feed them.  LOL

This is Jasmine.  She is 14 years old now.  She has recently had some major issues with her eyesight, due to high blood pressure.  Eddie now gives her medication twice a day, but she is almost blind now, probably due to some mini-strokes before she was diagnosed.

 

Miranda is our "baby".  Not quite sure on her age...we took her in when one of Eddie's bosses was transferred out of state, and they had rescued her from outside.  My guess is approximately five years old.

She is definitely a talkative cat, and was quite stand-offish until she had been with us a couple of years.  She is also a picky eater....in that she will rarely eat any people food at all.

Wordless Wednesday Oops...

Thankfulness: Day 12

The Bible....God's Word, to show me, teach me, lead me, daily.

Thankfulness: Day 11

I am thankful for those that are/have/will serve in the military, and their families!

My dad served in the Navy for 20 years.  My father-in-law served in the Navy for five years.

My (step) son, Scott, is in the Air Guard.

Our son-in-law, Loyd, served in the Marines, including tours over seas.

The picture below is my dad, a few years before I was born.

Next is a picture of my in-laws, George and Ellen.

And the next is a picture of Scott (in uniform) with his wife, Amy.  

Our daughter, Diana, with her husband, Loyd.

My husband, Eddie, is in the middle.

Thankfulness: Day 10

I'm thankful for technology....specifically telephones (cell phones in our case), computers, and the internet.  Without these I would not be able to keep in touch with my family.  I can call my mom and check up on her and dad.  I can see pictures of my kids and grand kids.  I've "met" many wonderful people throughout the world I would not have been able to have in my life.

Thankfulness Day 9

I am thankful for Insulin.  Without it, I would not be here.  I. HATE. SHOTS.
But, I have to inject myself twice a day with insulin to live.  So, that's what I do.
One must take the good, with the bad, period!

Thankfulness Day 8

I'm thankful for my family.  My parents were awesome, and taught me a lot growing up.  We had our rough spots, as families do, especially when I hit my teens.  I'm a lot like my dad, very stubborn and hot headed.  But, we never did without, and knew we were loved.  My mom stayed home with us, I don't remember her working until we moved to Milton, Florida, which was dad's last station.

My oldest (half) sister, Jeryl, was in, and out, of our lives...she lived in Missouri with her mom most of the years I was growing up.  She is an awesome person and very talented!

My sister, Cindy, is three years younger than I, and my first "friend".  We've had our ups and downs, but I love her barrels. She was diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer just over a year ago.  God has done some miraculous healing in her body, and she is currently cancer free.  She suffers side effects of the chemo/radiation, and will forever have tubes draining her kidneys, but she's alive, and I thank God for that!

My only brother, Galen, is eight years youger than myself.  We didn't bond as well as Cindy and I did.  He was only four when dad retired from the Navy and we moved back to Missouri.  Just on the verge of turning into a teenager, my world shifted to "grown up" stuff.  I regret that, he's a great man, with an awesome family of his own.

My youngest sister, Jennifer, is fourteen years younger than I.  We definitely did not bond.  By the time she was four, I had moved out and started a new life as an "adult".  We fought a lot....I did not like the way she treated and talked to our parents.  (Still don't sometimes)  But, I am thankful that she helps take care of my dad, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

The picture below is two years old, and Jennifer is not pictured.  (can't remember why)
I don't often share this picture...my hair is gray and the top I'm wearing is not flattering.  But, I was with my family, and that makes it good, no matter what.

Thankfulness: Day 7

Today, I'm thankful for grand kids.

Dorian, my "first" (biological) granchild is a year old, and has a huge piece of my heart.  Unfortunately, that adorable bug lives two hours south.  Doesn't sound like far, but when you only have one car, that you can't trust to get you that far, it might as well be Europe.  :(

My oldest grand kids are the children of my oldest (step) daughter.  (from my first marriage)
     She has three awesome young men.  Andrew is a Junior in High School, Tim a freshman, and Nate is 11.    Here is old picture of them. BTW, they don't know me as, or call me, grandma.  I just claim the title, because I still consider her my daughter.  Her dad and I split up in 1990, before these guys came into the world.

My (step)son, Jeff Jr., from my first marriage, has three boys.  I have yet to meet any of them, but they are still family.  Lucas is the oldest, followed by Elijah, and Draven is the baby.

My (step) daughter, Diana, has two adorable kiddos.  Madison  and Breayden.  Here is an older picture of their family.  They live in Arizona, so I have yet to meet these wonderful family members,

My (step) daughter, Erin, also has two adorable kids.  Caelyn and Liam.  We don't see much of them, as our schedules clash.  :(

Last, but certainly not least, is my (step) son's little guy, Clayton.  We see as much of this little bug as we can, he's just so darn cute!

Thankfulness Day 6

Day 6:   Hope today's post doesn't sound too materialistic...
Today I'm thankful for thrift stores.  I love that I can get things that we need (and others we don't) at a more reasonable price.  Since I work in a fast food "joint", I don't like to pay full price for my slacks.  One pair rarely lasts me more than a couple of months, so I would rather pay $5.00 than $20.00!

Of course there are things I will not buy used...shoes, undergarments, to name a couple.
Today I scored three like new Dr. Seuss books for .99 each.  Definitely a good bargain!

Thankfulness: Day Five

Day Five:  I'm thankful Eddie and I have a roof over our heads.  While having neighbors (we live in a duplex) can sometimes be, well, very annoying, you have to take the good with the bad.

I have actually been homeless...the house my boys and I were living in burnt, due to an electrical fire in the kitchen.  Even more scary, my youngest, then 14, was home alone on spring break.  I often call this the worst, yet best, day ever.  We lost everything except the clothes on our backs, but God spared my son!  Thank You Jesus!

Halloween pics

Here is Dorian in his costume.

Halloween also happens to be his birthday.

Here is Clayton.

Not a good picture, but the only one I have.

30 days of Thankfulness

I'm a little behind, but here goes:

Day one:  I'm thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Without his sacrifice, this life would be worth nothing.

Day two:  I'm thankful for my husband Eddie.  He spoils me rotten, and I'm so totally not worth it.  He has given me a second chance at happiness, has become my best friend, and has kept me walking closer to God.

Day three:  I'm thankful that Eddie and I both have jobs.  We may not be crazy about them, but at least we are employed and (barely) able to pay our bills.

Day four:  My children.  I was a single mom for over eleven years, so my two (biological) sons were my world.  They are grown young men, and I am VERY proud of them!

Dorian's First Birthday

Dorian's First Birthday

As you can see, he enjoyed his cake

I was SO happy to finally see my cutie!!