Today I am thankful for....

our wonderful Thanksgiving celebration! Bonus points for me not cooking a single thing! (This may have been a bonus for our family as well...) We went to my husband's sister's house. What hospitality! We all had a great meal with his parents, one of his brothers, one of his sisters and their families. (Don't be worried.... we weren't total leaches.... we were in charge of bringing the liquor. That is our specialty!) It was a relaxing day. The kids played cards with their cousins, the hubs played cards with his dad and brothers, and I took a nap. Heaven!

Today I am thankful for....

you, my dear blog friends! Although I may not be the most prolific blogger (or commenter) on the internet, I enjoy reading each of your blogs! I have learned about crafting, cooking, shopping, parenting, and most of all, friendship. The peeks you give me into your lives sometimes makes me laugh, and sometimes cause me to try something new in my own little world..... I have read with interest about your political beliefs, and more than once, a different opinion has caused me to rethink my own stance on different topics. I am a better person because of the blogs I read, and hopefully, this blog that I write!

Thank you all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful for....

my sweet little Grace! One of her teachers said it best: She is a force of nature. Tomorrow she will be 8! Hard to believe that just 8 years ago we were welcoming our 4th (and last!) child into the world. Let me tell you about Grace. She is the one who will keep us young! We are always having to adjust what we think is the right parenting strategy to keep up with her unpredictable ways... But she has the biggest heart of any child I have ever seen. Will leap to anyone's aid without a thought. So quick to share, even if it is her favorite, or the last of whatever she has. So full of love, that sometimes it boils over into a temper tantrum when we don't understand what it is she wants/needs to do. She has taught our family A LOT about patience, let me tell you that! But also is a beautiful example of unconditional love for all her siblings.

Mark my words. Grace will change the world. I don't know how, but I am pretty sure one of my big purposes on the earth is to make sure she makes it safely to adulthood, so that she can do whatever it is God has called her to do.

We love her. I am so thankful God blessed our family with Grace!



(this is Grace, wearing her 'finest robe' at her first confession)

Today I am thankful for....

MASCARA! Is there any other make-up product that is quite so essential? Maybelline's Great Lash is my staple. I cannot be seen in public without it....

Well, it would be more correct to say that my preference is to not be seen without wearing my mascara... I'm afraid that I am a lazy cow about half the time, and do not bother with any make-up. But when I am on my game, and at least take the time to throw on my lashes, LOOK OUT WORLD. I feel 100% better about myself. And I know I frighten a lot fewer children!!

So, that's it for me today! Love me that pink and green mascara!

Today I am thankful for....

my family's health. I cannot put into words how grateful I am that God has blessed our family with fairly good health. One of my kiddo's has asthma. However, we are fortunate enough to have good doctors (and decent insurance) and are able to keep his asthma in check. It does not in any way affect his quality of life, thank goodness. So many parents out there deal with chronically and terminally ill children, and my heart breaks for them. As it does when I hear of a family who has a parent that is suffering from an illness.......

I just found out a friend of mine has been diagnosed with prostrate cancer. He is scared, his family is scared, and I am scared. Please pray that his surgery to remove the cancer is successful, and that he resumes the good health he has enjoyed until now.

Today I am thankful for....

the next generation....

Today I served as a judge for a debate tournament. It was really cool to see those teenagers passionately debating a topic.

They were debating whether the No Child Left Behind Act should be restructured. Now, ordinarily, there would be no need for me to even listen to a debate. Programs that include standardized testing really get on my nerves. And the No Child Left Behind Act is a real stinker, but this blog post isn't about that....

What made me decide to declare the Negative side the winner of the debate was when the Affirmative said that in order to increase funding at schools who tested low under the new standards, they would decrease funding at schools who tested high. And then, in order to make up the shortfall those schools that tested high now have, the COMMUNITY could make up, in the form of taxes.

UH HELLO? That was a deal breaker for me. Sorry, Affirmative team! You lost! But I know our future is in good hands with such enthusiastic learners! Keep up the debating!!

Today I am thankful for....

Little Casear's Pizza. If you don't have this chain in your hometown, you are missing out. On the night of the week that everyone is coming at going at different times, Little Casear's has $5 pepperoni or cheese pizza's HOT AND READY! Seriously, you just run in and say, 'One pepperoni pizza and one cheese pizza please', hand them a ten dollar bill, and you are on your way home with a delish dinner for the fam! You cannot beat that! And since our house is full of pizza lovers, it is a win-win for all!