Thankful wrap up.

Ok, I think I've decided it is impossible to put into coherent words all that I am thankful for. I think it sums it up by saying everything. I am thankful to God for everything.

I wish all of you a blessed day of giving thanks!

Thankful, part 3

I know these thankful posts are not exactly the most well-organized articles ever, but things seem to just come spilling out. There are so many other things that am thankful for! The community where I live is far from perfect, but it is a great place. It is safe and very, very beautiful. As a teenager, it was easy to complain that it was a boring place. But as an adult, I see the pleasure of this place in a new way. God did some amazing things when He created the Earth...and I get to see spectacular examples of that all the time. I am glad to be a resident of a free country. In my country, my family is not considered wealthy. I don't know all the statistics...but I'm guessing we'd be on the upper side of 'low income'. However, we have a home, two cars and plenty of clothes. We have electricity and running water. That puts us ahead of so many others in our world. Recently I met a missionary who had been to India. She told us things she had seen, and it broke my heart. I am thankful for having my basic needs met, and that I do not have to scrounge daily through garbage just to find my next meal. I thank God that I have not become a drug addict, alcoholic, or worse. I am a capable, loving woman who is able to nuture her family and loved ones. I am glad I am able to know my Lord and follow His plans for me.

More thankfulness

I touched on how thankful I am for my family. Even though I don't think many if any of them read here, I'll still send love to my extended family. There are lots of blended families on my family tree, and surprisingly it works fairly well. I am grateful for all those that support me, and have shown me guidance, even when I do (and did) not realize they were doing it.

After my family(and in some cases before family) I am so blessed with wonderful friends. My friends mean so much to me. I do not make friends very easily, as I seem to be a quiet sort when I am around people I do not know well. I wish my 'old school' friends didn't live so far away. I miss them. Of course, I can hardly find time to spend with the friends that are here...so it's not like I'd see them that much more often. I remember one instance about 6 years ago of using a 'phone a friend' at 6 am, to help ease my burden about a big decision that was made that day. She didn't even complain to me, and she's not an early bird. Thanks, friend! And to all those friends, I love you, man!

Thanksgiving Meal Baskets

I worked recently with a group to plan and prepare Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for several families in need. We assembled them over the weekend, so that they could be delivered. My heart was truly opened to see how much people in my community care for each other.

When I was first approached about this project I said, without hesitating :"SURE! That sounds like a GREAT idea!". then, I started second guessing...What was I thinking???? Am I prepared for this? I don't think I can do this...Would we get enough donations? I've never done anything like this before...Would I ask for the right things...would people think I was asking for too much? Was I planning for enough to fill the needs? After a few days of stressing out, I really just decided to turn it over to God, because this wasn't really up to me. And, what do you know, He took care of everything(as usual...why did I waste time with worry?!)

We (the group assembling), did not know who the baskets were for...but it did not matter to the people who donated items. Our group had planned on buying the turkeys, and asking for donations for the rest of the needed items. As it turns out, we had turkeys donated as well as everything else! I had people asking over and over what else they could bring, even after I had gotten committments for everything on our list...we were so blessed! I pray that the families that get our gifts will be blessed by them as much as we were.

This week I will use my blog to post about things I am thankful for. I am sure there is no way that I'll remember to list everything, but I'll at least hit the major ones.

I am grateful that my family has so much! God has provided for us even when we didn't know how certain things were going to get done. During this year, we have been able to donate items, time and money to many worthy needs. We may have gone without some wanted things, but we've had all we needed and then some.

Look at what happened this morning!

We had a wonderful, yet rare event this morning!



The dripping you can hear in the video is where the snow is melting and dripping off the roof as soon as it hits. So sad.
It has pretty much ended now, so I am very sad. I'd like it to stick around for a while. It is usually January before we see snow. The girls were super excited, and we headed out on the deck to try to catch a few on our tongues. Too bad I didn't get pictures of that, but I was too busy trying to catch them myself.

What's going on?

I'm still here! Even though fall sports are over for my family...it is gearing up to be a busy season anyway!

Thanksgiving is next week...and I am in deep preparation and planning for a project for that.

Then it is also the countdown to the end of the semester. That, of course, means working on final projects.

Then ...Christmas is coming...

So I do not usually do these things...but I kind of liked this one. At least it doesn't sound like some of those freaky myspace surveys that a five-year-old wrote. Read and Learn.
Bold the things you’ve done and will admit to:
1. Started your own blog (you are here!)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world (3 times now..can I go back yet?)
8. Climbed a mountain Grandfather mountain. Remember that Smartbutnotwise?
9. Held a praying mantis-no way!
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child -no, but I feel like I've adopted several neighbor children some days
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill-my kid(s) were sick, though.
24. Built a snow fort-unfortunately we don't get 'nuff snow to do this often
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping -those crazy college days :-o
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise -in the sound
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors..not the really old ones..but some more recent ones.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - not in public, thank goodness
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance - never as the patient, though
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie-I don't think this means your average home video...
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check-thank goodness for overdraft
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square-I got close, but missed it by a few blocks.
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle-I was out of control and driving!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper - lots of times...benefits of living in a small town
85. Read the entire Bible - sadly I'm sure I've missed some spots
86. Visited the White House- on the outside, anyway.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - fish?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life-not knowingly
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-yep
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - a long, long time ago...I don't want to update the memory.

Thanks for making it through...share your list if you've done one!

more than small relief, really.

I know you all are sick of hearing about this, but:
You know, it is way more than small relief about the whole colors in the food things. Have any of you ever read labels? Not just the calories & nutrition, but all that fine print. Yikes. It took us about 40 minutes in Harris Teeter to find 3 things we thought she could have (before I found out the colors in food were ok). I was seriously starting to get pretty nervous. Tell your 12 year old, sure have a salad with no dressing and no tomatoes and see what they say!

Knowing that the doctor was referring to only liquids with added colors does make meal times much more simple than if we were trying to avoid dyes. Not that I am a health food freak or anything, do you seriously realize how much 'stuff' is added to our foods? I always thought we did pretty good with our foods...

It will still be a challenge to cut out chocolate & fruits, but I really am beginning to think we can do this!

Small Relief

I had to call the doctor's office with a couple of questions today. While I was speaking with them, it came to light that she does not have to avoid ALL artificial colors. Only to avoid them in her beverages...this does make feeding her a little bit less difficult.

more medical stuff

I still don't want to go into too much detail, but the oldest has an issue which is going to involve major diet modifications...at least for the next several months. We are going to be avoiding a large list of items: most fruits, carbonation, caffeine, chocolate, artificial colors, and more. We also have to do some specific things which will also have to occur while at school.

I am stressed over this. Obviously I want to do whatever I can to help my child. But she is very upset especially about her beverage choices: white milk & water. A lot of this is going to depend on her making the right choices when I am not there. I cannot control her every move and exposure to these things in situations away from home. And when she is home, I do not want the rest of us to be making it worse for her by eating/drinking things in front of her that she cannot have. This means there will have to be major modifications for our entire household. (This is *not* necessarily a bad thing). Grocery shopping is going to take a lot longer while we are learning to inspect those laundry lists of ingredients. It looks like I may have no choice but to become closer to being one of those *wink* crunchy granola people *wink* :) If anyone has advice on where & how to shop or make this any easier...that would be awesome!

Oh, and the youngest did great at the dentist.

made it back

We made it back safely. It was a super long day, and we had a pretty big bomb dropped at the doctor. Nothing life threatening, but a lot of work. I'll discuss more later. I'm exhausted. I just thought ya'll might worry;)

Heading out...

This morning will find me up-and-at-em a bit earlier than usual. I'm having close my business (sorry kids, I'd rather be with you) to drive a few hours out of town to the nearest metropolis for medical care for two of my kiddos. This has been scheduled for about a month or so now, and I have been totally dreading it. One is in the morning, in the north-east part of one big city...and the other is in the afternoon in the heart of a very busy medical conglomerate in the center of a different urban area. I've been there before, but it has been over 5 years for a different child. I cannot say I am looking forward to the parking/traffic or away from home doctors. Yuck. I must really love these kids... :) The timing is just so that we have time to get from one to the other and a lunch break in between. I think I might have to swing through the Target on the way home just to make myself feel better. That is, if I have any money left after the dentist...

Happy Veterans Day

As a fellow blogger noted today, I have seen very little information posted online regarding today's holiday. Happy Veteran's day to everyone. I remember...and am thankful, and pray for an end to all wars. There has been an interesting series of articles in the past few days' The Virginian Pilot regarding POW's, and I have cried while reading them.

Monday, Monday...

The new printer part was delivered bright and early this morning. Mr. Snippity snapped it right in, and it works! It's kind of like electricity or water service...you just don't realize how essential it is until you cannot use it.

Speaking of Mr. Snippity...he had dental work done this morning, and is taking it easy playing Lego Star Wars on Nintendo DS (for a few hours so far...I'm not joking!) We were thinking about buying the kids a Wii for Christmas, but I'm kind of second guessing that right now ;)

My sweet baby girl (dang, she's growing up), attended her first school awards assembly this morning. All those 4 year olds were adorable. Of course, the Kindergarten was, too. But I think this little lady was the most adorable in the bunch.

I want to say congrats to this mom I know. She ran a half marathon yesterday. You Did IT!!!

That is pretty much it for my random updates for today!

Kudos to Kodak

I purchased a kodak all-in-one printer in January of this year. (It was a really good deal, too!). This past couple of weeks, I was having some printing issues. At first, I was out of black ink. So I get some. Then I ran out of the color ink. I got a new pack of that too. Then my black will not print. We did all the calibrating & printhead cleaning and troubleshooting you can do. I thought maybe I bought a bum cartridge. I got another one & it still didn't work. So, I call customer support. I was dreading it so much. We all know how support services are anymore, right? So, I call. And I had to push a few digits to tell them what kind of trouble I was having. Then, with no hold, I was connected to an agent. AND I think English was his native language! I think he may have even actually been in America. (I should have asked). He asked me to push a few buttons on the printer, describe the problem and give him some numbers from the printer. Then, without putting me on hold, or reading from some ridiculous script...he told me they were sending me a new part. Something simple that we can fix on our own. At no charge! Also, for my trouble, they will include a new color and black ink cartridge. I must say, I already liked my printer, but I am also thrilled with the customer service. Too bad more companies aren't this good.

Tasty Thursday

Today's lunch was yummy! I made a chicken & cheese quesadilla. No finished product photo today, though, it was eaten too quickly! I made some for the little kids with just chicken & cheese in the tortilla. Mine got kicked up a notch. I added some thinly sliced onion and hot sauce while cooking, and a dab of sour cream to finish up. I could have eaten a bunch like this!!! I can only imagine how much more delicious this would have been with green peppers.

Rainy, Rainy

Last night was awesome sleeping weather! Rain, rain, and more rain. Unfortunately, the rain has caused some issued with road and school closures. I am happy that I get to have my kiddos home with me today, though! Maybe they won't get too stir crazy...or I might just send them out to play in the rain!

We get out the door to

go to soccer. Mr. Snippity left first with the ace soccer player, to get her there in time to warm up. I followed up (on time, not as usual) a few minutes behind him. He calls me when I am about 5 minutes away from the field. "There's been a mix-up". The game was not scheduled at 2 pm, but at 4 pm. Lovely, right? So, there's some shopping I wanted to do while I was in that vicinity. So, I took the two youngest ones (against my inner desires, but out of love and compassion for Mr. Snippity~there is no playground at the soccer complex). I spent about 4 minutes in the store, and couldn't take it any longer. We got in the car and drove. My baby girl fell asleep, and I kept driving. We ended up far enough north that the road ended, and saw a pretty cool park. Then we had to turn around and come back. My son and I enjoyed some great conversation, and found a good field trip idea for his boys' church group.

By the way, green lost the game 4-0...but they played really well. I was especially proud because 3 of our team ended up being out, and we had no extra players. One of our girls was even already injured(not severely) and played anyway. The other team had 4 or 5 extras to sub in.

My kid played defender and goalie.
This is one random kicking shot. I have about 20 of these from this game.


In this next shot, she was trying to block a penalty kick. Apparently the girl who had been goalie for the first half of the game forgot she wasn't goalie and accidentally reached out and blocked the ball...while in the box. Penalty kick with my kinda short, kinda slow girl as goalie. I was cringing inside, because 'mom' sense told me it wasn't going to end well.

At least she went for it with all she had. And so, ends our soccer adventures for 2008. YEAH!!!

Soccer Tournament

This weekend is a soccer spectacle in my town. Okay, just at the soccer field 20 minutes from my house :)



It is the tournament time for the county's parks & recreation teams. We played two games yesterday...our team (green...3rd seed going into the tournament) beat the blue team(seed 5) in round one. Then we had to play the yellow team (seed 2) and won again! While our games were going on, our we had friends playing on the next field. They were pink (seed 4) who beat red(seed5). but then pink lost to white(seed1) in game 2. This was single elimination, so now we play the white team (seed 1). If you are reading this on Sunday at 2-3 pm Eastern Standard Time, we are at the fields playing now! Personally, I don't think our team will win...I want them to, but they've got a few disadvantages. Two of our players are not going to be able to play, and that leaves us with one sub who only shows up sporadically. The rumored good news is, one of the team parents owns a limo company(or something like that). After the game, win or lose, they are going to drive the girls to a pizza place in a limo after the game. We'll see about that...but wish us luck!

My treats

Here are the kiddos on our way out the door to go visit our neighbors!

The biggest one decided not to go this year. She stayed home & handed out treats.