There are so many YouTube clips to choose from in the spirit of wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving. My go-to is usually one of the many "Friends" clips from their Thanksgiving episodes, but I've decided to go a different route this year. Not much of a video, but the song makes me laugh.
Happy Turkey Day, everyone! Hope you're thankful wherever you are, whoever you're with. I know I am. :)
Showing posts with label So Thankful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label So Thankful. Show all posts
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tomorrow...
...we start our new school year. Our 11th year of homeschooling. I think I'm ready. It's been really interesting, figuring out how to do high school. After a lot of my own learning and researching and talking to more experienced homeschoolers this summer, I've made some big adjustments to my way of thinking about the kids' learning at this level, and I think it will serve us all well. I feel good about things, and that's always a nice way to start off the year.
In general, I finally feel like I'm able to breathe a bit lately. It's been such a relief to be done with the house stuff. I'm still arranging and organizing things, but that will be an ongoing project, not one to stress over. We enjoyed a really nice weekend these past couple of days, friend time, family time, outings, down time, all in balance. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great way to end the summer. I feel so thankful. :)
In general, I finally feel like I'm able to breathe a bit lately. It's been such a relief to be done with the house stuff. I'm still arranging and organizing things, but that will be an ongoing project, not one to stress over. We enjoyed a really nice weekend these past couple of days, friend time, family time, outings, down time, all in balance. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was a great way to end the summer. I feel so thankful. :)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Pretties...
Hubby and I went to dinner last night for Valentine's Day. He told me he'd ordered me something but that FedEx seemed to be holding it hostage. He said it was perishable. I thought, great! Come Monday I'll have a lovely basket of rotted fruit to look forward to! LOL But no! FedEx came through today with a Saturday delivery.
Behold, two dozen pretty roses in the loveliest shades of pink, coral and cream...
Actually, it was 23 roses in those colors, and one yellow rose, which didn't really fit into the color scheme, so I tucked him into his own little vase to look pretty all on his own!
And also in the box...chocolate! Mmm!
Yeah...one was missing pretty quick. Tonight, there are only three left. I think that shows incredible restraint, frankly. ;)
I have to say, in our 16 1/2 years of marriage, I think I've probably gotten the better end of the deal. I'm married to a man who is a terrific father and good provider. He willingly gets up and goes to work every single day, whereas if it was left up to me, we'd likely be living under a bridge in a cardboard box within a month. And he takes care of things around the house pretty well, too, even if his priority list and mine don't always jive. More than anything, he puts up with me. My moods, my craziness, my (ahem) bitchiness...and, without many questions, he willingly funds my obsessions...yarn, tattoos, travel. Sometimes I wish he'd be more romantic or be interested in more of the same things as I am, or try and "get" me better than he does, but when it comes down to it, I know he loves me. I know we're in this marriage together for the long haul, and I feel pretty darned blessed by that fact. :)
Happy Valentine's Day!
Behold, two dozen pretty roses in the loveliest shades of pink, coral and cream...
Actually, it was 23 roses in those colors, and one yellow rose, which didn't really fit into the color scheme, so I tucked him into his own little vase to look pretty all on his own!
And also in the box...chocolate! Mmm!
Yeah...one was missing pretty quick. Tonight, there are only three left. I think that shows incredible restraint, frankly. ;)
I have to say, in our 16 1/2 years of marriage, I think I've probably gotten the better end of the deal. I'm married to a man who is a terrific father and good provider. He willingly gets up and goes to work every single day, whereas if it was left up to me, we'd likely be living under a bridge in a cardboard box within a month. And he takes care of things around the house pretty well, too, even if his priority list and mine don't always jive. More than anything, he puts up with me. My moods, my craziness, my (ahem) bitchiness...and, without many questions, he willingly funds my obsessions...yarn, tattoos, travel. Sometimes I wish he'd be more romantic or be interested in more of the same things as I am, or try and "get" me better than he does, but when it comes down to it, I know he loves me. I know we're in this marriage together for the long haul, and I feel pretty darned blessed by that fact. :)
Happy Valentine's Day!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Looking back...
Here we are, at the close of 2009. It's always tempting to say, "Already??" but this year has been so full and so good and so well-spent, that I can't really say that. What I can say is that for the first time in my life -- at least in my adult life -- I feel like I fully lived my year, and that is such a good feeling!
By far, the biggest thing that happened this year was the changes I made in myself physically. I lost a total of 48 pounds from the end of November 2008 (when I decided, on a whim, to take up kickboxing) until today. During that time, I not only stuck with the kickboxing, but I came to love it. It's always a challenge and is never boring. I know I am physically healthier, but the kickboxing and subsequent weight loss has changed me in other ways that I find hard to describe. I just know that I'm a happier, more fulfilled person than I've been in a very long time.
And just for the sake of comprehensive documentation, my physical activities for the year also included a day of snowshoeing in January, an orienteering hike with my family in June, an impromptu photo hike and a day on the river kayaking with Angela in July, a hike in the Laurel Mountains with the kids during an unseasonably warm spell in early November, and (mostly) weekly indoor rock climbing sessions with my daughter through most of this fall.
Related to the health improvements are the changes I made to my eating habits. I was successful in cutting from my diet a lot of refined sugars, white flour-y/starchy carbs, processed foods, and grease. For the first time, I've clearly discerned a distinct connection between what I put in my body and how my body feels and performs. This has been reinforced for me this holiday season as I've indulged in a lot of sugary crap that I hadn't been eating, and as a result, I have felt miserable from it. Not miserable as in guilty, but physically ill. Hopefully this will serve to solidify my resolve to continue eating healthily in the future.
And in my effort to eat better, I tried again -- and more successfully than ever -- to be a gardener. My little salad garden produced greens galore as well as other yummy veggies including delicious cukes and cherry tomatoes, at least until the blight hit in late summer. It was good while it lasted, though! Our large garden didn't fare as well. An early rain -- flooding rain -- destroyed a lot of it early in the summer, and it never really flourished after that. Oh, the weeds flourished mightily, but they plants couldn't really compete.
We did, however, end up with a nice crop of pumpkins by fall. And my flowers...they flourished beautifully all summer and well into fall!
Knitting continued to be a huge part of my life this year. I completed approximately 45 projects this year (which includes finishing some things that had been started the year before). The biggest project I completed was my afghan swap afghan. What's funny is that of the 20 squares in my afghan, I only knit 2 of them. But there are 18 other squares out there in the world in other people's afghans that I did made, so it all works out. I love how mine came together and I really enjoy curling up under it. I again made charity hats each month, which I love to do (I still have my stash of hats, too...they need a home! If you know of a homeless charity that could use them, please let me know.)
While I may not have learned a ton of new knitting techniques this year, I did gain a lot of knowledge when it came to spinning. Having gotten my spinning wheel at the very end of 2008, spinning itself is a skill I definitely improved in a lot this year! I also had the enjoyment of knitting with some of my own handspun yarn this year, and I got to take part in Tour de Fleece with my wheel instead of trying to drop spindle like I had previously. Much more successful!
I traveled a lot this year. Crazy a lot, especially in the first half of the year. In March, Kevin and I went on a weekend jaunt to Virgina and Maryland -- first to visit Mt. Vernon and then to attend the Handspun Yarn Party. In April, we escaped a late season snow when we went to Florida to visit my mom over Easter. In a quick turnaround, I then headed off to St. Louis for The Loopy Ewe's Spring Fling knitting retreat. What fun that was! (So excited that I get to go again!) On the heels of Fling, I drove myself down to my very first fiber festival, Maryland Sheep & Wool. And if one fiber festival is good, two are better, so I drove west with Cosy to the Great Lakes Fiber Festival later in May. At this point, I was sufficiently traveled out and did not get in my car for any road trips until I went to Plymouth, PA at the end of August and again over Halloween weekend to watch my friend Sho in her two fights. Then in November, I drove my son and grandson back to NC after Thanksgiving and enjoyed a couple days' hiatus from real life.
On the family front, we continued to homeschool, beginning our tenth year this fall, which is also our first high school year. I went to my 25th (!!) high school reunion in August and then turned 43 in September. My mom and step dad came to visit in early October, which was so nice. And then Muffin came and joined our family later that month! And also this fall, Angela and I started VoaT, which we hope to continue through the new year.
There have been some rough spots in our extended family this year, with illnesses and personal trials, but I think it is safe to say we all managed through. Sometimes, that is the best you can do, you know? On a bright note, we did get to spend a lot of time with our grandson this year, as he spent several chunks of time up here in PA visiting with all his grandparents. What a blessing that was. He may not remember those times as he gets older, but I will always treasure the time we had to spend with him this year.
And just for the sake of comprehensive documentation, my physical activities for the year also included a day of snowshoeing in January, an orienteering hike with my family in June, an impromptu photo hike and a day on the river kayaking with Angela in July, a hike in the Laurel Mountains with the kids during an unseasonably warm spell in early November, and (mostly) weekly indoor rock climbing sessions with my daughter through most of this fall.
Related to the health improvements are the changes I made to my eating habits. I was successful in cutting from my diet a lot of refined sugars, white flour-y/starchy carbs, processed foods, and grease. For the first time, I've clearly discerned a distinct connection between what I put in my body and how my body feels and performs. This has been reinforced for me this holiday season as I've indulged in a lot of sugary crap that I hadn't been eating, and as a result, I have felt miserable from it. Not miserable as in guilty, but physically ill. Hopefully this will serve to solidify my resolve to continue eating healthily in the future.
And in my effort to eat better, I tried again -- and more successfully than ever -- to be a gardener. My little salad garden produced greens galore as well as other yummy veggies including delicious cukes and cherry tomatoes, at least until the blight hit in late summer. It was good while it lasted, though! Our large garden didn't fare as well. An early rain -- flooding rain -- destroyed a lot of it early in the summer, and it never really flourished after that. Oh, the weeds flourished mightily, but they plants couldn't really compete.
We did, however, end up with a nice crop of pumpkins by fall. And my flowers...they flourished beautifully all summer and well into fall!
Knitting continued to be a huge part of my life this year. I completed approximately 45 projects this year (which includes finishing some things that had been started the year before). The biggest project I completed was my afghan swap afghan. What's funny is that of the 20 squares in my afghan, I only knit 2 of them. But there are 18 other squares out there in the world in other people's afghans that I did made, so it all works out. I love how mine came together and I really enjoy curling up under it. I again made charity hats each month, which I love to do (I still have my stash of hats, too...they need a home! If you know of a homeless charity that could use them, please let me know.)
While I may not have learned a ton of new knitting techniques this year, I did gain a lot of knowledge when it came to spinning. Having gotten my spinning wheel at the very end of 2008, spinning itself is a skill I definitely improved in a lot this year! I also had the enjoyment of knitting with some of my own handspun yarn this year, and I got to take part in Tour de Fleece with my wheel instead of trying to drop spindle like I had previously. Much more successful!
On the family front, we continued to homeschool, beginning our tenth year this fall, which is also our first high school year. I went to my 25th (!!) high school reunion in August and then turned 43 in September. My mom and step dad came to visit in early October, which was so nice. And then Muffin came and joined our family later that month! And also this fall, Angela and I started VoaT, which we hope to continue through the new year.
There have been some rough spots in our extended family this year, with illnesses and personal trials, but I think it is safe to say we all managed through. Sometimes, that is the best you can do, you know? On a bright note, we did get to spend a lot of time with our grandson this year, as he spent several chunks of time up here in PA visiting with all his grandparents. What a blessing that was. He may not remember those times as he gets older, but I will always treasure the time we had to spend with him this year.
I'm sure there are other things I could note about my year, but I'll spare you. Much of this is probably redundant in that I've already blogged a lot of it as it was happening. Writing it out in this summary form, though, helps me realize just how good a year it has been...how full and rewarding it was. I am so thankful for this life of mine. I know it is fragile and could change in a heartbeat. So I take this time now to thank God for all that has been this year -- even the hard moments -- and pray his blessing on the year to come.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful...
The pies are baked. The stuffing is made. The turkey is stuffed. The oldest is home and his son is with him. We're a full house for the next four days.
We're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, and then we'll do Christmas on Friday since its unlikely we'll see either of them in December. My house is decorated for both holidays right now...it's a little schizophrenic.
I have so much to be thankful for, so much that I tend to take for granted, especially when times are as frenetic as they've been this fall. My hope for the weekend and for the coming month is to slow down and simply enjoy and try to more fully appreciate all that God has blessed me with.
Thank you, God, for my friends and family,
for my husband and children and my grandson,
and even for this dog who is a bit psycho with all the people in the house right now.
Thank you for the food in my kitchen,
and the fact that I have a kitchen that is attached to a house that has a roof that keeps us warm and dry and sheltered.
Thank you for the cars that take us from our house
to the places we need to go,
and thank you that one of those places is my husband's job, which he goes to willingly each day in order to care for us.
Thank you for our health,
and for providing for our needs,
even the ones we don't realize we have.
And thank you for those things we don't need,
the Wii and the iPods, and great TV shows and cable with DVR,
and for more clothes than any of us really needs.
Thank you for the ways you enrich my life with simple joys,
with books and words and music,
with yarn and fiber and patterns and spinning,
and with kickboxing and sweat and bruises that let me know I'm doing something good for me.
We're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, and then we'll do Christmas on Friday since its unlikely we'll see either of them in December. My house is decorated for both holidays right now...it's a little schizophrenic.
I have so much to be thankful for, so much that I tend to take for granted, especially when times are as frenetic as they've been this fall. My hope for the weekend and for the coming month is to slow down and simply enjoy and try to more fully appreciate all that God has blessed me with.
Thank you, God, for my friends and family,
for my husband and children and my grandson,
and even for this dog who is a bit psycho with all the people in the house right now.
Thank you for the food in my kitchen,
and the fact that I have a kitchen that is attached to a house that has a roof that keeps us warm and dry and sheltered.
Thank you for the cars that take us from our house
to the places we need to go,
and thank you that one of those places is my husband's job, which he goes to willingly each day in order to care for us.
Thank you for our health,
and for providing for our needs,
even the ones we don't realize we have.
And thank you for those things we don't need,
the Wii and the iPods, and great TV shows and cable with DVR,
and for more clothes than any of us really needs.
Thank you for the ways you enrich my life with simple joys,
with books and words and music,
with yarn and fiber and patterns and spinning,
and with kickboxing and sweat and bruises that let me know I'm doing something good for me.
Thank you for the faith that sustains me,
for your love and provision,
and for the gift of your Son, who is everything.
To all of my friends, wherever you are, I wish you a most blessed Thanksgiving holiday. :)
for your love and provision,
and for the gift of your Son, who is everything.
To all of my friends, wherever you are, I wish you a most blessed Thanksgiving holiday. :)
Monday, June 1, 2009
Life is good...
...you know? Sometimes you can't explain why, it just is. There are times when it dawns on me that I'm having a most excellent day. I want to take a deep breath and inhale all of the beauty and goodness and light and joy around me because I can't believe how good it is. I want to sing loudly with every song I hear. I want to laugh with my kids. I want to do everything I enjoy doing, all at the same time. I want to drink in the green of the trees and the blue of the sky and absorb the heat of the sun all the way to my core.
Today was one of those days. I felt inexplicably happy and thankful for my life. It is a good life. And even though I know that any number of variables in my life could turn on a dime and come crashing down around me, days like today give me hope that maybe, even in the face of trauma or tragedy, I'd still be able to say, "Life is good," because as much as it might seem otherwise, I know it isn't the circumstances that make it so. It's the One who made it all, and he never turns or changes.
Life is good. :)
So is this recipe for Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread I made today. We had one sad, black-ish banana in the basket, and I suddenly found myself craving banana nut bread last night. Despite my penchant for late-night baking, I was too tired to make it last night when the urge was strong, but I did at least search up this healthier recipe for it and made it this morning. Yummy! (The only changes I made to the recipe were to substitute 1/2 c. applesauce for the oil and to add about a tsp. of cinnamon.)
My weekend knitting consisted solely of working on the garter borders for my swap afghan...
...it's coming along and I'm totally loving it. I got all four vertical strips joined, and now I'm working on joining the third strip to the first two that are already together. I love the crazy colors and how they're just there, random. I can't wait to have it done! This week. That is my goal for this week...to finish this fun, crazy, happy project. (Then I'll return to the lace!)
Happy scraps!
Today was one of those days. I felt inexplicably happy and thankful for my life. It is a good life. And even though I know that any number of variables in my life could turn on a dime and come crashing down around me, days like today give me hope that maybe, even in the face of trauma or tragedy, I'd still be able to say, "Life is good," because as much as it might seem otherwise, I know it isn't the circumstances that make it so. It's the One who made it all, and he never turns or changes.
Life is good. :)
So is this recipe for Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread I made today. We had one sad, black-ish banana in the basket, and I suddenly found myself craving banana nut bread last night. Despite my penchant for late-night baking, I was too tired to make it last night when the urge was strong, but I did at least search up this healthier recipe for it and made it this morning. Yummy! (The only changes I made to the recipe were to substitute 1/2 c. applesauce for the oil and to add about a tsp. of cinnamon.)My weekend knitting consisted solely of working on the garter borders for my swap afghan...
...it's coming along and I'm totally loving it. I got all four vertical strips joined, and now I'm working on joining the third strip to the first two that are already together. I love the crazy colors and how they're just there, random. I can't wait to have it done! This week. That is my goal for this week...to finish this fun, crazy, happy project. (Then I'll return to the lace!)
Happy scraps!Monday, December 1, 2008
Thankfulness Redux
That went fast! A month of being thankful. For the sake of having the list saved for posterity (and freeing up space in my sidebar), here is my list of things I was thankful for all last month.
- Gas that's under $2.00 again
- Unfettered imagination and loud, loud music
- Goofing around
- Sore muscles for a good reason
- Good grippy tires
- A long weekend ahead
- New opportunities
- Christmas music
- Mushroom ravioli
- An afternoon at the movies
- Beautiful colors
- Coffee, leftovers and active imagination
- Laughter
- Big, fluffy snowflakes
- Spending time with friends
- Prayer
- Polka music
- Hope
- Days when I don't have to go anywhere
- Ibuprofin
- My iPod and tunes
- Books
- Yarn...glorious yarn!
- Travel opportunities
- God's promises
- My children
- A husband who loves me
- Freedom
- God being God
- Visiting my mom
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Despite my crabby bad attitude this week leading up to Thanksgiving, which lasted until, oh, about noon today, I'm feeling better and better able to actually celebrate the day. The oldest is on leave this weekend so he and his family are up for the weekend. They were here for a few hours, and it was good...we laughed and played games and, in true boy form, there was much wrestling and rough-housing with his two younger siblings (and the big kid, goofing around, landed a solid punch right in the side of my thigh...um? OUCH! Sheesh!). Some things never change, and I'm glad about that.
The in-laws are here now, so it's just the seven of us for dinner. They usually don't stay late, so I'm toying with the idea of maybe going to see Twilight again later tonight. And tomorrow? I'm staying as far, far away from the malls and stores as I possibly can. I'm looking forward to doing little more than relaxing for the next three days.
However you're celebrating, I hope you're having a good day. Happy Thanksgiving! (Don't eat too much! LOL)
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thankfulness...
Reading through the blogs on my blog list over there to the right (I don't read them all every day. I usually read all of the knitting ones every day, but the others only every so often. I mention this just so you know I don't spend my entire day reading blogs, which actually would not be hard to do!)...anyway, as I was reading through my favorite knitting blogs today, I found the Giving Thanks Challenge at the South Breeze Farm blog. Christina at Knitting Mania had it posted on her site (she's a new favorite for me...found her blog a few weeks ago, it's great!). I thought it was a really nice idea. Not only is it a traditionally "thankful" time of year, but really it's never a wrong time of year to focus on thankfulness!
For a while, I used a little Moleskine notebook as a "Thankfulness Journal." I still have it in my purse, but I admit I write in it very infrequently anymore. Not because I'm not thankful, but because I don't think of writing it down. Somehow, though, writing it down makes me think a little more about all of the wonderful things in my life, big and small. I don't mean to, but sometimes I can get pretty cynical, if only in my own mind (though sometimes out of my mouth, too). It's good to break out of that.
So, I'll be taking part in this challenge this month, adding an item a day to the list below the button in the sidebar. (I started by listing six things in order to get current!) Why not join in? :)
-------------------
Our time in Florida is quickly coming to an end. Today was our last full day...and of course, it was beautiful. Sunny and warm. Go figure. LOL We made the most of it. The kids and I went to a lovely little cafe where we sat outside and had lunch, then we walked by the piers and watched the boats for a while, and finally we made our way to the beach (twice) to walk around, dance in the surf, pick up shells and take pictures. Tonight we hit the hot tub again, under the moon and stars. Now I'm packing and we'll be on the road tomorrow morning, driving about eight hours to my oldest son's house in North Carolina. Can't wait to see him. It's been a while!
In the mean time, I cannot believe we've been gone over a week. It's gone quickly, yet it's been a really relaxed, laid-back trip. And I think this may be the first trip I've taken where I didn't go through a major bout of homesickness at some point. Interesting.
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