Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving day was great. It is so fun to get together as a family. We went to dinner at my sister in laws house. We got to spend time with my niece and nephew and their families which we don't get to see that often. Of course there is the food. Lots of it too. It was very hard, but I managed not to go crazy eating. I probably could have done better though. Everything was delicious! I am so glad that I was able to take the time to post each day one thing that I am thankful for. As I  had said before, it helps me keep focused on the positive. I was thankful that I didn't have to work Thanksgiving day and spend it with family. I have been busy these past couple of days at work. But it is almost over. Ionly have today to do and then will have a day off. Molly is in the Thanksgiving Parade today, I just dropped her off. She is in the color guard and will march with the band. Now it's time to get ready for work!

I am Thankful Day 24

Why is it often easier to be negative instead of having a positive attitude? For me I tend to look at the glass as half empty. Trying to come up with something I am thankful for each day has not been my first thought most days. The thing is though that I did it. As the days went by, it wasn't as hard as it started out to be. Now I have a box full of things that I am thankful for. I am learning to shift my focus from negative to positive. Considering all that God has blessed me with over the years, how dare I think of anything else. Today I am thankful for Gods love for me.  He is always watching over me in all that I do. He knows me and in spite of it all He still loves me!  Thank you Lord for always being there.

I am Thankful Day 23

I am thankful today for electricity. It allows us to do so many things, like use the computer, watch TV and have light in the darkness. But then at the same time it can be an interruption because some of those things can distract us from whats important. Last night a transformer blew in the town next to us and we felt the effects of it as well. All was darkness for about 45 minutes. To my son that 45 minutes was sheer agony because he was missing a Christmas movie he was watching. My daughter didn't seem to mind because she was doing her homework. My husband was a little perturbed because he was missing a TV show as well. It turned out though that we ended up in the same room with nothing to do but talk. I found it refreshing. No interruptions, just face to face contact. We had the flashlights out and enjoyed the time together without the benefit of entertainment. WE were our own entertainment. We laughed and joked and talked. I enjoyed that time. Before we knew it the lights came back on and everyone went their way again. I am thankful for electricity, but at the same time I am thankful that for a moment, my family was more important than the convenience that electricity brings.

I Am Thankful Day 22

My eyes are tired and my back is sore. I have spent most of the day in my sewing room making Christmas gifts. I am now taking a well deserved break. I have to say I love my sewing machine. Sewing has always been an outlet for me both creatively and therapeutically. I have been sewing for as long as I can remember. I am so thankful that I have a great sewing machine. I am also thankful that I have a sewing room that I can keep all my crafts and projects contained in one place.  And it's my place, messy as it is sometimes with tangled thread,  fabric scattered about and quilting books and patterns. Well, I have rested long enough time to get back to work. I figure that I have a couple of working hours left for tonight. 

I Am Thankful Day 21

Wow! Words can't really describe God's creation. Often times I am left speechless. Today I found  that to be especially true. I am so thankful for being able to witness a beautiful sunrise this morning which welcomed the new day.  And looking outside tonight I found the beautiful full moon set so far away in the sky. It is so big and bright. It was hard for me to take my eyes off of it.It is so amazing to me how God just spoke and set the sun, moon and stars in the sky. What a wonderful God we have!  Thank you God for all of Your creation.

I am Thankful Day 20

Today I am thankful for date nights. Unfortunately they are few and far between. There always seems to be something that gets in the way.  The kids were out most of this evening helping friends of ours move, so that was one obstacle that was easily taken care of. Or lack of energy to get off the couch. Sometimes it is much easier to just stay home. That excuse was dissolved because Bill had to work, so sleeping was not an option. This evenings  "date" was not something that the average couple would call fun, but the whole point is to spend time together. We had dinner out and then brought dinner over to Bill's parents to make sure that they would eat. We also went over to check on them. I enjoyed that time we were able to spend together however unconventional or brief  it was. I feel that we need to be more creative in getting together so that the multiple excuses that arise don't get priority when planning our time together.

I am Thankful Day 19

Plain and simple, I am thankful for naps. I love a nap in the afternoon. It helps me get through the rest of the day. I was feeling extra tired earlier today so I took a long nap this afternoon. I got my favorite quilt and snuggled  up for a couple of hours. It felt good!!

Day 18 I am Thankful

Yesterday I spent a good deal of time in my car. Between errands, grocery shopping, and working, I have been all over. I tried to imagine what it would be like not to have a car. That would be nearly impossible. I am thankful for my car and that it is in good working  condition.  I can depend on it to get me from point A to point B.

I am Thankful Day 17

I am thankful for my father and good news. He has been diligent in taking care of himself . He would visit the doctor regularly  and  take care to eat all the right food. His PSA has been rising over the past few years and has had several biopsies,  but this last one was different.  The thing he was dreading all this time was finally a reality. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Now anybody that knows my father would have thought that he would lose it after hearing that news. He is the type that worries about everything and anything. Sometimes he is over the top with worry, but for some reason this time he was eerily calm.  He didn't overwhelm himself with panic. This past Monday I went with him to the doctor whose ultimate recommendation was to do nothing. The cancer was only in one area of the prostate and the chance of anything happening in the next 10 years was only 10%. In 10 years, he will be 95, so that is great news. It then hit me hard that he will be 95 in 10 years, so there is a good  chance he may not be around any way regardless of the cancer. That made me sad, but also made me appreciate that I still have him with me. Its times like this that make me stop and think of how fortunate Bill and I are to still have our parents with us. I love you Dad!

I am Thankful Day 16

I am beginning to think that maybe I should not have gotten out of bed today. What a sharp contrast from yesterday which had been fabulous. First I am getting a cold, so I am physically not feeling all that great. I feel extremely tired. Then I went to a doctor appointment that I thought I had, but then found out when I got there that it was LAST Tuesday!  I opened up my day planner, and sure enough it was last Tuesday. As I am reviewing the date book, I come to find that Nathan has an orthodontist appointment this afternoon, but he is planning to stay after school today, so I had to reschedule for another day. Well at least I noticed the appointment before i missed it. And now to top it all off, my Facebook account has been disabled and I don't know why. Once I find out what is going on, I probably will have to start from scratch. Right now I am afraid to move or touch anything because I don't know what else can go wrong!
Putting all that aside though, today I am thankful that God is in control and not me!  He knows what is ahead before I can even imagine what would happen.. Even when the times seem desperate and impossible, I can count on God to see me through. Knowing that,  I can forget the events of the morning and move forward. Praise God!!

I am Thankful Day 15

Yeah! I don't feel like I am so far behind as I usually do at this time of  the evening. Today I am thankful to have a day off. What a crazy busy weekend. It feels so good not to have to be in 5 places at once. I was able to get laundry done, and errands completed. A time to be quiet.  Now it is time to wash the dinner dishes, pick up the kids from dance, and get ready for bed.   I may even squeeze in some sewing time. I so enjoyed my day off.

I am Thankful Day 13 and 14

Saturday was not a very good day. This was my weekend to work, and the past couple of days have been very busy.  My patients are so sick and require a lot of care so it becomes very emotionally draining. Yesterday was especially draining. I was so happy to see the stroke of midnight come after a long shift that I was so thankful for my car ride home. I could feel the anxiety and stress of the day lift as I walked out of the hospital and in to my car.  I love that feeling!


Yesterday as I prepared to come in for my 3-12 shift, I was expecting to have another evening like yesterday. But I just stopped and gave myself a dope slap! Instead of the negative attitude, I took my anxiety to the Lord.  And it did help. I came in calm and have had an enjoyable night. Thank you Lord for listening to my prayers. I need to remember that I can come to you for anything and cast all my cares upon the Lord because He is always there and is always eager to listen.

I am Thankful Day 11 and 12

Busy day yesterday.  Before I knew it it was time for bed. Yesterday I went to the Veteran's Day Parade in our town, mainly because Molly marched with the High School band. She is in the color guard and she and the other girls did a great job.  I am not usually a parade person, but did enjoy this one. After the parade, there was a ceremony for veterans past and present. It reinforced with me the fact that freedom comes with a price. I am thankful for those who serve in the military who protect the freedom we have.


Today I am thankful for a pleasant surprise on my way to work this evening. I was already leaving later than I usually do, and started getting tense because Thursdays and Fridays are always busy traffic days. I am left frustrated as I stop and start in the traffic, hoping that I won't be late for work. Today started out like it usually does with a ridiculous backup on the highway, but then as I was nearing my exit, things started to clear. I was in shock, because the most congested areas of my commute were a breeze. I found myself relaxing the grip on the steering wheel and sailed on in to my destination. That makes it much less stressful as  I complete my evening of work!

I Am Thankful Day 10

I love Wednesday nights.  We go out to our church and have dinner, the kids go to youth group and I go to choir. I love spending time with my friends. I also love the fact that one day a week I don't have to worry about cooking. Today I am thankful for Wednesday nights.

I am Thankful Day 9

I say it everyday I have to work. I don't want to go to work tonight. Today was no exception. I am so busy from the time the kids get out of school till I have to leave for work around dinner time. I must say today I am thankful for my job. First of  all I am thankful that I do have a job in this economy. We can't get along only on one income.  I am also thankful for my job as a nurse. I used to be so upset and frustrated that I would have to still work after I had my kids. I always envied my stay at home mom friends. I felt they were better mothers than me. They wouldn't miss any of the firsts in their children's lives, be there to pick them up from school etc... while I always seemed to be at work. I thought I was ruining my children for life because I wasn't around. But over the years I began to realize that God doesn't waste any situation or opportunity and things really do happen for a reason.  God had intended all along for me to be a nurse and to be where I am at now, which is on a Bone Marrow Transplant unit. I have been here for many more years than I care to admit, and I know that there are times that I really make a difference for my patients. I don't consider myself indispensable, but I know this is what God wants for me. And when I  think about it, my kids are no less deprived than the kids that have mothers that are around 24/7. They are well adjusted and they know they are loved.  With my schedule working in the later evening I can do most things with them after school.  And am there for them to go to school in the morning. That's the great thing about a nurses schedule, it is  flexible (which is another thing I am thankful for.) 

I am Thankful Day 8

It is something that I have always thought about might happen someday but always took it for granted that it never would. Bill is self employed and does trespass towing and car repossessions. That being said, he has a potentially dangerous job when dealing  with angry people who have had their car taken away.  We always joke saying that he "steals cars" for a living. Sunday night, a man called him to find out about his car that was towed earlier that evening. He wasn't very pleasant on the phone. Bill usually has one of his drivers go to release the car from the tow lot, but no one was available at that time. So he had to go do it himself. What was funny was I almost asked to go with him so we could spend a little time together, but it was around midnight and I was already in bed so I didn't offer. About two hours later  he comes back to announce that he was beaten up by the cars owner who happened to be drunk. Apparently Bill was punched and grabbed by the throat and pushed against the side of the building. Luckily there was no lasting effects, but that made me feel sick inside. He has never been in a situation like that. And he has been in business for 30 years. I am so thankful today for our daily safety. As I say, I don't always think of how fortunate we are and  take it for granted that nothing will happen to us. God has blessed us with continued safety.

I am Thankful Day 7

Today I am thankful for my daughter. Today is her birthday. She has just turned 15. Wow, where does the time go? I remember this day 15 years ago. Eagerly we anticipated the arrival of our first bundle of joy. We waited 4 years to have a baby. But it was all in God's timing not mine. We had a great day at our family birthday party for her. It is so fun to be with family. It is so good to laugh. I am doubly blessed.
Happy Birthday Molly. We love you!!

I am Thankful Day 5 and 6

Oops I am a little behind in posting but better late than never. Yesterday was quite busy. I thought I would be able to take  5 minutes while I was at work, but it didn't end up that way. That was the story of my day. Nothing went as planned. I was thankful yesterday for electricity. I went to Walmart to get some shopping done early. I speeded down the aisles finding all the things on my list and was heading toward the checkout, and out of nowhere the whole store went dark. No electricity! The employees rounded up everybody to the front of the store where we stood and waited for about 10 minutes. Then at that time we were escorted out of the store.I ended up having to leave because I wasn't sure how long it would be before we could go back in. That made me stop and be thankful for the convenience of something we take for granted  every day. When it's not there we definitely come to a standstill.
Well that was yesterday. Today I am thankful for the weekend. This weekend I happen to be off from work! Today I will spend time with my family.  And as a big bonus, it is Daylight Savings Time! We get an extra hour of sleep!!!

I am Thankful Day 4

Today has been a great day. It has been a fairly productive day. And now to top it all off it is a great evening. Today I am thankful  for the unexpected. I accomplished all the things on my to do list except for 2 things. Not bad! Earlier this afternoon I received a phone call from work. I wasn't home at the time, so there was a message on my voicemail to call work when I got the chance. Here I am thinking that I will be floated to another floor or perhaps someone called in sick so I would be asked to work the whole night. Much to my surprise I was offered to take the night off because there were plenty of people working! I love getting those calls. I took advantage of the opportunity and here I sit able to spend time with my family.  I am so thankful for the unexpected extra time I can spend with my family.

"I am Thankful" Challenge Day 3

Okay, as in everything else I do, I am a couple of days late in starting. Today I have joined the I am Thankful challenge which focuses on taking each day leading up to Thanksgiving  to post one thing that I am thankful for. I have started earlier on my own by creating a box to fill each day with a few words of what I am thankful for. Well better late than never. Today I am thankful that I live in the United States where I have my freedom. With yesterday being election day, I know what a great gift it is to be able to have a say in who gets elected for government positions. I don't always agree with who gets elected, but I do have a voice in the process. Thank you God for my freedom!