I heard a statistic the other day that said thankful people, people who give thanks for something or someone every day, are 25% happier than people who don't!  That seemed like such a "DUH" thing to me, but I still think it's pretty neat that scientists have proven it.  Hah! So, today, I'm giving thanks for someone major.  Actually, two someones. This 30th day of November and the last of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts for the year, I am firstly (I don't think I've ever actually said the word firstly in a sentence) thankful for our sweet Hadley.  She made us a mommy and a daddy, and we miss her every day.  She was a perfect blessing, and we can't wait to see her again one day.   Secondly , I am thankful for Hadley's brother or sister currently taking up residence in my uterus. Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are expecting. I am excited and happy and a huge bundle of nerves. I cry at the drop of a hat. I'm exhausted beyond beli...

Day 29 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness : I'm continuing my thankfulness for the people in my life, and today, I'm super grateful for my dad . *He's a good and godly man with a great heart. *He takes such good care of my mom. *He worked tirelessly to provided for our family. *He raised my sister and me with gentle words and constant love. *He's a sweet Grandpa to my niece and nephew. *He is quiet but speaks his mind when necessary. He truly reminds me of Proverbs 29:11 .  I hope one day I will remind others of this verse, too.  Right now, I still have trouble controlling this tongue of mine. I love my dad, and I'm so thankful for him and for the influence he's been in my life! Another oldie photo :)

Well, I'm nearing the end of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness , and I thought I'd wrap up the last few days being thankful for a few people in my life. Day 28 : Today, I am thankful for my sister, Beth. (Y'all, this picture is soooo old, but can you believe that this is one of the only pictures I have of the two  of us??  That should be remedied!) P.S. She apparently didn't get the "wear red" memo that Christmas :) Beth is 11 1/2 years older than me, and she's the best big sister a girl could ask for.  Seriously. She's sweet and intelligent.  She's a dedicated wife and mom.  She's my friend. Today, I'm sooo grateful that I have Beth as my big sister.  

Day 27: We have a local radio station that begins playing Christmas music the day after Thanksgiving.  They've done this for several years now, and though I do like the option to listen to Christmas music every day until Christmas, I'll be honest and say that I don't always tune in. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE Christmas songs.  I love the joy that exudes from them.  I love the feelings they stir, the memories they bring to mind. And, though I will sing along (occasionally) with the cheesier songs (you know the ones to which I refer...*ahem* Feliz Navidad  anybody?...), those are really the ones that bring up the fewest memories. But  O Holy Night?  Now that one stirs up a lot.  It is probably my favorite Christmas song.   Ever .   Period . It's one that I can't help but sing along with. It's not a totally happy Christmas song.   But .  I do believe it's beautiful.  And, often it makes me cry. And, y'all, I adore t...

Ok, y'all, this is getting tough.  But, really, it shouldn't be!  How unbelievably blessed are we all?! Today, I'm thankful for the Bible verses God sends my way just when I need them.  I can't count the number of times that has happened over the years, and it's usually during a very trying time.  What a blessing to be able to look to God's word and find those words of comfort. Day 26 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts:  I'm thankful for Romans 12:12 which I am committing to memory...ok, I know it's not a tough one, but it has much meaning.  And, I want to be able to call it to my mind in any situation. "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Words to live by.

Day 25: Today, I'm super thankful that my friend Kelli mentioned Smoothie King the other day.  I'm also glad she mentioned the smoothies that she did.  They sounded awesome, and consequently were stuck in my head. For days. I even tried to convince my friends Tina and Lauren to switch from the usual run to Starbucks to Smoothie King one night after choir because I desperately wanted to try it.  No luck. :) So, today after church, The Husband and I picked up some sandwiches ( mine was a lettuce wrap ...still trying to stay away from breads) at Jimmy John's and then swung by Smoothie King for the very first time. It was a touch decision, but I chose the Peanut Power Plus Chocolate smoothie (Incredibly YUM!!) and The Husband chose the Banana Boat with strawberries  smoothie (I tasted some of this one, and it was pretty delicious, too!). So, today's Thirty Days of Thankfulness post is dedicated to friends who give great advice on yummy treats and to th...

Today was a pretty laid-back day for me, mostly because I had a neck/shoulder ache that just wouldn't quit.  I got a couple of loads of laundry done (Yes, with the home-made detergent!  It smelled good!) and the kitchen cleaned up, but the rest of my day was spent resting and watching movies.  Pretty nice. You know, except for the discomfort. The Husband, on the other hand, spent his day with my cousins building part of a fence.  He fell asleep nearly 45 minutes ago, but I knew he wouldn't stay up late. He was wiped out when he got home.   Today, this 24th day of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness , I'm thankful for a husband who doesn't mind helping others, who often volunteers his time and his services, who doesn't shy away from physical labor.  He's a good man, that husband of mine, and I often don't give him enough credit.  He's not perfect, but he's an already-wonderful person trying to be an even better man. Day 24 :  Today, I'm gratefu...

Day 23 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts: Today is almost over, and it's been a great but long one . I almost typed  "today I'm thankful for grapes" because they're just so tasty, and I've had a craving for them lately, but I decided to go a bit deeper. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm thankful that I didn't have to fix a single meal today.  Our wonderful hostess provided a super tasty breakfast, lunch (after stuffing ourselves silly yesterday) was an apple with almond butter (The Husband dined on a pear and some mixed nuts), and my fabulous cousin Katrina provided a delicious dinner. So. There you have it. Today, I'm thankful for those who labored in the kitchen for us !  Now, that was a blessing indeed!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, Y'ALL! Today, I'm thankful for so much, but mostly I'm grateful for the chance to be with family. To eat, to visit, to relax, to sit outside on a beautiful day.  To do it all with people we care about and who care about us. Last night, we had an early Thanksgiving dinner with The Husband's immediate family.  We ate and played some games and laughed. Today, we'll be with my side of the family, and we'll probably do those same things. :) So, Day 22 of Thirty Days of Thankfulness ? Right now, I'm thankful for the opportunity to be with our loved ones on a day that represents a pretty important time in our country's history.    Blessings to you and yours!

Day 21 of Thirty Days of Thankfulness goes a little something like this... I am so thankful that my husband is not a picky eater.  He will eat almost anything I fix and usually says how good he thinks it is. I tried a new recipe today.  Not only is it new, it's also a Paleo recipe.  And, it's homemade .  AND, it's cookies .  I've NEVER fixed homemade cookies before.  Ever. Going into it, I knew there was a very real chance they could taste horrible.   Very real, People . I got the recipe from a gal at school.  Here it is. And of course, I changed some things.  I've started to notice that I don't usually strictly adhere to recipes. Hmmm.  A little bit of rebellion? Here are all of my ingredients:  almond butter, honey, one egg, salt, baking powder, baking soda, almond extract, and mini semi-sweet morsels. No shredded coconut. I greased the pan with coconut oil. Here's half of the batch sitt...

Today was a GORGEOUS day.  I wish I could have spent more of it outside! Day 20 : The twentieth of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts is focused on friends . Besides The Husband, my best bud Kelli is my closest friend.  We've known each other since sixth grade; that means we've known each other for over 18 years .  We are SO old.   We know so much about each other (bad and good), and she has been there for me at almost every major event in my life.   I will NEVER forget how she drove hours to be with us in the hospital, how she held my hand, hugged me close, and wished aloud that she could do something, anything to remove the physical and emotional pain when we lost Hadley.  She is such a dear friend, and I really can talk to her about anything.  I think and hope she feels the same!  Don't you think we should plan some sort of fabulous trip to celebrate our twentieth year of friendship, haha?!  We deserve it for persevering through...

Day 19 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts: Today, I'm thankful for great books that draw me in, make me cry, bring about fits of laughter, and leave me hanging at the end of each chapter. I'm especially thankful for the series I've been reading the last few months:   The Mark of the Lion trilogy by Francine Rivers .  I just finished the second book this afternoon, An Echo in the Darkness , and I am kicking myself for not grabbing the third one off the shelf at school before I left on Friday.  Now, I have to wait a whole week before diving into the third and final book  As Sure as the Dawn .  This trilogy is purely historical fiction, and I am smitten.  I know I will cry buckets when I've finished the last one.  Before reading these books, I had NO IDEA that I would enjoy historical fiction. None.  Now, I think it's my newest and most favorite genre!  YAY for new things! So, if you're looking for a great read, or three, go pi...

Day 18 : Today, my eighteenth post in my Thirty Days of Thankfulness series, is short and sweet. I'm thankful that the students, faculty, and staff at my school, for the first time in its existence, get an entire week off to celebrate Thanksgiving.  That means tomorrow morning I get to sleep in past 6:00.  Let me take a moment to shout out a HUGE THANK YOU to the person/people who created and/or approved this year's school calendar! You.  Rock.   Good night, All!

Today has been a busy, yet easy-going kind of day.  Spent in my pajamas.  No judgement. We slept in late-ish, fixed brunch, and started checking things off the list of today's chores. Laundry .  Four loads. Check . Vacuum .  The whole house.   Check . Mop .  The kitchen.  The rest later. De-seed a pomegranate .  100s of seeds.  Two more pomegranates to go. Make a batch of laundry detergent (see details below). Two gallon's worth.   Check ! Today, I am thankful for Pinterest .  I've gotten some of the yummiest recipes off of there (and one that was a sad failure...The Husband liked it though, so that's something!), some neat organizing and cleaning techniques, and lots of gift ideas. One idea I grabbed off of there was this list of ingredients to make laundry detergent .   Months ago, I made my shopping list of items I needed in order to fix my own detergent, and each time I went to the grocery store, I pic...

Day 16: Today, I am thankful for my two bosses, my principal and my headmaster, who genuinely care about me.  They are kind, compassionate, God-fearing, Jesus-loving people.  My principal has prayed with and over me a number of times, and my headmaster is an upstanding, hard-working gentleman.  I am blessed to be able to work under the two of them, and I feel honored that I'm able to help them whenever the chance arises.  After many years of teaching, this is the first time I've ever wanted to write those words, and that fact hasn't gotten past me.  I am extra blessed . On this sixteenth day of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness , I am grateful for the people God has put in authority positions at our school.  He working through them to do great things.

The month is already half-way over, and we're exactly one week away from Thanksgiving!  Does it feel like this month has flown to anybody else??  Honestly, I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving Day (and the subsequent days off from work!).  It's such a nice time to catch up with family and friends.  And, to catch up on sleep! On to Day 15 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts... Today, I am MOST thankful for forgiveness . It's amazing that we're forgiven for every sin we've ever committed the minute, the second, we trust in Jesus Christ . And, because we are called to be like Christ, to live as He lived, to love as He loves, we are also told to forgive as He forgives . I'm super thankful that The Husband forgives me when I have caused problems, and I am happy to offer that same forgiveness out of obedience to the One who loves me and has set me free. Plus, it just feels plain good . It may feel awesome in the moment to hold tightly to tha...

My post for Day 14 in my   Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts is all about choir.   No matter how I'm feeling or what kind of funky mood I'm in, I NEVER leave choir practice feeling that way.  I leave feeling refreshed and thankful and usually in a really good mood.   I love Wednesday nights for that very reason.  The people, the singing, the fellowship, the joy, the praise that takes place each Wednesday is a heart-lifting experience and one that I would hate to give up.   Today, I'm thankful I get to be a small part of such a big and lively and faithful group of people.  

Day 13 : Coconut oil. Epsom salt. Warm water. Today's Thirty Days of Thankfulness post?  I'm grateful for baths that leave me feeling relaxed and less itchy. 'Nough said.

Today is the 12th day of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness . It's Monday, and it's definitely felt like a Monday.  Y'all, I am worn out!  I'm totally counting down the days to Thanksgiving break!  Anybody else?? Day 12 : Monday nights are Bible study nights.  I LOVE those nights.  The Husband and I head over to my sweet friend Tina's house where a bunch of our church family/friends have gathered, munch on some yummy grub, and dig into God's Word.  It's a joyful, enriching time.  I always come away with at least one nugget of truth to mull over. We're currently working our way through The   Explicit Gospel study based on Matt Chandler's book of the same name , and I have learned so much!  We have such great discussions surrounding these lessons.  We only have one more week of the study, and I can't wait to see what we delve into next! Today, I'm thankful for Monday night Bible studies !

This 11th of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts is a biggie.   Day 11 : Today is Veteran's Day.  I have several family members who have served in the military.  I don't want to list them all for fear that I'll accidentally forget someone.  I do, however, want to share my appreciation for the sacrifices they've made for our country.   Those who have passed and have gone on home were and those who are still walking this green earth are some of the most dedicated, gifted, generous people.  What an honor it is to call them family.   Thank you, Veterans, for your service, for your sacrifice, and for your honor when it is needed most.   Today, I'm thankful for the men and women called to serve on the front lines in order to protect us and to protect others.  

This  Thirty Days of Thankfulness post is short and sweet. Day 10 : Today, I am thankful for what Saturdays look like around here. Sleeping in late. Load after load of laundry getting done. Groceries being bought. Eating of fun meals and playing crazy games with family. Today, I'm thankful for both the relaxing and the working that get done on  Saturdays .

Today, guys and gals, is November 9th.  And you know what that means. Day 9 of Thirty Days of Thankfulness comin' atcha! Today I'm thankful for the other part of my job -- my office job. I work as part of the office staff two days a week, and y'all, I have the privilege of working alongside some really phenomenal men and women.  And, the majority of my time in the office is spent with two of the kindest, funniest, most helpful gals.  We laugh and chat and discuss.  We are silly and serious.  We're friends.  :) This is us at last year's gala.  Aren't they gorgeous?! I was pregnant at the time, and I can definitely tell :) Anyhoo.... Today, I'm thankful for the opportunity to work in the office with some really neat people and especially thankful that I get to work in close proximity with these two sweet gals!

While retrieving a link from a previous posts a few days ago, I noticed that I was very close to posting my one hundredth post on this blog.  Well, today is the big day.  This post is the 100th one I've composed, edited, and shared with you all.  There are two that I started a while back but never finished, so they're just drafts and don't count toward the total.  But after ninety-nine other posts and two and a half years of sharing my thoughts, my struggles, my fears, my accomplishments, my LIFE with people I know and with people I will probably never meet, I've learned a few things.  1.   I've learned that honesty is the best policy.  2.   I've gotten some amazing advice by being transparent. 3.  I have written down some pretty amazing things that have happened to me and to us as a couple, and I'm so glad I have these memories written in detail for when my memory fades down the road. 4.  Using my blog as a means to spread the...

I almost forgot. It's Wednesday, and I just knew it was Thursday. I had a hard time falling asleep last night, and I know The Husband stayed up well after midnight watching all of the election coverage. We were both tired, so after I got home from work, we curled up together and watched a movie.  Then, we cooked dinner together  *insert Hallelujah Chorus* -- ground beef (cooked in cinnamon, garlic, and some herbs) with butternut squash and kale sautéed in coconut oil--yum!.  While we ate, we watched another movie.  A lazy afternoon but a good and much-needed one. So, Day 7 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness ? On this seventh day, I'm thankful for afternoons where I'm not required to do anything but just be .

Hello all! It's Tuesday, Day 6 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness , and I'm tired.  I don't know about you, but this time change is kicking my bee-hind! Day 6 : I'm incredibly grateful for my job .  I have loved teaching these last seven years, but this eighth year is my favorite so far.  I love being given the chance to read beautiful, fun, engaging literature with students each day I'm in the library.  I enjoy the discussions with the older groups.  With the younger ones, I find myself smiling often at the eager, captivated, grinning faces looking back at me as I read aloud a fairy tale, a heart-warming true story, a funny narrative, a gripping chapter.  It's a joy to be with them each week, and it's a pleasure to be surrounded by so many amazing books.  My pleasure in books and in reading aloud and silently continues to grow daily.  So blessed. Today, I'm thankful I get to be a librarian !

Day 5 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness : I'm incredibly thankful for my mom's successful laparoscopic surgery today!  All went well, no signs of cancer, and minimal blood-loss. Such a HUGE praise! Thank you for your prayers!

Well, last night's Freedom Concert was great!  Lots of powerful singers and songs and plenty of talented musicians.  If you missed it, you missed out! Day 4 On this fourth day of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness  I am extremely thankful for my mom .  She has been a powerful force in my life from the very beginning.  Well, probably not in the very beginning as I'm sure she was exhausted both mentally and physically, but you get the idea.  She's a momma bear if I ever saw one.  She would go and has gone to great measures to protect and stand up for her girls, her family.   She's a dedicated wife and mother who loves my dad, my sister, and me with a beautiful fierceness. This is my mom. You probably have seen her a time or two on here.  She's lovely, outgoing, and dedicated.  I can't imagine life without her, and I feel a deep sadness for those who have already lost their moms. Tomorrow morning, she will undergo the third of a t...

Today is November 3rd, which means it's Day 3 of my Thirty Days of Thankfulness posts.  I hope this has encouraged you to see the blessings in your daily lives.  It's forcing me to really see who and what I am so blessed to have in mine. Day 3 I am thankful for my freedom . Freedom to cheer on a football team with The Husband and his parents on a double date of sorts. As you can see, The Husband is apparently enjoying the freedom of choosing not to shave. *Ahem.* Freedom to take control of our health by learning to eat  healthier , taking vitamins that our current diet doesn't provide enough of, and speaking with knowledgeable people across the country (love those folks in Maine!). I'm grateful for my freedom in Christ. For freedom in my country. For freedom in how I live , love , and worship . And, for the freedom to vote !  The Husband and I voted on Monday.  Have you visited the polls yet? To be free is something I hope to NEVER take...

I'm continuing my Thirty Days of Thankfulness (I admit that I typed Thirsty first; I am quite parched) posts today.    Day 2   Today I am thankful for gifts of kindness .  When we lost Hadley, cousins of mine (whose house we visit each year on Thanksgiving) made a donation to the school library in her memory.  This week, I was presented with the books that were chosen (with such care by my sweet friend Wendy) and purchased with that gift.  They are GORGEOUS books, and I felt such joy as I typed up the book donation plates (with Hadley's sweet name on them) to go inside each one.  Her memory continues to live on, and when I pick up one of these books, I know I'll smile.      So, today I'm grateful for gifts of kindness.

I've decided to do something called Thirty Days of Thankfulness .  This is not a novel idea, not something I invented on my own.  It's been going around for the last couple of years; though I'm not sure who the originator was.   I participated in this on Facebook last year, or maybe the year before, and I truly appreciated how thankful it made me. Each day, I found something big or small that I was truly thankful for, and, therefore, my happiness-meter and my grateful-bar were sky high for most of the month.  What a blessing! So each day on here, bar any unforeseen craziness, I'm going to write about at least one thing/person/place I'm thankful for.  If you want to join me, go right ahead.  I'd love it if you'd link back to these posts, if you do. Day 1 Today, I am thankful for these two anti-fungal items. Why, you might ask? Because what I thought was eczema on my leg before I left to go here , has since turned into (or already was and I was...