Day 27 - November isn't over yet

Okay, after kind of catching up on missing half of the month, I realized that November isn't over yet.  The daily 'Thankful Posts' were meant to be each day for the month of November.  So, can I do four more? Sure, why not.

Today, November 27, I'm Thankful for this kid....

 

I've mentioned him in quite a few posts.  He's really a pretty amazing kid, even in all of his quirkyness.... He's got such a big heart. And is probably tied for second in eagerness for his niece to come home! 

He's my brother. And yesterday, he turned 16.  

Gasp, 16?  Where has the time gone?  

He has actually turned into a pretty great teenager...I can't wait to see what the next 16 years bring.

Day 22 - Thanks & Giving It

I'm truly thankful for my family, the time to spend together, to enjoy each others company. 

(Especially while sitting at this beautiful table!)

For my fiends, new & old. And all the 'typical' good things, food in my plate, a roof over my head, a good job (that I enjoy). This Thanksgiving Day, I'm thankful for 'really' learning to let go and trust God. I'm thankful for so many changes over the past year, and for so many more to come! I'm especially thankful that this spot...

...will be full next Thanksgiving!

A "whole lotta" Thanks

Well, my whole attempt to 'keep up', didn't work out so well (obviously!).  And I have missed....uhm....15 days worth of 'Thankful Posts'.  That's right, I'm a slacker.  Though, a thankful slacker, really.  So here are a few things that have come up in those past  few many days. 

This fuzzy little kitten appeared in my development about 2 weeks after I moved in. He was maybe 6 weeks old and so shy and timid and lonely.  After a few short days, he and my dog quickly adopted each other and have been BFF's ever since.  (Literally, this cat follows us everywhere on our multiple daily walks and rubs and loves all over the dog.  And the dog will stop and wait for the cat to catch up, or hurry to go 'say hi' with a little sniff and lick.) I admit, I now feed this scruffy thing twice a day (even though I really wanted to from minute one)...


....and am thankful to my silly dog for insisting that this fluffy grey kitty become a part of our family.



I have already mentioned my thankfulness for Preschool paperwork and here's another little taste of that.  These are just a few of the faces that will one day be Little Bear's classmates and friends.  I got to sub in the 'Walker' room at school and it happened to be this sweet boy's 2nd birthday.  

 

He brought cupcakes to share with his friends.  They were all very thankful!

 

A friend and her son made delicious little 'Thankful' goodies to pass out.  So, I get to be thankful for other people being thankful! (And for her Grandmother being an excellent baker!!)

I spent a weekend with 8 of our youth at a High School Fusion Retreat.  The purpose of the weekend was to give these High School kids a chance to grow closer to God and their friends.  It was an awesome weekend watching them share and learn and worship.  This young man was there with his church youth group.  During one of our worship times, he was looking around the crowd (of about 125) and looked a little lost, trying to find a familiar face.  He walked over to a certain redhead, put his hand on her shoulder and spent the rest of the worship next to her.  He knew how special her heart is. It was so great to see him interacting and participating with all of the other 100 plus High Schoolers. I'm thankful for this weekend in so many ways.

And last, but not least....

Tiny pink Nike tennis shoes.  Enough said.

Day 11 & 12.....Butter and Horses

I spent Saturday out of town, just a bit north in Savannah, GA.  It was a very long, but very good day.  There were lots of laughs, fantastic finds and tired feet.  And also there were horses and butter.  An odd combination I know.  We took the opportunity to go on a horse drawn carriage ride through downtown Savannah and learn a bit more about the town and it's history and to re-view some of it's hidden gems (which this old town has PLENTY of!).  Savannah's history is tied pretty closely to my little island's history, too, so it's always fun to learn more about things that overlap! 

I'm Thankful for this delicious meal....

I can't think of anything better at the moment, than Southern fried cookin', y'all...fried chicken, corn pudding, cheese biscuits, rice and gravy, beans, sweet potatoes, lemonade, and for dessert... 

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake.  I'm pretty sure there was at least a pound of butter in this meal and I enjoyed EVERY bite of it!!!

...at none other than this fabulous restaurant!

 And for this four legged creature...

The lovely Batman

who carried us around to see this..

Yes, Georgia is the only state that mines pink marble...who knew?

     
 And this...

 Those curves above the windows are called 'eyebrows'.  On this house they are made of iron.  All of this iron work cost over $100,000 back in the 1800's. AND this house was the first to have running water. I suppose when you put that much into the outside of your house, the least you can do is also be the first one in your neighborhood that can flush the toilet and take a shower!

And this...

This church has the tallest steeple in town. And the bells were hung upside down for almost a century...but they were ringing today!

And this...

Beautiful

   

Ah, the beauty of history and some mighty good cookin'.  

That's what I'm thankful for... (and leftovers for the next day too!)

Days 8, 9 & 10...Nature

Well, one week into November and I've already become a blogging slacker.  I shall catch up though and WILL finish up the month.

For all three days, I'm thankful for the sightings outside of my door.  I live in such a beautiful place.  I don't know how anyone could walk from their door to their car without noticing something amazing. I sometimes take my surroundings for granted. I pass by the annually blooming plants, the palm trees, live oaks with their gigantic limbs swooping to the ground, the super expansive sky, and on and on...

8 - Something beautiful blooms ALL YEAR!!

9 - No matter the background...always amazing

10 - Live oaks and Spanish moss...need I say more?

Day 7....Preschool

This fabulous orange folder is full of everything needed to enroll L in...preschool.  YIKES!! and HOORAY!! at the same time!  She will not be starting the day she gets home, of course, but there is a waiting list so she's getting signed up now and that way, there will be a spot for her when she's ready.

There are a few great things about this.  First, um, reality check, I am signing up my kid for preschool. Second, she will be get to be in school with her new 'friends'.  The same kids that she'll get to play with outside of school and at church! And.... Best of all.... She will be in the same building as her Mama!  I'm so thankful to be able to have a preschool just down the hall.  I'll be able to check in on her throughout the day, comfort her if she's too upset, and make sure she is aware that I will always be there (especially in the first few weeks) and will be able to just peek in and watch her grow and learn and experience everything new!  What a treat to be able to be so involved and know that she's learning while in such a great, caring environment!  

I'm so thankful for this beautiful orange folder and all of it's fantastic contents!

Day 6....Running

I admit, I can't believe that I am writing that I am thankful for running.  In reality, I have a love/HATE relationship with running.  I have to give myself a little pep talk while getting dressed in my running attire, which continues as I chose a playlist and leash the dog, and then, when I'm actually 5 minutes into my run, I think I've finally got myself all geared up for the next 45 minutes of torture.  

The first 15 minutes are usually not that bad, I get into the groove and am just going right along to the speed of the music playing in my ears.  Then I realize that I still have another half an hour (or more) to go and the pep talk resumes. I convince myself, for 5 minutes, to keep going and then something REALLY crazy happens, I start to enjoy it.  (I know, I said it was crazy!) The ache that starts creeping up my legs, the feeling like your lungs just can't take one more breath.  It almost becomes like an out of body experience and your moving one foot in front of the other, but it can't really be you doing it!?!  The sky is so perfect in the morning, the birds are singing.  Some mornings, the ocean is calm others it's splashing into the sand. It's a like a little taste of Heaven.

And before I know it, I've circled around and am heading back into my neighborhood.  My condo is just ahead of me and I've made it.  An hour after initial pep talk and I feel WONDERFUL!!  I feel like I could conquer the world.  My head is clear (as I've just spent an hour thinking all of the thoughts that I could). My body is tired in that feel good, I've just worked really hard sort of way.  My lungs feel like I could hold my breath for half an hour with no problem.  It's such a great feeling. By the end of my run, I'm extra thankful for running! 

(Editors Note: This was written AFTER the morning run.  These words probably could not have been written prior to the morning run!)

Day 5.....'And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care...'

I know I mentioned a few days ago that I really love Christmastime, but REALLY do like waiting until after Thanksgiving to truly bring out all that is Christmas.  I love Thanksgiving as well, and like to give the holiday it's 'day'!  BUT, today, November 5, I have to be thankful for Christmas stockings.  (Sorry Thanksgiving!)

I was given a gift today, or actually L was given a gift today, but I accepted it in her current absence.  Her beautiful stocking is already hanging up (again, sorry Thanksgiving) waiting for Santa to visit next month.  Even though Little Bear won't be here to see her stocking full of goodies this year, the goodies inside will be waiting for her to open and explore when she gets home.  

Our family stockings

My Grandma made stockings for everyone in my family. As each new addition joined (kiddos AND spouses), they were presented with a Christmas stocking.  All hand knitted and all with the ideal Christmas colors and Christmas designs and of course, personalized.  I knew, when my Grammie passed away just after Thanksgiving two years ago, that my children would not get to experience having one of 'those' stockings, I had resigned myself to the fact that additions to the family from that point on would not have look alike stockings.  (Maybe I should have paid closer attention when she tried to teach my cousin and I how to knit one summer when I was about 12!?!)
 
BUT after some hunting, L's Grandma found the right person, some wonderful lady on the east coast, who could knit, and had the right patterns and this is the result.  My daughter's Christmas stocking, that will hang along side her Mama's and look just like it was always supposed to be there.  For this, I am thankful today.

Day 4....Orphan Sunday

Today is called Orphan Sunday. (The entire month of November is actually Adoption Awareness Month!)  On Orphan Sunday, people all over America make a stand for the orphan.  
Sharing and praying.  
You can read more about Orphan Sunday by clicking the link below.

                                                                           On THIS Orphan Sunday, I am thankful for a couple of things.  I am thankful for families who turn these kiddos into 'one less orphan'.  I'm thankful for individuals who pray for those families.  I'm thankful for individuals who pray for those orphans who are waiting for their turn to become a part of a family.  I'm thankful for organizations that provide medical care and offer gifts to children waiting in orphanages.  I'm thankful for organizations and individuals who offer monetary support to orphanages and to families working hard to bring their orphan home. 

I am thankful for this organization....

P.S.  Pay close attention at about 3:44 in the above video!

And I am especially thankful for this particular orphan, who one day (soon) will become an orphan no more...

    I'm thankful that she will soon know the love of a Mama  She will soon learn what a family is. She will soon experience the feeling of a hug. She will soon know what life outside of a crib, outside of an orphanage, is like.  
And I'm SO thankful to be able to be a part of the rest of her life.

And just for an added bonus...a few more orphan faces, just for your viewing pleasure...

Day 3....Junior Mints

I know it's not Christmastime yet, and I am a big one for wanting to let Thanksgiving have it's day, (I wanted to plug my ears while in Michaels today and the Christmas music starting playing... ahhh... too early!!!) BUT Christmas candy (and other unmentionable items) are starting to appear on store shelves.  This means only one thing!  PEPPERMINT CRUNCH Junior Mints!!!  I must say, Junior Mints are by far my favorite candy EVER, but the extra peppermint crunch that gets added to the rich dark chocolate shell during the Christmas season is just pure joy.  And because Christmas is next month (uh, what!?!) this delicious little box of candy can be purchased and enjoyed for the next 8 weeks!!

So today, Day 3, I'm thankful for Peppermint Crunch Junior Mints and the little bit of happiness in every crunchy minty bite.

Day 2....Spiders

Yep, you read that correctly, on this second day of November. Day 2 of giving thanks, I am thankful for spiders.  Pink ones to be specific and to be even more specific, pink ones that go in your ears.  

(HA!...fooled you all!!  Like I'd ever be thankful for real spiders!)

And in addition to the pink spider earrings, 

I'm thankful for the person who sent them.  

I have know idea who that someone is (well, I take that back, I know they are currently adopting or have adopted an orphan from another country)  (oh, and the person is also a 'she')  But this person signed up to be a 'Secret Sister' for other women who are adopting and just sometimes needing a little pick me up throughout the process.  As it's a LONG process and though EXTREMELY rewarding, can be very frustrating at times.  

So she sent me these little earrings, because pink is my absolute favorite color and spiders are the thing that I fear (HATE) the most.  Her words- "it would be a symbol that in all the bad things that come with this adoption business, there is always good! Some of the things we hate the most and are most taxing to us bring us the most good!"  (I bet she didn't think she'd be quoted here!)  

And how true that is, I'm thankful that these little spiders remind me every day, that even through all of the frustrations and bumps along the road in this process, my beautiful daughter will be the pot of 'pink' at the end of the rainbow.

 

Today, I'm thankful for pink spider earrings and

   a super 'Secret Sister'...

Thankful...Day 1

     Many people are using this month to share what they are thankful for, of course, because Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away. (WOW...this year has flown by!)  I think putting out daily 'Thankfulness posts' is a brilliant idea and so I'm going to attempt it as well.  Hopefully it will go a little better than the idea of extra posts in October.  
     Some things might be silly or just a tiny little thought, but I believe everyone can come up with at least one thing per day to be thankful for! And really, I have SOOO many things to be thankful for and it's hard to not just share them all in one day! Anyway, today is November 1, the first day to share a thankful post so, here goes...

I am actually kind of posting two things today, but really they go together so we'll just let it slide...

I am thankful for my desk, in the new office and my new 'now full time' job.  It still needs a few personal touches, perhaps a photo of the Little Bear? But otherwise a nice, happy place to work.

 AND a more flexible schedule to be able to spend more time here...

 I've missed the daily walks on the beach...

and I think she has too.  

Thankful for something new, more time and a very happy puppy.  

That's a pretty good start to November.