#11

Work.

I know, I know...If you know me well you're probably thinking What?

The stress and pressure I feel teaching these little 8 and 9 year olds at times feels unbearable to me. But with that said, I am thankful for my job.
I realize in the economic times that our country is in, I am very lucky to have a stable job. There are thousands of people out there in dire straights who would do just about anything for a paycheck. It's hard to sit back and feel sorry for myself that I'm stressed about my job when others are stressed because they have no job. This holiday season, I am so very thankful that I have a job to be stressed about.

#10

Grants...or something like them.

I knew when I graduated I had heard something about once you have been teaching for 5 years at a Title 1 school then you could send in this document and it could help pay towards your student loans. I am one of many students who graduate from college with a substantial amount of debt. I realize now I might not have been real wise in some of my decisions, but in my defense I was recently married, new baby who had medical issues, had a full time job and went to school full time. The last thing I was worried about was how much money I was going to owe back after I graduated college. Anywho...I recently sent off this document and I got a letter the other day stating that they were going to pay $5000.00 off of my student loans! Can you believe it??? I was a bit skeptical before I did it, but it really happened. Amazing. I am so thankful for this program. What a tremendous relief it is to have that much money just disappear overnight. Now I might actually have them paid off before my first one goes to college! ha!

#9

Tonight I am thankful for clean sheets. I know, how moving right? Maybe not deep, but true. I love crawling into a bed at night with fresh, clean linens! It creates such a peaceful environment that helps me sleep so well. I cannot wait to go to bed tonight so I can experience just that!

#7 and #8

Saturday we were just swamped with things to do and just enjoying spending time with Preston that I didn't have time to post what I was thankful for yesterday. So I will post both today.

#7
Date Nights.
I am so thankful for the few and far between date nights. Being able to spend alone time with my husband without the distraction of kids is priceless. I'd like to think that I am able to give him the attention he needs even when the kids are around, but it is next to impossible to really focus on what he is talking to me about when their is chaos going on all around us. Preston and I don't go out very often, so when we do it is so special. I'm sure there are many people who aren't in the position to go out without their kids because of sitter costs or maybe not knowing someone you really trust to watch you kids. That brings me to my next thankful post. I am so thankful for my sister.

#8
My sister (and her family)
One of the most important things that I am thankful for is my sister. Not only her, but the relationship I have with her. We are the best of friends. She is my closest confidant and biggest supporter. She would do anything for me. Growing up I couldn't have imagined being so close. It's funny how you can grow up together and spend those few years completely at odds with each other and then just one day it's like you wake up and truly see each other for who you are. I would not be who I am today if it weren't for her love and support. I look up to her and love the woman she has become. There are times when I am a little sad that Lauren won't have a sister to grow up and be best friends with the way Amy and I are. But, we have raised our kids together and they all act just like siblings so I can only hope that Lauren can have a similar relationship with her cousins. I am so thankful that we get to raise our kids together.

#6

My Husband.
I don't even know where to begin...
I am so incredibly thankful for my husband. When I think back to how it all began, (during our 8th grade year) I am baffled to see how far we've come. I know when we got married pretty much fresh out of high school we had some pretty big skeptics. (Personally I don't think I would be so thrilled it it were one of my kids, ha!) Together we have been in the depths of despair and over the top in love. But through it all my husband loved me. During the times when I was probably pretty unlovable, he loved me. Even today, after nearly eleven years of marriage, I know he loves me more today than he did yesterday! How amazing is that. I am so thankful to be his wife.
He is the hardest worker I know. If there is something to be done, he does it. The man won't even take his shoes off in the house, because "what if I have to do something!". His work ethic floors me and his morals won't be compromised. I am exhausted just thinking about what he has done this past week. And even with his tired, exhausted body (he hasn't slept for 2 days!) he still wants to take me out tonight.
I know I don't deserve him, I can only hope that I show and tell him each day how much I love him. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for blessing me with him.

#5

Teachers.
Today I am thankful for my kid's awesome teachers. It is the best feeling as a mom to send your kids off to school and have them actually look forward to going. It is because of their teachers that care so much for them that makes this happen. There has been a year when this wasn't the case and it was so stressful on all of us. This school year has been the easiest yet for both of the big kids. We are truly blessed to have encountered such wonderful people to influence my children on a daily basis.

Speaking of Thanksgiving...

I just posted before about how crazy it is that it is already November. I like looking back at what we were doing this time last year. One of the main reasons I blog is because it's like a virtual scrapbook. Anyhow, I looked at November and saw where I (attempted to) posted each day about something that I am thankful for. There are so many blessings that have been bestowed upon my family. The least I could do is identify something each day. So, even though it is the fourth of the month, I'm going to start right now. And I'll list 4 things to make up for each day of the month I missed.

1. I am so very thankful for our neighborhood. Just coming off the heels of our block party, we are surrounded by so many wonderful people. Almost all have children around the same age as our kids and like things in common. It allows us to raise our kids in an environment that is safe and gives them some other freedoms they might not have in a conventional in-town neighborhood. For that I am very grateful.

2. Monday came time for me to say good-bye to Preston again, for another week long trip to San Antonio. It just killed me to have to say good-bye to him. I just cried and cried. No matter how difficult it is for me to say good-bye, I don't ever want that to overshadow the incredible blessing that God has given us. He has allowed my husband to pursue a career he's dreamt of his entire life growing up. He is living out his dream of owning his own company. I am so thankful for this. My husband is a different man that he was when he was working for an employer. The work ethic and morals he has wouldn't allow him to be happy with some of the past jobs he's had. Now it is his turn to use his talents to bring honor and glory to God, and I know he does this every single day!

3. Little arms=big hugs. I am so very thankful for 6 little arms. (some littler than others) I love it when my babies run up and put their little arms around me and hug me so tight. It's the best feeling. Even if no words were spoken, I would know just how much they love me, (and I them) just by that one act.

4. My friends. Today, I am so thankful for my friends. They (you) are my supporters and confidants. You lift me up when I'm down, and lasso me in when I need to be reminded of where I come from. On days like today, when work has hit a peek of stressness (is that even a word?), it's my friends who pulled me through and made it all okay. I don't even want to think of where I would be without each of these special relationships. I can only hope and pray that I can be a friend to everyone I encounter and form lasting relationships that are meaningful.

Nothing Into Something

So we hardly do anything for Halloween in our house. I've decided it's a total waste of money to buy costumes and such. (except for the endless bags of candy I bought!) So we had really decided we weren't going to do anything this year. Then at the last minute Preston accepted an invitation to take the kids on a hayride through one of the neighborhoods on town and trick-or-treat Friday evening. I quick thought and had the kids wear their dirt bike jerseys and go as riders. Clever I know. We wound up with so much candy I filled three bowls! And it was the good stuff too. No Child's Play mix in any bags. ha!ha! Then our street did have a little block party at our neighbor's barn and did a little trunk-or-treating. I ended up being great fun, and the best part was I didn't have to buy any candy because I just took the stuff we got the night before. Some people had little games to play and I think the kids had a good time. You can see it in their faces in the pics below.










Preston has been working out of town. This is his second week to be gone. It is so hard to do this stuff on my own. I don't know how military spouses and single parents do it. I'm exhausted. He only has two more weeks and the job will be over. I can't wait. We are incredibly grateful for the business and jobs that he has, but it is tough to take when we are apart for so long. Please pray he makes it home safely and is safe at work. He works at night and is supposed to sleep during the day, but he cannot get his schedule down. He is up all day too. It's tough enough but working electricity is very dangerous.
November has snuck up on us and now it's time to think Thanksgiving and Christmas. My favorite holidays. I think we are doing Thanksgiving a bit different this year so that is going to be a change, but it's a good thing. And I heard today there is something like 40 shopping days left til Christmas. How can that be?????

Now,

that's

better!

Fall?

I thought it was supposed to be fall? We even had a teaser week. Sunday was downright cold, and today....96 degrees! I am tired of sweating! I am really hoping the cooler weather makes it's way back to our parts because I need it.
I have had the hardest time getting things done around the house, and by the time I had, I was totally crazy by it. Then it hit me. I have a chores chart posted inside that pantry for the big kids to do each day they get home and after they do homework. I actually have started making them do their part and guess what. Harmony! I am a nice mommy again, and the kids have taken to it nicely. (it might have something to do with the potential to make money each week, but I'd like to think they just do it because they are superb kids) Our nights and now even our mornings have gone so smoothly and we're all getting to bed on time. What a thought!
Last Friday I was getting ready to have a girl's night with my small group and P was taking the kids to the football game. Jacob decided to park the golf cart before they left. He decided to do a little trick that Daddy has been working on where they speed into the garage and then turn the wheel and slide into place. I'm thinking Jacob needs a little more practicing since he drove it through the wall. No kidding. Thankfully it didn't go through the brick, but straight through everything else. I'll need to get a picture of that. P couldn't get mad, because Lauren was right on his heels going "He learned it from you DAD! He probably learned it from YOU!" I had to walk away before they all saw me laugh. What do you do???