Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #29 & #30

#29 I am thankful for my Pampered Chef business and the freedom it gives me as a mom (as well as the extra spending cash and great cooking tools ;)).  Moreso, I am thankful for the relationships I have created through this business.  I have made countless friends through hosts, clients and fellow consultants.  Most of all, I have a fabulous Director who is an inspiring Christian, encouraging, uplifting and a fabulous mentor.  She is an amazing woman who is a great role model and friend. 

I stole this pic off her FB page because I have no personal pictures of/with her.  She is a beautiful woman inside and out

#30 Last but probably the most important of all I am thankful for Christ.  I am thankful for the hope and love and promise of eternity that I have through Him.  I am thankful for forgiveness for my daily screw-ups and the chance to start anew.  I am thankful for the model He is on how to live my life and love others and only hope I can do a satisfactory job of following after Him.

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #27 & #28

I am starting to lose the "photo" part of this project.  At least I am still being thankful right?  I am also usually a day behind as well.

Anyway....

#27 I am thankful for MOPS!  Such a fabulous group of women and and amazing organization.  Just what every mother needs! 

#28 I am thankful for my Bible Study and the women in it.  It is so great to have a group of women to meet with every week and talk about Jesus, motherhood, being wives, ups and downs, and how God can help us through it all!  They all have such hearts for Christ and a passion to learn and grow it is inspiring!

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Days #24, 25 & 26

Talk about falling behind!


#24  I am oh so thankful for my bunch of kiddos that I get to hang out and play with a few days every week.  My daycare kids and parents are the best ever and I am very thankful for the time with them and the fact that it means I get to stay at home with my kids while still helping out my family financially.  I wish I had a pic of them all together, but who in their right mind can get that many little ones to sit for a picture at one time.

This is my youngest little sweetie!  And I am also very thankful that after 6 1/2 years of daycare and my very first "had to call the parent's to take her to the emergency room" incident and 10 stiches later, she still smiles at me and will cuddle with me. 

#25 I am thankful for my church.  We have a set of fabulous pastors who give their all to growing the kindgom of Christ and preaching God's love.  It is filled with amazing, loving people seeking to do God's will.  There are activities and Bible Studies of all kinds to fit anyone's needs and you won't walk away from any of them without hearing about the love of Jesus.  God is working through the people that make up Christ Community Church and I am so thankful to be a miniscule part of it.

#26 I am thankful for chocolate.  My favorite food and will fix just about anything!  Even moreso I am thankful for the ability to bake all things chocolate.  A true passion of mine is baking and trying out new recipes and they are all the better if they center around some gooey, rich chocolate!

 I got to bake all of these tonight for my hubby's work tomorrow (hope they enjoy eating them as much as I loved baking them).

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #22 & #23

#22 I am thankful for a fridge, pantry, freezer and table full of food.  I never have to wonder where my next meal will come from and even when I stand in my pantry and think there is 'nothing to eat' I still have much more than many others.  I am truly blessed and am trying to be more thankful for what I have been given by being less wasteful.  Here is to a little challenge to myself to actually eat the food that is in my house before going and buying more unncessary groceries.  (I would take a picture of my pantry or fridge but it might make organized/OCD people feel a little sick to their stomachs, or maybe it would make them come over and organize it for me.... pictures might be coming! :)

#23 I am thankful for a great family of in-laws (the whole crew of them).  While many people dread an entire weekend with the in-laws, I always look forward to it.  They are great people, are always there for us and we always have a lot of fun.  It doesn't mean we always do everything the same and/or agree about everything but it always works out pretty well without too much drama.  :) 

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #20 & 21

I'm falling behind again.

#20 I am so thankful for all of the people God has placed in my life, but I am super thankful for a dear friend I get to meet with almost every Tuesday to talk about the ups and downs, Jesus, the Bible and just about anything in between.  She always has good advice, sound experience and truthful words to share and keeps me accountable to godly mothering, my quiet times and attempts at memorizing scripture.  Love you Mary!

 

 

#21 I am thankful for many other friends who are always there for me, to just have a great time, lend support or a kind word and to help with all the trials and joys of motherhood.  Many good meals, conversations, play dates, glasses of wine and plates of chocolate goodies have been shared over the years and I wouldn't be where I am today without you.  Thank you for always being there for me and putting up with all my drama/shenanigans/crazy kids/forgetfulness and everything else!  I love you all and I am really sorry for those that I don't have pictures of/with - but you know I still love you!!

My best running buddy, Linsey.  Great conversations, good laughs!

Kim always has a word of encouragement, a smile and a good time!
Jen: God's love seeps out of her and sometimes we can be so similar it causes alarm, but our difference of opinion in the candy dept keeps us in check.  ;)

Anne has one of my longest running friends records.  She is always a voice of reason for me and is the kind of mother to her kids I would love to be to mine.  I wish our 3 hour time difference didn't make it so hard to find a chance to talk with her as I desperately miss our hour long conversations and being able to talk about anything.
Even so, we can go months without talking and pick up right where we left off without missing a beat.

Kala and I can talk about anything and we are great at keeping each other down to earth and within our budgets!  A 3 hour evening over a glass of wine with out ever missing a beat!
Brandy is a ball of fun and is always up for anything.  She always makes you feel good about yourself.
Heck  how can these two NOT be great friends when they will run/roll through mud with you wearing pink tutus!?!

My Kimmie always has and will always keep her best friend title.  Her busy schedule of taking care of her babies as well as precious others that desperately need it doesn't allow us much time together, but we always manage it eventually and I savor
every  minute of it!  She always knows exactly what I need to hear to feel better and always has my back!



  Lacey is always there for me and has such a servan'ts heart. She texts on  her way to Walmart or Lincoln to see if she can grab anything for me, she'll watch my kids for me if I need to run an errand child-free, if we are in desperate need of adult conversation while surroundedby kids, we have impromptu play dates whenever and wherever needed. She is my crafty inspiration and we love to play/practice/talk photography! It is amazing that even though between the two of us we
always have a camera around that I have no pics of her except this one that I took of her family last spring!
  She is my go-to gal if I am ever in a pinch and is totally irreplaceable!!

 

And Julie.  She's been with me through four 1/2 marathons!  We don't get to train together, but we always enjoy the company during the 'real thing'.  She is a fellow blogger, is real and truthful and an all-around wonderful woman.  I also include her on my 'favorites' list because she is one of the main women who led me to Christ, and for this I am eternally greatful.

So many more friends I love as well Betsy, Bly, Michelle, Kim,  and all the rest of you, I am thankful for you!

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #19

I'm a day behind on this one...

Since it was my birthday on day #19, I am going to step out on a limb in the chance of sounding prideful/selfish and be thankful for me (it took a lot of inner-debating to post a picture of just me rather than one with my kids or someone else).  More so, thankful for the woman God created me to be.  It has taken me many years of trying to fit a mold of what people wanted me to be to discover that making others happy would never make Him happy.  God created me just as He wanted me to be and that is who I need to be.  So, I may be loud and talkative and crazy and unorganized and spontaneous and pushy but I try to use those traits to serve Him to the best of my ability.

Oh So Thankful Post #18

I am thankful for a wonderful school with fabulous teachers for my children.  I never have to worry about if they are being cared for or kept in line.  These teachers truly care for my children and do a great job at keeping in touch with an over-protective mama who worries too much about how her kids are doing away from her care (and they do a great job at hiding how annoying they think I am for this trait as well).

Oh So Thankful Project Day #16 &17

#16 I am thankful for my sisters.  Life is just better with sisters and I am very thankful that even though God didn't give me biological sisters, he gave me these two to fill in!

Is it sad that this is the last pic I have of the 3 of us together? 

#17 I am also thankful for my brother.  While we are not as close as I would like to be, since he inherited my father's 'chatty' nature (for those of you who don't know this is completely sarcastic).  He still is always there if I would need him, looks out for me like only a big brother can and never fails to make me laugh. 

My brother and I with my niece E last Jan

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #15

Today I am thankful for the ability to run.  It clears my head, gives me time to think and pray and it is also a great thing to do with friends!  I would be one big, huge stress mess if it weren't for my 'out' of running.

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #12

I just noticed this was in my files as a draft....  This was from Monday and never 'published' I guess.

Today (and everyday) I am thankful for my quiet times.  I can't be thankful enough for God's Word and His presence in my life.  Having the freedom and ability to spend time with Him everyday and dig into the Bible is priceless.  I love meeting with Him to find out how His Word applies to my life and how it teaches me about life on every page.  I can't get enough of it. 



I included my computer in the background because that is where I keep most of my 'journaling"
from my quiet times, on my other blog.  If you are interested in checking it out go to
www.realpiecesofmyheart.blogspot.com

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #14

I am also very thankful to another family for taking me under their wings.  Again, I will never be able to come up with the words needed to thank them for their support and love.  My Aunt Teresa and I have a special relationship and I wish I got to hang out with her more often.  I love how much she freely shares with me about my mom, stuff I love to know!

Oh So thankful Photo Project Day #13

I don't say it often enough, but I am very thankful for these two people.  At a very young age they agreed to take on a 3 and 4 year old along with their new born baby.  They adopted us into their family and helped my father in an amazing way.  While I wasn't the easiest to always get along with and we have had some major differences over the years, there will never be a way to fully thank them for the sacrifices they made for us. 

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #11

Words cannot express the thanks owed our past and present service men and women and veterans.  A huge hug to those in my life, namely my dad, brother, grandpa, Uncles Phil and Jermi, Cousin Patrick, Brother-in-Law Mike and others too many to name.

I took this pic this very cold Veteran's Day morning at our local Veteran's Park, through a star in a bench there.

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #10

I am thankful for the hero in my life.  While there are many, my dad was the very first and will always retain his status.  He has faced some things in life that could break a man, but he persevered.  He made sacrifices to give his children the best life possible and always loved with his whole heart.  He'll rarely talk to you about feelings and 'deep stuff' but you always knew exactly how he felt.  He is always there when I need him and loves his grandkids through and through.  He always has time for them, tickle fights, gold dollar coins, and chocolate donuts. 

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #9

Oh where to begin with the thankfulness for this man?  My best friend, my rock, my voice of sanity and reassurance and the one who can always make me laugh.  Such a great daddy that it makes me wonder if their mommy can even compare.  My fix-it, build-it, keep-it-in-the-right-place, get-it-done man whose tendencies sometimes drive me up a wall but make him who he is and I love every bit of it.  Because without these off-setting tendencies I would be a lost, unorganized mess!  My prince charming in Wranglers!

Oh So Thankful Photo Project #8

I am thankful for the little stud in my life who is the best big brother a little girl could ask for.  He is loud and funny, but tender-hearted and caring.  Best of all, even after all the legos and play guns and everything else 'boy' he still wants to cuddle with his mommy.

Oh So Thankful Photo Project Day #7

Today I am thankful for this firey, dramatic, mother hen of a little girl.  She flips out at the drop of a hat, but if anyone is hurting, needs a friend or just a little bit of encouragement she is the girl for the job.  Her huge heart for others melts mine.  And how can this face not make you smile?!?!

After the poor thing fell riding her bike
 (I also can't take credit for this photo, my friend Lacey took it, but I love it)

Oh So Thankful Picture Project Day #6

Today (even though it is pretty much over) I am very tahnkful for my right and ability to vote, but mostly for the men and women who fought to defend that right.

I am also thankful that voting today means an end to all the politcal garbage on my TV, in my mailbox and on Facebook (but that is a distant 2nd to my first statement).

Oh So Thankful

OK, so a photography site I belong to, ClickinMoms, is doing a little photo project this month of a picture every day of what you are thankful for.  I am WAY behind on the other posts I need to write, but I am joining this bandwagon first!  I am a little slow on getting started on this too, but here we go!

I am so very thankful for my messy-faced, just-turned-3, baby girl and the laughter (and, yes, even frustration) she brings to my everyday!