Thankful: Day 31

The Bible says laughter does good like a medicine.  It's true how much a good laugh can cure your ills.

This afternoon in the car we were having a conversation about a lady in my life who hates going to the dentist more than anything in the entire world. I mean, I can't say for certain, but my guess would be that she would rather have a colonoscopy than visit the dentist.

She happens to think I am a little loopy for my chosen career.

This conversation just happened:

Me: "She thinks I am nuts. I guarantee you she thinks I have a mental disorder for choosing this career."
Mady: "She doesn't think you have a mental disorder, she just thinks you are crazy."

Thankful: Day 30

I love Fridays!

After the insanity of Monday-Thursday, Friday with only one class from 9-11am is wonderful!

As you know, we are planning a Skylanders birthday party for Zac. He really really wants the light and dark expansion packs for Trap Team and we can't find them anywhere. We could find them two weeks ago, but now they are nowhere to be found. Even on Amazon they are marked up by $20 over the regular price.

I took a gamble. I remembered seeing the expansion packs on the 19th...almost two whole weeks ago, at the Target on NW Expressway. I left class and headed that way.

I don't remember praying so fervently for something so ridiculously unimportant in my entire life.

Long story short, they had the expansion packs and I snatched them up like my life depended on it!

God even answers the ridiculously unimportant prayers ya'll.

Thankful: Day 29

One of my professors made a statement in class today about ballet. She said, in essence, that you need to be proficient in ballet before you can dance in pointe shoes.

That got me thinking, I have pictures that can prove that point. Plus it's TBT...so why not.

I got into my game/photo/extra cord closet and pulled out a couple of photo albums and one big photo box. I was pretty sure that I was not going to find the photos I was after; I assumed they would be at my dad's house hidden in a cedar chest or box in the attic.

No!  I found a picture of me in my very first ballet costume, my Don Quixote costume picture (it's gorgeous and red and has the most perfect tutu), and my pointe picture from my junior year of high school, which was also my last year to take pictures for dance.  I couldn't believe each picture that I really wanted to use was here in my house!

It's kind of silly, but I was so thankful I didn't have to dig too long or hard to find what I was after!

Thankful: Day 28

I got to take a nap today and it was completely unplanned.

I picked the kids up from school and got home around 4. We talked a little about their day and they went outside to play, enjoying this last day of unseasonably warm weather.

I climbed in bed. I expected to just lay there until (inevitably) one of them needed something...but (surprisingly) that never happened.

I woke up at 5:50, and then only because I really needed to pee.

It was amazing!  And how awesome are my kids for not waking me up?!

Thankful: Day 27

I just checked my timehop about 1 minute ago and immediately knew what I needed to say tonight.

The thoughts are still swarming around in my head making it hard to get them all collected enough to communicate.

Exactly three years ago today I posted what I thought was an innocent status update to Facebook. That status cost me a friendship and resulted in many, many, MANY tears. It's a long story that doesn't need to be rehashed, especially since it happened three years ago, but it still haunts me to this day. I wish I would have done things so differently.

That friend never has, and probably never will forgive me. I have apologized over and over again. Even though I didn't mention the friend's name, business or any other identifying information, and even though I was just venting about the cost of an item I paid for through a third party...I still hurt her feelings and for that I was, and still am, extremely sorry.

It's funny, because I am so hard on myself. I find it hard to forgive myself for even the most minor of mistakes...but when it comes to forgiving others, I find it often (although not always) easy. I know people aren't perfect. I know people typically don't set out to hurt, offend, insult, etc...me on purpose. I understand that, which is why I forgive. Besides, unforgiveness only hurts me and why would I want to hurt more?

But God.

God forgives.

When I hurt my friend that day, it wasn't intentional. In fact, had the thought that I MIGHT hurt my friend crossed my mind, that status never would have been written. But sometimes, I hurt God intentionally. I know the good I ought to do and don't do it. I know the bad I ought not do and still do it. So many times I have done this. So many times I have fallen to my knees in repentance.

And He always forgives.

I am thankful for that forgiveness today. So very, very thankful.

Thankful: Day 26

You'll be reading this next sentence a lot for the next 3 1/2 months.

I have an exam tomorrow, so I will make today short.

My daughter's sweet friend is sick with the flu. Her Mama takes my kiddos to school every morning, so you can see where we were kind of in a bind; especially with my sister having "I'm 30 weeks pregnant with twins" issues and my step mom with a highly contagious stomach virus.

I turned to my backup for help and like always, she came through!

Not only is she picking them up, but offered to let me drop them off in the morning so she can take them to school also!  She's a lifesaver!

I don't have a lot of close friends. I'm kind of a loner, I like my space and I don't like to intrude on others or push myself in on a person for friendship, but I am so very, very thankful for the friends I do have. The friends like Rochelle that I have known for 30 years and can be such a blessing. It takes a village ya'll and I am so thankful for mine.

Thankful: Day 25

I was browsing Pinterest last night and I came across this:

http://stuffparentsneed.com/essential-oils-weight-loss/

I was intrigued. I mean, I know I need to get healthy. I know I need to exercise and eat right, but it seems to me if there is something out there to help by giving me a jump start and it isn't detrimental to my health, go for it!

I ordered everything I needed, and as soon as it is delivered, I'm giving it a try!  I really hope it works! What do I have to lose...besides the freaking 25 pounds I have gained since my sister's wedding a year and three months ago?

I am thankful to my oily friends, including Amy Drewery, who introduced me to Young Living.
I am also thankful for our current financial situation. We aren't rich by any means, but if I want to try something new, all I have to do is bring it up at the "finance meeting" and we budget for it.

Thankful: Day 24

I got Zac's birthday invitations made today!

I found an amazing deal on a fabulous Skylanders invitation design on Etsy for only $8. (Check out EventsPrintables, she was super fast and affordable!) Then I only had to pay $1.89 for 5 photo prints of it at Walgreen's!
This is definitely the best deal on birthday party invitations I have ever gotten!

(Of course, I cropped out the bottom so as not to give away any personal info to the entire world)

But, you get the idea...

Isn't it awesome!?!

Thankful: Day 23

Matt and I finished Downton Abbey Season 3 last night. I can't believe I was able to keep the ending a secret. I was also able to hold it together; I only let 3 tears slip.

In other news, IT'S THE WEEKEND! (as the Dowager Countess would say, "What's a week-end?")

I doesn't matter that it was a short week, I am more than ready for some rest!

Thankful: Day 22

Ya'll, dental hygiene school can be such a beast. Some days, I come to this blog and the words just flow and other days I am all, "I hate this computer, I hate this day, I need a nap, they need dinner again tonight!?  I just fed them yesterday!"

Today basically falls in the latter category, but I'm still thankful...

BECAUSE I MADE A 92.9 ON MY PHARMACOLOGY EXAM!!! 

In case you couldn't tell by the bolded all caps underlined italics, it's kind of a big deal to me.

Now, I gotta jet...I have another exam tomorrow morning and only 30 minutes until I have to pick up my kids from school. (And of course, they will all expect dinner tonight too...)  :)  :)  :)

Thankful: Day 21

This morning I got to see the sunrise, and it was beautiful.

Don't get me wrong, I would have rather been in bed. I love sleep.

But this morning, when I was so tired and had to be in class by 7:45, had to place sealants on a real live human being's molar and then take a Pharmacology test, and was not in the best mood of my entire life...God placed a breathtakingly gorgeous view right in front of me.

Thankful: Day 20

I've got a test tomorrow, so I'll make this short and sweet.

I couldn't do this crazy little thing called life without help, and a lot of it.

God sent Ava Hatton into my life and I will never be able to express the thankfulness and gratitude I feel when I think about her! How else would I get my kids and myself to school every day? Your guess is as good as mine. She would say it is no big deal, but that is just what people say when making such a huge difference in someone's life doesn't take much effort...IT'S A HUGE DEAL!!  Every morning, I wake up and know that my kids are going to a loving home to spend an hour or so of their day. I don't have to worry about questionable song lyrics playing in the car. I know they are in good hands.

I am so blessed to have Ava in mine and my kids' lives!

Thankful: Day 19

Thankful = sleeping in!

I had the day off today and so did the kids. They stayed the night with Grandma, so I had THE BEST quiet morning with coffee. It was awesome.

I spent the rest of my day with Mady and Zac, my sister, aunt and cousin. We had Schlotzky's for lunch and shopped at TJMaxx, Goodwill, Ross and Target.

It's been one of those days you wish would go on for a week; not because I am ungrateful for where I am in life, I love school and am looking forward to where this path is taking me joyfully, but because if I am honest with myself, I miss my downtime. Somedays amidst the excitement, I grieve. I grieve for the life I led just six short months ago; the one where I could sleep till 8 and take my kids to school. I miss so many things and yet, I know the best is yet to come!

I needed the day off today. A day not overshadowed by the excitement of Christmas, or the drudgery of taking all the Christmas decorations down. An extra day in the midst of business as usual to sit back, relax, drink coffee and let someone else get my kids out of bed.

Today was a good day.

Thankful: Day 18

Today is my cousin Amanda's birthday!

She is one of my El Paso cousins, and years go by between the times we see each other. Still, every time we get together, we pick up right where we left off. She has always been one of my closest friends.

For the past several years, Amanda and her husband have lived in Yuma, AZ. Matt and I basically promised we would come out for a visit and drive over to San Diego to see the zoo and the ocean. Unfortunately, we will not be able to fulfill our promise, because very soon, Amanda and Paul are moving to Texas!  She will definitely be close enough for weekend road trips which I plan to take full advantage of as soon as school is not dominating every waking moment of my life. I can't wait!

Happiest of birthdays to you, Amanda!

Thankful: Day 17

We spent Saturday in Dill City and Cordell visiting my Papa and my aunt, Louan.

When I was growing up, I saw Louan and my cousins maybe once per year. They lived in El Paso and it's a long drive. After my Nana passed away several years ago and my Papa's health began deteriorating, Louan moved into Papa's house to help take care of him. That is when I began seeing her fairly regularly.

Oh, how I LOVE her!

My kids are dear to her. She doesn't have any grandchildren of her own, so she treats my kids as though they are her grandkids. The feeling is mutual; my kids adore her as well. She is one of the last links my children have to my mom. She can tell the stories I don't know. She can make my mom real to them.

She is the closest thing to mom I have. I have a wonderful mother-in-law, and I have a great step-mom, but Louan can talk to me about my family. She understands the weird idiosyncrasies I share with other family members. She can identify the faces I don't recognize in the old family photos. She makes missing my Nana and mom better just by being there to remind me that they did exist and that she loves and misses them too. My life is better because she is in it.

I am so thankful that although the circumstances that brought her here, to Oklahoma, to live were horribly sad, God has used these years to bring us together resulting in a wonderful relationship.

Thankful: Day 16

Tonight is the white coat ceremony for the OU Dental Hygiene class of 2016.

The girls in my class are all young (20's), vibrant, gorgeous, skinny, amazing people.

Therefore, tonight, I am thankful for Spanx.

That is all. Happy Friday!

Thankful: Day 15

Okay, this is silly.

I love Coca-Cola. I know it's bad for me. I know it can remove rust from metal. I know these things and it's not that I don't care, but I just like it.

At the end of last year and the beginning of this year, I didn't have a coke or soda of any kind for 15 days. It wasn't a fast and it wasn't a diet, it was just something I felt like I needed to do to break the cravings for a coke every day. I feel like it worked. I had a coke while watching the national championship game monday night and I didn't even feel guilty about it. I also didn't really care if I had another one any time soon. So, mission accomplished.

Tuesday night I went grocery shopping and I saw a cart full of 20oz bottles of Coca-Cola Life for only 50 cents a piece. I had seen a billboard for it on my way to school some time ago and had decided I wanted to try it eventually. It is sweetened with pure cane sugar and stevia. No high fructose corn syrup, no sucralose, no aspartame. I know it isn't water and it isn't good for me and it is still empty calories, but I just had to buy some to try it. I can't really tell a difference between it and real coke, but I can't be trusted to give an adequate review since I can't even tell when the wrong drink is placed in front of me at a restaurant...

Technically, I don't think I said that I was thankful for anything...I guess I am thankful that I found the drink I wanted to try, I liked it and it was only 50 cents!

Thankful: Day 14

School starts at 7:45 on Wednesdays!  If you know me at all, you know that I am NOT a morning person. Although the sunrise is beautiful, I don't care if I see it. My ideal time for waking up is around 9. I can do 8; 7 is pushing it. Anyhow, big girl panties are on and I am dealing with it.

I was running late; it was 7:15 when I left my house and class started precisely at 7:45. I thought I was sunk. Miraculously, I hit every green light between my house and SW 15th street. I made it to school by 7:35!  Prayers of thankfulness were being said for a straight 25 minutes!

Thankful: Day 13

We got out of school at 2:30 today! (Talk about THANKFUL!) I was able to work with other students to complete a quiz after class and still make it to school to pick up my kiddos! The best thing about this semester is that most weeks, I get to pick the kids up from school myself 4 times!

The hardest thing about school right now is the time and energy it takes away from my family, but I know it will all be worth it in the end. That is the reason I love picking them up from school. It is the time of day they are most excited to see me! When I wake them up in the morning, there isn't any excitement, but when I pick them up after a long day at school, they look at me like I am their favorite sight in the entire world!  Not only do they make me feel special, but I am the first person to hear about all the events of the day. I get to hear about recess and lunch and P.E./Music. I get to hear about the AR tests they took and trouble they got into. It's my favorite time of the day for sure.

Also, Zac took his 3rd AR test today. It was on a non-fiction book and it seems those tests are always a little bit harder because the questions are fact based instead of story based. I wasn't worried about him because he has made a 100% on the first two, but I was curious to see how this one would go. He made a 100% on this one too!  Now, I'm not saying he has arrived yet. I know he has a long way to go, but for now, I am EXTREMELY thankful that he is reading on level and comprehending what he is reading. This is something I thought would be a struggle when the school year started.

Mady is about 1/4th of the way through Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I love watching her fall in love with one of my favorite book series ever! I love that she loves to read; she makes me so happy!

Thankful: Day 12

Two things:

1) I had impressions lab today. It took my partner two tries to get a perfect mandibular impression on me and three tries on the maxillary. I only gagged twice...and there was no vomit to be seen. I was so proud of myself!  I kept my composure and didn't cry, but I did drool a whole lot. Haha!

2) My sister saved the day! My kids were safely retrieved from school at the appropriate time by my sister who cleaned out at least part of her car to make room for a third body. She also managed to get Mady to dance class, hack her way into my garage and pick Mady up from dance class all while cooking twin fetuses (more figuratively than literally ya'll). She rocks!

P.S. My husband just informed me that Doogie Howser M.D. was the first blogger and he thinks I should play the theme song to the show when I blog.  He's funny, that's why I keep him around.

Thankful: Day 11

I will keep today extremely short and sweet. 

Today after church, Matt and I came home and changed clothes. Much to my dismay, my "fat pants" were extremely tight. 

I am NOT thankful for that. Not a little bit, not at all. 

What I am thankful for is my husband. The wonderful man who still loves me when my fat pants are too tight. Who still loves me when I don't love myself and collapse in a puddle of tears after putting on a pair of pants. 

Thank you, Matt, for loving me...fat rolls and all. I love you too.

Thankful: Day 10

Let me start by saying, I have followed blogs similar to this before. It starts getting repetitive in the first month because we are creatures of habit and we tend to do the same things over and over again. My first attempt at a thankfulness blog failed miserably. Not only did it fail, but one of the reasons it failed is because I couldn't just be thankful for ordinary things because ordinary things are boring. No, the things I was determined to include in my rundown of thankfulness had to be huge, they had to be exciting. I am trying to stick to simplicity here; to find something in every day life...which may at times be huge and at other times mundane. So stick with me when I get repetitive. Something exciting may be right around the corner.

Yesterday, we finally celebrated Christmas with Matt's grandparents. We left their house and headed to my in-law's house to deliver their gifts and stayed much longer than we expected. They are the single most generous, kind, and loving people I have ever met in my entire life. They love big time. I am SO VERY thankful for them and all they do in our lives. Last night the kids wanted to stay the night, but never would ask anyone but me. I continually told them they needed to ask their Grammy and Poppy, but they continually did not. So as we loaded the car, Mady is sobbing and Zac is hanging his head low. On a last minute burst of confidence, Zac approached Grammy and asked very sweetly if he and Mady could spend the night. Of course, her answer was yes...and so the night was saved, by the best in-laws ever.

I know I have been thankful for my in-laws before and just bear with me because I will most definitely be thankful for them again.

Thankful: Day 9

I'll start by saying Mady was a natural reader. She just took to it, no effort at all. School has always been easy for her; not so for Zac. He hasn't been interested in reading, he really just wants to do math and I am okay with that, except that you need to be able to read to pass school.

Zac just said, "I LOVE READING FOR FUN, IT'S AWESOME!!"

That is what I am thankful for today. I am beyond ecstatic about that statement!

Thankful: Day 8

I am officially on a three day weekend!  That is what I am thankful for today!

I am ecstatic about whatever meeting occurred that cancelled my Friday class because even though it is only the first week back, but has been brutal with the mornings and waking up before the sun.  And driving to school before the sun and actually sitting in class before the sun!  Brutal!!  As of now, I have worked ahead enough to fully enjoy this weekend!

Thankful: Day 7

I got behind!  Yesterday was a busy day. Class from 7:45am to 3:30pm and then church at 7. Wednesdays are going to be really busy this semester, but my 4th grade girls make it all worth it!

I am so thankful for those girls. One of them is my daughter, but that is beside the point, I love each and every one of them!  They work so hard and they are so very funny! I have a particularly rambunctious bunch this year, but they are a joy and they make the night fun! Last night we had a badge ceremony and I got to recognize them for all the work they have accomplished since August. Out of 5 girls, 3 of them have completed every single unit as well as the extra honor steps. Out of those three, two of them have worked ahead.  I am so thankful I was listening when God called me to teach these girls, I think they bless me more than I could ever bless them.

Thankful: Day 6

Everyone thinks their kids are the best, cutest, brightest...but mine really are.

We're pretty strict parents around here. We have fun; they have everything they need and most of what they want. You have to draw the line somewhere and that line is different for every family. For our family, it is with electronics. We have a Wii, PS2, PS3, Original Nintendo, Super NES, N64 and more currently a throwback SEGA genesis and Intellivision. So, we like our video games around here. Matt has an iPhone through his job and I have a Galaxy S4. I also have a Mac laptop for school, but believe me, if not for school...that would never have happened. I say all this to let you know, we aren't all hung up on modern technological gadgets. Our home doesn't hold a single tablet or iPod. If one of my kids wants a tablet, he/she has to save his/her own money and purchase it. Look, our Christmas budget for each kid could buy them a Kindle Fire and they would get nothing else. It's pretty simple because they don't want only one gift. They aren't allowed to have phones until they can drive; my oldest is 10 years old, WHO IS SHE GOING TO CALL?!? I guess I just don't get it, probably because we are a part of the few who still have a land line...but I like it this way. If my kids want to have a conversation with someone, they know how to do it...FACE TO FACE. They know how to respect their teachers, family members, and other children. They aren't perfect, but they're still pretty darn great.

The real story here is Mady. She's a great listener. Well, she is a great selective listener...but apparently she was listening every time her father taught her what we feel is a very important lesson in life.

My conversation with Mady after school today went something like this:
(Names have been changed to protect the innocent...haha)

Me: So, how was school today?
Mady: Well, everyone was bragging about what they got for Christmas.
Me: Ok, so what did everyone get?
Mady: (lists off several kids and what they said they got, then...) Marly said she got a phone, but I know she didn't. (lists reason why she "knows" Marly did not get a phone) Why do kids lie about what they got for Christmas? Who cares?
Me: Well, some kids want you to think they got better stuff for Christmas than they really did so they just make stuff up. But the real reason is; Well, what does your daddy always tell you?
Mady: "Kids are stupid"

Lesson learned!

Ok, so we aren't that harsh.  We say it like a joke because kids always do stupid stuff (most adults do too...so there is that...) Kids are funny, watch them. They make up stories about guys trying to break into their house on Christmas morning and then defending their home by shooting them in the eye with their brand new bow and arrow they just opened for Christmas.  Something tells me that didn't really happen.  Haha!

Today I am thankful for amazing kids who are funny, talented, smart, kind, and good.

Thankful: Day 5

I survived the first day of spring semester today, which means I am 1/4th and one day done with dental hygiene school!

I won't lie, today was rough. We stayed up until midnight watching Downton (season 2, we're trying to catch up!) and then had to get up at least 2 hours earlier than any other day in the past 2 weeks. Also, it's cold out there ya'll. I ate a good breakfast and packed a healthy(ish) lunch. By the time the last class was over, I was falling asleep and really hungry, but I survived!

I'm gonna share two things I am thankful for today...because it's Monday and why not?

1. Besides finishing my first day of spring semester, I am also thankful for coffee. It's possible I couldn't have survived today without it.

2. I haven't had a coke (diet or otherwise) in a week and a day. It's not that I have forbidden them from my diet, because goodness knows, that would cause me to crave them more than ever. I decided that I didn't want to pump my body full of high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners all day long. Surprisingly it hasn't been hard at all. They hardest part was when I had a huge energy slump in the middle of class today and could have really used a caffeine boost.

Thankful: Day 4

I am struggling tonight because I start my spring semester of dental hygiene school tomorrow and I am scared out of my mind.

Ok, that is an exaggeration...but I am really nervous.

This semester brings 11 classes equaling 18 hours plus we start seeing patients in February. It is so exciting and terrifying at the same time. I really hope I can sleep tonight!

Today I am thankful for this long Christmas break from school. As it comes to an end, I look forward to a new routine; however, I will miss the late night Downton marathons and the 10:00 mornings. I will miss the days filled with nothing to do but whatever I want. All of this is nothing compared to the excitement I feel when I think that in 4 short months I will have completed my first year of dental hygiene school and will be halfway to my dream career!

Thankful: Day 3

The hard thing about going back to school when you have kids is that you often don't have the same schedule. This requires babysitters and help from friends and family and it often results in me feeling like a burden to others. Today, my step-mom informed me that her schedule had been rearranged and she was able to watch my kids Monday while I am at school. Not only that, but she invited them to spend the night Sunday night so they don't have to get up early and I don't have to drive across town before school. God always works things out, and for that I am thankful.

Also, the new dishwasher if fabulous!

A new year, a new...

January 2nd, 2015

Today I am thankful for a new dishwasher.  It's not hooked up; in fact it is in the garage and I HAVE to remember to bring it in the house before we go to bed and it freezes up. When we moved out of my Grandma's house 7 1/2 years ago all I wanted in a new house was two toilets and a dishwasher. So, thankful as I was and have been for such a blessed invention and its presence in my home, it is time for a new improved machine!

Write this down because you will probably never hear (or see) me say it again: I can't wait to install the new dishwasher and do my dishes tomorrow!!

Welcome 2015

This is the year all 80's kids have been waiting for since we watched Back to the Future and 2015 seemed to be so very far away. Here we are. I have to admit, I am disappointed. I was really excited about hover boards and flying cars and movie billboards that are so 3D you really think you are being eaten by a great white shark. Oh well.

2014 was good to me. I got into Dental Hygiene school on the first try. I have to admit, I wasn't sure I could do it. I find myself surrounded by these wonderful ladies day after day and it is really special. I rocked my first semester of DH school with 6 A's and 3 B's. It's not perfect, but with my responsibilities as wife, mom, cook, chauffeur, and dance teacher...I'll live with imperfection.

I resolve to be thankful for something, at least one little thing every single day of my life for the entire year. I might miss a day or two, but I will make up for it. No more 10,000 reasons in one year for me. It was amazing for my friends who did it, who were up for the task, however, for me...it was daunting. The more I tried to come up with 27 things to be thankful for in one day the harder it was. I'm not saying that I didn't have overwhelmingly more than 27 things to be thankful for each day, it is just that identifying them and then putting them into delightful little sentences was just too much for me.

But enough excuses.

This year, yes, this year, I will strive to let go of the chaos for 5 minutes each day to type a single sentence (two if you're lucky) to say something I am thankful for. Some blessing the Lord has seen fit to bestow upon me. Big or small. Exciting or boring. And so a year begins.

January 1st 2015: Today I am thankful for a new beginning. A new year, a new chance to be better. I am also thankful that my husband decided he will watch Downton Abbey with me...and even more thankful that he actually likes it.