Day #61

Today I am thankful for my friend Mary.  She watched my sweet boy so I could go on a New Years date.  I had fun.  He didn’t do too wonderfully when it came to sleeping: he missed Momma.  But I’m also thankful that he slept in his own bed when we got home.

Day #60

I am so thankful to be able to get my son back today.  He missed me sooo much.  It was a long time on the planes to get home.  I am so glad to be home.  My son would not let me put him in his bed to sleep (though we got home at 10pm).  So for the first time, I let him sleep in bed with me.  He was afraid I was going to leave him.  Our cat, Jasper, was super excited to have us back too.  He followed us everywhere, cried for about an hour, and then he fell asleep with us in bed. I love my boys!!

Day #59

Today I am thankful for air plane electrical technicians. I spend two hours on a plane tonight before actually taking off.  It was not fun, but I’m so glad someone knew how to fix the issues. I’ll tell you what: 6 hours on a plane is not fun.  haha

Day #58

Today I am thankful for being able to visit with a friend from college. I wasn't able to spend more than a lunch with her, but it was great!

Day #57

Today I'm thankful for my ridiculous need to take pictures and videos of my son.  I love watching the sweet videos of him growing up. I wish I had more of them haha They really do grow so fast.  Babes change into little kids and little kids into big kids so fast.  At least mine is still a little boy.

Day #56

Today I am thankful for the kindness of strangers.  It is nice to be surprised by the love and kindness of those you don't know.

Day #55

It's CHRISTMAS!!! Today I am thankful for the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of him, I am here.  Because of him I can be forgiven of my sins so that I can be the best person I can and return to my Heavenly Father one day. So thankful for Jesus and today is the best day to remember that. :)

Day #54

Today, I am thankful for quality time I get to spend with my mom.  We had Christmas Eve dinner at the Olive Garden. Yum.

Day #53

I am thankful for surprises.  True not all are good... and some good ones are done for other selfish reasons (like to look good for new people), but I am thankful that today I was surprised with being able to talk to my little boy, eventhough I called yesterday.  Also thankful that his father would be nice, even for a second.

Day #52

Today, I am thankful for being able to talk to my son on the phone.  He was sooooooo sweet today.  He even said "bye, Momma" and "I love you, Momma" for the first time on the phone.  In fact, he doesn't say "I love you" a lot.  He likes to hear it, but doesn't tell it to me often, that little sneak.  Mostly he points to his eye, then his chest, then me.  But it is so much better when he said it out loud. My sweet boy.

Day #51

Today, I am thankful for my sister in law, Lesli.  She has been taking pictures of my son for me while I don't have him. It's nice to know that he is having fun.  I love seeing his happy, smiling face. She's the sweetest ever. :)

Day #50

Today I'm thankful for being able to sleep in.  Yes, I miss my baby boy, as he's with his dad, but it's nice to wake up when my body wants to and not to "MOMMAAAAAA.

Day #49

Today I'm thankful othe people's blogs!!! Today I made it my project to make these awesome little dinosaur hoodies for my son and the young nephews.

I followed this blog to put the hoodie together http://zitzmanfam.blogspot.com/2011/12/project-handmade-christmas-presents.html. And this blog with how to do the screen printing http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/08/tutorial-freezer-paper-stencil-makenna.html. :)

First I did the spikes.

Then I made, cut and iron on a stencil for the Dino.  Painted three layers on it.

Carefully pulled the stencil off when it was dry.  Ironed on top of it (with a sheet in between). And it's FINISHED!!!

I feel so cool! I did it and it looks like something you'd buy from the store! I'm so pumped to make more clothing for my son.  It is my goal before Summer to make him some awesome Summer pants, shorts and shirts!! Yay!! And all this from these people who took the time to blog it for us less imaginative. So thankful for them.

Day #48

Today, I am thankful for being able to help others understand the Gospel.  I know I don't know everything, far from it. But It is nice to share what knowledge I do have with those that are a  little confused. :)  Also, I'm thankful for linger longers (potlucks) at Church!! Best food ever!! And that results in the best nap ever too. :)

Day #47

Today, I am thankful that I can be a part in acts of kindness. My mom and her friend decided to make plates of Christmas goodies for their visit teaching families! And I got to go with them to drop them off.  It was fun. :)

Day #46

Today I am thankful for my mom.  She picked me up from the airport. WOO!! I am done flying for a few weeks. That is a relief.

Day #45

Today, I am thankful for... well many things. 1. I am thankful for the handy product called gogobabiez (or something :)) It is a little platform you put your baby's carseat on and can use it as a stroller. It was fantastic in the airport today. I love it... though it took me a little while to figure out how to strap the carseat ON it.

2. I am thankful for my ability to hear.  I have been watching this series called "Switched at Birth."  One of the girls is deaf.  It seems to be difficult not having your hearing.  I don't think it is a "handicap," it's just different.  I want to learn to sign now. :)  I'm wanting to learn more about the deaf community.  This show is pretty cool.

Day #44

Today I am thankful for my first day of Christmas leave.  I did have to go into work for about an hour... BUT that is the Army for you. :)  I got some errands done, mailed 5 packages (4 being presents and 1 a tutu order ), cleaned, did dishes and packed for my Christmas trip.  It was nice not having to stay at work and getting things done that I needed to get done. :)

Day #43

Today I am thankful that it was not raining when the little man and I got home.  He got to "ride" his very first tricycle.  He only used the peddles a few times and mostly walked it. LOL He had a blast! Best $35 ever spent for Christmas. :) Yes we did Christmas early because of traveling, etc.

Day #42

Today I am thankful for people putting me in my place, NICELY... I think we all get a little carried away and it is nice to have someone remind you to come back to reality.  It is especially appreciated when that person does it nicely, discreetly and with tact.

Day #41

I am thankful for my son being able to go to the nursery at Church.  That way I can go to class and be uplifted by the Spirit. :)

Day #40

Today I am thankful for the birth of a man very near to my heart.  He was born 31 years from this day and I am thankful for him being alive. :) Happy Birthday, dear!

Day #39

Tonight was the Ward's Christmas party! It was super loud because of the amount of kids running a mock.  However, I am so thankful for being able to see my son being a happy kid.  He had so much fun chasing his best little buddies. I love his smiles and laughs. :) He had a blast.

Day #38

I'm thankful for recipes online.  I LOVE finding new yummy things to make.  The internet makes this so easy.  I love finding recipes on pinterest and also on allrecipes.com. :) Today I made oreo cheesecake cupcakes and nestle's chocolate chip cookies.

Day #37

I am thankful for gingerbread cookies.  They are one of those things that makes the holidays that much better.  I made some cookies tonight and the house smelled wonderful.  Simple comforts really make life good.

Day #36

Today I am especially thankful for my coworkers.  One has so graciously agreed to watch my son while I'm on an all night duty.  Another gave me a blanket b/c it is about 50 degrees in the office.  And another got me caffeine so I can stay awake like I should.  I love them. :)

Day #35

Today I am thankful for socks. Usually, I do not like socks unless I have shoes on.  However, it has been chilly for the last few days and I am loving socks. :)

Day #34

Today I am thankful for Christmas music! It helps you get into the spirit of the season, of helping others.  I love music anyways and Christmas music is even better. 

Day #33

I am thankful for Christmas traditions. It has always been a tradition in my family to get ornaments every year.  I love that my mom did this for us and that I have mine.  It's not too common, now a days, to have the brass ornaments that you can engrave your name in... but I find some kind of ornament for my son every Christmas.

Today my son and I made ornaments with his handprint on them.  One for our tree, one for Grammy and one for Grandma. 

The recipe I used was

2 cups flour
1/2 cup of salt
3/4 cup water

 Mixed it up for about 10 minutes and cut it into a circle big enough for his hand. Then stamped his hand in it.  We then made a hole for the ribbon and pricked it with a toothpick (my first two I didn't do this and it bubbled up like pizza dough :( ).  It went in the oven at 300 * degrees for 25-30 minutes. Now if only I had red or green paint...

Day #32

I am thankful for girl time.  Tonight, I went to a friend's house and made laundry detergent and just girl talked. It was much needed.

Day #31

I'm thankful for friends that are willing to go out of their way for you when you really need them.  I had a small crisis today and I am so thankful for the friends that volunteer to go above and beyond when you are in a serious bind. :)

Day #30

I am thankful for... Christmas lights. They just make me happy. 

Day #29

 I'm thankful for free time. I haven't seen to have it in a while so I like it even more. Time to catch up on my crocheting.

Day #28

 I am thankful for not having to do any homework :) Yesterday was my last day of college classes for a little while.  I am so thankful to just destress.

Day #27

I am thankful for friends at church.  They make me feel so loved.

Day #26

I am thankful for sweaters and hot chocolate. :) I got a sweat deal on a beautiful yellow sweater on Black Friday.  I wore it on this chilling day for the first time and had a great cup of hot chocolate. Yum.

Day #25

I am thankful for being able to have a half cleaned home... To have a perfectly cleaned home is near to impossible unless you: 1. clean constantly, 2. never have any fun. I'll take my half cleaned home anyday. :)

Day #24

Thankful for friends on Thanksgiving. And the babe taking a nap at someone else's house.

Day #23

I'm thankful for Christmas pictures.  I love getting professional pictures taken of me and my son.  Yes, it is more expensive than going to JCPenny's or Sears, but the quality is better and more original. 

Day #22

As I read my sad but true book about the devastating genocide in Rwanda ("I Regret to Inform You That Tomorrow We Die With Our Familes by Philip Gourevitch), I am so thankful that I live in America and have never experienced such a horrible event . Those who survived that are the strongest people on the planet

Day #21

I'm thankful for money saving things like giving my son a haircut. It saves $10 every few weeks. :)

Day #20

I am thankful for pinterest that keeps me busy with more crafty, dorky girl stuff. :) At least my homework was done this time. :)

Day #19

  Thankful for clean things (eventhough that means I HAVE to clean them). It's truely amazing how something so simple as having a clean stove top can make you feel so good. :) and clean sheets and bath mats haha

Day #18

I'm thankful for living in a country of religious freedom :)

Day #17

 I am thankful for justice ...even if it is a long time in coming.  I had to call the state about my back child support. I am thankful that I will, one day, get what I have been in need of.  I just do not know when.

Day #16

I'm thankful for my boy and that he continues to be a sweetheart and cares for everyone.

Day #15

I am thankful for the slowly dying arts or knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc. They make me so happy and I love to share things that I make with others. :)

Day #14

 I'm thankful for laughter... The dentist assistant made fun of me because I was in pain from the run yesterday and the x ray things hurting my mouth but I couldnt stop laughing and joking. I don't even remember what was funny. LOL

Day #13

I'm thankful for lidocane patches... To help my poor knees and feet. I finished my 1/2 marathon in 2:30!!!

Day #12

I'm thankful for vacuum cleaners... And the soft feeling of the carpet after it's vacuumed.

Day #11

 I'm thankful for cuddling with my son. He's so sweet most of the time.

Day #10

I am thankful for 4 day work weeks! Hooray for tomorrow being Veteran's Day.

Day #9

I am thankful to hear my son sing today. I guess I sing the same song every night bc Dally sang "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" with me tonight!!!! First song ever!! He's growing up and I'm glad I'm here to see it.

Day #8

I'm thankful for forgiveness from my Heavenly Father as well as my loved ones.  I know I have wronged others.  I try my hardest to apologize when I do.  It makes me feel soo good when I do get forgiven.

Day #7

I'm thankful for 70* weather. :) Here, in San Antonio, it stays warm pretty much all year around.  This past week it has been super cold, but not today.

Day #6

I'm thankful for my sweet boy who is always excited to see me and gives me hugs and kisses.  This is especially great after a hard day at work.  I walk into my son's daycare and he cries "MOMMA!" and runs to me with hugs.  It makes my heart melt.

Day #5

I am thankful for excellent leadership in the Army, eventhough it meant spending an extra 2 hours in training on a Saturday.  Yes, I would have rather had those 2 hours to myself at home while my son was with his father, but I learned a good bit. What makes it all worth it is that I will be able to use that knowledge to help my soldiers in the future.

Day #4

I am thankful for my soldiers, they teach me by needing my help and also them helping me... I bet they don't know that part.... Well didn't. I marvel at you guys.

Day #3

Today I am thankful for NAPS! It is not often that I get naps, and I take them whenever I get a chance. I got off from work after a work lunch and took advantage of the time to myself before picking up the babe from school.

Day #2

 I am thankful for random bouts of motivation to accomplish things. :)  It occurs every so often that I have the strong desire to accomplish a HUGE "To Do List." Today was one of those days.   I am not sure where the motivation came from but I am not complaining and for that I am thankful.

Day #1

     I am thankful for friends... especially those that are willing to pick up my son from daycare. Being a single mom and being away from family is hard but great friends are the best blessing.

Do over!!

I pretty much failed my poor blog!! So I have decided to start over with short little blurps that I will start this month and continue everyday until after Thanksgiving of NEXT year. :)

Day #53 FRG

The Family Readiness Groupis an Army program that helps with the families of deployed soldiers. It also helps families of soldiers that are away on extended trainings and such.  They are truley awesome. The group is generally run by ladies (not always but it is common).  I have known FRG members that have been able to mow yards (if the hubby is deployed), offer babysitting, put together newborn baskets (of diapers, wipes,etc to new mothers) and of course have outings and fun cookouts. This is a strictly voluntary group and it helps sooo many service members and their families. I'm sure the other military branches have something similar, but this is what we do. :)

Day #52 Hand Sanitizer

When I was in Basic Training for the Army, we were actually ISSUED hand sanitizer. I thought it was silly but then I realized how quickly we all got sick from each other. I used it religiously. It kept me from getting sicker than I got.

 

Being a Momma, I use hand sanitizer a lot, as well.  I have now spread this habit to my son. I put a small dab on his hand and he immediately rubs them together and gets clean.  I didn't teach him that this is how it was used I guess they really do see everything we do. He's fun. He asks for it now.

Day #51 Cranberry

I have found a new love: Cranberry in Coke!! I saw cranberry on the menu at Sonic for an add in flavor.  I love lime in Coke so I figured I would try cranberry. Sure enough, it is DELICIOUS!!! You should try it.  Or try and orange slush with cranberry.

Did you know that cranberry is a great suppliment to take for digestive health? It keeps your urinary tract clear from infections.  If you don't like the taste butwant the benifits, there are capsules you can take that do the same thing. I know from personal experience, of a Urinary Tract Infection, that those little capsules are amazing. :) Too good things about cranberries.

Day #50 Springtime

It's Spring in San Antonio. I love this! The birds come out and sing. I hear crickets at night.  And the best thing is it's overcast and a little drizzly but about 65-70 degrees. :) I love Spring!

 

Day #49 Lady Justice

Today I had to go to court. While there I saw the judge give justice to people.  One lady was almost killed by her spouse and was given a protective order against him. Two families adopted sweet little baby girls! I was granted a divorce. The judge has a hard job, I think. He must be able to weigh the good and bad and pick the best of it all.

This is the fountain in front of the courthouse
Lady Justice

Day #48 Movies

I LOVE movies!! There are such a variety these days. It's nice to have on a cold, boring day to snuggle and watch a movie. Or when you're bored and need something to entertain yourself. They also can help you bond with your family. The struggle with movies is finding appropriate ones and making sure we bond over the right ones.  Some leave you with a bad taste in your mouth or weigh badly on your mind. So consider wisely and find great enjoyment in your movies!

Day #47 Early Bedtime :)

Today, my son fell asleep in the car on the way home from the sitter’s house.  I know I probably should have kept him up but I just laid him in his bed. I did it partially to see if he’d really sleep, since he RARELY falls asleep on the way home.  He did sleep, from 5p- 10p.  He was awake for like 30-40 minutes and was back down for the rest of the night.

Day #46 Easy Dinners

One of the best things in life for a busy mom, easy dinners!! I love to put a frozen something on the stove and warming it to perfection. It's healthy and quick and my son will eat it! I like that. Our favorites are Bortolli's, Stoffers and the Wal-Mart brand ones. :)

Day #45 Baking

Today is Valentine's Day!! And oh my! My work is a diabetics nightmare! I made twix cupcakes. A coworker made a cupcake with strawberry frosting and another made "cake balls." They were pieces of cake with chocolates dripped all over it! Sooo good!! I certainly LOVED all the baking but it did make my stomach upset.

Day #44 Sunshine

Today was the first REAL day of warm Springtime weather.  Since my son was still under the weather, we stayed home from Church.  We had a semi picnic lunch outside with our friend Chrissi. It was sooo nice outside. I love and am so thankful for sunshine!!

Day #43 Medicine

Oh NO!!! My son turned up with a fever of 103.6!!! I was soooo scared that he’d have a seizure. I am so thankful for medicine. I gave him some tylenol and within an hour his fever was going doen.

Not too long ago in our country, there were not common medicines available to help reduce fevers for our children.  Acetaminophen came around in the 1950’s and Ibuprofen was patented in the early 1960’s. Just food for thought.

Day #42 Cleaning House

Something about having a clean kitchen or living room just makes everything else in life just seem calmer! I heard on the radio one morning that if you first clean your sink then it will help to supply you with the motivation to clean the rest of your kitchen and then it spreads to the rest of your house. It's true too. My kitchen got so bad one day that I had to clean the dishes and put them in the dishwasher while i cleaned the rest of them and rinsed them (sidenote: my dishwasher doesn't really CLEAN the dishes haha). After I cleaned all the dishes and had a clean sink, i HAD to clean the counters and so on. It feels good to have a clean house.

Day #41 Family [Part III] Mothers: Bad Dreams

Tonight was the first time my son had a nightmare.  The poor baby was crying in his sleep like he was in pain. I thought he was awake so I pick him up and tried to comfort him.  He just continued to cry.  That’s when I noticed all of his “sleepy but not sleeping” cues weren’t there and he was still asleep. I had to try and wake him up. Poor thing!! But he did wake up and promptly put his little thumb in his mouth and grabbed his little blankie. 

I remember having nightmares as a child. I would wake up to my mom sitting on the edge of my bed twirling my hair behind my ear. That always made me feel better.  When life gets tough, like having a nightmare, we want our mommies to make us feel better. Though, I wasn’t glad that my babe had a nightmare, I am glad that I could help make him feel better.

Day #40 Shoes

We take a LOT of things for granted in our day! Think of this... do you know how many countries are there where the majority of it's people do NOT have shoes? There are a TON! It's sad to think. So today I am thankful for shoes.

Day #39 Cloth Diapers

I LOVE cloth diapers!!  HOWEVER, my son had a bad reaction to a certain fabric that we tried first. :( So i just kinda stored the diapers for months. Well I finally sold them and with some of the money I bought a new and different kind of diapers.  I only got a couple this time instead of the 30 something I had last time. I decided to do cloth part time (while he is home with me and sposies at the sitter's house). His bum is doing a lot better this time and I think these ones are cuter.

Using cloth diapers is good in many ways: (1.) It's better for the environment.  (2.)You Save money in the long run (It is one big purchase at the beginning compared to buying disposables which are cheaper in small pusrchases but occur more frequently). (3.) Helps children to know when they are wet better and promotes early potty training. (4.) Did I mention it saves money?? (5.) They do not have chemicals in them which make them better for your child's skin. :)

  

These are the two kinds I've used and liked. Bumgenius were the first ones (that My babe was allergic to) and Rumparooz. I like the RaR's better since they have the "2 gentle internal gussets that channel each leg" like a disposable. What a great idea!!!  Make sure to use the appropriate NO additive and NO brightener diaper soap (I make my own).

Here is where you can find info on the Bumgenius.Here

I bought mine from Cotton Babies.



 

Bumgenius

Here is the info for Rumparooz. Here We liked these the most!! So cute! It's cheaper to buy them in bulk.

Shows the inner gussets

Day #38 Vacuums

Anyone that has crunchy grass, like here in Texas, or has a little one that loves snacks knows that the floor is constantly dirty! Vacuums are amazing! I use mine at least 2 or 3 times a week, and a handvac in between. So much easier than picking things up one by one.

Day #37 Friends [Part V] Movies

Last night I dropped off the babe with a coworker and went out for Pho (vietnamese soup) and a movie. We watched "no Strings Attached." It was HILARIOUS!! It might be a little lewd to the more sensitive but I hear worse things at work. haha One good line "you fight like a hamster!!"

Day #36 Beauty Appointments

One of my recent goals in my life is to make myself a better, healthier person.  The first step in that was to get laser eye surgery.  My next and current step is laser hair removal. Yes it hurts a little but it's sooo worth it.  Time to get rid of al that unwated hair and feel prettier overall.  Who would really want to shave forever if they didn't have to? Bye bye hairy legs and pits... and other sensitive areas.

Day #35 GOOD NEWS!!

Today, I am thankful for good news!! We didn't have to go in to work Because of an inch of snow and a layer of freezing rain on the roads.  I know that sounds silly to you who live or have lived in colder places, but here in Texas that is a BIG deal.

San Antonio drivers can barely drive with a few inches of rain!! So ice and a touch of snow is out of the question.

Day #34 Family [Part II] Sister's Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday and man! Am I glad she was born?! We tell each other secrets, teach each other how to do craft projects, get opinions that no one else can give, laugh and cry together. I just really love my sister. :)

Day #33 Consideration

Today is a FREEZING day in San Antonio, TX. It's 20 degrees with windchill it's about 0 (way too cold for Texas).  As I was driving from one military base to the other, I realized that the power was out on the main road that I drive on (it's called Valley Hi). Yikes! This road is usually ridiculous! The traffic is usually backed up all down tot he highway and people are known to run the red light and block the intersection. This is where my road rage comes out a lot.

 

Well this morning with all the power outage, everyone seemed to finally drive safely and considerately. All the intersections became 4 way stops and no one was going without it being their turn.  No one was blocking the intersection. I wish it was like that all the time. :) I've never gotten from one base to the other so quickly... ever.

 

Please everyone, remember to be a little more considerate to others.  Things like this make the world run smoother. :)

Day #32 Talents

Today, I am thankful for talents that other people have.  I have a few friends that are photographers and man are they awesome. Today on my facebook I have decided to promote their stuff (and those that sell things like mary kay, avon, etsy, scentsy, etc).  Here are some of them.

 

Katie Kirkland Photography: Fort Meade, Maryland Area

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Kirkland-Photography/328689672407

 

Jerrica Kristina Photography: San Antonio, Texas Area

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerrica-Kristina-Photography/149976868348090

 

Jessica Yates Photography: San Antonio, Texas Area

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/JessicaYatesPhotography

 

Jenny Hansen Photography: Clovis, New Mexico Area

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Jenny-Hansen-Photography/113063568756466

 

Pretty Little Things (Mostly things for Mommas and babes- all handmade)

http://www.etsy.com/shop/brokenblossoms

Day #31 Friends [Part IV] When You Need Someone to Take Care of You

Yesterday, I was sick... sicker than I ever have been before in my life.  I'll spare you the details.  I am so thankful that my ex could take my son for the night, as I couldn't take care of myself so how on Earth could i have taken care of him too? I had a friend bring me some Powerade with a straw and after I didn't feel the need to rush to the bathroom every few minutes, I vegged out on the couch for a while and ate a little bit of crackers.  Then, I went to bed early. I slept in a little bit (like an hour longer than usual). I feel better now.

Day #30 Friends [Part III] Birthday Parties

Today was my friend's daughter's birthday! She turned two.  So the babe and I went over for some pizza and ice cream.  He seems to finally be catching up in size to his little buddies. The birthday girl seemed to have a great time, so did my son. :)

Day #29 Friends [Part II] Going to the Carnival

Today, my son and I went to the carnival.  He took a long nap so he could stay up later. Since he is so young, he wasn't big enough to go on any rides but between us three adults we managed to take turns and go on a couple of rides. It was a lot of fun! Every once in a while you need to scream your head off and laugh. :)

Day #28 Leftovers

     I LOVE LEFTOVERS.  You save money from NOT going out to get fast food and have a wonderful meal AGAIN. Some of the best leftovers are: steak and mash potatoes, grilled chicken, lasagna, fettucini alfredo, Christmas ham, and Thanksgiving turkey. Can you tell that I LOVE food? haha

Day #27 Online Bill Paying

     I realized today that “oh no!” I have a bill that is due TOMORROW!  Thankfully there is a website written  on the bill.  I get to the website and it says that I not only can I pay the bill online (and not pay a fee) but that I can set up an autopay on it. That way I can forget about paying it and everything will still run smoothly. How cool?!

Day #26 Breakfast Taco Tuesday

     On Tuesdays, my boss get breakfast tacos for the office. We usually pool our money for them and such. Well, it just so happens that on Tuesdays I’m usually a forgetful mess.  I always somehow forget my breakfast or my juice and end up STARVING at the office.  Then comes the Chief with the tacos… YUM!

Day #25 The Morning Walk to the Car

    On the drive to work, listening to K-Love (a Christian radio station), the morning topic was about the 60 second period that makes or breaks your day.  For married people it is usually the 60 seconds when you first see your spouse after work. If you are happy to see them, listen to them, hug or kiss them, then generally your day will turn out to have been good overall.  If you, however, start off with a “You forgot the trash this morning.”  “When are you going to mow the lawn?” etc then chances are it will be bad. 

     The 60 seconds of my day that are the MOST important to me would be the morning walk to the car.  It’s a bit chilly here in the morning, so I get everything out to the car before waking up my son.  After I get him ready, my son and I get to the door to lock up and get going. I generally carry him to the car since he’s sleepy still.  He puts his arms around me and snuggles his head to my neck.  This is the best part of my day.  If everything else in my day is awful, THIS ALONE will make it all worth while. 

Day #24 Back-Up

     Today I had a friend come over after work to hang out. However, watching a baby, having my son running around AND trying to make dinner, things get kinda hectic.  It was nice to have an extra pair of hands and another imagination. We all had a lot of fun.

Day #23 Long Distance Phone Calls

   Today I had a phone call from an Army buddy that is serving in Afghanistan. We didn’t talk very long, nor did we discuss anything really important.  The quality of the call was ATROCIOUS! But it was so nice to hear from him and just laugh at dumb stuff… and another good thing is that I didn’t have to pay for the call… but I won’t tell him that.

Day #22 DVR's

   We all seem to have such busy lives! We have work, child- raising, school, etc.  I’d like to say that as a child, I WISHED I could hit the pause button on tv so I could go to the bathroom and not miss my favorite show, or even worse to go do homework.:)

     Now, we are able to pause the tv, rewind and record without the hassel of VHS. I’m so happy that I can set something to record for an entire series. Of course, I forget about it while I’m at work or chasing the little one around before bedtime.  Then when he’s in bed I pick up my crocheting and turn on the recorded stuff. It’s the best!

Day #21 Snuggling

    Snuggling makes your heart swell.  Nothing is better when you’ve had a hard day than snuggling. Today my son was sick and I had to call out of work. One good thing from it was snuggling! He hasn’t left me alone. I like that part.

Day #20 Cookies

    Of all things, cookies are my vice.  They are just so good! When I’m happy “let’s make cookies.” When I’m sad “I need cookies.”  And oh what fun the many varieties of cookies there are : Oatmeal, oatmeal and chocolate chips, chocolate chip, sugar, peanut butter, etc. Gosh! YUM!

Day #19 Music

    Music brightens your day. It captures you mood.  It lets you express your feelings and beliefs.  Helps you send praises.  It brings people closer througha common bond and interest… man the list just goes on and on.

     Music is one of those things that I simply can not do without.  On my way to work, I listen to K-Love (a Christian radio station that is broadcasted all around the world). It lifts my spirit and brightens my day.  Sometimes on the way home, my son and I listen to Veggie tales version on classic children songs.  He gets very excited and kicks his little feet. Sometimes, at a red light I could actually feel him shake the car (and remember he weighs a mere 22 pounds. Haha)

     I love dancing with him at home.  We bounce around to his little kid shows and salsa dance.  I’m so glad that he loves music.

Day #18 Friends Who Love Me No Matter What

Today, I found it hard to find something to be thankful for.  I guess I'm just feeling a bit down. I was about to resort to something practical like "I'm thankful for indoor plumbing." haha Then I was reminded that I really am loved by my friends. I'm truly thankful for you who inspire me and make me feel better when life isn't so kind to me. The sun might come out tomorrow and even if it doesn't, I have some sweet friends. :) Thank you. Goodnight.

Day #17 Days off from Work

Today is a federal holiday, aka a day off. YAY!! It was been nice to sleep in a few hours later and yes take a nap in the afternoon, just because I felt like it.

I ran an errand and just sat around crocheting and catching up on some DVR'd shows. I think my little man enjoyed having me to play with today. Though I am glad that I work, a day off here and there is nice. Hope you enjoyed your day like I did.

Day #16 Washing Machine

There have been times when I used a line dryer and it was great... however, I could never imagine washing all my clothes by hand!! I am sooo thankful for washing machines :) The first patent for the washing machine was given to a woman. haha She knew her stuff! The following, more advanced machines were designed by men who must have seriously loved their wives, or didn't want them to complain anymore about doing their laundry. haha

Day #15 Rain

San Antonio drivers are absolutely awful... and yes rain makes them worse. However, the sound of rain in the morning and for the afternoon nap is great!! It's nice and relaxing.

Day #14 Variety

How boring would life be without a little variety.We see variety in everything: people, food, smells, colors, shape, etc. My favorite thing of variety today would have to be bagels.  mmm a cinnamon bagel with honey walnut and also hazelnut cream cheese. Last time I had a bagel it was asiago cheese with a veggie cream cheese spread. YUM!!

Day #13 Personal Time

No matter how much you love your family, having time to yourself to get things done is always a good thing. I really enjoy going grocery shopping and running errands without my little guy, though it  RARELY happens. That way, I don't have to worry about stuffing him with snacks and finding little things to play with while shopping and I don't have to hear him get annoyed with being in the car a little too long. lol There is just so much to do in a day and it never gets done completely with little man all over the place. So, having a couple hours to myself is really nice and VERY productive.

Day #12 Heaters

You never quite realize how much you appreciate, miss or take something for granted until it is taken away. 

 

It has gotten pretty cold here in Tejas! 35 ish today.  The Army chose this day to be the perfect time to go to the weapons qualifying range. YAY! I had a great time but, Man, was it cold?! While I was firing I took my glove off (technically you are allowed to wear them while firing, but I can't shoot as accurately with them on) needless to say my fingers really started to hurt. Being outside for three hours like that really chills you to the bone. That is why I am extremely thankful for heaters. :)

Day #11 Kindness

I've been told that my kindness is the first thing others have noticed about me. Kindness is very important to me. Growing up, I was taught to "be nice," help others, and be like Jesus. 

 

In fact, Jesus is a wonderful example of kindness, the best one actually. No one has done more for mankiond out of pure love, shown through kindness, than he.  After his great example, how can I be so selfish as to NOT give my time to help others? It's not too much to ask for us to let peetty things go without causing a scene/ drama, to hold the door for someone, babysit, smile at someone, call a friend in need, etc.

 

I'm so glad I can see this quality in my son. I know I have already talked a lot about him on here, but I do spend a majority of my time with him. haha We've been watching a little baby girl recently.  Every time she cries he comes running.  If he sees her bottle, he picks it up and tries to feed her.  He pats her back or tummy (like I do to him) to comforrt her.  He even lays down by her as to make her not feel lonely or he holds her hand. I hope he'll always possess this kindness towards others.

 

I'm so happy when others are kind to me.  I get a little lonely and feel left out a lot, lately.  The other day a friend called to invite Dallyn and I to go to the Children's Museum out here. It made my day, really. :) At work he have these 5 gallon jugs of water delivered and if you want to drink it you pay a monthly fee of $3. And today, I was surprised to find out that my boss paid my dues for a couple of months for no other reason but to be nice. It really made me feel good.

Day #10 Internet

Since my computer is down (at home), I'm really noticing how much I am thankful for the internet.

 

It is great for me, who lives away from all my family, to be able to stay in touch with everyone and share photos and adventures with them still.  I also LOVE being able to get help from my sisters on craft projects, do school work without having to be in a classroom, buy things that are unavailable in stores, talk to friends that are deployed, etc. 

Day #9 Naps

I never have nor will I ever NOT appreciate a nap, whether it is me taking it or my son taking it.  When he naps, I get things down that I have been meaning to do: laundry, dishes, homework, etc.  And, of course, my favorite things to do while he is  napping is sneak one in myself.

Day #8 Friends [Part I] coming over

This might not be headed where you think it is. True I love having friends come over and hanging out. HOWEVER, It's nice to feel the "oh crap" sensation when I realize how much of a MESS my place is. haha That happened today. Some plans were changed last minute for a friend to pick up my son and I for a birthday party. The race was on.  I finally folded those clean towels, washed the dishes that were piling up in the sink, cleaned off the table a little, filled milk and juice cups ofor the fridge and a couple other things.  I feel good looking around and seeing the toys put up and everything just a little cleanER. Thank goodness for friends coming over that make you clean up every once in a while. :)

Day #7 Cameras

As I sat at my desk today, I tried to draw one of the pictures I had of my son. After I failed miserably, I realized how thankful I am of my camera. I can just "click" and there he is. captured for all time as my swet and fun little guy. 

It'd be so frustrating to wait, lik ein the past, for someone to paint a family portrait. It is hard enough to have everyone paying attention, looking at the camera, no sneezing or blinking, etc. I'd hate to have to sit there for hours, for a couple of days for the picture.  God bless the man who made the camera. :)

Day #6 Hugs

Sounds like a pretty simple idea, huh? But when you are having a seriously tough time, feeling down, unhappy, a simple hug is the best thing in the entire world!! We hug when we are sad, happy, excited... many many reasons. Hugging is just great! Be thankful, hug someone. :)

Day #5 Tolerance

     We are all well aware that we, as a gloal society, are very different from each other.  This is seen in many areas of life: politics, religion, child raising techniques, views on acceptable social lives, sexual orientation, living green and the list goes on and on. One of the best things that I have encountered in my life is tolerance.
     Let's be very clear that tolerance is not the act of accepting the beliefs and views of others or agreeing with them, but respecting them though they are contrary to your own beliefs. I think tolerance is a hard thing for a lot of our society today.  Maybe I'm a dreamer, because I can see that if we had more people with the ability to be tolerant the entire world could change.
     It wasn't very long ago that racism against African/ Black Americans was prevalent in our country.  Over time, this has become lessened due to tolerance. Those individuals who were tolerant and/or supported the equal rights for our fellow country men and women of darker skin passed this ability to their children, who in turned passed it to their children, and so on.
     After all, we shape the world through our children.  Knowing that, maybe we should each them tolerance.  It may very well be the closest thing we will ever get to world peace.

Day #4 Family [Part I] My Mother

The more I live having to do things on my own, the more I realize I call my mom more and more for help or advice.  I remember moving and going to college and I had to call my mom to see how long to boil eggs for. hahaha

And just today,  my son and I were playing on the bed. He was falling forward onto the bed like a plant of wood and laughing. He was thuroughly enjoying himself.  Then, he got too close to the wall and hit his nose on the window sill. OUCH! That poor little guy! So after getting him calm again and applying ice to his little nose, I called my mom to see what I should do.  Haha. Of course he was bouncy and laughing after a few minutes. It is nice to be able to call Mom when I need "mommy advice." Thanks Mom. :)

Day #3 Laughter

Today on the way home from the babysitter's house, my son, Dallyn, just started cracking up. I have no idea WHAT was so funny, but his laughter was AMAZING! I love that when I have a bad day, or just feel low, he truly brightens my day just by laughing. He finds something so simple and it just gets him going and then he wants to come over and share it with me. He's so sweet and his laughter is my favorite!! Here is him cracking up today when we were in the car. He sounded a little creepy actually. Yes it's safe to download and really is hilarious! I had to hold back my laughter the entire time I was recording. :)

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Day #2 Pioneers

Today at Church we sang this song called, "Come, come ye saints."  It is about the pioneers and their journey out West. Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, you come to appreciate the very first members of the Church and all the troubles they went through. Many of them died on the journey to Utah through the freezing winter.  It's sad to think that some lost everything or had to leave everything they had to get to Utah: possesions, family members a lot of children, even their own lives.  And even with them losing all of that they still thanked God and wrote this song. Here are the words that truly stuck out to me (verses 2-4) especially number 4:

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?
'Tis not so; all is right.
Why should we think to earn a great reward
If we now shun the fight?
Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.
Our God will never us forsake;
And soon we'll have this tale to tell —
All is well! All is well!

We'll find the place which God for us prepared,
Far away in the West.
Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;
There the Saints will be blessed.
We'll make the air with music ring,
Shout praises to our God and King;
Above the rest these words we'll tell —
All is well! All is well!

And should we die before our journey's through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain;
Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell —
All is well! All is well!

This makes me feel silly for getting so upset about little things in my life.  My life wouldn't be so full if it wasn't for the pioneers and all they went through. That is why I am soooo thankful for them today.

Day #1 Wal-Mart

I know others have their own take on Wal-Mart (about not liking it)... And that is definitely their call.  I, however, am thankful today for Wal-Mart. Where else can I go to get groceries, toys, clothing AND get my oil changed and brand new tires?? Granted I stayed there about 45 minutes longer than I normally would have, but I'm okay with that.  My car sounds and drives better now. :) I'm definiely thankful for that and who isn't happy about FOOD?!

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