Tuesdays Thoughts, Tidbits, and Blessings

Remember way back when I used to do a little "Tuesday Thoughts and Tidbits" on my blog?? Yeah, I forgot too! I have been TERRIBLE about blogging lately, pictures taken and a few things to blog about but have I downloaded the pictures from my camera, uh, NO!!

So much has been going on lately that I am struggling just to keep up. A few friends have asked if things have been a little more "lambish" in our lives and, well, we've still been frequenting the doctor's offices but for nothing major, my car needed some more repairs but it was only $300.00, and Todd's step-dad is in Minnesota at the Mayo Clinic having tests ran so that hopefully we can find out more about his cancer. It is in the bial duct, which is a difficult area to treat. We should know more next week.

Most of all though I was catching up on a few blogs that I read because, not only have I been bad about blogging, but bad about reading blogs, which is one of the things I LOVE about blogging, feeling connected to the new and old friends that I have through blogging. As I read one of the blogs a comment said that their friend had written down blessings on her blog because she was going through a difficult time, I decided that I NEEDED to do this. Even though we go through trials in our lives, we truly have been blessed. Sometimes it is hard to see the blessings when the trials are clouding our vision, but they are there.

• I am thankful for Todd who, even though he is part of the doctor's visits, is my best friend. He listens to me and encourages me and reminds me, even though I don't want to hear it, that I can't fix everything. He has been in my life for a very long time and I'm glad for the time we have together and look forward to the future.
• I am thankful for my children, even though they can bring challenges, wouldn't our lives be boring without them. I think children are the closest we can feel to "christlike love" because we love them no matter what.
• I am thankful for extended family. My parents do so much for me and my family. I am also thankful for my brothers who, when I was little I wondered if they were thankful for me but I know deep down they love me. I am also thankful for Todd's family and all they do for us.
• I am thankful for my beliefs, for the church and the power of prayer.
• What would we do without friends? I'm so thankful for all of you, new and old.
• Doctors and medical professionals. Hey, in my family I'm REALLY, REALLY thankful for them!
• A job and co-workers that I love.
• My home.
• The changing seasons, although a little more sunshine would be nice :) and looking forward to spring and summer, planting flowers, camping, and all that SUNSHINE brings!!
• For my freedom and those that have and continue to fight for our freedom.
• And on a lighter note, Diet Pepsi and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups :)

I know I have so much more to be thankful for, but these were the things that came to mind first. I also found this quote and poems that I wanted to share:

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

• Lord, Thank You...for everything.
• Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes; we have plenty of food to eat.
• Thank you for this pile of dirty, stinky laundry; we have plenty of nice clothes to wear.
• And I would like to thank you, Lord, for those unmade beds; they were so warm and comfortable last night. I know that many have no bed.
• My thanks to you, Lord, for this bathroom, complete with all the splattered mirrors, soggy, grimy towels and dirty lavatory; they are so convenient.
• Thank you for this finger-smudged refrigerator that needs defrosting so badly; it has served us faithfully for many years. It is full of cold drinks and enough leftovers for two or three meals.
• Thank you, Lord, for this oven that absolutely must be cleaned today. It has baked so many things over the years.
• The whole family is grateful for that tall grass that needs mowing, the lawn that needs raking; we all enjoy the yard.
• Thank you, Lord, even for that slamming screen door. My kids are healthy and able to run and play.
• Lord, the presence of all these chores awaiting me says You have richly blessed my family. I shall do them cheerfully and I shall do them gratefully.

I’m Thankful for Brushes and Brooms

I heard Mom say as she scrubbed today,
I’m thankful for brushes and brooms.
I’m glad to clean my cozy house
That’s filled with cheerful rooms.”

I heard Mom say at the washing machine,
“I’m thankful for dirty clothes.
I’m glad that I have children
Who can play each day as they grow.”

I heard Mom say at the sink tonight,
“I’m thankful for dirty dishes.
I’m glad we filled our plates with food
Instead of empty wishes.”

I heard Mom say in her prayers tonight,
“I’m thankful for problems today.
If life never got a little bit tough,
I might forget to pray.”

And that poem pretty much sums it up "If life never got a little bit tough, I might forget to pray."

The Year 1955

I saw this on another blog and thought it was funny.

Comments made in the year 1955! That's only 55 years ago!

• "I'll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it's going to be impossible to buy a week's groceries for $10.00."
• "Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won't be long before
  $1,000.00 will only buy a used one."
• "If cigarettes keep going up in price, I'm going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous."
• "Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter?"
• "If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store."
• "When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon. Guess we'd be better off leaving the car in the garage."
• "I'm afraid to send my kids to the movies any more ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it."
• "I read the other day where some scientist thinks it's possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas ."
• "Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn't surprise me if someday they'll be making more than the President."
• "I never thought I'd see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric... They are even making electric typewriters now."
• "It's too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet."
• "It won't be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work."
• "I'm afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business."
• "Thank goodness I won't live to see the day when the Government takes half our income in taxes. I sometimes wonder if we are electing the best people to government."
• "The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on."
• "There is no sense going on short trips anymore for a weekend, it costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel."
• "No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $15.00 a day in the hospital, it's too rich for my blood."
• "If they think I'll pay 30 cents for a haircut, forget it."

After my last blog to "vent" my frustrations, I figured we could all use a laugh!!

Ready for the LAMB

Seriously I debated on this post because I hate to complain and I know that there are others who I would never want to trade their trials for my own, but I decided, hey, we've survived most of the problems so I will document our January and February and most likely I've forgotten some of the trials, THANK GOODNESS.

You know the saying "In like a lion, and out like a lamb", well seriously the months of January and February have been an accumulation of lions, tigers, and bears and if March brings just a lion and goes out like a lamb, it's got to be better.

I woke up the other day, trying to be positive, and said instead of wondering what is going to go wrong now I'll just say "what will my adventure for today be", yeah and all that did was bring on more adventure. Here are a few of our trials:

• The steering column in Brodie's pickup went out, $175.00 repair job.
• Two days later the brakes in Brodie's pickup went out, $500.00 repair job.
• The water pump in my car went out, $500.00 repair job.
• A trip to the emergency room for Todd. Luckily it was his gallbladder. I know, I know people think "luckily" but in his case I was glad it wasn't his heart.
• Possible gallbladder surgery.
• Lots of tests on the gallbladder only to find out that Todd had actually passed the gallstone, which we had never heard of before. That explained the pain he was in the night we went to the emergency room.
• Learning that my babysitter of 17+ years is going to slowly be tending less. Now, she is my kids second mom, my counselor, my mentor, and a VERY, VERY good friend. I cried!!! But seriously this is a good thing for her and HELLO she is just across town and I can go see her anytime. I always told her that she had to babysit until Harleigh got out of kindergarten, which, um, Harleigh is in the 2nd Grade and she is going to be tending her until school gets out. The bad of this, Jayce will be helping watch Harleigh this summer so hopefully they won't kill each other. I'm seriously praying for no 911 calls, which I will overhear on the scanner at work.
• Me, off work, for a week with Bronchitis.
• Kids sick off and on and out of school.
• Brodies' first traffic accident.
• Brodie's pickup vandalized twice, once in the high school parking lot and once right in front of our house. NICE!!
• My parents have been gone this winter, enjoying warmer weather. Harleigh cries each night for their return.
• A few trips to the chiropractor.
• A root canal.
• Inner ear infection, which, if anyone knows me usually puts me down for a day or two.
• Brodie learned that he will not be able to join the Army, which we were afraid of, because of his heart. Now, this is the boy that REALLY, REALLY wanted to join the Army and is dealing with the twist this gives him in life.
• Several deaths and illnesses of close friends and family.
• Last, we have learned that Todd's step-dad has cancer. This is one trial that we have not gotten through and it will be something that we will be dealing with. Right now we are waiting for more news from the doctors about additional tests. Without surgery, the prognosis is not good. This has been very difficult and the entire family is trying to deal with the news.

Those are a few of the trials that the past two months have brought. I've left off a few trials some because I hate to type them and some to protect the innocent :) I mean who's counting the phone calls from teachers, not me!! But, like I said I'm ready for the LAMB!! Please March be kind to us and everyone else, because I've heard of so many people going through difficult times right now!! And, to January and February, "hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more!!!"

And possibly this will explain why you haven't seen me as much the past two months, I've been curled up in my bedroom in the fetal position. I LOVE winter NOT!!!!