Thankfulness - Day 169

The things I am thankful for today:
1. Going back to school - missed teaching due to the snow days, missed my students, missed our "routine"
2. Hearing my girl talk and talk and talk about her favorite game - Mindcraft
3. Having my girl join me in bed to watch House Hunters and to talk about writing a book together - seriously how awesome and it makes this English teachin' momma proud
4. My son not wanting me to go when I went to work today, it breaks my heart and makes me joyful at the same time
5. My sons reaction when I picked him up today - squealed with excitement and told me all about his day
6. Getting our 1/4 of a cow - absolutely love having fresh beef in our freezer and not the crap you get in the store
7. Warm glazed donut and hot chocolate before going to sleep tonight and brought to me from my awesoome hubby
8. Clean, warm sheets
9. My healthy kids - yes we have on-going issues with Landry but after a little boy losing his life to cancer this week, puts things into perspective
10.  That I get to see my dad tomorrow, hang out, enjoy a basketball game, good food, and catching up on life
God is good!

Day 168... Wheel of Fortune Video Game

I am thankful for the one on one time I had with my girl playing on the PS3. I'm not a big gamer, but Hadley takes after her daddy and loves to play them. However, I love Wheel of Fortune, so we played together today and even though it was only one game, I am thankful we had this time.  She literally just lights up when we can have our alone time, and I treasure those moments too. 

As The French Kiss - Day 167

My sweet little guy has started this thing where he kisses like you see French people kiss.  He kisses your cheek and lips, from side to side with hugs thrown in between each kiss.  It is so funny and he will do this about twenty times! I absolutely love it and relish in the fact I receive probably close to one hundred kisses a day. Landry kisses me when he wakes up, before going to take a nap, after a nap, just because, and before bed which he will have these "kissing" sessions about 4-5 times. I am thankful that he is so loving ( I may rethink this when he has his first girlfriend lol) and I am thankful that his face just gleams with joy when he is kissing and hugging.  His phrase before he goes in for the kiss is "Hug, kiss, hug, kiss, - love you mommy!" Melts my heart! I really am clinging onto this because I know one day it will be uncool to kiss me, at least this many times, as Hadley has recently reached this stage, sadly.  It is so true, our babies grow up way too fast.  I am thankful for the extra, extra, kisses and hugs from my boy. I am thankful that Hadley will randomly out of nowhere come to me and talk my ear off.  I am thankful to be a momma to these two sweet and precious kiddos!

One of my favorite first pictures of my sweet kiddos together

Day 166 - Finding the Glimpses of Joy in an Overwhelming Day

Today was just - overwhelming. I absolutely despise the days where I leave in the morning for work and then not come home until late in the evening. I feel completely out of sorts, exhausted, and just absolutely frazzled, especially when I have work to do for school the next day.  We are back on that daunting road of trying to figure out what exactly is up with Landry boy - the dreaded on going cough and congestion.  I took him the the pediatrician since his cough since December has not gone away, not even with his inhalers, antibiotics, nothing.  After researching on my own, I came across some links of gluten/wheat, and dairy allergies and their sensitivities.  I discussed this with his pediatrician today and she completely agreed that he has to have some type of allergy/sensitivity.  While nothing showed up on last years allergy testing the two things he was not tested for was wheat and dairy.  Since just sensitivity to these two will probably not show up on a blood test, we both agreed to just try the elimination for a few weeks to see if he gets better.  So, I am very grateful that I didn't have to put Landry through a blood test! I am thankful that is money saved for us!
Now for the next 2 weeks, Landry is completely on a dairy free diet - Yikes! I was in Kroger's for close to 2 hours reading labels, finding non-dairy cheese, and just figuring out what I will cook for him.  I am on a complete mission as I have been since my little dude has been born, to find out what is going on with him.  My mom gut tells me he's sensitive to some type of food allergy, and I have a feeling it is gluten, we shall see.  So after 2 wks of the dairy if we notice a change - great, if not, it will be a gluten free Lynch household.  I didn't expect to feel so overwhelmed and a little sad when I left the Dr.s  I mean, I am grateful I took him in and found out the ped and I both share the same values when it comes to treating him without a bunch of medication.  I am thankful that we are on another road that will hopefully bring relief to my sweet son.

I am feeling stressed and overwhelmed after this long, long day, but I am thankful that I am now in my own bed and will be sleeping soon. In the midst of this chaotic day, one of my most favorite author's was at our local library.  I missed the brief 10 min interview questions, but I was able to meet her, have her sign my book, and get my picture with her -Jodi Picoult.  That was pretty cool!

I know that in the midst of this stress, God is with me!

Fantabulous author - Jodi Picoult

Day 165 - Snow Day and Small Group Thankfulness

What a beautiful beautiful snow fall we had! This has been the biggest snow of 8 inches since we moved to Athens 6 yrs ago, and it was so fun to be in it today! It is fun to hear the kids laughing and screaming as they sled down the hills, the crying of the little ones just because, and to see the smiles as they build and dress the snowmen.  I am thankful for this day of fun with my kids, neighbors, and friends! I am also thankful for the workout of shoveling our driveway!
Another thing that I am so grateful for today is our new marriage small group we joined at our church! I think it is incredibly neat how God places certain people in a group for a reason.  Any time you join a new place where community is a big part, whether it is a church, job, sports, etc., feeling connected is huge and it takes time and it is scary! I am so thankful that we have found that "connection" at our church and incredibly excited to see how our new friendships develop.  Who would've thought that the coffee shop that I call my second home, the owners are our group leaders? Very cool! Also, a couple we met last Spring at an open house, are the house hosts for our group?  I am so thankful for these people, thankful that we are doing this life thing called "marriage" together, praying for each other, laughing, sipping coffee, and simply being a community.  Feeling so blessed and thankful tonight.

He decided to dump his yogurt on his head - all you cold do is laugh and give this kid a bath

Sweet Hadley girl

Enough - My Kids Need Their Mom..Day 164

Tonight I decided that instead of rushing my kids to get to bed and not enjoying the usual crazy bedtime routine (it always seems the kiddos get another burst of energy), that I was going to enjoy them.  I talked to my kiddos in a calm manner when telling them to get their pj's on rather then my hurried, strict tone I usually give.  I stopped and looked at whatever Hadley was super excited to show me rather then telling her it is time for bed, put it away.  I stopped and tickled Landry's feet when helping him with his pj's rather then getting frustrated that he wouldn't sit still.  I laid on Hadley's bed with them and let them watch one cartoon on Hadley's kindle rather then worrying that it was past their bedtime and they would be grumpy in the morning.  I also after lights were out, read Landry his favorite book Mama Lama Red Pajama instead of telling him it is night night time.   Truth is, I just enjoyed them.  I am always so exhausted when it comes to bedtime, grumpy, and stressed because I always have papers to grade, lesson plans to write, studying to do, dishes to wash, clothes to fold, lunches to pack, on and on, the list is endless, so I hurry the bedtime routine.  I find myself wishing this time would hurry up and that they would just be like robots by getting themselves bathed, dressed, teeth brushed, in bed, say good night, and close their eyes - all in oh, 10 minutes! It is absolutely a ridiculous expectation, and really sad that I am wishing away one of the most joyous times of the day.
As always, when I leave church on Sunday's I often am convicted of what I heard.  The current series, which I have mentioned before has been Enough - it has been awesome.  Gratefulness was the main idea touched on today and I thought, sweet, that is why I write my blog everyday.  However, it doesn't stop at my blog and what I write on a daily basis of what I am thankful for, I need to put it into action, showing kindness, be more giving to others.  While I could write on and on about what has been stirring in my heart, I will end with this for tonight;  I need to give more to my children. I am not talking about "stuff" I am talking about me, there mom.  They need to have my full attention, not a mom who is stressed out all the time, who is tired and grumpy, impatient, they need me their mom who is bleeding joy because I am with my children.  They need that unconditional love and grace when they mess up, not a mom who yells and expects them to be robots.  My kids need to have me laugh and be relaxed with them, and not so schedule driven.  They simply need to see Jesus in their mom, I confess that they haven't.  So for tonight, I am so thankful that I decided to simply enjoy them, love on them, relax with them, REALLY pay attention to them, - it was amazing and pure joy!  Thank you God for this reminder and I pray I can do this more and more.
We also had some fun taking pictures!

Day 163...Seeing the Positive

While I have literally spent a lot of my time studying history, being away from my family, being stressed out and worried, I still can see some joyful things. I am thankful for the knowledge I am gaining in history.  While my head hurts from trying to know every single aspect of world and American history, I'm retaining some of it. :) It seems over this time of studying I was starting to not like history so much, and I've always enjoyed it before, well the American history anyways.  Today I decided as it is the 6th hour that I've been studying today, I really am enjoying some of what I'm reading.  I am thankful I am starting to look through the thankful lens of this daunting task rather then being angry about this journey.  I am thankful to have such a supportive husband to help me achieve this goal of passing this test!  I can do this!

My view/office today!