Surprise!..Day 176

Usually Josh and I do not celebrate Valentine's Day, or if we do, it's something simple.  For instance, I wrote a little note, taped it to his favorite muffins for breakfast today.  However, he went above and beyond and sent me roses to school today! Incredibly sweet, thoughtful, and loving.  I am thankful for my sweet love, thankful that he thought of me today.

Singing...Day 175

Tonight was Hadley's music and art program. I absolutely love to watch her sing. She loves to sing, and in fact she has a pretty good voice! I love to watch her facial expressions, how she tries to secretly look around at her peers around her to see how they sing, and my most favorite is how she constantly looks over to our direction to see if we are watching her.  Precious.  I am thankful that she loves to sing.  Thankful she is able to sing, that she has her hearing, her eyesight, her voice; we take these blessings for granted.

Day 174- Removed

While my heart literally aches for a special child, I am so grateful that they are no longer being mistreated, unloved, and physically, emotionally, hurt.  I am thankful they are surrounded by people who will hopefully love this child.  People in this world can be so incredibly cruel; thankful for the ones that step up and choose to love instead of hate. Thankful that God puts people in my life for a reason.

Waiting Up for Mommy...Day 173

"I've been waiting up all of this time to hug you mommy!" said my tired little girl tonight. I had been gone studying most of the evening and Hadley had missed me, she had waited until I got home which was past her bedtime.  Hearing those words when I went in to kiss her goodnight, were as sweet as honey.  I am thankful she waited up for me, thankful that we spent the next half hour talking, really talking about mature things, asking questions about church, baptism, communion, and being kind to others.  I was surprised her and I both were awake enough to discuss such things after 9:30pm.  I am thankful that even though it is nearly 11pm, she came back in to tell me she can't get to sleep, only to secretly sneak in another hug.  Sometimes God knows just when you need that extra hug and encouragement that you are indeed loved.  He is good!

Special Talks and Hugs in the Ladies Room- Day 172

Today has just been one of those blah days.  It first started when I was rushed getting to school even though we were on a delay, it messes up the "normal" morning routine.  I was putting my lunch together and was thinking about how yummy my lunch would be today since I had left over mac n cheese from our favorite BBQ place - Kisers. Last night I took it out of the refrigerator to put into a glass bowl so I could heat it up at school, well instead of putting it back into the refrigerator, I put it in my lunch box - it sat there over night! :( I was not happy that I had to throw it out - then the rest of the day was just sort of blah.  This is a big week as I am studying like crazy, but it is also the busiest weeks with something every.single.night!  I haven't been feeling all that great, I'm stressed, worried, and yes as always- anxious.  Tonight when I got home, which I stayed later after school so I could be prepared and ready for this week, it made it a bit rushed as we had a basketball game for Hadley.  I quickly made dinner, all the while trying to unload the dishwasher, nudge Hadley to clean up her crafts from the table so we could eat, get her to get ready for the game, feed/water the dogs, etc. etc.  I was grumpy, short, and Hadley was grumpy, not moving as fast as I'd hoped, and then it was just a blah rushed dinner, running around, yelling to get going, - I wanted a do-over. I wanted to just forget the rest of the night and go to bed.  On our way to the game, poor Hadley was upset because she was getting into trouble with talking back, and she had had enough too.  I couldn't blame her, it was a crappy evening so far.    We were all silent on the way to the game, I was thinking in my head all the things I wish I hadn't said or yelled, why we rush so much, all for a basketball game - feelings were hurt, real people, and we let a game trump the importance of people, our family.  Once we arrived at the game, Hadley and I went to the bathroom so she could change into shorts, I got down on my knees, I looked her in the eyes, and said I was sorry for our crazy night, I was sorry for being grumpy, and I love you.  She hugged me tight, told me she was sorry too and she loved me.  These are the moments I treasure, and hold onto, since they are reminders of how important people are, and it is in those moments of the mundane, everyday life that are the most important.  I am thankful that Hadley forgives me when I screw up as a parent.  I am thankful that we can have our special talks, forgive, and hug and love on each other.  I am thankful for our talks and hugs in the ladies restroom.

Day 171 - Banana Bread and a Shoveled Driveway

Random acts of kindness are one of my love languages (for those of you not familiar with this term, there is a great book The Five Love Languages and it talks about finding your love language and other important people in your life).  There is just something so special when someone does something nice for you for no reason at all.  You did not ask for it, the person committing the act of kindness did not ask or tell you they were going to do it, they just do it! We came home from church today and found that our driveway had been shoveled.  We had about 3 in. of snow come down while we were gone and what a nice treat to come home to!  We are not 100% sure of who did this, I thought for sure it was our next door neighbors but they claimed they didn't.  I heard maybe some kids down the road did this - so if you are reading this and you cleared our driveway - THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!
Banana Bread - I absolutely love this stuff and especially when our next door neighbor makes it - so delicious!  She made it without asking, and  just sent her daughter over to deliver it, this happens quite often, and I am so thankful for this act of kindness.  Our neighbors seriously are some of the most thoughtful and most kind people we know! We are so blessed to have great neighbors all around us actually!
I love doing random acts of kindness to others as well, simply because I know how much it means to me when they happen. I know how much it means especially if there are not so good things going on in your life, and when someone stops to think about you and do something nice, just because, it can truly make your day and bring some joy into your life.  I know I can be better at this, more intentional in being kind to others, I hope to be stronger in this area, and that my children will also.
Thankful for our driveway being cleared and thankful for some delicious banana bread!  God is good!
I forgot to mention, I am so thankful my dad came for the weekend, always good to spend time with family!

Time Spent With Our Dads- Day 170

Today was a day well spent! My dad and Josh's dad happened to visit the same weekend and so we spent the day with our dads. We had lunch, went to the OU basketball game, went to dinner, and just had a great day. I am so thankful to have this time with my dad, thankful to see my kids get excited to see their grandpa. A well spent Saturday!