A Life of Gratitude

Today I am sooooo grateful for energy!!! I have been so sick for so long and I have had absolutely no energy. Thankfully, today I have energy! I've been to yard sales, cleaned the kitchen and the bathrooms, put the finishing touches on Dylan's birthday cake and I'm going to wedding in a little while. I haven't gotten this much done in weeks. I hope I keep feeling this good!

This may sound a little crazy but all of my post can't be serious! HA! Today I am thankful for sweet tea. Other than really cold ice water, its the only drink that sounds appealing to me at all right now. I had a big cup of McDonald's sweet tea yesterday and it was delicous! Since I've still been dealing with morning sickness, anything that taste delicious is a real blessing. I might just have to get some more sweet tea today!

Dylan will be turning three years old in a few days so Bryan and I decided it was time for a "big boy room." We've been moving furniture, changing bedspreads and curtains, putting up stickers and pictures, etc. When it was all finished I called Dylan in his room to look at it. He was so excited! He absolutely loves his "big boy room." When Bryan got home from work Dylan said, "Daddy, Daddy, I have stickers in my room. Come look at them." It made my day to hear how happy he was! Today I am thankful that Bryan and I are able to give Dylan the things he needs- like a big boy room! I'm also thankful for the stickers that Dylan's Grandmother bought. He loves them!

I've heard that the "belly" grows bigger, faster with the second child. I think this is true. With Dylan I didn't have to wear maternity clothes until about 5 months along but this time, I already need maternity pants. Today I am thankful for my friends, Amanda and Brandi, who let me borrow their maternity clothes. I'm also thankful for the maternity dresses that my Mom bought me. I shouldn't have to buy any maternity clothes which is a true blessing !

This afternoon Dylan and I played outside while Bryan mowed the grass. Dylan, of course, had to play with his pretend lawn mower while Bryan mowed. We enjoyed the sunshine and the smell of fresh cut grass. I am thankful for that smell! The yard looks great too, thanks Bryan!

Today I am thankful for the fun Dylan and I have been having outside in this beautiful weather. We've been going outside most mornings lately to play in the sandbox, draw with sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, ride tricycles, etc. He loves being outside and so do I (while its not too hot!) I'm grateful for this gorgeous weather and for the opportunity for Dylan to run around outside. Its so nice not to be stuck in the house all the time.

"But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." Mark 16:4-6 Hallelujah!!! The tomb is empty! My Savior is Risen!! Can you imagine walking into the tomb and finding it empty? Can you imagine how Jesus' loved ones must have felt? Wow, what a miracle? What a blessing? Today I am thankful that the grave could not hold Jesus! God sent a Rescuer from Heavener to pay our ransom. Thank you Jesus! Happy Easter!

Dylan's 3rd birthday is coming up so Bryan and I have been planning to move him into his "Big Boy Room" soon. He'll have a full size bed in his new room and his old room will be the nursery for the new baby. Dylan is so excited! We've been looking for a dresser for a while and yesterday we found a nice dresser for only $70! Bryan's Dad is coming over today to help us move the furniture so we can get his room ready for him. I can't believe my little boy is getting so big. Today I am thankful for great deals! My sweet boy's room will be nice without costing us a fortune!

Today I am thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary. My Jesus was beaten, tortured, mocked, crucified, and buried. His skin was torn and pierced. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross. He willingly paid the ultimate price for me and for you. Good Friday was the blackest of days but Thank You God...Sunday is coming!

Today Dylan and I went with some friends to the Natural Science Center. We had a terrific time. While we were there we saw a beautiful peacock. It had its feathers all stretched out. It was gorgeous, truly an amazing creature! Today I am thankful that God made these awesome creatures, along with all the other animals He created. We are so blessed to be able enjoy all of God's creations.

WOW, I never thought I'd make it!!! Today I am thankful that I have made to the second trimester of my pregnancy. I am hoping that the end of all that morning sickness is in sight! I actually feel really good today. The baby is continuing to grow like a weed. According to www.babycenter.com , the baby's fingers will start to open and close this week and its toes will begin to curl. Its even starting the sucking movement with its mouth! Thank you, Heavenly Father, that I've made it the second trimester. Thank you for how this baby is growing inside of me. Please continue to hold this precious child in the palm of your hand. Amen.

The past few mornings, Dylan and I have been playing outside in his sandbox. He loves that sandbox! As we've sat outside, I couldn't help but notice the birds singing! Their song is so pretty. I guess I've always blocked out that beautiful sound but today I am so thankful for those birds. Their song is refreshing and peaceful. 

Today I am thankful for the ability to be a "SAHM" (stay at home mom)! I truly enjoy spending each day with Dylan, he is such a joy to be around. I could be sent back to work at any time so I just wanted to take the opportunity to share how thankful I am to have these moments with Dylan. This morning, Dylan climbed into my bed and kissed my belly. Then he said "I love that baby in there!" If I had been at work today I would not have been able to hear my little guy say such a sweet thing! Dear Precious Heavenly Father, thank you for the moments I get to spend with Dylan. Thank you for opportunity to stay home with him. I pray that this experience will not end any time soon! Amen.

I know this may sound a little silly but today I am thankful for the wind in my hair. It has been such a beautiful Palm Sunday so we decided to take Dylan to the park this afternoon. As I sat on the bench (because my back has been hurting so badly lately!) and watched Dylan play, I truly enjoyed the wind blowing in my hair. I've never really thought about wind much before but its truly an amazing thing that only God could have created. Sometimes its strong enough to uproot a tree or tear off a roof yet other times its so mild that you can barely even feel it. Today as it was whirling through my hair, it reminded me how awesome our God is!

As I was folding laundry today I realized that I am very grateful for my washing machine and dryer. I am so glad that I don't have to scrub my clothes by hand and hang them out to dry. I know I often complain about having so much laundry to do but since I have a washing machine, I have it pretty easy! So, today I am thankful for my washing machine and dryer. They make my life so much easier!

There are few things sweeter than the sound of a child's laughter. This morning Dylan came into our bed and began playing with my eyelids (don't ask me why my eyelids amuse him...haha). He must have enjoyed playing with my eyelids because he was giggling so much! I love hearing his little giggle as well as loud, "stop tickling or I'll pee in my pants" laugh! Hearing him giggle and laugh brings joy to my heart. Today I am thankful for laughter! If you stop and think about it, laughter is an amazing thing for children and adults! Everyone has a different laugh. Some are squeaky, snorty, or loud and some hardly have a sound at all. Some people laugh easily and some people rarely laugh at all. God was so creative when He created laughter.

Today I am so thankful to be home. I am glad I was able to spend a few days in the hospital because I do feel much better now but there is no place like home! The best part about being home is that I get to be with Bryan and Dylan. They have taken such good care of me. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you so much for my sweet little family, for the way they've taken care of me, and for the home we have to live in. You have truly blessed me. Amen.

Today I am thankful for the sweet visitors that I've had during my hospital stay. Bryan and Dylan have really helped get through this time. Dylan played so nicely with his trains while Bryan kept me company. Dylan also laid with me on my bed and watched TV. Since I had to spend a few days in the hospital, I'm so glad to have my sweet family here with me some of the time.

Well, yesterday the morning sickness or the more severe version, hyperemesis gravidarum, which I have took a turn for the worse so the doctor sent me to the hospital. I am thankful to be here because I'm starting to feel some better but I'm also thankful because we got a pleasant surprise last night. We were able to have another ultrasound. Bryan was here and since he didn't get to see the first ultrasound, we were both exicted. Everything looks great with the baby! It sure was a blessing to see our little one wiggling around inside me. Just knowing everything thing is ok with the baby makes me feel so much better!

Today I am thankful for God's Word. We so often take for granted the ability to read God's word in our own language. Last night Bryan and I watched the video below. It shows a village who is recieving God's Word in their language for the first time. They are praising God and dancing. They feel so blessed to finally be able to read the Word for themselves. They treasure the Word of God. How often do we treat the Word this way? I know people that leave their Bibles in the cars all week or on a shelf for years. Some people don't even see the value of owning a copy of God's Word. Today I want to thank God that I am able to read the Word in English, my language. What a blessing!?

This morning didn't start off so well. I was so sick again with morning sickness so Bryan and Dylan went to church without me. Once I finally made it out to the living room, I was able to see how beautiful the sunshine was. I think it helped me to start to feel better. Today I am thankful for the sunshine. I know I normally take the sun for granted but not today!

Last night I got to spend the evening with three amazing women! We made homemade pizzas and talked all night. It was so much fun! Today I am thankful for good friends and fun times together!

Dylan loves to help me bake but its been a while since I've felt like baking. So, this morning he was super excited to help me make muffins. He pulled his chair up to cabinet, stirred the mixture and then put all the cups into the miffin tin. He is such a big help! Now comes the hard part, waiting on them to be finished. He took the timer and turned it and said "Its twenty degrees" and then went into the living room to wait. (I don't know where the twenty degrees came from). About 16 minutes later, the muffins were done and Dylan was sooooo ready for one! He asked if he could have a muffin, "pretty please, with sugar on top!"  I have never heard him say that before!! It was absolutely adorable. Today I am thankful for Dylan's sweet personality. God did an amazing thing when He made each of us so different. This world would be so boring if we were all the same. I'm so glad God made Dylan just the way he is!

Today's post is my 100th post. That is really hard to believe but its true! So, today I am thankful for this blog. It has really caused me to search out the positive things in life and choose to be grateful even on the days when I don't feel especially grateful. Thank you to all of you who have read my blog. Only 265 days left but I have a feeling this blog will cause me to continually search for reasons to be thankful!

Well, after a week at mom's house, we get to go back to our house today! I'm looking forward to sleeping in our bed and relaxing on our couch. Being away from your house for a week has a way of making you appreciate the little things that are so easily taken for granted. Today I am thankful for our home and all of our belongings that God has blessed us with. I'm also thankful for the opportunity to spend some time away from our home so that we remember how blessed we are. Don't get me wrong, I love being at my Mom's house but there is just something wonderful about going HOME!

Yesterday afternoon the morning sickness started really getting bad. I was so sick all last night and this morning. I took the medicines the doctors have presribed but nothing helped. So, when Dylan was ready to get up this morning, I didn't know what to do. I was so sick, I could barely move. Thank Goodness my Guardian Angels were here to help me. My sweet hubby worked from home today to help take care of me and my Mom stayed home from work all morning to take care of Dylan. I honestly do not know what I would have done without them.  Today I am thankful for my Mom and Bryan. Thank you both for all your help today. I love you both. You are such blessings to me!

Yesterday in Church, we watched a video called "The Dash." I had never heard of our lives referred to as the dash before but it makes perfect sense. When we die, and we all will, all that will be left of our lives is the dash between the birth date and death dates on our tombstones. The video posed a great question....Are you making the most of your dash? I think a lot of us live our lives as though it will never end, as though we always have tomorrow. God has already decided when we will pass. It may be tomorrow or 60 years from now but all we get is the dash. Today I am thankful for "The Dash" reminder. In the end, who cares how big your house was or how many cars you drove? Who really cares if you wore name brand clothes or had an enormous TV? Its important for us to focus on the things in this life that really matter. Our relationship with Christ, our families, our friendships, etc...these things make the Dash count.

A few days ago Dylan looked at me and said "Mommy, I'm so glad God made you." WOW!!! That was such a wonderful compliment. He has no idea how proud that comment made me. Today I am thankful that my son loves me and is happy to have me as his Mommy. Even more importantly, I'm so grateful that my son knows that the Maker of Heaven and Earth also created his Mommy, Daddy, and every other person he loves. I love my sweet son and I am soooo thankful that God made him!

Today Bryan and I took Dylan to the transportation museum in Spencer, NC. We had such a great time. Dylan absolutely loved seeing all the big trains, airplanes, and other vehicles. To top it off, we got to ride a real train before we left to come home. Dylan really enjoyed himself. Today I am thankful for these fun family moments. They are priceless! Riding on the Train!!! Dylan and Daddy on the train. Wow, look at this huge train!

 Renting our house out for Furniture Market has become a tradition for us each spring and fall. The extra money is nice but I must say I really do enjoy spending extra time with our families. We spend about a week in Lexington and we get to see all of our family while we are here. Its always really neat being "home" again for a week. Its like old times (especially since Bryan and I practically grew up together!) Today I am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with our families in a way that most people don't get to enjoy. A big "Thank You" to my Mom for having us, as always!