Day 26 - I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am thankful that my blessings are too many to count.
That I am never hungry. Never alone. Never completely helpless.
I am thankful for the amazing people God has placed in my path.

I am thankful for my Lord and the sacrifice made through Jesus and for His love that I don't deserve.

I hope your day is filled with the things you are thankful for, both big and small.

God Bless & Happy Thanksgiving.

Day 25 - I am thankful for my dad!

Today is Dad's Birthday so he gets his own day!

Happy 51st Birthday, Dad!
I am thankful for your constant dedication to our family.
I admire how hard you work every single day!
You are a great PawPaw and Chloe Beth adores you!
Thank you for being you!

I love you!

Day 24 - I am thankful for short weeks!

I am thankful for short weeks and holidays!

Today will be the last day of the week for Chloe and me.
She will get out of school early today and be out for the rest of the week.
I have class today and I am off for the rest of the week!
I am looking forward to relaxing, spending time with family and loving on my little girl!

Day 23 - I am thankful that the semester is almost over!

I've missed a day again...not that you noticed. haha

So for yesterday, I am thankful that this semester is almost over.
Going back to school has been very different for me this time around.
I am much more focused and my grades are more important to me.
I will actually pass Algebra this time (after many previous failed attempts!) and possibly with an A!
My Philosophy class has been STRESSFUL but it was obvious that God had me there for a reason. I learned a lot and I think a few classmates may have learned a thing or two from me too...at least I hope so!

In less than 2 weeks it will be OVER!
...until mid-January! lol

Day 22 -I am thankful for the things that keep me busy.

I am thankful for the things that keep me busy.
So busy, in fact, that I didn't have time to type this out yesterday.

I often find myself overwhelmed by all of the things I need to do but "at the end of the day" I am thankful for my responsibilities and the fact that I can very rarely say "I'm bored". haha.

Have a great week and instead of being stressed by all that you have to get done, try to be thankful that you are needed!

Day 21 - I am thankful for good conversations with good friends.

This morning I am thankful for good friends and good conversation, after spending some time with some girlfriends last night.

I spend a LOT of time with kids (mostly preschoolers) during the week so it's nice to have some adult conversation!

Thanks for a good time, girls!

Day 20 - I am thankful for Friday!

Before Chloe was in school and I was back to working and going to school, Friday was just another day.
But now that our weeks are so busy, I really look forward to Friday. Especially when it's my weekend with Chloe! (And this weekend is!)

So, today, I am thankful for Friday and for the opportunity to relax this weekend with my little Chloe Bug!

Day 19 - I am thankful for 28 years!

Today, on my birthday, I am thankful for the last 28 years.
I am thankful for all of the blessings in my life so far and many more that I know are still to come.
I am thankful for the awesome childhood my parents made sure I had.
I am thankful that they didn't kill me in my teen years! haha!
I am thankful for becoming a mother to an amazing little girl.
I am thankful for all of the friends I have made, the people who have helped me out along the way and for the lessons I have learned in life.

Also, I am thankful that Stefani will hit 30 before me. ;)

I am thankful for the life God has given me for the past 28 years!

Day 18 - I am thankful for God's Perfect Timing!

I am amazed by God's work in my daily life.
Sometimes it is hard for me to put my ideas aside to focus on what God wants me to do and sometimes it's hard for me to know exactly what it is He wants for/from me.

Other times, though, He makes it perfectly clear. He does so in His time and on His schedule...not mine. And His way/timing is always the best way.

So today I am thankful for God's timing and for the times that God makes His way very clear to me.

Day 17 - I am thankful for teachers.

All our lives, teachers of different kinds have a huge impact on us.

I still remember my Kindergarten teacher and the impact she had on me at only 5 years old. She gave me a great start in school and was always so warm and friendly. Thank you, Mrs. Harris.
There were teachers all throughout elementary, middle and highschool who had an impact on my life. I wish I had the time to name them all and the difference they made in my life.

I am thankful, now, for Chloe's teachers. From her teacher's at The Little Gym as a toddler, on to Mrs. Todd who was an absolute angel when Chloe was in her preschool class, to Mrs. Barrett who helped Chloe fall in love with school, to Mrs. Dobson who taught her to be an organized, disciplined student and now to Mrs. Fernandez who makes learning fun. She has had dance teachers, gymnastics/cheer teachers, MDO Summer teachers, Sunday School teachers, VBS teachers, etc. I am thankful to each of them for the things they taught my daughter.

And now, as an adult, I am thankful for my college professors. Especially those who challenge my thinking.

Today, I am thankful for teachers and the impact they have on the world!

Day 16 - I am thankful for Ryan.

Today, I am thankful for Ryan.

We met only a year and a half ago but sometimes I feel like I've known him forever.
I am thankful that I can talk to him about anything and that he won't judge me. He always listens and considers what I say...even when he doesn't agree with me. He encourages me when I am down and is happy when I am happy. I can cry to him and laugh at with him.
Even through ups and downs, we are able to encourage and learn from each other and come through stronger than before.

Today, I am thankful for Ryan. :)

Day 15 - I am thankful for Chloe's laughter and excitement.

I am thankful for the sound of Chloe's laughter.
The real, genuine, sweet laugh.
I just got her from her dad's weekend and she is in a great mood and filling the house with her sweet laughter.
I am also thankful for the excitement I see in her when she has been gone for the weekend and she comes home. She was so happy to see me and it makes me feel so good!

Today, and everyday, I am thankful for Chloe Beth's sweet, happy personality.

Day 14 - I am thankful for Peanut.

She makes a really loud, obnoxious screaming sound.
She spazzes out when a doorbell rings on tv.
She pees in the dining room at night.
She eats beads.
She sheds.
She stands under my feet in the kitchen.

But she makes my daughter (so, very, very, overly, ridiculously, majorly, extremely) happy. So I love her.
And she's adorable.

Even when she makes me loony, I am thankful for sweet little Princess Peanut!

Day 13 - I am thankful for my job.

Today I am thankful for my job.
I work part time (2 days/week)for a MDO program at a church close to home.
Working with kids is my passion and I have so much fun at my job.

The kids are so sweet and funny and at an age where they soak everything up.
It's so cool to listen to them recite their Bible verses or ask questions about the Bible story.
And it's always nice when the parents talk about how much their kids love coming to school and look forward to school days.

It's doesn't hurt that I have a super fun boss.

Today, I am thankful for my awesome job!

Day 12 - I am thankful for coffee

Yes, seriously.
Coffee does actually get its own day.
I love it that much.

Today I am especially thankful for World Market's Chocolate Peppermint coffee.
Black. No sugar, no creamer.

Mmmmmmmmmmm.

Day 11 - I am thankful for the men and women who protect our great country.

Today I am thankful for all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in our military.

There are so many men and women who are away from their families during the approaching holidays and I am thankful for their willingness to serve our great country. I am thankful for the freedoms that I enjoy daily because of their bravery and sacrifice. I am also thankful for the families of these men and women who sacrifice so much as well.

Today, on Veteran's Day, I am thankful for the United States Military.

Day 10 - I am thankful for good health.

This morning after dropping Chloe at school, I was listening to 106.1 as they talked about the kid's who went on the Kidd's Kids trip. There are so many sick children out there.
Then I think about a friend of mine who is a breast cancer survivor. And a friend whose son battled liver cancer before having a liver transplant.
There are people suffering from illness that they were born with. They will never know what it is like to be "healthy". There are nursing homes and hospitals full of sick people.

Thinking about these things makes me stop and think of how blessed I am for my good health. And how blessed I am for having a healthy family and child.

Day 9 - I am thankful for Sunday family dinner.

Sometime over the last year, my sister suggested that the family start having Sunday dinner. We would set up a rotation with the 4 women in the family and she would cook for everyone.

Sometimes I dread the week that I cook because I just simply don't like to. Last night was my turn. Even though I dread he cooking, I always look forward to the company of my wonderful family and for a scheduled time to see them each week. We always have a good time and there is always great food and conversation.

And my lasagna actually turned out pretty good last night!

Today, I am thankful for the opportunity to get the family together every Sunday for family dinner. :)

Day 8 - I am thankful for simplicity.

"Simple" isn't a word I would use to describe my daily life.
It would be more like: chaotic, busy, tiring, etc. (But mostly rewarding, too)

Sometimes, though, I am reminded of the beauty of simplicity.
Last night Chloe and I rented a movie, made a pizza and snuggled with each other and Peanut. We had so much fun. It's been a long time (too long!) since we just stayed home and relaxed and enjoyed each others company.
It's hard to remember to slow down and enjoy the simple, little things that make us happy.

So, today, I am thankful for the joy found in simplicity!

Day 7 - I am thankful for burdens and hardships.

This one is a little difficult.
It is hard to be thankful for the "bad times" while they are happening and sometimes I find myself asking "Why me?, Why this situation?, Why now?, Is God not hearing my prayers?".

But later, I always realize why I had to go through that hard time. It's usually these times that make me a stronger person.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul said (about the thorn in his flesh), "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

So, today, I am thankful for the burdens and hardships that have made me who I am today and that have allowed God to use His power for me. And because, like Paul, when I am weak, then I am strong.

Day 6 - I am thankful for Chloe's school

As I am getting ready to head out for Chloe's field trip, I am thinking about how thankful I am that she goes to such a great school.

If you remember a few years back, she was absolutely terrified to go to school. She started Kindergarten a year late ad even then she had a really hard time with it. That only lased a few weeks, though, and she has LOVED it ever since.
She has always had beyond fabulous teachers and she and I have made many friends through her school.

She is learning so much and she even sometimes gets upset when it is the weekend because she wants to be at school. Ha!!

It's strange to think about other parts of the world where children don't get a free education. It's something I think we sometimes take for granted here. So, today, I am thankful for Chloe's school.

Day 5 - I am thankful for the kids I "teach"

Today I am thankful for all of the kids I teach.

I coach a cheer squad of 14 girls who are all amazing and strong girls!
They are so much fun and they teach me a ton! I love the dog-pile hugs they give me. I am sad that our season is over but I am thankful for such a fun year with all of them!

My job is teaching 3-4 year olds in a MDO program. There are between 6 and 10 kids in my class. They are at such a fun age where they are learning so much and they are like little sponges, soaking it all in. It is a blessing to have them in my life and to get to know each one of them so well. They make my job fun!

On Wednesday nights I help teach the Pre-K and Kindergarten class. It is a blessing to be able to teach these kids about God. They are excited to learn memory verses and participate in Bible stories.

Much of my week is filled with spending time with kids. I absolutely love it and love all of the kids like they are my own. I hope they are learning as much from me as I am from them! :)

Today, I am thankful for amazing little kids.

Day 4 - I am thankful for friends.

Let me start my friends post off by being thankful for my very best friend.
Kaci and I have been "Bestie's" for somewhere close to 15 years. (Whoa, that just made me feel OLD. haha)
She's the one friend who I know will always, always be my best friend. She totally "gets" me and I know I can tell her *anything* and know that she won't judge me. She's the kind of friend that if we don't see each other all the time, it's okay. Our friendship isn't based on how often we talk or hang out. We can go weeks without seeing each other and come back together like there was no gap in time. She's the kind of friend that is always there for me and loves me even through my faults. I am thankful for my Kaci. :)

I can't personally name each of the rest of you but you know who you are. (And, if you are reading this, you are probably one of them.)

My friends are really amazing.
I am surrounded by people who pick me up when I am down.
People who offer a helping hand when they know I am bogged down.
People who encourage me.
People who pray for me.
People who let me be "real".
I hope I am all of these things for them as well.

Whether you are one of my "mommy" friends, an old school friend, a friend from church or my journey group, a friend from work, a friend from the kid's sports, etc. I am thankful for you. You are all very special to me.

It seems appropriate to end this with one of my favorite quotes.

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”

Day 3 - I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for my family for so many reasons.
More reasons than I can list and more than I probably even realize.
People often tell me “Your family is awesome” or “Your family is so supportive”. Both are very true!

I am thankful that my family is my strongest support system.
Regardless of where life has taken me, or of the decisions I have made (both good and bad), my family supports me. Always. They may not always agree with me, but, in this family, I always have someone to turn to. There is always someone who is willing to “tell me like it is”. There is always someone to offer help. Someone to pray for me. To love me, no matter what. To encourage me. To listen.

You already know why I am thankful for Chloe.

I am thankful for my mom because she taught me why it is so important to be so close to my own daughter. My giving nature comes from her (and hers from her parents). She is always giving of herself. She is my mom and my friend.

I am thankful for my dad because he is the hardest working man I have ever known. Whatever it takes to provide for his family (even the grown-ups ;) ), he does. He encourages me and loves me…even when we drive each other nuts.

I am thankful for my sister because she knows me inside and out. She was my best friend and worst enemy growing up. She’s not my enemy anymore but she is still my best friend. She wants the best for me and she believes in me.

I am thankful for my Grandma because she is the most loving, caring, giving person I know. She loves unconditionally and would do anything for the people she loves. She is strong, loving and just truly amazing.

I am thankful for Koby because he makes me smile every single day. He is funny and crazy and adorable. He pretends he doesn’t like me but that’s okay because I know he does. He’ll admit it one day. ;)

I am thankful for Kaleb because he has taught me so much about life. He is inspiring and amazing.

I am thankful for my “Kunk” because he has a huge heart and loves his family so much. I don’t think he realizes how amazing he really is.

There are more of you who, even though you who are extended family or who aren’t called “family”, are in my (our) heart. If you are “one of those” (hehe) you know who you are. I am thankful that you are part of my life.

Not everyone has a close family who offers unconditional support and love.
I know how blessed I am to be part of this wonderful family.

Every day, I am thankful for my family.

Day 2 – I am thankful for Chloe.

You know this.
You’ve heard me talk about her, brag about her, etc.
That was the original point of “A Girl and Her Mom”.

I could write endlessly about her.
8 years ago I had no idea how great the blessing of being a mommy would be.
These have been the most amazing eight years of my life.
I have learned so much about myself, other people and about love.

Chloe is incredible.
Many people have called her “an old soul” and that is so accurate.
She is wise beyond her years. Sometimes talking to her is like talking to an adult.

She is smart, funny, friendly, crazy, tender hearted, loving, giving, opinionated, silly, beautiful, amazing.
I can’t even imagine what my life would be like if I wasn’t “Chloe’s mom”.

I love her hugs and kisses. I love that she still likes to snuggle. I love her laugh.
She says she will always call me “Mommy”, not “Mom” and that she will never be too old for snuggles or kisses, even in front of her friends.  We’ll see.
I learn from her every day and she makes me a better person.

Every minute of every day, I am thankful for Chloe.

Day 1 - I am thankful for my Lord.

I will start my month being thankful for my Lord and Savior.
For without Him, there would be no blessings to count.

And to share this blessing, I will tell you about my life changing relationship with God.

I became a Christian at the age of 9.
I remember the day clearly. I remember what I was wearing that day in church. I remember the person who prayed with me. I remember knowing that God was calling out to me.
In the days, weeks and months following I was excited and on fire for God. I told my friends about Him and felt His presence.
Somewhere between then and now, life happened. And I let that life happen without God as my guide. My fire was going out. I always knew I was still a Christian but I was letting other people, my desires and things of little importance be my guide. I did that for a very long time.

Last year I was invited by a close friend to visit her church.
Chloe and I fell in love with the church immediately and started attending regularly.
I knew I needed to re-focus on my relationship with God and I wanted my daughter to have the chance to know God.
About 2 months after our first visit to church, I lost my Grandpa.
Those of you who know me know how hard that was (and still is) for me.

I looked for comfort in God.
I found it.
Even though Grandpa was gone, he played a huge part in helping me find my way back to God.

As a Christmas gift one year, my mom gave my Grandpa a journal. We knew he was sick and we hoped he would use this journal to write about things that we could one day look back on. He did. And for that I thank God. I remember the day, not long after he passed away, that I opened that journal and read every page. He talked about how much he loved his family. He named us all specifically. But the majority of those pages were filled with words like "Praise God" or "God is so good". He was dying and he was sick but he counted his blessings and he knew those blessings were from God. That was the comfort I was looking for. Grandpa's faith and love for God helped me change my focus and that was what re-lit my fire. I can now say that I am on fire for the Lord again. If my sick Grandpa could look to God during such a hard time, I knew I could do it.

Over the last year and a half I have grown so much in my relationship with Christ.
I don't say that to brag on myself. I am still a sinner. I always will be. But I tell you this because I want you to know how much my life has changed because I am growing in a relationship with God. I am happier, I am making better decisions. As I grow closer to Him, it is easier to make better decisions. It is easier to know what He wants me to do with my life.
It is still very much a struggle to put my selfish wants and desires aside to focus on what God has in store for me. But I'm trying to do it as God reveals these things to me. And every time I do, I see even more blessings. God's plans for me bring me more joy, comfort, peace and blessings in this life than anything I could ever plan for myself.

So, today, (and every day) I am thankful for a loving, caring, forgiving, providing God. And I am thankful that He didn't lose focus of me even when I lost focus of Him.

November Challenge

Whew!

I made it through October.
It is usually the busiest month of the year for me and this year it was a very, very busy month.
I am happy to welcome November 1st today!

For the month of November I am going to challenge myself to count my blessings.
I will find something to be thankful for every day. Imagine how much better every day would start if you made the effort to be thankful for at least one thing before you get out of bed each day.
I intend to acknowledge a blessing, pray a prayer of thanksgiving for it and share that blessing. I will share it here. I challenge you do do the same this month.

Willie Nelson said, "When I started to count my blessings, my whole life turned around."

Have a blessed month!