30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 30

I'm thankful for life.

"My life has a superb cast but I can't figure out the plot." ~Ashleigh Brilliant

"For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin-real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination..." ~Souza

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 29

Winter in Romania--December 2007

I'm thankful for snow. It began snowing last night on my drive home from work as I was listening to Dean Martin sing Christmas carols. Freshly fallen snow always helps me imagine I'm in Narnia. :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 28

I'm thankful that I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel---it gives me hope to make it through each day.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 27

I'm thankful I was able to spend 3 1/2 days with my family! :) Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, Colorado, and Tennessee were represented.

~Catherine, Patrick, Sarah, Amy, Curtis, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle John, Aaron, Shari, Ella, Caroline, & Charlotte~
~Uncle David, Aunt Liz, Isaac, Chad, Elam, Tiffany, Asia, Samantha, Emerson, Tim, Travis, Harley, Nicole, Andi, Alana, Corban, & Jamin~

~Mom, Dad, me, & Shelby~

~Bailee, Jeremy, Aunt Jan, Jacob, Uncle Doug, Jared, & Megan~

I love my wonderful, funny, supportive family! :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 22, 23, 24, 25, & 26

I'm thankful for: 1) Pumpkin & spices, 2) Christmas socks with jingle bells, 3) Musical instruments, 4) Indoor plumbing & hot running water, 5) Holiday movies from the 1940s

Happy Thanksgiving! :)

Bubblegum

I found a pack of bubblegum eggs leftover from Easter and chewed all 8 pieces at once which resulted in a bubble almost a foot in diameter! It was picture-worthy! I'm easily entertained and amused. :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 21

I'm thankful for my kitchen. It will be put to good use this evening when I make pumpkin bread, brownies, and molasses cookies. :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 20

I'm thankful for raincoats and umbrellas. It is pouring rain right now and it is nice to know I won't get soaked when I go outside! :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 19

I'm thankful for grocery stores. Far too often, I take for granted the convenience and variety of grocery stores we are blessed with in this country.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 18

I'm thankful for local food pantries. I'm also thankful to get to see the supplies reach families who are truly in need.

I'm thankful I get weekends off, holidays, sick leave, and vacation days! Praying for the souls around the world in slavery who are never allowed to leave or rest.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 17

I'm thankful for perspective. It was a lousy day at work yesterday and I was feeling overwhelmed and very upset. I came home to a Netflix movie in the mailbox. It was about the Holocaust. I was ashamed of my attitude. Praise the Lord for moments of redirection and attitude adjustments!

“The Nazis victimized some people for what they did, some for what they refused to do, some for what they were, and some for the fact that they were.” – John Conway, Holocaust survivor

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 16

I'm thankful for my home. I don't get to be in it very much, but at the end of a long day, it is nice to know I can return to a peaceful place. ♥

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 15

I'm thankful for family reunions. ♥ This time next week, 45 of us will gather in Missouri for Thanksgiving. We haven't all been together in the same place since Christmas 1994, so it is going to be great! :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 14

I'm thankful for supportive parents who encourage me to follow my dreams and accomplish goals in this life. Whether it be a trip overseas or my desire to become a dog trainer, they are always enthusiastic and interested.
May 1983

Christmas 1985

March 2007

Beach Girl

Camp Cook

Christmas 2008

Mom & Dad

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 13

I'm thankful for weekend trips with my sisters! ♥ We have laughed, wandered around an antique store choosing Christmas gifts for each other and trying on hats and fur coats, watched movies, and solved the ills of the world. A weekend can't get any better than that! :)

~Stylish Jenny~

We thoroughly enjoyed trying on the hats and fur coats at the antique store. :)

On Saturday, we ate at Sav's West African Grill. The food was delicious! The owner of the restaurant is originally from Guinea, West Africa. He married a Peace Corps volunteer, moved to Kentucky, and opened the restaurant. I feasted on peanut chicken over white rice with a side order of fried plantains.

~Nike~

My eye is upon you!

~Shelby~

~Barnyard conference~

~Nike, Shelby, & Jenny~

~Bridger~

~Friends for Life~

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 10, 11, & 12

1) I'm thankful for my car which will enable me to travel to see my sister! :) 2) I'm thankful for my amazing sister. ♥ She is fun, smart, loyal, and brave.

3) I'm thankful for our relationship. She is the person who knows me best. We laugh and cry together and frequently carry on conversations made up entirely of old movie quotes. Shelby, I love you more than a fruit bat loves mangos! :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 9

I'm thankful for prayer. ♥ It is comforting to talk to God and know He is listening. Having Him for a friend is priceless.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 8

I'm thankful for modern medicine. My grandma underwent open-heart surgery today. Please pray for her--specifically for a quick and full recovery with no major complications. Also, please pray for my mom, Grandpa, and the rest of the family.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 7

Grandparents are a family's greatest treasure, the founders of a loving legacy, The greatest storytellers, the keepers of traditions that linger on in cherished memory. Grandparents are the family's strong foundation. Their very special love sets them apart. Through happiness and sorrow, through their special love and caring, grandparents keep a family close at heart. ~author unknown

Grandma never runs out of hugs or cookies. ~Author Unknown
A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~Charles & Ann Morse

Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation. ~Lois Wyse

I'm thankful for my grandparents. ♥ They are encouraging, supportive, and way more fun than most young people! :) I have many fond memories of baking & cooking, sewing, traveling, and spending holidays together.

A house needs a grandma in it. ~Louisa May Alcott

A zest for life is one of the most important examples a grandparent can pass on to their grandchildren. ~author unknown

~Beach Buddies~

A grandparent is old on the outside but young on the inside. ~Author Unknown

Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete. ~Marcy DeMaree

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 6

I'm thankful for Big Band/Swing music! :) A friend and I went to a Big Band concert last night. For a few hours, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Benny Goodman, and other greats from the 1940s and 50s came alive. It was spectacular!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 5

I'm thankful for childhood friends. ♥ The shared history, laughter, tears, birthdays, home school field trips, music lessons, camping adventures in the backyard, and roller skating parties.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 4

I'm thankful for encouraging, kind people--the people who know just what to say and when to say it to brighten someone's day or help see things more clearly, and those who know when to keep silent and listen.

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 3

I'm thankful for hot chocolate on chilly, rainy mornings! :)

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Days 1 & 2

I am thankful for:

1) Ice cream cake

2) Living in the country where I can stand on my front porch in the morning and view frost-covered fields, cattle grazing, and hillsides scattered with orange and red leaves.