I Was Present Today

We were able to drive to Ohio to spend the day with Aunt Shirley. This was our belated holiday visit with her. And it was great to see her, talk with her, watch her enjoy being with my boys. She is loving and nurturing with children, especially family. I love her so much.

January 14, 2012 - The boys and Great Aunt Shirley

It's been five months or so since Uncle Donnie passed away. Because of cancer. Horrible disease cancer. I have been really busy at work and overextended at home lately, especially the last week. This visit with Aunt Shirley made me slow down and be present in the time we were with her. I loved it, but I also hated it. It made me realize how much I miss having my uncle there. How dinner just wasn't the same without him. How much it stinks for Aunt Shirley to have to deal with everything alone. How much it sucks that I don't live closer, so Aunt Shirley spends ninety percent of her time alone. How much it stinks that family who live nearby don't do more. How much more I realize I need to do for someone who has done so much for me.

So I was totally present today. It left quite an impression on me. I hope I don't let this feeling sink to the wayside of my daily life. I need my aunt. My boys need their great aunt. Because she is truly one of the great ones.

30 Days of Thankful - Days 14 and 15

Combining two days again!

I am thankful for the Sunshine and the Rain.  It's raining today, and the weather forecast calls for more rain for something like the next 3 days at least.  It's not cold (yet), but it's gloomy here.  Days like this make me miss and appreciate the sunshine and its warmth all the more!    On sunshiny days, I realize how much we need the rain to give us the array of colorful plants and flowers we enjoy.  We may not enjoy the rain, but we need it.

Kind of like life, huh?

So, I am thankful for Sunshine and Rain.

30 Days of Thankful - Day What? Oh, Yeah, Thirteen

Today is the Sunday following a three day weekend.  So I am out of sorts.  This always happens to me on a long weekend.  I would be a wreck if we took a vacation and we were out of our normal routine for a whole week!

Nonetheless, today is the 13th of November.

So what am I thankful for today?  I am pausing.  Thinking.  Because I am working a little this morning while Jason took the boys to the park.  Someone is blowing leaves outside.  And that is really annoyingly LOUD.  And I've messed my neck/upper back up again.  I have a heating pad on my shoulders.

I am thankful to have and to be able to use all my senses.  I feel old and sore and somewhat broken physically this morning.  But I can feel.

Touch -- I can feel the soft warm hands of my little-est one when I hold him and rock him.  I can feel the so-soft ears and cheeks of Super Z.  And I can feel the weight of my oldest's outstretched legs on my lap when we are sitting on the couch in the evening watching TV.  How can be getting so big???

Hearing -- that leaf blower.  But also the daily noise of our life.  Nash is saying da-da-da like he's a member of the Police.  Z says Mommy I know a thousand times each day.  And E asks the best questions.  Some I can't answer.  I love his questions.

Sight -- I can see the leaves in our backyard blowing around in the warm wind of the day.  (Not the best day for blowing leaves IMO.)  All the trees' colors have turned varying shades of brown now.  We've already passed that prime 2 week or so long period when the golds, reds, oranges, and purples sing.  But I love fall.

Taste -- Biscuits and grape jam.  Jason made biscuits and gravy for the boys for breakfast this morning, but I love biscuits with jam or jelly.  So good!

Even though I am not at 100% today, I am thankful God has given me the gift of all my senses and the ability to appreciate and enjoy them.  I just wish that leaf blower would stop!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 11

Today (11.11.11) is Veteran's Day.  I day to remember, honor and support those who have or who are serving in our armed forces.  These are the men and women who have been the strong arm or the enforcer of democracy.  Some join willingly; others are required to because of circumstances.

My eyes have been opened this week watching Vietnam in HD on the History Channel with my husband and oldest son.  My dad served in Vietnam even though he doesn't talk about it very much, if ever.  Growing up, we were trained never to ask about it or talk about it.  "He doesn't like to talk about it."

I know he served in the latter part of the war.  Based on what I know, he probably served sometime around 1968.  He would have been 25 then.  The draft age was from 18 to 25 years.

I am pretty sure he was wounded.  But I haven't seen medals or anything.  I believe his son and first wife have all of those things related to his service.  I hope they still have them anyway.

I know that my dad is a creative soul who is fun-loving yet gentle.  I know this war, fighting on the ground, must have been Hell for him.  I know he still has nightmares about it, and he is 68 years old.

It makes me sad.

But it also makes me proud that he did it.  Even though I know he didn't want to.  Even though it hurt him physically and emotionally.

And it makes me thankful for him, his service and his sacrifice.  And those like him.

30 Days of Thankful - Days 9 and 10

So here I am bundling up two days again.  I thought about this yesterday, knew exactly what I would write about.  But I got sick.  I left work early to go to the doctor to get this cough I've had for 3 weeks checked out.  (People at work are giving me dirty why-are-you-here-infecting-us looks.)  It turns out it is probably just a cold plus seasonal allergies.  The doc gave me a prescription for an antibiotic and an allergy med, but I haven't filled it yet.  See, I can't breastfeed Nash if I take it.  So, I'm going to try and tough it out and see if it clears up on its own.  But today, I am thankful that I have access to quality healthcare.

I am also thatnkful for a job and supervisor who offer me flexibility.  Flexibility to leave work early or come in late if I need to do something for my kids.  (Or, like yesterday, go to the doctor.)  Life would be a lot more stressful if I did not have the options I do.

My Holiday "Mantle"

Our mantle at the stairs landing to the basement

Fall subway art printable from eighteen25

I just love this owl candle!  He came in a set with the porcupine and squirrel.  Think I will be using these guys in Nash's first birthday party decor (woodland animals theme).  Yes, it is 4 months away!

There's the squirrel and porcupine!

A good view of Ethan's fall-inspired artwork.  Notice the falling leaves in the frame!

I absolutely adore these little pumpkin votive size candles.  And they smell great, too.

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8

I posted earlier and regret it now.  It was negative.  And I decided I need to keep a positive outlook.  I am an example for my boys.  I don't want to hurt my mom.  (If she were to read the earlier post, she would be upset.  She would have taken it personally.  I am sorry about that.)

So what am I thankful for today?  My mom.  I think back to when each of my sons was born.  She was there.  I think about the fact her mom wasn't there when my sister and I were born.  She had passed away when my mom was 21.  Can you imagine how difficult that would have been?  21 is a hard age anyway.  So she wasn't there when I was born.  My mom was essentially alone.  My dad's parents were there but were not very supoortive of her.  Ever.  Aunt Shirley supported her but wasn't there either.  Knowing how my dad is (and probably was then), I realize she was alone.

My mom is a very outgoing person.  A people person.  In the 70's and 80's in southwestern rural Virginia, the dad is the breadwinner and the mom stayed home with the kids.  Knowing my mom's personality and need to be with others, I realize she must have been miserable staying at home with us all day.  And we only had one car, so usually she was just that -- home alone with us all day.  And my sister and I were typical siblings, fussing and fighting.  She must have been miserable.

So I am thankful for my mom.  She's not perfect, but neither am I.  I am thankful for all she does for me and our family. 

That's better.

30 Days of Thankful - Days 1 thru 7

Yep, behind again.  That seems like a running theme in my life lately.  I am trying to focus on one thing at a time.  Focus on one thing; and, hopefully, do it well!

Today my focus is getting back to documentation of my life on my little blog here :)

Days One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, and Seven:

I am thankful...

1. for my husband.  Growing up, I never had a boyfriend or dated.  Yep, major nerd.  I am afraid some people perceived me as a snob, but I'm not.  Just quiet, a little shy, focused on school/career (at least back then), not very pretty or cute to teenage boys.  But that's ok.  I found my match, 13 or so years ago in Jason.  I was impatient at times to know why I am here, what God's plan for me is.  Meeting Jason, falling in love, marrying him, and having our sons laid it all out for me.  God knows, i am sure, that he is the only person in this world who can live with me and still love me!  I try to be conscious of that and try to be a better wife, mother, friend on days when I am just crazy.  He is GOOD.  Just so GOOD.  I am thankful him every day.  I am thankful I have married a good man who I love and who loves me and our kids.
2. for Ethan Henry Boyd.  I could write volumes about my kids, but I am just going to keep this short and sweet.  I am thankful for the boy who shared his ticket reward points at Billy Bob's Wonderland on Saturday with his brother.  His brother really just wanted a bouncy ball (I know it's worth a total of 25 cents or less, and don't we have a hundred bouncy balls at home already?) but he was 42 points short.  Ethan had 282.  So, without my prompting, he turned in the tickets and got a bouncy ball for each of them plus some crayons for his brother.  This is big because he gets very frustrated with his brother because he is a loud, moody, now-I-have-to-share-my-bedroom-with-him 2 year old little brother.  I am thankful for Ethan's kindness.
3. for Zane Michael Boyd.  He and Ethan have different personalities, so we are experiencing many things for the first time with Zane.  Yesterday, Jason took Zane with him to the grocery store.  Zane started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as loudly as he could in the shopping cart.  Ethan would have NEVER done this.  That makes me smile and laugh out loud.  I am thankful for his sweetness and freedom of spirit. 
4. for Nash Jameson Boyd.  My baby.  My last baby.  My wonderful surprise of a baby.  I tried planning so many things in my life because it was the right thing to do.  Nash was a surprise.  Because of that, I wanted to remember and cherish everything I could about my pregnancy and his infancy and growth.  For goodness' sake, I didn't even know his gender till the moment he was born!  (Okay, in my heart, I knew.)  He is so pleasant and such a good baby.  I am thankful he was a surprise gift.
5. for health.  I say this as I am entering my third week of a terrible cold, I have a toothache beginning to emerge from a filling I had done 2 months ago, and I hurt my back/neck while sleeping (I know, who does this?).  But generally I am healthy and my family is healthy.  I need to get in shape, and I need to start making healthier family meals and food choices.  But I am thankful for a strong, healthy body. 
6. my home.  I am thankful to have a beautiful home.  It's not perfect; it's still a work in progress as far as decorating goes.  I am constantly thinking of ways to decorate and personalize our space.  I wish I could just finish one room!  I would feel such a sense of accomplishment then.  I think that's what I have become obsessed lately with DIY in blog world.  There are so many great ideas out there I would like to steal make my own :)  I am thankful for my home and those I share it with.
7. I am going to steal number 7 from my son.  I asked him the other night what he was thankful for and he told me it was having enough food to eat whenever he wanted.  It sounds so simple, doesn't it?  But think of all the people who don't have easy open access to good food and water.  We are doing the Cub Scouts Scouting for Food drive again next weekend.  Seeing all the food that is collected, sorted, and then taken to the community food pantry is inspirational.  And we are a small cub scout pack, so we are not talking about a large amount by any means.  But it is important, and I think it is important for him to be involved with this service activity.  We could do more, I know.  But this is a good place to start.  I am thankful for having plenty to eat, whenever I want.

30 Days of Thankful

After the shock of Halloween has passes and just prior to the beginning of the nonstop hustle bustle of Christmas, we have November tucked into the calendar.  November is when we have Thanksgiving and Veterans' Day, two days we are thankful.  Even though I am getting started late (on November 7th), I am going to try to take a moment each day or so to reflect on things I am thankful for.  My life is overflowing with adundance in so many ways.  I hope this will be an exercise to make me realize this, to let others know how much I need and care about them, and to be a good example for my kids.  Wish me luck!  You know how easily distracted I get!!!