Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful that summer is getting closer by the day...

... and that with summer comes sunshine...

... and with sunshine comes suntans...

... and with all of that, comes

happiness

fun

smiles

memories

and

most of all

time together

as a family...

The Power of Love

I was sick yesterday.  Really sick. 
For the gory details, click here...

The agony and despair I felt
served a great purpose though
(well, besides the 6 pounds I lost)

It reminded me of the power of love.

The power of how just laying next to the man you love more than anyone ever can make your uncontrollable shivering subside.

The power of how holding his hand when you feel like you can't take the pain anymore makes it somehow seem bearable.

The power of how just his presence makes you feel safer, more secure, more "well"...

Daddy H and I have always had a deep connection.

One of those things I can't explain. 

We just "fit".

Many people have said over the years that we don't seem like a match, but they are wrong. 
We are a match in what really matters. 

He loves me unconditionally. 
No matter what I look like,
how much I weigh,
what mood swings I may have,
or what I forget to do,
he loves me.

I feel the exact same way about him.  I can't imagine life without him.  Not even for a minute.

But it's so much more than just an emotion of "love"... an intangible "feeling"...

Our love is power.

In the rush of everyday life, I had forgotten just how much power there is in his touch. 
In the strength of his hands and the way I feel so safe and secure in his arms. 

I had forgotten all of this... Until I got sick. 

After hours of pain and cold chills, I decided to climb into bed closer to him and guess what?!?! The shivering stopped.  The pain subsided temporarily.  I felt calm. All because he held me.

For as long as we've been married (almost 12 years now -- gasp!) he's always been able to make me feel better.  Sometimes it's a joke, or a hug, or just the fact that I know he'd kick anyone's butt if I asked him to...

The most wonderful thing, however, is how his touch can heal me. 

That's the power of love.  At least for me. 

Thanks, Daddy H.  I love you!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful
for

Nothing.

That sounds horrible, doesn't it...

Let me clarify...

I'm thankful that
we've got
NOTHING.

That's not coming
out right...

I mean
we've got

Nothing to worry about.
Nothing to do.
Nothing to remember.
Nothing to cry about.
Nothing to prevent.
Nothing to resist.
Nothing to avoid.
Nothing to defend.
Nothing to heal.

The way I see it,
NOTHING is perfect.

Absolutely perfect.

Nothing is peaceful and calm.
Nothing is stress-free and easy.
Nothing is happy and fun-loving.
Nothing is everything.

Nothing is awesome.
Isn't it?

So Grateful...

We don't have this outside our windows this morning...

Thankful Thursday

Today, I'm thankful for technology.

Specifically, I'm thankful for Woot.com and the Ion VCR to PC converter that just arrived at our house yesterday.

Now I can transfer videos of my high school graduation, basketball games, and most importantly, the births of Bigg, Myddle, and Babee H from VHS to a digital format.  I am so happy I can't even stand it!!!!

Having these recordings in a digital format will be priceless. 

Having the ability to make this change only cost me $29.99 + $5 S/H thanks to Woot.com... (FWIW, Sears.com has this same item for sale for $199.99 right now...)

It doesn't get better than this!

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm grateful for Bigg H.

Well, I'm grateful for him everyday.  I'm grateful for all of my kids every day.

But today is his day.

He got his report card today and made straight As.

I couldn't be more proud of him.

Not because he has good grades...
Not because he is smart...
Not because he has good behavior...

I am proud of Bigg H for how far he has come
from the stubborn,
shy,
unsure,
frustrated
kindergartener
he was in 2007...

Way to go, Bigg H!
I can't believe you are a 2nd grader!

I love you, Koo!

Thankful Thursday

What am I thankful for today???

My gigantic and enormous gas bill?  No...
My annoying, stupid neighbors?  No, that's not it...
The huge rottweiler roaming our neighborhood?  Nah, not that...
The killer pile of laundry in my hallway?  Nope. Try again.
My fat rolls?  No... hmmmmm.... what could it be?
Grade level meetings after school?  NO!
Daddy H's crazy work hours?  Shoot... that's not it either!!!!

How about this:

Tonight, I am grateful for the fact that...

• I have enough $ to pay the gas bill when so many out there do not...
• One of my neighbors cares enough to call and let me know about the rottweiler since my kids were playing outside...
• My three healthy children are able to run around and play and get their clothes filthy while having a blast...
• I've never known hunger like so many people do...
• The teachers in my grade level make even the worst day so much better... so few people can say that, right?
• Daddy H has a full-time job with benefits like never before and that tomorrow he gets to work "normal" hours (7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. -- WOOT!!)

It's not been the best week, but in the grand scheme of things, I can't even begin to complain.  I've got it made in so very many ways. 

How about you?   What are YOU grateful for today?

Sometimes "Thanks" Isn't Enough...

Last night, I had the most horrible

dream nightmare...

My family and I

were being held

hostage

by terrorists...

In our own home...

In my dream,

we were at their

mercy,

being forced to

do whatever

they wanted us to do...

(which I won't go into detail about,

but let's just say that obviously

some of the episodes of Law and Order: SVU

came into play...)

It was a

horrible,

disgusting,

terrifying,

revolting,

situation...

When I woke up this morning

and told Daddy H about it

it got me thinking

about how grateful

I am to live in the

United States of America...

You see,

just because of the simple fact

that we live in the USA,

we can know

without a doubt

that my dream nightmare

will never become reality...

We are soooooo

unbelievably

blessed...

Daddy H was a Marine when we met

in 1995...

something I thought was "cool"

at the ripe old age of 19

Now,

as a 33-year old mother

and wife,

I realize that it's not so much

"cool"

as it is

heroic,

brave, and

amazing...

not to mention

the indescribable sacrifice

those

Marines (and all other members of our Armed Forces)

 make

(as well as their families)

every single day

just so we can all

enjoy our freedom...

When was the last time

we gave thanks?

Whether we agree

with the war or the president

or any of the associated politics

doesn't matter...

This much is true...

 there are thousands upon thousands

of

sons, fathers, brothers, uncles,

cousins, and nephews

giving of themselves

each and every day

just so you and I can sleep

and work

and worship

and do what we do

in peace.

"Thanks" just doesn't seem like

nearly enough for

what they've given already and

what some will give

today, tomorrow,

someday...

Daddy H's AAV

Amphibious Assault Vehicle

2D AAVBN -- Daddy H's Battalion

Camp Lejune, NC

But "thanks" is all we can say...

So, my question is this...

What can we DO

to show our "thanks"???

Thankful Thursday

First week back to school after two weeks off... 
Monday was hard to get back into the swing of things,
but after that, it was like riding a bicycle...
you never really forget how to do it, you know?

Today I am thankful for

my sweet little children
one of which
snuck into my
bedroom
and hid
a spoon
under
my pillow

(they did Daddy H's pillow, too)

all so
we
could have
a better chance
of seeing some
snow

(which we didn't... maybe next time)

I meant to get a picture of them
in their inside-out jammies,
but didn't get to it...

Maybe next time.

Seeing the world through
my childrens' eyes
is one of the greatest
blessings I've ever been
given.

So, what are YOU grateful for today?

Monday's Moment

How awesome is it

that I get to work

with my BFF?

Pretty darn awesome,

if you ask me.

Awesome!!

This is probably wrong of me,

but today I am grateful for

the "for sale" sign

that one of my

most annoying

neighbors

placed in their yard

sometime

today...

2010

is already

shaping up to be an

awesome

year!