Wow…it’s the end of November, the end of the Thanksgiving weekend, and I’m still thankful.  Can you believe it?

It was a good weekend.  Much family.  Much travel.  Much time with husband and babies.  In other words, good.

We did have a couple of plan changes though, some big, some not-so-big.

First Change (not-so-big)
My plan was to put up the tree and hang the lights on Friday night after the babies went to bed.  Well, after 5 years, my strings of lights are starting to die on me.  SO we got the tree up and the living room totally baby-proofed (they now have the run of the entire living area).  And I bought more lights on Saturday morning. 

Then I planned to hang the lights and fully decorate the tree on Saturday.  But some of the strands that had worked on Friday night decided not to work on Saturday.  I had to hang and rehang lights.  And keep in mind that we have a 9-foot tree.  I’m 5 feet tall.  So there were tall ladders involved in that frustrating episode. 

So I finally did get the lights done, but nothing else.  Oh well…I guess I can do the rest this week.

Second Plan Change (The big one)
On Sunday, we were supposed to go to another Thanksgiving with Eric’s Grandma’s sister and her family (make sense?).  But unfortunately, my father-in-law had a weird heart issue on Saturday night and ended up in the ER early Sunday morning.  It turned out to be okay and not a heart attack.  For some reason his heart just started beating out of rhythm.  So he was admitted and monitored overnight, and he has to have a stress test this morning.  But thankfully, he seems to be fine now.

So we did go out to the farm for Sunday.  The babies and I played at the house while Eric went to the hospital with his family.  It was good to do that.  He needed to, I think.  Even though it meant a lot of driving in one day.  And it wasn’t the original plan. 

But hey, the life we live is rarely the life we plan out, isn’t it?  At least when we’re flexible enough to just go with the flow and refuse to hold rigidly to the here and now (Ps. 84:5).  Which I am only starting to learn.  *sigh* 

Oh well.  At least, after all the busy-ness and plan changes, I am still thankful.  And that’s something to be thankful for!

Happy Monday!

Here are my final 15…on Thanksgiving, how appropriate!

86. I’m thankful that my husband did get home from work early yesterday.
87. I am thankful that I get to play “catch” with my twins, listening to them giggle hysterically the entire time.
88. I’m thankful that I got almost all my laundry done in a single day.
89. I am thankful for my brothers-in-law.  They are good friends for Eric and great guys, too!
90. I’m so thankful that I do not have to go shopping on Black Friday. 
91. I am thankful for the love of a Savior that cannot be comprehended.
92. I’m so thankful for a God who is willing to get his hands dirty with us.
93. I’m thankful that God has been so good to us this year.
94. I am indescribably thankful that gratitude is a state of heart inspired by God’s grace.
95. I am thankful that my whole family has good jobs and they do not have to worry about losing them.
96. I’m thankful that I am finally wearing my engagement ring all the time again.
97. I’m thankful that Ritz crackers started producing the “small stack” portion size.  It’s just right!
98. I am thankful that I have a haircut scheduled for Saturday…it’s getting super long!
99. I’m thankful that Eric puts up with my issues and quirks.
100. I am thankful for the presence of God in my life, that He allows me to serve him, and has promised to conform me to the image of his Son. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

71. I am thankful that it is Wednesday, and Eric is done with work after today.
72. I’m thankful that Eric may come home early today!
73. I am thankful that I had a productive day yesterday.
74. I’m thankful that I have a really good relationship with my mom.  We can talk about anything, and she’s one of my best advisors.
75. I am thankful that the babies are sleeping through the night and not waking up until 7:00 a.m. these days.
76. I’m thankful for all the sleep I’m getting because of #75!
77. I am thankful that we have enough money to pay our bills and buy food and have some extras.
78. I’m thankful for the Christmas season and all the fun decorations that I will be putting up very soon!
79. I am thankful, even more, for the real celebration of Christmas and the Incarnation!
80. I am thankful for new inventions that make our lives easier.
81. I’m thankful that my parents taught me that making my life easier should not be the highest goal in life.
82. As a new parent this year, I’m thankful that my parents did the hard work to teach me how to respect authority, how to be an adult and function in society, and how to love God.
83. I’m thankful for chocolate chips.  They are my favorite “vice” (straight from the bag!).
84. I’m thankful that God is both strong and loving.
85. With all the sicknesses out there, I am really thankful for my health.

56. I am thankful that God forgives me even when I realize how unforgiving I am. 
57. I’m thankful that His Word is the Word of Life.
58. I am thankful that my husband is faithful and diligent and trustworthy.
59. I am thankful that God loves me with an unfailing love.
60. I’m thankful that my grandparents stopped in unexpectedly yesterday.
61. I am thankful that my reorganization projects turned out well and my house looks better (at least some rooms).
62. Especially because of all the amazing colors, I am thankful for fall.
63. I am thankful that I’m nearly done with a baby blanket that I started knitting last year before the babies were born.
64. I am thankful for my brother, Chris.  He’s a tenderhearted, really great guy (most of the time ) and he really does care about his sisters.
65. I’m thankful for my friend, Ghena.  She’s a great mom and a great friend, and I miss getting to see her regularly.
66. I am thankful for books.  And that I get to own so many of them!
67. I am thankful that every day we get a chance to start over again.
68. I’m thankful that nobody but God can see inside me and know my thoughts and my heart.  And that what he sees doesn’t affect his love for me.
69. I am thankful that God is for me.
70. Though I loved this session’s study, I am thankful that we do not have bible study at the church this morning and the babies can get a normal nap.

41. I am thankful that, this weekend, we found a way to get a huge deal for my dad on a Christmas gift for my mom.
42. I’m thankful that the weekend is now over and we have a couple of days of normal routine.
43. I am thankful for a soft bed to sleep in.
44. I’m thankful that I’m so important to Kimberly that she wants to be on my “Thankful” list.
(44. And I actually am thankful for Kimberly and how fun it’s been watching her marry the man of her dreams.)
45. I am thankful for my niece Abby, who is almost 6 months old.  We weren’t sure we’d even get to meet her last year at this time, so we are thrilled to have her around for the holidays!
46. I am thankful that Eric and I still have 7 of our 8 grandparents living.  How rare that is!
47. I am thankful that God is holy and above my ability to understand him.
48. I’m thankful that Eric is starting to feel better.
49. I am thankful for my babies’ laughter.
50. I’m thankful for Xanga and for all the friends I have here who care about me, encourage me, share recipes with me, and let me care about them and their lives, too.
51. I am thankful for my Bible.
52. I’m thankful for my nephew Jason and that Karen shares with me all the cute things he does!
53. I’m thankful that I still have the ability to learn new things and remember them.
54. I am thankful that my babies can be taken into a church service and don’t distract the rest of the room.
55. I am thankful that God kept us safe while I was driving home, very tired, last night. 

26. I’m thankful that we get to go to a 60th wedding anniversary party for Eric’s grandparents.  How cool is that?!?
27. I’m thankful to have been able to breastfeed my twins for an entire year.
28. I am most thankful that said year is almost done!
29. I’m thankful for my SIL, Debbie, who is a sweet friend and great hostess (among other good qualities, of course)!
30. I am thankful that I got to enjoy one of my favorite activities last night: jumping on a trampoline.
31. I’m really thankful that we are getting to see most of our family (both sides!) in a single weekend.
32. I’m thankful to have a huge chunk of my Christmas shopping done already (I’m usually such a procrastinator).
33. I am thankful that God has released me from the grip of fear and worry and anxiety.  I’m still learning to rest, but it is so much better than it was even a year or two ago!
34. I’m thankful for Erika and Steph, my best friends from college, who are still the ones I can pick back up with no matter how long it’s been since the last time we chatted.
35. I’m thankful that my husband married me.  He’s my hero!
36. I am thankful that the soup recipe I tried yesterday turned out pretty well.
37. I am thankful for my education.  Not everyone has had the opportunities I’ve had.
38. I’m thankful for my niece, Holly.  She’s four and quite the impish little sweetheart.  
39. I’m thankful for a heated house.
40. I am thankful that God is my refuge and my fortress.

(PS – I wrote this last night because I will be gone all day today. Hopefully, it posted when I meant it to.)

I figured out that, if I write about 15 thankfuls every day until Thanksgiving, that will be 100.

Yesterday, I did 9.

10. I’m thankful that we live in a country that, for all its problems, has so many freedoms.
11. I’m thankful for my sister.  She is a great friend and a fantastic mommy.
12. I’m thankful for the house that we have to live in.  It’s big enough for all of us, but without too much extra room.
13. I’m thankful for the warm red fuzzy jacket I’m wearing on this chilly morning.
14. I’m thankful that I could exercise outside today.
15. I’m thankful for good friends who had us over for dinner last night.
16. I’m thankful that my husband is good with computers.
17. I’m thankful for my niece, Kelly, who turned 7 on Wednesday.  We get to go to her birthday party today.
18. I’m thankful for the solid biblical foundation I got from growing up in Cedarville.
19. I am extremely thankful that God meets us where we are.
20. I’m thankful for the little bit of extra income we’ve had this fall from the course I adjuncted.
21. I’m thankful for the pastors of our church who love God, love his word, and love his people.
22. I’m thankful for the luxuries that I enjoy, such as Shutterfly, cable television, an HDTV, and a digital camera.
23. I am thankful that we don’t have to be thankful FOR everything, but IN everything.
24. I’m thankful that I fit in my warm clothes this fall (unlike last fall!).
25. I’m thankful that, this Thanksgiving, the babies are already here, and I’m not huge and ungainly!

Happy Saturday!  Go Bucks!

Today, I’m thankful.

Last Sunday, our pastor challenged us to list 100 things we’re thankful for.  I haven’t done my list yet.  I’ve been working on the attitude instead.  Letting go of my selfish, cranky heart.  Letting go of grudges held for far-too-long. Asking for forgiveness a time or two.  Getting back into the word daily.  You know…recalibrating my heart towards the Spirit.  It’s been good.

So today, I’m thankful.  And here is a brief list of some reasons why:

• I’m thankful for happy, healthy babies who are two of the best babies I’ve ever seen.
• I’m thankful to have had twins because they are entertaining each other downstairs while I type this.
• I’m thankful for my husband who goes to work every day (even when he doesn’t feel great, like today) and provides for us.
• I’m thankful that God never lets us wallow in our selfishness forever.
• I’m thankful for my mom.  She’s an awesome lady who has been a fantastic example of how to be a godly wife and how to be a biblical parent. 
• I’m thankful for my dad.  He’s just so cute.  And he loves my mom.  And us.  And God.  And books.
• I’m thankful for the good relationship I have with my MIL.  It’s so rare.  She’s such a blessing.
• I’m thankful for too many family gatherings to attend in the next two months.  It means we have lots of family around us to spend time with.
• I’m thankful for…well, lots of other things too (I told you this would be a brief list!).

Happy Friday!  Happy weekend!

Not much to say today.

Not much sleep last night (I hope his teeth come in soon.)

Not much energy (see above).

Not much time this weekend to relax.  Boo!

Not much housework needing to be done. Yay!

One thing to say: there were a lot of old people in Meijer this morning. Lots of them. 

Other than that…Not much to say. 

Happy Thursday!

Not much to say today.

Not much sleep last night (I hope his teeth come in soon.)

Not much energy (see above).

Not much time this weekend to relax.  Boo!

Not much housework needing to be done. Yay!

One thing to say: there were a lot of old people in Meijer this morning. Lots of them. 

Other than that…Not much to say. 

Happy Thursday!