I'm Thankful!

Sometimes, I think we need to stop rushing around, worrying, talking, complaining...just stop...and be silent and thank God for all of the blessing in our lives!  Don't ask Him for anything...just thank Him!! 

So, today I'm going to do just that! I'm gonna list whatever pops in my head!

Today I am thankful for...

Forgiveness...so thankful that He forgives me, that my friends forgive me and that my family forgives me!

Darren...he is amazing!  I'm am so blessed to call him my husband and best friend!

Bart, Brett & Abbie...they bring so much joy, laughter and fun into my life...yes, they bring their own sets of issues but seeing them overcome struggles and develop into caring, loving individuals is so rewarding!

Friends...I do NOT know what I would do without them! 

Bubba & Belle...they make me laugh...yes, they make messes that I dread cleaning up but the kids love them and they love the kids...I think pets kinda complete a family..so most days I am thankful for them!

Vacuums...to sweep up that dog hair that makes me CRAZY!

Hugs...I am so happy that there is a way to show someone you love and care about them without saying a word!  And a great big hug always makes my heart tingle!  I think they can cure many things!  I used to have a big poster in my room growing up and it said this...I still remember it!

It's wondrous what a hug can do.

A hug can cheer you when you're blue.

A hug can say, I love you so,

or, gee, i hate to see you go.

A hug can sooth a small child's pain

or bring a rainbow after rain.

A hug says welcome back again,

it's great to see you, where've you been.

A hug, there's just no doubt about it,

we scarcely could live without it.

A hug deligths and warms and charms,

it must be why God gave us arms!

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,

sweet for sisters, swell for brothers,

And chances are your favorite aunt,

loves them more than potted plants.

Kittens carve them, Puppies love them,

Heads of State are not above them!

Hugs can break the language barrier

and make your travels so much merrier.

No need to fret about your store of them,

the more you give, the more there's more of 'em,

so stretch out those arms without delay,

and GIVE SOMEONE A HUG TODAY!

Music...how can someone live without music??  It effects me like nothing else can!

Dancing...goes right with the music!  Oh, how I miss ballet class...I LOVE to dance!  I love to crank up the music in the speakers throughout the house and just dance and sing...now the kids aren't always so thankful for that but I really don't care!  Madonna and I have a great time!

Laughter & Fun...oh my goodness, I love to laugh and have FUN!!!!

Humor...it makes me laugh!

Sarcasm...I am thankful that God made that one of my special talents...but not sure how my family feels about it!  Brett appreciates it, I think!

Grass...I love to walk barefoot in it...and cutting it is one of my favorite things to do!


Sunshine...don't you just feel happy when you're out in the warm sunshine?

Shoes...even if you're chubby, you can still wear cute shoes, right?  Unless your foot is as wide as mine..then you are a little limited!

Mascara...I do NOT leave home without it!  Greatest invention ever...besides eyeliner!

Big Barrel Curling Iron...if you saw my hair without the use of one or with the use of

Hair Products for Curly Hair....you would be thankful for both as well!!!

Those things can take me from this....

To this...now you are thankful for those items, too, aren't you?

iPods...music, e-mail, pinterest, FB all in one little rectangle...Amazing!!

Cheese...no explanation needed :)

Jimmy Johns...not only do they have great sandwiches...they have awesome signs in the restaurants that I love to read!

Cameras...what in the world would I do without being able to capture images of my life?  I LOVE looking back at old photos and daydreaming about the past and talking about our memories! And seeing things I otherwise would never be able to see!



Like bart in Australia! I'm so Jealous!



The Beach/Ocean...the peace i feel when I am on a beach watching the waves...nothing compares!  i will live there one day!

Grandma Hazel...I miss her so much, she loved me unconditionally.  And through her life and death, I learned alot about life and love!

Granny Lois & Grandpa Bob......They are goofy and I know they love me!

My Parents...for raising me in church...Dad is a great example of a Godly man, he has helped shape the person I am today and taught me about loving God and loving others!  I am so thankful for his wisdom and ways!

My brother...we may not agree on everything but I know I love him, he loves me, and he loves my kids!  He is so giving!!!

Jennifer...my sister in law!  She is awesome, organized, and loves the kids! 

Computers...oh my goodness, I used to be scared of these things...but they bring so much information, so quickly! 

Books...I LOVE to read and learn...and sometimes escape!

Creativity...I thank God for giving me a creative mind...for allowing me to think outside the box..to be just a little different!

My Health...I thank Him for blessing me with wonderful doctors and for leading them while they repaired my birth defect during open heart surgery 4 years ago.  That is something I never want to go through again and I never wish it upon anyone but I am thankful that my heart is now "normal"!

Smiles...they change everything...put others at ease...and I do believe they are contagious!

Love...so thankful that I have people to love and people that love me!

And the obvious...food, shelter and clothing!  We so take that for granted, but we shouldn't!  So many people in this world go without!

Make sure you thank Him for all of your blessing today!

Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, Nobody

I love Joyce Meyer! I believe that when I was struggling with things in life, God used her to to give me answers and direction. Listening to her podcasts, reading her books and watching her TV show has changed my life!  Her words have encouraged me to be a better person and to grow my relationship with God!  She is funny, she says it like it is, she challenges me to look at myself and to be accountable for my thoughts and actions...she does NOT allow me to blame others for your problems or sadness...she is just what I needed!
I read her devotional "Love Out Loud" on a daily basis.  This morning, the message really caught my attention and I decided I should share it on my blog!   Hopefully, it will make you think...and act!

I will just share exactly as it is in the book....
 
Years ago I heard a story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.  There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it.  Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.  Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job.  Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.  In the end, Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done. 
I once read a book about a shocking incident that shows the principals of this story at work-tragically-in real life.  in 1964 Catherine Genovese was stabbed to death over a period of 35 minutes while 88 neighbors watched.  Their reaction was described as cold and uncaring, a result of urban apathy and alienation.  Later, research by Latane and Darley revealed that no one had helped simply because there were so many observers.  The observers looked to one another for guidance on what to do.  Since no one was doing anything, they determined that no one should do anything.
We are affected by the actions of people around us.  We look to one another for direction, often without even knowing it. Most people will agree with the majority even when they really don't agree!
If, as Christians, we want to demonstrate love to the world around us, we must become examples to others instead of merely following the crowd!
When you have the ability to help someone, don't assume somebody else will do it.  Do it yourself!

Really made me think! 

I know I see many things, on a daily basis, that I disagree with and that I know are not right and may even be hurting someone...but because the "majority" or "the people who run things" are ok with it or even encourage it, I don't step up and do anything to stop it or change it!  I really struggle with this more than you'll ever realize.  I REALLY struggle when I see children getting hurt in any way...because I know that one, just one, unkind statement from an adult or other child or a negative experience that could be prevented,  can leave a child scarred for life!  Can we stop every bad thing from happening?  No!  I realize that!  But if we see "organized"  unkindness, unfairness, suffering or mistreatment and we choose to look the other way...we are not only letting others be hurt...we are sharers in the guilt...we are sinning!

If we all could get the courage to be bold and stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves, think what a different world this would be!   Yes, I know it is difficult!  And yes, you will make some enemies.  But if someone wants to be your enemy for standing up for others, do you really want them on your side in the first place?

Happiness is Celebrating the Little Things!

Me & Mike...on the 4th of July

Growing up, my next door neighbor was a boy in my class named Mike Storm.  I feel blessed to say that Mike and I have been close friends since we were in 3rd grade.   Mike has been one of the best friends a girl could ask for!  He is loving, understanding, forgiving, funny, wise, and he truly appreciates the small things in life!  He has taught me so much and made me look at life differently!  You see, Mike has Down's Syndrome. 

Mike announcing at the Little League All-Star Game!  He is meant to be a STAR!



 Some people may read that statement and immediately feel sorry for him or his family.  But before you head too far down that path, I want to share with you why I do not feel sorry for Mike...actually, I am envious of Mike!  Let me tell you just a little about him!

Mike wrestling Darren on Easter!

Here he has Gary down for the count!

Mike LOVES God!
Mike LOVES life! 
Mike LOVES people! 
Mike LOVES movies, food (just like me, a little too much!), jokes, laughing, hugging, Coke, music, friends, sports, family, work...you name it, he loves it!
Mike is a steel trap for all kinds of information!  He can quote movies and knows the actors of any movie you mention...he knows the title and artist of every song that is played! 
He LOVES to talk about the past and tell funny stories...and maybe just maybe embellish a little!  He loves to see old friends and make new friends!  Mike does not know a stranger!
I never hear Mike complain or feel sorry for himself about what he doesn't have or about what he doesn't get to do! 
Mike has a passion for life and love for others that inspires me to be a better person!
Is Mike perfect?  No, he isn't, no one is!  Yes, he has his moments, like we all do!  But what I love about Mike is his spirit...his hope...his love...his humor...and his constant excitement for living life!

Mike with Brett, Bart, Belle, and Abbie

Mike has been a large part of my children's lives.  He celebrates birthdays, many holidays and other events with us!  He loves to go to their sporting events and I promise you, he cheers louder than anyone else in the stands!  Mike has helped to shape my children into loving and accepting individuals by just being a part of their lives! That makes me think of a story... I'll never forget the time I took him to one of Bart's Jr. High baseball games last year and as we were walking up to the diamond, Bart saw us, jogged out of the dugout over to Mike and gave him a huge hug!  Talk about making a mother proud!  How could I ask for more?



Mike with Bart, Turner, Rece, Darren & Brett


Without even knowing it, Mike inspires me and my family to be BETTER...to be more LOVING, more ACCEPTING and more THANKFUL and to see the GOOD in others! 



Mike with kids ready for the Super Bowl!

Yesterday, we went to watch Mike participate in the Special Olympics Basketball Skills event at the high school!  Each and every athlete was such an inspiration!  And what I loved most was the huge celebration of each small victory and the team spirit that I saw!  They were all cheering on their competitors...they were not mad when they didn't win or when someone did better than them...they enjoyed the competition and were thankful for opportunity to be involved!  They were happy to see their friends succeed!  Oh how I would love to see that kind of team spirit in our school athletic events!!!  Wouldn't that be amazing? 

Mike gave me permission to share these videos of him!  I promise they will make you smile and they will warm your heart!  I took them with my iPod so the quality won't be great...


So, as I wrap up this blog, I want to thank Mike for being a part of my life, for enriching my life and the lives of my husband & children far more than he will ever realize!  I thank God for blessing us with an angel right here on earth! And I want to encourage you to look around, count your blessings big and small!  CELEBRATE the little things in life!  Don't be afraid to cheer for yourself, just make sure you are cheering just as loudly for others!  Talk to your children about being accepting of others and their differences...expose them and yourself to people who are not like you!  Do something for others less fortunate and forget about yourself for a while!  I promise you will feel blessed beyond measure and your life will be greatly enriched!!   CELEBRATE LIFE!!!  Just like Mike does in the video below!



Mike LOVES to tell stories of the "good ol' days"...here he is with some buds!

 He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.  ~Epictetus