thankful thursday blogger's block eddition.

So I was hoping that spinning "The best of James Taylor" on my iTunes would be enough to get the ball rolling on all these words that can't seem to come out. But it's not working. Actually, James Taylor's music makes me want to eat dinner outside, rock a baby to sleep, or go on a drive with the windows down.

All this swine flu stuff is getting to me, they have closed schools here.

I'm thankful that my kids are healthy and safe.
(but they're currently driving me looney)
(but I LOVE them)
(and I'm thankful for them)
(and they're going to bed early tonight)

Start each day in a happy way...

Some mornings are so hectic, today was for sure.

Yesterday I bought a loaf of bread that didn't scan correctly, so I got it for free. I was happy about that and reminded that God gives us "our daily bread." Well, as it turns out, Gunther ate it (my fault for leaving it on the table) but nobody told me until at least 3 minutes into my search this morning, so back to the store for me at 7:10 a.m. then it was back home to pack lunches, make a Carlos an espresso, and grilled cheese for Matt. Then it was a mad dash to the car because of course I forgot to get Alexandria a "special drink" for her field trip, so we went to the store again... but this time actually stopping at the gas station (that was recently bought by extra friendly Jamaicans who's greeting always cheer me up tremendously.) She got a vitamin water. I tried to seem chill for the Jamaicans, you know, because it's-all-good-man.

All of this before 7:50 a.m.

In car line at school I encouraged the kids to take a deep breath, poor little buddies. I don't like hectic mornings.

But what this post is really about is my thrift shop finds from yesterday. (Which apparently if you buy a t.v. dinner tray form the 70's, with your favorite childhood character, that says "start each day in a happy way" your next morning is doomed.)

All of this for less than the cost of a loaf of bread.

Today I'm thankful for this blog. It really inspires me. I love cottage/shabby style. I love old mason jars and glasses. I LOVE historic homes. I love feeling inspired.

abraham david photography.

scenic views.

photos to accompany grievances against your neighbor having rusty sheds.
or counter grievances for barking dogs.

nature.

livestock/pets.

self portraits.

still thankful.

I'm kinda blah this week.
There's a lot on my mind and even more on my "to do list."
But I've decided I'm going to go buy a house plant to add some color and a new broom/dustpan since Gunther found it necessary to make my old one his personal chew toy.
A nice trip to the hardware store ought to cheer me right up.

I remember as a kid learning in Sunday School that the best time to Praise God is when you don't really feel like it, I guess that's why it's called a "sacrifice of praise."
I really feel like having a pity-party but instead I'm having a thankful-Thursday!

I saw a quote on a little notebook that said "life delights in life" and I think that's true.
Pity delights in sitting around all day in your pj's and feeling sorry for yourself, but life delights in life and living free and happy.
Sometimes we just need to push ourselves.
So, I'm going to go enjoy the beautiful spring flowers and plants at lowes a super artsy flower district, and redeem this day for all it's worth.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

the word of our testimony.

they showed clips of this video at church today.
I found it to be soo powerful.
I don't think that his story is any more important
than anyone else's just because he's a famous rocker,
but there is something about the way that he tells his story that hits home with me.

God is love.

thankful.

Thursdays come really fast now that I have designated a day to count my blessings.
Sure, I'm thankful everyday but taking a moment to jot something down has been refreshing. Sometimes little things sneak up on me and almost go by without notice, and when I add them all together I realize a lot is changing, and life keeps getting better.

1. I'm thankful for the experience Carlos is gaining at his job, and for the extra gigs he's had.

2. I'm thankful that I never get stuck in traffic. A perk to small town life.

3. I'm thankful for this blog. I used to try to keep journals and scrapbooks but I never followed through. I think I'll enjoy having this to look back at, to remember these days.

4. For my back yard. I feel like a good mom when my kids are getting fresh air and climbing trees.

I love this.

Because It's Thursday...

I am thankful:

1. for more hours of daylight in the evening, I feel like a new person.

2. That Carlos and I get to see u2 the day after our 13 anniversary!

3. For crafty ideas that involve hot glue guns and reusing old things.

4. For little surprises just when you least expect them.

5. For baby dreams that never allow me to have closure on whether or not we're done having babies (okay, that was sarcastic.)

6. For nice customers.

comfort food and seashells.

Yesterday we ate some good old country food at a little place called Rolos. I go there once or twice a year when I really miss Grandma Stella's cooking. I fell into some sort of crisco psychosis while ordering and broke my own rule of no more than one kind of fried food on my plate. While we waited I told the kids a few grandma Stella stories. When everything arrived covered in gravy and the guilt set in...I heard her voice in my head saying "eat that fried okra, you need your veggies."

She never really bought into the healthy food phenomenon.

I loved her.

So do I miss greasy southern food or my grandma Stella?

Sometimes I think being sentimental is a curse.
It's hard to balance "living in the now" with missing a lot of things about your old life.

Lately I've really missed the beach.
I'm not a beach fanatic, but it was there anytime I wanted to go for 30 years of my life.
The other day I realized that I don't have a seashell in my possession
how could that ever be?
I remembered the glass table my Memaw had,
it was full of beautiful shells that were hard to find in one piece.
I could picture everything in that room I could even remember the smell.
I liked being in there again.
So In my mind I walked through her big white house on the ocean,
one of the few truly magical places on earth.
I visited each room
one by one,
and I missed her all over again.

So do I miss the beach or Memaw? Deep fried steak or Stella?

both. all of it.

and in some weird way it's all the same thing.

I found a quote this week that I thought it was perfect for how I've been feeling.
Today is beautiful and my heart is full.
Those days were beautiful too, and I loved my life the way it was...
that is certainly not a bad thing.
Older and wiser people tell you to appreciate things because it wont be like this forever...
I think I did.
I think I knew. always.

"Today is a smooth white seashell,

hold it close and listen to the beauty of the hours."

thursday thankfulness.

on my list today:

1. I am thankful that i have the next 3 days off work.

actually, thankful is an understatement.

i.
am.
over.
the.
moon.

p.s. matthew reminds me of the "soy bomb" guys sometimes.

the theatre of life

i have become increasing allergic to pollen, cigarette smoke, people who smell like cigarette smoke, bradford pear trees in bloom, huntsville air in general, abercrombie cologne, people who smell like abercrombie cologne or various other strong perfumes.

today at work it seemed like a organized crime spree of people who felt like giving me a sinus attack. it was almost too much to bear. have you ever seen "the man who knew too little" where bill murray thinks he's acting in the "theatre of life" when actually he's right in the middle of a real crime? it's a really funny movie...anyway...there is a scene where he starts to have a sinus attack. the guys who are holding him captive asks him why he's sniffing, and he says...

"Boris' Old Spice is lingering.

Do you think we could open up the window a little bit?

Hey, vodka...be a guy.

See that nasal spray?

Could you pass me over a couple of snoots worth, please?"

whoa...it's thursday already.

first, the song in my head...

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings
-bing crosby

today, i'm thankful for:

1. finally hearing from jenny. remember this post from almost a year ago? i heard from her on sunday, totally out of the blue...i was overjoyed!

2. i'm going to brazil! probably in may. i applied for my passport today!