Oh, yeah, how can I not be thankful for the extra hour of sleep last night! It came on the perfect night, too. After all the craziness with my niece's birthday party, my stepfather had a little medical emergency and had to go to the hospital. That left me with two little girls, my nieces, who had planned a sleepover with my mom. Guess who got them? Whew! One more hour is a good thing!
I'm thankful that I am able to help out with my family when I'm needed, too.
My friend had a great idea this morning- why don't we take an hour out of each Monday and add it to each Saturday?
Sea mentioned today how she loves holidays- they break up the monotony of our lives. I feel the same way about weekends, too. Mine are usually packed with things to do, but at least it is different stuff than throughout the week, and usually optional.
Today, I slept until 9:15am! That's the first best thing about a weekend- no alarm clock! I really should have been up earlier, but didn't set the clock. I didn't want to and didn't have to!
My mother helped my single-father brother throw a birthday party for my niece today. Being a good daughter, I helped. We had it in the youth center of the church I work for. It is the perfect place to have a party. There's a foosball table, ping pong table, air hockey, big screen TV, kitchen, and plenty of room. Bad thing is, we spent 6 hours there. For a 2 hour party!
But now I'm home and have the night off! Oh, I have 2 places I could go, but I'm tired after entertaining ten 9 year olds! I think I'll cook something good for dinner and then read for awhile. Maybe even take a long bath!
So I'm thankful for weekends- especially for the lazy, relaxed time that they bring with them!
I am thankful to be a spiritual being. I am thankful that God created me, and more thankful for His mercy and His grace. I'm speechless at the unending love he has for me.
Today has been a very spiritual day. First, I learned a new way to pray! I'm a horrible prayer- always end up making a grocery list or drifting off to sleep. I came across this book "Praying in Color" by Sybil MacBeth. In it, she describes how she draws her prayers. Sometimes they're just squiggles with names in them. She colors them in. She doodles around them. They're not art, they're more like a child's Crayola endeavor. I have tried this twice and wow- what a prayer! I actually sat with my prayer list for an hour, drawing names, doodling in them, making them colorful! I didn't say an audible prayer, or even bring to God my petition for them, I just brought them. After all, He knows what they need already!
At lunch today, I met a friend for a time of meditation. We try to do this every Friday if we can. It turned out to be more yoga but that was fine. I'm all stretched out now!
Tonight was the meeting of my voodoo group. (That's what the kids call it.) It is really 6 women who want to explore things like Qi Gong, reflexology, eating right, meditation, etc. Tonight we did a Qi Gong exercise and some EFT. Talked a lot about different experiences people had with Reike, acupuncture, etc. Since I'm a novice at a lot of this, it was neat to hear what worked for them and what didn't. It is also fun to decide what I will reject and what I want to know more about.
I have gone to church my whole life and rarely miss a Sunday. I lead music in children's worship and lead a Bible study (right now we're doing Beth Moore's "Beloved Disciple.") I am a big fan of the scriptures as a basis for the way to live. (Not that I'm very good at it, but I try!)
So, today I'm thankful that I have different pathways to the Creator. I have prayer, reading and study, meditation, yoga, and more! I am starting to see how all these work together.
I'm sitting here tonight trying to figure out what I'm thankful for. These next 20-something days are going to be tough if I'm already having a hard time! Actually, I think I'm just tired. This is one of those weeks that I've had something every night until after 9pm. I really enjoy being home in the evenings. *sigh* Maybe one day next week.
This week has been so hectic that I've had to call on several people for help. I am thankful that I have friends that I can call on when I can't do it all. First, it is hard for me to admit that I can't do it all. I should be able to, right? I suppose that's why Wonder Woman didn't have kids- then she wouldn't have been able to do everything, either!
We're changing themes in children's worship this week which means new sets, costumes, acting parts, music, etc. We had a lot to do on Monday to get ready for this coming Sunday, but I had a meeting. Fortunately, my friends covered for me while I was gone. They painted my portion of the set, probably better than I could have. Or at least just as good!
We were supposed to have drama practice on Wednesday night but the girl had volleyball practice. I also had to take her friend whose mom went to get her dad back from the army! So they graciously moved the time of rehearsal so I could do both.
Then tonight, the friend's mom (and newly home from Afghanistan dad) took the girls to practice. Which was wonderful because I had a meeting for a committee I chair- not really something I could miss.
I don't know where I would be this week if I hadn't called for help several times. I am thankful to have people to call on, but I don't like to use them if I don't have to. I also like to make sure that when they call on me, I help however I'm able. I wish the whole world were like that- wouldn't this be a nicer place?
Today, I'm thankful for relationships.
One of the pillars of our church died this week- a man who was very involved in many good things. He had been faithful to his wife and was known to many of the church children as "the man with candy in his pockets." Here's a brief clip from his obituary: He was a member of Denver United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the United Methodist Men and a former Sunday School teacher. He was a member of the Denver Masonic Lodge #757 A.F. & A.M., the Oasis Shriners in Charlotte, Oasis Ragtop Unit, member and past president of the Lake Norman Shrine Club, member of the Royal Order of Jesters Court 109, where he served as Director. He was chairman of the Oasis NFL Alumni Golf Tournament and member of the Verdict Ridge Golf & Country Club. He was a member of the Board of Surrender House in Lincolnton, Salvation ARC Board, sponsor in AA, and mentor at Rock Springs Elementary School and North Middle School.
There were over 700 people at his funeral. He was all about building relationships.
A friend of mine drove nearly 4 hours (one way) today to meet her husband off of a plane. That isn't too extraordinary in itself, but he has spent the past year in Afghanistan as a Chief Petty Officer in the National Guard. I have her daughter overnight tonight as they have a small "honeymoon" on the way home. The kids don't know- and will be surprised tomorrow at school that their father is home two weeks earlier than planned.
I met my best friend and some other girls for lunch today. Their lighthearted banter makes me realize how grateful I am for good friends to just be silly with. Some of the topics may have been more serious but when shared with friends, become lighter.
And I am so grateful for my friends here. I would love to solve your problems- take away your pain, get you better jobs, heal your relationships, but hopefully just by being here some of your burdens are a little lighter. Kat, I feel like we've been more than just friends for forever- I have you to thank for bringing me over here from 360; Susan (Abby) I really wish you lived closer. Just the day we got to spend together tells me that we'd be great friends to hang out with. Dai and Kumar- I wish I had endless money and could jet off to the other side of the world. I'd love to meet you and see those pretty mountains! China isn't too far away, so I'd trek on up and meet Susan (Libby) too, my sister in Christ. Kippy, I'd jet off to the other side of the country and hang out with you and Jeremy, roll in the floor with the dogs, and eat some wonderful food. I'd spend a day with Jimmie, walking in the mall and listening to sage advice and knowledge. Sue, next time I head to the Creeper trail I'm going to make time to come on up and at least have a cup of tea. Maybe Eby could join us! And there are so many others, I'd never have the time or the money to meet in person but because of this wonderful place, I get to be a part of your life- all for free! Thank you for sharing yourselves with me!
And lastly, I'm thankful for my family relationships. I have a fabulous mom. (Not many people can say that- I know, I hear you!) I have a great daughter. I have two stepsons on the verge of manhood (they're 20 and 21- and hopefully one day can afford to NOT live with me! But I still love them!) My brother is so supportive and ready to help with things at any time, and I have enjoyed getting closer to my niece as she spends the night with me about once a week or so.
I could lament my divorce, or the lack of a "significant other" in my life, but I won't because my life is so filled with joy, the joy of my relationship with Christ and with the many people I named above. I love you all!
Sea came up with this fabulous idea! Take the days between now and Thanksgiving and blog about something you're thankful for. I missed yesterday, but later's better than never, right?
Today, I'm thankful that the elections are over, or will be in a few hours. I'm so tired of political ads, phone calls, signs, pamphlets, etc. Does anyone notice how even the news doesn't have news on it? Just politicos trying to tell you why to vote (or not to vote) for someone.
I'm thankful that we live in a country where we have the right to vote. We have a voice, and should speak it! I have voted in every election that I was able to from the time I was able to vote. Several times, I didn't feel like my vote made a difference. But voting does! So if you were thinking about staying home today, get out there and get it done!
I don't believe in voting for one party on a straight ballot. It isn't hard to get to know something about the people running for office, at least enough to be able to choose one over the other. I also don't believe that you have to vote in every category. There were two people running for a soil and water conservation office- I had no idea about either of them. I left it blank. Let someone else who knows them decide. I don't want one of them in there because I thought their name sounded good!
Lastly, I'm thankful that we can agree to disagree about things like politics and religion. If you're my friend, you know that I come down on the conservative side of both. Most of you respect that, and I respect where you are. Let's keep it that way.
Now, go vote!
