Faith

My parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncles all gave me the best gift as a child that anyone could have ever asked for; Knowledge of God. We went to church EVERY Sunday. Our big ole family took up at least half of the small country congregation. Grandpa and Grandma ALWAYS sat in the same pew. Week after week, they were there. Grandpa would sleep through half of the service. No, that's a lie. Through MOST of the service. When he would start snoring, Grandma would give him a little jab in the side and he would stop. He wouldn't move, wouldn't open an eye, and really, his breathing pattern never changed.... but.... the man could recite the entire sermon to you during our Sunday meals in the North Room of their house. EVERY SUNDAY. Like clockwork. Big, yummy meals that I have only recently been told by my mom that Grandpa would get up at 5 am to start cooking for all of us.

I can even remember trying to take a little nap in my pew. My mom would get so mad at me. My brother, too. And we would agrue that Grandpa could sleep and Grandma didn't get mad, why couldn't we?? She would answer simply: When you can stay awake and tell me what the sermon was about, I will let you try and sleep through it and tell me what it was about, like Grandpa can. We never got the chance to try and sleep through church.... we couldn't even tell her what the sermon was about most days.

It's these stories and this Faith in God that gets me through life to this day. Without the trust that I have in God and my family, I wouldn't be half the person I am today. I am strong. And I know Who is in control.... not me..... Him. Makes things a lot easier to take when I remember that I just have to lay it all at His feet, and Thy will is done.

Amen.

Day #1

I am so thankful that I made it through today. I didn't have a single cigarette. I knew I could do it. And I did. Was it easy? No. However, I feel very empowered at this point, like I could do anything and conquer anything. Once this is all over, it's on to conquering Grandma's sickness. She isn't doing well at all this time around. I'm going to help her. I WILL do this, too. I have to. No options. If she passes without my trying to help her get better, I will never forgive myself. If she passes even though I was there to help, I will at least know that WE gave it our all. She will NOT do this alone.

Long story short, I am thankful for battles won. Granted it's just the battle, not the war. But each victory is wonderful in and of itself!

LB

My Great Grandma Boyle's initials were LB. My grandma and great aunts used to call her Lard Butt. LB really stood for Lorraine Boyle. And now, those initials, and the mean nickname hit home. LB today isn't my Great Grandma's initials, it's my favorite store in the whole world. The one place I can shop where they all know exactly how I feel and how desperately I want to look as good as those tiny ass size two's even though I will NEVER, even in a casket, be that small.

So, today I am thankful for retail therapy and NORMAL people who KNOW how I feel! Pretty comes in all shapes and sizes. Thank God I am not the only person in the world that knows that!

Family

I know I say this a lot, but I honestly have the coolest (and one of the largest) families in the world. I really mean that. Today, after a rather crappy morning, I went to the grocery store to get some snacks for Addison's class and a gift for her teacher. They had some gorgeous mum plants on sale. I hope she likes purple mums. They really are beautiful. I almost bought one for myself to brighten my own day. However.... it turned out it wasn't needed. As I was walking out of the grocery store, I noticed a Peterbilt pickup in the parking lot. I thought about going back in and decided against it, as the kids were already all buckled in. As Fate would have it, as I was backing out.... sure enough.... there was my Uncle Mike. I LOVE UNCLE MIKE!!!! I rolled down the window and hollared at him and we chatted for a couple of minutes. I love my uncles. They ALWAYS brighten my life. ALWAYS. There is never a dull moment when one (or all) of them are around! Thank God for little surprises like Uncle Mike at my new grocery store raving about their meat and produce!! I told you it was AWESOME!! ;)

time off

I am so thankful that tomorrow is FINALLY the last day of school. It has been long awaited. And this summer I will actually be able to do things with my kids since I won't have a housefull 24/7 of daycare kids. I will still have kids, but the hours will be less since their schedules revolve around the school year too. YAAAYYY SUMMER!!!