#7 Twice on the pipes... if the answer is no!

I am not really good at this blogging my gratitude everyday. So right now, double posting seems to work.

Yesterday morning, by 715 AM, I knew what I needed to be grateful for that day because I had complained the loudest about it.

I am thankful for Indoor Plumbing!!

 

I wasn't complaining about indoor plumbing per se.... I was complaining about the lack of privacy when I occupy my bathroom. This is something that I have discovered comes with the territory of being a mother. The moment you cross the threshold, the Christmas rush follows. No matter the industrial strength your lock might be, children use their mind powers to pick those locks. Children seem to believe that the only way to communicate is through the bathroom door. But this is something that only happens to mothers.... never the father.

Our days start very early at our house: 0615 AM. I woke up a little bit later and immedialtly jumped in the shower. I didn't lock the door behind me (even though that would have done me no good). I showered quickly and it seemed that everytime I tried to get out of the shower someone was trying to get into the bathroom. By the time I could finally get out of the shower, I was running 15 minutes behind schedule. Without fail, the next person comes in to get ready. With no privacy and a second bathroom, I have to fight to get ready every morning!!

Four people using one very small bathroom is not an easy task.

But I have a toilet that flushes, a sink that doesn't leak and a shower/tub with hot water.

#6 VOTE For Pedro!

 

 

 

 

 

I am blessed to live in a country that I can have a voice. It was designed so that I could have a voice. I choose if I want to be free or if I want live in bondage. I am a third generation American and I live in amazing country. Women before me didn't have this chance because they couldn't. Generations before me have fought so that I could vote and could do it without fear.

 

 

I am grateful for the country that I live in and that I have a voice. I don't have to fear when I go to the polls. I can hold my head high and vote how I feel.

 

I am grateful to be an American. I am grateful that I have a voice. I am grateful that I can and do vote.

 

 

 



#5 Mama called the Doctor

Today has gone by quickly and I accomplished very little. I paid just as much attention to finding my gratitude today as to how much I accomplished. So as I sit here, contemplating the thing that has made me grateful today, all I can come up with is my Pulmonologist: Dr. H

I know, that is really weird to be grateful for your pulmonologist but I am. You see, about three years ago, I was really sick. I couldn't breath and nobody could explain it. I started seeing Dr. H in 2009 and with the help a few other doctors, we discovered that my gallbladder was broken (and was forthwith removed), I had asthma and I was allergic to the Flu Shot.

I work in health care but I do not interact with patients. I sit behind a desk, that is hidden within the administration office. I interact with the public mostly by phone. Last year, my company made it mandatory that every employee must have a flu shot.

BUT I AM ALLERGIC!!!!!

So, I applied for an exemption. I was denied.

I got my flu shot and I immediately got sick. I went into Dr. H, we made sure that everything was properly documented so that the next year I wouldn't be denied.

"Next year, I will make sure that they know that you can't have this shot and to leave you the hell alone!" she said as I left her office.

Once again, Flu Shot season is upon us and once again: I was denied.

I immediately called her office but she is on call this week so her office is closed. But I spoke with her nurse and she was upset that I was denied. Apparently, my reaction isn't considered an adverse effect/allergic reaction by the CDC. I emailed Dr. H and so did her nurse.

I haven't heard back from her yet but I know that she will cannot be happy with our corporate office right about now. I am grateful to know that I have someone who cares. She is an amazing doctor, with a great smile and great sense of humor. It also doesn't hurt that her daughters are in girl scouts and sell me thin mints every March. I have faith in her that she is on my side and will be doing everything in her power to make sure that I am healthy and that I can breath. She is willing to fight for me.

She cares for me as person and not just her patient. For that, I am truly grateful.

#4 Miss May

 

I am not going to lie: I was angry when I found I was pregnant with Miss May.

 

I wasn't ready. I wasn't in a good place in my life. I didn't want to take the chance of having another miscarriage.

 

Three days after I found out that I was pregnant, my sweet sister in law lost her baby at 22 weeks.

 

Then, my mother died. I was 27 weeks pregnant with Miss May, when I got the phone call that my mother had passed in her sleep. Four days later, my biological father assaulted me. I missed my mothers viewing and because I was in the Labor and Delivery Trauma Unit for most of the night. We almost lost her. Her heart rate dropped and I experienced deep fear. Real ugly fear. I had just lost my Mommy and I was facing losing a second child. I took a deep breath... I can't remember if I prayed, I probably did. Then, her sweet swooshing heart beat once more filled the room.

 

She rescued me from my grief. She became a light and beacon to my life. She has tested every ounce of patience in me. She has pushed every limit and then some. She has been my teacher. She has brought sunshine and thunder to my life.

 

She has never been a cuddly child but she is the most loving. She learned to crawl at 5 months and was walking around the furniture at six months. By nine months she was walking and at a year, she was running. She is one of the smartest (and most cunning) people I know. She is an old soul and has wisdom and strength that is powerful.

 

And I am grateful that I get to be her Momma.

#3 The Good Life

I seriously believe that God is trying to tell me something. I know that he is constantly teaching me but right now, I believe that he is telling me.

What is this thing that God is telling you? You might wonder.

For a long time now, I have many experiences where I am walking away from them with the impresssions of:

 

Be Grateful

 

Count Your Blessings

 

Life is better than you think.

 

Be Aware of all that you have.

 

It's going to be Okay.

This morning I awoke in search of what I was grateful for. My list went on and on (it's a good thing I still have the rest of the month to cover them all) but nothing satisfied me. So this afternoon, the kids and I went grocery shopping and this awesome song came on. I listened to some of the words and realized what I was grateful for:

MY GOOD LIFE.

My life isn't bad. My life is good with the potential to get even better!

So please tell me what's there to complain about?

An Attitude of Gratitude

Fall is upon us.
The leaves have turned.
The candy supply is in full swing until February.
Halloween is over.
The Christmas music is now playing on the radio.

What!!?!?!?!?!?!?
CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!!!!!!

Hello People!!! There is this little holiday between Halloween and Christmas called: THANKSGIVING.

Remember???

You know what I am talking about. Turkey, Cranberry sauce, mashed potatos, rolls, pies, pies and more pies. Stretchy pants and let us not forget the most wonderful Thanksgiving tradition of all: Football. I understand that the holidays come upon us quickly and pass even faster but seriously, you're starting your Christmas Holiday now??

Give November a chance!

So in the spirit of giving thanks, for the past two years I have taken every day in November to give thanks on Facebook. This year, because I don't have to worry about the number of characters, I have decided to blog my Thank Yous. Here I can tell you a whole lot more of why I am thankful.

So to catch up...

November 1
Today I am grateful for Nyquil and sleep.
Tuesday night I had a fever close to 103. I was really sick! My wonderful Hotstuff saved the day and ran to the store and bought me the only thing they really had left... Nyquil.
I took two tablets at 930pm and slept until 1230 the next day. My fever broke and I was able to get over most of what ailed me. All with the help of some Nyquil and 15 hours of sleep.

November 2
Today I am grateful for HOME.
This one is kinda hard to explain.I grew up just south of Portland, Or. and my adoptive parents live near Seattle. I have never lived a day of my life in Seattle but every time that plane touches down at Sea-Tac or PDX, I feel like I am home.  I have lived in the state of Utah for the last 11 years now. Eleven years later, I still feel like a tourist.
A couple of days ago, I recieved an email from my adoptive mom telling me about job openings at the Naval Shipyard. This job oppurtunity for Hotstuff (and our family) would be AMAZING!! But it would also mean that we would have to move to the Great Northwest. (Insert Happy dance here!) I shouldn't get too ahead of myself though, Hotstuff has only applied.
Meditating upon the many different ideas and scenarios in  my head about moving, for the first time ever... I have some reservations about going home to the Great Northwest. We have our children in great schools, my sister lives (80 miles) nearby, we both a lot of extended family in the state, we have good jobs and I have a job with great benefits. We have soooo much established here, why fix something that ain't broke?
As I said my morning prayers today, I prayed about some of this. I found myself grateful for so much. I realized as I prayed, that I will probably always feel like a tourist here in Utah. I may never find that satisfaction of living here and going home may never be an option. But going there.... going home with be an act of faith and trust in God. With all of that, I finally understood that HOME meant more than a place. HOME really is where your heart is and mine is with these wonderful people.

Smooth Sunday Sounds (posted on a Tuesday)

I  am a huge U2 fan and to prove my fandom: if the world ended tomorrow and I could only take one CD with me it would be The Joshua Tree album by U2.

One of my most favorite movies is a German film called: Faraway, So Close.

It's about an angel, Cassiel, who falls in order to experience a mortal life.  Below is a clip from the film.

So what do you get when my favorite movie and my favorite band collide???

This:
 Stay (Faraway, So Close)

 

(Sorry about the subtitles, it was the one I could find)

 

If I could stay...
Then the night would give you up
Stay...then the day would keep its trust
Stay...with the demons you drowned
Stay...with the spirit I found
Stay...and the night would be enough

Three o'clock in the morning
It's quiet and there's no one around
Just the bang and the clatter
As an angel runs to ground

Just the bang
And the clatter
As an angel
Hits the ground