A Month of Gratitude, #10, 11, 12, and 13

I'm totally not very good at this whole "updating daily" thing.  ;)
I am grateful today for:
-Second chances.  The fact that we can wake up every morning and start anew.  And as someone who makes a lot of mistakes, I really need that gift.
-My job.  I can be frustrated with my work at times, but I still truly love what I do, and I am grateful that I have an employer who works with me and my schedule, allowing me to still spend the days at home with my little ones.
-Good books.  I struggle going to sleep at night these days without the escape of a good read.  When I first received my Master's in English Literature, I went through a spell where I had trouble reading for "fun" instead of for "work."  Luckily, I am past that, and now have 5 hard copy books and 5 e-books I am working through all at one time.
-My friends.  My friends have taught me that family is what you make of it, and that there's more to the concept than simply blood.  I am blessed to have and know them.

Asheville, Days Three and Four

On Sunday morning, my friend made us yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast (they completely hit the spot...so good).  They were a great way to start out our day of traveling about 30 miles or so of the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We visited the Folk Art Center (basically a visitors' center right outside of Asheville along the Parkway) before we ventured out to see the mountains.  We crossed the French Broad River and made out way through the mountains (sometimes literally, via tunnels).  The views/overlooks provided us breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains on either side, and we snapped a lot of pictures.  Being in the Appalachians is a wonderful chance to ponder simplicity and what truly matters in life.  Being out in the middle of nowhere reminds you of what truly matters.  You've left the stress behind you, and you're out in the majesty of what God has created and given you.  You reflect on your forefathers who lived in the mountains and who were the epitome of self sufficiency and provident living.
We traveled back to Asheville and lunched at Burgermeister's (a turkey reuben for hubby, and a catfish po' boy for me) before heading out with Amy and Jake (Maya was at a friend's house) to the Biltmore, the largest home in America (250 rooms and land encompassing 8,000 acres).  We didn't pay to see the house, and Amy's pass did end up being enough to get us in, so we instead went around Antler Hill Village (I believe that was the name) on the ground.  We toured the Biltmore winery and visited the on site farm to see the animals (a goat even climbed into my lap!).  Jake really enjoyed the animals, as did I, but the people around were very, um, wealthy, and it wasn't always comfortable at times.  Hubby and I dealt with one really rude man in particular who was upset because hubby "almost" touched his son with a gate.  It was a bit embarrassing.  At least it was a reminder of what I do not want to be.
At home, after the kiddos were in bed, we were able to get one on one time with Amy, just talking and watching television.  It was so nice to have time just with her to talk about things, life, whatnot.  I think that was one of my favorite parts of the trip.  It's wonderful to find people who understand you and who you can relate to.
Monday, we unfortunately had to leave (I admit, I was teary eyed, and oh, I miss Splenda the dog...she became my little pal).  We breakfasted at Waffle House, which I haven't had in YEARS, and hubby had never been to one. On the ride home, we stopped and snapped photos on the overlooks along I-26 in North Carolina and Tennessee, our last views of the mountains there for a while.  The trip home flew by.  We opted not to stop at the gorge again and just blew through, though we did meet back up with my mama and walked through the mall and lunched with her in the afternoon before heading home.
The children were thrilled to see us, which made me feel so good inside, and the animals seemed to miss us as well.  Buddy seemed to do well being at the kennel (he can be easily stressed), but Sunflower, our foster kitty, is still acting a bit nervous a day later.  She is very happy to be home.  The kids loved their Build a Bears, too.  We are unpacked and home, a bit sad that such a wonderful trip is over, but happy to see our loved ones.  We are hoping to go back to Asheville twice a year.  :)

Asheville, Days One and Two (In Words)

Our trip to Asheville, NC, in words....
You've seen some of the (many) pics we have taken during our trip.  Now, I am going to start the recap of days one and two of our first vacation in three years.
My friend Amy had invited us to visit her in Asheville, NC.  A lot of people say to come visit, but it's a casual thing.  What can I say?  She really meant it. :)  I was thrilled to see a friend from my college days and her two lovely kiddos, Maya and Jake, who are similar in age to my own little ones.
Per some recommendations, hubby and I decided to go on this trip sans kiddos, and while I missed them, I am grateful we did because the time together was very needed.  We get a lot of time together here in town, per se, but our dates consist of things like grocery shopping and errands, and we struggle with real "quality" time together, or at least coming up with ideas for it beyond dinner and movies.
We left on Friday at about ten AM.  We stopped to visit my mama at work along the way, and while there, we snagged a replacement wedding ring for hubby (she works at a jewelry store).  That was an unexpected surprise, and I am grateful we managed to get a great deal on one that fits him well.  His old ring was a bit too big, and it was made of tungsten carbide, which cannot be resized.
Along the route, we stopped at the New River Gorge Bridge, the longest span bridge in the eastern United States, famous for its scenery and bungee jumping (which we didn't do, obviously).  We have been there before, but the bridge is an engineering marvel, and since it was fall, we knew the view would be spectacular.  It did not disappoint.  The Autumn colors as we traveled onward were breathtaking.  We traveled through Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee (land of Dolly Parton!) before making it to North Carolina.  One thing I noticed about the South is that there are rocking chairs at the rest areas.  It's great, and a bit hilarious.  I have loved rocking chairs since I was a child, so for me, it helps me to feel right at home.  :)
We arrived around seven thirty and did some shopping at Asheville Mall before meeting up with my friend.  She lives in the cutest two story blue house, and the homes in general in Asheville have way more charm and personality than the nearly identical ranchers that permeate my neighborhood.  I am in awe of how vastly they differ, and the various ways that their residents have made them "their own."  Once at the house, we met her daughter Maya, (baby Jake) was in bed, sat and listened while her mama read her some bedtime stories, and went to bed early.
Saturday morning, we visited some local stores with Amy and family after a breakfast of pancakes.  The stores were Second Gear, a used sporting goods shop, Small Terrain, a shop for all things urban homesteading, The Littlest Birds, a children's apparel and supplies consignment shop, and we also had lunch at Bandido's, a Latin fusion restaurant owned by Amy's friends that serves 100% locally sourced food (I had the goi rolls with plum sauce--divine). All of the stores were funky and fun, and I especially thought that the idea for Second Gear was an exceptionally good one.
In the afternoon, we did some more shopping at aforementioned mall (we bought Build-a-Bears for our kiddos...way expensive and a splurge, and I snagged some ridiculously discounted, yet comfortable hiking boots), and I went to my first REI.  (I was unimpressed with REI.  Low selection, and too expensive for our taste.)  We attempted to find the Blue Ridge Parkway, but got lost, which ended up alright in the end because we found a beautiful drive full of golden fields, lush forest, and farmland.  While not exactly mountainous, it was peaceful and lent an atmosphere of simplicity and Southern charm.  We wanted to grab some authentic Carolina BBQ once we were back in Asheville, but struck out (one place was closed, and we trekked beautiful downtown Asheville in vain looking for one place that we never found).  Instead, we went to Burgermeister's, another local place, serving burgers and sandwiches in a funky '80s-meets boudoir pics-meets '70s camp-meets an old jukebox motif (amazingly cool), and we both had the best burgers we have EVER tasted--no exaggeration.  I had a regular grass-fed beef burger with fixings and homemade potato wedges, and hubby had the bison burger with homemade potato salad, which he enjoyed.
We then came home, chilled with Splenda, Amy's ridiculously loving and well behaved black Lab, before calling it a night.
Soon will be the story of days three and four....  :)

More Pics From Our Asheville Trip (With WV, VA, and TN Mixed In, Just For Fun)

On the Road to Asheville, Day One in Pics

I will write a worded update shortly. Pics from our drive to Asheville, NC to see a friend. Traveled through Maryland, WV, Virginia, Tennessee, and NC.

I Am a Moms Meet Ambassador

If you are interested in discussing parenting topics centered around eco-friendly and natural issues, or are wanting to try samples of eco-, natural, and organic products, I encourage you to find a Moms Meet Group near you.  Moms Meet is sponsored by Kiwi Magazine, and is an organization of mommy groups who meet to discuss ways to change our families and planet for the better.  I am a Mom Ambassador for our area, which means I will be creating and leading a Moms Meet group for our local region.  If you are interested in finding, or starting a group, click the link below:

Time to Be Random

Random mumblings from my tired brain....

-On Facebook, lately, I have been involved in many conversations that seem to have one common thread: loving those that are different than you, who persecute you, who choose a different lifestyle or religious choice, etc. Basically, loving those who can be difficult. And I kept preaching this concept, but I am currently involved in a situation where I feel as though I am being tested in this area. Someone in our lives, whom we barely even know, has been causing our family some difficulty with false accusations/strange behavior, and it's something that has angered me and stressed me out. But, the overwhelming prompting I am feeling is to still show kindness and civility, even though I am upset that this person was so irrational. I'm hoping I pass this test, because it is not easy, but I know that if I proceed with love in my heart, Heavenly Father will help me through this...oh, I hope so.

-I'm teaching a class tonight at our church on bulk buying (i.e. stocking up on sale items, warehouse clubs, building food storage, etc.). I'm so excited to share something with my church sisters that I feel so passionately about and something in which I have an unwavering testimony. I really feel so strongly that we should store and stockpile items and food that we use on a daily basis because we never know when a personal crisis or financial setback will occur. Keeping a three month stockpile of food (working up to a year's worth) is an investment that will help protect our family when done in conjunction with emergency preparedness goals. A little at a time builds up to something great!

-I've been blessed to be able to reconnect with a family member lately, one that I haven't been close to in years, due to various (stupid) reasons, and I'm so grateful. It's so refreshing to move past petty issues and concerns and get to know someone, and even more wonderful when you discover you have much more in common with them than you ever thought previously. This is so beneficial to me in my life right now.

Otherwise, life has been proceeding as normal, the typical ups and downs that I am sure we all experience at one point or another. Trying to stay strong, working to pursue and accomplish goals, and striving to be a better wife, mother, friend, and person. It has been a struggle lately, for whatever reason, to stay afloat, and I've stumbled when it comes to some of my goals, but I am trying to tread water and make it to my destination. I must remember to take life one day at a time. It's so hard sometimes, though!

15 Years

On this date, fifteen years ago, I lost a friend in a tragic accident. I was fourteen at the time, and this person was one of the most down to earth, genuine persons that I had ever met, and have ever met, even at such a young age. When he died, a part of us all died with him. When you lose a friend in childhood, even in late childhood, there's a certain amount of childhood innocence that is lost with the deceased that you simply can't get back.
I think of this person often. I haven't seen a picture of him in 11 years due to a mishap involving a school project and a careless janitor that concluded in my losing all of my mementos of our friendship. I hear certain songs, and, to this day, they make me sob in remembrance in him. And although I have lost other dear, young friends along the way, he is the loss that has touched me the most, that has impacted my life the most deeply, and he is the one that I mourn today, fifteen years later.
Whether or not you believe in the concept of an afterlife, I know with a surety that our deceased loved ones live on, through us, through our every footstep, every memory cherished, and I carry them with me everywhere that I go. And I know that my friend is still with me, even now, as surely as I know my first name. I feel the presence of my lost loved ones so strongly, and whether they are still really there with me, or whether it's merely impenetrable memory, I don't know, but in some capacity, they are there, and I am comforted.
My friend, I miss you and love you more than you know. Rest in peace with the knowledge that you are remembered, and, as the hymn states, "God be with you 'til we meet again."

Through the Generosity of a Friend...

I now have an ample long-term food storage!! The hubby and I have made it a priority to keep short-term groceries and basics in hefty supply. We have a freezer full of meat, cheeses, breadstuffs, butter, and so forth. We have pounds and pounds of pasta, dozens of baking mixes, spices, pasta sauces, small canned goods, etc., and I'm proud of this because it's one of the few things I feel we have done right sometimes with our finances and our home. But, building a long term food storage in #10 can form has been a much more difficult venture. It's expensive, and right now, money is tight. But, a friend is moving and couldn't take her storage with her, so we were able to take ownership of it. Between what we already had and her supply, we now have a very good long term storage. I don't plan for some apocalypse or some tragedy, but we do live out in the country and are often without power, or snowed in, and often for a few days, so it's nice to have something on hand. Plus, it's nice to be able to cook nearly anything I want when I want to, and I like the idea of having food on hand to give to neighbors and family if something ever would happen, like a natural disaster. Our church counsels us to keep a food storage, so it has been important to us. I am so grateful for the generosity of our friend, and this is such a blessing for our family today.

Why My Friends Are Better Than Yours

I volunteer at our local animal shelter. A few days ago, a 16 week old kitten came into the shelter with a very severely injured eye--I'll spare you the details--and the shelter had to raise $700 for surgery, or else the kitten would be euthanized.
I was frantic. We were down to our last $12 in our checking account (because we're awesome), and I was feeling guilty about even going to Taco Bell and spending $10 before I knew about said kitten.
So, thanks to social media, I posted the kitten's Chip-in info, and urged my friends to donate, shared the pic, etc.
Some of my friends, who lives miles away and have never set foot in our shelter, gave to this little kitten, purely out of the goodness of their hearts, even though they will likely never personally see the results. Some of these friends are good friends of mine, and others haven't seen me since I was a kid. But, it's safe to say that I was incredibly moved, and because of them, a life was saved. The money was raised, and the little gal is recovering from her surgery.
It's stuff like this that keeps me from being completely and utterly cynical. It's moments like this that keep me from going completely postal during the holidays. The generosity of others never ceases to amaze me. Yes, it's true--I have the best friends.

Why I am Grateful, #23

I was listening to a song from the '80s today, "Life in a Northern Town" by Dream Academy, and for some reason, I started thinking about some of the friends I have lost to death throughout the years. For some reason, there have been more than a few friends of mine who have died too young, but all were special to me, and all blessed me in very distinct ways. So, today, I've spent privately memorializing them, and their presence and time in my life is what I am grateful for today.

Fabulous Read

Read this. Digest it. Live it.
I'm Christian, Unless You're Gay

Why I am Grateful, #8: Awesome Friends

I am grateful for my friends. I have some of the best friends in the world. I don't mean to brag...wait, yes I do, because my pals are fantabulous. Here are some of the amazing things that my friends have done for me lately:
-Gave my lovely little daughter a beautiful, barely used crib. Others have basically outfitted most of her wardrobe with the BEST hand-me-downs I have ever seen.
-Invited my family to Trick-or-Treat, knowing our neighborhood is lame and doesn't do it. (We will be changing that next year.)
-Shared loads of bargains with me so I can snag great things for my family for super cheap.
-Treat my children as their own.
-Remember not only my husband's birthday and mine, but my children's as well, and also remember our special days.
-Brought us meals when we had our baby.
-Threw a baby shower for me.
-Keep me from being anti-social by hanging out with me and inviting me to fun activities/places/shindigs.
-Provide a listening ear when I need it.
-Make me laugh on a regular basis, in addition to putting up with my often irreverent and sarcastic sense of humor.
The list could go on and on and on. My friends are talented, generous, loving, forgiving, compassionate, and so much fun. I tend to be a hard person to get to know, and I am so grateful for anyone who loves me, rough edges and all, and especially those who not only love me, but my family as well.