A Month of Gratitude, #14, 15, and 16

Day #14: I am grateful for the beauty of this earth, for the oceans and lakes, ambling rivers, peaceful plains, and majestic mountains.  I am also grateful for the opportunities that I have to enjoy them, through hikes and travel, and so forth.
Day #15: I am grateful for laughter, and those moments where I can make others laugh, or when I get to experience those rare belly laughs that make me teary eyed.
Day #16: I am grateful for two reliable cars. I know that as soon as I write this that one of them will break down because I am a champion at jinxing myself, but I am thankful that I have a dependable mode of transportation to get me and my family everywhere that we need to go.

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.

A Month of Gratitude, #7 and #8

I have some catching up to do....
I am grateful for my animals.  Although they shed and make me sneeze, and sometimes they drive me bonkers, they also are so wonderfully cuddly, and they are a constant source of unconditional love, my flaws and mistakes and all.
I am also grateful that we live in an area where I have access to bulk food stores, thrift shops, discount grocery stores, active online yard sale sites, inexpensive local produce/farms, local butchers, reasonably priced organic foods, etc.  This area makes it easy to find high quality clothing, furniture, and food for my family at good prices.  And if I cannot find what I need, there are multiple resources an hour in any direction.

A Month of Gratitude, #6

I am grateful today for modern conveniences that make my life easier: the washer and dryer that remove the dirt and grime from my kiddos' clothes (even though I don't know how to fold said laundry), the bread machine that takes the fear out of yeast and rising dough, the stand mixer that preps cake batter while I work on other tasks, the vacuum that removes the pet hair from my carpets and furniture, the heat pump that can cool and heat my home at the touch of a button...I am a spoiled mama.

A Month of Gratitude, #5

Today, I am grateful for fall...pumpkins, the smell of wood burner smoke in the air, hoodies, fallen leaves, seasonal foods, mild weather, hayrides, warm apple cider and hot chocolate...le sigh. :-)

A Month of Gratitude, #4

I am grateful today for a good night's sleep--the ability to rest, recover, and wake up to start afresh another day.  What a wonderful blessing for us all.  Today especially was nice, seeing as we gained an extra hour to our night--I look forward to the "fall back" portion of Daylight Savings Time every year. 

A Month of Gratitude, #3

Today, I am grateful that we live in a society where we have the right to elect members of our government (or to not elect them, as the case may be).  I might disagree with a candidate, even strongly at times, but I am also grateful that we live in a country where I feel we do not have to worry about having another Hitler in power, or someone who is seeking to destroy us as a nation.  Contrary to what some may feel, while I have strong feelings on who will be the best option for us as President, I believe both candidates would be capable of the job, and would do what they felt was best for the country (I just might not agree with it). 

A Month of Gratitude #2

Today, I am grateful for my children.  I might get frustrated sometimes, and feel lost as a parent, but they still provide me a joy that nothing else even comes close to.  They warm my heart and soul, make me laugh, teach me how to enjoy the little things in life, and their sweet spirits are an example to me of how to embrace and experience life.  They are my motivation to be a better person, and I am grateful for what they show and teach me every day.  I never realized how much I can learn from little ones.  I love them so much.

A Month of Gratitude: #1

Throughout the month, I will be posting something that I am grateful for each day in November.
Today, I am thankful for the counsel my church gives to keep a food storage and a 72 hour kit. When facing a "super storm" such as Hurricane Sandy, it was a relief to me to know that we would have food, water, and light, should we need them. The counsel is even more important to heed when you have a family that relies on you. So, today, I am grateful for my food storage and emergency preparations.

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.  :)

Dreamy

I have found myself thinking about "dreams" lately.  Not the kind where we fly or our teeth fall out or we end up at school naked, but dream cars, vacations, houses, basically dream "stuff."  A lot of people I know who are close to my age are pursuing these things, and as I approach age 30, I think, "Am I doing something wrong that I just don't care about these things?  Is it wrong to be content with four people in a one thousand square foot home?  Is there something wrong with wanting backyard chickens instead of a dream house?"
The thing is--I pursued my dreams once.  I ended up thousands of dollars in debt, a pit I am still trying to climb out of.  I lost my sense of gratitude, humility, and practicality.  I still lose sleep over wondering how we are to pay our bills, even though we should be living comfortably on our income. 
Do we have to reach these "dreams" by the time we are 30?  What happened to saving them for when the children are grown, and we can hopefully pay for them in cash? 
I have several dream cars...I love cars...and the thing is, I doubt I would ever buy them, even if I was wealthy?  Why?  Because part of the fun is the dream.  When you want to have the best of everything, what else is left to live for?  I'd rather have practical, functional stuff I can pay for than all of my dreams fulfilled before my life is even halfway through. 
Wanna know what my dreams are?  I want to have land when the kids are grown...either an old farm house to restore, or a one level, modest, new construction.  I want to be able to raise my own animals for food, to grow my own produce, and to be able to enjoy the country life.  I want to go to England, France, Italy, Greece, and Ireland (my mother land, as I call it).  Hubby wants a "project car," an old, beat up luxury car or sports car to restore and sell.  Those are our dreams.  Someday, I hope we can achieve them.  And hopefully can do so while breathing easy financially.
Until then, we can wait.

Lindy Hop

As I have mentioned before, I volunteer at the local animal shelter.  While there, I meet many wonderful animals with very distinct personalities. 
Recently, I had the privilege to meet Lindy, a spaniel mix. As I went to walk her, I noticed that her hind legs didn't work very well, and would collapse under her frequently.  Yet, until I had her on the lead, I would never have known.  Up until then, all I saw was a wonderfully happy, bright dog, that just oozed gratitude for being alive.  Even when she struggled to walk, or when she messed herself, she was vibrant, trembling with excitement and sheer joy, and her eyes just twinkled.  This was a dog that was so happy to be on this earth, spinal injuries and kidney troubles and all.
She found a wonderful foster mother to take her home, but sadly, it turns out that Lindy's happiness was an amazing, yet heartbreaking, front of fortitude and strength.  Her troubles were worse than we all realized, and she died in her foster family's loving arms this afternoon.
Although I only knew her for a short time, her life was a testament to me that we must be grateful for the time we have on this planet, that happiness and strength can be found, even in seemingly insurmountable circumstances.  It makes you think--if she can do it, so can I.  The lessons we can learn from the animals and creatures in our lives, no matter how meek or small.
Rest in peace, my Lindy Hop, and I thank God for the foster who provided you such a loving home in your last days. 

On Minimalism

Lately, I have been reading a lot of blogs and essays concerning the subject of minimalism.  I'm not talking about the literary or artistic movements, nor am I talking about the home decor trend of everything stark black and white and barely there.  I'm talking about living a minimalistic lifestyle--rejecting, even rebelling against, consumerism, getting rid of unwanted and unused items, getting out of debt, pursuing passions and life goals over material goods, etc.
This lifestyle appeals to me, even though it is the complete antithesis of my life a few years ago.  I think it attracts me because it *is* the polar opposite of my former dreams and goals, and those goals, the need to possess lots of (and the best) stuff have wreaked havoc on my life, my health, and my sanity.  Being able to focus more on living a self-reliant lifestyle, having less "things" to worry about, being able to say "NO!" loudly and firmly to the trappings of consumerism, will all lead to my ability to pursue my dreams and my passions that truly matter--and what a more fulfilled life that will be, not only for me, but for my family as well. 
I want to be able to have a firmer resolve, to spend less, to give more, to share my time and abilities with others, to reject jealousy, to conquer my goals and chase after my heart's truest desires.  I want to choose to tromp around outside in this big, wide world when I need comfort, instead of going up to the mall to snag some little thing that provides me temporary happiness--only until I get it home.  Can you imagine being able to live a life where you mainly rely on yourself and your family, instead of what society or friends tell you is important?  Can you imagine being able to live without a mall or Walmart?  Can you envision being able to grow your own food, or make your own, most of the time, or to find outlets for the freshest food you can, instead of relying on processed convenience foods?  That makes my body happy just thinking about it.
This kind of life is possible, with a true desire and conversion to a philosophy of minimalism and self-reliance.  It's better for your family, the environment, and for you.  And I want to examine it more closely and pursue the changes necessary to obtain it. 

Family Fun for Free

As a family, we have discovered a wonderful park in a neighboring state, where the only cost for a day of fun is the gasoline to drive there.  I'm so grateful that we live in such a beautiful area, and that we have another place to enjoy together as a family.  We have been there multiple times now, and each time, I have felt such a connection to nature and peace in my heart. 

What We Can Learn From the Great Depression

In an effort to try to encourage myself to take on a more frugal, self-reliant lifestyle, I have been researching accounts of the Great Depression. What a truly humbling experience this has been for me. I read the stories and see the photographs, and my heart becomes full. Knowing how the American people suffered reminds me to count my blessings that my choice to become provident is just that--a choice--and not something that I have been thrown into in an attempt to survive. I encourage you to take some time to find out more about this period of time in our history and to see what you can learn from it, and I pray that it will help motivate me to create a more self-reliant and humble lifestyle for our family.

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, #28, #29, and #30

Today will be my last post on gratitude, at least for a little while. I am sure that you are tired of these cliched Thanksgiving posts, but I am glad that I am doing them, if nothing else, for my own sake, and for my family's sake. So, for the last time this year:
Today, I am grateful for:
-Good night's sleep, which doesn't always come as often as it used to when I was younger.
-The fact that our local animal shelter, thanks to the wonderful work of its new employees and volunteers, has not killed an animal for space reasons in 366 days. Last year, there was an 85% kill rate, and now, there is a 91% save rate, and the only euthanizations have been due to illness or aggression beyond any control. I am so proud of everyone involved, and the hard work, the tears, the happy "tails," and the battles we have fought together to bring this about.
-I am grateful that my dad deactivated his Facebook account. Before you freak out on me, let me assure you, I LOVED having my dad on Facebook. But, he deactivated his account, at least temporarily, because he felt he was constantly having to check it, which decreased his productivity, and he was tired of all of the drama caused by who is friends with who, and who said what, and who believes what, who read what, etc. It has inspired me to check it less and eliminate unnecessary drama in my life. Granted, it's a great way to keep in touch w/ people, and I'll probably still check it a few times a day, but I want to work harder to check it less and less.

Why I am Grateful, #26 and #27

Today, I am grateful for being able to start afresh each and every day, getting a chance to make things right and to begin again when I stumble in life, as we all do. I'm going through a bit of a trying time right now where I am really doubting myself and my abilities, and it helps me to make it through knowing that today is another new start, and I have people who love me unconditionally.
I am also grateful for health insurance/dental insurance, which I didn't have as a kid, and enables me now to decently afford health care and dental work. While it doesn't cover everything, it makes the costs digestible and manageable, and I know it would be so much worse not having it because I've lived having to do without it. This week, I went to the doctor and came back with three prescriptions, and only had to pay $23 for all three, and I was able to also go to the dentist and get my teeth cleaned and x-rays for free as I have done for a few years now, and which I couldn't get done regularly as a kid.
For those two things, today, I am grateful.

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.

Food for Thought on Thanksgiving

"Joy is the simplest form of gratitude." --Karl Barth

How wonderful is that quote. I have a planner that I use for my to-do lists, and each week, it has a different quote, and that was this week's quote. Sometimes, when I look at what other people have, or buy, or when I envy their talents or their looks or their personalities, I find myself getting depressed, feeling like I don't have enough, don't do enough, don't spend enough money.... Whereas, if I actually just appreciated what I had more, I'd probably be happier and not care as much about what others have or do. And I'd have joy. And what shows gratitude better than joy? I think I want to carry this quote with me as I enter the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons. I get so depressed sometimes around the holidays, between the demands on my time and energy, and the frazzled, contrary shoppers, and the stress of preparation, and feeling on one hand like I just want to reject the whole notion of the commercial side of the holidays, and yet, I feel guilty when I see my friends buying tons of stuff for their kids, and I'm keeping such an uptight budget for my own. When, really, if I just focus on what I have and try not to stress out, I'd find so much more joy in the season and with the holidays. I need to remember what is truly important and strive to be more grateful, and less envious and materialistic.