Thankful: 30

I did it!  I made it a whole month of thankfulness.  Today I am thankful for people who are passionate about the poor and helping others around them.  We have so much going on in our area to help those who need it.  Makes me happy to be around those kind of people.

Thankful: 29

Whoa...only a half hour left and I would have missed my first thankful day!  Today I am thankful for pumpkin pancakes.  Yummy yummy!  I'm thankful that I have food to eat and my children will actually eat pancakes without me stuffing it in their face.  They seem to love pumpkin pancakes enough to stuff them in their own faces!  I made this recipe!

Thankful: 28

Today I'm thankful for my pretty Christmas lights.  My hubby worked hard yesterday afternoon and I just love my lights.  I like sitting in my chair and seeing them out the window of my living room at night.  (Did I just sound like some old lady sitting her recliner?  Because it's true...)

We have the big Noma lights and they look perfect on our stone house!  

Maybe I will get a picture once it snows.  (pic via)

Thankful: 27

Thankful for huckleberry jam!  Reminds me of vacation and the great times we had.  It's also pretty yummy on my toast!

Fresh huckleberries that my friend and I ate in one night!

Thankful: 26

Today I'm thankful for a safe trip home and happy travelers.  We made it home pretty quick and are ready to get started on our next projects!  Happy Birthday to my mom!  I'm thankful for her too!

Me & my Mama!

Thankful: 25

I'm thankful for a weekend with my family!  It's been fun and I'm always sad to leave.  We did a little shopping, walked around in downtown with the lights and Santa, looked at antiques and most importantly ate at Hy-Vee for breakfast.  My parents even bought the boys snowboots.  It's always fun to hang out with my fam!

Thankful: 24

I know I posted my ABCs of Thankfulness, but one has changed.  I'm thankful for hot water!  A small little man in my life turned the hot water heater to "vacation" yesterday.  That means no hot water this morning!

Thankful: 24 ABCs of Thankfulness!

Are you tired of me being thankful yet?  This is probably a very good exercise for me though.  It seems we sometimes forget the little things.

Bonhoeffer writes in Life Together "We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts prepared for us because we do not give thanks for daily gifts."  He continues, "We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the small (and yet really not so small!) gifts we receive daily.  How can God entrust great things to those who will not gratefully receive the little things from God's hand?  

He goes on to write more about giving thanks and I think I will be rereading that portion of the book tonight and tomorrow!

Here are my ABCs

A-Asics!  I couldn't do letter "R" without them.
B-The Ball park.  We love baseball and my kids love to run around the field and play ball.
C- Crocheting.  I'm passionate about my hobby.  I love where it has taken me but also what it has taught me.
D-DVR- don't judge.  I can't live without it.
E- ELCA.  What a gift and what a privileged it is to be a part of this Body of Christ.  We work to bring the Good News to so many and I'm proud to say my husband is the pastor of two wonderful ELCA congregations. 
F-Family.  Enough said...
G- Good Gifts Catalog- I'm thankful that I have a chance to help others in this way. 
H- Husband!  Where would I be without him? 
I-Ipod.  Love it to run and it's always good in the car!
J-Jelly.  Huckleberry jelly from our vacation this summer.  It makes me happy to think about.
K-My kids!  Life would not be complete without them!
L-Laughter- especially of toddlers and preschoolers!
M- My MOPS group!
N-NCIS- sometimes it's nice to sit back and watch a show.
O-Oldsmobile.  My car.  It was a gift and we couldn't live without it.
P-Pancakes- my kiddos are addicted to those little microwavable mini pancakes.  Happy fast breakfast!
Q-Quilts- My hubby's grandmother made him one and we got it for our wedding.  It's cold in Minnesota and we need it now!
R- Running.  I would be even crazier than I am and for sure over weight.  Blessed that I can run. 
S-Snow or the lack of it.  We will be able to travel safely for Thanksgiving this year.
T- Traveling to see my family.  I actually love time in the car.  Lots of crocheting and laughing. 
U-Umizoomi asin Team Umizoomi.  Mama needs a break every once in a while!
V-Vapur water bottle.  It's never far from my side.
W-watching!  Train watching that is.  All of my boys love to d it.
X-Xyron- my crafty little toy and I'm so thankful for things that make my life more fun and easier!
Y- YARN.  See letter "C".
Z-"Zow" you've got fabulous shoes on your fabulous feet!  The boys love Sandra Boynton Books.

Linking up with Finding Joy!

Thankful: 23

Today I am thankful for Wednesdays!  I know this sounds crazy.  They come every week and for me they involve my husband being gone at confirmation and meetings until the kids go to bed.  I really love Wednesdays though.  It's the day my oldest goes to school all day!  I get an early morning run in and I feel like I can get so much accomplished with only one child who still naps for a few hours.  I rarely answer the phone (sorry about that D, I know you needed me today.  And M, sorry I left you hanging!)  I don't answer text or usually check my facebook or email during nap time.  We hardly ever leave the house!  I feel like I get a million things done and I feel refreshed.  I love my oldest but he's intense and the break is good for both of us.  The rest of the week flies by and we are able to enjoy ourselves without the "wait a minutes" and "I've got to get this done". 


via!

Thankful: 22

I'm thankful for social networks.  As much as I want to "turn it off" sometimes.  I do enjoy connecting with friends I'm thankful for and being able to stay in contact with people I otherwise couldn't.  So, facebook, you drive me nuts sometimes, but I am thankful that you help me stay in touch with my many friends!

Thankful: 21

Today I am thankful for my winter coat.  Until you have experienced negative temperatures for a prolonged period of time, I don't want to hear about "how cold it is" where you live!  Just kidding!  After my first winter, someone brought it to my attention that I needed a long coat.  It will keep you warmer, especially your legs.  Boy were they right.  I love my coat.  I love that the boys and I were able to get out and about today.  And, I'm thankful that I've never had to buy the boys a winter coat.  We've had some fantastic hand me downs!


*I can't find a picture of my coat, but trust me it's long and goes to my knees.  I ordered it in a tall so that the sleeves would be long enough*  

Thankful: 20

I'm very thankful for Ronnie and the crew for the city.  It snowed and snowed yesterday.  I'm thankful Ronnie comes over and clears our driveway for us (in about 60 seconds with his bobcat) and the guys from the city have the roads cleared sometimes before it stops snowing.  Not much stops us in Minnesota!  And supposedly this snow will melt by the middle of the week.  So thankful!

This is from last year.  Thankfully we don't have this much snow yet, but check out that clean driveway!  We *heart* Ronnie and his bobcat!

Thankful: 19

Today I'm thankful for my parents.  They are pretty great and still take care of me!  I'm anxious for next weekend so we can see them.  They are amazing grandparents and my kids think they are awesome!

Playing at the children's museum with my parents!

Thankful: 18

I'm thankful for my sister!  She's funny.  She makes me laugh.  She calls me sometimes.  She's the youngest, but will be in charge if I let her.  She's smart and I can't wait to see her in a few weeks.

Oh & she loves my kids.  That's probably the best part...

Thankful: 17

Today I am thankful for the way our church reaches out to those in need.  We have been blessed to be a blessing to others!


ELCA Disaster Response


ELCA GOOD GIFTS- need a gift?  Want to give something that will give back and help others.  This is it.  $10 can change a families life.


ELCA Malaria Campaign- Our church is on a mission to end malaria and the deaths that it can cause.  Join us in the fight...Our Sunday School kids have been raising money for mosquito nets all year.  I'm so proud of them.

Thankful: 16

I'm thankful for my recliners.  They are hand me downs and just wonderful.  Most importantly, they are big enough to snuggle my two babies.  Especially the one who just got home from school and wants to snuggle with mom.  It's fun sitting side by side under a blanket!

I still remember my grandparents sitting in these recliners!

Thankful: 15

My library!  I'm thankful for all the books they have and can get for me.  I'm really enjoying an autobiography about a Minnesota marathoner right now.  I would have never picked it up if we hadn't been browsing the shelves.  My boys are just crazy about getting books.  Now, I'm off to read a little more.  

My current read "Staying the Course"!

Thankful: 14

I'm thankful to be a stay at home mom!  It leave the door open to do things, be able to help others, and most importantly be the one to raise my babies.  My boys and I do not always get along.  We have bad days and rough times, but I wouldn't change a single thing.  I know I'm not a perfect mom, but I'm the perfect mom for my boys.  

Not the best picture, but lazy mornings in bed are some of the best times at our house!  I love staying home.

Thankful: 13

I'm thankful for a clean kitchen this morning.  And I'm thankful my husband cleaned it for me.  The kitchen is that one area in my house that I just have to stay on top of.  If it's clean, I'm feeling pretty good.  If it's messy, I feel like my whole house is a disaster!

found here!  Not my kitchen, but maybe someday!  I love it.

Thankful: 12

This one is going to be different.  I'm thankful for trains!  It's my husband's favorite hobby and my children both love them.  It's fun to watch people you love do things that bring them great joy!  I'm thankful that we took a call so close to train tracks and that we've found *crazy* friends who enjoy train chasing just as much as my husband.  I'm also thankful for the those pre-kid years with my husband when we would head out for the day just to see what trains we could find! 

I would love to post one of my hubby's train pictures, but he's a published photographer so each picture is watermarked with our last name.  Not sure I'm ready to share that with the world.  Plus, I'd probably have to go wake him up and ask permission to use them!  Trust me though, I'm very proud of my husband and the pictures he takes.