Day Fourteen: Perfect Healing.

The cold, Georgia raindrops. 

At the end of October, just a few short days before I started my series on A Month of Thanks, I wrote a post about my sister and her Mom away from home.  If you missed that post, it's best that you go read it now, so that you're caught up.  It's called Raindrops. 

Last Wednesday, Mr. M, G & I, along with my parents piled into a van and drove to Tennessee for Thanksgiving. It's always draining to squeeze six adults, a two year old, a dog and two cats in a small space for five days.  There are moments where I know we were all thinking, "man, I can't wait until this vacation is over".  There had been bickering and arguing, and one pretty nasty blow up between my sister and I.  That confrontation happened on Saturday afternoon and pretty much left us with awkward tension for the rest of the evening.  The tension and semi-silent treatment bled into the next morning. As a family, we all decided to head to the Chattanooga Market and make the best out of the rainy Sunday afternoon.  We did.  My sister and I had made conversation, but things still weren't right.  Then the phone call came.  It was B - my sis's boyfriend.  His mom passed away that morning at about 8:00am.  I could hear the tears in Nutmeg's voice.  Before she even hung up the phone, I knew what had happened.  There we sat...all seven of us...at a stop light. Silence filled the air.  I was stricken with guilt for acting so foolish the night before - arguing over something petty, when there were such bigger, more serious problems in the world - in the world very close to me. 

She [B's mom] passed exactly a month after I wrote Raindrops.  Many people prayed for her and for her family.  Everyone wanted her to be healed.  She has received healing now - perfect healing.  I know without a doubt, that she is with our Savior.  No more pain.  No more tears.  No more fear.  I don't understand why she is gone.  She was so full of life, and had so much love to share.  She'll never see her grandchildren.  She'll never see Nutmeg and B get married one day.  Or see B finish college.  I know God has His reasons - reasons we can't understand.  But it seems so unfair in so many ways.

The Tennessee rain continued to fall through Sunday night and into Monday.  It was cold, and there was such a solemn spirit in the air.  After saying our goodbyes to Nutmeg and my little brother, we packed in the car and were on our way.  It was cold and it was raining.  During the ten hour drive from Chattanooga back to Florida, the only thing on my mind was the family behind Raindrops. 

We stopped at a McDonald's for coffee...a song was on the radio, and it took everything inside of me to choke back the tears.  I don't even know why.  The song really didn't relate to the situation at hand, but I couldn't wait for it to be over.  Maybe it was the rain, the bitter cold, or just the thought of losing someone you love so close to Christmas.  Maybe it's seeing first hand how short life really is.  Maybe it is the reality that others carry heavy burdens on a daily basis, and most of us are too wrapped up in our miniscule problems to even notice. Maybe it was all of it.  I really don't know.  Her services are tomorrow.  She will be missed, but she is in a much better place. 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  ~Revelation 21:4



*This is the song that I heard in McDonald's:  

Day Thirteen: Road Trips.

Miles the Puggle.

Road trips are the shiz.  I've always had a weird obsession with them.  Growing up, my family took many a road trip from time to time.  Of course, living in the country, and at least fifteen miles from civilization, just making the hour drive to the mall seemed like a road trip at times.  But you get used to it.

My dad played wheelchair basketball for years.  Tournaments opened a lot of doors for us to travel.  The biggest trip we ever took that was related to basketball events was our trip to Boston in 1993, I think.  I was twelve, and that was a long drive!  I remember there was snow on the ground and it was March.  That was a completely foreign sight to see for a Floridian.  I also remember going to a ritzy banquet while we were there, and being served this really gross chicken that was stuffed with orange-infused rice.  I have no idea what that was about.  A northern thing, perhaps?  Basketball took us on other adventures, but mainly in the South - Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and various cities throughout Florida.

There were some non-basketball related road trips as well.  Many of those were to Illinois and Arkansas, where my Dad's family is. I haven't been to Chicago in years, but it's one of my favorite cities.  Little Rock was the last family road trip we took in 2006, I believe.  I'm really not good with remembering years - obviously.  It was 2000 and something....I know that much.  In college, my sister and I, along with our good friend Lang, took a road trip to Richmond, Virginia.  We left the day after Christmas in 2003 and drove twelve hours straight.  This is also the trip where Mr. M and I got to meet in person for the first time.  You can read more details in A Borrowed Blog.

The time has come for yet another trip.  As you're reading this, I am cruising up the interstate with Mr. M, G, Grandmom (my mom) and Poppy (my dad) along with a goofy little dog named Miles.  We are headed to Tennessee to visit my sister and brother for Thanksgiving.  I'm thrilled.  This is G's very first road trip.  When she was about nine months old, she and I flew to Chattanooga to visit Nutmeg, but we've never driven further than a couple of hours with her.  I will be sure to give a full report on how she did once we're back in Florida. 

Road trips are tiring, yet exhilarating.  They are sometimes pricey, but cheap fun.  They can be spontaneous, or planned for months.  But whatever they are to you, across the board they're always packed with lots of laughs, lots of car games, and lots of fun.

Happy Thanksgiving & Safe Travels to you!

Day Twelve: Leftovers.

This will make you thankful for leftovers too!

I know it sounds funny to be thankful for leftovers, but I am.  It's not so much about the leftovers per se, as it is about being blessed to have such a plentiful amount of food.  I know that I am guilty of taking for granted the ample supply of edible goodness that we have in America.  From grocery stores to gas stations, and fast food to five star dining - the abundance is everywhere.

And speaking of never-ending nutrition, Thanksgiving is less than two days away.  On Thursday, families and friends around the country will sit down and feast on yummies such as turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, salads, homemade biscuits, pies, cookies...the list goes on.  My taste buds are already chomping at the bit.  If your family is anything like mine, you'll probably have leftover turkey coming out of your ears.  Every year it seems there is enough leftover turkey to last us until Christmas, which in turn means unless you want to spend the entire rest of the weekend eating cold turkey sandwiches, it's probably best to starting thinking up some new turkey recipes.  And that's the inspiration behind this post - well, along with everything I said in paragraph one.  Below you will find my recipe for Chicken Pot Pie, which can easily be turned into Turkey Pot Pie.  It's hearty and easy and absolutely delicious!  Once you've tasted it, you will be thankful for leftovers too!



Homemade Chicken (or Turkey) Pot Pie. 

Ingredients:

• 2 Chicken Breasts, cooked and cut into bite-size pieces. If using turkey, I'd guess about 2 - 2 1/2 cups of meat.
• Chicken Broth, 2 cans or 1 box
• Mixed Vegetables, 28oz frozen
• Onion - large, chopped
• Minced Garlic, approx 2 tbsp
• Pie Crusts, 2
• Butter, 1 stick
• Milk, 1/3 cup
• Olive Oil, a drizzle
• White Cooking Wine, a splash
• Flour, 1/3 cup
• Salt & Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Crushed Red Pepper
• Drippings from the chicken pan.

This is the fun part - we get to put it together!  Whenever in doubt, reference the pictures...or email me with questions!  I don't measure, I just do it.  The official directions (without the pictures) are at the bottom.

Preheat your oven first.  Then toss your chicken bosoms in a skillet with olive oil, garlic powder, and salt & pepper.

 

 

 

Chop up your onion.

Mmmm, butter! 

Throw about half a stick of butter in a pan along with the chopped onion and a blob of minced garlic.  Mmmm, blob!

Throw in another chunk of butter (about a tablespoon), and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder.  You'll also want to add a splash of cooking wine too.  And at this point,  your kitchen is smelling amazing.  Go ahead, savor the scent!

Add about 3 tablespoons of flour - heaping tablespoons.  Your texture should be gooey and sticky.  Pour in your chicken broth and stir.  You're going to have to play with the texture now.  Add a couple more tablespoons of flour, and a splash of milk.  Bring to a boil, and add your vegetables.  The texture should be enough to coat the veggies nicely - smooth and silky. 

Your chicken should be nice and browned by now.  Remove from pan and add a splash of cooking wine to get all those yummy chicken drippings from the bottom of the skillet.

Chop chicken and add to your mixture.  Sprinkle a few red pepper flakes for an added kick.

I recommend taking the pie crust out of the freezer about 10 minutes prior to wanting to use it.  It's much easier to work with if it's not frozen solid.  Cut into pieces - there is no right or wrong way to do this, but I've found the above pattern works really well. 

Layer the bottom of your casserole dish with crust.  It doesn't have to be covered completely, just get a few pieces down there.  Pour mixture on top and then cover with remaining pieces of crust.  There is no art to it - just slap it on there.

Bake at 350*F for 35-45 minutes.  Let it cool for about 15 minutes before digging in.  

 

Indulge.  You can thank me later. 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees Fahrenheit.  
2. Cook chicken over medium heat - iron skillets work best if you have one.  Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and olive oil.  Let it brown nicely on each side.  
3. In large pot, add half stick of butter with a drizzle of olive oil.  Add onion and minced garlic, along with another tablespoon or so of butter.  Shake in some salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and add a splash of cooking wine.
4. Add 2-3 heaping tablespoons of flour.  Let it come to a bubbling buttery mess, absorbing all liquid.  The texture should be thick and somewhat gooey - yes, gooey is a real cooking term. 
5. Add all of the chicken broth, and stir.  It's going to be really loose now, but don't worry, we'll fix it.  Get out a whisk and add two more heaping tablespoons of flour...one at a time.  Whisk until smooth, adding a pour (maybe 1/3 cup) of milk.  Bring to a gentle boil and check the texture.  If it hasn't thickened up by now, you'll want to add some more flour.  It should me smooth, silky and thick - like a pie filling. 
6. Taste - add salt, garlic powder and black pepper to taste. 
7. Add mixed veggies and stir.  Toss in your chicken (or turkey) and put on low heat.  If you still have the meat drippings in the pan, turn the heat up and add a splash of cooking wine.  Bring to a simmer and then scrape the drippings into your mixture.  You'll be amazed what that will do for the flavor!  Sprinkle a few red pepper flakes and give it one last stir.
8. Break out the pie crust.  I advise taking the crusts out of the freezer about 10 minutes before you're going to use them.  They are the perfect texture to work with at this point.  Cut a circle around the base of crust as if you were going to pop the bottom of the crust right out of the pan.  Cut into slice - you'll probably want to reference the pictures about now. 
9. In a large non-greased casserole dish (mine is 2 1/2 quarts), sporadically line the bottom with strips of pie crust.  You don't have to cover it...just a semi-covering will do.  Pour in mixture, and cover with remaining pie crusts.  Because it might spill over, I recommend placing dish on a foil-lined cookie sheet before placing into oven.
10. Bake on 350*F for 35-45 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes before serving. 

Now tell me you're not thankful for leftovers?  Enjoy!

Day Eleven: Caring Coworkers.

My new office warming gift.

Since my college days, I've held three real jobs.  I spent the first three years of my college career working as a circulation assistant in a library.  I loved that job.  I remember when I started, minimum wage was still under the five-dollar mark.  Craziness.  Before I knew it, we got a raise to $5.25 - woohoo!  We were really stacking paper. 

My senior year of college, I was toying with the idea of pursuing my Masters degree post-graduation.  I was interested in the MAT program - Masters of Teaching in Arts.  I had spoken with the head of the Education Department on campus, and turned out he was very well-acquainted with the director of the preschool lab which, up until that point, I didn't know our campus even had.  One thing led to another, and I was offered a position in the lab teaching music to two, three and four year olds.  I was eventually promoted from music teacher to Director's Assistant.  For a little over a year, I taught.  The position ended, and I was forced to move on.

Let's fast forward to 2008.  Mr. M and I moved up to Gainesville, and I was offered a secretary position at my current place of employment.  I accepted.  Within three months, a position opened within the same office for a financial aid coordinator.  I applied.  They made an offer.  I took it.  I advised for about three years.  I worked with some really awesome people in that office.  They saw me transition from married woman to motherhood.  One of them in particular, helped me a great deal with the anxiety issues that her and I have both been plagued with.  A hand full of them cried with me when my marriage was falling apart.  And then cried tears of joy with me when M and I worked it out.  Together, we've laughed, we've cried, and we've been angry with each other.  But the good times always outweighed the bad.

My position in that office came to an end in August.  A new opportunity arose for me.  I was still in the same department, but in an entirely new office with new people and new surroundings.  It was scary.  I was leaving everyone and everything I had known for the past three years.  My first day on the job, I was greeted by a package of Black & White cookies on my keyboard.  How thoughtful!  In the area where I work, there are only about five of us, so it's small.  They have all known each other for years, so I was totally the new girl. 

"It's always broccoli just before the pie."

A couple weeks into this position, M and I found out we were pregnant.  With my first pregnancy, the day after I found out, I told a good friend of mine that I worked with at the time.  But this time, I didn't.  I was in a new environment still trying to find my comfort zone, and wasn't sure who I could or wanted to share such big news with so early in the pregnancy.  After the first doctor's appointment, I decided to tell my supervisor.  She's such a genuine person, and she promised she'd keep a secret.  The day after I told her, I started spotting.  It was a Friday.  I had called my doctor that morning, and the nurse said it was probably nothing to worry about.  It got progressively worse on Saturday, and by Sunday morning it was full-blown bleeding.  I was terrified.  After talking to the doctor on call, she said they couldn't get me in until the next morning.  I texted my supervisor to let her know what was going, and told her she could tell our other two office mates so that they would know as well.  She called me, and prayed with me over the phone.  What a blessing.  My fears were confirmed Monday morning following an ultrasound.  I had miscarried. 

After taking a couple days to recuperate, I returned to work.  I was greeted by a card that said, "It's always broccoli just before the pie".  On the inside it read, "Hope things are pie soon".  It was perfect.  Stuffed in the envelope, I also found a gift card.  Reading through the personal messages they had written, I had to fight back tears.  I was so touched that they had gone out of their way to show such kindness in a time of personal struggle. 

In the days since I first started working here, a lot of changes have happened.  From a career stand point, I've learned so much about myself and about my work - things I want, things I don't.  Emotionally, it's been trying at times - the adjustments of a new atmosphere, new personalities, and being the new girl.  And, the hardest struggle yet, has been the ultimate high of "Yes, we're pregnant!" only to experience the heartache of losing that pregnancy a few weeks later. 

When I first started here, rumor had it that this was the best department to work in - the people are genuine, they're drama free, and they honestly care about one another.  Those rumors have been confirmed.  I am blessed to work here, and blessed to have such caring coworkers.  They have helped remind me, that no matter how much broccoli you're forced to eat, you do eventually get your pie.  Thanks, guys.

My 30th Birthday cake, baked by my supervisor.  Homemade Red Velvet, yum!

 

Day Ten: I Luzz You's.

G back in March.

My daughter is twenty-two months old, and she's had a case of the terrible twos since about April of this year - not a fun time in our household.  Some days are very trying.  Others are pretty good.  Some are down right miserable.  She fusses over everything, wants to be held constantly, and I almost dread car rides that last longer then ten minutes.  The terrible twos are indeed, terrible. 

With all that said, this past Monday was more trying than usual.  My husband and I had both taken the day off in order to enjoy a nice long weekend for both of our birthdays.  I was excited for three of us to get an entire weekday together, because that rarely happens.  G, on the other hand, didn't seem to care what I was hoping or planning for.  She was fussy, she didn't want to take a nap, and she had destroyed the freshly cleaned living room in about three minutes flat.  By that evening, my nerves had been worked.  I could not wait for her bedtime to roll around, so that me and M could have a couple hours of peace and quiet before we were in bed.

The time came and I said, "Baby, let's get ready for bed".

I got a blank stare. 

Take two, "C'mon honey, we gotta get our pajamas on." 

She looked at me and said "No, no, no." 

I knew trying to sweet talk her wasn't going to work - you can't reason with a toddler.  I put my parental authority into action and scooped her up in my arms.  This resulted in flailing arms and legs, and vocal rebellion.  I've learned that not giving into her tantrums are the best way to calm her.  By the time we had walked from the living room to the bedroom, she had mellowed and was giggling.  She got quiet and then looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, "I luzz you."  This of course was her version of, "I love you".  I melted. 

All the fussing, the screaming, the arm-flailing, the kicking, the throwing herself on the floor, the whining, the crying - everything negative that the terrible twos consists of doesn't really matter in the big picture.  Yes, it's hard, and it's miserable on some days, but it's part of being a parent.  There hasn't been a temper tantrum yet that hasn't been forgiven and forgotten...no matter how upset she gets.  At the end of the day, it's the moments filled with I luzz you's that count the most.  Those are the moments I'll cherish forever.  Nothing compares to hearing those three little words from that curly haired little girl...I luzz you.

I luzz you too, baby girl!

Day Nine: Whatta Man.

Monday was my husband's thirty-fourth birthday.  When we first met, he was twenty two.  Damn, that's a long time.  If you've read A Borrowed Blog, you have a pretty good insight of our story.  If you haven't read it, I definitely would encourage you to - it's a good read if you're into love stories and happily-ever-afters.  I'll wait if you want to go check it out. 

--waiting--

--still waiting--

Hey, you wanna hear a joke?  Nevermind, that will just distract you - and me, I'm sure.

--waiting just a little bit longer--

You're back!  Great!  So, now that you have a background on me and M (or as you just read RayH7), I can proceed.  Our story gives you ups and downs and facts, but it didn't really talk about the people behind us.  You've gotten to know me through my writings, and through "Dino Who?"  And I tell you stories about M and our daughter G, but in honor of his birthday, I want to take the time to share with you the man behind the letter M.

When I first met M, I had just turned eighteen.  We met - online - the following month for the first time.  I had just broken up with this other dude, and was still pretty comfortably sitting on the I-hate-men bandwagon...at least as comfortable as an eighteen year old senior in high school can be.  The last thing I wanted was another bad experience with a member of the male species.

Me and M hit it off right from the start.  He was different than other guys.  We shared the same faith foundation, and for me, that was the number one must have in a man.  He also took the time to really get to know me - my likes, my dislikes...what makes me laugh, what makes me cry.  He was a friend...a real friend.  Building on top of our shared faith, came the honesty of friendship from which grew love.  Our official journey together began in 2001, and we've been together ever since.  I've watched him grow from a twenty two year old college kid into a very well-rounded, respectable man. 

Together, over the past almost twelve years, we've experienced highs and lows just like any other couple.  Through it all, we've endured.  M has been my rock.  He's been my best friend when I had nobody else.  He's seen me at my absolute worst - emotionally, physically, psychologically - and loved me anyway.  He's loved me through the many screw ups I've made in our relationship, or in my own personal endeavors.  He is the most hard working man I know.  Honest.  Trustworthy.  Loyal.  He's a wonderful father to our little girl.  He takes care of us.  He's respectable and respectful.  He cooks.  He cleans.  He does laundry.  He's my comic relief...my therapist...my best friend.  He stays positive during the hard times.  He knows when to hold his tongue.  He stands up for what he believes in even when it's not popular.  He owns up to his faults, and he's man enough to apologize when he's in the wrong.  He provides for his family.  He's genuine.  A lover.  A fighter.  A football fanatic.  He's smart.  He's strong.  He's gentle.  He's a good man.  He's mine. 

I love you, Mr. M. 

Day Eight: Freedom.

Daddy.

So often when people here the words freedom or liberty or any word that's remotely patriotic, their brains go immediately to politics.  And people get ugly over politics.  I mean, ugly!  Well, you can relax and keep reading...this isn't going to turn into a political debate.

I've been thinking about this post since the beginning of November.  I knew when I started my series on A Month of Thanks, that once November 11th rolled around, I wanted to write something special in honor of Veteran's Day.  Now that the day is here, I've got a serious case of blogger's block - it's like writer's block, but different.  And yes, I made that up.  Cheesy.  Because of the brain blockage I'm experiencing, I've decided to start typing and hope that my fingers say what they're supposed too.


Military careers run deep in my family.  I have a hand full of uncles who have served, along with cousins, my father-in-law, grandfather, my husband and my dad.  Combined, they represent the United States Army, USAF, Marine Corps and the Navy.  I'm partial to the USAF since that is the branch my husband served in, but at heart I'll always be a bigger fan of the U.S. Army.  But, shhhh!  Don't tell my husband.  HOOAH!

Daddy back in 1968, Vietnam.

My dad was in the Army - that's the branch I grew up hearing about which would explain my love for it.  My sister, brother, and I have heard countless stories throughout the years - of battle and war, of sacrifice, of the price of freedom.  We weren't the usual military brats that most people assume.  My dad was out of the service before he even met my mom, so we never got the chance to fit the military brat stereotype.  Such a shame.

My dad served in Vietnam in the late 1960s.  In his faith testimony he always pokes fun at the Army's slogan Be All That You Can Be...he jokes, "Or in my case, it's be half of what you used to be."  When he enlisted, he was 6'7".  When he was discharged, he was 4'4".  Dad lost both of his legs from a claymore mine explosion.  He tells us he was walking along, and then there was a flash of light, a ringing, and heat.  The heat from the blast was actually a blessing in disguise - it cauterized the arteries in his legs, which in turn saved him from bleeding too death.  He spent several months recovering in Walter Reed Hospital before going home. 

I've given you just a glimpse of my dad's story.  He, like so many other brave men and women, have served and fought - proudly - for our country.  As civilians, many of us can't begin to grasp the level of sacrifice that our soldiers put forth every day.  My dad's sacrifice was his time, his blood, and his ability to walk.  For others it's the sweat of their brow, time away from their families, and putting themselves in harm's way.  And then their are some who give the ultimate sacrifice - their lives.

I could write for days on my love for our country, for our men and women in uniform, and for the freedoms we practice in the United States.  But I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes,

"For those that will fight for it, Freedom has a flavor the protected shall never know."

This Veteran's Day be thankful for the freedom we have, but most importantly be mindful of the ones who have sacrificed so much to give us that freedom.  

"American Soldier"

by Toby Keith

I'm just trying to be a father,

Raise a daughter and a son.

Be a lover to their mother

Everything to everyone.

Up and at 'em bright and early

I'm all business in my suit.

Yeah I'm dressed up for success

From my head down to my boots.

I don't do it for the money,

There's bills that I can't pay.

I don't do it for the glory,

I just do it anyway.

Providing for our future's my responsibility.

Yeah, I'm real good under pressure -

Being all that I can be.

I can't call in sick on Monday,

When the weekend's been too strong.

I just work straight through the holidays,

Sometimes all night long.

You can bet that I stand ready,

When the wolf cries at the door.

Hey I'm solid, 

Hey I'm steady, 

Hey I'm true down to the core.

I will always do my duty, no matter what the price.

I've counted up the cost,

I know the sacrifice.

And I don't wanna die for you, 

But if dying's asked of me

I'll bear that cross with honor, 

'Cause freedom don't come free.

I'm an American soldier, an American.

Beside my brothers and my sisters

I will proudly take a stand.

When liberty's in jeopardy,

I will always do what's right.

I'm out here on the front line

So, sleep in peace tonight.

American soldier, I'm an American soldier.

Day Seven: Weekend Getaways.

On day four of my Month of Thanks series, I wrote about my love for weekends.  The only thing I can think of that's better than a regular weekend is an extended weekend.  And the only thing that could make an extended weekend better is a weekend getaway.  This weekend, M and I are blessed to have not only an extended weekend, but we're also going on a weekend getaway.  And I can't wait!  We have not been able to have any kind of miniature vacation or escape since our honeymoon - over four years ago. 

We've had this little escape planned for about three months.  Earlier this evening, I dropped G off with her Grandmom and Poppy (my parents), and M and I went into immediate vacation mode.  We had dinner at our favorite Mexican restaurant to kick off the weekend, and first thing in the morning we will hop on the road and head north.  Not only will we be able to catch up on sleep, a little lovin', and conversation, but the best part will be the quality us time.  We'll have no computers (which means I'll be on blogging hiatus for a couple of days), no crying baby, no dishes to wash, no cats to feed, no distractions whatsoever.  Just me and him.  Together.  Focused.  The way it's supposed to be.

Me & M on our last getaway - our honeymoon in 2007.

 

T-Shirts for Turkeys.

One of my favorite radio stations is The JoyFM.  I have listened to them since I was nineteen - over ten years now.  Their slogan or catchphrase, if you will, is "Helping You Find Joy".  And they do just that.  Stationed in Sarasota, Florida, they reach cities all across the state.  When I moved from home to Lakeland for school, I was happy to find a local broadcasting station.  These days, while I do listen in the car, most of my listening takes place in my office via their Listen Live tool on TheJoyFM.com.  It's a great source of encouragement especially on days when I'm dragging. 

Putting aside the music, encouragement, and goofiness that is shared over the airwaves, one of the biggest reasons I love this station is for the outreach.  For the past eight years, the people behind the JoyFM have headed up an event called T-Shirts for Turkeys.  What is it?  They set up at different locations within their listening area, and collect turkeys in an effort to feed the hungry during the Thanksgiving season.  This year they will have booths set up in Ocala, Sebring, Gainesville, New Port Richey, Tampa, St. Pete, and many other stops around central Florida.  All of the locations are at Publix Supermarkets, so they shouldn't be hard to find.  Not only will they be accepting frozen turkeys, but they will also accept "paper turkeys" - a ten-dollar donation to go toward the turkey fund.

If you'd like to help in a great cause, buy a turkey or bring a paper turkey, and look for the JoyFM booth in your area!  Please visit their website for more information:  T-Shirts for Turkeys. 

Day Six: 30 Years.

Today, I celebrate a milestone - my thirtieth birthday.  I can't believe it.  For me, it feels like your teens and twenties last forever.  Thirty seems so far away....until it's not.  My twenties were good.  I left home at twenty two, and moved three hours south, with my sister, for school.  Living on your own, you learn a lot about life...a lot about yourself.  I learned some things the hard way, and some things I learned from watching others.  I've had a lot of great experiences, and still have a lot of things I want to do - my bucket list grows every year.  In honor of my birthday, I've decided to make a list of thirty things - things I've either done, experienced, or describe the woman I've grown to be; and things I'd like to experience before this journey ends.  Some are silly, some are serious, some are just for laughs.  But no matter how you want to take it, here's to another thirty years! 

Cheers. 

1. I've fallen in love.
2. I traveled to the other side of the world - Japan to be exact.
3. I married my best friend.
4. I've given birth.  
5. I want to go to Greece.
6. I've gone skinny dipping.
7. I want to buy a house. 
8. I've been in a car accident that I should not have walked away from.
9. I grew up immersed in the world of wheelchair sports...particularly wheelchair basketball.
10. I want to have more children - soon.
11. I've never dated a white guy.
12. I didn't get my driver's license until I was eighteen. 
13. I want to visit all fifty states. 
14. I'm afraid of the dark - I really am.
15. I met my husband online.
16. I prefer rainy days over sunshine most of the time.
17. I've never been drunk. 
18. I'm a pianist.
19. I collect magnets.
20. I've learned that your Mom really is always right.
21. My husband was my first kiss.
22. I'm over six feet tall.
23. I've never carved a pumpkin.
24. I've lived in Florida my whole life. 
25. I want to go to the Olympics before I die. 
26. I went snorkeling in the East China Sea.
27. When I was nineteen, I was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder.
28. I'm a natural blonde.
29. My daughter has two middle names.
30. I've learned that true love does wait.

Day Five: A Day At The Park.

This past Sunday, my husband, daughter and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful fall weather and headed to the park.  Seeing little G laughing and completely enjoying herself got me thinking about blog topics.  I thought about writing on the innocence of children, or child like faith, but as I flipped through the pictures I saw that they told the story better than I ever could.  Enjoy!

 

 

Day Four: Weekends.

I don't know a single person who doesn't merrily greet the weekend.  Personally, I've always been a fan of them, but I never really learned to appreciate them until my senior year in college.  That trend has carried on into my later years, as well. 

I majored in music, and we were always required to take a gazillion credit hours.  During my senior year, particularly my senior semester, I was taking nine classes (which added up to eighteen hours), working two jobs, preparing for my senior recital (I'm a pianist, so this required at least twelve to twenty hours of practice a week), interning, and planning a wedding.  My weeks were jam packed.  I remember days where every minute was scheduled - I'd start at 8:00a.m. and finally be home by 9:00p.m.  From class to work to my internship to the practice rooms to more class to more practicing...I barely had time to breathe let alone eat or sleep.  Man, I'm glad those days are over...but they were good days - some of the best I've ever had.  Although I was busy seven days a week, I still lived for my weekends.  A good portion of my Saturdays were usually spent sitting at a piano for hours on end, but I always made time for me, even if it was just a couple of hours.  Sometimes it was meeting up for coffee with my sister, Nutmeg...other times it was practice all day, and then date night with M.  Ahhh, dating my husband before he was my husband - those were good times.  I'm smiling at just the thought of it - I guess I'll be writing about that soon.  Back on topic...

Weekends were always different from the rest of the week no matter how busy they were.  It was a different kind of busy.  That mindset has carried over into my married life and mommyhood.  These days, Saturdays are usually full of grocery shopping, running errands that were avoided during the week, and cleaning.  Sundays are church, good food, and more often than not, finishing up any errands that weren't completed on Saturday.  Sometimes, especially during this time of year, we are visiting extended family on weekends or making plans with friends.  It's rare...like endangered species rare...that we have a weekend where nothing is going on - a weekend like this weekend.  This week, I was blessed to have Friday off.  In an effort to make Saturday and Sunday completely stay-at-home-days, I made sure all the shopping was done on Friday night.  And oh how great it felt to not have to go anywhere today...no errands to run...no groceries to buy...no tired and screaming baby in the back seat...no sitting in traffic...no nothing - just absolute hang-out-in-your-sweat-pants-with-no-makeup kinda day.  It was fantastic.  I got to spend the entire day with M and G - it was a family affair.  And the best part?  I get to do it all over again tomorrow.  I could definitely get used to this. 

God bless the man who invented weekends. 

Day Three: Our Bed.

No, this is not my bed, but doesn't it look inviting?

"There's nothing like sleeping in your own bed."

Isn't that the truth?  Especially when you've been out of town for a few days, or if you've  been away from home for just a night...it's amazing how comfortable your bed feels upon your return.  I chose to right about my bed tonight not only because it is incredibly comfortable and I am indeed thankful for it, but I'm mainly writing about it because I'm incredibly tired, and the thought weighing most on my brain right now is sleep...not blogging. 

Our bed is a Sealy...I think.  It's whatever brand it is that has the little cartoon sheep in their commercials.  Serta, maybe?  It's one of those S brands.  Either way, it's King sized, pillow top and pretty much like sleeping on a cloud.  Fantastic.  Oh, and did I mention it was free?  It was a wedding gift from M's parents, actually...what a blessing.  It's funny, because we knew we were getting it, but circumstances wouldn't allow us to have it until about two or three weeks post-wedding.  Before we were married, I owned a twin and he owned an extremely uncomfortable futon.  The futon made a trip to the dump, and my single entered the marriage.  You don't realize how small a twin bed is until two people are sleeping in it.  M was usually crammed into the wall, left arm stretched under the pillow that held my head, as I slept with my back facing him - too cramped to even think about moving.  There were some nights that we decided it best for him to crash on the couch...it was the only way we could both get a decent night's sleep.  Needless to say, when our king-sized delight was delivered we were stoked. 

Our bed has seen the walls of four different bedrooms.  It's slept adults, newborns, terrible almost two year olds, and cats.  It's caught water, juice, milk and baby formula spills.  It's worn an array of sheets - red, caramel brown, mint green and hand-me-down florals.  It's suffered a broken, but repaired frame.  It's heard arguments and love...laughter and tears.  It's creaky.  It's squishy.  It's comfortable.  It's ours. 

Our haven of sleep.  Our comfort zone.  Our bed.  

Day Two: Technology.

Modern day technology is amazing.  It's fascinating to think of how far we've come in just the last twenty years or so -- computers, cell phones, social networking, GPS, blogs, forums of particular interest, Skype, text messaging, iPods -- and that's just to name a few.  Each of those items plays a role in most people's daily life.  I, for one, use a computer, a cell phone, social networking, blogging, Skype, and text messaging on a daily basis.  There are also a hand full of forums that I used to visit on the regular, but that was pre-motherhood when I had occasional free time.

Cell phones and text messaging go hand in hand.  I am probably the only woman on the planet who doesn't like to talk on the phone.  I hate it - maybe even despise it.  Text messaging was created for people like me.  I have a disclaimer that I tell people when I give them my number, "I hate talking on the phone and I suck at returning phone calls, but I'm a great texter."  Nine times out of ten, the receiving person feels the same way.  Text messaging is my main line of communication with family, friends, and sometimes even co-workers.  On occasion, I'll check my phone bill to see how many texts were sent and received from my line...my record so far was close to 4,000 text messages in one billing cycle.  I think I've got a problem.

Skype is one of my favorite modern day advances.  As you may have read in Raindrops, my sister lives in Tennessee.  Earlier this year, she introduced me to the world of Skype, and it was a match made in technology Heaven.  While it's rare that we use the video chat feature - okay, I admit, we've never used it - we still chat on Skype instant messenger almost every day.  It's been a great aid in allowing us to stay in touch across state lines. 

And finally, let's talk computers.  Almost everyone has one at home, and probably one at work too.  I use a Mac at work, which I love; and at home, we have a PC laptop.  We actually just bought it - and when I say "just bought it", I'm talking we bought it last night - an early birthday gift from my husband.  This is actually my first blog composed and posted from this machine.  Computers allow me to write this blog.  Computers allow you to read this blog.  Computers give me job security.  They are responsible for my husband and I meeting.  I'm sure there are a hundred ways you and I could count as to how computers make our lives function more smoothly.  I'm not sure about you, but I can't imagine a world without them.        

Whether it keeps you employed, aids in your social life, or allows you to be in contact with family across the country, technology has become a staple in today's society.  And as cheesy as it sounds, I really am thankful for technology. 

Super Saturday.

We've all heard of Black Friday - the day following Thanksgiving where people camp outside of department stores and malls in hopes of being the first in line for stuff that they don't need, but desperately want.  As soon as the stores open, the doors are flung open, and the aisles are rushed with shoppers eager to swipe that plastic and spend that paper.  I can honestly say, I've never done the Black Friday thing.  Maybe it's because I just don't care that much about stuff, or could be that I'd rather sleep off my post-Thanksgiving turkey coma rather than stand in the cold at 3:00am with a bunch of strangers.  I'm leaning more toward the latter. 

Anyway, on my drive to work this morning, the DJs were talking about the upcoming holidays, which ultimately lead to Christmas shopping and Black Friday.  In years past, some stores have gone so far as to open late on Thanksgiving night and stay open all night as kind of a pre-Black Friday introduction.  This year, Walmart has taken it to an entirely different level.  This Saturday only, November 5th starting at 11:00am, Walmarts across the country will kick off the Christmas shopping season with Super Saturday.  They will have specials on electronics, toys, kitchen appliances, and many other goodies.  So, if you're hoping to get a jump start on your Black Friday shopping or just want some great deals on great stuff...head on over to your local Walmart this Saturday at 11:00am.  Visit their website for a pre-Super Saturday sneak peak.  Happy shopping!

Day One: A Paycheck.

It's Day One of A Month of Thanks.  And as the title says, today, I'm thankful for a paycheck.

We all do it - complain about our jobs, our paychecks, our bosses, our parking spaces, our coworkers...the list goes on.  Even the very idea behind Dinosaur Mommy stems from a distaste of a job that I don't really want to get up and go to five days out of the week, but I do it.  Of course, the dislike of my job comes from wanting to be at home with G, not because I straight up hate my job. My passion lies in giving my all to being a stay-at-home mom and wife, rather than giving forty hours of my week to corporate America.  If you haven't already, I would encourage you to read Dino Who?  That will give you the story behind the story.  Now, moving right along to my Month of Thanks. 

I work for a major university - I'm not going to tell you which one, because I don't want any psycho stalkers.  I've worked here for over three years.  I've been in my current position going on three months.  Next to teaching preschool, it's probably one of the best jobs I've ever held.  I have been more than blessed working here.  The parking sucks, but I get great benefits, a steady paycheck, paid leave and vacation, and my coworkers are fantastic. 

Not only am I thankful for my own job, but I think I'm even more grateful for my husband's.  When we first got married, my then current position as director's assistant in a preschool came to an end.  M was working a dead end job at a civil engineering company to support us, while I was steadily searching for work.  I eventually landed a job working as a Chiropractic Assistant, only to be laid off two short months later.  Much to our dismay, two months after I was laid off, M was let go as well.  There we were - newlyweds and jobless.  But all you need is love, right? 

One thing led to another, and I landed a part-time secretary position here at the university.  So, we picked up and moved three hours north to the area where I grew up.  M was still unemployed at the time, but within a month of us settling into our new town, he was hired on with a pretty major company in the state of Florida.  After almost a year with that company, he decided to go back to school, and was able to work part time.  In the midst of the chaos, we got pregnant.  After G was born, M was nearing graduation and then things got bad.  Although he was working part time, he was only getting about ten hours a week.  My paycheck was the bread and butter, and we weren't getting much bread after rent, utilities and baby needs were met.  While bills piled up, our marriage slowly broke down - but that's another topic of conversation.  In January of this year, after nine long and exhausting months, M landed a job.  Thank you, Lord!  A couple months later, he was promoted to a position that he now loves and is able to use the schooling that he worked so hard to obtain.  I'm proud of him. 

With the job market in such shambles today, and so many people unemployed, I hate hearing people complain about their jobs.  I honestly want to slap them.  I know what it's like to have two dollars in your checking account on a Tuesday, and pay day isn't until Friday.  Or to be so completely overwhelmed with frustration that you can't even cry or pray or even curse correctly.  Saying it's hard doesn't seem to cut it.  There were days (more often than not) where I was completely numb with the stress.  Looking back, I know those hardships were just part of our journey.  We would not appreciate the financial stability we have today, had we not experienced such a drought in the years prior.  Now, when I've had a crappy day, or I'm having a pity party about something I don't like at work...God has a funny way of snapping me back into reality - of reminding me where I came from. 

So, next time you're complaining about the long walk from the parking lot, or the obnoxious co-worker who never smiles...just be thankful that you've got that job, and that car to park in the lot.  Because in the bigger picture, our "problems" are usually not so problematic after all - there is always someone who's worse off than us - always. 

Be thankful for that paycheck. 

A Month of Thanks.

Goodbye October, Hello November!

If there's a month I love more than October, it's November - hands down, without a doubt, no question, absolutely love it!  Could it be because it's my birthday month?  Yeah, that probably adds to it, but the eleventh month of the year has so much to offer - the weather is cooler, the air smells fresh and crisp, there is delicious food all around us, we get to celebrate Thanksgiving, and it's the month right before Christmas!  I mean, what more could you ask for in a month?  With that said, and Thanksgiving only three short weeks away, I thought this month would be the perfect time to talk about all the blessings that have been showered upon my family and I.  So, starting tomorrow, for the next thirty days, you will get an inside look at all the things - ordinary and extraordinary - that I'm thankful for.  From family members to freedom, and Starbucks to comfortable sweat pants...you'll read about an array of things (and people) that I'm thankful to have as part of my every day life.  I hope you'll enjoy the read, and most importantly that you'll be mindful of the blessings in your own life. 

Happy November!