Thankful Thursday: Week of January 19 - 25

Thursday, January 19, 2012:  I'm thankful for the peaceful good day we've had today.  I'm especially grateful for those things Jessie did of his own desire and motivation.  I'm especially thankful that among the things he accomplished today he did dishes!  What a help to me!  He also fitted out our newest bunnies in a safer location (on our patio and in the pet-like hutch we sort of bought).  Additionally (an no less importantly), he fixed the current rabbit-keeping get-up to be more firmly attached and in place.  Hopefully whatever is predating our rabbits will be UNsuccessful in the future!

Friday, January 20, 2012:  I'm thankful for the cleaning, letter writing and story-writing I was able to do today.  What a productive (though in small ways) day!  I love to see results of my efforts!  I'm grateful that Jessie took some time out of his work day to get the tags for our vehicles and deposit our paycheck.  Unfortunately, he didn't have everything he needed to do the job....  ahwell.  He certainly tried.

Saturday, January 21, 2012:  I'm thankful for the quiet day at home and the things we were able to accomplish (not much, but also a lot).  Shifting the "media/craft room" around.

Sunday, January 22, 2012:  I'm thankful for health and the opportunity to go to church together as a family. YEAY!  We are all well and hopefully we'll stay this way for a while!

Monday, January 23, 2012:  I'm thankful for Peace in my heart even when the world seems to run a-muck around me.  I'm grateful to be able to accomplish much (never enough, but still happy for what does get done).  Today, phone conversations to resolve ICES stuff and empathize with a Sister are the accomplishment of the morning.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012:  I'm thankful for the errands Jessie ran today, which will decrease the stress of running those same errands with all our kiddos.  I'm grateful for the work he does, generally.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012:  I'm thankful for the serving of our family Jessie did today.  He dropped by Tractor Supply to get some chicken wire, then off to the dirt store to buy some more good stuff, then back home to bust his bum some in getting the awesome dirt in place.  We normally work together as soon as he gets home with the black stuff, but today I was working on something when he got home.  He got right to work, for which I'm super grateful because doing so enabled us to have a more leisurely lunch together before he had to go to work for the night.

Although I am not happy that what has happened HAS happened, I'm so beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve (in my capacity as Compassionate Service Leader) a really wonderful family in my Ward.  I have felt some moments of pure joy in service for them, for which I am tremendously grateful!

I'm also grateful for the awesome experience of receiving what felt like to me, a download of information from Heavenly Father which I have high hopes may help the person it is meant to bless.  "Oh, use me God!" my soul joyfully cried, when I learned from my friend that the information I'd received sounds good to her!!  I'm so grateful to feel to be an instrument in His Hands!!!

Thankful Thursday: Week of January 12 to 18

Thursday, January 12, 2012:  I'm thankful for the garden work we were able to get going today.  We now have almost double the space we started with before our efforts!  YEAY!  I'm hoping I'll have a good planting plan sometime soon!

I'm grateful for the writing I've been able to get done.  27 pages in the past 3 days (not including today).  Pretty awesome, yes?  :)

Friday, January 13, 2012:  I'm thankful for answered prayers.  I've been praying the Lord to bless me with Quantum Leaps in my progression... mostly Spiritual, but also hoping for other things and other ways of becoming better... I realized just recently that the Lord has answered my prayer by blessing me with numerous trials.  The most recent trial of ill health has been cumbersome, to say the least.  Each time I think my sweet babies are better, they barf again.  :(  It's exhausting.  Emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually exhausting.  I pray I am truly Leaping... but fear I am barely baby stepping along!

Jessie made some suggestions about writing effort he would like to see me make and since then I have met or exceeded his suggestion.  He said it was not an expectation, per se, but I have felt it to be just that.  Good progress in the THE story that has been gestating in me for the last eight year is such a joy.  I feel such excitment in learning what is happening in the lives of these characters that are almost like friends in my mind!  If you don't write, I realize that could sound crazy, but it's really quite normal.  I promise.  :)

Saturday, Januaray 14, 2012:  I'm thankful for all the work my children and I were able to accomplish this afternoon!  Kat and Tea did help, but really it was mostly Ria and me working hard to get some more of our front garden area defined so we can pack it full of good dirt.  (Our soil here is mostly sand with a little dust-like dirt mixed in.  When I dig down far enough, it's a bit of clay mixed with dirt.  Amazing, right?)  We did get the area completed.  It was wonderful to accomplish so much with my kiddos!  Jmy was a sweetie almost the whole time.  He crawled back and forth, following his sisters in their efforts to gather dirt in a little bucket and move the liner stones we used.  I got the easiest work today.  I'm still super tired for the 26 hours awake last Sunday....  Anyway... hopefully we'll be able to get the dirt on Tuesday.  I'm sure we'll be able to spread it over the whole area, but I think we'll have to make one more haul to fill in the area to the depth we need.  I still haven't planned out the plantings....

Plus we have a long strip area in the back that needs work.  We're making that area into huglekulture (as well as the third 8x10 bed we fixed up a few weeks ago).  I'm hoping this kinda of garden will help us with the dry hot summer!

Sunday, January 15, 2012:  I'm thankful for the Sacrament.  I went to church to partake and then back home because Ria barfed Saturday night and Kat barfed twice this morning!  "/  I'm grateful for the peaceful and enjoyable day we spent together as a family.

Monday, January 16, 2012:  I'm thankful for how helpful my girls can be when we have work to do. I'm grateful for their loving dispositions.  I'm grateful that I was able to get some work done in our front garden area and then salvage some screws for future projects.


Tuesday, January 17, 2012:  I'm thankful for the awesome work Jessie did in getting another load of mushroom compost for our gardens.  We've got the front area we've been working on completely covered... just have to get another load to finish it off.  We'll probably also be able to start adding soil to the LONG garden box in the back in which I hope to plant lots of peas for eating (and, if I'm truly blessed: canning!).  ^_^

Wednesday, January 18, 2012:  I'm thankful for Jessie, my husband.  Jess is a good human being.  He's strong (physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually).  He is talented: plays guitar, teaching himself to sing, writes well when he sits down to do it (stories and songs, etc) and he's got a most amazing and enjoyable imagination!  Jessie is very VERY skilled!  He is a Chef, a musician, a mechanic, a handy-man, a good planner (when he puts his mind to it), a great play-mate for children, and a hard worker when he chooses to be.  He is just a really good person.  I'm grateful he found me on matchmaker.com these 11 years ago!  I'm even more grateful that, even though I wasn't a praying girl or doing right in many ways, that the Lord whispered loud and clear that I should break some of my "rules" to meet this guy.  Even with all the troubles, he's really worth it all!  I'm grateful for the Father he is and is becoming.  I'm grateful for the provider he is and consistently tries to be.  I'm grateful for his efforts to become a better man.  I'm grateful that he is my husband and pray WE will both continue to successfully  KEEP CHOOSING US!  ICU, JessieWho.  I really do.  And I still choose you.

I'm grateful for those things that were accomplished today, especially what Jess chose to do without being asked: fitting a light up in our computer room.  It's so much brighter in there at night now.  I'm grateful for the time we were able to spend together as a family.  It was a GOOD day!

Thankful Thursday: Week of January 5 to 11

Thursday, January 5, 2011:  I'm thankful for all the work we were able to accomplish toward the garden.  It was really nice to have a family meal before Jessie went off to work, too!

Friday, January 6, 2011:  I'm thankful for my sister-in-law, Anni.  Today is her birthday.  Although she dislikes me with a vehemence I don't quite understand, I am grateful for her because without Anni in Jessie's life, I know my husband would not be exactly who he is.  And since he's my Man, and We
Keep Choosing Us, I'm grateful for who he is and what part she has had in making him HIM!  I'm grateful for all those who have been in Jessie's life who have contributed to the man he is.  So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Anni.  I'm grateful for you and hope you have a wonderful day!

I'm also thankful that, even though the day started out difficult, it has been a peaceful day.  Kat awakened for the first time around 3 or 4am to throw up, then again a few hours later, another time or two after that.  She hasn't hurled for a few hours now, which is wonderful.  Hopefully she'll remain well and we'll be able to go to church on Sunday.  We'll see.

Saturday, January 7, 2011:  I'm thankful for productive and peaceful days like today.  I created an "event" in Facebook for Ria's birthday party/activity.  I did a tiny bit of organizing food storage to free up some cardboard boxes we're using for gardening.  I was able to purchase a couple things from Emergency Essentials with some gift cards I earned (so exciting!).  And finally made some headway in getting some information for my ICES job.  YEAY!

Sunday, January 8, 2011:  I'm thankful for more time as a family than we normally have on Sundays....  I missed going to church to partake of the Sacrament, but illness has been upon us.  Kat started throwing up on Friday.  Diarhea Saturday and today.  Early this morning Tea started throwing up.  Jess is feeling nauseous and I have a horrible headache.  I honestly do not feel thankful for the illness anymore.  Trying to be grateful about what the illness has caused/brought with it.

Monday, January 9, 2011:  I'm thankful for an easier day than I expected after Tea and Jmy being ill yesterday.  Neither of them threw up again today.  YEAY!  Praise the Lord for His mercies.

Tuesday, January 10, 2011:  I'm thankful for a lovely day trip to Orlando with my family.  The children wore their balck and white clothes Brother Kelly gave them for Christmas.  Their appearance and enjoyment of dressing alike warmed my heart tremendously.  I'm so grateful for my family!

Wednesday, January 11, 2011:  I'm thankful that I was able to accomplish some work that needed to be done.  I'm grateful for encouragement to write - in the last two days I've written sixteen pages of my story!  (That's one long-ish and two short chapters!)  ^_^  Jessie heard about Amanda Hocking on the radio Sunday night and has encouraged me to try for similar success.  So... I am.  :)  I hope you may choose to purchase my book and spread the word once I've released it via ebook formatt.

Believed In

How can words describe the joy
that flexed its wings in my heart
when I realized your words were no ploy?

I think that they, sweet though words are,
fall short in effort to deploy
this hope you've renewed; to describe this new star.

To believe in self is good; and yet
it will carry you only so far.
The light from this star's birth will long be felt, I bet.

A few simple words and suggestions made.
Radiant beams; this star will not set.
It's the most wonderful compliment paid.

Don't you see,
the foundation laid?
A new way to be.

These wings will grow stronger and are sure to flap hard.
The new being burst forth into Light is still me.
Yet not, for the chrysalis has been marred.

A new me filled with this star begins to emerge.
The old doubtings begin to be charred.
Various wings and Ways begin to merge.

Questions, plans, and hopes rise up
as the joy within me continues to surge.
And I am that which runneth over: the cup.

Gratitude falls short to gather the sum.
Am I thankful?  Yup!
I hope I'm no bum.

So the tank begins to fill.
Though starved long, this is no crumb.
The adventure begins anew, if God Will.

A Birthday

January 6, 2012.

Happy Birthday, Anni.  I hope it's a lovely day in every way.  Truly.