Thankful Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'm thankful for slow days and family time.  I'm grateful for family traditions and trying new things in a safe and comfy way.

We are regular Americans here in the Gollihugh household.  We do things a bit differently, here and there.  One tradition we changed happens to be for Thanksgiving.  We decided (maybe the children and I and Jessie has sorta just gone along with it??) that we would forego the traditional turkey dinner on Thanksgiving.

It happened very "organically" last year.

A couple nights before Thanksgiving last year we had a hankerin' for sushi.  We didn't have much of the makings, but we had a few things (like the ingredients to make sushi rice and nori, so we made a go of it).  Actually... Jessie MADE it, I just encouraged him along.  And MAN! did he make a GO of it!  We ended up with what we'll call "redneck sushi" and it was fabulous!  We had a roll with green apples in it, a spicy tuna roll made of tun from a can, and another few rolls.  It was scrumptious!

All that wonderful redneck sushi made us want more, so we went to the store and purchased a few things and planned to have more for Thanksgiving.  Since we were going to have sushi, we decided to make it an Asian meal.  I prepared lumpia (with two sauces), okonomiyaki, and Jessie made lots and lots of sushi rolls!  It was AWESOME!  We had okonomiyaki for a few days after.  The children still remember all of it (including the leftovers) with fondness!

This year, the requests were Taiwanese or Thai.  Well, as it happens, Taiwanese food is very much like Chinese.  It would've taken me a great deal more research time to find some authentic Tiawanese recipes.  It's a little easier to find Thai recipes (or, as we've coined it: Thai-ican recipes).  So, we had a lovely Thai dinner for our Thanksgiving dinner and it was FABULOUS!

We had Green Chicken Curry on Jasmine rice, cold broccoli salad, butternut squash cakes, butternut squash biscuit pudding, butternut squash spice bread, and pineapple banana coconut milk shake!  MAN!  Our bellies are very very FULL!

God is good.  Even when things in my life don't feel quite as wonderful as they do right now.  God is GREAT!



Thankful Thursday

I am thankful to be fully free of PostPartum Depression for the first time.  My fifth baby is 4.5 months old and, if I remember correctly, it's hit prior to now in each preceeding postpartum period.  I'm so grateful to hope that it will stay away for good.

Monday morning, during my walk, I imagined a series of scenes... almost like a movie in my head.  I saw my past experiences with postpartum depression (especially the first time around!) as if I was mauled... slowly and painfully ripped at, and eventually fully eaten by a big, bad, horriblyhideous dog of hell.  I was still aware as I traveled through the digestive system of the hell dog and, yes, still aware as I was pooped out.  As poop in a pile, I was conscious and did, at times, feel a desire to give up and just be poop.  But even though the changes (through the whole process) were so super slow and took so long it felt like forever... the piles of poop next to each other melded together and eventually reformed into me... but different.  Very different.  So, I'm not the glamourous phoenix, for sure... but at least I know where I've been and what I am.  What we all are, really.  Cause that phoenix was originally poop, too.... way back.

Anyway... I felt like I should share that "movie" right after I saw it.  I felt like, maybe, if someone else feels like poop in a similar way... well, maybe they'd feel able to share with me... because I also saw that Heavenly Father allowed me those tortures (and those I still endure, just happen to be free of PPD!) so that I could sit in the darkness with another... that I might be able to bring some comfort and hopefully light to their darkness.  I sure hope so.  I know there were so few who could endure my darkness...  those few who did dare... well, even if they might hate me in the future, I will adore them to my dying day!

I believe Heavenly Father takes those He takes through valley so that they are able to guide others through... sorta like trail blazers.  Those they guide could rely on God just as the trail blazers did... but perhaps choose not to?  I'm not really sure about that part, but I definitely yearn to help others through faster than what I've endured.  I know *a* way and sure hope to share it with anyone who may be willing to listen!  ^_^

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for October.  I'm thankful for birthdays.  My Kit Kat turned 7 yesterday.  My nephew, Petie turns 5 today.  My Tea turns 5 in a couple weeks!  A niece turns 3... can it be? a couple days later!  I just LOVE October and birthdays!  ^_^

I'm also thankful for greater peace and enjoyment of my life in my heart and mind.  God is working on me... in me.  I feel the changes as mighty and tumultuous at times... painful and wonderful.  I'm pretty sure those around me see little difference.  And I'm okay with that.  I know how different I feel.  And I'm SO grateful for the mighty work our Father God is doing in me!  If He can change me (and I bear witness that He does and IS changing me!), He can change ANYone!!!  ^_^

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for challenging people and, generally, challenges in my life.  I'm thankful (more easily and readily so) for the joys and peaceful times!

My lil babygirl is SUCH a joy!  I'm especially thankful for her continuously!

I'm thankful for the Home Party I'm demonstrating at tonight!  I'm thankful for customers and return customers both in real life and via internet friendships.  I'm thankful for this business (Lilla Rose) and the wonderful women it has brought in to my life.  I'm thankful for the amazing line of which I am a part.  The ladies in my Lilla Rose group (upline and horizontal line) are truly LOVELY!  I'm thankful for walking and the other parts of my emotional, mental and spiritual self-care that are helping me stay sane through this very stressful and trying time of my life.

I'm thankful for my life and all that comes with it.  No matter the difficulties, I am truly blessed of the Lord and for any and all good that comes into my life the praise is His!

Thankful Thursday

i'm thankful for change.  The ability to change and the opportunities each new day provides.

i'm thankful to have met some neat ladies on Tuesday night and hope to be meeting some more today!

i'm thankful for hope... maybe not hope in the things i used to hope in/for... but hope in new directions and with new foci.

i'm thankful for Heavenly Father's provsion - even miraculous provisions!

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful that blessings and trials are equal.  The trial may seem unendurable, yet if I can look with the right eyes, I always see some blessing in/of/from it... and always there follow blessings sent, as it were, to wipe the tears away.  Of course, they often cause their own tears... but tears of joy instead of sorrow.

I'm thankful for a Loving Heavenly Father who has blessed me so abundantly with the earthly family I have.  Growing up with them was a lil' tough for me, but being an adult with them is almost completely a joy and pleasure.  I sure am glad to know such a fine group of human beings!

I'm thankful for trials.  I'm thankful for blessings.  I'm thankful for the gift of eyes to see and ears to hear that I may understand.  God is GREAT!

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful for trials that force me to question my reality and learn from what I've been through.

I'm thankful for my family.  I'm so thankful  for hugs from them and their love no matter how much I may not deserve it.

I'm thankful for meditation and the peace that comes with reading the scriptures.  I sure do love the book of Revelations!