Thanks Tank #24

So today has been a rather crazy, busy day but I really wanted to make sure that I posted a thanks tank because it's been a little while and because I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. I hope that as the holidays are starting to ramp up for everyone and the next two months fly by that everyone will make sure that they are consciously making an effort to think about the things that are filling your heart with thanks and the One who gives us joy!

1. I'm so thankful for a chance to go on vacation with my family. We had so much fun doing all the touristy Southern Cali things but we also managed to squeeze in time to see family. I'm thankful for my extended family and how much they mean to me and how much I love them even though I don't get a chance to see them very often.
2. I'm thankful for Facebook. I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again but I just love keeping in touch with not only local friends and family but also my friends and family that are far away. In the past week I've reconnected with my two best friends from high school here in Eatonville and also found some "other" family members on FB that I didn't know were on there. It's too fun getting caught up on their lives and family!!!
3. I'm thankful when my husband sees that the garbage needs to be dumped and takes it out without me having to ask. It might sound silly but it means a lot to me to have him do that w/o me asking him to.
4. I'm thankful for modern medicine and all the things they can do these days to treat people who have serious medical issues. It really wasn't too long ago that some of the things that are so easily diagnosed and treated now were undetectable and led to death or severe illness.
5. I'm thankful for the power of prayer to not only heal but to calm. I'm thankful for all those that are praying for the medical issues that are going on with in my extended family right now.
6. I'm thankful that when we got home from Cali and over the last couple of days that even though it's been cold it has been nice and sunny and not stormy.
7. I'm thankful for beautiful autumn days and for the fall colors appearing on the trees and bushes.
8. I'm thankful for our good friends the Thompson's who agreed to watch our pets while we were gone.
   
9. I'm thankful that the girls' parent-teacher conferences went so well and the girls are doing so well in school.
10. I'm thankful that Wednesday was the last day of volleyball practice and this Saturday is Sammy's last game. I LOVE the sport but am happy to be having a few less things to do every week!
    

Wednesday Why's

Why does the peel on a banana get thinner the riper the banana gets?

Why does it seem that the shows I like to watch on TV are always on when I'm busy but then not on when I have nothing going on?

Why do some people love rainy, gloomy weather and others prefer sunshine and heat? Does it have something to do with personality, genetics, environment?

Why did my floor fail?

Why do I sometimes prefer a latte over a regular cup of coffee and then other times only a cup of coffee will satisfy?

Why do we give out candy at Halloween time? When did this ritual start and why?

And lastly - this isn't a why question but it's something I'm hoping someone might be able to answer for me - has there ever been a child/person abducted from Disneyland?

Litterbug?

would it be considered littering and could I get a ticket for the massive amount of pine needles and leaves that collected on my car while I was gone for a week and then proceeded to fly off as I drove down the street yesterday?

It's getting cold in here - so put on ALL your clothes!!!

36*F ~ 36*F ~ 36*F

Seriously? Seriously!?!?! It's 10:30 in the morning and still only 36*F!!!! We just got back from 90*F weather!!!! I'm not sure my blood can take it!!!!!

Wednesday Why's

Why does some people's hair naturally change color as they get older?

Why does the thought of going back to work (even part-time) terrify me and yet thrill me at the same time?

Why does it warm my heart to the core when a baby lays their head on my shoulder and then just stays there for a snuggle?

Why doesn't Stephanie have 24 oz iced cups at Austin Chase?

Why do I like Almond Roca syrup in hot drinks and not cold? And Coconut syrup in cold but not hot?

Why do I love homemade banana bread but despise eating a banana?

Tuesday Teachings

This past week was really, really busy and I didn't take the time like I should have to do my bible lesson each day. So I ended up doing it all on Monday. While I'm really glad that I got it all finished I definitely didn't get the full benefits of being in God's word each day and taking more time to dwell on the key points of each days lesson. I'm praying that this next week I will do a better job of that.

As I assumed when I started this bible study and when I started these Tuesday postings, the longer I'm in the study the more great bits of insight I'm learning. So I'm going to share a couple of points and thoughts that just really stood out to me. Starting with a statement that Tianne Moon said today during our DVD session - "Bible study is not just about gaining knowledge of the bible but about applying those principals to our lives."

While there were many things that stood out in this weeks bible study, I feel the main topics we touched on that hit home the closest were about humility and obedience. Here are some of the phrases I underlined in my book.

Living in unity means that we stop pushing our own agendas and actively value the ideas and opinions of others. We become willing to set aside unimportant personal differences so that we can accomplish important godly goals.

My disobedience to God is more than committing sins or making bad choices. My disobedience takes God off the throne in my life and seats me in His place. By disobeying His commands, I choose to be in charge - ignoring God's rightful place in my life.

True joy does not come from being in charge, it comes from humbly acknowledging that God is in control. Joy is a product of worshipping the only One worthy of our praise and humbly serving Him in every aspect of our lives.

Unity and humility are essential qualities of strong friendships.

Before and After

So on Friday I had my hair done. At the beginning of the summer I went back to blond after having dark hair for a long time. I was intending to go back to the dark chocolate color come fall. But after having been gone from blond for some time, I started feeling like maybe I wanted to stay in this "land of denial" a tad bit longer. But either way, something had to be done about those roots. So I decided to ask Keith what he thought and he decided I should go back to the chocolate. Here's some before and after (though not the same day) photo's for ya all to look at and then tell me what you think - blond or brunette?

Thanks Tank #23

Gonna make this short and quick cause I've only got a few hours of sleep time before we are up and at them and starting on a very busy day! My thankful thoughts for this week are as follows:

• i'm thankful that my hubby was able to get away for a couple of days and relax, chill and hang out with his really close friends.
• i'm thankful for my daughters help in cleaning the house this evening. they did an awesome job and with minimal amount of complaining.
• i'm thankful for the fun next couple of days we (the girls and I) have planned.
• i'm thankful for the extra helpers we had in MOPs today. and the reminder of when I was younger and only wanted to be around babies!
• i'm thankful that the girls are older and i can do things like take them to scrapbooking with me.
• i'm thankful that i'm going to be an aunt again!
• i'm thankful that i was able to fall asleep and sleep well w/o having keith here.
• i'm thankful that when my husband is gone - I miss him terribly.
  

Wednesday Why's

A couple of things I've been pondering today -

Why do I miss my husband more today than any other given day when it's been the same amount of hours since I've seen him? Is it because I know that I won't actually be seeing him til Saturday? Or is it because I won't have his help with the girls for the next couple of days?

Why do your taste buds change as you get older?

Why is it that when you are prepared for the rain it doesn't make an appearance but when you aren't - man does it dump?

Why is it so important to me to receive comments on my blog posts?

Why do my two closest friends have to both live in Oregon - hours and hours from me but only 1 1/2 from each other? It hardly seems fair!

And I'm still wondering why not only the smell but even the thought of coffee, makes me smile?

Tuesday's Teachings

I'm so incredibly wiped out right now. I should be in bed and yet I really wanted to post something today for Tuesday's Teachings. I have now been into my study on Joy for a week now and I've got to tell you - I've been learning some pretty profound things. But I don't have the energy tonight to put it all down on "paper" (or should I say screen) for you. So I will just leave you with this one thing that I learned this evening.
I had a very good friend call me to let me know that her grandmother was in the hospital and not doing well at all. The doctors have said they need to call all the family to come. As I stood on the other end of the line while my friend was trying to tell me this through her tears, I thought - What do I say? I feel as though I've been through my fair share of tragedies. I've grieved over lost loved ones and felt the sheer fear of not knowing what a doctor's prognosis might hold. I've been the person on the other end of the line reaching out for any speck of hope and longing for words that will comfort and heal and yet knowing - nothing that anyone says can really make it any better. This evening it was abundantly clear that TRUE PEACE, TRUE COMFORT, TRUE JOY comes ONLY from our Creator - the One who knows the plans He has for us - all of us.
The only thing that was left for me to do for my friend and her family was to pray diligently for His peace and His comfort to be with her during this time and that His perfect will be done in this situation.

All the Leaves are Brown . . .

All the leaves are brown (all the leaves are brown)
and the sky is grey (and the sky is grey)
I went for a walk . . . . . .

I'd be safe and warm (I'd be safe and warm)
if I was in L.A. (if I was in L.A.)
California Dreamin' on such a winter's day

We leave for Callie in 2 weeks. I'm SO looking forward to the vacation with the whole family; being down in the sunny, warmer weather; taking the kids back to Disneyland; being able to do the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld; and taking Anah on her first plane ride! I'm also excited to spend a little bit of time with my grandparents. I wish we could stay longer than 8 days to be able to spend even more time with them. I'm realizing more and more that they are getting older and won't be around for much longer. I want the girls to be able to remember them clearly when they are older and their great grandparents have passed on.

So today on this blustery, rainy, typical Pacific NW day - I'm California Dreamin'!!!

Wednesday Why's

A couple of things I wonder about -

Why isn't the soap as sudsy when it gets to the bottom of the bottle or the end of the bar?
Why do I feel as though my husband is attacking my parenting skills when he comments on others peoples well-behaved children?
Why can I be so sleepy throughout the day and then once it is late at night - I'm wide awake?
Why does the smell of coffee make me smile?