Gimme Some FaceTime

Love these faces.

And the time we could spend with them this Advent and Christmas.  Less than 3 weeks till we get to kiss them.  Can't wait!!

Give Me A Quote

I offer you these Christmas movie quotes that are equally useful all year long:

This old thing?  Why I only wear it when I don't care how I look.
Hoity-toity Mr. God-like SmartyPants.
Don't quote me the price when I haven't got the time.
I'm cute. I'm cu-u-u-te!
I just like to smile.  Smiling's my favorite.
If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now.

And if you need to burst into song here is a snippet that is always of value:
Every night will end and every day will start 
with a grateful prayer and a thankful heart.
(Although you run the risk with this one of getting the accompanying musical earworm snippet "Nephew and niece to me" as well.)

Merry Christmas

(That was the Christmas blog?  It was dumb.  It was obvious.  It was pointless.  It was...short.  I loved it!)

November Extended

86,87,89.  The Advent calendar.  One application from my Bible study in Colossians this fall is that it is possible to influence others and speak into their lives from a distance.  Paul did it from prison.  Thankful that the STP and I are not in prison, and that we could share the countdown to Christmas with C&N. Also glad the STP posted pictures to FB.

90,91.  Levi David Henry.

Thankful for the safe arrival of grandchild number three.  As thankful and proud as I am to have him, I am even more thankful that my firstborn baby girl came through the pregnancy, labor and delivery well.  Such a privilege to be a mom.  Such a joy to watch my girls be moms.  Can't wait to hold this little guy.

92,93,94,95. End of the semester.  Haven't seen the grades yet, but thankful for the seemingly smooth transition from living at home to living at school.  Thankful for hugs and smiles.  

96, 97.  Project progress.  Way back during the great bathroom remodel/bedroom update of 2012 I planned a photo wall.  I gathered frames from yard sales.  I painted them to match.  I laid them out and rearranged them on the bedroom floor in anticipation of hanging them above the bed.  And then we walked around them for 8 months.  And finally this month the STP helped me move them to the wall.  Thankful for being able to walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night without dodging picture frames on the floor.  Goal for 2015?  Actually put pictures in the frames.

 

98-102.  Cookie exchange. Thankful for the church ladies who had the idea and who baked the best cookies ever.  Thankful for the chance to share my home.  Thankful for gluten free cookies that were super delicious.

Thankful for the chance to use my red and white striped straws and a punch bowl.  

103-105.  Gingerbread.  And for decorating without pressure and rules.  And my friend Addie, who reminds me how much fun it is to embrace and revel in each moment.  

It would have been a shame not to get to 100 thankful things this season.  Thankful to have finished.

30 to Go?

71.  Thankful for the House Next Door.  Four years ago I hoped it would not become a rental.  Today I own it with the intention of renting it.   Thankful that God speaks to my heart with the intention of changing it.
72.  Thankful the upstairs apartment is ready to rent.  Plan to take the month of December off before starting work on the basement apartment.
73.  Thankful for the support we have had getting to this point.  Donated toilet and doors.  Help with the plumbing.  Gifts of cash and time.  Prayers and encouragement offered.
74.  Thankful for cream puffs from Sam's.  Easy peasy fancy schmancy treat for the open house.  And, hello, some left over.  Good thing.
75.  Thankful for warm weather yesterday morning to decorate outside.

76.  Thankful for Pinterest.  For redeeming my garage sale purchase of vintage plaid picnicware.
77.  Garage Sales. Mostly I garage sale with the church ladies for the fellowship, but I love when I can decorate for $1.75.
78,79.  Thankful for cold weather and 3 inches of fresh snow.  Beautiful reminder of the Creator's creativity.  Every snowflake different?  Love it.
80,81.  Snow shovels.  Thankful for my snowshovel with the ergonomic handle.  Thankful for the general good health to be able to shovel snow.
82.  Thankful for people with snow blowers who show up when I am tired of shoveling a gazillion shovels full of a bajillion unique snowflakes.
83.  Surprise day off.  Didn't look at my December schedule until this evening.  Surprised to discover I am off tomorrow.  Good thing.  I can stay up late and finish my thankful list before the end of the month.
84.  Burlap.  Thankful the Co-op had burlap to wrap the bottoms of my front porch trees.  It almost compensated for not being able to buy strawberries in town yesterday. (Grapes do not equal strawberries, especially when one's heart is set on strawberries.)
85.  Extensions.  Thankful I can grant myself an extension on listing 100 things I am thankful for in the month of November.
Let's pick it up here tomorrow.  Cause I don't have to go to work, remember?