Thankfulness :)

‎3 Things I am thankful for this morning.......

1. That I bought 16's at the same time I bought 14's (putting them up in the closet).
2. That I looked in the box BEFORE I hit the thrift store. (I usually forget what sizes are in there and I was SO. SURE. that I had only bought 14's last time.
3.  Yesterday gave away 2 garbage bags full of outgrown boys size 14's and then today at church was given 2 garbage bags full of 16's & 18's :) 

Which means that other then a couple of dress shirts and sweaters......the boys are set for 16 & 18 :) Woo Hoo!!!!

I Love My Family!

I'm sure that every thinks theirs is the best......well I am no different lol!!! Here are some pics from Fall 2010 Family Pics!

Can I be Thankful again?

I love my kitchen! Love it!

Thanksgiving.

This time of year always makes one think of all they have!! Compared to most of the world we are all so very rich :) So in honor of Thanksgiving............ (# 156-186 of The Thousand Gifts)

1. My Husband. I can not imagine life with out him. I am so thankful for that trip to Camp.....that I didn't even want to go.....and managed to fall in love!
2. My Children and what they have added to our family. They each bring their own individual ways to our family and it wouldn't be the same with out them. I am also thankful for their health. And thankful that they have been so opened minded with all the changes in our family the past few years.
3. My Extended Family. 
4. My In Laws. When I hear of someone complaining about theirs I always say a little "Thank You" pryer to God for my In Laws.
5. My Husband's Job. In a time where many do not have one I am very thankful that his is still around.
6. My Home. (goes along with #1) My Husband has made it exactly what our family needs.
7. "My" Acres. I love living in the country and thankful that his boss allows us to live on this property!!
8. My Outside Animals. Call me a nut but I love having them!!
9. My Inside Animals. Again I know, I know a nut. What can I say :)
10. My Washer and Dryer..anyone who has kids and been with out one knows why that makes the list ;)
11. I am thankful for my "In Real Life" Friends! 
12. I am thankful for my "Online" Friends. Amazing to have friends online that are as "real" as your IRL ones!
13. My Mizunos and the ability to use them!!!
14. My Husband who has been supportive with my using those Mizunos!
15. My Van. It's not the newest. I have to open the doors myself ;) But it runs and runs well. Actually we have taken it in for a fixin', and the guy always tells us what great condition it is in for it's age.
16. I am thankful that me being home with the kids is as important to my Husband as it is myself!
17. I am thankful for a furnace in winter and an AC in the summer.
18. I am thankful for a fall day of hiking.
19. I am thankful for my Full Pantry and Refrigerator.
20. I am thankful for the 4 days off that Hubby had for the Thanksgiving Holiday!
21. Black Friday....need I say more ;)
22. I am thankful for the clothes that needed to be given away because they are too big!
23. I am thankful for clothes to replace the ones given away :) 
24. I am thankful for Family Movie Night......a fun memory in the making!!!
25. I am thankful for the ability to drastically change my family's diet by choice not because the choices were not there.
26. My Tread Mill....and the fact that it hasn't turned into a "catch all" for clutter!!!!
27. My Race Bibs. They make me smile when I see them lined up on the wall.
28. My Little Christmas Tree. I didn't like it at first but it has grown on me :)
29. I am thankful for Garage Sales, Craigslist, Freecycle, clearance rakes, hand me downs and eBay.....love saving $!!!
30. The internet......to have the ability to have everything at your fingertips is amazing!!

1000 Gifts!

Wow it's been a while since I did this....like almost 20 months.....so much for doing 1000 in a year huh?

136. that my tickers says #4 has had a home and a family for 20 months, 4 weeks and 1 day.
137. finally go that black dishwasher that was on my "wish list" ;)
138. Starting year #6 of PJ Academy.
139. A 2nd washer and dryer
140. The running shoes my Hubby invested in!!
141. Hubby "pretending" to be interested in my running.
142. The ability to pay all the bills when we wondered how we would.
143. That business has taken off......even if the economy hasn't.
144. My new Kitchen and Family Room set up!!
145. AC!
146. that 3 of the 4 kids are E*X*C*I*T*E*D* to start school!!
147. Someone who I feel I can go to for Parenting Advice.....and know what I get comes from the heart!!
148. My MIL who is just as interested in my kids as I am. Thankful she ALWAYS has an ear for them to talk off!!!!
149. That we were able to meet up with #4's Ashraya "Cousins"
150.  .......and actually enjoy ALL of their company ;)
151. .......and even want to do it again!!!
152. Being able to take #4's bestest Ashraya Friend off the prayer list at church!!
153. The ability to run......and even better to enjoy it at least a bit!
154. That I actually made it to a 4 Mile Run!
155. Facebook and the ability to suck people into the running world with you LOL!!!

1000 Gifts.

106. New washer to match the dryer we got last year.
107. #4 is HOME HOME HOME!!!
108. Traveling mercies to and from India.
109. #4's adjustment
110. I know who holds tomorrow.
111. And I know who hold my hand.
112. The DAY I start to doubt that God.......
113. He sends an Evangelist to church.
114. With the EXACT message I needed. THANKS BRENT!!!!
115. Full freezer.
116. Full pantry.
117. Gas prices down!
118. #1 - #3 Adjustment with a new little sister.
119. My new stove.
120. My new fridge.
121. Hearing "Tank Tu"
121. "come on let's go" :)
122. ....Lub Loo"
123. having a toddler in the house again.
124. Watching my husband (ya know the one who wasn't sure about loving an adopted child the same as bio), loving #4 the same!!
125. My new camera.
126. My new puppy on the way :)
127. That my husband has never given up on me!
128. The blessing of the instruments for Christmas
129. God's Provision of the gas money needed on Christmas!
130. WACAP!!
131. Ashraya.
132. The friends I have made in the adoption world.....who understand this crazy thing we did.
133. And understand why we would want to do it again.
134. The ability to school in the evening....because our day was full.
135. My friend Brooke is on her way to India!!!!!

Gifts!

Haven't done this in a while and it is so easier to get into pity party mode, I decided to get back at it!

61. The windows being open
62. The smell of fresh cut grass (allergies and all!)
63. The new, more efficient, drier my hubby bought me!
64. The new bathroom he built for me!!
65. More closet space he made for me.
66. My daughter's new love for reading.
67. Leslie Sanson and her encouragement to walk away these pounds.
68. A workout buddy to be accountable too.
69. The ability to get up and exercise
70. Hubby is a GREAT Dad!
71. A hubby that wants to be a hands on Dad!
72. Friends that tell me often, "I am praying for your adoption"
73. ....to know they really mean it!
74. A stimulus check :)
75. Not having the a/c on!!
76. Hot water at a turn of a handle!
77. A comfy bed.
78. The fact that I can go to church when I want to with no fear of what may happen.
79. That OODLES of kiddos rode our church bus on Sunday!!
80. Seeing my kids grow everyday!
81. The health my family has.
82. That my sister is expecting!
83. That she married an "alright" guy!! (Have to give you a hard time Dan!!)
84. That even in this economy my hubby has had a paycheck EVERY week!!
85. Even in this economy we have NOT had to choose between food or gas!
86. Even in this economy we have HAD gas at all times in our car!
87. Even in this economy MY GOD has promised to take care of us!
88. That my little Indian Princess is growing!
89. That we are getting closer everyday to our travel date.....
90. Summer Garage Sales!!!!
91. A friend to drag around to all the garage sales!!
92. Kids who don't care their clothes are from garage sales.
93. Kids who like to go garage sale(ing) with me :)
94. A $14.99 cookbook for 50 cents!
95. A picnic basket for 75 cents :)
96. The over abundance of clothes each of my FOUR children have!!
97. A pastor who is truly a "Shepard"
98. A planned anniversary date!!!!
99. My kitchen table that can seat 8 :)
100. Dill Pickles....hee hee
101. Bon - Fires.......
102. ......and marshmallows!
103. from #1 - having a good family.
104. from #2 - for our pets...all 32 of them :)
105. from #3 - going to a good church.

1000 Gifts

46. Hearing the furnace go WHOOSH :)
47. A full propane tank!
48. That when the propane tank was empty we were experiencing odd spring like weather!
49. The friends I have made online who have seen "N" and the ones who are going, and will get more updates:)
50. My new puppy!
51. My hubby that would drive 8 hours to make me happy.
52. Watching that same hubby try so hard to love said dog!
53. That my MIL was patient enough to help me make a dress for #3
54. The tires my inlaws bought for us!
55. UPS or DHL or FED EX for taking our dossier to India!!!
56. That our dossier in in route to India
57. After typing out chapter 1 - I am reminded how patient God is with us!
58. A brand new year to start over so to speak!
59. The quiet of the evening
60. Tax Season=)

Thankfulness.....

35. Safe trip to Tennessee for Thanksgiving
36. Our extended Family!
37. All the cousins together
38. All 6 Great grandkids together (except our #4 :))
39. Hiking as a family!
40. Being at the bottom of the moutain looking at the waterfall...
41. ....and feeling extremely small.......
42. .....but so filled with thankfulness that the God who created it all...
43. LOVES me =)
44. Thankful that #4 SHOULD be with us next Thanksgiving.
45. My Honda Pilot - my sister and her hubby rode home with us...that was a LOT of stuff!

We had a great trip!! It was to great to see everyone again (except for the police officer!) =)
We went shopping on "black Friday", NOTHING!!!! I couldn't find ONE thing I needed
...........or wanted!

We decided to come home Friday night instead of Saturday morning. So we got in around 5am and everyone slept till about 10 and we got up and went to cut down our tree!!!

1000 Gifts

23. A husband that will read an entire book to his kids that really does not interest him at all!
24. That my hubby is an "electrician"
25. also a "plumber"
26. also a "drywall guy"
27. also a "painter"
28. and can put down a floor too!!
29. Hearing #1 read!!
30. Seeing #2 sleep while his brother reads =)
31. Having the BEST thrift stores close!!!
32. Having a friend who I can DRAG around to EVERY thrift store in a 40 mile radius!!!!
33. finding everything I *needed* at those thift stores!!
34. eBay =) Got lots of Christmas shopping done!!!

1000 Gifts

6. Having the best parents for me =)
7. I have the most understanding little sister.
8. Dan (BIL) is ok too ;)
9. Wonderful in laws
10. Deanna is a blessing (my dad's wife)
11. I love the office my husband built for me!!!
12. My washer and dryer =)
13. Home schooling
14. My 8 feet of new kitchen cabinets
15. an email that says paperwork is on its way to India
16. that on the right of my blog praises outumber requests
17. my new church
18. my new friends @ church
19. BUS #1 kiddos
20. Hearing my husband and daughter having breakfast in the morning (just the 2 of them)
21. Online friends that send BOXES of kids clothes!!!
22. Hubby calls to say, "Your my favorite Jennifer"

1000 Gifts

I need to be more Thankful. I need to show my thanfulness more!
I know the 1000 Gifts was started last year by some ladies......oh well
call me slow that's fine.

My goal to come up with 1000 things to be Thankful for by this time next year!!

Here goes:
1. My Husband - he goes to work everyday without complaining!! He works on Saturdays to make a bit more to make it comfortable for me to stay home and home school.
2. #1 - he is such a blessing. So smart and loves learning!
3. #2 - same as above what would we do without at least one "all boy" in the house ;)
4. #3 - she is so sweet and truely enjoying learning about "homemaking"
5. #4 - although I don't *know* her. I feel so blessed to be her Mom.

That's a start =)