Gratitude Challenge Day 10: My "take charge" husband

I'm thankful for my husband for so many reasons. He has many different sides to him. The knowledgeable side. The computer/IT nerd side. The funny side. The dependable side. (No worries... no multiple personalities. Just multiple talents!) Tonight I'm thankful for his "take charge" side.

We have four dogs. Yep. Four. It's been a stressful fall with our fur babies. One was diagnosed with an eye disorder similar to dry eye that has caused various decrees of blindness in both of her eyes. She was then diagnosed with diabetes. And bladder cancer. My poor little baby. We've had to adjust to schedules and meds. I learned to give a shot. (To know me is to know how amazing this is with my fear of needles. No. It didn't help with my own fear!)

In the middle of these diagnoses - which happened in about a week by the way - another dog started having seizures. Did I mention that it's been a little stressful? I have a tendency towards stress, so this has been hard.

I know that some disagree (and please don't tell me if you do) but I believe that God hears my prayers for my pups as well. They are His creation. I can't begin to imagine that He doesn't care for them as well. I've had to depend on Him during some stressful and difficult times of decision and events (have you seen a seizure in a dog?)

However, I've also had to depend on my "take charge" husband.

When we hear our pup fall during a seizure, he rushes to it when I freeze.

When we have to hold my pup as he cries and shakes, he sits down on the floor in the middle of - well - fluids and talks calmly.

When I'm nervous in the middle of the night because I'm afraid to sleep in case our pup has another seizure, he stays up and talks to me.

When I'm worried that our guy will have another during the day, he makes sure that he clears his calendar. (He works from home! And I love it, but that's another thing for which I'm thankful!)

I am better now because he's talked me through the seizures, but with only 7 under our belt I'm still very nervous when they start. I can talk calmly and compassionately to our little guy, but I still tend to be the one that moves furniture and cleans up messes instead of sitting on the floor because I still tend to cry. (I'm a big ol' tearing up weenie!) And my take charge husband lets me do what I need to do while he does what he needs to do. It works well, and for that I'm thankful!

Sophie the Blind Pug &

Asher the Twitchy Boy

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. Ephesians 5:25 (NIV)

PS - I missed yesterday's challenge! Whoops! I was playing mom to a sick kid. I'll add in one this weekend. Or, I'll give myself grace. ;)

Another great pre-holiday contest... Win Your Wishlist From Knit Picks!

I'm a yarn junkie. One can never have too many crochet hooks or knitting needles. Tool? Yep. Only mine are things like stitch markers and scissors. If you are like me in any of these things (or would like to start a new obsession hobby) check out the Win Your Wishlist contest from Knit Picks!

My wishlist picks...

Soft Touch Crochet Hook Gift Set

I love these! Actually, I love the idea behind these hooks. I'm assuming I'll love them. I want to try them!

Try It Needle Set

I've been wanting to try these for a very long time, only every time I have the cash to spend on interchangeable needles I can't decide which set I want! Now they have the most amazing sampler set so that I can try all of them before investing in a large set. Yep. I think these are going on my list for the husband. ;)

Tree Fort (Stroll Handpainted Sock Yarn)

Ah.. Stroll... How I love you. I have a personal project that I've been working on for a while in Stroll. It's glorious to work with. I think it's my favorite. Eventually I'll use it for socks! (Maybe...)

Now, I just have to win. (Details... details...)

:)

Gratitude Challenge Day 8: Good Doctors!

Today I am thankful for good doctors!

We spent several hours today in the doctor's office with my daughter. Begin in the office again reminded me of all the things that they have done to help us in the past. This doctor has been a gift to our family over the years. My daughter had a run in with bad health several years ago. We didn't know what it was, and it was a terrifying time of specialists and tests.  Suspected diagnoses ranged from Lyme Disease to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis to Psoriasis. Our family doctor could not have handled it better.

He was supportive.

He offered us prayer.

He cared enough to call us at home in the late hours of the night just because he had our daughter on his heart.

He rocks!

Luckily our daughter turned out to have a simple casein allergy. It's not simple to most, but when you have the other diagnoses as options I'll take it any day. :)

Through all of this we need to remember that we have a Great Physician standing by all of us...

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15 (NIV) abounding

Gratitude Challenge Day 7: Netflix

Today is Gratitude Challenge Day #7! My first six days of the challenge focused on more meaty things, and today I'm going fluffy...

Today I'm thankful for NETFLIX!

We don't watch a lot of "live" network or cable television. There are a few shows that we like but they are rare. (Ok, so I love The Biggest Loser, but that's another post.) Even if we do find one that we like the commercials make it difficult to watch half the time!

Enter Netflix.

We love Netflix streaming video. We can watch somewhat current shows without the commercials, and we can watch all of our favorite older shows as well. We grab documentaries. We watch comedies. We toss in some movies for good measure.

Why don't we just use a dvr? That would require a switch in cable providers. I'm not the primary decision maker in that area. :) For now, we Netflix!

I love modern technology!

Gratitude Challenge Day 6: My daughter!

 It's Day 6 in the Gratitude Challenge, and today I'm thankful for my daughter! Excuse me while I brag...

She's challenging.

Our youngest daughter is 13, and she is a wonderful addition to our family. Just like her father, she is one to constantly challenge me (and mostly in good ways.) She makes me think. She makes me stay alert. She makes me hold myself accountable in the achievement of my goals. And, just when I think I have something down - like holding my tongue! - she gives me a situation to prove it or lose it. It isn't often that a parent will admit that they learn from their children, but I do learn from mine.

She's creative. 

She is a prolific writer. I don't remember a day passing where I haven't watched her write by hand, on the laptop, or at the very least in her journal. She's always loved to be elbow deep in art supplies. I think that her love and appreciation of art and music is one of my most successful accomplishments. (And I hope that doesn't sound conceited, but it was a goal that we're seeing come to fruition so I'm thrilled!) This year she has exploded! She's dancing several days a week and is taking two art classes... one focusing on the potter's wheel and hand-building of ceramics, and one focusing on drawing and painting. I've never seen her as dedicated to anything other than her writing as she is to her art this year. She's been tired and sore, sick and miserable, and she still fulfills her commitment to her dance schedule without complaints. She dresses in her own style and adds creative touches to her outfits whenever she can. I'm definitely seeing that side appear!

She's got a faith that will move mountains.

I can take no credit for this. God put a spirit of love for Him in her from the very beginning. As a toddler she would tell me about angels. As a preschooler she would explain to people that God loved them. As an elementary student she knew that one day she would work in missions, be it as a full time position or as something that she does with her life through volunteering at her church. As a teenager she volunteers as often as she can (though admittedly I could clear my schedule to allow her to do more.) She sings on the worship team during the student worship time. She loves to help with service projects with the youth group. She adores spending time with her church family. She is the first person telling us to get ready for church and the last person out the doors after we're finished on a Sunday (or Wednesday!) She gave her heart to God and meant it. She believes in modesty and courting.

She's also a normal teenager.

We have our moments (last night) and our conflicts (last night), and I try to remember that it is part of growing up. She listens to her music way too loud. She wants to spend too much time on the computer. And her room is a mess!

I love my kid, and not just because I'm her mom. She's a nut, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

Gratitude Challenge Day 5: Grace

It's been a hard week around these parts. My grandfather isn't doing so well and ended up in ICU yesterday. Honestly, I didn't want to write today's post. It wasn't that I wasn't thankful for something, or that I didn't want to participate in the challenge. I'm just plain tired! It was a long night ending with a very early start to the day with a sick puppy girl. I just haven't been able to think straight. So, I gave myself permission to just skip it this one time. I thought, "I deserve blogging grace after a night like last night."

And then it hit me.

Grace

That's what I'm thankful for! The grace that my child gives me when I get snappy because I'm tired. The grace that my husband gives me when I didn't get the dishes done (or when I tell him that he can pop a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner if he wants.) I'm thankful for the grace that my mother gives me when I am just too tired to talk more about the day's events.

Most importantly, I'm thankful for the grace that our Heavenly Father gives me when I mess up. And I do. It's that human thing. It just gets in the way! Without that grace I would be nothing, and I would have nothing. We are justified through His grace. We are redeemed through His grace. We are show love and forgiveness through His grace. It's truly a wonderful thing. So today I am so thankful for that Amazing Grace...

Side note - The hymn, Amazing Grace, holds a special place in our family. My granny sang it to each of us, and it was the first song that she sang to me as well as my daughter when we were both babies. It can calm me in a storm and make me smile even wider on a beautiful day. Such a wonderful gift to give us as a reminder!

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 (NIV)

Gratitude Challenge Day 4: Country Roads

It's day four of the Gratitude Challenge. Check out more at The Garden of Learning!




Today has been a tough day. It started out pretty good. My daughter started a new session of art classes at a local community center. This session it's a day full, so not only did I have a home day, but it was a quiet all-by-myself home day. (Homeschool moms know that this rarely happens!) I got some blogging in, got some tweeting done, worked on some things for the WildCrickets etsy shop. It was fairly productive.


Then

chaos

hit.


My day ended crazy. Plans changed. Dinner didn't get made. We were almost late to my daughter's dance class.

Did I mention that my daughter's dance school happens to be in the country? Remember that I'm a country girl at heart. I think it has something to do with my family living in the country or my mother playing far too much John Denver (Country Roads!) when I was young but it soothes me. Actually, it does more than soothe me. It ministers to my soul! I don't care what season it is, or what time of day, a drive in the country makes me smile. There is always something to catch my breath. I see evidence of God in the creations around me. I love watching the animals in pastures and barnyards. The air just seems to be cleaner and smell fresher. I can forget about any trouble that aches or pains me even for a brief minute.

It's a tough night around here. I'm waiting for more information about my grandfather who isn't doing so well. I'm thankful for him in my life as well, but I realized after getting the call that he was being taken to ICU how different hearing this information would have been had I not received some good old fashioned country comfort from my Heavenly Father tonight.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

And just for extra smiles... I know he's not "cool" but I do love John Denver! Though this will date me, I'll say that I grew up listening to him from the cradle as did my daughter. (And I did live in West Virginia for a few years, and it is beautiful!)