Day # ? I'm Thankful For.........

...........a warm place to sleep.

The past few days it has been a bit of a struggle trying to think of the things I am thankful for. I feel I am in the middle of a never ending battle, and sometimes I get so emotionally defeated even posting on my blog is an effort. I get myself out of bed each morning, shower, get dressed, and force myself to muttle through even the simpliest tasks. I search the computer for jobs, maybe go exercise hoping to generate some energy, then return and begin my search again. I've applied almost everywhere in the continental United States, but so far no luck. I NEVER in my life would have imagined I would be in such a situation - homeless, jobless and penniless. This is not only a humiliating situation it is depressing and exhausting.


Today I am thankful I am not on the streets. I have never before been more aware of the homeless. I have never before been so close to being in that situation. There was a story on the news last night about families who are in my similar situation who are living in shelters or on the streets with their children and pets. It was so scarey to watch. That would be me if I were not blessed to have family who provide me with shelter and keep me fed and warm. My parents have given up their two extra rooms to allow Billy and I to stay until we can climb our way out of this situation. We sleep in one room and the other room we use as a closet, store room, piano room, computer room, ironing room and pantry. It's a mess, but my mom cheerfully accepts the chaos because I know she is happy I am here.


So today I am thankful for my mom and John for keeping me off the streets, and supporting me through this stressful and challenging time in my life.

Day #11 I Am Thankful For........

......the first snowfall of the year.

It's 10:30 p.m. and the snow just started falling.

There is something so peaceful about snowfall.

Maybe I'll be able to make a snowman in the morning.

Day #10 I Am Thankful for..................

............... The man my son has become.

I love him.

I am thankful I am able to watch him be a daddy.

I am simply thankful for HIM.

Day #9 I Am Thankful for..............

.........all the men and women who have served, or who are currently serving this great country.

Because of their sacrifice I am able to enjoy the many freedoms this country offers.

I'm thankful I was blessed to be born in the United States.

I am thankful to be an American.

Day #8 Thankful for.........

...............MODERN TECHNOLOGY!

Today I started my laundry and midway through the cycle I noticed water all over the kitchen floor. The pump on the washing machine had leaked water all over the laundry room and kitchen floor.

It's amazing how inconvenienced we are when just one appliance is not available for use. We are so blessed to live in an era that provides so many conveniences. I can't imagine doing laundry for an entire family with a washboard and tub. Yuck!

So today I am thankful for the many conveniences that make my life easy.

Day #7 Thankful for........

...............HAIR COLOR IN A BOX.

If every gray hair tells a story then my head holds an entire library. Seriously I was noticing today my roots need some serious attention. Even though I am thankful for the stories that accompany each gray hair, I just don't think it's necessary that they be told over and over again. So today I am thankful that Thursday I will be able to quiet the stories for another 6-8 weeks.

:0)

Day #6 Thankful for.........

A nice soft warm bed to crawl into after working a twelve hour shift at the hospital.

Day #5 Thankful for This Boy and His Dog

I am thankful for this sweet boy who has been a part of my life for 29 years.

I ran across this picture today and my heart felt an ache for him, and the laughter he brings to my life. Josh is such a good person who blesses the lives of all those who know him. I am definitely thankful to be his mother.

Day #4 Thankful for Tomorrow

Today has been a hard day. Despite being aware of so many things to be thankful for, today I am feeling the weight of my circumstance. I feel sad, beaten up and defeated. I've become withdrawn, and lost from the living.

Today I am thankful for tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be a new day

Tomorrow the sun will rise, and maybe, so will my spirits.

Day #3 Thankful for the Beauty of Nature

When I wake up in the morning and look out my bedroom window this is the tree I see. It looks similar to the many trees I see as I walk along the Greenbelt near where I live. Tonight as I walked alone I was very conscious of how different my world is now that I no longer live in the southwest.

The path follows a large stream that is home to a variety of animal life. There are big fat ducks that follow along vocally pleading for a few crumbs of bread. Tonight there were a number of squirrels scampering along the path and running up and down the fences. Towards the end of the path is a large pasteur that is home to some young cows, goats, and sheep. I love the cows the best - they are tame, and they come to the fence when I call them. They let me scratch their heads, and they stretch out their long sticky tongue to check if I have a treat for them.

The entire scene is beautiful.

I feel such a peace when I am there.

I love nature.

I am thankful that God made this world so beautiful for us.

Day #2 - I'm Thankful for Baseball

Tonight the New York Yankees are playing the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth game of the World Series.

I love baseball.

I am thankful for baseball.

When my boys were little baseball was what we did. We pretty much lived baseball.

Josh started playing baseball for the Boy's and Girls club when he was four years old, so little league, high school baseball, and college baseball were my life until two years ago when Jesse graduated from BYU.

Billy spent his life devoted to the boys teaching them baseball. He coached their teams, he practiced with them for hours and hours. I loved watching him coach.

I loved what baseball gave my family - memories.

I remember the first time we went to Yankee Stadium for a baseball game. Josh was so excited he said, "I can't believe I'm at Yankee Stadium. I have goosebumps".

I remember Jesse pitching a game at BYU the night before he got married, and that night reflecting back to the very first game he ever played.

Maybe being thankful for the sport of baseball is silly, but it was what I did with my boys. It was what we did together as a family. They were the players on the field.

I was their greatest fan.

-

Day #1 GIVING THANKS

Miss Abby




Miss Savannah

I love this picture. They love each other so much.

Miss Savannah

Miss Abby

Since November is the month of Thanksgiving, I will each day, for the remainder of this month share one thing in my life for which I give thanks. This Thanksgiving I have less than I have ever had, but much much more to be grateful for.

Today I spoke on the phone to my grand daughter, Abby and as I heard her sweet, two year old voice say, "Hi MaMa, doin'?" my heart wanted to melt. I am so thankful for the blessing of being a grandma.

After my boys were grown I always thought how much I wanted a "do over". Not because I wanted to correct mistakes, but because mothering was so much fun that I wanted to "do it over". With grandchildren I get the opportunity to mother in a different way - I get lots of fun without any of the responsibility. It's the perfect "do over".