Friday Night Leftovers

Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away...my house looks like something off of Hoarders...you do that math.

I learned to crochet last weekend- I am now addicted! Anyone else out there crochet? I couldn't get the hang of knitting and I didn't even care when Fudge used my knitting needles for something and destroyed them. Secretly, I was thrilled. But crochet? I get it and it is so therapeutic. Fudge wanted to snuggle and watch a movie together last night and once he dozed off, I made a scarf. Love it, wore it today.

Last weekend was epic- girls' weekend. Not only did I finish two scrapbooks, but more importantly, I was able to connect with old friends and make some fantastic new ones. For my girls that may be reading: STOP- Hammertime!

Fudge likes iPad apps and I have a bank account that I don't use much, but I do toss some discretionary dollars to for this, iTunes, etc. The account is down to $3 and I keep forgetting to put some funds in it. Fudge keeps asking if I've done it yet and today I just said, "no, but I get paid next Tuesday." Really, it's not a matter of getting paid, it's a matter of transfering funds. So Fudge goes on to ask me,"how much money do you make in your paycheck?" I replied, "I am not sure" which is truthful, since I could not tell you what I make to the dollar or penny. His response was classic Fudge: "well, I hope you make at least $10 for the work you do."

Fudge had two days off from school this week, so I took a vacation day and then I was off today for the holiday. By the end of today, he had me worn out, so I'm quite thankful he didn't have any commentary on the following two items that found their way into my cart at the market today: spiked eggnog and Bridesmaids (thank you Redbox). Let's hope he zonks out early tonight!

A year ago yesterday our little monkey fell out of a tree and broke the radius and ulna in his left arm. The child definitely had a guardian angel watching over him that time too. Here we are, a year later, and I got to watch him play classical music on the piano at Barnes and Noble last night, which made my little heart overflow with thanks.

Leave your comment love below and if you'd like to join in the FNL fun, head on over to Danifred's blog and join the party.

Thankful~ Day 9: Our Zoo

Today I am thankful for all of our fur babies, past and present, that have enhanced our daily lives, loved us unconditionally, and provided security and protection of our home. Our current cast of characters includes two rescued dogs, a rescued cat, and a recent addition- Sir Washington the parakeet. How could you not love these sweet faces?

Our big boy of the group, Dax, is 9 1/2 and came to us through Virginia German Shepherd Rescue. He loves having a job to do, especially watching the house. He also loves to sing- just break out a harmonica, or do some singing yourself, and he will join you.

Marley just turned 4, as best we can estimate, and came to us as Fudge's "buddy" after our sweet girl Sammy passed. Fudge named her "Marely Pumpkinhead" but my mom and I both agree she should have been called "Stinkerbell." She has been a sweet, if not crazy, dog who loves to please and loves to snuggle under covers with you. She also has a high prey drive, so moles, voles, mice, etc. are not safe anywhere in our yard.



I still miss Sascha (lived until 12) and Mitzi (lived until 23) something awful, so I hate to think about my sweet boy above aging. Salem came to us as my birthday present in 1999, born at a local marina and in need of a home. My mom has his sister, and both have been wonderful, affectionate cats. These days, our boy likes to nap and snuggle, but he will get frisky and chase something every now and then.

Sir Washington joined us at the beginning of the school year. He seems sweet enough, but he is still terrified of us. Although, I take it as a good sign that he has started to sing during the day. Our hope is to have him tamed enough to perch on a finger and calmly enjoy time outside of his cage.

Thankful~ Day 8: The Right to Vote

Today Fudge had a day off from school and one of our first activities of the day was to go vote. I've been taking Fudge to the polls with me for every election since he was born, but it was not until today that he has had some thoughtful questions around the entire process, such as why do we vote? When I explained what/who we are voting for and that voting is a right we exercise, he still wasn't really getting what the big deal was. When I told him women used to not be able to vote, he had an incredulous look on his face. He said, "Well that's just STUPID. Sorry Mom, I know I'm not suppoosed to say 'stupid' but that is 'stupid'- women are people, why couldn't they vote?" He didn't follow much more I had to say about the 19th Amendment, except that it was passed around the time his great-grandmother was born, which he thought was crazy, that women haven't always been allowed to vote. It really rocked his world when I explained the 15th Amendment, and I didn't even get into poll taxes and literacy tests. Fudge's response was "What's wrong with people- why wouldn't they let brown people vote?" I love how kids at this age view the world, not based on skin color, social status, salary, religion, etc. I hope Fudge holds onto this view- I wish more of us did so as adults. When I was recapping the conversation for the Hubs last night, he said, "wait 'til he learns blacks were only counted as 3/5s of a person." Not ready to expose him to even more ugliness of our history yet, but it's coming.

So today, I am thankful for the right to vote, even when it comes with a slew of annoying political ads and phone calls.

Thankful~ Day 7: Travel

I have insatiable wanderlust, but in my defense, I did warn the hubs prior to marrying that I just cannot help it. He knew what he was getting into, and now he has a son with wanderlust as well. I am thankful to have had multiple opportunities to travel, especially considering I come from a family and marriage that is not military. Fudge's career aspirations include "being a guy who travels the world and takes pictures." For a kid that's only 6 years old, he's got a pretty good record already- 26 US cities across 17 states, plus international travel to Aruba. I'm up to 26 states and 17 countries, with hopes for many more to come. The travel budget waxes and wanes, but I am thankful we can still eek out a travel budget. There are still many places left on my wish list, but one I hope to see in the next couple of years is Morocco. Our church sponsors multiple North African mission visits and my goal is to participate in one sometime during the next three years of our "changing lives" campaign.

In the meantime, I am emptying the suitcase from a 4-day beach visit and re-packing for Hilton Head Island and Savannah, maybe Charleston too.

Thankful~ Day 6: Friends

I am so thankful for my girls- you keep me grounded, sane, loved, supported, and more. We have shared times in sunshine and in shade and you have been there every step of the way. I remember reading somewhere years ago (email maybe?) that you may have many friends and acquaintances, but true girl friends, in it for the long haul, are few and far between and should be cherished as they get us through each phase in our lives.

I continue to be blessed with my girls from high school, college, and grad school, my girls after college and starting in the working world, and the girls that have come into my life once I became a Mama. Each of you is special to me and I couldn't imagine life having as much laughter and care without you in it, where I can be exactly who I am as I am. Thank God for true friends!

This past weekend I was beyond blessed to get away to the beach for a 4-day girls weekend, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. What a fantastic time we had and how I look forward to continuing to nuture these relationships. May each of you reading this be blessed with such fantastic compadres! And I wish for Fudge the friendships such as these, that bask in the sunshine and can withstand the shade.

Thankful~ Day 5: Family

Oh, I am so very thankful for my loving and crazy family! I grew up watching my parents always giving their best and sacrificing so my mom could stay home with us. My parents have always been there for me each step of the way, supporting me and cheering me on. It took me a long time to realize how fortunate I am and that not everyone grows up with such a terrific support network. My brother is still one of my closest friends and I am thankful he lives nearby again, instead of across the country. I am thankful to still have three of my grandparents, and that Fudge was able to know his great-grandmother before she passed this year. Finally, I am thankful to come from a very large, loud, loving, friendly family, full of cousins, aunts, and uncles...lots and lots of cousins. We know how to have a good time and Thanksgiving should be entertaining this year!

Thankful~ Day 4: Fudge, my miracle

I am so overhwhelming thankful for our sweet boy, Fudge. He completes our family with the joy, wonder, and love he brings to our lives each and evey day. His mind never stops, always thinking and sharing such creative and innovative ideas, making the impossible possible. In addition to this, he has quite the sense of humor and he can make me laugh like no one else can. We waited so long for this miracle to arrive and he was worth every minute of it...I love my sweet boy and I am so thankful God entrusted him to us!

Thankful~ Day 3: My Husband

As I count my blessings, the hubs is right there at the top of the list. I am so thankful for him and all that he does for our family. The hubs and I are very opposite in a complimentary type of way...he's calm, I can be totally insane. This picture is so indicative of him- we call the hubs the animal whisperer. I don't care where we go, if there is an animal within a mile, it will seek out the hubs and find him. Here we are in Aruba and a puppy found him. We were staying at a hotel one time that had a lovely, large bird in the lobby. When I would enter the lobby and talk to it and attempt to pet it, the bird would try to bite me! When the hubs would start to descend the stairs to the lobby the bird would go nuts- whistling, bobbing its head, getting all excited until the hubs would go over and pet it. We recently went to a butterfly farm and while one landed on me and one on Fudge, the hubs here was covered in them.

I could go on and on about all the ways my hubs rocks and what an amazing father he is to Connor, but I'll leave it at I am so thankful to have such an courageous and dedicated partner. Love him!

Thankful~ Day 2: Four Generations

I love this photograph; it's the last one I have of these four generations together. What makes me terribly sad is that it is from Christmas 2009, almost two full years ago...and I think it was the last time we were all together. We had planned to all be back together this weekend, but it is not to be. Life, and death, are what happen in between us making plans and the reality playing out in front of us. Right now I should be calling my Gma to wish her a happy 90th birthday, should be packing for a trip to New Jersey, and should be celebrating one heck of a surprise party for her this weekend. Sadly, the "would-a, could-a, should-a" doesn't count for anything and the reality is that I cannot call, cannot write, cannot visit. We lost my grandmother just shy of her 90th birthday, in a fatal car accident.

So today, I am thankful to have had a grandmother who had so many in her life and took the time to make each and every one of us feel special, unique, celebrated, and treasured for who were are...no small task when you have 50+ grandchildren, not to mention nieces, nephews, etc. I am thankful to have had a grandmother that saw the humor in any situation and one who was fearless in overcoming what others might see as insurmountable odds: becoming a widow, being completely deaf, aging...none of these things stopped her. She still traveled around the country, lived independently, and continued with activities she enjoyed. And while almost 90 may seem like many, many years and a full life, to me, it seems like it still wasn't enough. She may be gone, but her legacy lives on.

Thankful~ Day 1: My Faith

I've not participated in the "thankful for" series in the past, but I felt moved to do so this year. When I think of the first thing I am thankful for, it is my Creator, life, the ultimate sacrifice and grace, and my faith. Note that I did not state "organized religion," but faith. Yes, I worship in a church and yes I love my church, but faith is not religion. Faith is a relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. And He is, indeed, risen.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16