Thankful Thirty #30 (Wrapping Up)

What a November this has been!  Encouraging myself each day to be aware of the blessings in my life was sometimes hard, but helped me to see exactly what I needed to see in that moment.  Living in the moment.  It's an interesting new thing for me.

Having said that, though, I want to take time today to reflect on what I've learned over the last 30 days.  I needed the chance to slow down and realize that I'm grateful for...

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Those people in the world

who choose to live each day in the service of the littlest and weakest among us.  

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A Heavenly Father 
so personally familiar with me and with His plan for me.

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A husband who knows I am strong,

 lets me be weak, and serves me even when I don't deserve it.

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Opportunities to provide for my family responsibly.

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My one vote can make a difference in my local, state, and national election.

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The good influence the military has been in the lives of my friends who've served.

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We can still hope in an America that is great. 

 We, the people, can make it great!

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Simplicity.

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That little 5-year-old boy

 who loves life so much he can't help sharing it with me.

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A brief moment in our family finances when 

we can afford to have  a 1st-world problem.

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Well-intentioned strangers, even if they don't quite know what to say.

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The ability to keep in touch even from far away.

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Organization in times of trouble.

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You!

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Thoughtful partnerships.

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The ability to push myself in the body God gave me.

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Having more good things going in my life than bad and recognizing it. 

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The lessons I learn when I thought I was teaching my kids.

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The opportunity I've taken 

to reflect this month on all I have been given.

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Time to reflect and appreciate anew.

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An uplifting change in routine.

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The sweet woman who held a twin during church  
so my husband and I could wrangle older children without killing all of them.

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The power of writing

 to bring shine back into an otherwise dismal day.

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The home I've loved and the excitement of looking for another one.

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The inspiration I receive from the talents of other people.

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So, now you know what I'm grateful for!  Remember, you've got a little time left to enter the Trappistine Chocolate Giveaway especially for you, my readers.  You can comment on any of my Thankful Thirty posts, but to make it easy for you, why now comment right here?  Tell me, 

Thankful Thirty #29 (Only One More Day to Go)

I can hardly believe I made it all the way through my Thankful Thirty challenge without missing a single day!  Tomorrow I'll wrap it all up, but today I'm going to take it easy.  Here are some of the images I loved this month, but never got around to using...

Source: oprah.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: kittengirl.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: tinywhitedaisies.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: bugaboominimrme.blogspot.com via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Michelle on Pinterest

Source: oprah.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I'm grateful for the inspiration I receive from the talents of other people.

Thankful Thirty #28 (Home)

It is time to find a new home.  We love the house we've been in for the past 3 years, but it is time to pack and go before the walls burst at their seams.  We need an office space that isn't splayed across the dining room table.  We need a laundry room that doesn't play the role of kitchen 6.5 days of the week.  We need outdoor storage so our strollers, camping equipment, fishing gear, golf clubs, picnic toys, spare electrical parts, life jackets, ski boots, bike trailer, roller blades, fondue pots, spare wallpaper, backpacks, and air mattresses aren't all jammed into one uninsulated closet in our bedroom.  And we need to be able to walk through the whole place without tripping over baby things (or, worse, babies).

The hunt has begun, and of course we had to start out with nearly irresistible temptation.  There is a house for rent 1 block from where we live now that looked as close to my dream home as I can imagine ever finding.  A long driveway so it sets off the road.  Next to the elementary school with a gate in the fence to get through.  A wall of windows on the north side overlooking an expansive hollow and ravine.  And totally remodeled on top of everything.  The problem?  It's above our budget but just enough to make it impossible to walk away from.

The past two weeks have been a sincere test of willpower on my part.  That's how long we made ourselves wait before going to look at it.  We figured if it didn't get snapped right up, maybe it was meant to be.  Of course in the back of my mind I knew that if it didn't get snapped up there might be something wrong with it, but the idyllic abode I'd built it up to be in my mind kept me dreaming.

We looked at it this morning.  It took two minutes to get from our driveway to the front door and my kids didn't think it was strange at all because they could still see the park they play in and the neighbors they know and love.  And as soon as I walked in the door I knew this isn't the next place our family will call home.

Don't get me wrong, the layout was great, the windows and view were amazing!  There was a basement with two large pantries we hadn't been expecting, and also a patio out the back door.  Past that red flags went up in almost every room.  The bedroom walls were freshly painted, but the stucco walls were crumbling and black mold was poorly hidden.  The bathroom vanity that looked high quality in the listing photos was actually wooden, fading, and showing signs of rot due to the lack of windows or ventilation fans.  And the kitchen with it's new stainless steel appliances and marble counter tops were only a distraction from the matted carpet and exposed electrical wires behind the cupboard doors.  As we finished up our walk through,   I couldn't ignore the thought gnawing inside of me that the amount of cosmetic improvements done on the house must be covering up an equal amount of structural or mechanical problems with the house.

And that was it for me.  All the dreaming I've done since first seeing the listing, and worrying about falling in love with a place we couldn't afford, were mitigated instantly.  Not for one moment did I consider moving my boys into a bedroom with mold.  As we drove the two minutes back home I talked to my husband about the reasons we were comfortable letting this house go and he said that he agreed with me.  Before he left to go to work, though, I need to be sure.  I asked him,  "Are we on the same page?"

His reply? "But it has an ice maker in the refrigerator door..."

This house-hunting thing isn't going to be easy...

I'm grateful for the home I've loved and the excitement of looking for another one.

Thankful Thirty #27

It was not a good day.  I have been trying to find some bright crevice in my mind with something to be grateful, but I just keep coming back to it not being a good day.  That has me marveling that I've actually found something to be grateful for for the last 26 days.  Of course we always have blessings for which we give thanks, but it's not second-nature for me to recognize and them.  This month of writing has been good for me.

With only a few days left in November, don't forget to get your entry in for the Trappistine Creamy Caramel Monastery Candy.  It just takes one comment on one post, and your chances are really good! No matter who, or where, you are, I want to be able to give it to you!

I guess I've come up with something to think about today...

I'm grateful for the power of writing

 to bring shine back into an otherwise dismal day.

Thankful Thirty #26 (Service)

Source: crosscards.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I'm grateful for the sweet woman who held a twin during church  
so my husband and I could wrangle older children without killing all of them.