Tuesday, November 29, 2011
30 Days - Day 29
Today I am thankful that we have access to free therapy services for Ethan. His OT is helping so much and there is no way we would be able to afford it...
Sunday, November 27, 2011
30 Days - Day 27
Today I am thankful for lots of sleep and a quiet day! After a busy week, we needed both!
30 Days - Day 26
I am thankful for a great Thanksgiving Part 2 spent with my family and neighbor. Every year I cook a big dinner the Saturday after Thanksgiving and invite my family and friends. We have friends whose families are not in this area and they don't get to go home for Thanksgiving. So our dinner is their Thanksgiving.
This year I was disappointed because the friend who comes every year had car trouble and couldn't make it :( My brother's family also didn't come. So as far as I knew it was going to be just the 4 of us and my mom. I was kinda upset about it because it means so much to me to be able to have friends here who wouldn't otherwise have a Thanksgiving dinner. But when the food was almost done, I felt peaceful and thankful, despite it just being the five of us.
And then, we had a knock on the door. It was our neighbor. I had invited her numerous times but she hadn't said she was coming. She lives with her 2 adult sons and we see her outside a fair bit and have talked a lot. But we've only known her 6 months. And I didn't know how comfortable she would feel joining us.
As we all ate and hung out talking, I found out that her family had disowned her because she wouldn't take sides in a family quarrel. Her sons are the only family she has. And she's been out of work so money is tight.
She was SOOO appreciative of us sharing our Thanksgiving dinner with her! She enjoyed the company, and of course the food ;) She hugged me twice when she left and told me what a blessing I am.
So after all was said and done, I was able to bless a friend with her only Thanksgiving dinner anyway :) And that just made my Thanksgiving complete!
This year I was disappointed because the friend who comes every year had car trouble and couldn't make it :( My brother's family also didn't come. So as far as I knew it was going to be just the 4 of us and my mom. I was kinda upset about it because it means so much to me to be able to have friends here who wouldn't otherwise have a Thanksgiving dinner. But when the food was almost done, I felt peaceful and thankful, despite it just being the five of us.
And then, we had a knock on the door. It was our neighbor. I had invited her numerous times but she hadn't said she was coming. She lives with her 2 adult sons and we see her outside a fair bit and have talked a lot. But we've only known her 6 months. And I didn't know how comfortable she would feel joining us.
As we all ate and hung out talking, I found out that her family had disowned her because she wouldn't take sides in a family quarrel. Her sons are the only family she has. And she's been out of work so money is tight.
She was SOOO appreciative of us sharing our Thanksgiving dinner with her! She enjoyed the company, and of course the food ;) She hugged me twice when she left and told me what a blessing I am.
So after all was said and done, I was able to bless a friend with her only Thanksgiving dinner anyway :) And that just made my Thanksgiving complete!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
30 Days - Day 25
Today I am thankful for the opportunity to make my traditional Thanksgiving meal for Saturday. Even though it's a lot of work, it's worth it! Hoping to share the meal with a number of family and friends...
ETA I'm really thankful for an oven that is full-size and works well! This is the first Thanksgiving in 10 years that I've had one :)
ETA I'm really thankful for an oven that is full-size and works well! This is the first Thanksgiving in 10 years that I've had one :)
Thursday, November 24, 2011
30 Days - Day 23
Today I am thankful that I found the rest of the missing kitchen items from the move! Everything that I've noticed I didn't have was in two boxes that were buried at the bottom of a stack. WOOHOO! Great timing too since my electric knife that I use to carve the turkey was one of the found items :)
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
30 Days - Day 22
I am thankful for a day of semi-rest before the Thanksgiving prep and craziness kicks in!
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
30 Days - Day 21
Tonight I am thankful that I have been set free from guilt and condemnation! Days like today make me REALLY appreciate the magnitude of that promise...
Monday, November 21, 2011
"I'm Gonna Cry, Puke, or Both"
Those were the words that came out of my mouth as I walked into the computer room tonight where Jesse was working.
It was a rough afternoon/evening with Ethan. He got progressively more, well, it's hard to put words to. He intentionally kept trying to make his brother upset (and delighted in it). He wouldn't listen to Jesse or me (especially Jesse). He was rambunctious. He had a total disregard for everyone but himself. Things came to a head and Jesse had to restrain him to finally get him to calm down :( I brushed him and got him to finish eating his supper.
After that he was better for a while, then things started going downhill again. It was about time to start getting ready for bed so I started my bedtime routine. Ethan decided he was still hungry. He usually has some yogurt before bed and asked for some. Of course, Gabriel wanted some too. That meant I had to stop and feed him before I finished doing what I needed to. Ethan was headed back in the wrong direction behavior-wise, I was exhausted, and Gabriel was stressed out and fussy. The last thing I wanted was to take the time to feed Gabriel his yogurt! The sooner I finished getting the boys and me ready for bed, the sooner we could get to bed. The sooner we could get to bed, the sooner the boys would calm down and go to sleep. The sooner the boys got to sleep, the sooner I could start winding down and go to sleep.
By this time I had had it. Emotionally it had been a rough one. I had yelled at Ethan a few times (very unusual for me) but he was ignoring me unless I was yelling. I had told him at one point "Stop torturing your brother!" because that's what he was intentionally doing :(
I was emotionally exhausted. The boys and I needed to get to bed ASAP. I walked into the computer room and said, "I'm gonna cry, puke, or both."
Jesse got up from the computer, hugged me, and asked what he could do. He knew I was totally stressed out. We talked for a minute and he offered to feed Gabriel. He wanted to do whatever would get us to bed fastest. So Jesse fed Gabriel, I finished getting everything ready for bed, and we were in bed shortly. I wish I could say the boys went right to sleep but they didn't. Ethan went to sleep fairly quickly but Gabriel was too keyed up and it took him a while.
And in the meantime, the mommy guilt started.
Guilt for yelling.
Guilt for not thinking to brush Ethan when he started acting up.
Guilt for Gabriel having to be on the receiving end of Ethan's mean treatment.
Guilt for Jesse having to restrain Ethan.
Guilt for interrupting Jesse's work to have him feed Gabriel.
Guilt for getting so stressed out that I was nauseous.
Ugh.
Mommy guilt is a horrible thing! But I have to remind myself of Romans 8:1 - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Tonight, I'm standing on that promise... And knowing that tomorrow is another day.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
Hopefully today was enough trouble for tomorrow too ;)
It was a rough afternoon/evening with Ethan. He got progressively more, well, it's hard to put words to. He intentionally kept trying to make his brother upset (and delighted in it). He wouldn't listen to Jesse or me (especially Jesse). He was rambunctious. He had a total disregard for everyone but himself. Things came to a head and Jesse had to restrain him to finally get him to calm down :( I brushed him and got him to finish eating his supper.
After that he was better for a while, then things started going downhill again. It was about time to start getting ready for bed so I started my bedtime routine. Ethan decided he was still hungry. He usually has some yogurt before bed and asked for some. Of course, Gabriel wanted some too. That meant I had to stop and feed him before I finished doing what I needed to. Ethan was headed back in the wrong direction behavior-wise, I was exhausted, and Gabriel was stressed out and fussy. The last thing I wanted was to take the time to feed Gabriel his yogurt! The sooner I finished getting the boys and me ready for bed, the sooner we could get to bed. The sooner we could get to bed, the sooner the boys would calm down and go to sleep. The sooner the boys got to sleep, the sooner I could start winding down and go to sleep.
By this time I had had it. Emotionally it had been a rough one. I had yelled at Ethan a few times (very unusual for me) but he was ignoring me unless I was yelling. I had told him at one point "Stop torturing your brother!" because that's what he was intentionally doing :(
I was emotionally exhausted. The boys and I needed to get to bed ASAP. I walked into the computer room and said, "I'm gonna cry, puke, or both."
Jesse got up from the computer, hugged me, and asked what he could do. He knew I was totally stressed out. We talked for a minute and he offered to feed Gabriel. He wanted to do whatever would get us to bed fastest. So Jesse fed Gabriel, I finished getting everything ready for bed, and we were in bed shortly. I wish I could say the boys went right to sleep but they didn't. Ethan went to sleep fairly quickly but Gabriel was too keyed up and it took him a while.
And in the meantime, the mommy guilt started.
Guilt for yelling.
Guilt for not thinking to brush Ethan when he started acting up.
Guilt for Gabriel having to be on the receiving end of Ethan's mean treatment.
Guilt for Jesse having to restrain Ethan.
Guilt for interrupting Jesse's work to have him feed Gabriel.
Guilt for getting so stressed out that I was nauseous.
Ugh.
Mommy guilt is a horrible thing! But I have to remind myself of Romans 8:1 - "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
Tonight, I'm standing on that promise... And knowing that tomorrow is another day.
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
Hopefully today was enough trouble for tomorrow too ;)
Sunday, November 20, 2011
30 Days - Day 20
Today I am thankful that we were able to participate in Operation Christmas Child :) I pray that the children who receive our shoeboxes will be blessed and will come to know the love of our Savior...
30 Days - Day 19
I am thankful for special moments with the boys. Like last night... Gabriel was supposed to be sleeping but was wide awake. He usually goes to sleep right away so it was unusual for him. He was being a jabberjaw and was so cute! At one point he said, "I gonna sing." And he started singing LOL
Sundays are such early mornings and I really needed the sleep but those special times are too precious to complain about being tired :)
Sundays are such early mornings and I really needed the sleep but those special times are too precious to complain about being tired :)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
30 Days - Day 18
I am thankful for the knowledge our Creator has given us! I am thinking especially of the understanding of psychological issues. A generation ago, we would not have been able to find out that Ethan has SPD. Not because it didn't exist, but because there was no name for it. Today, not only does it have a name, but there are resources to help us help him live a better life :)
Friday, November 18, 2011
30 Days - Day 17
I am thankful that I found my old recipes in the storage unit (from before I started food combining) and my mom's apple cake recipe!
And a bonus... When Gabriel was born we didn't have the camera or camcorder :( Last night I found the single use camera from the gift shop that has those first pictures on it!
And a bonus... When Gabriel was born we didn't have the camera or camcorder :( Last night I found the single use camera from the gift shop that has those first pictures on it!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
30 Days - Day 16
Today I am thankful for 2 successful pregnancies! Even though their births were nothing like I wanted, I have 2 healthy, sweet boys :) After 2+ years of not being able to conceive, I feel especially blessed to have not just one but TWO little miracles!
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3
Behold, children are a gift of the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3
30 Days - Day 15
I am thankful that my mom lives nearby :) Sometimes it's not convenient for me that I'm her only transportation, but I wouldn't trade that for her living anywhere else <3
Monday, November 14, 2011
30 Days - Day 14
Today I am thankful that I am healthy enough to clean house and work out! And for a husband who takes care of the boys once a week so I can work out with some other ladies at church :) And that someone loaned us their laptop when they heard our computer wasn't working (Jesse works from home and 100% of our income depends on having a working computer!)! And... :D
Sunday, November 13, 2011
30 Days - Day 13
Today I am thankful for kids who have been going to sleep quickly without fighting bedtime :)
Friday, November 11, 2011
30 Days - Day 11
Today I am thankful that my 2-day liver/gallbladder flush is done except for my body doing its thing... And that tomorrow I can have "real" food!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
30 Days - Day 8
I am thankful that Jesse and I are pretty much on the same page with how we discipline the boys! God has worked in both of us to bring about a paradigm shift in our parenting. I'm also thankful for rare late-night talks after the boys are asleep :)
Monday, November 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
30 Days - Day 5
I am thankful that Jesse got to see an amazing football game and have some time to himself! And for the dishes he did before and after the game [in addition to all the ones I did - we were waaay behind ;)]
Friday, November 4, 2011
30 Days - Day 4
Today I am thankful that I was able to get all the groceries we needed, and something Jesse needed too :)
30 Days - Day 3
I am thankful that when Gabriel fell and busted his eye, he didn't do any damage worse than getting a shiner!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
30 Days - Day 1
Today I am thankful for...
I had a rough late afternoon/evening :( I was really upset and wasn't myself. But my two wonderful, caring, affectionate boys stayed on the couch cuddling me :) They weren't there constantly, but I had at least one of them on me or next to me till bedtime. It definitely was not normal for them! Usually they'll come for a few minutes and then go play.
So today I'm thankful for kiddos who are observant enough to tell when I'm upset, and caring enough to try to help :)
I had a rough late afternoon/evening :( I was really upset and wasn't myself. But my two wonderful, caring, affectionate boys stayed on the couch cuddling me :) They weren't there constantly, but I had at least one of them on me or next to me till bedtime. It definitely was not normal for them! Usually they'll come for a few minutes and then go play.
So today I'm thankful for kiddos who are observant enough to tell when I'm upset, and caring enough to try to help :)
A Month for Being Thankful
I saw this idea today and though I've seen it before, I really feel it would be good for me to do...
For those of us in the USA, Thanksgiving is this month! To celebrate, I'll post one thing each day that I'm thankful for. I hope it will encourage me to have an attitude of gratitude and look for the positive every day!
For those of us in the USA, Thanksgiving is this month! To celebrate, I'll post one thing each day that I'm thankful for. I hope it will encourage me to have an attitude of gratitude and look for the positive every day!
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