Purely Drivel

November 17

Thanful for...

 

a little help in the sweat shop =)

Hanna's been trying to find ways to help with my business for quite a while now, and we finally found the perfect way to do it - by helping me with cutting the pieces I put together to form the little critters that populate my layouts. 

And more than the time she saved me, just having someone to spend time with during what is normally a pretty solitary activity was lovely.

I have been astounded over and over by how much she has grown and matured this year, and I am so grateful that I get to be Mom to this sweet girl.

November 15 & 16

Grateful for a bit of a forced rest.

Not so grateful for the stomach virus that is forcing it.

November 14

For so, so many reasons...

 

I am eternally thankful for this guy and the fact that I get to share my life with him.

'nuff said =)

November 13

So very thankful today is Thursday.

Yep, that's about all I've got today.  I am in sort of a funk today - feeling really emotional for some reason I can't seem to figure out.  Anxious for tomorrow so I can take a little break from the studio and work.  Fretting about things that I have no control over.

But it is Thursday and I am getting things checked off the daily list, so that's good.

 

And I noticed again that Hanna changed the chalkboard in our kitchen last weekend and that always makes me smile.

I also found some pretty amazing clearance buys and picked up a few new pieces of much-needed clothing for myself this morning.  Wasn't really in the budget, but definitely needed... so...good again.

And Tom is at school - and one Thursday closer to this semester being over.  Ready for the somewhat quieter schedule his time off of school brings. 

It's Thursday and most of this week's buyers have already paid and their items are shipped...more good.

It's Thursday - with Tom's schedule, Thursday is our Friday.  The end of a very long week. 

It's Thursday and I'm thankful.

November 12

Thankful for....

 

this boy.

Er, the big one...although I'm pretty thankful for the little ones too.

The one I realize is a full foot taller than me and turns 28 today, but well...my brothers will always be the boys.

And so thankful that he's coming to spend a week with us at Thanksgiving.

I have been so continually blessed by both of my brothers, especially to see the uncles they are to Hanna, Caleb, Evan, Colin and soon to be Guevara3.0.  Even better, he is someone I truly enjoy spending time with (and I'm rather proud to say I feel that way about all of my siblings, but it's his birthday so he gets the gushy stuff).

And I bet Dale will be pretty thankful to hear that I've only got one fixit project for him while he's here =) 

November 11

Grateful today...

 

for those who have served....

for those who still serve...

and for those will hear the call and answer.

There is a long tradition of military service in my family, one that I believe my grandparents have traced to the Revolutionary War.  Both of my grandfathers served in World War II and several uncles saw action during Vietnam.  I have been privileged to watch some of the young men who have been involved in Tom's ministry enlist and fight for freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq.

I will be forever grateful and thankful for the sacrifices of each man and woman who put on the uniform of any branch of the military of these United States.

(photo is of Confederate graves at Rose Hill Cemetary in Macon, GA from our trip this summer)

November 10

Grateful today...

 

for these sad, beat up looking running shoes and the healthier lifestyle they've come to represent for me.

I woke up this morning feeling completely overwhelmed by all that has to be done in the next few weeks.  Even with cancelling my 12 Days of Christmas promotion, there's still a lot on my plate.  I had the dream again last night where my teeth are falling out and that's always a sure sign I'm feeling the stress more than normal.

So I laced up my shoes and headed out before Tom and the kids even left for school.  And for almost 40 minutes, I could leave it all behind.  I still don't run anywhere near as much as I walk, but then again...I do walk pretty fast.  I'm up to about 8 minutes of jogging and pushing it a little longer each day. 

Am I still feeling the stress?

Yeah...but not as accutely.  My exercise time is as much a time of prayer, worship and centering my day on God's goals (and figuring out where mine are different) as it is exercise. 

And I am finding it essential.

It's time for a new pair of shoes.  I've been told a good pair will last anywhere from 300 to 500 miles, and I've probably doubled that distance with these. 

Perhaps for Christmas...to help start 2009 off right. 

***
Also thankful that this boy was feeling good enough to build this tent in our backyard yesterday...

 

Nothing like a few plastic chairs, an old patio table and a few ladder golf pieces to create a tent that kept Caleb happy for hours.

And if you haven't played ladder golf yet, I highly recommend it - it's like horseshoes, but fun!  We're planning big games for Thanksgiving =)

November 9

Grateful for...

 

a bit of organization in the midst of chaos.

From left to right - my weekly to-do list, my Christmas list, Thanksgiving shopping list and Thanksgiving menu/things to do before Dale gets here.

All on top of the disaster that is our computer desk at the moment.

I also have a list of custom orders I'm working on right now (that I've completely over-extended myself with), a never-ending grocery list, a menu plan for the next week, a list of books I want to read and a few others on scraps of paper with title ideas or cardstock colors I need. 

By far the most important is that weekly to-do list.  If I can't find that thing, I'm in trouble.  If something doesn't make it onto those daily lists, it doesn't happen.  It's what keeps me focused and moving forward on days I'd much rather go back to bed and read (which tends to be most days, I find).

I have always been a list maker - it's just part of my personality.  I came across a notebook recently that had a list I made of homework to do for Ms. Pinelli's class my senior year in high school.  I also have a journal I kept in middle school that has list after list of my favorite things. 

Lists keep me on track, but they also help me evaluate my time and goals.  Every year that I've sold on eBay, I've done a 12 Days of Christmas promotion after Thanksgiving.   It's been a good part of our Christmas shopping budget and has always been a big positive for my business in a lot of different ways.  This year, I'm looking at my lists, seeing the commitments I have and how much I'm already listing (and how much more I'm already listing than ever before) and realizing I need to do something else.  With Dale coming to stay for a week and the sheer volume of what I'm already selling, it's just not going to be possible as I've done it before so I'm working on a few new ideas.  We'll see how they shake out.

Are my lists a little bit obsessive?  Probably. 

But they sure make my life a lot more organized and livable...

and for that, I am most grateful.

November 8

Thankful for...

 

my mad pancake skills (as my husband calls them).

We've been having breakfast for supper on Saturdays for about the last few months.  It's been oh-so-yummy and a nice way to end our quietest day of the week.

Once in a while we'll have French Toast, but it's usually pancakes. 

My secret? 

Cook the pancakes in bacon grease.  It's how my Mom did it while I was growing up and how she still does it when we go home to visit and she sets out breakfast spreads to rival any great breakfast buffet.

Healthy?

Ummmm, absolutely not, but you get the most amazingly crispy and crunchy edges - known in my family as "crispies".

Yeah...we're clever like that.

And that picture pretty much stinks, but I think you can get a little idea of what I'm talking about.  And when you cook in bacon grease, you also get the occasional little bacon bit (which is what that dark spot is on the one pancake).

Also thankful for....

• my Christmas shopping list is all written out and I have gift ideas for everyone on it - hooray!
• the Thanksgiving meal plan is all done and that shopping list is written so I can start knocking non-perishables off it over the next week.
• lots of custom orders this week - now to find the time to get them done along with everything else!
• Hanna made chocolate chip cookies *almost* all by herself today and they are quite tasty =)

What are you thankful for this lovely Saturday?

November 7

Thankful for growing goodness...

 

Yum - I think I might pick the reddest one and enjoy it on my sandwich at lunch.  Our little garden has brought so much enjoyment to our family - the kids (and Tom) check it first thing each morning.  Working on it, watching things grow (hopefully), planning next year's plantings...something we're all thankful for.