What are you REALLY thankful for?

It was the night before Thanksgiving, and I was trying unsuccessfully to go to sleep. As I lay there, I was thinking about all that I have to thank God for this year. The regular list went through my head...things that I always am thankful for....my Savior, my husband, my children, my family, my health. When asked what I am most thankful for, these are always at the top of my list, as I'm sure they are yours. But on this particular night, I asked myself, "Other than those that are a given, what else am I thankful for?" Some things like coffee or an occasional pedicure came to mind, but I considered that I could live the rest of my life without having my toes done and be just fine! I could completely give up coffee if I had to. SOOOO, that left me pondering what am I thankful for, other than my list of givens? I mean, what things other than God, family and my health, could I literally not live without? What things, if taken from me, would leave me absolutely lost? When you take God and family out of the picture, the task is not so easy! But here’s my list (or at least what I thought of before finally falling asleep!)

1. My Accountability Group – This group of women has become more than just a Bible Study group to me. I am so thankful for the relationships that I share with each of these ladies, whether they have been involved for 9 years or for just a few months. I love that I have a place that I can feel completely safe and loved despite my faults. I love that I can be totally honest with my struggles and can count on these women to encourage me and pray for me.

2. Music – A world without music would just be plain awful!! I can’t even begin to tell you the way music touches my heart! I can hear a song that I love and I’m just completely caught up in it. I absolutely LOVE a beautiful melody, or the sound of a choir or group harmonizing, or amazing lyrics. I can get LOST totally in music, and I am so thankful that it is a part of my world!

3. My Camera – Sometimes I feel like I view the world behind the lens of my camera, but I wouldn’t change it for anything. I absolutely LOVE going back and looking at my pictures, and my hobbies of scrapbooking, blogging, and creating photo books are all possible because I take so many pictures. I would love to actually be GOOD at it one day and take a photography class or something. But, having a great camera makes up for my lack of experience, and I am so thankful for mine!

4. Sleeping - I can't tell you how thankful I am for SLEEP! Whether it's a nap or getting to sleep for hours at night, sleep is something I absolutely LOVE.

5. Carbs - Some people love chocolate or sweets or caffiene....but I love CARBS. I'd rather have french fries than chocolate any day! I honestly don't think I could ever go on one of those low carb or no carb diets. I would not be able to last a day!

6. Summer - I used to think spring was my favorite season, and it is the PRETTIEST, in my opinion, but if I could only have one season, I'd pick summer. I love the beach, the pool, time off from work, spending time with family. There are so many special memories that I connect to summer.

7. My minivan - If you know me well, you know that I waited a long time for God to answer that prayer, and boy do I love my van! It's the perfect car for us during this stage of life, and I am so thankful that I finally got it. No more leaning over to put the kids in a sedan. I don't know how I ever lived without it!

So, what are YOU really thankful for? If you take out the "givens" what makes your life great? I'd love for you to leave a comment.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Today is my Mom’s birthday, and I wanted to do something special for her. I got this great post idea from a friend’s blog (thanks Bethany). So, Mom, this post is totally and completely for you! And anyone else who reads it will know without a doubt what a wonderful Mom you are to me! I have made a random list (typed exactly as they came to my mind) of memories and qualities that I love about you. I hope you enjoy it!
1. You are a prayer warrior, and everyone in the family looks to you to take prayers to the Father on their behalf.
2. You write the best poems – wedding poems, birthday poems, school poems, the list goes on...
3. Working on my “All the world’s a stage” speech for graduation.
4. Helping me with my clever college entrance essays.
5. You LOVE my scrapbooks more than anyone – I can’t wait to show them to you.
6. Seeing you when you’re with my children – an AWESOME Grandmommy.
7. The way you’ve cried every time I had a child – like I knew it was special for you to see your baby have babies (and you always thanked me for my sacrifice when most people are just focused on the new baby).
8. All of your help after Avery (you know what I mean!) Not many people could’ve handled that.
9. Your generous nature.
10. Watching you take care of Pops as he aged. You were a great daughter to him!
11. Going to Burger King with Mrs. Smothers while @ TSA, and the fact that you still do it!
12. Meeting you at BK now with your sisters and Pops before he died.
13. Singing @ Pops’ funeral – for him, but for YOU too.
14. You’ve never missed an event – not a ball game, talent show, parents’ weekend, Christmas program. You’ve always supported me in everything.
15. Planning a wedding with you – the sweetest wedding ever!
16. Getting pulled over on the way to ATL when we went to get fitted for my wedding dress.
17. You are my BEST girlfriend.
18. The way we shop so well together – being able to walk in/walk out quickly and not waste time.
19. When you taught my women’s Bible Study group and they all loved you too.
20. The way you handled your cancer and how it gave the rest of us peace (and how God healed you!)
21. When you wanted to hear me sing “Trust His Heart” immediately after coming out of your surgery, and I was holding your hand.
22. Dinners at El Sombrero with you, Papa, and the kids.
23. Playing mafia at family gatherings and crying because I hated lying to you all!
24. The time when you rode on the back of my Big Wheel down the big hill on Pierce Dr. N and got scared b/c we were going too fast. You tried to get off and massacred your leg!
25. Our pet cat, Whiskers, and how he would attack us from under the kitchen table.
26. Going camping back in the day.
27. Being in your English class.
28. Growing up with your working at my school was always great – because you were always there and I never resented that.
29. What would I do with 3 kids and you not being in town to “relieve” me sometimes - whether it’s just dropping in for a change of scenery, meeting me at Chick-fil-a or letting me go get coffee.
30. You’re always there to talk to when I need a listening ear.
31. You are one of my top “advisors” in life.
32. Wanting to go with you & Papa on your honeymoon when I was little.
33. Being SOOOOO excited when you got engaged to Papa.
34. Going with the family to Disney World last March.
35. Wonderful memories of Hilton Head over the years.
36. I love that we talk on the phone at least once a day (often more).
37. You allowed me to be a “BABY WISE NAZI” with Avery and supported me even though I was utterly ridiculous.
38. We both were there for each other during our times of discontentment over our living situation (houses). God worked it out for good for each of us.
39. How proud I was to be your daughter when they gave you the standing O at Tattnall’s moving up ceremony Logan’s senior year.
40. When I came inside from playing with Denise as a child because I knew MY Mom would tell me what the F word meant. And then going back outside and saying, “I told you she would tell me!”
41. I’m just glad that we can talk about ANYTHING.
42. You are a model wife, daughter, sister, and mother, and I pray I can be half the person you are!
43. Going out on my 21st Birthday and y’all buying me a glass of wine – WEIRD!
44. Being able to relate to you as an adult and friend now!
45. Always asking you how can I make my girls love me the way I love you and turn out to be Godly women.
46. You coming in @ Aunt Nettie’s when Grandmommy died. I only remember that you were bawling, and it is etched in my memory.
47. I love that you share your testimony with your seniors – TSA is so blessed to have you as a part of their family.
48. You have parades and dance with my kids, and they love it!
49. You are full of Godly wisdom and can always point me to Scripture for answers.
50. Taking the trip to Hawaii with you and Papa.
51. Spending the night with you guys when Bryan goes out of town.
52. Eating pizza and watching movies that we rented, the 2 of us on opposite ends of the sofa just vegging out and Papa in his lazy boy.
53. All the nights you scratched my back growing up.
54. The first time I had to use a certain feminine product when we were at the beach and I was freaking out!
55. Lots, lots, lots of laughter through the years.
56. Telling you that I was pregnant with my first child, and seeing you cry because you were so happy and surprised.
57. Telling you I was pregnant with baby #2 after coming home from SSI. We told Avery to give Mommy and kiss, Daddy a kiss, and the baby a kiss. You cried again!
58. Announcing that “It’s a boy” at the girls’ birthday party and you being so excited, but upset because Papa wasn’t in the room…then you had to comfort me while I cried over it!
59. You celebrate with me over the things that I FINALLY get – like my van, my house, my children – things that I have to WAIT for patiently – that you know I REALLY want.
60. You are the most amazing mom in the world!
As you can see, there are 60 reasons, and there is no mistake about why. I was actually surprised by how LITTLE time it took me to think of them. I spent no more time than it took to type them, and I have billions more in my head. I could go on and on about you forever, which is just proof that I love you more than you’ll ever know! Happy 60th Mom! I love you. Julie

Thankful Thursday

Here are 10 random things that I am thankful for this morning....

• A husband who left a love note for me when I got up
• Little girls who are sleeping late
• "Mommy love" from Asa this morning
• Fresh running water - as much as I want
• Friends that I can go see "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" with tonight
• A wonderful job that allows me to be both Mommy AND teacher
• That today is my day off, and I get to be with my children
• 3 sets of parents who live in the same town - who can watch my kids grow up (and babysit them too)
• My mini-van (don't know how I lived without it)
• A cool house in the heat of summer
• My computer