Giving Thanks days - 3 & 4

Hi there friends.

Yesterday was a fun day. I had a mother/daughter Posh party, then had dinner with the friends Nikki and Sasha, THEN got to see my long lost Christina! Most of you know but if you don't, I'm a total hermit and it's hard to get me out of the house for ONE fun time, much less three :) I'm glad I have persistent friends who are willing to fight for me haha.

So, since I was so busy, I didn't get to write. But here I am now.

For day THREE, I'm really grateful for my military community. It's hard being "newlyweds" (even though it's been three years!). Learning to live with someone is both fun and challenging on its own, but then the military throws in as many tricks and treats as they can. And yes, there are some really, really lame people that you meet as with anything... But the blessings (as usual) outweigh the burden. Most of the people we have met have been quick to befriend us, honest and genuine. Most of the non-military community in towns with military presence are the same way. It really is a lifestyle that no one understands until they have experienced it. I don't know how to describe it any better than that. I love the military. I love being a military spouse. It has allowed me so many opportunities I would probably have not had otherwise. Just a few of these things are amazing health insurance (especially for a sickly like myself), the chance to be a homemaker (which some may find subversive but I LOVE), and the chance to travel (and live) all over the country and potentially the world. Too awesome.

And for today, I am thankful for Netflix lol. I was so mad at them when they introduced the streaming feature and raised their prices like thirteen times in six months or whatever it was and I vowed never to go back. BUT the prospect of a deployment, and saving money by cutting things like cable, have reintroduced me to the idea of streaming video. And there are SO many shows that I don't watch because I'm always late in the game, or shows that I completely missed (like... Lost). And now... now they are available to me! For hours upon hours upon hours of nonstop entertainment! Shut up! Who's idea was this?! Thank you!!

Of course, this blessing is also a curse, because I have a goal of reading a lot of books while the Sarge is gone and well.. it just might not happen :)

Giving Thanks -- Day 2

Today I am thankful for my parents!

I have awesome parents and I got to talk to them today so they are on my mind.

First of all, I'm really blessed to have both of my parents still with me and the thought of losing them crosses my mind occasionally. My maternal grandma passed about six years ago (wow.. can't believe it's been that long) and seeing my mom go through it gave me hope because of her faith, but it also broke my heart to hear her talk about all the memories and the pain of losing a mom. Anyway, my folks are alive and together and I wish I'd appreciated them more and earlier!

My dad is a pastor and we have the greatest theological conversations. He seems like the strong silent type but he's crazy hilarious when he gets in his silly mood -- and I wish I had the ability to pull off the serious thing. He also has the faith of a saint and I can only aspire to the strength of his spirit.

My mom is my best friend. We had a rough high school period, and I often think about how much time I wasted with her. She has so much wisdom and I could have been benefiting from it much earlier in life! She is funny and sassy but has a precious quiet spirit that I wish I had.

Together they model a marriage that I hope for! They are incessantly forgiving and, even though they are completely different, they complement one another beautifully. What shining examples of faith meeting life -- I am indeed grateful for these precious folks I get to call mom and dad!
 

Giving Thanks -- Day 1

 Attitude of gratitude right?

Today I am thankful for country music! (I know, the first day is supposed to be salvation. But I didn't want to be cliche. And the CMAs are on.)

I LOVE country music. I love Brad Paisley. I LOVE Blake and Miranda. I love Johnny Cash. I love Zac Brown. I love Eric Church. I love Carrie Underwood (I know). I adore Faith Hill. I do not love Taylor Swift (you see how I did that?). I could go on and on -- I think almost all my favorite songs are country songs. I love beer, guns, floating the river and being inappropriate all in good fun. I love the country life. (And yes, this San Francisco girl knows something about living in the country! If they are burning leaves in the "town limits" you're in the country lol.) I love everything about it!!

And I am thankful that there are still somewhat wholesome forms of entertainment out there that aren't as empty as Rhianna or as vulgar as, say, Lil Wayne (there are probably more modern examples but those are the ones I have heard of lol). Thank you Lord. Thank you for these guitar playin', boot wearin', gun totin', America lovin', Jesus praisin' country guys and gals who don't care what highfalutin people think of their down home country ways.
 
Yes. Yes. Praise the Lord for COUNTRY MUSIC!!