Three Things I am Grateful For (not in order, and not exclusive)

I am grateful for my church:

where else can you make up for a missed breakfast with Starbucks pastry treats and a steamy cup-a-Joe with french vanilla creamer? mmmm. Where else can you yell nonsense at your pastor and have him respond? Where else are you guaranteed to hear at least one movie quote or see your pastor do the white man wiggle dance in every sermon? It really is a great place.

I am grateful for family dinners:

Stressful for sure, but the dinner table is where the best jokes are said, the yummiest food gets eaten, and manners are learned. It's where we reconnect, laugh, chat, and everyone leaves the table having learned something, even if it's trivial like that Mr. Ben's toots are in a class of their own. neat.

My bed:

So big, so cozy, so where I want to be, and really where I spend a lot of my time reading chapter after chapter of required and for fun reading. Most nights I can roll over and catch a glimpse of my man, but I no longer have to worry about him taking a midnight swing and punching me in the jaw on accident. Well, he SAID it was an accident.

What Are You Going To Do Next Year?

This is easy.

Graduate,

Get laser hair removal as a graduation present (everyone can enjoy this present),


Take my family to Disneyland,


Start my master's program.

Why Didn't You Do It?

There are a number of things in my life I SHOULD have done that I didn't. Everyone of them I think of, my reason is the same: I was scared.

Scared of the outcome, scared of what someone would say or think, scared of messing it all up, scared of getting in the way of the "real" work.

I think we get like this when we start doubting that God is really interested in using us- using our gifts. But, it's true. God GAVE us those gifts, not as a souvenir shot glass to be placed behind a glass case, but as everyday items to be used as often as God gives us the opportunity. So, what didn't you do? Why didn't you do it?

Where Would YOU Go?

I was once given the chance to fly anywhere Southwest Airlines flies by way of a free plane ticket. I had three kids at the time, and I had just had Layla Grace a couple months before that, and really needed a get away. Because of my job, and Mike's job, I only had a 24 hour window to be gone. I had to make it worth it, and choose a place I could bring Miss Layla Grace along. I ran through my options:

Hot dog in New York.

Sunset in Hawaii.

Trolleys in San Fran.

Coffee in Seattle.

I finally settled on Reno. We still lived in Vegas at the time, and wanted more than anything to live in Reno. So, with tiny babe in tow, I flew to Reno for a visit with my oldest brother and his family. It was a perfect fit. I wouldn't have changed my destination. I will just keep those other ones on my list.

Through Their Eyes

I cannot say for certain how my children see me; I like to think it's good though. They laugh often, so I think I might be funny. They dance a lot, so I think I might sing often. They apologize with ease, so I think I might do that-sometimes. They are randomly kind, so they must have gotten that from somewhere. They love healthy food and regularly ask for broccoli, so I must be a good cook. They beg to go to Whole Foods with me, so I must have taught them the importance of eating greens- or free samples. They are regularly found sleeping in the same bedroom together instead of the two other rooms we paid for with this house, so I must have passed on the strength of togetherness. They are willing to beat up any threatening force that stands against a sibling, so they must see the spirit of protection in me.
I don't know how they see me. They may never tell me in words. I will have to wait and see.
See how my sons treat their wives. See how my daughters raise their sons. See how each of my children faces adversity. See how long it takes each of them to hit their knees when evil rears its ugly head. In the meantime, I will do my best to set a good example. It's certainly a lot of pressure.

Daily Requirements

Bathrooms (and usually first thing)


Bible


Snuggly surfaces


Books to read


My family (I enjoy the occasional break, but I really like all of them.)


Food


Cleaning (unfortunately, this HAS to be a daily requirement if we are don't want to live in a pool of ew.)

Summer Reading

What are you reading?

I am reading:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Through the Fire by Shawn Grady (written by a local fire fighter)

The book of Daniel, from the Bible, probably written by Daniel

Unabridged: The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus by Ann Spangler & Lois Tverberg

I can never seem to focus on one book. Too many times I am in the mood for one type of reading, and I hate feeling trapped. Of course, this way, it takes me a good 3 months to finish every book I ever read (except the Twilight series), but I seem to finish them all at the same time. Other books on my "Read Before I Die" list:

Biographies on Sam Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Patience Wright, Molly Pitcher, Ronald Reagan, and CS Lewis.

The First Days of School
Courage to Teach
and
Improving School From Within

There are about 250 books on my list, but these are a few.