Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog are the sole responsibility of the writer and are 100% accurate. While this writer doesn't write or express her feelings in this manner often, she has always believed and thanked God for these things every day of her life. Writings such as these don't happen often, so as her friend Ginny would say, "sit down, shut-up and listen."
I read a blog by an old friend I went to middle school with that writes about how amazing her life is. While some of the things she writes make me want to vomit in my mouth, other things she writes really do inspire me. They make me realize how little I tell people how appreciative I am of them and how blessed I truly am. So here goes, in no particular order, my top ten list of blessings.
1) I am thankful that I live in a country where I am free to do as I please. No one tells me who to vote for, who to worship, or what my opinions are. I dig that about America.
2) I am thankful for my amazing husband who loves me even when I'm witchy. And even though I complain incessantly about all those long hours he works, I am thankful I get to stay at home with my growing babies.
3) I am thankful I don't have to cry every month when our mortgage and other bills are due, like I painfully remember my mom doing when I was growing up. Financial literacy and stability is something I never have and never will take for granted.
4) I am thankful that I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not. What you see is what you get with me. So what if I say "oil" or "twice" different from the way everyone else says it. I could enunciate my words to appear more proper and less-hickish, but quite frankly my way is WAY MORE fun.
5) I am thankful that God sent Jesus to die on the cross for ME, even though I screw up all the time and don't come close to deserving it. While I readily admit that I don't pray every, single day, I haven't read my Bible cover to cover, and (while I'm at it) I don't have a lot of biblical knowledge, I still rest peacefully knowing that I am a child of God.
6) I am thankful for our church family, those we met 9 years ago and those we more recently found in 2004. They love me even when I'm unlovable, even when I open my big mouth and say things I shouldn't, and even when I use sarcasm when it's not all that appropriate. They mean more to me that I could ever express.
7) I am thankful for the amazing progress Benjamin has made over the last 18 months. I am thankful for his therapists, whom he loves and talks about all the time, and for the time and encouragement they give both of us. I am glad my little guy has rejoined the world and can now tell us how he feels and more importantly what he needs. It truly is one of my greatest joys that at one time I thought I might never see.
8) I am thankful for our friends. When you don't have family close-by, your friends really do become your family. We would be awfully lonely if it weren't for them.
9) I am thankful that I have 3 siblings that call me to scream, cry, and harass me all in one phone call. They each represent the longest relationships I'll ever have, and I'm glad to have them by my side.
10) I am so thankful that we are healthy and can live in a place where we get to breathe clean air and feel safe driving with our windows down.
And now for my bonus...my selfish blessings that make my life a little easier: Cable TV, TiVo, my cell phone, my car, microwave ovens, tampons, and oh yes, who could forget the Internet.
So there it is...my list. This is as contemplative as I can possible get in one blog, so "seriousness over," as Ginny would say. I don't say, or even think, these things near as often as I should.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Great Walnut Brigade
We feel so blessed to live in a place where we have an abundance of beautiful, massive, old trees. It was really what drew us to this land in the first place. Every fall, the walnut trees drop literally thousands of walnuts in our valley. So, this year, Levi has decided to collect these little suckers and sell them at the feed store in Elm Springs.
I decided to let Levi go at this on his own. It was his business, and he got to make all the decisions. I thought it would be interesting to see how he went about it.
Deciding to maximize his income potential, he decided to ask two of our neighbors if he could pick up their walnuts as well. They happily agreed, as walnuts don't usually agree with mowers. Next he picked his employees. Benjamin agreed to help and I signed on as well. At first he offered me a dime a day, but I negotiated my rate up to $1.00 for every day I pick up. He also gave our neighbors, ages 5 and 3, jobs as well. Now, as long as the child labor officials don't hunt him down and prosecute, he was ready to get to work.
After a few hours, hurting legs, and stained hands, we were done for the day. I kept my complaining to a minimum (shocking, I know) and was content with the fact that I was helping him reach his goal. It was a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather, spend some time together, and let Levi become an entrepreneur in his own right.
Speaking of such, just last week I caught him charging Benjamin a quarter to wash his John Deere Pedal Tractor. He's learning young. There's nothing like conning your little brother and making a quick buck in your own driveway all at the same time. Watch out world. He's 18 in ten short years.
I decided to let Levi go at this on his own. It was his business, and he got to make all the decisions. I thought it would be interesting to see how he went about it.
Deciding to maximize his income potential, he decided to ask two of our neighbors if he could pick up their walnuts as well. They happily agreed, as walnuts don't usually agree with mowers. Next he picked his employees. Benjamin agreed to help and I signed on as well. At first he offered me a dime a day, but I negotiated my rate up to $1.00 for every day I pick up. He also gave our neighbors, ages 5 and 3, jobs as well. Now, as long as the child labor officials don't hunt him down and prosecute, he was ready to get to work.
After a few hours, hurting legs, and stained hands, we were done for the day. I kept my complaining to a minimum (shocking, I know) and was content with the fact that I was helping him reach his goal. It was a great way to enjoy the beautiful weather, spend some time together, and let Levi become an entrepreneur in his own right.
Speaking of such, just last week I caught him charging Benjamin a quarter to wash his John Deere Pedal Tractor. He's learning young. There's nothing like conning your little brother and making a quick buck in your own driveway all at the same time. Watch out world. He's 18 in ten short years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)