Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 12

Day 12

I am thankful for fire pits and fireplaces.
Not only for warmth, but for the fun it can bring.  Roasting marshmallows to eat or to make for smores.  Sitting by the fire wrapped up in a blanket or snuggling with a loved one, what a perfect setting!

This was in South Carolina with my brothers and our families.

Camping with friends, with added colour crystals.

 At my parents house, they had this fire pit made for the grandkids (and big kids!)

 

Mmmm, melting Peeps for yummy smores.

 

Still at my parents house, not sure what the boys did to this one!

 

The yule log burning in Washington DC while looking at the Christmas trees.

 

Cedar chip fire pit in Icy Strait Point, Alaska

 

I love having a fire at the lake, the sky is so clear.  Guaranteed to find at least one shooting star.  I was lucky enough to get the moon in this one.

 

The gas fireplace in our rental house.  I liked having a wood burning stove in our old house, but I must admit I'm looking forward to having gas fireplaces in our new home.

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 11

Day 11

I am thankful for Veterans and Service Members.

 

I'm cheating today and showing you what Nathan's school did and posted on their fb page... it's awesome!

 

To honor those veterans who so valiantly serve our country, today we welcomed Colonel Louis J. Schott (Ret.), USMC, a decorated World War II veteran to speak with our students about his experiences in service to our country. Col Schott is a former member of the 1st Marine Division and a long-time member of the Marine Reserves, serving in the Pacific Theater at Okinawa and Peleliu. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, and at the age of 93, stays active playing golf several times a week and enjoying his family. 

 

 Our Student Council representatives presented Colonel Schott with a check for $562.50 in support of the Wounded Warrior Project which they raised through Out-of-Uniform days with the support of our entire student body. Our kindergarten students then presented Colonel Schott with an appreciation card they created just for him. We were privileged to welcome such a distinguished veteran to our school, and are grateful for not only his service, but for the opportunity to share a real life hero with our students.

 As part of our Veteran’s Day observations, our students made cards and treat bags for members of our military and we are happy to be able to extend our gratitude to the brave men and women who so bravely serve our country.

 

 

I LOVE THIS!

 

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 10

Day 10

I am thankful for birthdays.  Family birthdays, friends birthdays, even my birthday!  Yes, I'm getting older, but it beats the alternative. 

Today we celebrated Nathan's 7th birthday and he had a wonderful day!  Pancake breakfast at the firehouse, opening family pressies, laser tag party with friends, dinner at Cheeburger Cheeburger, and then opening pressies from his friends.  Phew, I know I'm tired and he's so wound up he had a hard time getting to sleep!

His birthday cake didn't turn out like I wanted.  It was supposed to be Optimus Prime, but I just couldn't get it right.  So I settled for this and he was thrilled.

 

 Being goofy with his cousins.

Loving his pillowcase, made by his "girlfriend/future wife's" mom!

Whether you have a big party, a small gathering, receive a card in the mail, open an email, or get wished Happy Birthday on facebook, I hope when it's your birthday you get to celebrate YOUR special day!

 

Birthdays are good for you.  Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest.  ~ Larry Lorenzoni 

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 9

Day 9

I am thankful for our kitties!  They are our other babies and we love them dearly. 
They are Tonkinese cats, a cross between Siamese and Burmese.  We chose them because they are supposed to have less dander which is better for DH.  They are also good with children (they tolerate Nathan!) and other pets, they are super nosey, and they love high places like the top of doors and cabinets. 

Princess Ming on her 1st birthday.

 She had to test all of Nathan's things so make sure they were comfy for him.

And here's Max, we loved Ming so much we had to get another!

It didn't take too long for them to be best friends.

Nathan making friends too.

One for each gman.

 

Max not liking his birthday crown very much.

Doing what they do best, snuggle!

But they can be naughty too, especially Max.  If Ming is sitting somewhere warm, Max will either sit on her or nudge her away - big bully! 

 And best of all, they love to help me stitch!

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 8

Day 8

I am thankful for marriage.  The union of two people to live together in Holy Matrimony.

These pictures were taken this evening at a wedding of DH's coworker.  This is a second wedding for each of them, with ten kids between them! 

 

The candlelit entrance to church.

 

Window to their future together.

 

Simple, but lovely.

Together

 

Warmth

May they be blessed in their happily ever after.

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 7

Day 7

I am thankful for prayer.  This is what I believe in, and I'm thankful I can pray whatever, whenever, and wherever I want.

Nathan's the one who normally says our mealtime prayers and won't allow us to forget to say his bedtime prayers.

My Mom is blessed enough to have her own chapel at their house where she goes every day to read the Bible and pray.

 

So speaking of prayers, I have a few for those of you who pray or those who send good thoughts.

 

Please pray for S's DH, C, who has cancer and is having some complications.

My gf, D, who is having some effects of her medication.

My gf, T's uncle who is in the hospital unexpectedly.

The boy from the gmen's school who died the other day, and his family.

I could go on, but these are weighing heavy on my heart.

 

Is there anything you need prayers for?

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 6

Day 6

I am thankful for Shine FM!
You can LISTEN LIVE! by clicking on the button on the left side on their website.

They play Christian music and I love it!  I have been fortunate enough to volunteer there and was able to go today to help with a mailing.  Tina and Vicki are just wonderful and I get to meet other listeners who are there too. 

Even though I came late (can't believe I got lost!), we labeled, folded cards, stuffed envelopes, sealed and stamped close to 1000 cards.  The goal was to finish by 2pm, and we had about two minutes to spare, what timing!

 A very sad situation happened with a boy at the gmen's school yesterday, a 9th grader committed suicide last evening.  No other details, but when I told the ladies about it, Tina suggested we pray for him and his family.  Just another reason I'm thankful for this radio station and the people who work there.

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 5

Day 5

I am thankful for coffee! 
I love our Keurig machine, an older model but works great (touch wood). 


I used to buy the k-cups, but decided it was cheaper and more earth friendly to make my own.

'Tis the winter season for my favourite - Chocolate Orange!  This collection is at the Old Mill Bakery Café and when I was there during the summer, they said they carry it during the holidays.  Guess where I'm going soon...

I also like iced coffee, I normally use half a bottle with ice and extra skim milk - perfect in my mermaid cup.

I found this recipe for Iced Mandarin Orange Cafe Mocha and it looks awesome!

So what's your favourite kind, what am I missing?

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 4

Day 4

I am thankful for baking pans! 
This is my Halloween collection, I just bought the coffin pan and the skeleton candy mold to go with it for next year.  And on sale too, the best part! 

 Here's my ice box chest, filled with the rest of my baking supplies.  I'm not sure all my Christmas baking is in there, I might have packed some of it away before we moved.
I'd say my favourite pans are my Bundt and mini donut pans.  But I do have a "twinkie" pan that needs to be tested out with some pumpkin twinkies - sounds good to me!

I'm always on the lookout for something fun or new, let me know if you see anything!

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 3

Day 3

I am thankful for blogs - reading blogs, writing blogs, and meeting fellow bloggers!

 And because of these blogs, I have been lucky enough to have met some very special people.  For those bloggers I haven't met, I'd love to!  I have participated in blog hops, exchanges/swaps and won some awesome give-a-ways.  Here are just a few examples... (so much is still packed away until we move back into our house next year)

My lovely girl with roses was a win from DJ, and the beautiful heart was a swap from Jill.

 

DJ and I have become more than stitching buddies, she's one of my chosen sisters (since I only have brothers).  This is what she made me for my birthday, isn't she beautiful?!

 

Take a look at who I'm following on the right hand side and if you don't see your blog, please let me know so I can check out what you're up to.  Of course the "downside" of so many blogs?  Not having enough time to read and comment on them all!
 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 2

My thirty days of being thankful will be in no particular order - that would be too hard!

 

Day 2

I am thankful for the beautiful colours of autumn..

 

Thirty Days of Being Thankful - Day 1

Well it's November 1st and even though I'm thankful every day of the year, I thought since this is the month for Thanksgiving in the States I would share what I'm thankful for... for 30 days.

 

Day 1

I am thankful for God.

 

Here's what you need to keep in mind.  You no longer have yesterday.  You do not yet have tomorrow.  You have only today.  This is the day the Lord has made.  Live in it.  ~ Max Lucado

 

 How about you, do you have 30 things to be thankful for?  Ready for the challenge?