30 Days of Gratitude - Day 6

I am very grateful for comedy.  You've heard the old adage "laughter is the best medicine", well, it's true!  We went to see Tower Heist with Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Matthew Broderick and Alan Alda.  It had a plot with suspense and drama.  And humor, lots of humor.  All the characters were well cast and all so very different!  Made for a really great way to spend 2 hours on a Sunday afternoon.

I was still in a bit of a bleak mood and the movie really helped snap me out of it.  I laughed out loud many times during the movie and it made me smile.  Amazing how a little humor can change your mindset!

What are you thankful for?

a good day

Today was a good day.  I slept in until 8:30.  Had a nice lunch with Sarah and my grandmother.  Then saw Toy Story 3. Wow, what an emotional movie.  I cried at the beginning and at the end.  And afterwards.  What the heck?  I was not anticipating the movie have that much of an effect on me.   Growth, change, moving on.  The themes in the movie were so relatable to my life now.  So what do I do?  I cry.  Thank goodness for sunglasses.  At least I left the movie theater hidden behind dark shades.

The afternoon was filled with menial home tasks.  I felt some sense of accomplishment.  No dinner was planned so Jim and I went out to Black Cypress.  Very delicious meal tonight.  We started with a flatbread appetizer with roasted asparagus, egg, cheese and lettuce.  Sounds strange I know, but it was delicious!  For the entrees Jim had shish kabobs with couscous that had the perfect touch of mint, lemon, almond and red onion.  I had a seafood stew - but it really wasn't a stew at all.  And it was divine.   Clams, white fish and shrimp simmered in a delicious, light white wine broth with some carrots, celery, onion and seasonings.  We hadn't been there in a while.  Glad we went tonight.

Now it's time for put the feet up, have a glass of wine evening.   Grateful for today.  It was a good one.

a bundle of thoughts

I didn't sleep well last night, mainly because I am in a hotel. It's a great hotel, The Davenport, but strange sounds and a different bed prevent the deep slumber I am used to. We came up last night because of the weather. This morning the girls have doctor appointments and with the snow and ice we thought it was safer to arrive yesterday. And looking out the window right now, I think we made a good decision. It is snowing...Again.

Last night we rented a movie on the TV, Mama Mia, and all enjoyed it. But I cried, couldn't stop crying. When the daughter asked her mom to walk help her get ready on her wedding day and then walk her down the aisle it got me thinking - about everything. I was trying to hide my tears during the movie so the girls wouldn't see. I guess I felt silly crying, but then I wondered, why do I care if they see me cry? Sarah, the keen, observant one noticed. She hugged me and told me she loved me. It's weird though because I am wondering why I got so emotional over a movie, and a movie that was supposed to be a comedy.

I think it's because I want that kind of relationship with my own daughters and afraid it won't be that way. Things have definitely improved over the past year with all my children and for that I'm grateful. I am prayerful that things will continue even more.

Now that Jake and Kristin are in college, things are different - in a good way. I talk to Kristin on average once a week and Jake about the same, maybe a bit more. I am thoroughly enjoying time with Sarah. She has never had Jim or I one-on-one before and it's nice for all of us. Kristin says she spoiled because of it....I'm not sure that's the right word. But as parents we are somewhat more lax with Sarah, I think because we are stronger in our beliefs as to what matters and what doesn't and what rules we want to enforce. With Jake and Kristin - things were very much trial and error...typical of many parents when parenting their eldest. Also, they are different individual people and to be the best parent I can be things may be different from one child to another. I don't think that's bad at all, I think it's positive because they are each different, with different needs and challenges as they mature.

Even though Mama Mia made me cry and think for a long time about the relationship I have with my kids, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Although Pierce Brosnan CAN NOT sing, he was awful! But so awful it was entertaining!

I like movies that make me cry because they make me think and reflect about my life. And how I can be an even better parent. I feel I am a great parent and I will not let anyone tell me otherwise. Although no one has told me I'm not so I'm not worrying. Quite the contrary, I have had several friends all comment as to how good a job Jim and I have done. It's a nice compliment because I take my parenting seriously. I am lucky that Jim has a good job that allows me to stay home - that was something VERY important to both of us, that ONE of us stay home and raise the kids. I did start working part time (during tax season) when Sarah was in 1st grade. I was home when they come home from school and only worked 4 months a year. It was a great situation. I don't take all the credit for their upbringing. Jim was my partner and then relatives played a very important roll as well. Jim's parents, my parents, my sister and her family and my grandparents and the many close friends we have. It truly does take a village.

I am proud to say that they are doing well so far at the ages of 18, 18 and 16. They all have different personalities, different learning styles, different aspirations and goals - and I wouldn't want it any other way! I know that much of their temperament is innate, but I know that Jim and I have done a good job showing them and being role models for things that are important to us. We both volunteer and spend a great deal of time helping others, whether it be for the school, church or state organizations. We are only a small piece of the big puzzle, the world is such a greater place and I want the them to know that.

This year for Christmas we really scaled back and it was wonderful! We selected a family from Pullman Child Welfare and purchased gifts for them. We did not know the family or even if all the recipients we had were from the same family. We went shopping for the gifts as a family and had a lot of fun. Kristin had a 5 year old girl - and purchased some nice clothes at Old Navy. Sarah selected some pretty tops at Pac Sun for her 16 year old girl. Jake had a 12 year old boy who wanted a sweat outfit and shirts, Jake found success at Old Navy. The parents we had wanted a gas gift card and a pancake griddle. We supplemented it with a mixing bowl, whisk, spatula, pancake mix and syrup! It feels so good to give, especially to those who need it! We then went out to lunch and stomped around a Christmas tree farm to select a tree for our family. This past Saturday Jim helped distribute the gifts at the Whelan Grange. So many appreciative families!!! The original intent was for our entire family to distribute gifts but Kristin and Jake were recuperating from surgeries (Jake - shoulder repair, Kristin - bone spur removal on foot) and I was home taking care of them. Sarah was sleeping, feigning exhaustion from all her activities of being a high school junior. Jim wasn't thrilled with being the only one to go, but he went and as I said previously, so many families were appreciative of his help!

Our family gets their needs met and that's ample. I am grateful we had clothes, food and shelter. It's an eye opener how many people don't have these things. This was the start of a new tradition for us, we are already thinking of other ways we can help next year. Christmas is about Jesus birth and to celebrate his birth I do not need to receive gifts to acknowledge it. Jesus died for us and because of him we have salvation. That is what is to be celebrated. Helping others is how I want to celebrate Jesus Christ! Christmas is a blessed time of year and I am truly humbled to be part of a great family and a Christian.