30 Days of Thankful - Days 11 & 12

Yes, I know.

I'm behind on my Thankful List

But the truth is I have trouble ticking with anything for 30 days. 

Probably why I'm still working on that same 20 pounds - ha!

Anyhoo, over the weekend we went to the Texas Renaissance Festival in Plantersville, Texas so today I am thankful for shared memories!

I used to LOVE the Renassaince Festival when I was a kid.  All rainbows and crystals and unicorns - yes, an actual unicorn was there one year.  I don't know where or how it came to be, but it was there and I saw it.  Back then, unicorns were absolutely my most favorite animal/creature/magical being (you pick) - I was such a child of the eighties!

Anyway, the first thing I realized when we arrived was that some things you thought were amazing and awesome as a kid are . . . hmmm, how can I say this . . .  really kind of weird when you're a grown-up!  All the costumes and swords and corsets (oh my!) on people who were just attending. Definitely a sight to behold!  I had Sheep put on some fairy wings before we left, which she questioned . . . until she got there and realized a measly pair of fairy wings wasn't nearly enough for the spirit of Ren Fest!


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Speed was having the same sort of flashbacks and realizations I was, but to the kids it was 100% fun!

There are lots of shows to see!

Rides to ride!

 

With a Medieval theme of course!

 

 

Even exotic animals!  How many of you can say that you've ridden an elephant!

 

We ate turkey legs and watched jousting and tromped across all 55 acres until we found the glassblowing display - which was still as awesome as I remember it!  Though Snacks will be too young to remember it, Sheep LOVED it!  And it was absolutely unforgettable to be able to experience the festival through her eyes!  As well as hearing all of Speed's memories and observations - he's a wry one! 

 

So very grateful for the memory we all have together!

 

Dont forget to link up your own stories of thankfulness at the 30 Days of Thankful Blog Hop going on all this month!

30 Days of Thaknful - Days 9 & 10



This weekend I am thankful for my bloggy friends, who turn me on creatively, lift me up spiritually and really encourage me with their sweet and often funny comments.  This month marks the 1 year anniversary of my 'return to blogging' and I have learned so much from everyone and made some special friends along the way {smile}.

Transitioning from a working mom to a full-time stay-at-home-mom was more challenging than I could have anticipated.  And frankly, there's still some aspects of stay-at-home-mommyhood that I struggle with.  But I wouldn't trade this opportunity for anything!  That being said, blogging has been a way for me to connect with other grown-ups and more importantly, other creative souls.

I love finding a kindred spirit and I am constantly amazed by all the imaginative and entrepreneurial adventures going on out there.  I feel privileged to be a part of the blogging community and am just so thankful for having friends joining me on this journey.  I only hope that I am returning the favor to you in some  way!

So here's to us!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 8

Today I am thankful for second chances.

And thirds.

And fourths.

And, well . . . you get the idea.

I don't know for certain, but I'm guessing that everyone has something they're struggling with.  Some problem, or behavior, or relationship that you just can't seem to get right.  Or some issue that you thought you'd seen the last of but here it comes round again??  For me it's my weight.  Not that I don't have others (ha!), but this is the one I'm stressing about focused on right now.  And I've got so much wrapped up in the issue at this point that I won't bore you with the details, but I've got a goal (again), I am taking action (again) and I am moving forward (again)!

Truly this would not be possible without God's grace.  Because when it comes to dreaming thinking about food and exercise (what I want to eat, what I should be eating, what I shouldn't be eating, am I hungry or am I stressed, when to eat, how much to eat) the incessant, internal dialogue has just. worn. me. out.



Recently I have been reading a book with a friend (kind of a two-woman Bible study of sorts) about the power of prayer.  It's Called The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.  I'm a little more than half-way through the book and it has really given me some 'food' for thought - pun totally intended!   This quote, in particulr, really stood out to me.  I would love to see one of my graphically-gifted, bloggy friends (Kristi?!) make this into a fabulous free printable because I think others would find it motivational as well.  This was my 'ghetto graphics' attempt at something . . . . What can I say.  Everyday graces welcome too!

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 God is so good.  He will always give you another chance.  And He is always ready to help you out with your stuggles.  The challenge for us is to simply leave them at His feet.  Easier said than done, I know, but here I go again!

Don't forget to link up your own personal stories of thankfulness at the 30 Days of Thankful Blog Hop going on now!

Thirty Days of Thankful - Day 6

Today I am thankful for  . . . . my mother-in-law!

 

"What?!" you say.

 

It's true!  And those of you who know me, know just how good I have it!

 

Not unlike everyone I know, my life is hectic, busy, over-scheduled, whatever you want to call it.  All I know is that most mornings I hit the ground running at 5 AM and fall into bed between 10 and 11 most nights with my 'To Do' still bigger than my 'Ta-Done'!  But I love my kids, my hubby, my girl scouts, my CCE class, my crafts, my blog . . . . well, you get the idea.  So keeping all my plates in the air requires help.

 

Or one really awesome grandma!

 

Seriously.

 

I could ask for no better help than my mother-in-law.

I can't tell you how blessed I am to have someone to watch my children who loves them (almost) as much as I do.  She is an amazing woman, one of my closest friends and the star of one of one of my more popular posts too - ha!

 

She's been away taking care of a friend after surgery recently, and boy do we miss her!!

 

Someone once told me that the best way to give someone a compliment is to tell someone else, so today I am telling her and all of you . . .

 

Gram . . .



30 Days of Thankful - Day 5

Today I am thankful for fresh squeezed orange juice!

Right from my own backyard no less!

 

 

Doesn't it look yummy!!
 

 

We planted this pretty, little satsuma not long after Sheep arrived, but hadn't seen any oranges since the measly two it had on it when we bought it.  Until this year.  Sheep's about to be 8 btw . . .

 

 

Now I know it's not the tree's fault.  Poor thing spent the first three years of it's life just trying to survive our new puppy Katie - who managed to dig up EVERYTHING in the bed no less than 5 times each season for the first three years of her life!  It was awful!

 

 

Then it had to endure one of worst droughts on record here in Texas last summer.

The Silver Leaf Maple didn't make it.

But 'Lucky' did . . .

 

 

 . . . with a little help from Mary, who came to join us a few years back from my aunt's home in Austin.  Lots of good memories made up there and I feel blessed to have her gracing my own garden now.

 

 

Snacks is home with me on Mondays, and it's always fun to have a little 'help' in the kitchen!

 

 

Jaime Oliver's got nothin' on my "Nekked Chef!"

 

And the verdict is . . . .

 

Mmmm, mmmm good!

 

Don't forget to add your own daily thanksgivings at the 30 Days of Thankful Blog Hop going on now!!

Sharing this Thankful Thought @ Mop It Up Mondays, Meet Me Monday, Debbie Doo's Newbie Party, Take-A-Look Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Cowgirl Up, Whimsy Wednesdays, Show and Share, Overflowing with Creativity, Creative Me, Made U Look, It's a Hodgepodge Friday

 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 4

Today I am thankful for the chance to relax, restore and reconnect with my husband in San Antonio, TX!

 

Last Christmas, Speed and I won a two night stay on the Riverwalk (and some cash to boot) at his office Christmas party!  Which was probably THE BEST company Christmas party I have ever been to by the way. . . but that's another story!

 

Anyhoo, we headed out on Friday and arrived at the Mokara Resort and Spa just before sunset!

 

 

Here's a view from our balcony overlooking the Riverwalk below - lovely!

 

 

After flopping on the king-sized bed (we don't have one of those) and oohing and ahhing over the robes, and the blankets and the fresh fruit like some sort of 'country-come-to-town', we struck out to explore our surroundings and find some grub!

 

 

We waited the entire, long, HOT, Texas summer to cash in our prize - but it was so worth the wait!  The weather was absolutely perfect for a weekend on foot and dining al fresco!  After dinner, we ducked into Howl at the Moon - a dueling piano bar - for drinks and some 'no-kids'-style entertainment!

 

 

With no dogs or alarm clocks (or kids) to wake us up,  we slept in Saturday morning and then were treated to a Texas Two-Step Couples' Massage at the spa!  Fifty glorious minutes later we floated back to our rooms, sipping citrus water and contemplating spending the rest of our day in our amenities.  (That's a complementary robe folks!)  Room service provided us with a delicious breakfast and fresh-squeezed orange juice, made even better by the bottle of champagne I brought from home.  Talk about country-come-to-town . . . . ha!

 

We settled in for some Aggie football and by halftime it was clear that it would be OK to nap - so we did!  In fact we didn't make it out again until suppertime and I can't remember the last time Speed and I allowed ourselves a whole day of lazy.

 

Late in the afternoon, we hit the Riverwalk again and discovered the most amazing margaritas and dinner at the Iron Cactus Mexican Grill and Margarita Bar.  If you're ever in San Antonio, this is a 'must try'!!

 

 

We explored some more of the Riverwalk, which is just beautiful at night, and then headed back to  the Mokara to take advantage of the whirlpool tub . . .

 

 

 and bath butler (Are you kidding me?!). 

 

 

I actually had not realized before that I myself am a bath butler, but I will be adding this to my domestic goddess resume!

Needless to say, after 24 hours of rest and relaxation (and an extra hour's sleep), we awoke this morning feeling like Cinderella!  Speed works HARD and managing our 'Very Own Party-of-Five' is no easy task either.  Neither job leaves much time for daydreaming.  You know, those "What if we . . . " conversations.  The ones that remind you why you're on this crazy journey together in the first place and reassure you that you just might make it through the next 40+ years with your best friend still at your side.  At least that's what they do for me.

With the time change last night, we had plenty of time to explore the new sections of the Riverwalk today.  The rain had washed the sidewalks clean and the chill in the air made it a perfect morning for a stroll.  Although both of us have been to the Riverwalk before, neither had ever really noticed the towering cypress trees before, but we took the time to today.  Aren't they amazing?

After one last meal on the Riverwalk this morning, we said "Adios!" to San Antonio and headed north for a quick visit with Sport (our newest collegiate) before going home.  I am so thankful for my husband and to his company for this rare and wonderful opportunity.  We are already dreaming about our next trip!

 

Don't forget to link up your own stories of gratitude at the 30 Days of Thankful Blog Hop going on now!

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Sharing this Thankful Thought @ Mop it Up Mondays, Meet Me Monday, Debbie Doo's Newbie Party, Take-A-Look Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Cowgirl Up, Whimsy Wednesdays, Show and Share, Overflowing with Creativity, Creative Me, Made U Look, It's a Hodgepodge Friday
 

30 Days of Thankful - Day 3

It's Saturday.

That's Game Day in these parts.

 

And that means that today I am thankful for AGGIE FOOTBALL!!

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I mean to tell you, we are having such a good time in the SEC that most of us are wondering why we didn't make the move sooner!  Truth be told, I haven't made it to an 'away' game this year but I am dying to experience Aggie football in our new conference locales!!

 

And our new head coach Kevin Sumlin seems to be doing a real fine job!!

Congratulations coach!

 

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And what's not to be thankful for when it comes to Johnny Football?  He's breaking school and conference records every weekend and he's only a freshman - WHOOP!!

That's Aggie-speak for hell yeah!!



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We're up against a tough team this weekend in Starkville, Mississippi but I watched the game in Baton Rouge (l.s. who?!) and and we handed that victory to them. 

If we can play a clean game today, we will win.

Farmers Fight!!

 

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And even if we're 'outscored', at least we never lose a half-time!

 

Gig 'Em Aggies and

Bet the Hell Outta Mississippi State!!

30 Days of Thankful - Day 2

 

My neighborhood is great!  Not only because of the people who live here, but also because of where it's located - so today I am thankful to be living in my small town!

 

It has been a wonderful place to raise a family because the community is still close-knit and community-oriented!  Our little town of 30+ thousand hosts more community events than you can imagine and everyone still goes to the high school football games on Friday nights!

We celebrate Halloween with a Trick-or-Treat in the Park,

 

Christmas with a parade and snow in the park,

 

 

Easter with the biggest Easter egg hunt I've ever seen,

and an awesome 4th of July parade and party in the park as well!!

We are lucky to have three major parks in our town and they serve as the hub for community events.  In the spring and summer there are concerts at one park, movies at another and even a 'dive-in' movie at the city pool!  Best of all, all this family fun can be had for free!

 

I'm serious!!

 

And that's something else to be thankful for!

 

Don't forget to link up your own stories of gratitude at the 30 Days of Thankful Blog Hop and I'll see you around!

Sharing this Day of Thankful at Cowgirl Up, Hodgepodge Friday

30 Days of Thankful - Day 1

Today, I am thankful for MY NEIGHBORS, who make trick-or-treating something we look forward to each year!   Although, we also have fun trick-or-treating with friends in their neighborhood too, walking our 3 little blocks is simply the best.

The candy's good, the conversation is better and the safety of my little ones is never an issue.

That's Speed Racer and a Circus Poodle by the way - ha!

It's so good, even our old neighbors come back to the block to join the fun!  Last night Sheep told me, "I love trick-or-treating in our neighborhood because there's a friend behind every door." 

 

 

I couldn't agree more!

 

Don't forget to link up your stories of thankfulness, add the party to your own blog and/or grab a button to spread the joy!

 

 

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Join Me for Thirty Days of Thankful!

All I can say is "Whew!"

October has been fun but I am so glad it's over!  And only two weeks of school this month before we're out for Thanksgiving break, which means a mere 54 shopping days left until Christmas - Ack!

Just kidding!

Well, not about the shopping days, but about the "Ack!"

I am determined NOT to get all wrapped up in the craziness of the holidays, so I have decided to spend the next month reflecting on everything I have to be thankful for instead.   I hope these daily reflections will support, encourage and inspire you . . . and keep me focused on what matters most!  And I hope you will do the same for me, by linking up your own stories of gratitude over the next few weeks!

Feel free to share this on your own blog too.  I would love to see our stories of thankfulness all over the web this month!   They can be silly or serious.  Current or past posts are welcome.  I'm sure mine will be a mixture of both.  {Grin.}  Also, feel free to grab a button and share this party with your followers - I'd be mighty thankful if you would!

<center> <a <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">href</span>="http://<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">sassypantsstudio</span>.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">blogspot</span>.com/"><<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">img</span> border="0" <span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">src</span>="http://i1144.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">photobucket</span>.com/albums/o490/jmlee91/30DaysButtonresized.<span style="background: yellow;" class="goog-spellcheck-word">jpg</span>" /></a></center>    Sharing this Thankful Thought with Mop it Up Mondays, Meet Me Monday, Debbie Doo's Newbie Party, Take-A-Look Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesdays, Cowgirl Up, Whimsy Wednesdays, Show and Share, Overflowing with Creativity, Creative Me, Made U Look, It's a Hodgepodge Friday