Daily Thanks - The On-the-Move Edition

Friday - Uno Mas!

Now that we're neck deep into it, Jay and I love watching How I Met Your Mother.  Its fun just kicking back at the end of the day, watching stupid mindless TV and saying "Uno Mas!"  when its time to click through to the next episode.  We're currently in season 5 (of 6 available for streaming) and are taking applications for the position of new favorite show.  Suggestions?

Saturday - 7 Islands

I had a beautiful trail run on Saturday at the 7 Islands Wildlife refuge.  Kinda made me sad that I haven't used this resource (only a couple minutes away from my house) more.

Sunday - Daddy & Papaw

I'm so thankful to have a wonderful father and grandfather in my life.  I'd link you to the lovely tribute I did for them, but well...(see Tuesday)

Monday - Our new home!

We've still got some work to do on it before moving in, but we closed on Monday.  EEEEEEEEEE!  and EEEEEEEEEEEK!  all at the same time.  Now to sell our current home...

Tuesday - Backup Plans

Someone *coughJaycough* forgot to renew the Frugal Trophy Wife domain, so they shut the lights off.  I'm very thankful to have this ole blog to fall back on while we get everything back up and running over there.

Wednesday - MIB3

My parents took me to the movies and dinner for a belated birthday celebration.  Great movie, great family, and cheesecake.  What more can a girl ask for?

Thursday - Total Body weights class

Sad to dump my Iron Sisters, but the workouts just weren't meshing with my current training plan (and training buddies).  We've decided to try the class again.  I'm a little skeerd though, because I'm still sore from Tuesday's class.

Praise Him Through the Storm

All is well here.  We weathered the storm last night and came through unscathed.  The most I can complain about this morning is being tired because I wasn't able to go upstairs and go to bed when I would have liked. 

Given the property damage people in nearby towns experienced, I'm not going to complain.  Given the loss of life in our neighbors in Alabama and Georgia have suffered, I'm am thankful to have woken up to the sun shining in my window this morning.




I am thankful for a sturdy home.  It always breaks my heart to hear the Emergency Alert System tell people in cars or mobile homes to abandon them and seek "sturdy shelter" or else lie in a ditch.  How scary/sad must it be knowing a ditch is safer than staying in your home?

I am thankful for a husband with a level head.  He doesn't get all bent out of shape about storms.  He doesn't let a little thunder or lightning get to him.  We even sat out on the front porch for part of the storm.  I also know that when he gets concerned, there is cause for it.  It scared me a little to see that part of him, but I know I can trust him to keep me safe (or as safe as he can).

I'm thankful for a God who is with me through it all.  Bad things happen.  To Christians.  To non-believers.  To good people.  To bad people.   He's promised to stick with us through it all.

What are you thankful for today?

Name them one by one...

I have these moments often.  Times where I get so caught up in me that I don't see the world around me.  Times where I look past all the sickness, pain, and heartache this world has to offer. 

I whine about gaining a few pounds...forgetting about those in my own county who don't know where their next meal will come from.  Children on free lunches that sneak their orange juice into their back pack so they'll have something for dinner.

I complain that my husband doesn't do X, Y, or Z to suit me...forgetting that I'm complaining to a friend who's just been through a long and painful divorce.

...or the bloggy friend who lives daily with the cancer that inhabits her husband's body.

I worry about finances...only to have the thank you letters to the charities I support reference my "sacrificial" gift.  Both letters made me cry.  Those gifts didn't cost me anything, yet meant so much to the organizations they were sent to. 

I stress about house work...not considering those who would love any form of shelter, even if it meant a stray hash brown crumb or two on the floor.

I get irritated at the chill of a house with the heat set on 60 degrees...when I know there are so many ways it could be worse.  As a matter of fact its not a financial necessity that its set that low, just a choice we make to save money.

I am blessed far beyond what I know.

And for that, I am thankful.

Thankful Monday's Ten

I've decided to combine Thankful Thursday and Thursday's 10.  Sure, its Monday already, but its my blog and I can do what I please!!

1. My familyThey are the greatest thing ever.  Really. 
2. Black Friday shoppingI didn't need anything, just enjoyed the experience with my parents and Jay.  This isn't something I get to do when we're spending Thanksgiving with Jay's family.  The town's only store is Dollar General and I've never heard of them having door buster sales. 
3. My In-LawsWhile I don't think they understand my desire to run (neither does my family) they went out of their way to help me get my 17 miler in yesterday.
4. Good healthIts trite, sure, but after the year my family has had its not something we take for granted.  My anemia, my grandmother's foot surgery followed closely by congestive heart failure, now my mom's thyroid issues.  Hopefully 2011 will be a more healthy year, but I'm thankful that we made it through and even got most everything either fixed or diagnosed. 
5. My runningThe ability, both physical and mental, to run 17 miles.  15 of which was on a treadmill.  Yes, I know I'm incredible.  But thank you for noticing.  Also the incredible change in my running since getting rid of the anemia.  11:30 for a long run?  Who'da thought it was possible??
6. The BibleI'm exploring new parts, thanks to my read the Bible through in a year plan.  Of course I was supposed to be done back in May.  And I'm no where near close to being done, but I'm reading Isaiah for the first time.  Can't say I'm enjoying it, but its important to wade into uncharted waters.
7. ReadingBeyond the Bible, I just love reading.  I lost it last year, just because I had trouble balancing training for races with other parts of life. This year I'm very close to my 52 books read for the year (with a little help from audio books.)  I'm currently listening to a fiction book by one of my favorite authors (Anita Shrieve) and reading a non-fiction book by a financial guru (Larry Burkett).
8. The InternetI've said it a million times, but its worth repeating.  Yall are great :)
9. My jobSometimes its hard to get up and get to work.  Sometimes the job itself is stressful, but over all I can't complain.  I have great benefits, great flexibility.  Who else in the world (besides professional athletes) gets paid to work out??
10. My bathroom remodel!!!!!Um...sorry...I meant my hardworking husband who has done well enough this year to allow for the master bath being gutted.  Hopefully sometime next week I'll no longer have to hold my ankle in my hand in order to shave my legs!

Even though Thanksgiving has passed - I don't think it hurts to consider our blessings.  What are you thankful for this November?

Thankful Thursday - Choose Your Own Adventure

Good morning all!  Its thankful Thursday.  I've got so many blessings in my life - so why am I so grumpy?





The lie I'm believing: I'm stressed/nervous/anxious about going to a semi-formal charity event tonight.

I feel like a fake, a phoney.  People are going to look through my fancy dress and see the blue collar blood running through my veins.

The Voice of Truth: My husband's business has been blessed to include a network of people hosting this event as well as money to donate to help this wonderful cause.  The only people who will care that I purchased my designer silk dress for $13 at a consignment store would be impressed about the awesome bargain I got.  And hello -  I'm wearing a designer silk dress!

The lie I'm believing: I'm fat.  I have nothing to wear.  A glimpse into the mirror is disgusting.

The Voice of Truth: I'm healthy.  Sure I'm not the 123 pounds I was at the first of the year.  But that girl was also anemic and unable to churn out the kind of mileage/pace that I'm doing now.  While I hope to find a middle ground between then and now, I'd much rather be this girl.  A little pudgy, with a bottom her hubby can't help but smack - and able to race.
 
I have plenty to wear.  Too much really.  That's why I have a hard time finding clothing.
 
As far as looking into the mirror...apparently I need a new mirror.  The mutant seems to be enjoying what he sees. 
 
The lie I'm believing: Having to get up and go to work every morning (not to mention the difficult of finding time for my medium runs) sucks.
 
The Voice of Truth: I'm incredible bless.  Not only do I have a job, I have a job with excellent benefits.  Yes, its true I get a bonus of $50 every 3 months just for working out.  I have incredible health insurance (necessary given the Mutant's hemophilia), vacation time and sick time.  I couldn't ask for anything better!  Well I could, but it wouldn't be realistic. :P
 
The lie I'm believing: I totally flaked on my run last night. As per my training schedule it was supposed to be an 8 miler. 4 miles were completed outside, then the dark forced me to retreat inside to the treadmill where I was only able to churn out another 6.2.


The Voice of Truth: I didn't want to run at all yesterday. I even had an out - I had forgotten to pack my sports bra. But instead of throwing up my hands and bagging the whole thing, I completed over 3/4s of the prescribed mileage (wearing a friend's too big bra).

The lie I'm believing: I'll never be able to complete a 26.2 mile race!   What have I gotten myself into??

The Voice of Truth: To quote the bondiband I won from Christie O's giveaway - I can and I will!!


Do you know what the first song that came up on my IPod (yet another thing to be thankful for)??  "I will choose to listen and believe The Voice of Truth."
 
I'm very thankful to have a God who puts up with my fits of ungratefulness, yet still loves me.
 
What are you thankful for today?

Trust in the Lord - Thankful Thursday

About a little over a month ago, my husband and I bought yet another piece of land.  Bringing our grand total up to 5 pieces of property.  Only one of which held a structure - the other 4 are empty pieces of land. 

I'll just tell you - that makes me nervous.  What good is an empty piece of property? 

As many of you know, Jay is a real estate agent and grew up with the knowledge that real estate is a great investment.  I grew up in a savings account and CDs kinda family.

This particular piece of land was a foreclosure going up for auction.  He would be attending the auction with a real estate buddy of his (aka "the boyfriend" I tease him that he talks to this buddy on the phone more than he did me when he and I were dating!).  Typically for auctions we agree on a certain amount he can spend - if the property goes for that or lower, he can buy it.  Otherwise he has to let it go.

To me, auctions are terribly dull.  Plus my objective $ figure means he doesn't get caught up in the excitement of the atmosphere.

We agreed that he wouldn't spend more than 10% of what the property sold for originally.  This land was in a high class development (home to several $1 million + homes) with double gated access and a community pavilion.

The thought of all this made me nervous.  After all the money in our bank account was for my much needed bathroom remodel.  Jay and I prayed about it, and I trusted that whatever happened would be for our best interest.

I had to trust God, and trust in my husband.  We had that money in the bank because he is darn good at his job. 

My mother and I were visiting my grandmother in the hospital when I got the call.

"We got it."

My heart sank.  I'd secretly been hoping that God would get me out of it by making it sell for too much money. 

My mom tried to reassure me - if I'd prayed about it then I had to trust that it was God's will for us to have it.   "Sure," I reasoned "but what if its God's will that we fall upon financial ruin so that we seek Him and discover our need for Him and Him alone?"

We closed on the land August 26th, and with that I lost my hopes of a claw foot tub and double sinks in my bathroom. 

This weekend, Jay received a call.  Someone was interested in purchasing the property from us.  His offer was less than we were hoping for, but such a quick sale meant no property tax bills or HOA fees out of our pocket.

I'm not being flippant when I say THANK GOD!  For so many things.  For a husband I can trust to use our money wisely.  For showing just a little patience and still getting my bathroom remodeled this fall.  For a God that is with me no matter what. 

Because even if the outcome would have been different, He is still sovereign.  He is still in control and working things for my good.

PS - My mothers reaction to the offer?  "Do the two of you poop gold?"

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday - Test results

This week for Thankful Thursday I'm gonna keep it short and sweet.  Okay I say that, but this is just the 2nd sentence of the blog.  I might get to babbling and have to come back and strike through these thoughts.

Yesterday I had my yearly gyno appointment.  I don't think I have male readers, but if I do, this isn't going to be graphic or TMI - promise!!

I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but my doctor practices in Yuppiville.  The doctors in my small town have let me down 1 too many times, so I always visit doctors in the university town next door.  All their offices tend to be moving to the rich end of town.

Once again, I went to Yuppiville and got a compliment on my wedding rings.  It makes me feel good to know that I don't just think that they are beautiful because of my love for Jay.

Anyhoo, while I was chatting with the nurse who loved my rings, she asked if I wanted them to test my iron.  Its routine for them, but she wasn't sure I wanted it tested since I had noted that I had undergone iron infusions.

I jumped at the chance to see how my iron was holding up.  The healthy range is 35-45.  Mine was 40.  Right smack dab in the middle.

Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!!

The Parable of the Lost Necklace

Quit looking in your Bible, its not in there.  This is a very personal parable - God using my life to teach me a lesson.

I'm a perfectionist.  An extreme type "A" personality.  Obsessive almost.  Okay who are we kidding, there is no "almost" about it.    I live and believe the mantra "A place for everything and everything in its place."

Moving was hard on me.  My anemia was hard on me.  That should have been my #1 sign that I was ill - I let my house go.  That's just not like me.  My clutter bug husband makes life mentally hard for me.*

*In a very minor way - he's a great husband.  He's just messy and it drives me crazy.  Don't want my visitors to think he's abusive or anything.  He just leaves work papers everywhere!!

So what happens when everything isn't in its place?  I feel like I'm losing my mind.

I'm not great at accessorizing, so I always love birthdays and Christmas.  Even though we're far too old to still be exchanging gifts, my sister and I still shop for one another.  I get excited opening gifts because chances are I'm receiving a new outfit.  Sometimes its a top and shoes, other times its a top and a bracelet. 

This year for my birthday it was a top, a bracelet, and a necklace.  She specifically got the 3 to match, but the necklace was generic enough to wear with other things.  So last week I got a bit adventurous and tried it with a different outfit.

Only it didn't make it home on my body.  I can't remember the details - maybe I exercised after work or something.  Had I worn it home, it would have been hung on the necklaces hangers my wonderful husband put up for me.

(Honey if you're reading this we need to finish up the closet so I can do a thankful Thursday post about you and my new closet design!!!)

I worn the birthday shirt Tuesday, only I couldn't find the necklace.  I decided that it must be in one of my lockers (at work or at the gym - where I hang my jewelry while I'm exercising).

Only it wasn't.

For 2 days I searched with no luck.  I started freaking out.  I was so upset that Jay (my darling messy husband) assumed it was a family heirloom (I'm blessed to have much of my great grandmother's jewelry).  I was about to give up when I found it.  In a gym bag I rarely use.

I ignored my husband's great news that he was the #3 salesman and rejoiced in finding my lost necklace.

In the Bible, Jesus told the story a little differently: 8"Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins[a] and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Luke 15:8-10

Praise God that He doesn't stop reaching out to us.  Whether we've rolled under the rug, or ran away.  He still seeks us. 

For that (and finding my missing necklace) I am thankful.

If I were a Disney princess...I'd be Belle

Sure Cinderella is my favorite.  After all she has her own castle in Disney world and everything.

But Belle...she has all those books!  My favorite scene in Beauty and the Beast is when she's being given a tour of the Beast's house and she sees the library for the first time.

Books are a beautiful thing.





Honestly this morning I was struggling to come up with something I was thankful for.  My family has been incredibly blessed.  It shouldn't be hard to be thankful, but I've been in a bit of a mood all week and I just wasn't feeling it.

A couple of things reminded me that I should be thankful for my ability to read, as well as my love of curling up and getting lost in a good book.

First off, a couple of weeks ago a TV special honoring Dollywood's 25th anniversary.  The theme park has changed this area probably more than we realize.  In the special, Dolly Parton was asked about why she started her Imagination Library.  Like a lot of poor country farmers in this area, her father never learned to read and was limited in life because of it.

Then yesterday, some buddies and I were discussing reading and two of the ladies mentioned how much better the young ladies in their life are reading now.  One has dyslexia and listens to the book on CD as she reads the paper copy in her hand.  The other recently got a new pair of glasses which introduced a whole new world to her.

Reading is something I never remember struggling with.  When Pizza Hut offered their Book-It program, I earned personal pan pizzas weekly!  I've always loved it.

This week has been an interesting book week for me.   A friend let me borrow her copy of The Hunger Games.  A littler dark for my taste, but very well written.  I started the book on Tuesday night while Jay was working late and fully intend on having the almost 400 page book finished by the end of tonight.  (Jay had rented a movie so I only made it through a couple chapters last night.)

Also, I received my copy of The Millionaire Next Door in the mail yesterday.  I ordered it last week and have been anxiously awaiting its arrival.  Its recommended by Dave Ramsey so I know its going to be filled with practical advice about getting where we want to be financially.

Some friends and I are also starting a book club.  We all love to read, and we love to get together and chat - perfect combo right? 

I definitely have to say I'm thankful for the ability to read, but I'm even more thankful that I enjoy it.

What are you thankful for today?

Thankful Thursday - The Food Edition

This week I'm thankful for the energy to cook! 

I'm also thankful that I've been blessed with creativity in the kitchen.  I might not be an expert chef, but I can look at a skillet full of Jambalaya and know that adding a can of corn would be a cheap ($0.30 per can) way to stretch the meal.

I'm thankful for one pot cooking.  I'd be lost without my skillet!

I'm thankful for a husband who's not too picky about what he considers a meal.  While he loves meat & potatoes he'll eat pretty much whatever I put in front of him.  Which is a good thing since I'd probably just let him starve or feed himself if he was too picky.

As I shared yesterday, I'm thankful for the energy to try a new recipe AND thankful that it turned out despite missing ingredients.

For those of you that aren't regulars to my blog, I've been battling a pretty hearty case of anemia.  After two weeks of iron infusions I think I might be on my way to being health again.  Finding the energy to do much of anything is a blessing these days!!

Don't worry guys, I'm not going to turn into a foodie, but I was so proud of myself I wanted to share Tuesday night's dinner with yall.

Lemon Pepper tilapia, (another $0.30 can*) green beans seasoned w/lemon pepper, and balsamic potatoes.

*Don't judge.  The MIL bought 3 cases each of corn, green beans, and peas for us per the Mutant's request.  I'm not even sure that she let us pay her back so technically they were free.  A girls gotta be creative to use 108 cans of veggies before the expiration date.

I would like to note that I didn't follow the recipe exactly.  I didn't have nutmeg, rosemary, or thyme so I just left those out.  I also substitute a shallot for a green onion.  They turned out great though!

Lynn is hosting Thankful Thursdays this month, head on over and link up!

I < 3 Quinn

Today Lynn of Spiritually Unequal marriage is hosting Thankful Thursday and I decided to join in.  My thankfulness this week is one of those "you never know what you've got until its gone" moments.




This weekend, my mom, aunt, and I were in K-town shopping and my mom's car wouldn't start.  Thankfully my MIL had gotten me triple A coverage when I first joined the family so we were able to call for a tow then wait for my dad to come pick us up.

Since Jay & I are a 3 vehicle family (he just couldn't bare to part with the Jeep when he got his work appropriate Durango), I offered to let my mother borrow my car until it got repaired.  (The Jeep is a manual transmission & jacked up pretty high so it wasn't practical for her to borrow.)

For the past 3 days, I've driven the Jeep. I'm not an expert on driving a stick, but I can do it well enough to get by.  Never would I say I enjoy it.

Also, when I offered my car, I had forgotten that the a/c went out in the Jeep and we'd never bothered to repair it.  After all, its just a really expensive toy at this point and who can justify dropping more $$$ into it?

Around here a/c isn't optional in the summer.  These last few days have been cooler though, "only" reaching into the high 80s.  Still, add the humidity and I'm a sweaty mess by the time I get home.

I got Quinn (my car) back yesterday evening.  My mom said she might need it again next week, but for now, he's mine again.  No more sweating at red lights willing them to turn green.  No more desperate prayers that I won't kill the engine trying to pull out of the driveway.

And for that, I am thankful. 

(Also, that I'm blessed enough to have 3 vehicles to help my parents out when they need it.)

Some people might not think so, but I definitely consider trading this (with the top on)

For this...

moving up in the world!!

God's in the details...

This morning I can say without a doubt I'm thankful that I serve a God who's Lord over the little things just as much as the big things.

A little back story - I'm the type personality that tends to refocus my worry rather than turn it over to God completely.  For example instead of worrying about visiting the chemo ward to get my infusion, I decided to worry about parking.

Thanks right - parking. 

The parking garage next to the medical office charges an hourly rate.  Last time I was at the doctor there it was $3 for the duration of that visit.  I've been scheduled for 5 infusions over the next two weeks, with a follow up doctor visit the following week.

Those $3 charges were quickly adding up in my head.  To distract me from the fear of the infusion (would it hurt?  could they get a good vein?) I starting worrying about the over $20 in parking charges I would have accumulated over the next few weeks. 

As I was checking in, the infusion registration clerk asked me for my parking ticket.

"Its in the car.  You validate?  I can have my husband go get it."

Instead, she gave me a ticket to give to the parking attendant.  A "get out of the garage free" ticket if you will.

Then I asked if they validated for office visits too, or just infusions. 

Office visits too?  Sure enough.

Funny I didn't know it the first visit, yet she offered it up without me asking this time.

It was like God jumping up and down waving His arms.

See, you can trust me with all your fears, all your worries.

Was it just a coincidence?  Maybe, but more and more I'm starting to learn that God uses all situations to bring Himself glory.

The truth is - He's big enough to carry my burdens (big or small) for me.  If it takes a nice clerk offering to validate my parking ticket to remind me of that, coincidence or no, that's a blessing.

And for that, I am incredibly thankful.




Thankful thursdays are hosted this month by Grace Alone.