Day 30 of Thanksgiving

"God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain.

But He did promise...

Strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way."

--author unknown

Can't have the sun (my favorite) without the rain...so I will be thankful
for days like this when the sun is lighting my way

As the 30 days of thanksgiving comes to an end, I have one more thing to be thankful for; God's unfailing love and promises. I think, too often, I take that for granted. It isn't until I am tested in some shape or form that I remember He is good, all the time, He is good! 

I really think this 30 day "challenge" if you will, has reshaped my thinking a bit. I looked for something to be thankful for every day!! I looked for His unfailing love and promises. And every day...there they were, in some shape or form! It didn't have to be grand like a new car or a trip somewhere, it was God showing me that I can be content with what HE has blessed me with...and I have 30 days to prove it! :)

Day 29 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Snuggle time!!!

Its a combination of just getting out of the bath and just before bed time...then and only then do I get snuggle time! I am SO thankful for this time with my lil man. Makes me miss the times where he was little and actually liked to snuggle anytime, anywhere! Just another sign that he's growing up...too fast! :(

So this mama will take snuggle time any time I can get it!!!

Day 28 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

ENERGY!!!!!

Today was seriously such a long day! 

Woke up, 

packed up all of mine and Wesley's stuff,

loaded it in the car (with my dads help, thank goodness!), 

went over to my friend Heather's house so her son Colton and Wesley could play together, 

went to my mom's work to visit and say good-bye, 

drove 2.5 hrs to get home, 

unloaded the entire car...which how did I come home with more stuff than I left with? 

unpacked everything, 

did the laundry from our trip, 

hung up some christmas decorations, 

cooked dinner, 

and then left to go clean!!!

By the time I got to Kindercare I seriously had ZERO energy and thought to myself, how in the world am I going to get out of here at a reasonable hour...I'm already exhausted and I haven't even started! Well it was definitely by God's grace that I started cleaning and zipped right through...so I am definitely thankful for the energy God gave me to finish! Now to end my long day with a long back massage! :))))

Day 27 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My mom and grandma!!

My mom and I got to spend some time together just the two of us! We went to lunch, the mall, and a couple of other stores to run errands. Its been awhile since we were able to do that and I am so thankful for the time we had to ourselves!

Later this evening I went to pick up my grandma so she could join us for dinner-turkey leftovers! I am SO thankful I am super close to my grandma! I always love to hear her stories and share my stories as well. 

I am extremely thankful for these two women in my life

Day 26 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

(yesterday)

Life long friendships

Holly, Ashley, Me, and Heather...missing Lisa! :(

The five of us have been friends for quite a long time. I'm always so thankful for these 4 girls!! I have so many amazing memories with all of them! What I love most about our friendship is that no matter how long it has been since we've all been together, we pick right back up and laugh and have such a great time! 

Lisa, you were greatly missed!!! 

Love you girls!!!!!!!

Day 25 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Childhood Books!!

Today was a fun filled family day! Had our traditional Thanksgiving meal today. My grandma came over and also my uncle Les (my dads older brother who I hadn't seen in years)! Ate way too much, and laughed a lot!

After dinner my dad pulled out all my childhood books for Wesley. It was quite surreal to see my dad reading Wesley the same books he read to me! So of course, I had to read to him too! :) So thankful my parents kept these books after all these years!

Day 24 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

this...

and this....

I drove up to Redding this morning around 8 and have enjoyed every minute of my time here so far! Got here around 11 and ran a couple of last minute errands with my mom, then visited my grandma at her new house, then came home and we started making appetizers. Yes, we had appetizers alll daaaay long!!! Since I arrived late we thought it would be easier to do appetizers and then do the real thanksgiving traditional dinner tomorrow! Totally looking forward to that-because we all know that no one cooks better than your mom! :)

We spent the evening talking and laughing. Wesley has enjoyed spending time with his grandma and grandpa<--obviously from the pic above! :) Looking forward to the many memories that will be made this weekend! 

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving surrounded by the ones you love!

Day 23 of Thankgiving

Today I am thankful for:

(yesterday)

My Car!!

I did a TON of driving yesterday. Last minute errands, work, more last minute errands and then more work! Sometimes with all the driving I do I feel like I live in my car! So I am VERY thankful I have a reliable car to get me around town!

Speaking of town...in a couple of hours I will be heading out of town and up to Redding for Thanksgiving! Praying for safe travels not only for myself, but for everyone traveling this holiday! :)

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!!!!

Day 22 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My bathtub!!!

Not only is my bathtub a place of relaxation, but it is also a place of healing-literally!! 

Today I got online to check on a prescription that I needed refilled before I head up to Redding. I couldn't remember what the prescription number was, so I had to go to previous ones to find it. I came across an old prescription for prednisone<-- used when my eczema got really bad! I checked the date to see when my last dosage was...exactly one year ago from today!!!!! Now I'm sure you're wondering how my bathtub plays into this! Well I posted in a previous blog, but I'll reiterate because I'm SO thankful!!

Last November when I went on yet another round of prednisone my new dermatologist recommended bleach baths!!! Now I know this sounds crazy, but in all reality its basically like creating my own swimming pool! haha I'm not sure exactly what the bleach does to the eczema...but it works WONDERS!!! I take a bleach bath about 2-3x a week and am so amazed at what it does! 

I am SO SO SO SO thankful for my bathtub and the healing God has brought to me! :)

Day 21 of Thankgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My washer & dryer!!!

Seriously SO thankful for a working W&D in my home!! The reason I am thankful for this is because today I did about 5 loads of laundry!! Since James' office is on the other side of the wall, I'm not able to do laundry while he's working! Totally sucks because I'm home all day and the laundry is just staring at me!! :)

James has been filling in for his manager so he's not on the phone during the day! Totally took advantage of that today and could not be happier to say that every article of clothing we own-minus the ones we are wearing-is clean...AND...folded and put away!!!!!!! {insert happy sigh}

Day 20 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Husbands Perspective!

Today was just one of those days. Nothing was going right and I totally let it affect my attitude. As we were driving to the grocery store (which was a total mad house for thanksgiving shopping-really added to my mood), I began to complain and said "nothing is great about today!" To which my husband replied, "it could be worse Lindsay...we could have no money to buy the food we are about to buy!" 

HELLO ATTITUDE CHECK!!! 

So thankful for my husband and his words of wisdom....even if I don't want to hear them at the time! ;)

Day 19 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

The GIFT of Motherhood

Tonight the three of us took dinner over to Jeff & Sonia! James & Wesley got to meet Rocco for the first time! haha it was interesting to see how Wesley reacted with us oo'ing and awe'ing over another person besides himself. Wesley didn't really pay too much attention to Rocco...UNTIL he saw that Rocco had a paci! haha then He loved him!!

See..Wes is reaching for Rocco's paci!!

On the way home I just started thinking how thankful I am to have this amazing gift of Motherhood. Sure there are days when I take it for granted...but then there are days, like today, where I am just blown away!! God has given me the most precious gift, aside from my husband, my son Wesley! And watching my dear friend Sonia with her son Rocco just reminded me of that gift!

Day 18 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Dad and his teaching

Using the mop my dad bought me for our house!

My dad has been in the custodial field for as long as I can remember. In fact he started working for his current school district the day before I was born! :) I can remember as a little girl asking to go with him to work-at the time he worked nights! My brother and I used to have so much fun playing in the gym while he cleaned! 

Now that I clean part time, when my parents are in town, my dad comes with me!! haha total switch-a-roo! He has given me so much advice and its been great to see how his advice REALLY does work and cuts a lot of time out! 

I'm not only thankful for his cleaning advice, but his advice about life! I usually call him every night I clean as I'm driving to my client. I love our open and close relationship! I am SO thankful for him and for STILL treating me like a princess!

Love you dad....love Lindsay Lou

Day 17 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Pups!!!

Growing up we never had dogs because I am allergic to them-and we were just too busy! Poodles are the exception because they are dander free! 

In July of 2008 our friend Carly was selling her last two pups from her dog's litter! The momma dog is a poodle and the dad is a chihuahua! We knew that I wouldn't be allergic to the poodle part, but weren't sure how the chihuahua would play into my allergy. We went over to her house after work one day so I could play with them to see if I would react. When I pet dogs and they lick me I instantly get hives and I start to wheeze! Well we played with the pups for about an hour and nothing happened!!! So here we are 3 years later and I really am SOOOO thankful for them!!! Can't imagine our life without them! I also love the fact that Wesley gets to grow up with them...he loves them, and they love him...and his food! :)

Day 16 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Dancing!!!!

Tonight after I got home from work, I brought Wesley into my bedroom so I could fold the MOUND of laundry I had! He likes to help me put the clothes in the drawers! :) Such a great lil helper...when he wants to be! ;)

I turned on some music and as SOON as this song came on he went WHOOOOAAAA!!! Dropped the clothes and started jumping around! So what did I do?? haha joined him of course! We danced to the entire song! haha I'm SO thankful for these fun memories we're making...and the calories I burned! :)

Day 15 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

(yes a day late again..sheesh sorry!)

Wesley/Daddy time!!!

4-21-11 Like Father like son

Last night after my husband got off work I went to a friends house from about 6-10! I say the time frame because my husband watched Wesley while I was gone. Now this is nothing new, he watches Wesley all the time when I work or when I hang out with friends. I am just super thankful that I have a husband who I can count on when it comes to helping out with Wesley! :)

Day 14 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Mom!!!

Today is my mom's birthday...so I thought it extremely fitting for my thankful blog to be about her! :)

My mom and I have THE best relationship. She is not only my mother, but she is one of my very best friends. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't either txt her or talk to her on the phone. She truly is the best example I have for not only being a godly mother, but also a godly wife. I know that no matter what I've done, or said, she will always tell me what I need to hear...not necessarily "want" to hear! She has cried with me, laughed with me, rejoiced with me, and been annoyed with me! :) 

Thank you mom for always being here for me...even though we are 180 miles apart! <--still praying this changes one day! :)))

Love you!!!!!!

Day 13 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

ROCCO JOAQUIN CARAMAZZA

10lbs 9oz 22.5in 11-11-11

One of my very best friends, Sonia, had her lil guy on Friday (11-11-11)!! So thankful for our friendship and all the memories we've made. She, as Anne of Green Gables says, truly is my kindred spirit! And now our boys get to be friends too! :)

I am SOOOO thankful for this lil bruiser!!! He is such a chunk of love and I cannot wait to spoil him throughout his life. Rocco, your Auntie Lindsay loves you SO much already!!! Now be good to your mama! :)

Love you BooBoo!!!!!!!!!!

Day 12 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Rekindled Friendship!!!

"I think if I've learned anything about friendship, its to hang in and stay connected

don't walk away and don't be distracted. Friends are part of the

glue that holds life and faith together."

--Author Unknown

I love how God works sometimes...well I should say all the time, because HIS work is for my own good! But I really love how God has worked in the area of friendship lately for me. I have always had a pretty good group of friends...I'm definitely not a single friend type of person. I heard a saying forever ago that has really stuck with me over the years. "People come in to your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime" Up until about 6 months ago, I thought this particular friend was in my life for a season, however, God had other plans and I simply cannot thank Him enough for it!

Tonight I had the privileged of celebrating this friend's birthday!! The big 3-0!!!! Her husband did an amazing job planning this semi-surprise party for her! I am so honored to call Jen a dear friend. She is a godly example of not only a wife, but a mother as well. Over the past couple of months we have been able to reconnect and "rekindle" our friendship. I love that no matter how busy we get, I know she is always a phone call/txt away. Yes, sometimes there are screaming kids in the background, but hey thats life!! And I couldn't be more thankful for her friendship!!! 

My husband and I at Jen's Bday Party

Jen and Jer

Day 11 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

My Grandpa!!!!

My grandpa served as a Marine in WW2 battle of Iwo Jima! He rarely talks about it...but when he does he goes on forever! I can remember the first time I heard him talk about it. I remember sitting there thinking "wow...my grandpa is a hero...a real life hero!" And I still think that today! He talks about how many men lost their lives that day, many of his friends! He was told to hold the flag-the famous raising of the flag picture-but he says "I told them no, I did not want to be a dead hero!" I know that might sound very weak and cowardly...but it could be because of his decision I am here today! I don't see it as cowardly at all!

He was given a purple heart, but refused it. He had an ingrown toenail that prevented him from duty. He didn't see it honorable to receive a purple heart when men lost their lives. I don't know too many people that would turn down a purple heart! 

My grandpa is and forever will be a real life hero...and for that I am extremely thankful!

Day 10 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Happy Shopping Baby!!!

Wesley is seriously the easiest kid to take shopping. Whether its grocery shopping or clothes shopping...or in tonights case, craft shopping! We are doing a family photo shoot in the next couple of weeks hopefully, so I was on the hunt for a particular prop! Well the only store that carries it is Joann's! So I called around to the different stores and the Roseville store carried part, but not all (don't want to tell you exactly what it is yet...I'm all about the surprise factor!) and the Elk Grove store carried the other part!!!! Couldn't be further from each other than Elk Grove to Roseville!!! haha So this little trooper went with me! 

SO thankful for a happy kid...God truly blessed me! Now lets hope his future (like 2 year future people!!) sibling is as happy as he is! :)

Day 9 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Flexibility!! 

Definitely not the type of flexibility you are thinking of! haha I'm referring to schedule flexibility!

One of the clients I have on Mondays was willing to switch to Wednesdays for me! SO thankful for their willingness to allow me to switch. The reason being is that their office is not in the greatest area of town and since it gets dark so soon now I don't arrive until its dark-not the safest. I called on Monday and asked if they would mind me switching for safety reasons. They were SO quick to say "come what ever day works best for you, we don't care what day you come, we want you to be safe first and foremost!" 

So thankful for kind-hearted people!!

Day 8 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Family!!!!

My brother came over tonight for dinner which was fun! Its been awhile since I've seen him. AND since Wesley has seen him as well! I told Wesley all day that his Uncle TJ was going to come and visit-even taught him to say his name...he would say TEEEEE all day!

Had a great time catching up over dinner, then we decided to iChat my parents! Technology is really amazing! SO thankful for it! 

As my brother got ready to leave tonight I said "Wesley can you say bye bye TJ?" He then said "bye bye TJ!!!!!!" haha he actually said it! We all laughed so hard! Then of course Wesley laughed! Great way to end the day! :)

Day 7 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Ice cream/Magic Shell!!!

I realize this is somewhat silly to be thankful for. However, if you knew how badly I've been craving this lately, you wouldn't consider it silly! See the thing is, with all of my food allergies there are very few things that really excite me-as far as food goes! This type of "ice cream" is soy based so its dairy free...as well as the magic shell!

Now let me just tell you why I'm so thankful for it today! Stores very rarely carry soy ice cream now-a-days! Well besides Trader Joes-but they close at 9 and I wasn't done working until 9:40! So I decided to detour on the way home to Raleys (safeway is closer, however, they don't carry it) just in hopes that they might have it! I probably looked like a kid on christmas morning in that ice cream aisle...but I don't care...I now get to enjoy my ice cream & magic shell<--only the best stuff ever created!!!

Day 6 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Random silly moments!!

Wesley has turned in to quite "the ham" these days! Its been fun for James and I to see his reactions to different things and all his new facial expressions he decides to make.

He is really in to kissing right now for some reason-not that I'm complaining-I'm am VERY thankful for each and every one! haha I was sitting on the couch tonight and he got up on the couch and leaned in for a kiss...then through himself backwards right after he kissed! He did this for quite some time before I told James to get it on video...watch for yourself! :)

Day 5 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Hobby Lobby!!!

I have always heard people talk about Hobby Lobby but up until recently we didn't have one around the area! The store is AMAZING! Its not only crafty like a Michaels but it is homey like Home Goods! 

All of their Christmas stuff is 50% off so I was able to score some really great decorative items as well as new ornaments. Going with a gold/red theme tree this year-as well as our childhood ornaments that we put up every year! Wesley loves balls and can spot one anywhere (haha he even thinks the water towers around here are big huge balls)! So it will be interesting to see how he does this year with the "balls" as he called them...

Day 4 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

Music!!!!

When you think about it, music is such a huge part of our lives. Babies learn to dance to it at a very young age, any type of event you go to i.e.: parties, proms, graduations, weddings, funerals...they all have one thing in common-Music!

I'm not sure how I would get through my cleaning nights without music!!! Lately I've been picking my 90's station on Pandora! haha makes me laugh when different songs come on that have fun memories associated with that particular song. Then it got me thinking last night (yes this post is a day late, but last night was very busy), how many memories do I have attached to certain songs?? Funny how different songs bring back memories...some great, some not so great! But each of those memories/events in my life, make me into the person I am today...and for that, I am thankful!

Day 3 of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for:

"BaaaBub"(as Wes calls it) time aka: bath time!

Wesley is absolutely obsessed with water-as I'm sure you've caught on from previous posts. I used to fill the bath tub up and plug it while he splashed in the water. That worked until he figured out how to turn the water on!!! So now his bath time consists of the water running and him splashing the water as it comes out of the spout! haha Its quite funny to watch him try to pinch the water.
I am thankful for this time because seeing the excitement on his face is priceless!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

"Thanksgiving was never meant 

to be shut up in a single day"

--Robert Caspar Lintner

With Thanksgiving just around the corner-so it feels like-I have decided to gear my blog towards that for the next 30 (err 28 days since I'm 2 days late) <--haha sounds like female problems!! Anyways...so for the next 28 days I will blog each day about what I was thankful for that day! Here I go...

Today I am thankful for:

iChat!!!! 

My parents just bought a MacBook Air--thanks to my husbands wonderful discount--so now we can iChat/FaceTime with each other!! But more importantly Wesley gets to "see" his Grandpa & Grandma every day! I am very close to my parents and we talk on a daily basis. So being able to "see" them whenever I want is totally something to be thankful for :)

Like our crazy faces?