30 Days of Thanks - Days 14-20

Posted: 02 Dec 2012 09:39 AM PST

I am so very behind with the thankful posts. I'm going to try to catch up this morning. I have been out of commission this week with the flu - learn from my mistake and GO GET A FLU SHOT. You may never think to thank me for commanding you to do it, but that will be because you didn't get the flu and didn't have to think about it at all. You're welcome in advance.

Day 14- Medical Insurance

This would not have even crossed my mind in this lineup if it hadn't been for this week. Having medical insurance is something people who have it notoriously take for granted, and something that is really difficult to forget about if you don't happen to have coverage. I've definitely been on both sides of the spectrum on more than one occasion in my life. Last year, I got the flu too. The difference was that I had no health insurance and my husband and I couldn't afford for me to go to the doctor at all. It was probably three times worse than the flu I caught this year. This year, I just went straight to the doctor, accepted his lecture about getting a flu shot (which I fully deserved and have taken to heart), filled a prescription and started to feel better. Last year it took me about three weeks to feel better, then I got mildly sick again with something else, and just barely got my Christmas gifts bought and wrapped in spite of feeling so terrible.

This in light of also needing to begin taking some other medications for some other medical issues this week, I have to take a moment to be so very thankful for my husband having insurance that covers us both. We are so incredibly blessed and provided for by the Lord, and while the answers to our prayers last year weren't instantaneous like we so often hope when we pray, in hindsight, we now see how God was working to better our situation and our lives in his way and in his timing. I'm so very thankful and grateful for that!

Day 15- The Library

We have the advantage of living really close (within a mile or so) to the public library in our area, which until recently, I have completely taken for granted. Then, the other day, I received an epiphany that I didn't have to limit my love for books to the bargain bin indefinitely. I could just simply borrow them by the bagful from the library. I can request books left and right from the surrounding libraries and in a few days they're waiting on me up front to be picked up an enjoyed. My library card, the books, the requests, etc. None of it has cost me even one penny. In a world where nothing seems to be free anymore, I have to say, this has been a great find/recollection. The library is often taken for granted in our digital world, and I'm just as guilty as the next person of eschewing hard copies for the things I can read on my iPad. But lately, it's felt really good to unplug and sit in my little glider chair next to our bed and read at night instead of messing around on the computer. I think it's good for my attention span too!

Day 16- Our Goals

I think it is always good to have goals and things to look forward to in life. Things to always be working toward. David and I have so many goals to dream about and work toward. They require us to eat better, stay within a budget, cast aside the things we can do with out. They encourage us to work harder, spend more time praying and reading the bible together, they bring us closer together for the pleasure of living life in the moment and being thankful for what we have. Our goals teach us to cherish our lives as they are, while simultaneously building a family, a legacy, and allowing God to write our story as he sees fit.

Day 17- I'm thankful we don't have everything

This is an interesting one, because so many people, and myself included at one time, would not count this as something to be thankful for. But I truly am thankful to have our modest means. While so many people were saying to me that we ought to buy a lottery ticket, and speculating what they would do with that kind of money, all I could think about is how much more of a burden that type of money and lifestyle would be for me. I enjoy the simple things, the quiet pleasure of making the best of things, finding something when you thought you had nothing. I enjoy the work involved in using only what the Lord has blessed us with that month. In using the means and resources available to us that we have earned and nothing more. I know to many this may sound strange, and that's all right with me because I may not have articulated this feeling the best way. Of course, the longing to always be a little more comfortable, to have a little more this or that, will always be there. But I think character is built through the struggle, and wisdom and learning is is grown through both trials and triumphs from your own hands. I believe the Lord wants us to be happy and content in our situations, as best we can, through our knowledge of him. I'm thankful for that opportunity, and I'm thankful that my quality of life is so great, especially when I know it could be so much worse! It's amazing how blessed you can feel if you just manage to take a step back and see that all you have is already so much more than you deserve.

Day 18- Our neighborhood

We have some pretty great neighbors. We visit one another, have watched television together, gone shopping, had puppy play dates, and even borrowed cups of sugar from one another a time or two. We are so blessed to live among friendly people the way we do. There have been many times, I've asked a neighbor to come over and walk our dogs because we can't get back home as quickly as we planned. I've walked their dogs, we've rescued pets, had our pets rescued, etc. Most of the people in this neighborhood are extremely friendly - which has been great for us as we moved in here as a just-married couple. It has really helped to make this place our home, to make this neighborhood feel safe and secure. I love the pleasure that comes from seeing a friendly face on a daily basis as we're out walking the dogs or checking the mail. I treasure that we have people that we can trust and rely on all around us. I also know that it doesn't always work that way. My father's neighbors are the kind of people that make a point to avoid the people that live around them at all costs - even to the point of being rude!  So it's definitely pertinent to take a moment to give thanks for nice neighbors!

Day 19- The things that make me unique

I often like to complain about all the things that make me really unique. I complain that I have to wash my hair every day or it looks like I haven't washed it in a week. But I'm thankful I have hair to wash! I complain that I'm not thin, and worry about what other people think about it. But I'm thankful that I'm alive, and that God's made me who he wants me to be. I'm thankful for this journey he has placed me on, whatever the outcome. I complain that my teeth aren't perfect, that my feet are too big, that I sometimes lisp when I talk. But I'm so thankful that I have good teeth, two feet to walk on, and that my voice can be heard no matter what it sounds like. It sometimes doesn't matter how blessed we are, when we look at the same reflection in the mirror every day for our entire lives, it's impossible not to find fault with what we see. Instead I want to be grateful that I can see my own reflection. While there are some things I can change about myself, I want to also love myself for being God's creation, and for being the woman he's made me into. When you begin to think of yourself that way, it does seem more difficult to criticize yourself. You're not any less than anyone else, just different. And it's definitely okay to be different. I am thankful to be me.

Day 20- Our new family bible

We have so many bibles in this house. Big ones, little ones. This version and that version. Ones that were gifts, one's that I've acquired, and one that I bought when I became a Christian as a teenager. That bible has been through so much with me. It's highlighted and written in and there are notes in it everywhere. For a really long time, it was my comforter and my guidance when I didn't know where else to go. Recently, my husband and I began a new regiment of trying to include "Bible time" that is, a bible reading into our evening time together. It sparked his interest in the difference between each of the versions we had, and how small in size my personal bible was for us to try to read together. It had been the perfect size for just me. But for us together, it was too small. Then one day, David dropped a bombshell. What if he got us a new bible, a family bible, that could be mine if I needed it. And what if I could let him have my old one? My eyes got wide. Give him MY bible? No! But then I paused, and thought on it for a moment. I remembered hearing from somewhere, that one of the most important things you can do, one of the most loving things you can do is to give a prized possession to someone as a gift. I believe that the Lord was involved here, and he was talking to my heart. I went with my husband the other day and we picked out our new family bible - it's much larger and we've enjoyed reading it together in the evenings for over a week now. As I wrote this, I realized that I haven't heard him give mention again to taking my old bible. But now I realize how important it is to me that he have it. That he have that bible I used to learn to love the Lord, to understand the Gospel, and that encouraged me to give my heart to Christ when I was truly lost. I'm thankful for our new family bible because it is giving me this opportunity to pass mine on to him.

Thanks as always for reading. I send blessings from our home to yours!

Love,
Casey

Day 13- Thankful for Familial closeness.

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 07:24 AM PST

I have been up early nearly every morning this week getting some baking done for my husband's family/church Thanksgiving, baking the day before Thanksgiving, cooking all day on Thursday with the Macy's parade going on the the background, and finally getting up early on Friday morning to take advantage of some of the deals at Petsmart (we spoil our animals, so sue us!). I am in the midst now of recovering and reflecting on what a pleasure this week has been and how blessed David and I are to have ones who love us.

I am so thankful that my husband and I have this close of a family. His aunts and uncles and cousins make a point to be so much closer than my extended family has, and it is such a blessing for me to now be a part of that family as his wife. They love each other fiercely and protectively look out for one another and they make a point to make time to all get together for the Holidays at their church's fellowship hall.  I think that is something to be cherished - something that my family once had when the generations had more siblings and were younger. It makes me crave a larger family, to carry on that tradition. To inspire them all to want to be together.

On Thanksgiving Day, we hosted my family as well as my husband's, and for the first time, we had all of our immediate family, at one point under one roof! I remember having times like that as a child, and how nice it was, the more people that were there. We interacted as both a whole and as individuals. No one was excluded. I closed the door on Thanksgiving night to the last guest, and David and I both paused to say aloud how wonderful that was. We are so blessed to have these people in our lives! We are dually blessed that they all made it - even at different points of the day - to come by. Nothing is so comforting as having your loved ones nearby.

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of family.

When you're young, you believe that friendships are everything. And indeed, friendships are a huge part of adolescent development. But friends come and go, they disappoint you and never feel that obligation to love and forgive the way you feel with your family.

The Bible encourages us to cleave closer to our families, and I admit, that in the past, it has been difficult for me to do that. Familial structure for me has never been entirely stable. Sometimes I had little family, sometimes I felt unwelcome with step-parents, sometimes things just seemed to keep falling apart and again and again I felt myself feeling very alone. When I decided to begin my own life with my husband, I went into it wanting something very different. I felt determined to have it. I wanted to be a part of a new kind of family, one with structure and communication and understanding. I wanted my children to have the thing that I never had - the security of home. The Lord has blessed us so far, with an incredible support system. We were very rich in hugs and I love you's before the holiday was through.

This Thanksgiving was really a wonderful day of Thanks and one I'll remember for years to come. 

30 Days of Thanks - Days 9-12

Posted: 12 Nov 2012 07:17 PM PST Days 1-8 here.  Day #9-I am thankful that I have not one, but two very good computers that allow me access to the internet and to other like-minded individuals who both encourage and inspire me on a daily basis. I'm also thankful that my husband is an IT guy and can save my computers if anything ever happens to them! Day #10 - Where we live. I'm so thankful that we live in such close proximity to the Blue Ridge mountains. Mountain mist is in my blood and soul. I feel a strong connection to the folklore and the culture here, and I am proud to be a part of that tradition. Day #11 - Our "new" kitchen table. As long as David and I have been married, we've been talking about how much we would have liked to have a new kitchen table. Our previous table, pictured above, was a hand-me-down about five times over, and quite a bit wobbly. Most importantly, it didn't accommodate enough people. We wanted a table that would be sturdy and last us, hopefully forever. But, of course, it was just one of those wish-list items we wanted and could put off as it wasn't in high demand. However, a couple of weeks ago, our neighbor had an estate sale, and their really nice table was for sale at a really affordable price - six chairs and the cushions included. It was too good to pass up! So, without warning, the Lord provided us with a minor need. Soon after, our old table got a new home and we were able to get a table that will last us, hopefully for our lifetime. Day #12 - Our car. I know that having a vehicle that causes very little problems is a blessing. Ours hasn't been a perfect vehicle. Since we've owned it, the car has had air conditioner problems, accelerator pedal problems, and tire problems. We're thankfully still under warranty, though, and our car gets us from point A to point B on a regular basis. I know there are so many people out there that do not have this luxury. I know we are blessed. And so I have to add this to the list.

30 Days of Thanks Challenge

30 Days of Thanks Challenge - Days 1-8 Posted: 08 Nov 2012 10:01 PM PST So I came across this tonight, and I felt like this was something I really needed to do. I am as guilty as the next person of not showing enough gratitude for all of the things I have in life that are so so important to me. But... since we're already eight days in November, I'm gonna have to play catch up. You have no idea how much I was wishing we had managed to do a group shot while I was cropping this picture! :) Day 1 - Family (This is everyone together on our wedding day). We are so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing support system with our sisters and parents. We can't thank the Lord for them enough!  Day 2 - Lucy (I was going to do all of my animals together, but I changed my mind). This beautiful cat has the privilege of being the only other female in this house. She and I have to stick together. David and I brought her and her brother, Sebe, home the day after our honeymoon so they've really been with us since day one. Lucy is definitely our delicate soul. She is always up for a snuggle and never interested in hanging around when things get noisy or busy. We call her our guard kitty because she growls like a dog when someone rings our doorbell. Day 3- Sebe (pronounced Seh-bee). Sebe, short for Sebastien, got his name after three different people randomly told me that I should name my cat Sebastien. That was good enough for us! This guy has the reputation for being just about the nosiest animal around. If you come to our house, it's not unusual for him to go through your purse! He is probably the highest-ranking in the fun category, as he is always trying to make us laugh by climbing into boxes or cupboards. He's a mess, but we love him!  Day 4- Liam (Our newest addition). Liam is our newest fur-child that came to live with us last March. He is a year old Shih-tzu, and just happens to be the cuddliest, sweetest, lovebuggiest pup. He literally thinks he is our baby, which is great, because in our eyes, he definitely is. When we adopted Liam, we found out he was the last of his litter and were floored! Who wouldn't want this amazing little guy? I guess we were super lucky that no one saw his potential, because I don't know what we would do without him! Day 5 - Tucker (Ruck-Ruck!). Tucker was our first puppy, another Shih-tzu, and he will be two years old in April. We brought him home, at six weeks old, and were introduced to a whole new world of puppy parenting! We'd been so spoiled with our self-sufficient cats, we had no idea that bringing home a baby pup was going to be very much like bringing home an infant. I think back fondly to the days when my boy looked more like a guinea pig than a dog. I remember my neighbor walking up to have a look at him and asking "What is that?!" Because of how little he was, and how we raised him, I think he will always have a very special place in our hearts. He's our "big" guard dog, and to hear him bark, he might just make a believer out of you! Day 6- Prescription Sunglasses (Seriously). Don't laugh, I'm perfectly serious. I have worn glasses pretty much every day of my life from the age of seven on. I'm one of those people that if I were to misplace my glasses, I would be in serious trouble. Like Velma from Scooby Doo. Until this summer, I had never in my life owned a pair of prescription sunglasses. Then, my husband got vision insurance. Finally, finally could I buy some sunglasses that would replace my everyday glasses when necessary. I am so thankful that I don't have to wear those sunglasses that go over my glasses and make me look like I have glaucoma (and are really uncomfortable) anymore. So this is a definite blessing to be thankful for.  Day 7 - Our house (No, we don't still have a pumpkin out). As you may have already guessed (or maybe you haven't), Whitaker Plantation isn't a plantation, it's a townhome. And while we complain about space and clutter, and storage, and all of it, I'm so thankful for our home. I know we won't always live here, but I also know how precious and special it is to have a home that belongs to us alone - so many people in the world are in need of shelter. There is so much to be thankful for when you think of that.  Day 8 - Right to vote. While I don't always have things go my way when I get out there and vote, I realize that that is not really even the point. The point is, of course, that I do get to have an opinion, and I do have the right to vote in favor of or against things. People have fought and sacrificed to make that happen for me, and I do my best to be thankful for it, and not take that privilege for granted.  Whew! Now I'm caught up! *Yes, I realize that I didn't change the days #'d on 3&4 but I was too lazy to go back and re-crop and everything. Y'all know what I meant right?  As always, we send blessings from our home to yours,  Casey