Thankful Thursdays

We live in a fallen world, don't we? Every time I turn on the television, radio, computer, cell phone, stand in the checkstand at the grocery store, log onto Facebook, check my e-mail, or talk to another human being it seems that I am digesting difficult news or am confronted with information that drains me rather than builds me up to be a better person. I am not nor have I ever considered myself to be a "Debbie Downer" (if you don't know who I'm talking about check out this old SNL skit...HYSTERICAL...http://www.buzznet.com/tags/debbiedowner/video/12536/saturday-night-live-debbie-downer/) or an Eeyore type of character. But, I must admit that while I believe myself to be a pretty positive person, I find myself crestfallen at times when I think about the world my brood is navigating. Really, think about it, our economy is in the toilet and despite what experts say most of us don't see the positive turn we are supposedly taking (this takes a much bigger toll on our families than just our checking account balances), our childhood idols drug themselves to death because life is too much for them to bear, teenagers are getting plastic surgery for their 16th birthday's because they think their value is in what they look like rather than who they are, etc. (I'll stop now because I am starting to sound like Debbie Downer!) So, this has inspired me to take better stock of the things in my world I have to be thankful for. I'm going to try to publish this list every week...probably on Thursday's....and call it Thankful Thursday's. Why Thursday's? Because I thought the "Th" in Thankful and the "Th" in Thursday's was kind of clever and I like clever things (yes, I know, nerdy....this is a theme you should become comfortable with) - we'll see how it goes and I'll adjust if needed. Here ya have it!

Thankful Thursday 7/23/09

- I'm thankful that my darling husband remembers to return the stroller into the back of the car after the boys take it out to load up their guitar and baseball gear - this has spared me from getting to the store and having to turn around and come right back home countless times.

- I'm thankful that my husband still has a job.

- I'm thankful that my parents have moved a mile away from us. Their help is priceless and I love that my children have grown so close to their Nana and Papa.

- I'm thankful that Ian wakes up every 3 hours during the night. Yes, I'm tired but it gives me uninterrupted time to hold and cuddle my sweet little man. I realize that in a blink he will be grown and I will long for the days that I held him, and would welcome being tired for the chance to do it all over again.

- I'm thankful that Zach will be getting his driver's license in a few short weeks. Can I get an "Amen!" from those of you that seemingly have little time to do anything other than be a chauffeur?

- I'm thankful that my family is healthy and for the astute medical caregivers that have helped to keep us all this way. In a country where the healthcare debate rages on, we should all be pulling for a system that continues to attract the best and brightest.

- I'm thankful for McDonald's iced mocha's and $1 sweet tea....basically caffeine in general.

- I'm thankful for the group of girls that gather in my basement on Tuesday nights to watch the Bachelorette. What a sweet group of ladies! Can I get an "Oh Yah!" for girl time?



If anyone would like to share the things they are thankful for, or even complain about the things that you aren't, feel free to leave a comment.


Happy Thankful Thursday,




Debbie.....ummm, I mean Kristen