Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Thankfulness Day 10
Today I am thankful for my college education. I was speaking with my cousin who is still in college and was missing those times. I am so blessed in that I did not have to work or take out loans while I was in school. Between my scholarships and the money that my parents had put back for my education since I was a baby, I was totally covered. I really got to concentrate on school and just enjoying my time there. My mom and dad owned an apartment complex so I got to live there rent free with my older brother. We often fussed about having to live together but cannot imagine having to share a house with anyone other than him! I had already lived with him for many years before. Plus we were good friends and study partners. As I have stated in other posts, Chris is genius level smart so it was great to have him there to help with some of the tougher classes. True to form, I somewhat followed in my brothers footsteps in college. Both of us went into science fields. Chris has several advanced degrees in fields that I cannot even list. I got my degree in Kinesiology. Thus lots of science and math classes. Not my best subjects! Chris helped me out there and in turn I helped him with his Spanish classes. By far my best class! Anyway, my time was spent studying, hanging out with the BCM (Baptist Collegiate ministry) crowd, FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and playing volleyball. Such great times. It wasn't until my senior year of college that I even met my future husband, TJ. We were introduced by one of my FCA friends. It was a great way to transition into adulthood. No worries other than grades and what we were going to do that night. 2 weeks after TJ and I graduated, we were married! I don't use my degree now as far as the kinesiology part of it but I learned a lot about responsibility, attention to detail, and advanced math which I use in my career now.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Day 9
I am so very thankful for my wonderful puppy. Well he is not really a puppy. He is a grown dog that seems to think that he is small. I wouldn't say that he is a big dog, but he definitely isn't small. I love him so much because no matter what he is always right there by our side and just wanting to be loved on. He has so many toys and they are always all over the floor. You can pick them up 20 times a day and in a matter of minutes he has the back out and all over the floor. He thinks that they don't belong it the basket. We love him very much and don't know what we would do without him. He is such a bright spot in our lives.
Monday, November 8, 2010
thankfulness Days 6-8
I promise that one of these days I will get some more photos to put on here!
Day 6
I am thankful for family time. TJ and I make Saturday mornings family time. We often head into town to go do our grocery shopping and just run our errands. It is not anything huge or planned or anything but it is time to just be together. I think that is sometimes the best times. We get to take time out and just be together doing something mundane. Sam's Club is always on our list of places to go. We try to time it right so that we can grab lunch there. You can't beat $5 lunch that feeds us both!
Day 7
Today I am thankful for our church home. We have recently moved our church membership. There was nothing wrong with our old church, we just felt that God was leading us to a different place. Boy am I glad that he did. We LOVE this new church. The pastor and his family are amazing! They are huge supporters of fostering and adoption! We were so excited to learn that they had fostered and adopted 2 of their children and are working on the 3! They have been a huge support through the recent roller coaster ride that we have been on. Encouraging and understanding and a shoulder to lean on. What a blessing. We are also totally excited about the children's and youth ministries. For the size church, it is huge! They average over 100 kids for Awanas and 60 youth every single Wednesday night! God is really moving in this church and we feel blessed to be a part of it. We are excited to see what god has in store for us at this new church!
Day 8
Jobs. In these hard times, I am so thankful that TJ and I both have secure jobs. I know that is not exciting or profound of anything but it is the truth. I am so thankful that we really don't have to fear for our jobs. Especially TJ's job. For several years, we have been preparing for when we have children. This means that our house and our one car payment are all based off of TJ's income. Mine right now is pretty much just a bonus. So TJ's job security is huge! I love that he works so hard to provide not just for us but for the future that we want so badly. It is awesome to know that TJ has a job that can support us and that will enable me to be a stay at home mom when that time comes around! We are truly blessed!
Day 6
I am thankful for family time. TJ and I make Saturday mornings family time. We often head into town to go do our grocery shopping and just run our errands. It is not anything huge or planned or anything but it is time to just be together. I think that is sometimes the best times. We get to take time out and just be together doing something mundane. Sam's Club is always on our list of places to go. We try to time it right so that we can grab lunch there. You can't beat $5 lunch that feeds us both!
Day 7
Today I am thankful for our church home. We have recently moved our church membership. There was nothing wrong with our old church, we just felt that God was leading us to a different place. Boy am I glad that he did. We LOVE this new church. The pastor and his family are amazing! They are huge supporters of fostering and adoption! We were so excited to learn that they had fostered and adopted 2 of their children and are working on the 3! They have been a huge support through the recent roller coaster ride that we have been on. Encouraging and understanding and a shoulder to lean on. What a blessing. We are also totally excited about the children's and youth ministries. For the size church, it is huge! They average over 100 kids for Awanas and 60 youth every single Wednesday night! God is really moving in this church and we feel blessed to be a part of it. We are excited to see what god has in store for us at this new church!
Day 8
Jobs. In these hard times, I am so thankful that TJ and I both have secure jobs. I know that is not exciting or profound of anything but it is the truth. I am so thankful that we really don't have to fear for our jobs. Especially TJ's job. For several years, we have been preparing for when we have children. This means that our house and our one car payment are all based off of TJ's income. Mine right now is pretty much just a bonus. So TJ's job security is huge! I love that he works so hard to provide not just for us but for the future that we want so badly. It is awesome to know that TJ has a job that can support us and that will enable me to be a stay at home mom when that time comes around! We are truly blessed!
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thanksgiving Days 4 and 5---Oops
Sorry, I really meant to post everyday and then I was so busy yesterday that I didn't remember until I was already in bed. So I will double up today.
Day 4
Today I am thankful for my friends. God has truly blessed me in this area. Erin Dee has been my best friend since Jr. High. We have been through so much together and I love her like a sister. We are so completely different now that we are grown but one sign of a true friendship is that doesn't really matter. I know that I can still call her and that no matter what, she will be there.When I am down or sad or whatever, she always calls and cheers me up. I love that girl and her adorable baby boy! Alison and I have been friends even longer. Our dads started working together when we were in 1st grade! That is a long time ago! Anyway, we were great friends all through school but lost contact when we went away for college. But God saw to bring us back together when we relocated to a totally different state! Who knew that could even happen? We are hours from my home town and I ran into her in Hobby Lobby of all places! But what a blessing that was. She and her husband have been our biggest support through the whole pregnancy, miscarriage, adoption thing. They brought their two little girls home almost 2 years ago now. TJ and I are in love with those little girls! Alison has rejoiced when we rejoiced and cried when we cried. They are definitely a blessing to us! Since moving, I have also had the opportunity to make 2 new great friends. Cher is someone that I love to hang out with. She is funny and just a blast to be around. She and her husband have been through some pretty rough times too and I am in awe of her attitude. Erin H and her husband Ryan. Wow who knew that we could form that close of a friendship that quickly. They are such a blessing to TJ and I. Once again, a huge support when we needed them. Such an amazing Godly couple who we are so blessed to be able to call friends. Our times together are such fun. We have gone sledding, blue berry picking, and the worst was moving them several hours away. We miss them like crazy but the distance has not hurt our friendship at all. We still talk all the time and I thank God for them every day.
Day 5
First these days are not really in any order. It is sort of whatever comes to mind at the time. I really can't rank most of these things. Anyway, back to what I am thankful for today...
My family. I have the most amazing family. I wish that I had remembered my camera cord so that I could post some pictures on these posts. I will try to remember to later. My family... Lets start with my mom. She is the most amazing christian woman. The total Proverbs 31 woman. She is everything that I aspire to be. My childhood was filled with picnics on the kitchen floor when it was raining, dancing to the Beach Boys. belting out Elvis songs at the top of our lungs, and sitting in the rocking chair reading stories and when we were to big to sit in her lap (she is barely 5 feet tall!) sitting next to her on the couch. Then there are the things that I look back on now as an adult that I took for granted as a kid. My mom was a stay at home mom. She was always there when we needed her. She still is. Mom was always the first mom to help out at our school parties and go on class field trips. She is really creative and talented so that kids always liked whatever snack she brought. She is also an AMAZING cook. She cooked dinner every night and had it on the table ready for when Dad got home from work. And I am not talking hamburger Helper dinner. No she cooked from scratch. When we were in high school, we had open campus for lunch. My friends always wanted to come to my house for lunch because often times, Mom would whip us up something good to eat! Much better than fast food or cafeteria food!
Dad. My dad is also a great man. I know that I took his hard work for granted when we were younger. He worked in the oil field when I was really small. He did not graduate from college until I was in kindergarten. He got a job as a loan officer shortly after that. and to see him now as a bank president is amazing! In just a short few years he has worked so hard to get to where he is now. I am so proud of him! I am more like my dad personality wise than my mom though I think. I am fiercely independent. I think that drives my dad crazy sometimes. He still sees me as his little princess. Dad is also an amazing christian man. There are few times that I remember not praying before a meal or that we were not in church. My dad has those amazingly stretchy arms that could thump you on the back of the head if you were misbehaving even if you were at the opposite end of the pew! My dad is larger than life. He is about 6'5 and somewhat of a scary man. He is really quiet and has ice blue eyes. Most of my dates growing up were scared of him and he loved it!
My brothers... Chris and Russell. There is so much to say about them. I was blessed with those 2 also. Just don't tell them that! My older brother has a huge heart. He puts on this tough front but he really is a cream puff on the inside. Especially when it comes to kids. His intelligence is astounding. Growing up, my goal was to be just like him. I pushed myself to be just like him in school. I took the same classes he did and tried to make him proud of me. I was totally the annoying little sister. I followed him every where. I hung out with him and his friends. But he never complained. Granted we are really close in age. There is about 17 months between us. He was truly my best friend. I admired the close relationship that He had with our Heavenly Father at such a young age. Chris is caring and loyal and an all around amazing man. Russell...what can I say about my baby brother? He is the stereo typical youngest child. Spoiled not only by my parents but by me and Chris as well. As you can see in the last sentence in me calling him a baby. He is not a baby. He is not even 2 years younger than I am! But he was definitely treated as such. Russ has this amazing love for life. He goes through life with a twinkle in his eye. That twinkle has gotten him into so much trouble! You can always tell when he is up to something by that twinkle. Russ lives life to the fullest. Sometimes not really thinking of the consequences. His the broken bones and stitches are proof of that! He is always up for anything. The one thing that I admire most about my younger brother is his loyalty. He has had the same group of best friends since he was in kindergarten. They have added some to the group and lost a few along the way but the core group has always been the same. These boys have been through so much together. Fighting in the war over seas, tragic loss of a close friend, and tons more. These boys are more like brothers than friends. I grew up with those boys and so they are like my brothers as well. Russell is also an athlete. I have never seen anyone like him. He literally can play anything even if he has never played it before. Russ is also very helpful and caring for those he loves. He would do anything that he can to help.
So that's it today. My family is the best and I love them warts and all!
Day 4
Today I am thankful for my friends. God has truly blessed me in this area. Erin Dee has been my best friend since Jr. High. We have been through so much together and I love her like a sister. We are so completely different now that we are grown but one sign of a true friendship is that doesn't really matter. I know that I can still call her and that no matter what, she will be there.When I am down or sad or whatever, she always calls and cheers me up. I love that girl and her adorable baby boy! Alison and I have been friends even longer. Our dads started working together when we were in 1st grade! That is a long time ago! Anyway, we were great friends all through school but lost contact when we went away for college. But God saw to bring us back together when we relocated to a totally different state! Who knew that could even happen? We are hours from my home town and I ran into her in Hobby Lobby of all places! But what a blessing that was. She and her husband have been our biggest support through the whole pregnancy, miscarriage, adoption thing. They brought their two little girls home almost 2 years ago now. TJ and I are in love with those little girls! Alison has rejoiced when we rejoiced and cried when we cried. They are definitely a blessing to us! Since moving, I have also had the opportunity to make 2 new great friends. Cher is someone that I love to hang out with. She is funny and just a blast to be around. She and her husband have been through some pretty rough times too and I am in awe of her attitude. Erin H and her husband Ryan. Wow who knew that we could form that close of a friendship that quickly. They are such a blessing to TJ and I. Once again, a huge support when we needed them. Such an amazing Godly couple who we are so blessed to be able to call friends. Our times together are such fun. We have gone sledding, blue berry picking, and the worst was moving them several hours away. We miss them like crazy but the distance has not hurt our friendship at all. We still talk all the time and I thank God for them every day.
Day 5
First these days are not really in any order. It is sort of whatever comes to mind at the time. I really can't rank most of these things. Anyway, back to what I am thankful for today...
My family. I have the most amazing family. I wish that I had remembered my camera cord so that I could post some pictures on these posts. I will try to remember to later. My family... Lets start with my mom. She is the most amazing christian woman. The total Proverbs 31 woman. She is everything that I aspire to be. My childhood was filled with picnics on the kitchen floor when it was raining, dancing to the Beach Boys. belting out Elvis songs at the top of our lungs, and sitting in the rocking chair reading stories and when we were to big to sit in her lap (she is barely 5 feet tall!) sitting next to her on the couch. Then there are the things that I look back on now as an adult that I took for granted as a kid. My mom was a stay at home mom. She was always there when we needed her. She still is. Mom was always the first mom to help out at our school parties and go on class field trips. She is really creative and talented so that kids always liked whatever snack she brought. She is also an AMAZING cook. She cooked dinner every night and had it on the table ready for when Dad got home from work. And I am not talking hamburger Helper dinner. No she cooked from scratch. When we were in high school, we had open campus for lunch. My friends always wanted to come to my house for lunch because often times, Mom would whip us up something good to eat! Much better than fast food or cafeteria food!
Dad. My dad is also a great man. I know that I took his hard work for granted when we were younger. He worked in the oil field when I was really small. He did not graduate from college until I was in kindergarten. He got a job as a loan officer shortly after that. and to see him now as a bank president is amazing! In just a short few years he has worked so hard to get to where he is now. I am so proud of him! I am more like my dad personality wise than my mom though I think. I am fiercely independent. I think that drives my dad crazy sometimes. He still sees me as his little princess. Dad is also an amazing christian man. There are few times that I remember not praying before a meal or that we were not in church. My dad has those amazingly stretchy arms that could thump you on the back of the head if you were misbehaving even if you were at the opposite end of the pew! My dad is larger than life. He is about 6'5 and somewhat of a scary man. He is really quiet and has ice blue eyes. Most of my dates growing up were scared of him and he loved it!
My brothers... Chris and Russell. There is so much to say about them. I was blessed with those 2 also. Just don't tell them that! My older brother has a huge heart. He puts on this tough front but he really is a cream puff on the inside. Especially when it comes to kids. His intelligence is astounding. Growing up, my goal was to be just like him. I pushed myself to be just like him in school. I took the same classes he did and tried to make him proud of me. I was totally the annoying little sister. I followed him every where. I hung out with him and his friends. But he never complained. Granted we are really close in age. There is about 17 months between us. He was truly my best friend. I admired the close relationship that He had with our Heavenly Father at such a young age. Chris is caring and loyal and an all around amazing man. Russell...what can I say about my baby brother? He is the stereo typical youngest child. Spoiled not only by my parents but by me and Chris as well. As you can see in the last sentence in me calling him a baby. He is not a baby. He is not even 2 years younger than I am! But he was definitely treated as such. Russ has this amazing love for life. He goes through life with a twinkle in his eye. That twinkle has gotten him into so much trouble! You can always tell when he is up to something by that twinkle. Russ lives life to the fullest. Sometimes not really thinking of the consequences. His the broken bones and stitches are proof of that! He is always up for anything. The one thing that I admire most about my younger brother is his loyalty. He has had the same group of best friends since he was in kindergarten. They have added some to the group and lost a few along the way but the core group has always been the same. These boys have been through so much together. Fighting in the war over seas, tragic loss of a close friend, and tons more. These boys are more like brothers than friends. I grew up with those boys and so they are like my brothers as well. Russell is also an athlete. I have never seen anyone like him. He literally can play anything even if he has never played it before. Russ is also very helpful and caring for those he loves. He would do anything that he can to help.
So that's it today. My family is the best and I love them warts and all!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Thanksgiving Day 3
Day 3
This is TJ here and I have many things that I am thankful for. I am so thankful to have the wonderful wife that I have. She is such and amazing person. I can't imagine being with anybody else. We have a lot of fun together no matter what we are doing. We have been through some good times and some not so good times, but no matter what we always stick together. I appreciate her being there for me anytime that I need her. She is an amazing christian woman that loves to worship God and you can't ask for anything better than a good christian wife. Love you so much baby. You are awesome!!
This is TJ here and I have many things that I am thankful for. I am so thankful to have the wonderful wife that I have. She is such and amazing person. I can't imagine being with anybody else. We have a lot of fun together no matter what we are doing. We have been through some good times and some not so good times, but no matter what we always stick together. I appreciate her being there for me anytime that I need her. She is an amazing christian woman that loves to worship God and you can't ask for anything better than a good christian wife. Love you so much baby. You are awesome!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Thanksgiving Day 2
Today what I am thankful for is my unbelievably sweet, handsome, Godly husband. TJ is my best friend and I cannot imagine trekking through life without him by my side. He has been my rock through some tough times these past couple years. He makes me laugh. He does these silly little dances to make me smile. I had a horrible sinus headache last night and when he came home from work he had a card and Tootsie Rolls (my favorite Halloween candy) for me. He is constantly striving to be a Godly man and leader in our home. He spends a great deal of time in God's word and in prayer. He has a wonderful friend named Ryan that he turns to when he needs Godly advice. TJ is not only my husband but also my best friend. We do everything together. I can't imagine it any other way. I am often the only fan at TJ's softball games. We love to go hiking and camping. We go to sporting events and all the fun guy stuff, but he has also escorted me to a fair amount of craft fairs and junk shops. We work on the house together. We paint and switch out light fixtures. We dream of the boys ranch that we one day want to open. We have cried together, laughed together, and grown together. I thank God that He chose TJ as my husband and brought us together by chance. Who knew that a country boy like TJ and a country club girl like me would ever get married and start a life together? We are so different in so many ways but the love that is between us has over come so much. As long as we have God as the center of our relationship and don't take our eyes off of the path that He has directed us to, than nothing will separate us. It doesn't hurt any that he is handsome!!! I love you honey!
Monday, November 1, 2010
30 Days of Thanksgiving
Since Thanksgiving is less than a month away, TJ and I decided to do 30 days of the things that we are most thankful for. We will see if we manage to do a post a day! So here it goes...
Today is Day 1 of our 30 days. I (Gina) am most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ. At church yesterday, we had the Lord's Supper. Bro. Jack's message pertained to the meaning of the supper and how to prepare for it. Wow, how many times have I not been in the right place to fully observe the Lord's Supper? Anyway, I am so thankful that I am the daughter of a loving Father. He loves and cares for us even when we are selfish and needing children. He loves us when we turn our backs on Him because we think that we know better. He loves us when we vent our anger and frustration on Him. He loves us when it is hard and no one else wants to be around us. We sing that song "Amazing Love" all the time. I catch myself singing it as I clean or drive down the road. But how have we managed to lose the meaning in that song? Those words are so meaningful and don't deserve to just be sang or spoken lightly. With everything that TJ and I have been through, I often feel like a whiny kid when I pray and forget how truly blessed I really am. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father, loved me enough to sacrifice His only Son on a cross for my sins. He did this so that when I do act like a whiny brat, my sins are forgiven! My goal is to remember His sacrifice and thank Him every day for the ability to have such a close relationship with Him.
Today is Day 1 of our 30 days. I (Gina) am most thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ. At church yesterday, we had the Lord's Supper. Bro. Jack's message pertained to the meaning of the supper and how to prepare for it. Wow, how many times have I not been in the right place to fully observe the Lord's Supper? Anyway, I am so thankful that I am the daughter of a loving Father. He loves and cares for us even when we are selfish and needing children. He loves us when we turn our backs on Him because we think that we know better. He loves us when we vent our anger and frustration on Him. He loves us when it is hard and no one else wants to be around us. We sing that song "Amazing Love" all the time. I catch myself singing it as I clean or drive down the road. But how have we managed to lose the meaning in that song? Those words are so meaningful and don't deserve to just be sang or spoken lightly. With everything that TJ and I have been through, I often feel like a whiny kid when I pray and forget how truly blessed I really am. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father, loved me enough to sacrifice His only Son on a cross for my sins. He did this so that when I do act like a whiny brat, my sins are forgiven! My goal is to remember His sacrifice and thank Him every day for the ability to have such a close relationship with Him.
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