Thanksgiving challenge

At this time of year I think people tend to reflect a bit more on their life and to think of things and people that they are thankful for. Or, at least, I hope they do. Our family has had some challenges this year and many changes as in years past but I think I have been more reflective this year than any other year before. I, personally, have had some emotional ups and downs (due to that wonderful time in a woman's life...) and we, as a family, have had some financial ups and downs (probably more downs that ups, truth be known). But I have found one thing that always stays constant and that's family and good friends.

Here is a list of things that I am thankful for. I challenge you to go through this same exercise this season. Maybe at Thanksgiving dinner with your family or maybe just in the privacy of your own thoughts. But think about what really matters to you this season and what is really important.

I'm thankful for:

- God and His infinite wisdom and humor.

- my family who loves me unconditionally and always will.

- my 2 sons which have changed my life and fill my days with laughter and endless surprises.

- my husband, Greg, who I am a much better person for having met.

- my friends who I love very much even if I don't see them all the time.

- my country. I am so very proud to call myself an American.

- for those in our military services putting their lives on the line everyday for our freedom.

- for those in the military that have died in past wars and battles that helped to make this country what it is today. May your deaths NEVER be in vain. I love you and appreciate you more than you'll ever know.

- for the shelter over my head, the food on my table, and my bed to sleep on at night. There are so many people out there trying to survive without these basic needs.

- And last but not least....I am thankful for my health. Right now, I am healthy (in all practical purposes...) but if some day that should change, I know that God will be right by my side helping me through the difficult spots.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

Boys....

I'm finally getting around to reading a book my sister gave me a few years ago. Those of you from Kansas City might remember Dr. James Dobson. He had a little excerp on the news where he would give advice on various different things regarding family. It was called Focus on the Family. Well, he wrote a couple of books about raising boys. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend them. He has some good things to say about raising kids. Here are a few excerpts:



"...One of the scariest aspects of raising boys is their tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason. It begins very early. If a toddler can climb on it, he will jump off it. He careens out of control toward tables, tubs, pools, steps, trees, and streets. He will eat anything but food and loves to play in the toilet. He makes "guns" out of cucumbers or tooth brushes and likes digging around in drawers, pill bottles, and Mom's purse....A boy harasses grumpy dogs and picks up kitties by their ears. His mom has to watch him every minute to keep him from killing himself. He loves to throw rocks, play with fire, and shatter glass. He also gets great pleasure out of irritating his brothers and sisters, his mother, his teachers, and other children...."

Here's another one I think most of us don't think about:

"...A child should not be punished for behavior that is not willfully defiant. When he forgets to feed the dog or make his bed or take out the trash...when he leaves your tennis racket outside in the rain or loses his bicycle, remember that these behaviors are typical of childhood. It is, more than likely, the mechanism by which an immature mind is protected from adult anxieties and pressures..."

Good advice for kids

I received an email a while ago. I'm sure a lot of you have seen it but I felt it worth forwarding again. These are rules for life that Bill Gates talked about in a speech he gave to some high school students. They're very true to life and I think every kid needs to realize the true concept of reality. Here they are:

RULE 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

RULE 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

RULE 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

RULE 4: If you think your teacher it tough, wait till you get a boss.

RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

RULE 6: If you mess up, IT'S NOT YOUR PARENTS' FAULT, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of you parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

RULE 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

RULE 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

RULE 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

RULE 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Snowball

In a recent post I told of one of our cats dying and another little kitty showing up on our doorstep. Here's a picture of her. She's so cute. I hope the wild animals don't get her like our last kitten.

Little ghouls

I know Halloween has come and gone but I still don't have my digital camera and it takes a long time to get film developed these days...lol. You can probably figure out what the boys were for Halloween. Michael went as a hobo and Vince was Dracula. They were so cute.

This was a skating party up at the rink down the street the week before Halloween. One of Vince's classmates had a costume party. Look....my little man is surrounded by all the "older women"...ha! He's such a charmer.

Michael at the corn maze. They had a blast! Of course, Greg and the boys felt like they had to keep hiding in the maze then jumping out and scaring me....lol! We had fun.

lost kitty..found kitty

Well, it was a happy but sad weekend. Thursday night, my dad and Greg were out stacking wood by the back door and a little white kitty showed up. She looked so pathetic. She was wet and absolutely starving. So, we made her a bed and gave her some milk and food. Sorry, I don't have any pictures but my camera is still on the blink and we haven't gotten a replacement yet.

Well, on Friday, the kids and I were coming back home from running some errands and found one of our cats, Shadow, out by the side of the road. He'd been hit by a car. He was Michael's cat. And Michael took it pretty hard. But, like the strength of a child, he was back inside in 45 minutes watching TV and completely healed....lol! He did help Greg bury him on Saturday. Shadow was a good kitty. We still have his brother, Blackie and also our big mama cat, Samantha. And now, the little white kitty named Snowball.

I'll post pics when I get a camera. Such is the up and down life of having pets. But I wouldn't want it any other way!

The Great Pumpkin

Vincent's class went to the Pumpkin patch last week. They had so much fun. I was able to go with them and help drive some of the kids. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. They sure had a good time.