Being Thankful during Turkey Tug-of-War

Thanksgiving is here, it's time for thankfulness, turkey, family and for many, stress. I remember growing up looking forward to Thanksgiving. I loved making Thanksgiving crafts, having feasts at school, watching the Macy's Day parade and best of all getting to chow down on food that made this little chubby girl oh so happy. It was a fun time of year, but as you grow up things change. Now Thanksgiving resembles a game of Turkey Tug-of-War.

We worry about when we will see everyone, we stress about when we will eat with so and so and when we will spend time with whoever, but I have to constantly remind myself that Thanksgiving is about being thankful, not about the food, not about crafts, or parades, not about checking the visits off the list and not about pleasing people. It's being thankful for what God has blessed you with.

Although it's stressful and not fun trying to make everyone happy in a very short amount of time I have to remind myself that we just have a whole lot of people that love us and want to see us, this is a great problem to have.

I'm learning that I can't stress about making everyone happy, I just have learn to go with the flow.

These are just a few things I have to be grateful for this year:

While some I know have no family to celebrate with, I have an abundant.

Many people will go hungry on Thanksgiving, but I will have a full stomach.

Some will be facing the first Thanksgiving without a loved one,

while my family was blessed with another year.

Lots are out of jobs this Thanksgiving, while we are employed.

Some are stressed about finances, while I am stressed about my petty schedule.

God has blessed us immensely, we just need to take the time to remember just how much.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 100:7

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fall so far

So far we have had an eventful fall. Over Labor Day we flew out to Dallas to spend the weekend with my parents. We had a great time and learned the exciting news that my sister and brother-in-law are expecting the first grandchild in early May. We are all very excited to spoil this child.

September came and went and we spent two of our October Saturdays cheering on the Tide. We had a great time meeting up with Daniel's family for the Vanderbilt game and it was great to get back to Tuscaloosa. It was our first time seeing all the tornado damage and we were very sad to find some of our favorite spots no longer in existence.

We got to experience the very top of the stadium.

The next weekend my parents drove it and we all took a trip to O

xford for the Alabama/Ole Miss game. Despite sitting in the Ole Miss section it was a great game because they ended up leaving in the 3rd quarter anyway.

Yesterday we participated in an event called Jesus Loves Memphis. Many Memphis church's came together to get out in our city and make a difference. The goal wasn't just pick up trash and do service projects (although that's what we did), but reach Memphis for Christ. Afterward, we came together and prayed for our city which is in great need of hope. It was very eye opening to see the needs and reality of this city.

We can't believe November is this week. We look forward to Thanksgiving and getting to spend some quality in Alabama.

What's It Worth?

This week I slept too late, only ran twice, missed a deadline at work, ate ice cream with Reece's on top and didn't do laundry. Guess what? I woke up this morning and the sun was still shining. I stress about these small things in life that don't mean squat.

Thursday night as I sat in front of my computer screen at work slaving over a project that will eventually end up in someones garbage can, I thought about my husband who had already been home for hours. I thought "is this project worth more than him?" I concluded, that it wasn't. I left and didn't finish the "important" project. But what would it have really mattered if I had finished it? Slave and neglect my husband for a measly "good job" (at best)? I question if stressing and meeting this world's deadlines is really working for "the Glory of the Lord?" I think not.

I'm not saying have a "so what" attitude because that doesn't Glorify God at all, but there is a point when you have to question weather the time and attention you give something is really worth it.

At the end of my life I don't think I'll look back and kick myself for not making a deadline, if anything I'll probably look back and think I should have devoted more time to the things in this life that really matter, (God, Husband, Family, Friends, serving others, etc.)

I'm beginning to learn that the things we make the most of, usually aren't the things that matter the most.

Just some thoughts after a long week. :)

Summer Recap

Has it really been March since I posted? Yikes! I have to start doing a better job. This summer has been a hot but great one. I used to love summer because I was out of school, now that I'm out of school I love summer because Daniel is out of school and I get to see my studious husband more.

Summer Highlights:

I celebrated my 25th birthday in May

We spent the weekend of the 4th with Daniels family in Huntsville. We enjoyed family, good food and pool time

We spent a week at the beach with my family at the end of July and enjoyed some much needed downtime. We also got to visit with Daniels grandmother who lives in Mobile.

Daniel and I celebrated 2 years of wedded bliss on August 1...Yay! We had a date night at Folks Folly, yum!



Summer Woes
-My camera broke!!! So very limited summer pictures are posted.

Sadly Daniel starts back to school next week he's excited, and I'm sad. He loves to study (I don't get this) and I will miss him. Last school year I tried to attempt some DIY projects while he studied so I'm going to pick this back up this fall. Stay tuned for some upcoming projects.