Be.Thankful. {day thirty} and I bet you're glad it's over!

I am thankful for GOOGLE.

I am thankful for its responses.

My own magic eightball.

"Google, Google on my screen?

how to raise my teen?"

Google, Google on my screen?

in-laws, UGH, should I intervene?"

I am truly grateful for the superpowers of GOOGLE!

Be.Thankful. {day twenty nine}

I am thankful for the concept of Do-It-Yourself!

I am grateful for manufacturers producing products making DIY easy!

Easy?

And fun!

And messy!

Definitely a learning experience!

Possibly time consuming!

But why do my DIY projects manage to take 12 or more months to complete?

Be.Thankful. {day twenty eight}

I am thankful for the time and peace and solitude

on Sunday mornings holed up with the Sunday newspaper.

Hot Coffee.

Caffeine.

Sofa.

PJs.

Dawn breaking.

Reading.

Entertaining.

Clipping.

I am grateful for this short-lived "me" time.

Be.Thankful. {day twenty seven}

I am so thankful for LAUGH TRACKS.

I totally would NOT even know when to laugh!

I would laugh in all the wrong spots!

I would laugh untimely and miss the dialogue!

I am grateful that all my favorite programs come with LAUGH TRACKS.

Be.Thankful. {day twenty six}

I am thankful for Black Friday.

And the newly introduced Cyber Monday.

It is the perfect day to stay home.  OR...

To venture on a field trip while everyone else is shopping.

To breakfast in the city's most popular restaurant while everyone else is still shopping.

To sip coffee in the outdoor cafe while watching hostile drivers flip each other off.

To witness rudeness and flash an annoying smile in return.

I am thankful for this fun, once-a-year, only in America kind of day!!!

I love Black Friday.

You might want to pack some heat in my city! 

Be.Thankful. {day twenty five}

Happy Thanksgiving!

A beautiful day for giving Thanks.

Enjoy your day of gratitude!

Be.Thankful. {day twenty four}

I am thankful for the power of branding.

The power of advertising.

The roping me in and making me buy something I totally did not need.

Nor did I know that I wanted it.

I am grateful for commercials.

And as a result of various infomercials,

I am thankful for all the unnecessary items cluttering up my home!

Thank you, Billy Mays, RIP.

Be.Thankful. {day twenty three}

I am thankful for the beauty of nature. 
The thoughtfulness of the North Texas landscaper who planted PALM TREES!
The white sand that sifts through your toes like a colander.
The man-made lakes.
I am grateful for the sun that shines.
The rain that falls.
The snow that drizzles - rarely over North Texas.
The clouds that accumulate overhead.
I am thankful for remembering to look at the beauty all around. 

Be.Thankful. {day twenty two}

 I am thankful for my three little pixies.

The sound of their laughter.

The patter of their feet.

The smell of their hair after a fruity bubble bath.

The clatter of toys.

The cries of bickering.

The faint whispers of sisters.

The smiles of pure happiness.

I am grateful for the true miracles - gifts from God.

Be.Thankful. {day twenty one}

I am thankful for chocolate!

Chocolate creations.

60% cacao.

72%

80%

90%

milk

hazelnut

almond

crunch

Swiss

Polish

German

Turkish

Korean

Hersheys

Nestle

Be.Thankful. {day twenty}

I am most thankful for CRAYOLA.

And its crayon maker.

I am grateful that this toy is now available at Toys R Us!

I am most grateful that I did not discover this new TOY

until AFTER I blew out my microwave!!

It is all about the timing!

Be.Thankful. {day nineteen}

 I am thankful for activities that thrill and move you!
I am grateful that my wee littles enjoy being active, too!
Rollerskating.

Biking.

Ice Skating.

Running.

Swimming.

Dancing.

Bodies are physically amazing at all they can DO!

Just Do it!

Be.Thankful. {day eighteen}

I am thankful for a place to call HOME.

A HOME from a house.

Creating the NOT So BIG House by Sarah Susanka.

Craftsman Style.

Prairie.

Bungalow.

Four-Square.

Tudor.

Colonial.

Palatial.

I am thankful for the beauty in historic homes.

Located in every city.

Be.Thankful. {day seventeen}

I am thankful for beautiful craftmanship.

The detail.

The care.

The design.

The art of a handicraft.

The beauty of wood.

The nature.

The architecture.

The history.

And the creativity it inspires in me.

Frank Lloyd Wright.

Gustav Stickley.  A few of my favorites.

Classical.

Stylish.

Timeless.

Be.Thankful. {day sixteen}

I am thankful for tradition.

I am thankful for the celebration of traditional holidays.

Be.Thankful. {day fifteen}

I am thankful for the beauty in hand-made love.

The talent.

The creating process.

The final creation.

I am thankful for my golden friend, PS, and her thoughtfulness!

Be.Thankful. {day fourteen}

I am thankful for the power of prayer.

Prayers.

"Eat, Pray, Love"

Gratitude.

Sundays.

I believe.

Be.Thankful. {day thirteen}

I am thankful for SISTERS.

Soul Sisters.

Sisters-in-law.

Best Friend Sisters.

Friends.

Old Friends.

New Friends.

Silver Friends.

Gold Friends.

  "Make new friends,

but keep the old,

some are silver and the other are gold!"

Be.Thankful. {day twelve}

I am thankful for the eyesight that allows me to see the colours of the world.

Bright.

Pastel.

Sepia.

Black & White.

Rainbow.

Monochrome.

Rose-colored.

Be.Thankful. {day eleven}

I am thankful for this special day of honor.

I am thankful for the Veterans of the world.

Land of the Red, White and Blue!

America.

The U.S. of A.

The sacrifice.

The duty.

The honor.

I will never forget.

I will pass my gratitude on to my future.

God Bless America!

Be.Thankful. {day ten}

          Today, I am thankful for the safe flight which returns my working husband home.

          The airplane that flies my family to visit our northern family.

          The southbound airplane that lands at Terminal E carrying our extended family for visits.

          My husband's license.

          My husband's understanding that he flies solo.

          The views.

          The diet coke. gratis.

          The in-flight movies.

          The peanuts.

          The humming that puts children and mommies in nap-mode.

Be.Thankful. {day nine}

I am thankful for school uniforms.

No daily morning pre-seven-am decisions.

The convenience.

The ease.

The painless choice.

Public.and.Private.schools.

It's a blessing!

Be.Thankful. {day eight}

I am thankful for the postal truck that delivers mail.

Specifically little packages.

To my three girls.

To see their faces light up with excitement.

Priceless.

Or, at least, postage-stamp-ness!

Be.Thankful. {day seven}

I am thankful for the beauty captured in my House of Worship.

I am thankful for Catholic education.

Catholicism.

The Pope.

Nuns/Sisters.

The Habits donned by the Sisters.

And predominantly Catholic countries!

Be.Thankful. {day six}

I am thankful for spending Saturdays at the Soccer Fields.

Winners or not.

Score-keeping or not.

Watching or not.

(May be caught chatting with bleacher-mate)

Praising coach.

Muttering rated G curses at number 2 on opposing team.

Laughing or not.

Spewing or not.

Grateful for the opportunity to watch my daughter "kick it"!!

Be.Thankful. {day five}

I am thankful for my health.

for running.

for jumping.

for kicking.

for walking.

for living!

Be.Thankful. {day four}

I am thankful for city/government workers.

I am thankful that they are doing a splendid job.

Sitting in their viewless cubicle.

Reviewing mindless material.

Creating havoc.

Collecting money.

I am thankful!

Really!

Be.Thankful. {day three}

I.LOVE.OVERPASSES.

And I am thankful for the many overpasses that exist in my hometown.

However, I have recently discovered that I am becoming afraid of heights.

But I still love those overpasses. 

With eyes wide shut.

Clenched fists.

White knuckles.

And a pounding heart.

Be.Thankful. {day two}

I am thankful for the opportunity to vote.

Election Day!

Don't forget to VOTE.

It's your RIGHT.

FREEDOM.

CHOICE.

RED.



Be.Thankful. {day one}

I am thankful for my  Big ( • )( • )

or small (.) (.) 

-- the very ones that nourish my baby. 

The ones that ache every three hours. 

The ones that support PINK. 

The ones that shout "Check your boobies!"

"Cure" Breast Cancer.

In memory of Sue.

recaps of the last six weeks

an anniversary moon



an anniversary rainbow

and anniversary blooms

An anniversary.
came and went.  dawned and dusked.  ebbed and flowed.  yinned and yanged. 
I love the anniversary wish list of traditional gifts; I love reaping anniversary gifts of chrome, wood, iron, steel and leather.  Especially, if that anniversary gift is a brand new shiny vehicle with a big red bow and KEYS!

However, it is really the "list" that I find very unique. 

Math Problem #1:  Let's say you are married 1x @ 5 years; 2x @ 8 years; 3x @ 11 years.  Which gift-year would you get on the third marriage on the eleventh year not including 1 year of dating? 
A.  Steel     B.  Opal     C.  Musical Instrument     D.  Silver

Year        Traditional (U.S.)       Traditional (U.K.)       Modern (U.S.)     Some of my ideas 
1st                Paper                       Cotton                             Clocks                Basically, what     
2nd              Cotton                      Paper                              China                   WIFEY-poo
3rd               Leather                     Leather                          Crystal, Glass      WANTS 
4th               Linen, Silk               Fruit/Flower                  Appliances             
5th               Wood                     Wooden                         Silverware                
6th               Iron                         Sugar                              Wood objects         
7th               Wool, Copper        Woollen                         Pen/ Pencil sets
8th               Bronze                     Salt                                 Linens, Lace
9th               Pottery, China        Copper                          Leather goods
10th            Tin, Aluminum       Tin                                  Diamond jewelry
11th            Steel                                                                Fashion jewelry, accessories
12th            Silk                           Silk/ Fine Linen            Pearls, Colored gems
13th            Lace                                                                Textiles, Furs
14th            Ivory                                                               Gold jewelry
15th            Crystal                    Crystal                           Watches
16th            Tourmaline                                                    Silver Holloware
17th            Furniture                                                       Furniture
18th            Turquoise                                                     Porcelain
19th            Aquamarine                                                 Bronze
20th            China                     China                             Platinum
21st                                                                                  Brass, Nickel
22nd                                                                                 Copper
23rd                                                                                  Silver plate
24th           Opal                                                               Musical Instruments
25th           Silver                       Silver                            Silver
30th           Pearl                        Pearl                             Diamond
35th           Coral, Jade             Coral                             Jade
40th           Ruby                       Ruby                            Ruby
45th           Sapphire                                                      Sapphire

50th           Gold                       Gold                              Gold

55th           Emerald                                                        Emerald

60th          Diamond (Yellow)  Diamond                     Diamond

65th          Blue Sapphire                                              Star Sapphire (Gray)

70th          Platinum

75th         Diamond, Gold                                            Diamond, Gold

80th         Oak 

90th

***  notice there isn't even a gift suggestion for the 90th year?!

***  the jewelry companies would prefer bling to be added before the 25th anniversary

***  however, modern US #10 states "DIAMOND" but, ladies, do not wait til #10 to trade-up because by year 10 you will have too many committments tying up your dollars.  Get the DIAMOND before you get married!!

***  was this list compiled by a male?

***  a musical instrument on the 24th anniversary because one or both of you is hard of hearing by then.

 A simple new list:

Year                 HIS preference           Her preference

1st                     leather/lace                  jewelry

2nd                    see above                    car

3rd                    see above                     house

4th                    see above                     plus enhancements

5th                    see above                     see above

6th - 100th        see above                     see above