Gladituesday: Happy World Gratitude Day!

When I heard it was World Gratitude Day (Gosh!  Not even just National Gratitude, but WORLD gratitude), my heart was aflutter, and I thought to myself, "Self, you've GOT to write a post on World Gratitude Day, what with your love of all things thankful and gratitudinous".  So...here i am.

As a believer in Jesus, I realize that EVERY day should be World Gratitude Day, or WGD, for short. But in my life, too often, WGD stands for World Gripe Day.  Here are a few examples, in case you're not a griper.  Insert whiny voice, here.

• It's cloudy!/sunny/rainy/snowy/hot/cold
• Facebook changed its template!
• I have a cold/cramps/splinter/scabies/shingles/ear wax/pimples
• I don't wanna get up/go to work/go to school/make a meal/move from supine to sit
• I'm too busy/fat/skinny/tired/overloaded/underappreciated
• If I could only have/do/be...

Wow...those came far too quickly to mind.  Takes a little more effort to be grateful, but here's my effort toward WGD Gladitudes:

• Glad Air Canada has not gone on strike, so hopefully, we'll see hubby/daddy on time this weekend.
• Glad for the cool fall mornings and the pretty leaves.
• Glad for warm, soothing, amazing, incredible hot coffee with just a splash of cream.
• Glad for my husband's job, which often takes him far and wide, but supports our ability to keep our children in their schools and of course, more importantly, provides our food and shelter.
• Glad that i have two children for which to get up and go.  Even when I don't want to pack another lunch. :)
• Glad that I have so many choices and freedoms, from the faith I love to the food I eat and everything in between.

You know, I got up, and was pretty stressed out about the day/week/month I've been having.  With a tweak to the perspective, though, my stress is less, and the lens through which I see my day is more constructive.  Thank you, God, for World Gratitude Day.

Gladituesday!

So it's been about eleventy thousand Tuesdays since I posted a Gladituesday on Ye Olde Blogg.  If there's anything I'm working on besides obedience, humility, giving grace, it's having a grateful heart. I try so hard to remember to be thankful.  And the truth is, I should be trying hard to remember this.  For me, gratitude lifts me out of thinking of what I don't have, and focuses me on how amazing my life is.  So...sans further ado:

1.  Not happy about the impending hurricane (Irene), but very glad for the advanced warning my friends and their loved ones will have to prepare.  I pray that she will fizzle to a drizzle.
2.  Glad for a focused mind this morning.  Got eye appts scheduled, and am beginning to see my schedule for the new school year take shape.
3.  Glad that my daughter has come home from youth camp absolutely on fire for God.  She's got an accountability partner, and is discipling others in her life.  Yes, a child will lead them...
4.  Glad that my son has started going to several gaming groups with folks in his own age bracket. For his 15th b'day, we went out w/a bunch of 40-50 year olds.  Make no mistake, I'm GLAD for them.  I think his gaming with them has given him confidence to try to game w/his peers from school, and even (gasp!) be brave enough to play a "pick up" game at the local gaming store--where it smells of sweat deep, strategic thoughts.
5.  Glad that it's almost quilt and knit and crochet season (and uberglad that the last 2 can be done whilst watching the Titans, Seahawks, Broncos, Buffs, and Huskies play. (busy fall)
6.  Glad for a sunny walk with my neighbor and our two pups.  The aged Dachshund deferred his walk.
7.  Glad for a lurvely discussion of the first few chapters of the book Heaven, by Randy Alcorn, with some amazing, God-is-so-big-in-them women.  I just glean, glean, glean when I'm with them.  And...oh, the FUN we have. The book reads like a text, but like an INTERESTING text.  Really helps me to picture what I'm to be living for.
8.  Glad for talk time with my daughter AND my son.  They are such incredible individuals.  I know the teens are a trying time, but they also give a peek into my kids as future adults.  I couldn't be more proud.
9.  Looking forward to lunch with my honey.  Better shower...STAT!
10.  Glad for the secret of our happy 21 year old marriage:  Yesterday, when I was kicking my feet and might not have had my best tone of voice, my husband turned to me, smiled, and said:  "I just love how you do 'indignant'. "  What could I say???? :)

Oh, Pollyanna?!!!!!

So i'm in a pissy mood.  And since I've had my 4-6 oz glass of carefully measured 90 calorie wine, and don't wish to push neither the caloric, nor the sobriety limits any farther...I must write. 

Remember those commercials, "I have a headache T-H-I-I-I-I-I-S  B-I-I-I-I-G!"?  Well, I have two of them.  One is nearly 13 and one is nearly 15.  Oh, my Lord, I'm so glad people bit their tongues when we shared that we wanted to have a baby/and/or were pregnant.  We would have z.e.r.o. population if folks told about days like this.  Perhaps negative population growth.  Of course, I knew everything in my 20s, so I probably thought I could have had the world's second and third perfect children. :)

And can we talk, Joan Rivers?  Farting dogs.  They're also a headache.  In fact, not only do I have a big, farting Retriever, but my small, farting Dachshund has now reached that certain age...He can no longer sleep through the night without a trip to the back yard in the wee hours of the morning (no pun intended--or was it?). 

Oh, and my real headache?  Yeah...been niggling right behind the eyes at about Defcon 2 for most of the day, but we're headed to D4. 

And..."And?" you say. "There's more?".  Yep.  And...I hate 7th grade pre-algebra.  Hated it in 1981-82, and hate it 30 years later. 

OK.

I think that's it. 

Don'tcha just hate it when the turkeys get ya down?  Or rainy days and Mondays?

So...I need to scram into my telephone booth and do the quick change from maddy to gladdy.  I'll try.

1.  Glad  for my headache.  For it's not a heart problem. Last week, I was getting an EKG and labs drawn b/c of chest pain.  We now think the chest pain is b/c I'm "a woman of a certain age".  (sigh) But no indicators of heart disease.  I'll take a headache for $500, Alex.

2.  Glad for these ingrates children.  They are fairly compliant and well behaved with others, and truly, seem trainable and even pleasant at times.  In fact, my daughter is sharing even a little tooooo much information with me.  I'll take it. 

3.   Only 6 more days till I get to be back on Facebook.  Oh, and Easter.   :)  Yeah, I know.  Also happy about getting to sing some Easter songs in choir this week.  Lurve.

4.   I get to go to bed in 90 minutes. And tonight, I have the remote to myself. Mwah ha ha.

5.  Lamentations 3:22-23  (NIV)
Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail; they are new every morning.  Great is your faithfulness!


Blessings, my friends.

GladiWednesday: Funky Town

I'm in a funk today.  August is not my favorite month.  Hubby is leaving soon for a business trip.  Still not 50, 30, 10 pounds lighter than I was last spring.  Not finding myself as productive during these summer days as I'd like to be; therefore, nor are my children.  Feeling stress about a show I'm producing at church.  My hair looks yucky.  My skin, which has always garnered compliments, looks age-spotted and my ears appear to be growing.

So...I need to focus on grace, gratitude, and a glad attitude. 

1.  August yields to September, one of my favorite months.  The sun is shining, and we will have lovely temps.  I got to walk my dog w/my neighbor, sans rain.
2.  Big's trips mean Big's salary.  Salary to pay for schools which are just right for our family.  Salary to keep me home, which is such a gift.  One I wish to steward well.
3.  I'm 5 pounds lighter than last spring.  And am doing some right things.  Some of the time.
4.  Productivity is important, but so is nonproductive rest.  So is allowing my children to be children.  Allowing sleep ins and sleep-overs; late nights, and special moments that can't always be had during structured time are all important.
5.  Producing a show is always a bit stressful.  But I know that God is in control of the production and over all of the parts and pieces which will need to come together by December.  May I have faith in Him to provide and may I glorify Him in all that I do, reflecting a close walk with Him, not only for the production but in every way outside the production.
6.  Neither my hair, nor my skin speak to who I am on the inside.  I'm certain that the more I focus on Him and love on others, the more pretty I'll feel.  Listening well, and speaking less will probably also make my ears look better, too. Or at least I'll feel better about how they look. ;)


Still funky.  But hopeful and able to move forward.  One step in grace at a time.

GladiTuesday! Summer Style

Howdy!

Since my dear friend CPQ has given credit, perhaps credit must have its due.  Meaning...she's already posted her glads.  Me?  Well, almost.  Thought I'd do an ode to summer.  Since...let's face it, it's August, and there's nothing really special about August.  But here in the NW, summer has decided to show up just in time for fall. :).

1.  Glad for summertime relaxitude.  Sleeping in.  Meals at odd times.  Enjoying my kids more than coaching them/expecting thus and such from them.
2.  Glad for the teensiest bit of a tan.  I was raised at 5,000 feet from age 9 on, and lived at 6,200 feet for 7 years, so there is a titch of sun damage on my weathered   face.  But let's face it:  who doesn't look at least a little bit more vigorous with a bit of color on her face?!
3.  Glad for certain annoying toys which drive parents crazy.
4.  Glad for this verse, which is now a new (humbling) favorite.
5.  Glad for last Sunday--my first Sunday in church for a month.  Yes, I've been reading a bit o' the Bible, and doing a study, but for me...there's just NO SUBSTITUTE for the fellowship and teaching at church.  Not even a Porsche.
6.  Glad for "Friends" marathons in the UK and Ireland during downtime, and glad for "Frasier" reruns in the US.  So fun to hear Big and History Boy chuckling away in the other room.  Drama likes them, too--she's just still sleeping.  It's only 10:00.
7.  Glad for shower and make up optional days.
8.  Glad for the first (too tart, but they'll be fine in a day or 2) ripened blackberries on our backyard bramble.
9.  Glad that, in a week...only one kid will be in braces.  Holla!
10.  Glad...and sad...and everso grateful...that a year ago this week, I welcomed 4 new friends from their computers into my life, and they welcomed me back.  Miss them.  Miss those who couldn't come, but wanted to.  And so grateful for them all.

Gladi-Thursday! Easy Like Sunday Morning.

Glad for Sudoku.

A little aside about me...I can be bright in some areas of my life, but have always, always, always felt dumb with regard to mathematics and logical reasoning. My grad school entrance exams didn't help this feeling, when essentially, they noted that my analytical skills were in the snot-for-brains category (if you know me, you know I edited myself--i'm in ugly language recovery).  However, somehow I muddled through, and got into grad school for speech pathology.  And guess what?  As a speech therapist I had to work with folks who had lost much of their analytical thought, reasoning, problem solving and pathfinding skills due to a neurological event (e.g. traumatic brain njury, stroke, brain tumor).  So...I believe that among other things, God used my chosen career as a Mulligan. Through having to teach others, I learned that which had always eluded me.  I might've even had a dose of empathy for my patients.  Who knows?  

Do I now excel at giving directions or taking them?  Do I complete complex algebraic equations in a single bound?  Do I crack syllogisms like Jimmy cracks corn? Nope.  BUT.  I'm better at solving them. 

Lean in, and I'll tell you a secret.  I have been afraid to try a Sudoku puzzle for years.  I have.  Don't laugh. Logical, if a-then-b thinking is not within my comfortable scope of daily practice or ability.  So I have no idea why I bought a silly book full of Sudoku puzzles to take on our European trip.  I almost didn't try them.  I didn't think I could possibly even fill in one of those squares.  Not even on the "easy" puzzle (who determines what EASY is, anyway???)

Defying all gravity logic, around 1/2way over the Atlantic Ocean, I cracked open the book and started working my first puzzle. 

And now, I'm hooked.  They only take me 525,600 minutes per puzzle, and I've been known to cross out a puzzle if "it" just doesn't cooperate (ahem), but for the most part...I'm having fun.  And creating new neurological processes which will, hopefully, stave off dementia for as long as possible.  And I'm giving God thanks for the simple things.  Because He uses even those to teach us.

That we are worthy.

That we shouldn't give up or give in to defeated thinking

That He is with us always.

GladiTuesday Two-Word Meme

Okey dokey...Time to put away all the wordation and embrace brevitation.  Please play along if you so desire.  I'm ever-so gladdy mcglad for the following:

• Oxyclean spray
• Deviled eggs
• First John
• Sewing machine
• Knitting needles
• DVR'd shows
• Independence Day
• Vaca planning
• Warmer weather
• Bald eagles
• Beach walks
• Family dinners
• Growing kids
• Forever friendships
• Awesome husband
• Reading novels
• Saving Grace

SDG!  Gretchen

GladiTuesday!

Wow!  Hard to believe that my next set of gladdies will be in the month of July!  I hope y'all are finding something for which to be glad today.  If you're stuck, I'll give you a tawpic:  You're alive.  Here are some of my others for this week:

• Glad for OPI "Pink-ing of You" nail polish and Sally Hansen's "INSTA-DRI".  Too shallow? Whatev.  They give a great mani that doesn't chipsky.
• Glad that in about 26 hours, I'll be squeezing my Squeeze.  And I can say that we have no more China trips till Aug (which is just 6 weeks away, but work with me--"till August" sounds far away).
• Glad for a wonderful church service last Sonday.  Fabu from tip to toe.  The message and the worship brought me to a place where I could worship well and really feel near the throne of His grace. I know worship is all about Him, but being the great I AM, He has gives reciprocal love and grace to make it all about me, too. Glory!
• Glad I've been off processed sugar for 1.5 weeks.  Actually, scratch that.  I'm not glad.  But I am glad from an objective health perspective.  I guess.  Sort of.
• Glad to be reading a new novel.  I have to catch up w/my reading blog b/c my reading is so thankfully ON FIAH!
• Glad this idea was put to the test yet again, and even though it was hard, God showed up.  Amazingly.
• Glad for some time to blog.  Glad Big isn't here yet, so he won't know that there might be a flurry of clean up in the next 24 hours.  Shhhh.
• Glad for neighbors who are more like friends, and friends who God uses to pray for me and sustain me.

Happy July 4th Week! 

GladiWednesday!

1.  Glad for the one year anniversary of using my gladdy buttons.  Thank you, HisGirl for the tech-lurve.  They make me happy.

2.  Glad for forgiveness.  For His forgiveness of my sins, past and present because of the blood of Jesus.  Oh, how I need you, Lord!

3.  Glad for the "all read" button on Google Reader.  I always tell myself that blogging is a hobby, and that I can't feel guilty for not "keeping up".  And that is true.  However, blogging has led me to some beautiful friendships, and I miss y'all.  And I do guilt so well!  But I'm reforming.  I'll be around as I can to say hi, but there's no way I can truly catch up.  So I'm starting fresh.  Nothing personal.  I just needed a break from my own voice and the voice of others.  I am chatty and very relational by nature, but I also find that I need quiet nearly as much as chat--perhaps more. 

4.  So glad that I have hairapy t.o.m.o.r.r.o.w.!  Some of you may know that I looked like this over the weekend:

I had a run-in with my daughter's forehead which resulted in a small fracture (no displacement, YAY!) of my nose.  The saddest part of the whole thing is that I was too busy icing-ibuprofening-icing-watching Steel Magnolias-feeling lousy-icing that had to cancel my Saturday hairapy appt.  Lordy...it's been 3 months, and I'm starting to think they're gonna call me stripey around here.  Tomorrow, tomorrow, I LOVE YA, tomorrow.

5.  Gladdy for track meets and the character of a girl who knows that she's not the fastest runner...in fact she comes in last a lot.  But guess what?  She has fun and gives it her best.  I wouldn't have been brave enough to try track as a girl.  I'm so proud of her.

6.  Glad for a full DVR. :-)  And SO glad for the return of Friday Night Lights.  Can I have a witness?  I know that Mer and Whimz are on board.  Anyone else?  Coach Taylor is seriously competing with Phil Mickelson for second husband status.  Jon Hamm might be falling to third...might be.

7.  Gladdy mcgladicuddy for this girl and her b'day.  Though she'll always be younger than me, I will forgive her.  Love you, Amber!

8.  Significantly gladacious for my choir peeps.  Last night was our last rehearsal of the season, and Sunday will be the last time we're up on stage together.  I cannot put into words how precious the folks in this group are to me.  They love me.  They love and accept my husband, right where he is.  They welcome my entire family with open arms.  They have become family. 

9.  Amazingly, gratefully glad that 3 weeks from today, I can say I've been married to the best man evah for 20 years. 

10.  Glad for a lovely, non-combative, non-hormonal, sweet, deep conversation with my almost 12 year old daughter this morning.  Precious, indeed.

P.S. and BTW...Trying to be glad about the outcome of the Amazing Race, but good gravy, I really wanted the cowboys to win.  However, it was very fun to hear Big talk about all the places in Shanghai when they were racing there.  Still hard to wrap my mind around the fact that he commutes to China.

GladiThursday

Soundth like I'm lithping...GladiThursday....

Okay...maybe just to me. 

Today, I'm glad for the sting of conviction, and that "because of His great love for me, His compassions never fail--they are new every second morning." (Lam. 3:22-23)

I was a grump last night.  One of my least favorite pasttimes of my Proverbs 31 life ;) is that I loathe making dinner.  Why?  Well...I think first, it's just a bad part of the day for me.  And then?  I don't love planning, but when I do take the time to plan and execute said plan, here's an example of the following which make me feel like riding my broom around the kitchen:

• The girl gets a spontaneous dinner out invitation (from the person driving her home). 
• The boy has a two item repetoire before complaints start in.
• The strong provider has an incredibly dynamic schedule, which may or may not include his presence for dinner.  I may or may not know whether he's dining with us more than 10 minutes before I'm putting dinner on the table.

So, in my angst, I borrowed a plan from one of my parenting mentors, Bill Cosby (and his wife, Camille).  You know the one...it goes something like, "Alright! that's IT!  No one in this family better look at each other or touch each other--AGAIN!".  Only, I substituted:  "I give UP!  I'm never cooking dinner for this family--AGAIN!  Fend for yourselves.  I'm tired of... and I can't believe..." 

Yeah.  Hard to be proud of Spiritual Fruit of that nature.  I know you wish you were part of my family.  Lucky ones.  I am one fount of flexibility.

This week: 

I've been praying.
I've read my Bible.
I've gone to church, gone to choir.
Had plenty of opportunity to be filled with His Spirit, and to choose gentleness, self control, and patience. 
And I failed. 

Somehow, I left His strength in favor of my own, and it was a disaster. But conviction brings confession, and confession brings repentance.  And thankfully, repentance brings forgiveness from a holy God.

I stand in the truth of His grace.  And am so glad about that.  

Lord, create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ps. 51:10).  In Jesus' name. Amen.

GladiTuesday! This-n-That

1.  Glad that gLee returns to television tonight!  Superifically glad that Army Wives started back last Sunday night.
2.  Glad that I own the Star Trek movie. By watching in my bedroom on Monday afternoon, I was able to clean out my closet and dresser, and try on (not glad about the trying on) summer clothes.  Was able to take  two bags to Value Village.  My closet should remain clean b/c there's nothing left in it. :)
3.  Glad that my dtr starts track this week.  She's excited, and I think the exercise will make her feel better about herself, and just plain better overall.  It's hard to be a tweenager.
4.  Glad for finishing my Daniel SAFARI.  What a terrific study.  I learned probably more than I even think I did, and had such a great time hearing others' points of view.  I'm also secretly proud of myself for following through--only because that is such a weakness of mine. 
5.  Speaking of following through...I'm behind on my Bible-in-a-year readings.  BUT...I'm slowly crawling out of the hole.  Trying to focus on each word, rather than "catching up".  Lurved Deuteronomy.  Feels like the Cliffs Notes of the Pentateuch.
6.  Glad for sweet friends' texts, phone calls, and prayers this past week.
7.  Glad that my son is writing his sci-fi book plot-starts.  I swear...it DRIVES ME CRAZY that he doesn't like to write much.  Can you say, "light under a bush"?  Whenever we're talking, he lists a jillion different plausible plot lines.  So, I'm doing what every mean mother does:  I'm making him write in his "novel" at least 15 min every day.  It's sooo good.  Who knows?  Maybe God will open a door.
8.  Glad my daughter cleaned her room.  Amazed that she did it WITHOUT being asked.  Woot.
9.  Gladdisimusly glad that my friend Amber is getting older over the weekend.  Alas, I'll always be older, but she likes to celebrate her special day as much as I like to celebrate mine.  I think we're both 5 years old in our hearts.
10.  Glad that Christmas is only 256 days away!  Maybe if I start now, I'll actually have a homemade gift or two ready to give before the New Year.  I really want to make one of these, in my own style, of course.  My mom made me one, and it's about trashed.  I want my kids to have one to pass down.  Oh, dear.  Guess I have to make 2.

So...what sayeth ye?  What maketh you glad today?

GladiTuesday!

1.  Glad for spring break.  Would I be gladdier if both kids were off at the same time?  You betcha.  But, spring break heralds the downslide towards summer.  And who wouldn't be glad about summer? 

2.  Glad I saw some tulips gettin' ready to bloom!  Also, glad about this.  We won't be real paying citizens because 50% of the family is quite over oooohhhing and aaaahhhing over flowers, but we'll take a long drive, and try to avoid being picked off the highway as we snap a few photos.

3.  Glad a good friend of mine set me straight about ellipsis/ellipses. Apparently, there is a singular AND plural use to the word.  Which freaks me out b/c I thought 3 freakin' dots were plural, anyway. 

4.  Glad that, though I've been behind on the Read With Me program, I have made it thru the books which make me a bit distractible and twitchy.  You all know what they are.  And you know you agree, unless you like thinking about lambs, and goats, and complaining people, Oh My!  Nevertheless, there are treasures (especially when I think about the silly complaining folks...who would ever complain, given all God does for them/her? Ahem.) on each page. 

5.  Glad that my son is enjoying a series of college lectures on ancient world battles.  And so glad that he can do this w/o me. :)

6.  Glad that my dtr had her first slow dance.  And that she told me all about it.  Some may think me crazy, but I actually prayed that someone would ask her to dance.  It feels so good to be asked.

7.  Glad for a week of seeing girlfriends a bit.  I got to have lunch with one and teach her to knit.  She may never forgive me for that.  She's in the I'm.So.Frustrated.I'm.Going.To.Stick.This.Needle. ____________. phase.  I also got to see another lurve of my life for our weekly 6 a.m coffee and then saw her for dinner the same day!  Lest you think I'm wild and crazy, the dinner was in support of the upcoming MS walk in our city.  One of her employees is scheduled to walk.  It was a privilege to eat more than I would (taking one for the team) normally consume to bump up my bill for a great cause. :)

8.  Glad that the official countdown for gLee has begun.  Holla!

9.  Glad that God is sovereign in all situations.  Some of my friends have gotten really hard news this week.  I can only be comforted because I know none of this is a surprise to Him.  And that He is faithful to see us through anything He allows.  I'm clinging to this, actually.

10.  Glad for Passion Week.  Glad that my Father chose me.  Glad that I've learned a wee bit about crucifixion, that I might really grieve for him, as well as celebrate His rising again.  I'll never look at the cross around my neck the same after seeing movies like The Passion of the Christ and hearing our pastor talk of the bloody, inhumane, incredible way that He, who was blameless, suffered for me.  I love you, Jesus.

GladiTuesday! Random Style

1.  Gladdy McGladdicuddy that tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day!  We have a waaay mischievous leprechaun, named Lucky, who really wanted to retire from his visits, but alas...the young girl (11.5) still looks forward to his silly antics, which may include, but aren't limited to:  peeing green in our toilets, pancakes, eggs and milk turned green, and often...green footprints or green writing on the mirror.  And yes...usually "gold" can be found around and about the domicile.

2.  Glad that I'm slowly accepting and getting used to Big's new hours--swing shift (12ish-9 or 10ishp.m.).  Long story, but for the time being, he needs to be more available during Chinese work hours.  Weird--he's already finished with Tue's work, as I type this for autopost on Monday evening.

3.  Glad about watching:  House, Parenthood, and Undercover Boss.

4.  Super gratefully glad that I was able to attend a ladies retreat (with my church) this past weekend.  We stayed at a beautiful place, had beautiful communion with Him and with each other.  And?  I spent too much on a manicure, but enjoyed every paraffin dipped moment of it.

5.  Glad to be reading a new book.  Garden Spells.  Can't wait to get more into it.

6.  Gladdy to help celebrate Mer's and Kellie's 1000 post parties.  woohoo!  I know we share a ton of readers, but if you're not familiar with them, please...GO...Party on, Dudes!

7.  I get to be on worship team this weekend!  Woo and Hoo!

8. Though we seem to have the class drop out, I'm glad that we're getting Annie the Golden Retriever trained in obedience, so she can bring comfort to others as a therapy dog.  Dear Lord, please let her not run for the hills in our next class.

9.  Gladdy for 66 degrees and sunny today.  Holla!

10.  Happy to see both kids out on the trampoline more often (sometimes coercing me to join), and though it cost us all some sleep, I'm so gladdy about the longer days. 

What maketh ye gladd todayeth?

GladiTuesday!

I'm going to do a little something different this week for my glad-fest.  I'm foregoing the usual list style, and am focusing on my husband, Big, who really makes me glad. 

A little while ago, he was in China, he went b'day present shopping for me.  One of the things he has treated me to from his travels over the last 3 years to China is

PEARLS.

I have a lovely white strand, a striking black strand, and on this trip, he wanted to get me some simple stud earrings.  So he did.  And that made me glad.

But...

Since he has brought me, our daughter (her b'stone is pearl), and his mother some pearls, as well as taken some of his friends to this store so that their wives could be very glad,  he is well known and very popular at the local pearl jewelry store.  

In fact, he's so popular that they wanted to take his picture. And give him a gift.

So they did.

And it tickles me...makes me very glad...

because:

"One of these things is not like the (18 million) others".

Outfit disclaimer:  the poor guy was shopping on a Sat. afternoon.  Didn't know his picture would be taken. :)

GladiTuesday!

Well, I'll be honest, peeps...I'm putting on the spring banner b/c I'm trying to cheer myself up this week.  I'm turning 41 on Sunday, and it's sort of a teeny bummer.  Why?  Because it's not 40!   I don't care about getting older (I mean, what's the other option?).  Actually, strike that.  I am now just starting to feel aches and pains when I sleep and what.is.THAT.about?, but overall, I'm fine with the number.  But seriously, how boring is it to say that you're 41?  Plus, there are several folks who just turned 40, and they get to be 40 for a lot longer in 2010 than I did.  Hmph...

But...this is a glad attitude post, so I will not deviate. For I need the glad. :)

10.  I may have already opened my gifts from my in-laws, which might include a gift card here.

9.  'Course they may have also sent me one to go here, to this glad-filled institution of bargains (because I may or may not have mentioned that I am out of cute clothes and will have to start going around naked:

8.  Perhaps the gladdiest part of the week has to do with this:

Big arrives home any minute. 

7.  Glad that my toe-tapping hubby has arranged for us to go to this:

in Seattle on my b'day!  I'm thinking I might need to use a gift card for proper theater attire.

6.  Glad that tis the season for these:

5.  Watching my new friend of a friend on the Q makes my workout go quicker, and what's not to lurve about getting thru a workout anyway you can (so you can have more of #6, above).:

Hi, Albany!  I am not a stalker.

4. Most especially glad about this book.

--so much so, I reviewed it here: 

3.  Glad for my dvr (btw, a b'day present from years' past), so I can keep up with this:

2.  Glad for my children.  They're healthy and growing, and though lately, they've been vexing me more than I'd like, I know that's equal parts hormones (all of ours) and missing their dad.  Truly, I am blessed.

1.  Did I mention my gladness for these?

Blessings on your week!

GladiTuesday! North Carolina Style

Howdy!  Time for a gladitude haiku:

North Carolina

Not bloggy friends, but heart friends

Sharing our stories

I can't really capture my time in NC because, really, it was so normal in some ways, yet so extraordinary in others.  I went from quiet moments to lurvely-lively moments.  All in a blink.  All blessed.  All with a sweetly earned lack of sleep.  I got to watch, and participate.  Rest and receive.  Some memories which make me ever so glad are not limited to, but include:

1.  Sharing (well, I TRIED to share) one of the largest, most delicious bowls of guacamole EVAH on my first night in NC.  LVCG picked me up from the airport, and we high-tailed it here for dinner with the CPQ.  CPQ thought it needed just a wee bit more salt, and I was happy to oblige, but between you and me, I could've rolled around in it like a little pig, and been happy w/or w/o said salt.

2.  She wore a raspbery beret (hand made by my friend, the CPQ):

3.  5 of the most precious children, ever.  Love you, A, G, T, T, and J.  I learned about Star Wars--what I really learned is that I have to ship my boy to both houses to be with hard-to-come-by-around-here Star Wars afficionados. I increased my love of Target whilst taking a "field trip" with everyone--Mr. T. leading the way with his sassy orange walker and his overflowing enthusiasm for all things the big, red Bull's Eye has to offer.  Sweet G, the only girl in the pack of testosterone, took me aside and told me, "You're beautiful, Miss Gretchen.".  I should've immediately said, "Thank you!", but instead, I thought I hadn't heard her correctly, and said, "What?"  And then I found my manners and a lump in my throat and said, "Thank you!". She's almost small enough for me to tuck into my carry-on.  And I might've, if her mom wasn't watching.  Ahem.  Of course, if you read this, you know she might've been lost forever if I had done that. ;)

4.  Dinner and wine with LVCG, wherein she made a fabulous soup, and we had fabulous wine (from WA), and we just...hung.out. Literally.  Because we changed into our jammies.  Being that you can never have enough of a good thing...we also made us some more guacamole. 

5.  Seeing Duke Chapel was so amazing.  Stupid funny story about myself...I saw this, and wondered when/why the church had started using Greek symbols.  And whatever could they mean?

I know...DUH.  I should not be allowed to raise children, nor own and operate a car.

6.  I met Kona-the-Wonder-Mutt.  And of course I had to text pics back to my dog-loving children at home.

Kona's the perfect dog for my kids.  She's somebody else's responsibility.  They loved her.

7.  Bloggy friends lunch...So nice to visit with Gretchen of the East, the Yarn Whisperer, and the Mother of Squishy Baby Girl (and 3 other sweet past-their-squishy-stage kiddos).  And the food was to die for.  I even had sweet tea, since I'm Southern and all, now.  I happen to be the only one w/o a picture of that day, but I'm sure one of them will come by, read this, and feel appropriately guilted enough to send me one.  Don't you hate it when folks have problems with passive-aggression?  Seriously. 

8.  I heard "yes, ma'am."

9.  I got to simply SEE things...like where LVCG goes to church.  Where CPQ's boys go to school.  Etc.

10.  I stretched my palate, and ate lamb, falafel, and the best carrot cake ever. Well, the carrot cake wasn't a stretch.  But the other two were, and they were delish.

Yes...I am blessed.  Would lurve to have you join in, either in the comments or on your blog and tell me what gladifies you today.

GladiTuesday!

Okay...I've been a little wordy, as of late, and that's not all bad...but today for a change of pace...I thought I would use as many ellipses as possible I thought I'd give you 10 pictures which make me glad.  No particular order.  No particular deep thinking.  Just me looking and picking and smiling.  Hope they make you smile today, too.  'Cause we need a little smile here and there these days, no?

Circa 1st and 3rd grade for him and her. 

Olympic Game Farm:  Lurve from a buffalo.  Makes sense that my husband would like to have a nice kiss from a buffalo--he went to CU-Boulder.

Baby Annie--who is now 4 and tipping the scales at 100 lbs. But she's still that cute.  And so is D, btw. :)

Maui, 2009

Humpback whale.

MT, 2009  Lake McDonald (brrrr).

MT, 2009.  Yes, that'd be my rear, front and ctr. :)

It's becoming evident that I love my family, and we love animals.  What I don't love about this picture is the mascara running down my face.  But whatever.

Island Girls:  Visit 8/09

Oh!  I guess I do have dance experience.  1977/1978

 

First grade.  Guess why my hair is short?  That's right.  It used to be down to my waist (like all good '70s girls), and then...I.cut.it.  This was the "save".  But at least I'm stylin' a necklace, some earrings, and my St. Pepper wannabe jacket.

prom, 1985.  We haven't changed a bit.

GladiTuesday!

I don't know about you, but sometimes it's easy for me to get mired down in the have-tos and shoulds of life.  Sometimes, here in Seattle, it seems like one rainy day just runs into another.  So you know what?  I am so deliciously glad that on each Tuesday, I get to pause, reflect, and give thanks--have a glad attitude--for blessings both big and small.  Please feel free to join along on your own blog or in the comments.  Nothing spreads joy like joy.

10.  Glad for books.  I have really enjoyed trying to focus more on reading, and am on my 6th book (The Real Grey's Anatomy, by Andrew Holtz)this year.  When I'm finished, I'll review it here.  Glad for the goal set of 50 books this year. 

9. Glad for prayer.  It's been my privilege to pray for others this week, for:  unexpected or ongoing health issues, for jobs to replace those which were lost, or more satisfaction within current jobs, for pregnancies and births, for Haiti, for safety of loved ones, for peace, strength, comfort, longsuffering.  For joy.  What a privilege it is to place at the throne and KNOW that He hears and answers each prayer.

8.  Glad to witness the courage and perseverance of my child on skis.  2 private lessons later, he is still not able to safely get on/off the lift.  Truth be told, I don't know how the third lesson will play out. But he's trying something new.

7.  Glad to witness growth in confidence in my daughter.  She has struggled with math f.o.r.e.v.e.r., or even longer.  She was so encouraged by her teacher's suggestion that she join the more challenging math group, and we are both encouraged that by 99% her own steam, our prayers, and Big's help, she's holding an 88.6% average. 

6.  While I'm bragging on her, I'll just continue.  She auditioned for a role in our church's children's theater performance for the spring.  Last year she was one of the principal leads.  This year she wanted to try out again, even though she realized that it might not be "her turn" to lead again.  Well, I'm so proud that she tried out, anyway.  Proud also that her drama ministry leader took her aside and offered her a junior director position.  It's as if he knew that she might need a little more to chew on this year, so he offered it to her.  This program in general makes me gladdy.  All kids K-6 learn to act and all the parts of a play--and the best part is, each part of this process, including the play itself, is Christ-honoring.

5.  Glad for American Idol auditions.  Even though I now know they're a bit "fixed."  Yes.I.Am.Naive.

4.  Glad to be in my 2nd month of reading the Bible in a year.  It's so unlike me to follow thru that it MUST be a God thing. :)

3.  Glad for grunt work, sometimes.  Been cleaning out cupboards and desks and crap craft areas.  Oh, how I loathe this.  But puttin' on a little K-Love and/or watching a Hulu episode of Emergency! usually puts me in the cleaning groove.

2.  Like my friend, T., I find that Target makes me all kinds of glad.  Even purchasing laundry soap is more attractive when I can hop over to the make up/new book/furniture sections.  Speaking of T, I get to meet him, his strapping young buck brothers, and some other groovy kids who belong to my favorite coffeegal when I go to NC in TWO WEEKS. 

1. Humility makes me glad.  My grandmother, whom I dearly love, recently watched our Christmas Dessert Theater performance on DVD.  When I asked her how she liked it, she said, "Oh, Honey, I liked it fine.  I think I really liked the second half better, though.".  That's nice.  I'm in the 2nd act for one whole minute.  ;O)