The Moments we Lose

I have been thinking on this subject since the week of Thanksgiving, but have been so busy with work and moving and life that the time has escaped me.

It all started the week of Thanksgiving when I heard on the radio how stores were moving Black Friday sales up to start on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. I was shocked and saddened by this report. Holidays have a way of bringing out the stress in each of us and to top it all off there are hoards of people who can’t wait to leave the family feast to fight the crowds for the “best deal in town”.

I prefer to shop online. I can find exactly what I am looking for and never have to deal with the crowds. I talked to my husband about the craziness of what has become the busiest shopping season of the year, and he tells me that if that’s what the stores are doing then so be it.

But I think whether you choose to shop at this new, earlier hours is your choice. However, the stores are creating a new holiday tradition, that instead of Thanksgiving for all the bounty we have, it’s a consumer’s madhouse that makes us drop all fronts of thankfulness to unadulterated, blood-thirsty shopping freaks.

Every year you hear the stories of tragedy that befalls someone in the mad rush for the doors. Where is the holiday cheer that should abound? Then you have some who will literally camp out in front of the store for days before a sale because they just have to have the best price they can find on something that probably don’t even need. No family time for them on Thanksgiving, unless they had family time in the line waiting outside the Best Buy.

Speaking of need, there is a lot of talk about “I need that” or “I’ve got to have that”. What is our need truly? We live in a country where there is very little that we need. Man has basic needs for survival and then we have wants. Yes, I love to shop and get new things, but I look around lately and think to myself how much we have and how little we need.

I don’t wish for world peace. I wish for a people to realize the blessings they have right in front of them, to be thankful for the little things and the big things and for the holiday season to be a Merry Christmas for all!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness

This month I am posting 30 Days of Thankfulness. While I believe we should be thankful everyday, November is a month of Thanksgiving. Check back for daily updates on the things I am thankful for. Leave a comment why you are thankful.

Day #30 – Today I am thankful for the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. We turned our keys in last night and now can start the unpacking and organization of the new house. ♥ the space, ♥ the neighborhood, ♥ the opportunity!!!

Day #29 – Today I am thankful for clear skies. I know the rain is coming but the weather this morning was great as I was getting in the car and driving to work. I like the cold, but not the wet.

Day #28 – Today I am thankful for the love and support of my family.

Day #27 – Today I am thankful for cold medication and cough drops that numb my throat.

Day #26 – Today I am thankful for strong water pressure.

Day #25 – Today I am thankful for strong cleaning products.

Day #24 – Today I am thankful for NKOTB…Madalyn has already made 4 new friends in the new ‘hood and we haven’t even moved in yet. 🙂

Day #23 – Today I am thankful for quiet time I had today with just Eva, while Chris was at work and Madalyn was with Nana, Papa and Grandma.

Day #22 – Today I am thankful for technology which allows me to reach our and stay connected to friends near and far. Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

Day #21 – Today I am thankful for life’s ups-and-downs. Even in the midst of the the chaos there is peace in knowing who holds my tomorrow.

Day #20 – Today I am thankful for my sisters…not just Connie this time, but Katie, Brittany and the other sister Mindy as well. They are wonderful sisters, each in their own way and I am blessed to call them mine. I’ve already covered Connie in an earlier post, so today I get to tell you why I am thankful for the others, although one post is much too short to say all there is to say. For Katie, I am thankful for the long talks we have shared over the years, the adventures we have taken together and the times we can spend together, although they are few and far between the older we get. For Brittany, I am thankful that she is part of our family. Losing my position as the youngest child was an easy sacrifice to make to have a sister like Britt. And to my other sister, Minnie, who may be “just my cousin”, she is as close to me as my other sisters. She has shared my life, my room and my adventures since the early years and I am thankful for her and miss her very much since she left me to move to WA for her next adventure. I love you all!!!

Day #19 – Today I am thankful a short work week.

Day #18 – Today I am thankful for Sunday naps.

Day #17 – Today I am thankful for the quiet time I can enjoy after my girls have gone to bed and Chris is still at work. Been a very busy day but now I am watching the movie RENT.

Day #16 – Today I am thankful that Madalyn gets to share her learning goal in front of the entire school. I won’t be there but her Daddy and sister will be there cheering her on. Way to go Madalyn!!!!

Day #15 – Today I am thankful for the excitement of my children. To see their faces get bright and happy over sometimes the littlest things, is enough to be thankful for. Madalyn can be thankful and excited over many things that may seem like not a big deal. But to her it is! And Eva gets excited every time mom or dad gets home. She can barely contain herself. Such a blessing to see them happy and excited!

Day #14 – Today I am thankful for my grandparents, Les & Inez. Through thick-and-thin they have been married for 66 years. Pop is a man of integrity who has been a living example of God’s goodness in our family. And Gram, through it all loves each of us in her own way. She’s a fighter and I love her very much! They have been a great support to me my entire life and so blessed to have them in my life.

Day #13 – Today I am thankful for sore muscles. We have painted 5 out of the last 7 days and my body is tired and I have sore muscles, but it means we are one step closer to moving into our new home.

Day #12 – Today I am thankful for the resources we have to accomplish the things on our to-do list.

Day #11 – Today I am thankful for life.

Day #10 – Today I am thankful for friends. Today Jennifer and Ashley came over to spend time with Eva so we could paint at the other house. Right now they are on a walk so I could finally shower today. Thank you!!!!

Day #9 – Today I am thankful for a happy baby who, even with a black eye and a cold is still happy and all smiles!!

Day #8 – Today I am thankful for having a place of employment where I look forward to coming to work. I’ve worked here for over 12 years and even though I’d rather be sleeping right now, I’m thankful to have a job!

Day #7 – Today I am thankful for God’s timing. We were told yesterday we could start painting at the new house and then we got a check in the mail to cover the cost of paint. Madalyn’s room is almost done. 🙂

Day #6 – Today I am thankful for the right to vote. I voted by mail last week, but still thankful that we live in a country where we have the right to cast our vote. Regardless of who wins or what passes, we as a collective nation have the opportunity to have a voice in the direction of our country and state.

Day #5 – Today I am thankful for my sister Connie…yes, you read that right. Today is her birthday and so I honor her with my thankfulness. We may not have always gotten along, but now we do. She is usually willing to help out with the girls when we need it and she opens her home so willingly to other people. I will always remember the time I was in the hospital…and there are a lot of yucky details here, but she let me use her brush to get the yuck out of my hair. She may not have realized it at the time, but I sure thought that was nice of her. 🙂 Happy Birthday Connie!

Day #4 – Today I am thankful for an extra hour last night. Even though my girls were up at 6 am this morning we were rested and got a lot done before church.

Day #3 – Today I am thankful for my husband and best friend, Chris…he has made my life better and is the best partner I could imagine for raising our girls. I love you!!!

Day #2 – Today I am thankful for my parents, Les and Kathie who have supported me through all the years and still watch Eva weekly and usually will watch the girls at a moments notice. I love you both!

Day #1 – today I am thankful for my wonderful in-laws, Ray and Rose who came and stayed with us the last 5 days and allowed Chris Riley and myself a lot of freedom to work with the Haunted House at church, as well as clean our house and do our laundry.