Thursday Thankfuls #4-Thanksgiving Style!!

So how cool is it that on my Thursday Thankful list, it also gets to be Thanksgiving! The day that people all over the country gather around tables and celebrate all of the blessings they have received!

Today, Brian's family gathered around my table, which was a special treat for me! I decided that since I'm hosting, I would cook the meal, Long Family style, just like my grandmother. Then Brian decided he wanted to roast a goose (random, I know, he's been talking about it for two years, he had to do it today!). So, all except goose, we had a San Antonio Thanksgiving! Everything turned out perfect, and we all ate too much! And to top it all off, the COWBOYS WON!! It is a good day! I hope that each and every one of you had a blessed holiday today, complete with good food, family and football! And so, without further ado, my Thanksgiving Day Thankful list.

1. Being sick. Brian and I both got really sick this weekend and have been feeling AWFUL all week. But the good part was that we got sick together! So we literally spent 5 straight days laying around and being together.

2. Kleenex. We ran out and had to use toliet paper and paper towels. Ouch. Enough Said.

3. Infertility. Seriously, you ask? And don't get me wrong. I would much rather be getting my little one ready for bed right now rather than typing about it. But my infertility has changed my life in so many ways. It has brought me into new relationships that I would not have had before. It has brought Brian and me closer together than we have ever been. It has taught me patience like nothing else could have. Waiting for my time of the month, waiting to test to ovulate, waiting to ovulate, waiting for my time of the month...for 24 straight months. And it has not been easy. But through this time of waiting and growing, God has brought me close. It has been in those moments of fear, desperation, extreme sadness and pain that I have cried out to God and he has met me there, calling out to me, "Further still, sweet one".

4. My Nanny. I love my Nanny for so many different reasons, she's loving, she's funny, she's always worried and wondering how everyone is doing (which is a lot of worrying since there's over 40 people in her immediate family). Nanny's also old school. She uses her dishwasher to STORE dishes, not wash them. She only washes things by hand. Which, after cooking for over 40 people, can add up to a lot of dishes. But she's always taught me about living simply and though doing things the hard way sometimes is a little slower, it gives you time to spend with each other (side by side, washing and drying, taking turns grinding ingredients by hand). I love watching her cook. She always gets really excited when she gets to cook for all of us and she's really good at it too. And it is from years of watching her cook and learning at her side, along with learning from my mom and all my aunts, I was able to cook most of the meal today from memory, something I thought I was incapable of doing.

5. My Jesus. When I think about what I was doing last year at this time, I realize I had no idea what was in store for me up ahead. The one thing that has not changed at all has been Christ. I am so thankful he lived and died on this Earth, and I'm so thankful for the special relationship we share that just gets better every day.

Thursday Thankfuls #3

Here's my list for today:

1. Buttercream and Pumpkin Pie candles from Yankee Candle Company
2. A fire in our fireplace
3. My sweet husband snoring on the couch. He took off tomorrow so we could move into my NEW OFFICE!!
4. Heather and Cami for my awesome new bag with Agape Family Center embroidered on the front.
5. A visit from a couple of elders at our church here in Granbury. We were able to learn about some exciting ways to get involved and are so happy to finally feel like we are becoming apart of our new church family.

A side note, please pray for our friends Joe and Rachel. We have struggled virtually side by side with our infertility for the past two years. They have attempted invitro fertilization twice. One ended in miscarriage around the time we lost our sweet baby. The second one, though they were celebrating a pregnancy for two weeks, has also ended in miscarriage. Please lift them up as waves of desperation and hopelessness are crashing upon them.

Clean my Closet

I was reading in our book tonight from my Wednesday night Psalms of Ascent class. I came across I Peter 5:5-7 and it really called out to me.
"Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxieties on him because he cares for you."
I feel like humility has always been something I've struggled with, I think most oldest children do. But this isn't just talking about being humble with others, but being most importantly, humble towards God. In doing so, I believe that God is actually more powerful and adept at solving my problems and handling my circumstances than I am. Though, he will lift me up in his due time, (which could be soon, or not until eternity), I am called to give my concerns, my cares, everything to him.
This is difficult to swallow for me because I feel like I've worked hard trying to iron out my future. I have plans. But, as in lots of things, my plans don't always seem to coincide with God's plans. It has been a humiliating process to gradually start handing things over to him. I'm still working on it. But I think the thing I've learned most of all is that God is actually big enough to take on everything of mine: the fabulous, the junk and everything in between.
It's like I'm this little kid that's been asked to clean out my closet. First of all, I would rather be playing outside or doing something fun, so I'm already upset I have to go through it at all. Second, there is some really gross stuff in my closet: old food wrappers, dirty clothes, who knows what that is in the corner over there....Third, there's some really great stuff in there I don't want to give away, stuff that even though I don't use it and it's not necessarily good for me, I'm so attached to it, I can't bear the thought to part with it.
But God's standing in the hallway knocking on my bedroom door with the trash bags, waiting to take everything from me. Ready to clean out this cluttered, dirty mess and give me a clean start.

Thursday Thankfuls #2

Well, it's almost Thursday. I'm syncing my new IPHONE (happy birthday to me...) and while all 2050 songs are loading, I've got some time to kill...So, here's my list for this week:

1. My new IPHONE! After playing with the Kennedy Iphones this weekend, I looked into getting one, just for fun. I found out for $20 less a month than what I was paying at Verizon (without internet) I could get an Iphone with internet and texting. So, I did it. I'm sooo impulsive, but as of yet, haven't regretted it for a second! It freaking rocks!

2. Airplanes, especially the one that is taking me to Becca tomorrow.

3. Brian for holding down the homefront (and hopefully doing some cleaning before small group on Sunday night) while I'm gone. He loves me and my friends so much and is so great for letting me love on them, even if that means I don't get to love on him for a few days.

4. Doc called yesterday and I ovulated this month! (TMI ALERT!) Aunt Flo did come to visit today, but I'm so thankful that two months after the miscarriage my body is already getting back to normal, and maybe even more normal than it has ever been! Keep praying, hopefully baby Tindell will be just around the corner...

5. My mom! Today (well, Thursday), is her birthday! My mom is one of the most loving people I know. She is always awesome at remembering birthdays, anniversaries, complete with cards and gifts. She is thoughtful, smart, funny, friendly and sweet. Mom always makes it very clear that her kids are most important besides her God and her husband. I can't wait to come see you in a month and I'm so happy you were born today! I love you so much Mom and hope that you have a wonderful, exciting, fabulous birthday today!!! :)

Waise the Woof!!

This weekend we went to Austin to hang out with the Kennedys! It was so much fun! I've been there a few times this year, but Brian hadn't been back since we spent New Years with them. We had a total blast! The girls attached onto Brian, which he was just a big softie for them. Mindy and I laughed at how he's going to be a big mushy puddle if he ever has any daughters!

Brian and Mackenzie

We hung out at their house on Friday night, complete with pizza, porch time and go fish! Before the kids went to bed, we played a few hundred rounds of go fish-kennedy style. After I got the hang of the rules, it was so much fun! Of course, everyone won, which resulted in a "raise the roof", which the girls called "waise the woof". It was hilarious!

Saturday we were really busy. After a bowl of Captain Crunch Berries and some episodes of XMEN from the 80s, we were out and about. We went to Red Lobster for lunch, which, shockingly, is one of Dylan's (one of the pickiest eaters I know) favorite restaurants. The kids loved looking at the lobsters in the tank and decided they were all boys since none of them were pretty.

After Red Lobster, we went for a shopping extravaganza all over Austin. The boys went to a cigar shop, Mindy got to experience the wonder of Francescas and we went to a play therapy store in south Austin.

Once we got home, Brian wanted to make hot tea, and the kids decided that even though they've never had it, it sounded like something they should have too. So Brian made one cup of hot tea for the kids, who said it tasted like hot water. Since we drained the last of the milk with our Crunch Berries that morning, Brian then proceeded to sweeten it with sprinkles. So, even though they thought it tasted incredible, it looked like a black gooey mess. Yummm...it was really cute though because they were so into making hot tea, which unless you live in Europe, is pretty much a grown up drink.

If you look closely, you can see the yummy goodness of "sweet hot tea"

Saturday night the boys made some mean fajitas and Mindy made some tasty margaritas and we had another porch night of talking and laughing.

Sunday was church, which I love watching the kiddos singing. Mackenzie sat next to me and grabbed my hand several times while we were singing. So cute! After a yummy lunch at Chilis, and the kids were down for their nap, Mindy and I headed to High School Musical 3!! I don't know why the boys didn't want to go, it was classic greatness and horrible cheesiness all in one and I can't wait to see it again!

We had so much fun this weekend and are so blessed to have such great friends. Brian and I talked on the way home how great it is that Brian grew up with Brandon and after almost 10 years of friendship with both of them, we are still so close, even though we don't see each other all of the time. Every time we get together it is like no time has passed at all. I'm so happy that my kids are going to have the Kennedy kids to show them the ropes and hang out with, even though Brandon can't wait to get back at us for making their kids crazy every time we get together. We love you guys so much and can't wait to see you again!

Here's some more pictures from the weekend:

Me and Madison

Brian and Dylan
Old BFFs rock! (Notice Kenzie grabbing onto my jeans during the picture. It was so sweet. Love that kid.)

Mommy and Mackenzie (otherwise known as Mommy and Mini-Mommy)

Thursday Thanksgivings (even tho it's Friday)

Thursdays are shaping up to be my favorite day. Not only are my most favorite shows on Thursday night, but at 10 in the morning I attend a ladies' Bible study with some of the girls in my class. It has been such a blessing learning from and getting to know all of these women. Penny, our group leader has been doing a series on how to pray, envisioning a garden of prayer with everything we could include. One of the parts of the garden is the Bridge of Appreciation.

This is where we turn to God and thank him for all of the blessings he is doing in our life.

I have heard it said to me so many times throughout the last couple of years that thanking God for his bountiful blessings will help turn my mourning into dancing. And it's true. I find myself able to be joyful when I can thank him for any little or big thing that is going on around me. And when I am not thanking him, I get so self-consumed with my own pain, I am not that great of a wife, a friend, a Christian, well you get the idea. So I have decided to set a goal and post at least 5 specific things every week I am grateful for. This is really for my own benefit to look back onto when I get weepy or selfish. But I hope that it encourages you to begin thinking about your blessings as well!

So here's my thankful list for yesterday!!

1. Brian: he took off today and is cooking me eggs with cheese and pancakes!
2. Cell phones: Wednesday was my birthday and I think I was on the phone for a good 6 hours, texting and talking to my loved ones.
3. Gas at $1.92 a gallon
4. My car and the ability to travel wherever and whenever I want to. Like today, we are leaving to spend the weekend in Austin with the Kennedys!!!
5. Chicken Madeira and Chocolate Coconut Cheesecake with my sister before a day of shopping and talking on my birthday

My very own Jordan Knight

Saturday night we had our Bible class's 80's costume party. I've been looking forward to this for weeks, Brian, on the other hand, dreaded it for weeks. And of course, his lack of choice in costume, allowed me to choose for him. I still had spare 80's stuff from the New Kids concert. So, I brilliantly decided that he should go as Jordan Knight (consequently my fave New Kid), and I would go as his groupie. I got him all dressed up in his duds and took his picture, then printed those pics and put them into buttons. They turned out great! Here's some pics of me and my very own Jordan Knight. (I think he really had fun, AND we won the most creative costume award!! Whoohoo!)

Our group pic, you can barely see me, but oh well!

I can't help myself, he's sooo hot!!

My very own Jordan Knight

He really got into it!

My buttons

Okay, I love this man. And let me tell you why. In the last five years in our marriage, I've seen him triumph and fail. But nothing has stopped him from loving me and loving our God. He is constantly acting as the spiritual leader in our family, which I appreciate so much. He tells me he loves me constantly, scratches my back every night before I go to sleep and is working very hard to support me in starting my private practice. This month has been hard for several different reasons, and today it kind of culminated with me bawling. I see now that our relationship has gotten so strong because he just held me while I cried, he didn't try to fix it or tell me that I shouldn't be upset. He is my very best friend, he is my most trusted confidant, my sweet husband. Today I realized that God has blessed me with the one person who will never judge me, will always consider me first, will always be there for me and no matter who comes and goes, will be steadfast in his devotion to me. I love my man!!