Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 19

Today, I am thankful for the love that David has for our family. He is always there to take care of our every need.

It breaks my heart when I see parents who do not respect or show love to their children.

There is a special 20 year old in our life, whose father is this way. This young man is so very sweet and is a "good kid" (So many, aren't!), but his father simply doesn't see it. It breaks my heart. David is more of a father to this young man, than his own father is!

I wanted to write and VENT about my feelings concerning this so-called "father", but I have decided not to. There's no point.

I am just so thankful that my girls have a father that loves them and would go to the ends of the earth to make sure they had what they needed.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 18

Today, I am thankful to be able to work out at the gym again!

I used to go to the gym 3 times a week, but when I lost my job a little over a year ago, it was something that I had to give up because of the cost. It was $34 a month, which may not sound like a lot... but, to someone without a salary.... it IS a lot!

I kept up with my exercising at home for a while. After Christmas, we bought a Wii game system and also the "Wii Fit" program for it.

I started a new job in January, and there for a while, I had a really good routine down and was working out frequently with the Wii. I also rode my bike a couple times a week for several miles. I was doing good until Summer arrived and I lost my routine and... with the heat.... I also lost my motivation!

This Fall, I have tried and tried to get my routine back, but have failed for whatever reason.

Recently, I noticed a billboard for a different gym in town that promised a "month-to-month", no contract membership for $19.95. I have kept that in my brain for several weeks now and finally decided to go "inquire" about it, yesterday.

Of course, they tried to sell me the $30.00 a month / 2 yr contract membership.... but, I stuck to my guns and walked out with the membership that I came for! **Smile**

No. I don't get to go to the "classes" or visit their "other" gyms.. but, that's not what I'm interested in anyway. I just want a place that... #1 - I can afford! ... and #2 - I can go in, do my workout, and leave.

Yes. I did debate whether or not I could really afford the $19.95 a month, but I figured that I could cut back on my spending some (because we ALL know how quickly $20 gets spent!! Right??), then I shouldn't have any problem affording it.

I also started panicking this past weekend about the holidays coming up and how much food I will be surrounded with!!! YIKES!! I already know of TWO parties that I will be attending! They're fun, but.... where there's a party... there's also FOOD!!

So, I am hoping that going to the gym as often as I can during these "food-filled-holidays", then it will help! It's got to!! It sure can't hurt!!

And the Blog Awards go to....

Yesterday, I was blessed with this award --

According to the rules of this award... The FIRST thing that I must do is to pass this award along to 3 blogging friends that I feel deserve such a "sweet" award. It's a difficult choice, because I read and follow so many "sweet" and wonderful blogs!! But, I have given it some thought and have chosen 3 sweet people who have often commented on my blog and said some very "sweet" things. (I thank you for that!!)

The first sweet friend that I have chosen is --- drum roll, please..... Susan over at Kard Corner Krib. I love Susan's style of writing and how she is constantly adding new pictures and info to her blog. There is always something new to look at and read! She has also commented on my blog many times and is always so very "sweet". 

The second sweet friend is Evy over at Yes They Are All Mine. Evy is such a "sweet" lady and I love reading about her family and her life. I have been praying for Evy's mother who has been ill, to which I can relate to, being that my mother is not well, either. Evy has also commented on my blog several times and said some very "sweet" things.

And the third sweet friend is Heather over at Mrs. C's Life. Heather is a newlywed and I love reading about her young married life. She blogs about yummy recipes that she is trying out and other fun stuff! Heather is so very "sweet" and often comments on my blog. I appreciate that!

The SECOND thing that I must do, upon receiving this award, is to name 5 indulgences that I enjoy!! So.... I've given this some thought and I came up with a list. It was harder than I thought!!

1) STARBUCK'S COFFEE - I don't get it very often, but I really enjoy their "Tall, Skinny, Vanilla, Latte'".

2) BIKING AT CALLAWAY GARDENS - I don't do this as often as I would like to, but I truly enjoy cruising the bike trails there! I usually make a morning of it and stop along the way (several times!) and enjoy the beauty that surrounds me.

3) CHILL YOGURT SHOP - This is a little shop that opened in town this past summer. They have the most delicious flavors of frozen yogurts!! Many of them are "non-fat" and "low-fat". It is a fun place to go for a yummy treat!

4) McDONALD'S CARAMEL FRAPPE' - This is a frozen coffee treat that's yummy!! I don't normally don't like frozen coffee drinks, but one week... McDonald's was having a sale on their Frappe's, so I decided to try the caramel one. It sounded good... and it WAS!!!

5) SITTING BY THE CAMPFIRE - This is my favorite thing to do when we go camping! I love all things about it --- sitting talking to friends, cuddling up to David, reading a good book (or magazine), or roasting marshmallows and making smore's. It's all fun and relaxing!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 17

Today, I can't help but be thankful for my first BLOG AWARD that I recieved today!

I pretty much thanked my friend "Thisisme" in my previous post, which you can read -- HERE. But, I will thank her again.....

THANK YOU!!   THANK YOU!!   THANK YOU!!

How fun and what a surprise it was to wake up to this morning!

My First Blog Award!!!

I'm SO EXCITED!!! I just recieved my very first Blog Award!!!! My sweet blogger friend "Thisisme", from - Southhamsdarling gave me this award! She is such a precious & sweet lady who lives in Devon, United Kingdom (hope I wrote that right!).

She and I are forming quite a "bond across the pond", as we seem to have a lot in common. I am enjoying reading her blog so very much! Her posts make me laugh and cry.

I also appreciate the fact that she responds to almost ALL of my posts. That means a lot to me! - THANK YOU!

Now, from reading her blog.... I, in turn, need to pass on this award to 3 deserving blogger friends and also list 5 indulgences that I enjoy!! -- I think the 5 indulgences will be the easy part!! **Smile**

Let me give this some thought, and I'll get back to you in my next post! Hope you have a great day!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 16

Today, I am thankful all the small things that make my "every day life" easier and a bit more fun!

Of course, there are many to choose from so I'm just going to write about the first things that pop into my mind!

Let's see... I am thankful for my automatic coffee pot that helps me to make my yummy coffee each morning! It's not one of those big, fancy ones, but it does the job just the same.

I am thankful for my laptop computer, even though I am using a "makesift" one right now because the screen died on my other one! This one works, but the screen has to be "propped up". The henges are broken and if it is not propped up, it will fall! Therefore... I do not shut it OR move it! It has to stay right where it is. But... I am still grateful that I have one.

I am thankful for my cell phone. I love being able to be reached wherever I am and to be able to call from wherever I am. My phone is not one of those fancy ones that does all of those fancy things -- although, technically... it "could", I just don't have it set up for all of that. I do find it amazing that cell phones are like little mini computers, now! WOW!! I do "text" on mine and I do take pictures with it, but beyond that... it is just used as a phone. I will admit that there are times when having the internet on my phone would be very helpful!

I am thankful for my microwave oven. They are wonderful for heating things up and even for cooking! I am sure, as I was growing up, my mom would have loved to have had one of these! She loved to cook and to bake. I use mine every day. It's amazing how they have become such a valued appliance in our kitchens!

Well, I could continue this list, but I think I might save some for another day. Perhaps tomorrow. We'll see.

What are some things that you use everyday that make your life more simple and fun??

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Days 12-15

Today, as I catch up on the days that I missed, I am thankful for many things. First, I am thankful to have a such a wonderful State Park and campground so close to my house. We drive only about 45 minutes to get there and it feels like we are a hundred miles away from home! The state park that I am speaking of is Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park. We go camping there, every chance that we get.

For some reason.... blogger is not cooperating and will not place my paragraphs where I would like them to be! So, please forgive me for the above paragraph being out of whack!

Here's a photo of our campsite. Our camper is the one with the University of Georgia flag on it. This weekend was the "big game" between UGA and Auburn. It has become a tradition for us to camp with a group of friends for this game.

Second... I am thankful for the beauty that God provides for us in the Fall leaves. This year, they seem to be especially bold and bright in color! I was afraid that they might not be, because of the dry summer that we had. But, they really are breathtaking!!

Third.... I am thankful for friends that like to play board games! I am a HUGE board game fan and I am a happy girl when I find friends that want to play, too! I brought several games for this camping trip, but this one was the only one that got played. It's called "Aggrevation". It just so happens to be a game that I grew up playing while on camping trips with my family! What great memores!

Fourth.... I am thankful for dogs that come back when you call them! We took our dogs on a hike and David decided to let them off of their leashes so that they could run. I am terrified of losing my dogs, but thankfully... they came back each time that we called them! In fact they seemed to make it a game to see who could get back to us the fastest!

Fifth.... I am thankful that we were able to watch the UGA game on TV while we were camping! We could only get just a few channels and the channel that we needed, was one of them!! Whew!! (See the TV, just below the UGA flag?) It was a small one, but that was ok!

Here are some more photos from our camping trip this past weekend.

My boys -- Jackson & Chester. **Smile**

We almost stepped on this guy as we were hiking!

Hiking

I love this picture of Jackson! This was one of those times when the "boys" had run ahead, and we were calling them back. -- Just call him "Bat Dog"!

David plays "Washer Toss" with some friends.

Miranda and her childhood best friend -- Elizabeth. She was happy to be able to spend a little bit of time together with her. They go to different colleges and don't get to see each other often, any more.

(You can see that we were playing "Aggrevation" again! **Smile**)

My girls. Miranda is an Auburn fan and Ashley is a Georgia fan.

Nope, we have't quite figured that one out yet!

Now, it's the GIRLS turn to play "Washer Toss". (My team won!)

My beautiful, Ashley.

My handsome, David.

Sadly, the DAWGS (UGA Bulldogs) lost to the undefeated, Auburn.

Hoping for better luck next year.

We had a great weekend, just the same!

*** I think I added one extra day of thankfulness into this post! Oops!! That's ok.