Catching Up and Thankful

I figured today was a good day to catch up on things!  (Side note…I actually wrote this on Sunday and I’m just now getting to the point where I can type it out and get it posted!)  I’ve been wanting to write all week but honestly, this cough I’ve had has zapped me of all energy!  But I feel like I’m coming to the end of it…at least I’m hoping that’s the case.  THANK GOODNESS!  I was extremely thankful this morning (**again, this was written yesterday…Sunday) that it was much better than yesterday so I could actually sing and enjoy worship this morning at church.

Life is still a little busy for me these days.  It’s mainly work that keeps me busy but I’m not going to complain about that.  I love my job.  And in this economy, I’m very thankful to have a job, let alone actually love it!  Not everyone can say that.  The end of the year is always busy because of the holidays.  We’re in the middle of our Celebrating Home fundraiser.  We’re doing a Breakfast with Santa fundraiser in a few weeks.  We have our Christmas program.  Then there’s our staff Christmas party.  Our final board meeting of the year is coming up as well.  Plus all of our normal end of the year stuff.  If you add that to all of just life’s normal everyday busyness from this time of year, it’s just plain busy!  But that’s ok.  I love this time of year.  I put in my Christmas music and throw on a holiday headband and just enjoy it!  (And yes, even though my rule is not to start listening to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, I gave in and have been listening the last few days!) 

Just in case I wasn’t busy enough, I’m also moving.  Yeah, you could say I’m crazy.  I’m ok with that really because that’s how I feel!  This was a hard decision for me.  I love my apartment (as most of you long time readers know).  It’s part of a duplex so I’m not living amongst tons of people.  My landlords are amazing and right next door.  I’ve been here a little over two years and I’ve loved every minute of it.  And let’s talk about my deck…LOVE IT!!!  But it was time for a change.  I never imagined I would find a place quickly but I did.  Still an apartment but in a quiet area.  Back off of the street so I won’t be hearing constant traffic.  A little more room.  And I can have a dog!!!  Plus, the landlord seems genuinely nice from the few times we’ve spoken and met.  I just made my final decision to move last week and I’m moving on the 30^th.  Again, you could say I’m crazy!  But I didn’t want to move in December for several reasons.  One reason being the weather and the cold.  Another reason being that’s it’s just so busy (as I pointed out earlier).  Plus I LOVE putting up Christmas decorations and if I was moving in the middle of December, it would have been pointless for me to put the decorations up in either apartment just to turn around and take them right back down (it’s already killing me to do I won’t be putting them up the day after Christmas!).  And everything seems to be falling into place for this moving day.  Packing is annoying though.  Let me just put that out there!  I am so already over that!  Anyone want to come do it for me????  Please??  Pretty please?????  Don’t worry.  Once I’m all moved, I’ll be posting pictures and letting you know about any funny stories that will surely occur during this whole moving process!

Any Twilight fans out there??  Me!  Me!  Me!  Breaking Dawn came out this past Friday morning at 12:01am and you better believe I was there!  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  It was so worth getting there at 9:40pm and waiting!  I’m not going to give anything away on here but I read the books, and I was still anxious to see what was going to happen!  And now I have to wait an entire your until part 2!!!  Who’s bright idea was that?????  And have I mentioned, I want a Jacob.  Not just because he’s definitely a cutie!  But think about the kind of friend he is.  Kind.  Loves Bella unconditionally (even when he’s mad at her for her decisions).  Willing to work along someone he despises!  Not to mention he turns into a soft, furry wolf!!!  I need a Jacob!!!

If you’re a facebook member, then you’ve seen the whole “Thankful Thanksgiving” thing where everyday people post something they are thankful for.  I love the idea.  I love reading what people write.  But it’s just not my thing.  That doesn’t mean I’m not thankful for things.  I am!!  Very much so!!!  So I’m going to write about a few of those things and people here. 

As I said before, I’m thankful for my job!  So many people are out of work right now.  So many people are struggling.  So on a daily basis, as I’m struggling with the things that can go on at any job, I try to remind myself of how blessed I am right now.  I think we often times take these things for granted.  Next time the gossip has gotten o be too much or your co-workers didn’t do their part of the job, try to remember how blessed you are. 

Because I have a job, I have a nice place to live.  I have a nice car.  I have food to eat.  I can go out and do some of the things I want.  Because of my job, I can pay for my cell phone.  And when my day sucks and I need someone to talk to, I can pick up my phone and send a text to my best friends and vent and talk.  I can log onto facebook and write a quick status asking for prayer.  Those are definitely luxuries but things I’m so thankful for. 

I remember as I was growing up, adults would always say it’s better to have a few best friends than a bunch of people who you call friends but you can’t really depend on.  They were right…of course!  I wasn’t unpopular growing up but I certainly wasn’t in the “in crowd” either, but I did have a lot of friends between school and church.  And I’ve always been thankful for that.  I learned a lot from the people in my life.  But now that I’m older, I still feel like I have a lot of friends but there are a few people in my life who I  know I can depend on without a doubt…no matter what.  These are the people I text when my day sucks.  These are the people who when my car quits working, they’re there to help.  These are the people I can bounce ideas off of…no matter how dumb.  These are the people who get long emails where I’m pouring out my heart cause I don’t know what else to do.  These are the people that love me unconditionally.  These are my “Jacobs”.   These are the people that I know 20 years from now will still be a part of my life…no matter the miles between us.  I know not everyone has someone in their life like this.  I know there are people out there who don’t have a Shanda, Tera, Sarah or a Karen (my Jacobs).  I know there are people who don’t have someone in their life who just likes to brighten their day from time to time (like Emily did today with the new Glee Christmas CD).  I can’t imagine my life without these people.  I can’t imagine going through my daily life without the support and love from those around me.  So this is my prayer for all of you this Thanksgiving...that you discover the people in your life who will flush your fish for you because you're too heartbroken to do it yourself when she dies...who will bring you an amazing CD on a day you don't feel all that great (and they don't even know it)...someone who will call you just to make you laugh cause they had this feeling you needed it...who will send you a message saying they love you...someone who will send you a card just because...someone who will pray with and for you.  Often times we don't let those people into our hearts because we're afraid they'll be just like the last person who wasn't a true friend.  But give them a chance.  Good or bad, people add to our lives.  I'm thankful for all of the people who have come in and even out of my life.  I wouldn't be who I am today without them and quite frankly, I kind of like who I am! 

Be thankful for the little things in your life.  Those are the things that make the big things that much more special.  I'm definitely thankful for you.  And praying for you as well!!!