Thankful Thursday

It's been a busy week for us. It's the last week of school for Caleb.  Hooray!!!  I have also been tired from the weekend I guess too.

Today I am thankful for...
~ my husband taking the van to get the tires rotated before it hit 25,000 miles. We bought it new last year on our anniversary weekend.  So we were about weeks short of getting that many miles in a year! 

~ my big boy having a wonderful year in 8th grade.  Tomorrow he will finish junior high!  At his awards this week he was the announcer for the 6th grade awards.  The awards he received were A Honor Roll and Top 10%.  Then he was also recognized with a special lunch, going to the movies, and gift cards for being a 2 Million Word reader. His total was close to 4 million (3,875,000 something like that).  He has done a great job this year and worked really hard.

~ my little guy helping me make our traditional "last day of school" sign for Caleb.  He was so cute helping me first erase when I messed up and then today when we were coloring. 

~ the teachers Caleb has had in junior high.  I feel blessed with the teachers he has had.  The three math teachers have all been so helpful, and I've just been amazed with his algebra teacher. 

~ seeing the movie "I Can Only Imagine."  It was a fabulous movie and great story.  I recommend it if you have not seen it yet. 

~ having a fun time with our family down at the river. We went down Friday after school until Sunday afternoon.  Caleb did a lot of fishing with Pawpaw (didn't catch anything).  Titus had fun playing with his cousins and throwing rocks.  I'm glad we can spend this time together. 

Have a day of blessings!
   Bethany

Thankful Thursday

We have had a somewhat busy week, just doing our regular things.  I'm excited for the end of school and for Caleb to be home with us!  Titus told him yesterday you have one week of school and then you will be home with us.  (I'd told him that earlier in the day so he informed Caleb after school!)

This week I am thankful for...
~ when my husband knows the right words to tell me that will encourage me and remind me of his love.

~ hearing my big boy share his knowledge and love of fishing with his little brother.  It has been so cute to hear them talk about fishing this week.

~ my little guy's new room decorations! We had been asking him what he wanted to put up in his new room.  He kept telling us grasshoppers!  He went to the fabric store with Gramma, and they found some with grasshoppers on it. She said it doesn't really match/go together but he was so excited about it so that is all that matters.  He was excited to sleep in his bed with the grasshopper pillows and blanket this week.  Here is a picture: 

~  I have been seeing these plants ALL over town and my neighborhood.  I don't know why I've never noticed them before.  I think first I saw some at McDonalds and then one day at Chick fil a.  Then I started seeing them in my neighborhood.  Both neighbors have them so I asked one if it was a red yucca. She said yes and she had some extras, did I want some.  So now I have my own.  She said they are hearty so I hope they will grow!  I found this image online.

Image from this site

~ opportunities to raise funds for my boys' trip to Haiti.  Some people have sent money for them and others have bought things from our fund raisers.  We want to have another bake sale and are looking for a place that allows us to have one.

~ finishing another audio book today and starting another.  I love my reading time!

Have a day of blessings! 
    Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What would you say is your biggest day to day challenge? Staying focused on completing a task before starting another one. I know part of it is the season of life because I will be working on something and hear "Mommy I need you" or "Mommy play this with me."  And that is totally okay!

2. May 16th is National Biographers Day. What's a biography you really enjoyed reading? Is this a genre you read regularly? I will like to read the answers to this question for suggestions.  I do not read biographies very often.  I can't even think of one I have read.  I did read the autobiography of Truett Cathy (founder of Chick fil a) several years ago.

3. How important is keeping a clean house? Do you need to de-clutter your life? Yes, I know I need to de-clutter. I would like it to be cleaner than it is most of the time.  I have certain things I try to stay on top of....dishes and laundry and sweeping the floor.

4. You're the 8th dwarf. What's your name? I had to look up the names of the dwarfs.  I'll say "Tuneful" because I'm often humming or singing.

5. What's surprised you the most about your life or life in general?  How God has fit together all the pieces.....getting me and my husband to ACU at the same time to meet and so many other things along the way.  It is a comfort knowing He is in control and has a plan.

6. Insert your own random thought here.
My Caleb has 2 STAAR tests this week....Science today and Social Studies tomorrow.  Then he will have awards on Tuesday and next Friday is their last day.  He's almost finished with 8th grade! 

Every night we each share one thing from our day we are thankful for, and we write them in a book. Tonight we started book #4. I always write in the cover the start and end dates of the books. As I was writing the 4 in this new book, I had the thought I wonder if it will take us 4 years to fill up this book. (I've been thinking a lot lately about "4 more years.") Right then Caleb said "hey Mom, I may be graduating by the time we finish this one!" Thankful for our time together and memories with my boys. It's great to look back on these books and remember our blessings.Thankful, grateful, blessed


Have a day of blessings!
 Bethany

Help Stamp Out Hunger!

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 12, 2018 is the letter carrier food drive.  

This is an easy way to help the hungry. You may be surprised how many hungry people live and work in your community and are sitting in classrooms by your children. Go check your cabinets and make a bag to put by your mailbox Saturday morning. This is something I feel very strongly about and would encourage you all to participate.

From the website here is a list of requested/needed items: 
The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans (canned or dry). You also can donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil.


Find out more here.

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Time for another Thankful Thursday!  Summer must be close, it is sure warming up here this week!
I am thankful for...

~ seeing my husband as a Dad. He plays catch with Caleb and gives Titus "tractor rides" in the evenings.  It is fun to watch them together.

~ watching my big boy growing up and still catching glimpses of the little boy.  (If that makes sense...)

~ my little guy going to his new 3 year old Sunday School class.  The teacher told me he was so cute answering questions and talking. He told us about the lesson on the way home afterwards.   He really liked his 2 year old class teacher, and I think he will like this class too.

~ a friend loaning us some decorations to use for the rehearsal dinner before the wedding. 

~ snack day with my boys.  I was thinking as we were leaving to get Caleb we don't have very many snack days left until summer vacation!  And then I will have a "high schooler."  I love this after school tradition we have.

~ our mothers and grandmothers and their influence in our lives.  I've got some pretty special aunts too. 

Happy Mother's Day!  God bless you.

Have a day of blessings! 
  Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What are your ingredients for a perfect Saturday?
Sleeping late in my dark room while my husband does something with the boys. 
Working together to get some house work or yard work (hubby's area) done. This may include errands in town too, it's just nice to be together on Saturdays.
Hubby fixing supper and eating together on our deck.

2. What skill do you wish more people took the time to learn?Sometimes I think people need to spend more time learning to drive!  ha!  I seem to have times more frequently when people around me aren't paying attention as they change lanes or not stopping at stop signs.

3. What's something you ate as a child you can't stand now as an adult?  
I guess I'll have to ask my Mom about this, I can't think of anything. 

4. Something parenting has taught you? If you're not a parent tell us one important lesson you learned from your own parents.  Every child is unique and what works for one won't necessarily work for the other. Another would be how time fast goes.  I have a 13 year old and a 3 year old so I have seen with the first one how quickly he becomes a teenager and will be starting high school next year.


5.  Share a favorite quote or saying about mothers or motherhood.
I have been so encouraged as a Mom by Jill Savage.  Here is one of her quotes from a book she wrote called Better Together

.


6. Insert your own random thought here.
My husband and son are going on a trip to Haiti this summer with a group from our church.  I am having a 31 party for a fund raiser.  If you are a fan of 31 and would like to look at the online catalog or place an order, let me know.  I will send you the link.  They have a GREAT special this month where you can get a large utility tote for $10 when  you spend $35.  These make great gifts for grads and weddings.  Thank you!

Have a day of blessings! 
 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Happy May!  It seems April went by extremely fast!  I guess I feel that way every year.  The time between Spring Break and the end of the school year always seems to go quickly.

This week I am thankful for...
~ going with my hubby on a business trip he had. I am glad we got to have this time together.

~ my big boy finding out he got "Masters" on his STAAR reading test. (The performance categories for this are "approaches grade level," "meets grade level," or  "masters grade level.")  He has his End of Course Algebra test next week and the following week has more STAAR tests.

~ conversations with my little guy.  He asks a lot of questions which I love.  Lately he says "why not?"  I love the tone of his voice when he says it.  He always wants to know our plan for the day and likes to stick to his routine.  He was talking about the weather this week and the cloudy day. He said it might rain tomorrow.  Then he said he just didn't understand. 

~  good deals I found while shopping (mentioned in my Wednesday Hodgepodge post).  It has been fun to look and browse, something I don't normally do very often.

~ getting some items off my "to do" list while I've been away. I got some reviews done, ordered a Shutterfly book, sorted some pictures on the computer, and resolved an issue with a bill pay item at our bank.  It has been relaxing so write and also spend some time coloring. 

~ visiting our old church and seeing some of our old friends.  Many I am in contact with on FB, but it was nice to see them in person and get hugs!

Have a day of blessings!
  Bethany