A Month of Thanksgiving Days 28,29 and 30

I am thankful for the busy days. We have been busy with normal life stuff. The kids have had friends over, events to go to, and just things that keep our days full.
I am thankful for the busy, it shows me how blessed our lives are.

I added the 30th to this day as well. I feel like it was a good ending point for my month of thanksgiving.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 27

I am thankful for a fridge, and cupboards full of food. I am thankful that I do not have pick between paying bills or feeding my children. I know that so many people struggle to take care of daily needs, and so many children ( and adults ) go hungry every single day. I am thankful that not only am I able to take care of my family, but we can bless others.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 25 and 26

I am combining these two days. We have been working on decorating our house for Christmas over the last couple days. I am very thankful for this time spent together. I am thankful for the traditions we have with our children. I am thankful for all the pretty decorations, the twinkling lights, the beautiful ornaments, and all the joy these things bring my family.

I am thankful for stories under the Christmas tree. I am thankful for family movie nights, illuminated by the lights from the tree. I am thankful for the anticipation

that builds each day as the kids wait for their presents. I am thankful I can buy them presents. I am thankful for this season.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 24

I am thankful for time spent with my Mom and my sister. I am thankful for our shopping trips, the fun we have, and the memories made.

I am thankful for our weirdness, for our play bickering, and for all the time we have together.

I am thankful for our trips to hobby lobby, for trying new foods, seeing new stores, and just getting out.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 23

I am posting this a day late. After a full day of family fun, a big dinner, and lots of cooking, it slipped my mind last night.

I am thankful for family. I am thankful for traditions. We celebrated Thanksgiving last night. We had a big family dinner, and enjoyed each other's company.

I am thankful we have the ability to enjoy this holiday. I am thankful for the meal we shared. I am thankful for the traditions we continue.

I am thankful that I can start teaching my kids how to make the dishes we eat each year. I am thankful they are willing, and wanting to help.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 22

I am thankful for late night baking. I am thankful I have a husband that will make a last minute run to the store for me, when I realize the first crust did not turn out right, and I need stuff to make one more pie.
I am thankful I have a family to spend thanksgiving with, a family that I will gladly stay up late for, and bake pies.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 21

I am thankful for the sweet giggles of my children while they play together. I am thankful for their imaginations, and for their creativity. I am thankful for the time we spend together.
We have a large collection of board games here, and I love spending time with my family, making memories, and playing games.

I am thankful for these times we share.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 20

I am thankful for the last warm days of fall. We got to enjoy some much needed outside today after running errands.

With Kairi have Cold Urticaria ( she is literally allergic to being cold ), winter can be a very long and boring time for her. We try to get out and enjoy all the warm days we can before the cold hits, and she does not get to play outside for awhile.

Today was a nice day, we got out, did some errands, went to the bakery, and ended our time with a trip to the playscape. The kids got to play, we all enjoyed being out, and I am thankful for that time.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 18 and 19

Amelia has been sick this weekend that is why I didn't post last night. She came down with something Thursday night, and has been pretty sick over the weekend.

Today she is feeling much better. I would like to focus on that today.

I am thankful I have access to and education about alternative medication. I thankful I have ways to help my baby feel better when she is sick.

At the same time, I am thankful for modern medicine, there is a need for both of these things.

I am thankful I have the right to choose which I want to use, and at times, the ability to use both.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 17

I am thankful for the little things.
I am thankful for a a warm house on a cold night.
I am thankful for a church that takes the time to feed hungry people in our community, and likes to share the leftovers with families in the church.
I am thankful for same day appointments when my kids are not feeling well.
I am thankful for a hot bath to soak in at the end of a long day.
I am thankful for all the little things in life.

The little things in life can stack up quickly, and be a giant blessing.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 16

I am thankful for fun, family friendly events put on by our town.
We took the kids to living windows. For those that do not know what it is, it is a Christmas themed event, where all the stores downtown have living Christmas scenes in their windows. They have food, treats, crafts, and more.
My kids love going down to it each year, and I enjoy the family time.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 15

I am thankful for warm  cars, hot chocolate, and a warm house.
My eight year old daughter, Kairi,  has a rare allergy that causes her to break out in hives when she is cold. It does not even have to be that cold for her to react.
We tried to go outside and play today. It was actually not that bad out, it was about fifty degrees, so I thought we would go to the local playscape, and get some outside time in.
By the time we got there, the wind had picked up, and it was a very cold wind. Even though Kairi had on warm clothes, we forgot to bring her face mask, and after fifteen minutes she was breaking out pretty badly.
Even though the kids were disappointed that we did not get to stay long, everyone cheered up at the idea of going home to a nice glass of hot chocolate, and since my car's heater seems to work on over drive, Kairi was nice and warm when we got home.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 14

I am thankful that I was taught how to cook and bake. I am thankful I have those abilities, and I can use them to take care of my family.

I do a lot of cooking and baking. We are a health conscious family, and we do our best to avoid products that we know are full of ingredients that are not good for us. It can be hard to find treats, bread, and other items that fall in line with what we want to eat, and what we do not. It is made easier by the fact that I can make those items myself.

My kids and husband are pretty thankful for the abilities I have as well.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 13

I am thankful for my pets. I really look at them as part of our family. We have two cats, and one dog. They are all rescues.

Cookie is a cat that just showed up at our house one day. She hung out all summer long, we even called the shelter, they tried to catch her once, but she got away from them. After that I told Chris that if she as still hanging around our house come winter, I was letting her in. I am so glad she picked us. I love her to pieces. She is sweet, good with the kids, loves to snuggle, and is my cat  100%

Charlie is our dog. Chris found him at the local shelter a couple years ago. My dog ( Max ), whom I had for years, died. I had been looking for a new dog. I wanted another Golden Retriever, like Max. After searching shelters for months, I had all but given up. Chris found Charlie, who is a Shi Tzu. I was not looking for a small dog, but since I could not find what I wanted, I though it was only right o let Chris pick a dog. He has a Shi Tzu when he was a child, and he wanted another. So we adopted Charlie. Funny part, he picked me as his favorite human. He is a good boy, the kids adore him, and he fits into our family well.

Raven is our other cat. We adopted her several years ago from a friend. She had been passed around to a couple homes, and was needing somewhere that could be her forever home. She loves attention. Chris is a favorite person. She is also a naughty cat, who likes to leave presents ( AKA headless mice in the laundry ) around the house for us, knock glasses of water of tables, and string my yarn all over the living room. She is the boss of both Charlie and Cookie, but super loving to all the kids.

I love all my furbabies, they are a blessing to us.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 12

I am sitting here in a nice quiet house, watching television, while I crochet. I have been knitting and crocheting for several years now. I am thankful the talents I have. I am able to make beautiful gifts for my friends and family, and even make some money doing something I enjoy.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day 11

Today is Veterans Day, I am very thankful for every man and women that has served. Without your sacrifices, we would not live in the great nation that we do. Without all you have given, my freedoms would not be what they are. I am grateful for you.

Thank you for you sacrifices, for you time, for your service.  

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Nine and Ten

I am a day late again, I did not even realize that I did not write last night until I sat down to write tonight. I have a good reason though, I spent last night hanging out with a friend of mine. We had coffee, talked, shopped, and just had fun!

That is what I would like to write about for these two days, I am thankful for my friends.

I have some amazing friends, and I love each and every one of you. My friends are always there to lift my spirits, make me laugh, help me de-stress when I need a break, listen when I need to talk, give advice when advice is needed, and so much more.

To my friends that are near, and those who are my online friends that I have never met, you are all special to me! I am thankful for you.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Eight

I have already written about my husband, and my children, so today I would like to focus on the rest of my family.

I am very thankful for my parents. They taught me what I needed to know in order to be the wife, mother, and person that I am today. Without that knowledge, my life would not be what it is today. They took the time to teach me life skills, things that I am now passing down to my children. I have a close relationship with both my mother and my father, I am lucky to have them.

I am thankful for my inlaws, they are great with my kids, and have done a lot over the years to help Chris and I.

I am thankful for brother and sister ( even though they can be crazy ;) ). They both mean a lot to me, and I love them very much.

I am thankful for my niece, and my nephews, I love watching them grow up. I know one day they will do great things!

I am thankful for all members of my family, wither they are direct relatives or more extended. I love you all.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Seven

I am thankful for a warm house, filled with numerous possessions that make my life better. I am thankful that on days I am feeling worn out, grumpy, and needing a break, that I have a place that I can relax, watch some television, and try to unwind.
I am thankful that I can lounge on the couch, wrap up in a cozy blanket, and just do nothing. Some days it is very needed.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day Six

I am thankful that we have a house full of books. Literacy is something that is very important to me. If you research some literacy facts they may shock you. Here are just a few.

34% of children entering Kindergarten lack the basic skills needs to learn to read.
65% of fourth graders read below their grade level.
Students who lose reading ability over the summer rarely catch back up.

( read more here )

I know that reading is a very important skills for children, and adults alike to have. I am incredibly thankful that I have the ability to give my children access to books every single day. Not only do we have several book shelves full, but we also have access to libraries, online libraries, and more.

I strongly encourage the love of books in our home.

A Month Of Thanksgiving Day Five

I would like to write about my church today. We attend Living Word Fellowship in Knoxville, IA. It is a great church, that has something for everyone.
Today was the all church Thanksgiving dinner. This is a dinner that is held every year, it is a time to get together, enjoy great food, and the fellowship of everyone in the church. I love this dinner, it is one of my favorite things that our church does.
We have a Pastor that really cares about his church. He and his wife are wonderful people, and my family really loves them.
I am thankful we attend a church that takes the time to do things for it's members. The kids love going to all the classes they have.
Alexzander moved up to youth group this year, and he was very excited about it. The youth group at our church is very involved with the teens that attend. Not only do they teach them important lessons about God, but they also teach them compassion, friendship, community involvement, responsibility, and so much more. It is headed up by a couple that has a passion for teenagers, they are truly a blessing to those kids.
The girls are all in children's church. We are blessed with a children's minister that is very involved with the kids. She loves them with her whole heart. She teaches them what it means to be a Christian, how to show other children God's love, lessons in friendship, and so much more. She makes class so much fun for the kids, they love being there.
In whole our church is a great place to be. I am thankful for everyone there.

A month of Thanksgiving Day Three and Four

I missed writing yesterday. I got busy doing things with my kids and by the time I realized I didn't post, it was late. So, I am combining yesterday and today's post into one.
I am going to focus on my children today, I am very thankful for them, they keep me very busy (hence missing a post ), and fulfill my life in ways the can't be described.

I have one son, Alexander, 11 years old. He is a lively boy, who loves video games, fishing, reading, playing with him friends, and is super excited to learn to hunt. He started youth group at church this year, and loves it. Being the only boy, we are often asked how he handles all his sisters. My answer is always the same, he is lucky to be the only boy, he will always have his own room, does not have to share his toys, and will grow up with a great understanding of women.  He is learning coding this year, because he wants to design games when he is older.




My oldest daughter is Destiny, she is ten years old. She is a beautiful girl, who tends to be on the dramatic side. She loves art, animals, donuts, reading, and so much more. She loves going to kids camp, learning about God, and riding horse while she is there. We love everything about her, she is wild, fun, artistic, fashionable, and overall a wonderful child. She wants to be an artist when she grows up.



Next up is Kairi, she is eight years old. Kairi is the child that challenges me the most. She is stubborn, yet sweet. She knows what she likes, and there is little you can do to change her mind. At the same time, she is sweet, loving, compassionate, and kind. She loves going to children's church. She wants to be friends with everyone. She strongly believe in unicorns, and mermaids.  She likes to color, read stories, play pretend, and be outside.




Next up is Amelia, she is six years old. She is my rainbow baby. ( For those who do not know, that means she is a child born after a miscarriage, still birth, or loss of a child. ) She is the happiest kid you will meet. She loves everyone. We get comments often about how friendly she is. Amelia likes to be involved in everything you are doing, always wants to help. She loves to play with friends, make believe, color, and more. She loves going to children's church, and singing with the other kids.


My baby is Cassandra, she is three years old. She is a mama's girl, shy, and sweet. She loves to cuddle, read books, color, play barbies, and pretend. She has just started coming out of her shell a bit over the last couple months. Before hand, she would not dare talk to someone she did not know, she would cry if we tried to take her to her class at church, and she really just wanted to be home, with her family. In the last few months, she has really started trying to make friends with other kids, she lives to go to her class now ( music is her favorite part ), and she even enjoys her class at home school group. She does not like it when I call her my baby, she says, " I not a baby, I a totter ( toddler )." No matter what she says, she will always be my baby girl.


Each of my kids are amazing in their own ways, and I know they are going to do amazing things in their lives.

                                                                  

A month of Thanksgiving - Day Two

Today I want to write about my husband. I am incredibly thankful for him. He works hard, providing enough that I can stay home, and take care of our kids. He is a very hands on father, he is involved in their home school lessons, he takes part in home school group when he can, he helps with projects, plays with them, teaches them things, and is just over all a great father. He does his fair share in the house, never leaving me to do all the house work.

I am lucky to have him as a husband, and the kids are lucky to have him as a father.

A Month of Thanksgiving Day One

Thanksgiving is approaching fast, I like to use the month of November to reflect on everything I have to be thankful for.

Today I would like to focus on home schooling. I am very thankful we have the ability to home school. It is the best choice for us, and we are very grateful we live in a place that allows us to teach our kids freely, the way we feel fit.

Homeschooling the kids means we have the chance to not only teach them the things we feel they need to know, but also expand on the courses they really enjoy. We can help to shape them to be the best they can be.

We have the chance to really help them in classes they struggle in and not worry about what grade of level they are doing. At the same time, if they are excelling at a class we can let them go above their current grade or level, without issue.