Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I am thankful for family. The past couple years of my life has been quite a challenge in many aspects with my biological family. Needless to say, my biological family isn't really what you'd call a family anymore. God has been so gracious to me, though. He could have left me without a family to call my own, but He didn't. Through Jared, God gifted me with an amazing family! I love them all to death (as I do my biological family). Family truly is a gift from God.

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I am thankful for my/our new bed. Jared's parents bought us our mattress and box spring set and some of the money from his Nana and Papa got us our bed frame. Jared's dad and a man from church (Terry Girts) went and picked up the bed stuff yesterday and dropped it off at my apartment. When I got home from work last night, I was DYING to set it all up. We also have a gorgeous comforter set (just the one we wanted!) that was a shower gift from a friend from church (Melissa Slayton). So...after about 45 minutes of very difficult labor, I was able to put together the bed frame (without breaking any nails! - I thought I was going to a few times), and unwrap the box spring and mattress from their plastic wrapping. I then drug them into the bedroom and got them (they're queen-sized) onto the bed frame and then put on the new sheets (400 ct. from Nana and Papa for our shower gift) and the comforter set. It looks amazing! I can't wait to jump in bed on Saturday night! :-D

I've attached a few pictures (sorry for the quality, they're from my webcam).

Ignore the horrible "nightstand/dresser" - Hopefully we'll be getting some real stuff soon!

I love the "pretty pillows" - I'm dying to get some Euro pillows so I can use the shams that came with the set. Once we get our sleeping pillows I'll probably use the shams with them when I make the bed, just so it can be pretty. I'm sure that'll wear off after about a week!

It's so BIG!

I Love Pink!

I Love Pink! by Heather Jean Lehman featuring pink tops

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today is day 23 of the challenge. This fabulous idea (I love it, find myself unable to go on with my day without documenting something I'm thankful for!) comes from Leah at South Breeze Farm. Today, I am thankful for the time I have to sit down and spend some time with nobody but myself and God. I'm thankful that I'm running low on gas and that Jared told me to stay home today. (Yes, I miss him, but I need this time - especially when I'm 4 days from my wedding!). I'm thankful that Jared didn't get hurt any worse than he did last night (he smacked his head on a low-hanging ceiling...it hurt him pretty bad). I'm thankful that he was here at the apartment when he hit his head (moving some of his boxes into the storage downstairs...getting ready to move in this weekend!) and that I was able to have him sit down and give him an ice pack, some Ibuprofen, and a big glass of Coke. I'm thankful that I still have an ice pack here that his parents lent me when I had my surgery. I'm thankful that I had the Coke here for him (he bought it fore me a couple nights ago). I could keep rambling forever, likely, but I'll stop. God is so good!!!

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I'm thankful there are only 5 days left until my wedding. I'm thankful for God's grace. I'm thankful that Jared loves me even when I'm a total jerk. I'm thankful for the opportunity I had last night to remind my parents that I love them. Last of all, I'm thankful that my mom sent the heirloom hankie I was hoping she would send for my wedding. :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I'm thankful for a free necklace I won on a giveaway on A Little Lovely. Starfish Designs is where the necklace is coming from. I'm so excited! I've been wanting a necklace with a key pendant, and now I'll get one for free!! It's a nice one, too! :-D Isn't it neat how God cares about our little desires? :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

I just got finished watching "Miracle on 24th Street" with Jared and his mom - I LOVE that movie! Jared went and picked each of us up a surprise - Coke and almond mms and strawberry preserves for me, Dove chocolaltes for mom, and a couple things for himself :-) Earlier I picked up make-up - wedding is a week from today and I was running out of almost everything! I decided to try some new stuff...BAD idea :-( Anyway, I stopped at Wal Mart and got my normal stuff. I just tried to call home and talk to my mom and dad, but didn't get through, so I left a message. That's pretty much my day so far! So I just sat down and was talking to Jared and gasped, "I haven't done my thankfulness thing yet!" He said, "You better hurry, it's 9:11" My reply, 9:11? Really? That's kinda funny (meaning interesting, not actually funny - haha, funny). He said, "Maybe you should us that, like thankful for our freedom or something. At first I brushed off the idea as cute, but the thing is....9:11 on the clock or as the date always reminds me of that day in 2001. I doubt I'll ever forget it. Today I'm thankful for our freedom and hope we never lose it.

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I'm thankful for the opportunities God puts into our lives to be an example for Him. You know how sometimes people just say things that get under your skin? Sometimes people are just confused or mislead and take a strong stand in their position even though they're in the wrong. Regardless of the situation, sometimes it can be frustrating, but I'm thankful for those times. It's times like these that we can truly show God's love.

Giving Thanks Challenge

Last night when we got to work we were told they didn't need us for the night - a lot of kids are sick right now, so there weren't many kids there. Although it was a downside to miss out on the pay, it was nice to have some time to relax. I'm thankful for the time Jared and I had last night. Got to sit down and watch a movie with almost no interruptions :-D

Giving Thanks Challenge

Wow...17 days into this! Today I'm thankful for everything I've been able to accomplish this morning. I was able to pick up our marriage license, order a corsage, and book our hotel for the honeymoon. I still have time left before leaving for work! Perfect time to spend some time in the Word :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I'm thankful I'm alive and thankful I'm feeling better. Last night (12:30 am, so it's technically this morning) at work I had a horrible pain in my side and had to go to the ER - thought it might be appendicitis. After being there for 3 1/2 hours and having blood work and a catscan done, they told me they're not sure - my appendix looks like it might be inflamed, but they can't really tell. I'm scheduled to go back for follow-up on Friday, but so far today I'm feeling fine :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today we had some weird issues going on with my credit card/wedding money. We have some last-minute things to do and we need the money. I'm thankful we figured out what was going on!

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I'm thankful for the fact that we, as believers, always have God. No matter what life may bring us - the good or the bad, we have God. No matter how others may fail us or we may fail others - we always have God. God is what binds us (or at least what should) together. God never fails us. :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today was a gloomy, rainy day. I overslept 'cause I've been sick (still feeling kinda poopy - actually wondering if I'm hypoglycemic, but that's beside the point). I was in a crabby mood throughout most of the day up until around dinner time - it was one of those annoying moods where no matter what people do, it irritates you and it seems as though you have no control over it. I got some sugar in me, and my mood almost immediately changed - Yes, I know my mood/attitude is my choice regardless and made sure to apologize to my poor fiance' for how crabby I'd been. Through all of this, I'm thankful that we were able to get our mattress and boxspring ordered and were able to get a few more things done for the wedding and I'm thankful for God's provision financially, yet again, through a wedding gift, and I'm thankful that 2 weeks from today, Lord willing, I will be married to an amazing man.

Giving Thanks Challenge

I am thankful that I am feeling a bit better today and thankful for my wonderful fiance' - he went and got me chicken noodle soup :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

I'm thankful for the extra time I had this morning to spend in God's Word. Also, in a roundabout way, thankful for the time of rest I have today - feeling pretty bad, so had to call in to work. I've been exhausted, so this is a good time for me to rest up :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I am thankful for forgiveness. I'm thankful, ultimately, for God's forgiveness, but also for the forgiveness of others. So many times I do or say stupid things (sometimes unwittingly, but often knowing exactly what I'm doing). I'm thankful for forgiveness and how we can "forgive and forget" and move on with life.

Giving Thanks Challenge

I am thankful for fun times. I just love the time I get to spend with Jared and how we can be completely crazy with each other and still love each other 100%. I'm thankful for laughter and happiness :-D

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today is day 8 of the challenge. I am loving this! Every day at some point I say, "Oh, I have to do my thanks thing!!" I then grab my computer and am, in a sense, forced to have a grateful heart. It's good for me! I'm finding that as each day goes by, it's more and more natural to just think of something I'm thankful for - this morning I woke up thinking of something I was thankful for. Today, I am thankful for the time I had to sleep in. Jared and I decided that today I would just stay at my apartment instead of driving to Kaukauna to meet him to work on wedding stuff - we accomplished a bit this weekend. I got to sleep in and will have time to get groceries and just have some down time (or cleaning time whichever I choose). It was nice to have the sun shine in my window and to turn over and ignore it for once :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

I'm thankful for a friend from church, Patsy Priebe. Patsy is always willing to help out with whatever she can. She loves to have fun and is quite the hostess! :-D Jared and I were able to go over the her house last night and spend time with her and a couple of college students who stay at her house each weekend (they come down to minister in a Spanish church in the area). Patsy is a great encouragement! :-D

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I woke up at 8:45 with my laptop still opened and resting on my arm, a huge pillow propping me up, and the bedroom light on and all. Clearly, I must have been exhausted (and still am a bit - that didn't make for the most restful night). I am thankful today is Saturday - it is going to be a busy day, but it's nice to have a day to get things done and have some time to rest :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

Hmm...Day five of the challenge :-)

Today I am thankful for the provision God gave through a paycheck I was able to cash this morning. It's fun to see how God takes care of everything and, no matter how we may see things, everything always gets taken care of :-)

Giving Thanks Challenge

I am thankful that God granted my request and kept me safe through the night last night. When got home from work there were 3 police cars at an apartment in my area and all kinds of stuff going down. I prayed in bed, that God would keep me safe, and He did! :-D

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today (and every day) I'm thankful for my wonderful fiance'. He is an amazing, godly man and a wonderful help and encouragement to me.

Giving Thanks Challenge

Today I am thankful for the sunshine that woke me up. I work nights, so getting up isn't really a big deal, but our wedding is coming up, and I need to get to Jared's house so we can work on more wedding stuff and spend some time together. I would have kept sleeping away had the sun not shined in my window!

Giving Thanks Challenge

So, I ran across a fellow blogger at South Breeze Farm who is doing for the 4th consecutive year a "Giving Thanks Challenge". Participants are to post on their blog one thing they are thankful for each day of November. I love this idea and think it's a great way to keep our focus right. I've decided to join in on the fun! You can find out more info here.

Since today is day one of November and the Challenge... Today I am thankful for the centerpiece dishes we got for our wedding. A friend from church is being generous enough to let us borrow (and tear up what she had done) hers from here wedding a couple years ago. This is such a huge help!! :-D