Thankful: Day 11

Just like 99% of Americans, today I'm thankful for veterans!  Without them, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the freedom that living in America gives us.  So many suffer when a veteran goes to war for our country.  I am eternally grateful for the sacrifices the veterans and their families make for our country.  I'm proud to be an American!

Tonight, we invited my Grandpa Ike and my brother, Adam over for dinner to celebrate Veteran's Day.  Adam couldn't make it as he's had several long days at work recently but we enjoyed nice conversation with grandpa (and grandma) and loved hearing stories from his military days.  Grandpa served in the Korean war and Adam served 6 years in the Air Force and has recently moved back to Newell and gotten a job with the Buena Vista County Sherrif's Office.  We're thankful for Grandpa Ike, Adam, and the millions of other American Veterans!

Here's a picture after everyone was done stuffing their face with ribs, potatoes, rolls, veggies and brownies tonight.  :)

Thankful: Day 10

I am SO thankful for family.  I'm close with both immediate and extended family.  When we lived in Clive, we were very close to my aunt Brenda and Coby's family.  We did a lot with them and she did daycare for our kids.  We miss seeing their family more often!!!


Now that we live in Newell, we get to see my parents and siblings all the time...which is awesome.  We watch my nephew Kenley after school most days until Angie gets off of work.  We make an appearance at my parents house at least twice a week so the kids can see them....they LOVE the apple tree farm.  My brothers, Adam and Aron, show up at our house quite often for a home cooked meal too.  I'm also blessed to live near all of my grandparents.  My grandma and grandpa Hunter live here in town and my grandpa Nieland lives in Storm Lake now.  I don't know what I'd do without my family.  I love each and every one of them!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures of my family in the last couple of years! 

I'm also thankful for Justin's family. Although living 5 states away, we don't get to see them often, they're still a blessing. His parents are wonderful parents and grandparents and my kids are very blessed to get to call them Grandma and Poppa. We get to see them at Justin's sister's wedding in 2 weeks. We're looking forward to seeing them. I'm sure we'll make some good memories!

 Justin's parents, Glenn and Kathryn, during their visit to Iowa for Austin's 1st Birthday party!

Justin's dad flew in and surprised him for his 30th birthday this past March.  They spent some quality father/son time!

Thankful: Day 9

Today I'm thankful for faith.  Since moving to Newell, we've made the Baptist church here in town our church home.  We don't believe in joining a denomination (we're believer's in Christ, not Baptist/Catholic/Lutheran, etc) but go to Bethel because it's a bible teaching church.   My faith has saved my sanity so many times in life...and I'm so thankful for it!

I'm also thankful for their Wednesday night children's ministry, 105.  It has been called Awana for the past 20+ years but this year they changed the name and the philosophy of the program a bit.  Alexis LOVES it...she looks forward to going every week.  I'm so thankful for each one of those volunteers to invest their busy lives into the life of so many children in our community.

Here is a picture of Alexis last year at the Awana awards ceremony.  She won the award for the best sportsmanship during game time (which Justin helped with). She was so happy!

Singing her little heart out at the end-of-the-year Awana program last spring.

At our church's child dedication service last spring when we had Austin dedicated.

Thankful: Day 8

Just as the title to my blog says, there are SO MANY "everyday blessings" in my life, it's hard to narrow it down to just 30 things I'm thankful for.

Today I'm thankful for the joy that my children bring to my life.  I returned today from being gone 3 out of the last 4 nights.  Justin was a rockstar with the kids...he did it all and I came home to a clean house both times.  The kids were both well taken care of and happy when I arrived back home.  It's a great feeling. 

Just as I walked in tonight, both kids met me with smiles and hugs.  Justin had to take off right away so I got to spend an hour of uninterrupted quality time with them.  We played hide-and-seek, took "rides" around the house in the laundry basket, read books, and laughed.  As Alexis was reading me her homework, Austin disappeared for awhile and came back looking like this:

The 3 of us giggled for at least a minute.  This little guy is so funny and so happy 99% of the time.  It can be stressful dealing with difficult kids all day at school but it never fails, I come home and my kids are such a breath of fresh air.  I don't know what I'd do without them.  They bring me SO much joy!

Here are a few more photos from our evening of giggles!

 Austin is looking so grown up!

 Alexis crashed after a ride in the laundry basket!

  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

When daddy got home, he had some help switching the laundry from his best buddy, Austin!

Thankful: Day 6

Today I'm thankful for fellowship with friends.  I had a lot of fellowship this weekend at the girls weekend scrapbooking retreat and came home to dinner cooked and on the table, clean house, and happy kids.  After dinner we headed to couple's small group to fellowship with friends and grow in our faith.  We are so blessed!

Thankful: Day 5

Today I'm thankful for jobs.  I was blessed with the gift of money management and without a job, I wouldn't have any $ to manage.  I am thankful for the steady income from both Justin and my jobs.  It's easy to take that paycheck for granted but I am very, very thankful for it!

Thankful: Day 4

Today I'm thankful for time away to relax, laugh, eat, and scrap with some old girlfriends.  For the 7th year in a row, I am at an annual "girls weekend" retreat.  I look forward to this every single year.  I'm one lucky girl!  :)