You’ll probably read a lot of these today, so I won’t overload you.  But here we go, and feel free to comment with your list!  I’d love to know more about YOU!

I’m thankful for

My husband Chris.  9 years this May and we have been through a lot.  I love you Kikiriki!

Our two gorgeous, intelligent, and silly daughters.  Even if they do wake up on weekends and holidays (today was no exception) at 6:30 am.

My minivan, and more importantly the DVD player that came with it.  WOW how I love the silence of the backseat when I turn on a cartoon!

Starbucks coffee.  If you drink coffee, well, enough said. 

My Jesus who loves me anyways.

Northview, the church who loves us when we need them, and appreciates us to bring our creativity and ideas to the table.  A true church. Beautiful!

My MDO job, if you can even call it a job.  More ministry and a joy than a job.  I’m thankful for my co-teacher Katie, all the other teacher ministers, Pastor Phil, Janice, Judy, my boss and friend, and every single one of my babies:  Smiley John Paul, funny  Jada, cheerleader Reese, baby Gabe-y, cuddly Lily G, boisterous  Lily B, cuddlebug Ethan, sweet Abbey, chubby Kaleb, and precious little Jagger!  Each one of them is special and a blessing to me!

For my bff, Kendra who God has used in big ways to shape who He wants me to be.  I love you bbitusa!

For my health this year.  This encompasses quite a bit, so I’ll condense.  I’m enjoying life, my head of curls, my new boobs and tight tummy, and not thinking daily about a disease or death!  Thank you GOD!!

Our house.  It’s little, it’s getting more cramped as the girls grow, but it’s ours.  Our first home purchase.  I will always be thankful that God provided it, and trust that when it’s time He will provide for us a bigger place!

Chris’ job.  We heart Dell. Dell hearts Chris.  This works for me!  

President Elect Obama, who I am confident will lead our country in the best direction for the next four (or eight) years!  

For my family. Mommy, Daddy, Brookey, Matthew (iTard) and Dick, Janie, Katie and Jason, Joby, and my grandparents who are still living, Love ‘em all!  I always miss the ones who have gone home already.   Grandmother, Kim, Jim, my Grandpa, Chris’ Meme.  (and his Grandpa who I never got to meet) Holidays are always hard without the ones who have passed, but we can be thankful for the time we had with them. 

Okay, you know I’ve got a ton more.  I try and live my life in a grateful mode.  But I’ll stop with those!  Tell me what you’re thankful for!

Let the Christmas season begin!

The current financial crisis of our country and government bailouts of big mortgage and auto companies has been on my mind.  I guess because we’re a week out from Thanksgiving, a time when we truly evaluate what’s important in our lives and focus on what we have, rather than what we *don’t* have. Maybe because the annual Christmas toy commercial surge has hit the airwaves of Nick Jr and Disney channel, causing my otherwise contented children to have severe cases of the “I want that” whines and my eyes to be permanently stuck in an eyeroll position.  I’m not sure.  Either way, you’ll get my opinion.

There is much to be said for delayed gratification.  We live in the immediate.  Credit cards allow us to buy something and pay for it (or not) later on.  Newlyweds don’t buy “starter homes” anymore–they want bigger and better than their parent’s house. In a world of instant oatmeal, instant credit, instant messages…we have lost the ability to wait.  We don’t wait till we can afford it, we don’t wait till everyone else has one, we don’t wait on the Lord. It is a society of spolied 5 year olds disguised as businessmen, college students, mothers, and government officials screaming “Gimme now!” 

I see this with my kids.  A lot.  In fact, just as I was typing that last paragraph I was interrupted by “mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!” over something that could have–and should have waited.  I couldn’t even tell her wait before she was calling me again.  Is this why God seems silent?  Are we allowing Him to speak?  I can feel His frustration of “God, God, God, God, God, God, God???”  Hello??  Maybe Father is trying to get a word in.  Maybe he’s waiting for me to wait. To be still and know He is God.  To wait upon the Lord.

I don’t know how my parents did it, but there is much to be said for parents who can teach their children delayed gratification.  We didn’t have a whole lot of extra money growing up, so I’m sure that helped, but we didn’t get what we wanted when we wanted it.  All our needs were taken care of but the wants, well, they waited.  Christmas wasn’t full of the latest and greatest toys (although one year I did get a brand spanking new Cabbage Patch doll I’m convinced my mother murdered people for on Black Friday)   Christmas was not about the stuff.  It was about family and friends, and warmth and hope, and WAITING for the Messiah.  The entire advent is waiting.  But we can’t even shut up to hear what our Messiah says.  It’s a complex society.  It’s frustrating to me.  I crave simplicity.  I crave silence with my Savior.    

Okay, well that was deep.  I didn’t even mean to go there, but since I took you there, how about a helpful holiday tip?  It’s actually what I originally was going to write.  Last year at Christmas, I didn’t spend my entire Christmas budget on toys and gifts.  I kept about $100.  Then I stalked Target for their 75% and 90% off all Christmas items.  I got the big box of wrapping paper and coordinating ribbons and bows that was marked $19.99– for $1.99.  I also bought some new Christmas decorations for under $10 each.  I got more ornaments for the tree, the boxes of ceramic balls that are $29.99, I paid $2.99.  I am a patient person when it comes to this stuff, and it does pay off.  I stored it all in the shed for a year.  Honestly I am so excited to pull it all out and look at it again–I can’t even remember what all I bought!  All I know is that it is new, I got killer deals, and it didn’t kill me to wait a year to enjoy them.   So do yourself a favor–although you won’t be able to enjoy the benefits until next Christmas! Don’t waste your time or money looking for Christmas stuff this year, and paying a fortune for gift wrap!  Spend that time with your families and you’ll be glad that you’re one of those people that doesn’t have to have everything right now.  

I’ll post before Thanksgiving.  I need to post my list of reasons I’m thankful.  Be thinking of yours too!

I’m not going to try and convince you that things have been too busy to blog.  I’m just lazy.  I didn’t really know what to put on here but I think this morning, I could manage a little something.  I do have a lot to say actually!  haha

With the election so close behind us, and an historical Presidential Inaguration close at hand, I should start there.  First off, I was an Obama supporter all the way, and so was most of my family.  I know so many of my Christian friends gave me heat for it, because “how could you be a Christian and vote for a Democrat???”  and all I have to say about that is just call me a part of the new Christian Left.  I am a Christian, no one needs to question my relationship with Jesus over the way I vote.  In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that Obama is God’s choice for our country.  It’s too long and drawn out, but yes, we need Obama–because we need God.  The world will be watching as President Obama takes office in January 2009…what will the “Christians” do?  Will be support our Commander in Chief?  Or will there still be a sect of Anti-Obama grumblers that pray against him? I am praying for unity in the body of Christ, and protection over our next President and his family, and a true ONE NATION UNDER GOD.  Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for ALL. The only way this can be achieved is if we all come together and realize that bitterness and division will get us nowhere.  Let’s support our President as God commands us to.     

I respect John Mccain so much, and his concession speech was strong and honorable, just like him.   I do believe that Barack Obama will be a great president and will rise up to the challenges before him.  Okay–that’s all the politics I am going to blog.  Because, let’s face it, my blog has never been political.  It’s been about the kids and stuff…so without further ado…

Kids and stuff!  Trinity is talking full sentences.  She makes faces just like me.  Gracie has always looked like me, but had Chris’ expressions and mannerisms.  Well, Trinity looks more like Chris (in my opinion) but all the little faces she makes are totally me.  So funny!  Another cute thing she does, she calls Gracie, “Grace” which I think is so precious. 

Gracie is doing well in school.  Her report card was perfect, she is excelling in reading and counting.  Her teachers were so funny, they both said “We have nothing but good things to say about Gracie!” Awww!  Here’s the three things that I thought were funny about her teachers’ comments:

1.  “She’s such a unique personality, she’s just her own person isn’t she? We think it’s wonderful!”

2.  “Gracie values order.  She really notices and it bothers her when the plans change.”

3. “you dress her sooo cute!” (Me, beaming)

They were soooo cute on Halloween!  Gracie was Barbie Mariposa the butterfly fairy.  Trinity was her idol, Dora the Explorer!  Yes, that is hair paint, she wouldn’t wear a wig for anything.  And here’s the crazy part, it came out in ONE WASH!  Boy was I thankful.  I wasn’t sure if we were going to have Dora living with us for a couple months or not.  Obviously I’m a laid back mom, because I did it anyways.  haha

In other news, we are so proud of Chris.  He got a promotion at work, which means a raise!  Way to go, baby!  I love you and I’m so proud of you!  (Must be the lucky beard!)

Me?  Oh I’m good.  I guess I should tell you all, Monday the 10th I’m going to have an interview on Channel 5 news.  I think they said 6 pm.  I don’t ever watch my own interviews, so you’ll have to let me know how it was.  Now that October is finished, I’m sighing with relief.  October is insane but rewarding, as there are a ton of speaking engagements and “breast cancer events” that we do.  But I am happy to be used in that capacity since my story is so powerful.  I like the role I have been given. 

I also started Christmas shopping.  Yikes!  I am trying to just do a few quality things for everyone this year instead of a plethora of toys we don’t use or need.  My house is too small for all the clutter.  So I asked for ONE new Coach purse, and ONE new pair of Ugg boots.  That is truly ALL I want. 

The girls, let’s see…their Christmas list is a little more extensive.  I picked up these toys at Amazon and figured that Santa could bring them: Gracie is getting an electronic password journal and Trinity will be getting a Baby Alive that burps (If you know her, you know how fitting this is.) Both girls are getting an Aquadoodle mat that is so huge it hangs on the wall.  Amazon has some amazing price kills this time of year with free shipping, so I got all that for $28 shipped!  Way to go, Santa!

Okay that’s it.  I have to clean.  Should I leave you with some pictures?  Well…okay…you talked me into it.