My Cup Runneth Over

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought it only fitting that I list just a few of the things I'm thankful for. Nearly two years ago (can't believe it's been that long!), Tim lost his job, and I wrote a series of notes on Facebook listing some of my blessings. It was such a comforting exercise; I encourage everyone to do it sometime when you're feeling pessimistic or that life just isn't treating you fairly. Maybe I should make this a regular feature...

1. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, and one day, he will take me away from all of the pain in this world and home to his Father.

2. I have a wonderful husband who loves God, me and his children. He loves me more than I deserve, even when I am completely unlovable.

3. I have two great kids. Yes, Pierce's autism is a challenge for us daily, but this kid loves like no other kid I know. Reagan is the happiest, nicest, most compliant child you can imagine. I am so blessed to be their mom.

4. Every day, the four of us are able to get out of bed healthy and happy.

5. We have very little debt. Our mortgage is paid off! My car is too, but now we're looking at a new car, so that's about to change. Oh well, on with the positive stuff!

6. I have parents that love me and punished me when I needed it. They taught me about the love of Jesus. They pray for me, Tim and the kids every day. And, even though they are far away, they are some pretty great grandparents to my two kids!

7. I have a sister that has defied the odds, and continues to fight a critical illness every single day. She enjoys encouraging others, even when she feels she doesn't have anything to give. I love her bunches!

8. I have a fabulous mother-in-law. She lavishes me with praise to the point that I have a hard time believing I'm as great as she thinks I am. She's the reason Tim is as awesome as he is!

9. I have a sister-in-law that is a great inspiration to me. She has overcome adversity and continues to grow into a wonderful person. She's a fantastic mom to my niece, Elise!

10. I have my "hens"; my Steel Magnolias bestest of best friends who would do anything for me and I for them.

11. We are part of a great church. Even more important, we are part of a small group/life group that I love.

12. I have finally found an outlet for my love of singing; a place where I feel somewhat talented and have something to contribute. I love the Metro Nashville Chorus (and my quartet, Simplicity)!

13. I have a roof over my head. Though I have my complaints about the constant projects and repairs that come along with a fixer-upper, my family has a place to call "home". There's air in the summer, heat in the winter, electricity and indoor plumbing. There are so many people that would love to have it as good as my family does.

14. I have never known hunger.

15. All four of us have closets full of clothes.

16. I live in America. We are free to worship whatever god we choose.

17. We have men and women that fight for that and many other freedoms every single day. I don't think we can thank them enough.

18. Pierce has been in school since he was three-years-old, and every year, we've had awesome teachers and educational aides. They genuinely care about my son, and do all that they can to help him. Reagan's had great teachers, too!

19. I'm actually pretty good at growing things.

20. I would not have chosen to be a mom of a special needs child. However, I now have knowledge and insight that I can use to help other families that are walking the same path.

I know I can go on and on, but I want to get this posted, so I'm going to stop here for now. Positivity is not a quality I exude; it takes some work for me. I need to work harder to be thankful all year round and not just because a date on the calendar inspires the country to do so. I hope you will join me. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

The Bucket List

I haven't really had anything thought-provoking to say lately, so I thought I'd write something a little more fun. I have not seen the movie, but it seems "The Bucket List" has inspired a lot of people to make up their own list of things they want to accomplish before they die. I am no exception. The items on my list are in no particular order. I'm just writing them down as I think of them. Some are serious, some silly and frivolous. Maybe one or two of them are pipe dreams. Lots of places I want to see. Here goes!

1. Hear my children accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and watch their father baptize them

2. Watch my daughter get married

3. Hold a grandbaby

4. Celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary

5. Set Pierce up in his own place and help him cash a paycheck

6. See my sister completely healed

7. Have every project in this house DONE

8. Have every square inch of our 4-acres look beautiful and worthy of a garden tour (or wedding)

9. Relearn the piano (I took for 8 years, and can't remember a thing! Tragic, really.)

10. Become a professional photographer

11. Become a Master Gardener

12. Use my love of gardening and photography to start my own business

13. Have all of my pictures in albums, complete with stories and historical family events documented

14. See the Grand Canyon

15. Help decorate a Rose Bowl Parade float

16. Go to Italy

17. See Europe's oldest, most beautiful gardens (like Monet's)

18. Go to Hawaii

19. Have a screened-in porch

20. Have a greenhouse

21. Read all of the literary classics

22. Watch every movie on the American Film Institute Top 100 list

23. Go to Paris in the spring

24. Go to the tulip festival in Amsterdam

25. Go to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC

26. Take a Mediterranean cruise

27. Learn how to ballroom dance

28. Hybridize a plant (probably a sunflower, iris or daylily)

29. Have a house-cleaning robot like Rosie from The Jetsons

30. Know that cancer, diabetes, autism, alzheimer's, lupus and heart disease have been cured

31. Help families with special needs children either by being an Educational Aide in the school system or by being a parent advocate that attends IEP meetings

32. Research my ancestry; find out if there are any long-lost relatives out there

33. Write a barbershop arrangement of a popular song

34. Go to a DCI (Drum Corp International) World Championship Finals competition

35. Take The Sound Of Music tour in Salzburg. I want to spin on the mountain and belt out, "The hills are alive..."

36. See the National Holocaust Museum

37. See the 9/11 memorial in NYC

38. See The Nutcracker in NYC

39. Grow gladiolas as beautiful as my grandmother's

40. Find the fat kid that I teased at the Fast Fare on Reidville Road when I was 12 and beg him to forgive me

41. Attend an opera at the Sydney Opera House

42. Have a painting done of one of my gardens, or learn to do it myself

43. Have my very own waterfall or other similar water feature

44. Make it through my entire life without a cavity. I'd really love to avoid any kind of dental work.

45. Be able to use floo powder or be "beamed up". I hate to fly, and I'm not fond of long car trips, either. That's going to be an obstacle with all of the places I want to see on my list. Hmmm.

46. Go to a showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Belcourt Theater

47. Tour Pixar studios

48. Visit all 50 states

49. See the bright lights of Las Vegas

50. Tour a real castle

When I do "kick the bucket", I don't want my pale, worn-out, VERY DEAD body to be displayed for people to walk past and politely admire saying, "She sure does look good, doesn't she?". I want to be cremated, and I want my memorial service to be joyful. I want pictures of me with my family and friends, doing the things I loved. I've been told I have a memorable laugh, so if you can find video or audio of me laughing, that would be lovely. If MNC is still singing "Goodbye, World, Goodbye", I want them there to sing it. Otherwise, use the track on our upcoming CD (shameless plug).

POST SCRIPT: I didn't want to publish this post until I got 50 items on my list, but I've somehow managed to surpass my goal. I'm up to 62 now, so I'm going to see if I can get up to 100! I'll bring you the rest of my list in a future post.