foolishnotions.net

we are so blessed to have friends and family (and friends who also happen to be family) who constantly check on us, pray for us and ask us how it’s going. so, i thought, in the interest of keeping conversations not all about us and the layoff, i would post periodic updates. so, it’s week one; here’s what i know…

i am a spoiled rotten selfish american. [sigh]

i spend more time than i care to admit dreaming of my now financially forbidden pleasures. so in the spirit of this, accompanied by the hope of becoming a more grateful individual, my first update will be dedicated to the things i am thankful for…

1. bread, milk, eggs, sugar, milk, butter, pasta and the spices and condiments already paid for that line my cupboard and fridge.  did you know you can make just about anything you can buy in the store or at a restaurant with these basic ingredients?  who knew?
2. we have 2 cars that are paid for.
3. i managed a sandwich comprised mostly of the ingredients from #1.  got into one of the two items noted in #2 and drove myself over to my friend’s workplace to take her to wendy’s and catch up on life.
4. my friend, allison, is not embarrassed in the slightest by #3… she was just glad to see me.
5. i’m thankful for the library, which has zillions of books that they are willing to let me borrow any time i want – - for FREE!
6. rainy days and vacation time… which, in combination with an item procured from #5, makes me a decidedly happy and rested person.
7. free starbucks just for voting and half a priddyboy sandwich pastor norma shared with me today.
8. we are out of debt and have a seriously modest mortgage.  and though the bank account is dangerously thin and we are having to make big lifestyle cuts, we are quite comfortable. we really have everything we could ever need and so, so, so much more.  all of this makes me deeply sorry for ever complaining before about our income and what we were not able to have.
9. my family, my job, our friends, our church…. wow.  i am uncommonly blessed to really truly love every aspect of my life.  what an amazing gift.
10. we live in america.  we voted this week and our voice was heard.  we have choices.  we are free.  our success or failure is completly independent of governmental or social influence, because this is america, and that is what america is all about.  how did i get chosen to be born here?  i don’t know… but this week find myself overwhelmingly grateful for it.
11. and the #1 thing (not #1 from above, the best- – oh, never mind. you know what i mean).  the thing i am most thankful for this week is my husband.  he is absolutely the man of my dreams.  i know no one who is more determined or driven than him.  he is an amazingly patient and loving father, a generous provider and the love of my life.  i am so excited to see him find his dream.  i desire more than anything for him to find that career path for which he was uniquely designed.  i long for the day i see him energized at the end of his work day, because he accomplished something that was in his heart rather than merely earning a buck.  if you are wondering what to pray for… please pray for that.  i want more than anything to see him truly come alive.  i am convinced that when that happens…. the world will never have seen the likes of my amazing man.  really.

so, this week gratitude. maybe, hopefully, next week i’ll graduate to generosity.  thank you all so much for your prayers, blog love and friendship… y’all are great.

so, until next time…
i desperately need my life to not become all about me, so…
what’s going on with you?
how can i pray for you?
(i really need you to comment – save me from myself!)