Happy Thanksgiving

Today I thought it appropriate to say just how thankful I am to be blessed with my wonderful friends and family and all the blessings God has given me. Daily, I take for granted the little things that so many who are far worse off yearn for. I am so lucky to have a home and a wonderful husband and daughter to rely on and to love. I am thankful for my church family and for those who have been there with me and for me through thick and thin. I am so blessed to have a Christian family and to have such wonderful parents and grandparent in whom I can look up to and rely on. I thank God each day for all that I am lucky enough to have, and for those encounters I am graced with of kind souls who bless me and feed me his words and wisdom. I can only hope that I can pass along those same graces to others and touch someone else's life in the same way others have touched mine. And to end today's blog, a poem of Thanksgiving I thought very befitting of the holiday.

For each new morning with its light, 
For rest and shelter of the night, 
For health and food, 
For love and friends, 
For everything Thy goodness sends. 

- Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

"Has anyone seen my husband?"

Michael and I went to Best Buy over lunch and officially bought him a new XBox 360 and the new Fable III game. Its funny how such an inanimate object can mean so much to someone. My husband, Mr. Gamer, was so excited that at every stop light he'd gaze into the back seat at his new toy. I know it sounds pretty silly to some but for him, this was like an early Christmas. A few months ago, Michael's Xbox got as he called it the "red ring of death." Apparently, the early edition consoles had a malfunction where they have a tendency to overheat. He has since moped (literally) around the house with sad puppy eyes and whined about the loss of his beloved games and Xbox live. Needless to say, I'll be lucky if he even comes to bed over the course of the weekend as he makes up lost time. I guess there are many worse places he could be than holed up in our living room with a controller and the TV. Maybe this will finally give me the opportunity to get caught up on some homework and enjoy making homemade ornaments and decorate sugar cookies with Amelia. We so rarely get to spend the evening doing something just fun that it makes it so much more special when we do. In addition, I have eating at Patti's Settlement to look forward to for Michael's birthday tomorrow. While I know Michael will get his traditional hot brown, I'm so much more indecisive. I think I'll just play it by ear and see where my taste buds lead me. I love going there and can't wait to see if the restaurant has already put up their Christmas decorations. I sure hope so and that we can take some impromptu family photos while there. It always proves to be a great time with regardless for all of us.

Morning craziness...

Today, I woke to one of those days everyone dreads. I didn't sleep well. My dear husband tossed and turned half the night. I felt like I was dreaming of a really bad ship where the tide never dies down. I woke abruptley at my alarm and then hit snooze. Why, oh why do I do that to myself? The one day I have to get everyone ready (i.e. me, the kid, the dog etc.) I get up late. Sigh. So, at 6:35, I find myself dragging my 6 year old out of bed and needless to say she's in the mood to question EVERYTHING. "Mommy, why don't I ever get to turn on the light?" Really? I think... Really? Of all the things for her to start complaining about first thing it's why she can't turn on the light. I try to ignore her discontent and just get it done. Her complaints then take on the issues of wanting to wear a winter coat she's outgrown, picking up the neighbor little girl's scarf and insisting she could be "Alise" for the day, and ranting about her hair and how she wants to it to look "poofy" like a 17-year old. Maybe we should invest in a bumpit? Thinking back now, its all so silly. But at the moment, it was one more weapon to add to morning's evil arsonal of things to annoy me.

Then, naturally, after scrambling around to get myself ready and finally getting out of the house, I decided to go down Hwy. 81. Michael always insists its SO much faster than 431. I regretted my decision shortly after. Why, oh why is it that at 7:45 in the morning, the farmers feel the need to pull out in front of 4 cars back to back which are all already running late and just trying to make it in on time, only to slow down to 40 mph? This baffles me. Of course, thanks to said farmer man, I was late to work. I guess I'll chalk it up to a learning experience. Tomorrow, I vow to try to drag my lazy butt out of bed at least 45 minutes earlier and drive the normal route to work, where I at least know there is somewhere to pass without a wild turkey jumping out in front of me... Not sure what I mean, hunters, drive down Hwy. 81 if you are having trouble finding your game. They're all hanging out there looking to hitch a ride.

So that was the beginning of my day. I am now knee deep in car ads and decided to take a three minute break to rant. I feel better I suppose. Now back to the grind. Perhaps later I'll post a much happier and more enlightening blog about how a gloomy day can turn around. My prayer is that I am granted some sort peace and patience from the Lord and that I get everything done. Maybe some yummy chinese food from Hong Kong will make it all seem better. Maybe. :)

The beginning...

So what is this blog all about? To be honest I'm really not certain I even have a particular goal with it. Unlike other many other more determined and creative folks, I didn't begin blogging as a means of being informative. I'm not an expert on any one particular thing. I'm not on a mission to conquer the world, to be a sporty and in-shape weight loss champ or model, and I'm really not even all that great of a writer.

I'm an artist and a mommy, a wife and a busy business woman, and the crazy jewelry lady who runs mainly on caffeine and energy drinks at a speed which often causes me to fly by the seat of my pants. I suppose the creation of this blog is more about self-reflection than anything and those simple and random things in life which I find amusing and wish to share with others. Perhaps at the very least, it will help to brighten my own and hopefully someone else's day. This is merely a place to share and post and to let you peak into my busy life if you like. I would love to hear more about others as well, as I believe blogging is definitely about a give and take relationship with the audience. So please feel free to add my blog to your readings. I will post on occasion and check back often to see other's comments and perceptions on which ever topics might ensue.