30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 28 ~ Thanksgiving

Today is a day of giving for thanks.  It is a day to spend with loved ones, whomever they may be. 

Count your blessings.
Thanks given for family.
Thanks given for friends.
Thanks given for pets.
Thanks given for our food.
Thanks given for ability to provide.
Thanks given for those that serve.

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 27

I've been a Garth fan since day 1... I was a teenager; my bedroom walls were plastered with posters and pictures of him; LITERALLY plastered.  I even had senior pictures taken with some of my posters and pictures.  To say I was a super-fan is an understatement... I'm also the only Garth fan who has never been to a concert.  (I will fix that one someday)

I love music... listen to it all day.  In addition to Garth; Trace Adkins, Blake Shelton, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood... but also like classic rock, rap, classic country, almost anything....

I also remember growing up with the Grandon's doing their jam sessions ~ such fun times and precious memories!  I have a recording of Mary (aka Mom) singing "It's Your Love"... love it!

Day 27 and I'm thankful for music.

 

 
 

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 26

It's the nectar of the gods...

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 25

I entrust my daughters every day to a wonderful woman who loves my children, allows them to call her Grandma, and I call her Mom.  Theola is a fantastic woman. 

I also have a couple teenagers that the girls love to "hang out with"... YiYi is one of their favorites.  It's good for them to be around older "kids" that really love playing games with them and can all be kids together. 

I would be remiss if I didn't mention my babysitter I had growing up.  Alice is a generous woman, with a huge heart.  I love her to this day and I miss her greatly. 

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 24

I have one of the best brother-in-laws ever... Mike is my husband's twin brother.  I don't normally refer to him as my brother-in-law, but rather my brother, "the bro" and I am "Sis". 

Mike is my brother in every sense of the word, except for biological.  We can talk about anything, he looks out for me, he's a loving and attentive uncle to the girls.  We've done so much together over the past years... State Fair trips, Wicked, shopping at Tanger, Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, him being in the room right up until about 15 minutes prior to Emerald's birth (I think he was a bit scared!), numerous BBQs, and lots more. 

I love Mike; he is my brother. 

Mike - May 2013

 

Mike & Ireland - July 2013

 

Mike with Ireland & Emerald - July 2013

 

Mike teaching the girls some jump rope moves - July 2013

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 23

My father-in-law Jim, like his wife, opened up his home and heart to me.  He has always treated me as his daughter, and always with the utmost respect. 

Dad - August 2004

My favorite memories of Dad include the annual Christmas trips to Chicago, the wonderful tear-jerker speech at our rehearsal dinner, dancing at our wedding, going to Amana's Tannenbaum Forest and most recently, going to Wicked.  Of course, there's the dinners out to Rastrelli's and lots of time spent just hanging out as a family. 

So today, on his birthday, I'm thankful for Dad. 

Dad - our wedding - August 2004

 

30 Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 22

Connie Abbott is a woman whom I respect and admire greatly.  I met her for the first time on Christmas Eve in 2000.  I had just started dating her son a little month prior and I was coming into her home to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas with their family.  I was welcomed with open arms; she made me feel very comfortable. 

She was "Mom" to me from the start.  She always treated me like one of her own children. 

Mom - our wedding - August 2004

A few of my most favorite memories... our Christmas trips to Chicago and having lunch under the Christmas tree in The Walnut Room... taking her to see Clay Aiken at the State Fair in 2004... my bridal shower... there's many more...

We suddenly and unexpectedly lost Mom 8 years ago today.  I cherish the 5 years I got to spend with her.  She was a fantastic woman and I miss her every day. 

Family - our family - August 2004