30 days of thanks - July 30

Thankful this day for amazing friends and family (including my dear friend/cousin Audrey and family who drove many many hours just to be here for it) who had the bestest birthday party a 30 year old could ask for!  Thankful especially for my hubby and my dear friend, Cydney, who I know put so much time, creativity, and effort into making everything grand!  I feel/felt so loved!  Thank you to all of those that came!  It meant so much to me!  I feel blessed beyond measure!

And as a friend put it, "3-0 ain't so bad."

So this concludes "30 days of thanks."

30 days of thanks - July 29

Oh Pedicure...how I love to get you!  I only wish it were more frequent!  I am thankful for the relaxing hour you give me!  And I'm thankful I got to get one for my birthday this year!:)

30 days of thanks - July 28

Sisterhood, how I am so thankful for you!  I admire each of you so much!  I learn so much from you and probably laugh more than I ever do when I'm with you!  The chats, the stories, the fun memories we make together...and for those of you who enjoy coffee I suppose that's nice for you:P  Thank you all for being such wonderful ladies and thank you God for putting them in my life! 

30 days of thanks - June 27

Hi Jim, this is Candace, Jim!:)  Jim - I am so incredibly thankful for you!  It was such a blessing to work with you.  You made me laugh and kept me sane!  I miss it!  You are my kids KY grandpa and they adore you!  I wish we got to see each more, but am grateful for the times we do!  You are "King of the Grill" and I'm so blessed to know you!!!

30 days of thanks - June 26

Thankful for neighbors/friends down the street who we can take an afternoon walk with or have an adult conversation with. 

30 days of thanks - June 25

God's Word - I'm thankful for you everyday, how I can trust in your Truth and lean on your promises.  God thank you for giving us your Word!

30 days of thanks - June 24

Thankful on this day 13 years ago a boy named Lee took me on a walk and told me he liked me.  It changed my life forever.

30 days of thanks - June 23

Summer - how I love you!  You are my favorite season.  Fall/Spring, they are pretty, but I love the warm/hot sun.  It means ice cream, swimming, playing outside, no school, and so much more.  Maybe that's why I had 3 summer pregnancies/babies...hmm.  Thankful for summer!

30 days of thanks - June 22

Brothers (Dave and Jon) - even though I'm your little sis, who was really more like an only child, I'm thankful for the time I got to have with you growing up and how our relationships have grown since we've gotten older.  Dave, thanks for always taking me to the corner store, even though you made me give you back scratches to take me.  Jon, I'm thankful our love/hate relationships has ended more on the love side as we've gotten older.  I'm thankful for you both.  I'm thankful for your families as well, that I'm blessed to have wonderful sister-in-laws, nephews & niece (yes that would be 6 nephews & 1 niece).  

30 days of thanks - June 21

Jeff, Cleary, Emma, Ellie, Seth - I will never forget my year with you my Senior year of college!  That one year shaped me so much.  I loved every minute I got to be with you all.  Everything from playing in the backyard with the kids, playing pool, having a late evening chat, or watching an episode of 24.  You guys taught me what it was to serve in your home!  My hope is that we have been able to be to others what you were to me.  I wish we got to see each other more and talk to each other more!  Know I love your family so much though and someday we we'll see each other!:)  So thankful for you guys!

30 days of thanks - June 20

Carl and Masami - what a true blessing you have been in our lives!  Carl you are the best boss I could ever imagine to have...even though "you're killin' me" sometimes.:)  Your constant humility and boldness for God challenge and encourage me!  I'm SO incredibly thankful to be part of the Reasons for Hope team.  Masami you are always so kind and caring!  We love you both so much! 

30 days of thanks - June 19

I am SO incredibly thankful for 8 years of marriage to the most amazing man that God blessed me with as my husband!!!  I fall in love him more and more everyday and I can't imagine life without him!

 Isabel brought me this card today.  She didn't know it was our anniversary.  I LOVE what is says, "Lee Mom"...and right above that she put a stamp that says "Friends Forever."  The best gift we could get on our anniversary!!! 

30 days of thanks - June 18

VBS - You were a big part of my life growing up each summer.  The penny buckets, the cheers, the quietest exits, the Judge, the list could go on!  Each year was "the best Bible school ever" as my dad would say.  I'm thankful for VBS and how it impacted me and other kids, even if in small ways.  I'm thankful to have been a part of it growing up and being able to now teach and lead kids towards the knowledge of Christ. 

I remember the first time Lee and I taught a class together at VBS.  He worked so hard on making our class look the coolest.  He made this awesome temple out of cardboard and spray paint.  That's one thing I have always loved is serving with Lee and I'm thankful I get the opportunity to do that this week as well!

30 days of thanks - June 17

On this Father's Day, I know I can say for myself and for Lee, we are thankful that we have dedicated all of our children to the Lord!  It is something very important to us.  Today was Klara Jane's day!  She is such a joy!  Our prayer is that her life will be dedicated to the Lord and the work/plan He has for her life more than anything!  I am also thankful today for my Heavenly Father, as well as the earthly Father's in my life - Lee, Dad, Lolo!  Thank for the Godly examples you have been to your family! 

30 days of thanks - June 16

Ludington, you are my hometown.  I often think of you in the summer because of how much I miss summer at the beach, ice cream at House of Flavors, the marina, and so much more!  I had some of the best friends growing up, my gang.  We'd hangout every weekend watching a movie, playing volleyball at the beach, and some how I was usually the center of a joke.  When you grow up and move away (to the big city), you appreciate more small towns like Ludington, the community they bring, the good and the bad.  I'm thankful it was a big part of my life and grateful for the time we get to go back and visit! 

30 days of thanks - June 15

Small Group Annual Camping trip...oh how you are filled with loads of fun, too much food, and MUCH exhaustion!  There is seriously WAY too much stuff you have to pack when you go camping, even if only for one night (which is our case usually every year).  This year add in the kiddos bikes and our car was packed to the gills!  

As a kid we never went camping.  I think we went one time in our State Park (which is the largest and most popular State Park in all of Michigan with 9 miles of beach leading up to the park - side note: I worked there for a summer:)).  Any how, the one time we did go it rained and we just went home and slept in our warm house.  Our family's style of camping was more like a Holiday Inn.:)  I've come to enjoy to it though, but not quite a hard core camper.  

It is always truly a fun trip though and one I am thankful for!  It lets me see different sides of people and how they let loose when normal daily life is not in the way.  I think this is the 4th or 5th year we have gone and it was especially nice this year not being 7 months pregnant like in previous years.  Hopefully will have some pictures to post from this soon... 

30 days of thanks - June 14

My small groupies!  What can I say?  I love you all!  You are all so different, and that is what makes you great!  You are a continual blessing to Lee and I.  You pray for us, encourage us, challenge us, etc.  Despite the nights when I simply don't want to go, after I leave I'm always blessed to have gone!  I'm excited to see where God leads us this year and I'm thankful for you all!

30 days of thanks - June 13

Amy, you don't even know what blessing you were to me all through college!  We were two Michigan girls, who were both PK's, and were both ready for life on our own!  Adventures we had, growing we did, and I'm so thankful you were my college roomie through thick and thin!  I wish we got to see each other more, but I am still thankful for your friendship!!!

30 days of thanks - June 12

Laura, and the rest of the Jazzercise gang!  It's been almost 3 years now since I first entered the Jazzercise doors when Ana was just 6 weeks old.  What a blessing you have been in my life!  You have challenged me physically week after week.  Not only is it a great workout, but it's been fun to get to know so man of you as well!  Thankful for you!

30 days of thanks - June 11

Lola & Lola, I'm so blessed to have you as my in-laws.  Thank you for raising an amazing son who loves God and loves his family!  I am continually encouraged and challenged by your godly example, and how you share Christ with those in the Philippines!  I'm blessed especially to have you here this summer.  We are looking forward to making many memories with you!   

30 days of thanks - June 10

Grace Fellowship, I'm so thankful that you are apart of our lives!  You were not what led us to KY, but I'm thankful that you are now part of why we are here!  I'm thankful for the body of Christ that makes up Grace and how we have grown and been loved by you!  I'm thankful my husband has the opportunity to work and serve there, as well as serving myself.  I'm thankful for being fed weekly by an amazing pastor, and not only being fed, but challenged week after week to change and grow.  God, thank you for putting Grace in our lives!

We have a little garden

We have a little garden...

We harvested our first head of broccoli (and 3 green beans...what do you do with 3 green beans?  eat them, I suppose)

 

I'm feeling pretty organic.

30 days of thanks - June 9 - 500th post!

Wow, today is my 500th post since I first began this blog!  I am thankful for my blogger friends, who I'm also thankful that many of them are my real friends in real life!  Speaking of real/blogger friends...I'm thankful for SO many of them, who encourage me daily through their own posts, their own real life adventures!  And although I don't get to it as much these days, I'm thankful how this blog has been a record of God's blessings and trials in our life!

30 days of thanks - June 8

Dad & Mom, thank you for the upbringing you gave me, teaching me the Truth.  Thank you for being there for me and my family when we have been in need.  Thank you for being encouraging and loving.  I'm for you!

30 days of thanks!

I know right...I don't look a day past 20, but in fact I will be 30 in appropriately 24 days.  No, it's not November, when we normally think about thanks and thanksgiving, but I wanted to take the next 24 days (plus add in the 6 that I missed) and do a 30 days of thanks for the month of June!  I have MUCH to be thankful for from these past 30 years, and I want to reflect not on what I have accomplished, but what God has done and who He has put in my life. 

Here's to playing catch up and hopefully I'll be able to keep up with it (although there is keeping the house clean, playing with the kids, feeding the kids, laundry, etc. that I might get behind every now and then):)

June 1 - God you saved me!  You took care of my biggest problem, my sin problem.  Without You, I can't even imagine where I would be in this world.  There have been twists and turns, trials and joys, but am have been blessed with more than I deserve, because I deserve nothing!  Thank you for being my Rock, my Redeemer, and my Deliverer! 

June 2 - Lee you have been SO loving!  You are a selfless husband, who often cleans the kitchen, gives me back rubs, takes me out on dates, makes me laugh, fixes my messes, and loves me unconditionally.  I am SO thankful I got to marry my best friend!  I'm for you!!!

June 3 - Isabel Lorraine you light up my days with your imagination, your love of joke telling, and quest for adventure.  You are our first born!  I have learned a lot from you!  I can't believe how you have grown and how God is shaping you into SUCH a lovely young lady!  I am so thankful for you!

June 4 - Ana Christina as much as you hog the bed, I love every part of your snuggles every morning.  I crack up at your cute facial expressions and enjoy observing your motherly instincts.  You try to use my make-up all the time, follow me around the house, and although it drives me crazy sometimes, I thank God for you and can't imagine life without you there right behind me. 

June 5 - Klara Jane, those big blue eyes.  You have a contagious joy.  A joy that I wish I showed as much as you!  You are growing by leaps and bounds each day and are such a lovely addition to our family.  I love you so much and am so very thankful for you! 

June 6 - I'm thankful for our lovely first home!  I'm thankful for a warm bed to sleep in every night, and a roof to cover my head.  It seems trivial, but it's WAY more than many in this world have.  Often when I think "I wish our living room were bigger" or "I wish our floors were nicer," I'm reminded of what a "home" should be, a building, but a place of memories, laughter, tears, and joy...and that's what our home is, and for that I am thankful! 

June 7 - Jesse & Cydney you have been amazing friends.  I am thankful that God put you in our life, and only 10 minutes away too.  We have loved and been blessed to share joys and trials!  You have shown Christ to us in so many ways.  We are blessed to have you in our lives and today I want to say thank you on your 9th anniversary!