Saturday, November 20, 2010

Thankful Friends (UPDATED)

Each day I've been posting a different "What are you thankful for" question on Facebook. Here are the replies so far. I love how diverse my friends are!

Thankful for Nature

Hummingbirds
Rainy nights, afternoons, mornings....its alluring...;)
Landscape with big hills and waterfalls, island beach with a rock cave and and a waterfall. And all of those with a beautiful woman to compliment the scenery!!!
Quiet, cool, foggy, Smoky Mountain mornings where you can hear the acorns falling from the trees and hear the birds and squirrels playing (all enjoyed from a hot tub of course)!
Have to love that vitamin D...and Mt Rainier
Sunset on the beach. I need a vacation and a hurricane!!
I am thankful for my fur babies.
I love the way the trees turn yellow and red and orange during the fall. Our God is such a wonderful "artist" :)
The buttercups when they first peek through the snow. It is pure GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The sandy beach.
I love fall and spring. It reminds me of the crucifixion and resurrection. It's God's constant reminder that He has better things in store for us.......and there the most beautiful times of the year.
It's neat how the Crucifixion seems to have seeped its way into everything. He was slain before the foundation of the world. It's like the world always knew what was going to happen and always remembers. I look forward to that moment when Spring begins...and it will never end. God bless you all.
Trees just after they get really dark in color in the summer. Still new, but rich and seeing the wind blowing in the them.
I love animals. Going to the zoo makes me happy for a week. I also love my two "wild" animals. I`m so thankful for their companionship.
I love a perfect fall day. We only get a couple each year and I always look forward to them.



Thankful for Places
My bed and the BEACH!
I love going to the barn and sitting on the hay and smelling all the critters down there.
HOME!!
Disney World! No matter what kind of day I'm having, it always makes me smile.
I couldn't live without a place in God's heart. Gotta get & keep my name in the Book of Life (sorry if too deep).
I have to say that the shower is my fave...i can relax, rejuvenate, think, sing, etc.
Mom's House, we still kick off our shoes and splash in puddles, play hide and seek, or curl up and watch a movie with popcorn....no worries!
My room
The beach (if it's an off day) or the pool!
In the loving embracing arms of my wife.
My bed
The bath
Cancun!!!!
My recliner @ home.
At the school I work at. I know it sounds weird, but that's where I feel needed the most.I also love my job:)
I am thankful for our home and love being there.
When I was teaching, I was thankful for my classroom. It brought me a lot of stress, but it was also very fulfilling. I spent as much time there as I did at home, so it became special to me.
I'm thankful for my childhood home and that I ...can still visit there (even though I kind of hope for not much longer)
I'm thankful for the home I have with my husband and child. My big honking tub :)
I love a clean toilet when I really need one. Don't act like you don't get there and say, "Oh, thank you, Jesus" too.


Thankful for "Stuff"
I'm thankful for my Xanax!!!!!!!
Who wouldn't be thankful for chicken?
Modern appliances. (especially DVRs)
I'm thankful for electricity
I am thankful from my friends! I use them everyday, enjoy them AND they make life MUCH easier! Oh- and alcohol ;) for all the reasons listed above ;)
Indoor plumbing.....
The thought of doing a research paper without a computer (like I always had to do in the old days) is scary. And if I had to function in the kitchen without my microwave - oh brother.
Cell phone - always in contact with those I love and care about.
I'm thankful for my...computer! It links us all together!!
ANTIDEPRESSANTS!!!!! Oh...was it obvious I'm a teacher?
My car! Gets me to and from work and allows me to take care of my son and husband.
My phone! Wherever I am, I can take pictures and video of Amelia to share. It keeps me connected to everyone through text and Facebook (people actually TALK on their phone? When I was nursing those first few weeks after Amelia was born, my phone kept me company (and awake!) at night.



Thankful for Events
The birth of my children and grandchildren :) The most wonderful days of my life!!!
The decision to come to tennessee. Patrick and my lives are so much better. We are both happier because of it.
The day I was baptized, the day I got married and the adoptions of my boys. Happiest days of my life.
My salvation is the event for which I am most thankful. Second in line is my marriage and motherhood, both of which came together in one neat package!!!
Birth of my sons
I've got a weird answer: (VERY WEIRD!) I can honestly say that I am thankful for having had breast cancer. Through this experience, I was awakened to many "truths" to which I had been ignorant. I learned more lessons through this event than... any other event in my life. I learned who my true friends are, what truly matters in life, and the significance of our individual existences on this planet. I learned that I can endure more than I ever knew that I could, that I am loved far more than I ever thought I was, and what it means to really fight for people that you love.
The day God put my angel in my arms. She has changed me in more ways than one, but the biggest is slowing me down to see the beauty of this world through a child's eyes.
I'm thankful for the day I met my husband!!! I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for him!!
I'm thankful for the moment when Bryan Maness entered my life! Don't really want to know how it would've turned out otherwise!
Well of course I'm thankful for the day I was saved. And I am thankful for meeting and getting married to Lynn.
I'm thankful for the day I met my husband and for the day our daughter was born.

Thankful for Abilities and Freedoms
I am very thankful that I can go to church and worship my Savior without fear of being hurt or killed. I am thankful that I can worship in a beautiful building without having to hide in dark places. I am thankful for the ability to be able to go to work everyday and do my job. I am thankful that my back surgery was a success, so that I can continue doing my job every day. I am thankful that I have the ability to be able to physically do all the things that I enjoy doing.
I am thankful that I can go to Hartland Place on Monday nights to share the gospel with the teen girls. I am thankful that my husband is able to go each week to share the gospel with the teen guys.
My freedom. The ability to love who I want and live where I want
Being able to love you and John...a very long time...for only five dolla' ;)
Freedom to worship our risen Savoir Jesus Christ! And all of the reasons our great troops are defending our freedom.
I am thankful for my abilitu to multi-task!
I'm thankful for the ability to think independently....
I'm thankful for every day I'm granted.
I am thankful for freedom of Religion. I think many of this take this for granted!
Thankful for the ability to live and life after
The ability to see my child's face and hear her laugh.

Thankful for PEOPLE
Thankful for my healthy children and for the love of family and friends.

I'm thankful for a loving husband, two wonderful and healthy children, and a family who is there for me through thick and thin.
I am thankful for you and my other precious friends. I am so thankful for a Christian Mom that prays for our family without ceasing. I don't know what I would do without her many, many prayers for me and for my family.
I am thankful for my wonderful family.They are are my strenth when I am weak through God. I am thankful that I have a Christian Mother and Father who lead all of our family to Christ and is the best mother of five girls one could ever hope to have.
Grace Peper. I'm a better wife and mother because of her.

It was a random meeting on Bourbon St. in which I met a man that allowed me to examine myself and helped me learned lessons that have made me a better young woman. I'm a spoiled brat and sometimes focus on how a person can support me financially. I'm so thankful for having someone that can support me emotionally, spiritually and intellectually.
I'm most thankful for my hubby...he is the only person in the world that has never let me down, who loves me unconditionally, and who has earned my trust completely. He's the best person I know and I'm thankful that he puts up with me everyday!!

I'm thankful to have my Judy Bell..my granny. She supports me and my parents whenever and through whatever. My second year of college she had a tumor on her brain that was removed. When I found out about it, the surgery and treatment was already taking place. I thought about leaving and she told me that if I left school I would kill her. She is my best friend, my rock, my backbone...she's my Judy Bell..my granny.
I am so thankful for my son. He has brought a love and joy into my life that I never thought possible.
One person that I am thankful for is my son, John. He has always made me so proud, He has accomplished so much in his life. We have been through some tough times together He is always there if I need someone to talk to. He is a good listoner. He has a calm quite strength. He looks for the good in everyone.I most thankful he gave me Amber and Amelia!!!!!!
I'm thankful for my brother, TroyII. He really is one of the best people in the world. I'm so glad to have him in my life!!
My Granny... she taught by example. She had so much faith- in God, in people. She had a HUGE heart. Yeah, for sure my Granny.
I'm thankful for my Daddy. He took on the task of raising 2 lttle girls by himself.Tried to cook, fix our hair and dress us. I can still see him polishing our "saddle oxfords" burning poptarts or oatmeal! My Daddy is and always will be my hero. He's the only man in my life that has never disappointed me. Can't wait to see him tomorrow.
My daughter Harley. I love her dearly and she's a true blessing from the lord since I was told I couldn't have kids. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for her.
My sister, Paige. She's strong and sweet, loyal and loving, patient and persistent. We may have lost our mom, but when you put the two of us together we are the best of Mom. I love and respect her, and thank God for the blessing of a sister.
I'm thankful that I had my aunt Jo Ann in my life. She died 5 years ago, and I still miss her every day. She was the bravest, kindest, most amazing person I've ever met and she loved me unconditionally. She ran into a burning house to save her family, and spent the last 5 years of her life in pain because of it, but never became bitter or angry. I regret so much that she's not here to see my kids grow, but I'm thankful I had her for the first 26 years of my life.
I'm thankful for everyone and pray for my enemies, they keep me on my toes. However without our Lord and His sacrifices and His mercy we could never know any blessings. So I'll say Him and everyone else falls into place.

I am thankful for my husband's stepfather. He is so good to my mother in law and loves our family so much. I'm so glad she's happy. He has been so good to my husband and to me and we are so blessed that God gave him to our family.
There are way too many people including family and friends that have impacted my life in so many and diverse ways so would be hard pressed to pick one. I'm thankful for all of them past, present and future.
Although only married for two years, Michael, my husband, has opened my eyes to an entirely new world, and, for that, I am so grateful. I may have never had my little angel, Grey, if I hadn't so loved and enjoyed being with Michael, and known what a fantastic father he would be. What incredible blessings they are!
I'm thankful for my husband Matthew. We've only been married for 5 years, but we've been through alot. My nervous breakdown was the lowest point, but he really helped me keep grounded to life and feel safe. I will never forget that he is always by my side wherever and whenever I need him. He makes me feel strong and confident which is exactly what every one should have.
Mr. Cox! He and his wife use to write the article called Silver Linings in the Independent. He always said that I touched their lives, but he will never know how much he touched my life. When I was little his wife found out she had diabetes and they found out I had it and we would talk every time he came in the store. They moved here b/c of Freed and took me in as like one of their own since they never had kids. He is ONE of the few as I got older kept me straight with God!
Mr. Ed Brown was a teacher I had in elementary school. In the little school I attended, we had no tv, no radio, and believe it or not, no telephone. I don't know what would have happened if there had been a huge emergency of some kind! I am... thankful that he taught us to learn with both eyes and both ears wide open....to experiment with words, and to use our strengths to overcome our weaknesses. He made certain that we, despite our limited resources, kept up with the world around us, that we were nurtured, that we were prepared. One of my most vivid memories was the day that John Glenn orbited the earth: Feb. 20, 1962. With no other resource, Mr. Brown herded us out into the parking lot where his car and Mrs. Griffin's car (the only 2 teachers at the school) were parked; we formed a circle around his 1959 Chevrolet BelAire, he opened all 4 doors, and turned on the radio so that we could hear the broadcast of this historic event. Mr. Brown wasn't afraid to take risks for the sake of our learning; he was a pioneer in the field of education, and he had a very strong role in making me who I am today.
I'm thankful for Mama G because you were there and are there now during a crucial time in my life. Things just seemed so confusing then and I just hated living and being me. But getting to see you everyday gave me hope that maybe that day wasnt so bad. You supported me, helped me with my studies, got me, my actual cap and gown. You even came all the way back to memphis to see me walk across a stage I didn't think I would. God knew I needed help and He sent you. I'm thankful for you everyday because you helped me learn how to love Jasmine and try to make myself better. I'm thankful that you have a daughter that you can pass your loving spirit to. She will learn to care about the person for who they are and not what they don't have. She is a blessing .

This last one was shared with me via private message, but she told me I was free to share it. I've read it a half dozen times now and still cry.

I am thankful for Gladys Emerson Moore, my mama. In my eyes and many more, she was the most precious woman God ever created. I know everyone thinks their mama is the best but, I KNOW mine was. She was born in Dumus, Arkansas on February 20,1913. Her mother died when my mother was nine, leaving her the oldest of several siblings. Due to hard times back then, my mama witnessed the loss of two of her siblings. One feel into an old wood burning stove and died from infection from the burns; another had pneumonia and died. I asked mama why they didn't take them to the doctor. She said, "Honey, by the time we would have gotten them there it would have been too late."

Mama then became a mother figure to her three other siblings. The family moved to Tennessee to be closer to my Granddad's family. Mama went to school through the 6th grade. She met and married my dad when she was 16. They had 2 girls and 3 boys. Mama was very intelligent, and she helped each one of us with our homework. What I didn't realise when I was a child is that SHE was doing her homework as well.
Mama was always a caregiver. She took her wife and motherly duties very seriously. She took care of her dad, her mother-in-law, her husband, and her brother until their deaths. Then on January 10, 1991, I had to tell her that one of her own children had died. He had committed the unthinkable, taking his own life in Lakeside. He was a hoot and had taught Ag classes for 24 years in Dyersburg. He had a beautiful wife and daughter, a beautiful home, and 2 farms. However, he got into a state of depression and couldn't get out. I thought his death would kill my mama, but she was strong. Two years later, in 1993, I had to tell her about another brother. He was the oldest son and died of a massage heart attack at the age of 56. I also thought this would kill her but again, she held onto her faith in God.
My mother lived alone until she was 90. I had always promised her I wouldn't put her in a nursing as long as I was physically able to care for her. On March 31st, after her birthday, I had back surgery. My sister made the decision to put her in the nursing home. That's where I eventually held her in my arms to draw her last breath on August 17, 2004. I held her until Jesus took her hand. I know she had a joyous reunion with all the loved ones that had gone on before her. Her last brother died 2 weeks ago. He was 94!! I hope I have those longivity genes.
I loved my mama.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

What a great idea, and so much to be thankful for! I love the name of your blog. It's so true.