30 Days of Grateful... Day 23

Looking back at my last post, I want to reiterate that I am thankful for being back home. I would love a job where I could live in Saipan 6 months out of the year and 6 months here on the Palouse, but I don't see that ever happening =).

But I am thankful to be home. The day before Thanksgiving, we drove up to my parents, where we would be spending the weekend. What am I thankful for today then? The fact that we are so close to family. I calculated it today, we are exactly 62.6 miles from my parents and only 4 from Marks. I am so thankful for the fact that I can just jump in the car and drive either way just for the day. I am thankful that Hatley get's excited when we pull into their driveways =)

I love and miss you Saipan, and am so thankful for our time, and hope there is more. But I am also so thankful that our family is so close now and that we can pop on over whenever we want.

OPERATION.... Get caught up... 30 Days of Grateful... Day 22

I am so far behind in life. I have dishes needing to be done, 5 loads of laundry in process, Christmas cards waiting to be addressed, Thanksgiving cards needing to be stamped, Christmas presents needing to be wrapped and hidden, floors needing to be swept, mopped and vaccumed, and the list goes on and on. But right now, Hatley is asleep, and tomorrow is the last day of November. So I need to get blogging and catch up on my 30 day's of grateful. So I will try in the midst of everything else stareing at me, get these done and caught up by tomorrow =).

30 Days of Grateful... Day 22.

I was thankful for small job opportunities.

Since being unemployed I am feeling the pressure. I need a job, a steady and permanent job, but no such luck. My eyes are always open and looking, but we are trying to find something that would fit our family and our financial budget... so until then, I have been blessed with small opportunities.

I am thankful for the small job opportunities God has given me these last few months. Subbing, watching my nieces and nephews.... I know there is job out there for me, and I know I need to remember God is in control... lately I have been really frustrated with living in Palouse. I love living here don't get me wrong. But I continue to think, if we had just stayed in Saipan. I would have a job that I LOVED, that paid the bills, that I didn't mind going to each morning. BUT I know God brought us home for a reason, I know he put us in Palouse for a reason, but now I want to know what is my reason. Where am I supposed to be? I want to be home with Hatley, but it just financially isn't possible... but I am not willing to leave her for a job I hate, where I bring home the baggage and frustration. I need to be home when I am home...

But until I find out my reason, I am thankful for the small opportunities God has given me these last few months. And I am so thankful for the time I have had to be home with Hatley.

ps: I would be ever so grateful for prayers about this too! =)

30 Days of Grateful... Day 21

Yesterday I was thankful for a productive day at home. I am so thankful for days at home, where I can actually get something done and also do a little bit of relaxing and down time. I cleaned all day, deep cleaned, organized and caught up on life... Hatley who never takes more then a 30 minute nap, took a 2 1/2 hour nap! AMAZING! Another thing to be thankful for!

So what did this Mama do in the time frame? Stayed in my PJ's which I had not changed out of, made a hot cup on coffee and caught up on my new addiction - Parenthood. It was a wondeful 2 1/2 hours and I was grateful for that little down time....

30 Days of Grateful... Day 20

On Sunday I was so thankful to be surrounded by family and delicious food. The Sawyer family are all going seperate ways for thanksgiving, so we had an impromptu thanksgiving together. The food was delicious and abundant... there was laughter, sledding, a fire, and just catching up. It was certainly a day to give thanks for.

And I completely forgot a camera, so no pictures! Sorry.

30 Days of Grateful... Day 19

My best friends from college! Nicole, Sarah, and Kara. So blessed by these 3!
Christmas 2010, Palouse friends at the 1st annual ornament exchange! the next one is is 3 weeks!
Friends from Saipan. Above, Crystal and I were able to share our first pregnancies together, very special for me. and Below, all the wonderful ladies at one of my baby showers on Saipan. So special to be loved by all of them.

Thankful for friends. Plain and simple. So thankful for the ladies I call friends. The ladies I can call when something is needed, the ladies I can call when I just want to chat. God has blessed me with some amazing friends. Some from the University of Idaho, some from Saipan, some from here in Palouse... some from a little bit of everywhere. Thanks God for blessing me with these women!

30 Days of Grateful... Day 18

I am thankful for my In-Laws. Mark's parents are amazing and I am so blessed to have become part of such a family. Living close to family is what made us move home from Saipan. I am so thankful that Hatley get's to live close by, growing up knowing her grandparents (my parents are an hour away, and Marks are just 4 miles).

Yesterday we went out to Sawyer Farm just to hang out. Watched some football, ate some popcorn, played with some barbies, and ate a delicious, homemade Turkey soup... mmmm. I am so thankful for our family and so thankful for the family God has blessed me with. Thanks Mom and Dad Sawyer for absolutely everything!

* The picture above was from last Christmas at the Sawyer's. This year we will be adding two more little ones to the family picture!

30 Days of Grateful... Day 17

Simple and sweet. That is what I was thankful for. I woke up to a fresh pot of coffee made by my husband, with my cup ready to be filled. Simple and Sweet. I am so thankful for his simple and sweet ways that brighten my days. Thanks God for a husband who spoils his girls.