Thankful... for Raspberries

If there is one food filled with memories for me, it would have to be raspberries.  I cannot eat a single one without thinking of my grandma.  She made the best raspberry-pineapple jam in the world.  I really meant to learn how to make it before she died, but I didn't do it.  One of my many regrets.  There's nothing in this world quite like her raspberry-pineapple jam combined with my mom's thanksgiving biscuits...

My grandparents lived on an old farm in Ohio practically their entire married life, which spanned 50+ years.  Growing up, it was one of my favorite places to go.  I was fascinated by being in an old farmhouse and thinking about all the kids who'd run in one door and out the other.  I fell in love with the wild farm cats and their incessant litters of kittens.  I could romp through the woods for hours imagining I was Huck Finn.  Most importantly, I could go pick raspberries off the bush and eat insane amounts of them.  I would spend hours picking raspberries if I could.  It's amazing my lips aren't permanently stained.

You know how some places just seemed truly magical when you were a kid?  That's how Grandma and Grandpa's farm was for me.  I still love raspberries in any way, shape, or form.  I still eat them and remember all of those wonderful days of summer berry picking.

I am so thankful that I was blessed with so many good memories.  I am so thankful for the relationship I had with my Grandma for the first 26 years of my life.  Despite the distance, she made sure she had a strong relationship with us.  I always loved knowing she loved us and wanted to spend time with us.  As I've grown older and can reflect on the people who've impacted my life, one thing stands out to me about my Grandma.  She had an incredible amount of grace.  She really did her best to make people feel loved and welcome no matter what was going on in their life or hers.  I pray that God will mold me in to someone that gracious as well.

Goals

So I've already started doing this in the sense that I've been blogging about things I'm thankful for.  Howevs, I am going to try to do this because it's photographic- and I have this awesome camera that I don't know how to use- so this will make me practice, right?  Right.  Get excited!

Thankful.... for Aunt Mega

Today I'm thankful for my sister, for about a million reasons.  Here are some faves:

* She watches Jude for me all the time so I can go hang out with friends.  She never complains about how long I'm gone.  She's even watched him over night so I could go to a baby shower in Austin.
* She has a beautiful dog Kyah.
* She is not afraid to be honest with me if I need her to.
* She believes in the Red Raiders.
* She is the best shopping partner in the world.
* She dvrd a ton of Jersey Shore episodes for me.  (don't judge)
* She is my bachelor watching buddy.
* She put up with all of my ridiculous overly creative productions of insanity when we were kids.  I mean what was I thinking all the time?  She must have thought I was a total weirdo, but she still loved me.
* She makes me laugh, a lot!  In fact, there are a lot of things she's said over the years I can recall and still laugh about.
* And the most important- she is the only person in the world with whom I can look at and start cracking up for no observable reason, but she gets it, and I get it, and that's all that matters.

Don't you love sisterly bonding?  I do!

PS- Mega, I owe you a wine and pinning party!

Thankful... for Toddler quotes

Today I am thankful for toddler quotes.  Because- not kidding- Jude just said 'Paci I want' and it sounded just like Yoda.  I'm not a star wars fan (like at all. do not get it. at all), however, I do appreciate a good yoda styled quote.  Always a good time.  And a random one from a 2 yr old regarding a paci, well that's just awesome.

On a side note, our very creative instructional specialist made an entire powerpoint on English Language Learner Standards with a Star Wars theme.  It was probably one of the 'punniest' things I've seen in a long time.  Probably the best picture though was 'Obi Juan Kenobi' or whatever his name is. If I had that powerpoint I would seriously upload it.  I am definitely thankful I was present for that staff development opportunity.

And last, I am thankful for my bed.  And I can guarantee you I will be in it before 9:00.  It would be totally not cool and totally awesome.

Thankful... for my Texas, my job, and citizenship.

Today I'm thankful for Texas, my job, and citizenship.  Weird combo?  Not really.  I'm thankful for Texas because we are close to the border of Mexico.  Which means that instead of having the same culture as the entire US, we get some variety.  (Ok, I realize that a lot of states have variety.  I'm just saying...)  I'm thankful for the food that variety brings.  I'm thankful for the people I get to meet that are different and yet the same.  I'm thankful for being inspired to work harder and be appreciative of things I never had to work for.

And I'm thankful for my job because I think I have only 2 white kids??  Not sure.  The point is I get to learn about other cultures (hispanic specifically) on a daily basis, and that rocks.  I never thought about it before, because I grew up in New Orleans, and there weren't too many hispanics to begin with.  But I just really enjoy being around this warm group of teachers and parents and kids.  I love how all these parents bring the entiiire family to breakfast in the morning to eat with their kids.  I think that's awesome, and I wish more parents were that involved.  And I'm thankful because I get the opportunity to buy fresh, homade tamales and support one of our 5th graders at the same time.  It's yummy.  It's awesome.

And finally, I'm thankful for citizenship, which is the main thing I never had to work for.  I'm sure there are people who are here illegally and not that nice.  However--- working at my school, I have heard so many stories of people who are here illegally and then end up seperated from their families, even spouses who ARE citizens come under fire and question and have to PROVE their birth certificate isn't fake.  As a single parent, I can't imagine the stress of being afraid my spouse was going to be up and shipped out or wondering if he'd be allowed back or wondering if I were going to be sent back bc of the validity of my certificate, etc, etc, etc.  If someone is here and working and contributing, I'm sorry, but I don't see the big deal.  My soapbox- but to me this = ridiculous.

So basically, I'm thankful for Texas and being able to meet people from Latin American countries because they are inspirational.  They are working their butts off for something I was born into.  I tip my hat and have to confess, I just don't know if I would work as hard.  Maybe I've just had it too easy too long???  Regardless, I'm thankful for Texas, my job, and citizenship.



Thankful for.... Volleyball

Today I'm thankful for volleyball.  (Even though I didn't make the past couple games, I know.)  I'm thankful for the friendships I made with people I see every day at work.  I'm thankful for being able to deepen friendships I already had.  I'm thankful for how it makes me love my Lee family just a little bit more.  I'm thankful that I get to play something I absolutely love, even if my skills are questionable.  I'm thankful we are the reigning champs even if we lost yesterday.  I'm thankful for the VICs where we get to hang out, improve our game, improve our teaching ideas, and just enjoy watching the Rangers... or the Mavs... or whoever.  Last year the volleyball team was one of those important life lines I needed.  This year I'm just thankful that I get to call this awesome group of people my friends.  I love you guys- seriously!

Thankful- To Choose Joy

Today I'm thankful for the continuous opportunity to 'choose joy'.  If I had a slogan to live by, it would be that.  Not because I am good at it.  Because I need to be good at it.  I'm the worst person about not seeing the forest for the trees.  At a pumpkin patch with Jude, I got so caught up in capturing the perfect picture, I forgot to just laugh at all the things Jude did.  Even this evening, I found myself caught up in editing pictures and not just enjoying Jude.  And to top it off, I'm a perfectionist.  I get upset with myself when even the smallest things fail.  It's really stupid.

So tonight, to start off the season of Thanksgiving, I am thankful that I can start over each second.  I'm thankful that maybe I didn't 'choose joy' to start with, but I can 'choose joy' now.  Because it's not the past moments that count, it's this very moment right now.  And now, I choose joy.