Day 119

Today I am thankful that Giovanni has finally expressed an interest in potty training.  He is definitely the type of boy that you cannot convince him to do anything until he is ready.  The first time I tried to sit him on the toilet a few weeks ago, he acted like I was trying to drown him in it!  However, he has started asking to go potty on the toilet and has had a few successful attempts - although not as many as the unsuccessful attempts.  I am glad he has decided to give it a try, and I am so looking forward to getting him out of diapers!  Yay!

Day 117 & 118

Yesterday I was thankful for the rain.  Don't get me wrong, I love the beautiful weather we've been having.  But, sometimes you just need some rain.  We don't get too much around here, so I try to enjoy it when we do.  It was nice to get a little reminder yesterday that it is actually still spring.
Today I am thankful I remembered to turn in a paper that was due today to the teaching department.  I will be starting my practicum (student teaching) in the fall, and had to turn in a form and some other papers so they could start coordinating a classroom for me to work in.  Today was the last day to turn it in and I kept forgetting to take it to school with me.  I am SO grateful I remembered before I left for class today so I could get it dropped off on time.  Yay!

Day 116

Today I am thankful that I got a big chunk of homework out of the way even though I had my monkeys running wild this evening.  Those boys were out of control running, biting, bowling in the kitchen, running over their poor sister.  But through it all I was able to get it done - mostly.  I'm not stressing over it and that is what really matters.  And for that I am grateful.

Day 115

I know I had kind of a crummy day yesterday, but today I realized that I am truly blessed anyway.  I may get frustrated and stressed out over money - or lack thereof.  And school really puts a burden on me sometimes, but I today I realized that I need to stop focusing on what is wrong with my life and just be grateful for what is right.  I have a wonderful family, a warm roof over my head, food to eat, and cars to drive.  I have a lot more than many other people, and I am thankful for everything I have that I have been blessed with.  From my beautiful children, to the shoes on my feet and even the computer I am typing this on right now.  I am truly blessed and I am more grateful today than I ever have been before.  Thank you God for the amazing blessings you have given to me, and I pray that I learn to be a better steward of what you have given me.  I want to show how grateful I am with a happy heart.  I hope to never take any of my blessings for granted.

Day 112, 113 & 114

I can't seem to keep up these days - the end of this semester is killing me.  But, here we go anyway.  Saturday I was thankful Mom and Dad stopped by for a little while so I could tell Dad happy birthday.  We are so grateful and happy that he is still here after the scare he gave us a few years ago.  Even though I don't always show it, every birthday we get to celebrate with him is a blessing to me (and the rest of the family).  His birthday is a great reminder that every day we get to spend with our loved ones is a great day.
Sunday I was thankful for the beautiful weather.  I am so glad that spring is officially here and I plan to enjoy the beautiful weather as much as possible before it gets too hot.  I love spring and am thoroughly enjoying the blue skies and sunshine.
Today I am thankful that I survived.  It was not the greatest day, so I'm glad I made it through in one piece and I have a roof over my head.  I'm grateful that my family is happy, healthy, and we have everything we need.  And now I am going to go to bed and hope that tomorrow will be better.

Day 110 & 111

I missed yesterday, so I am once again playing catch-up.  I am almost at the end of the spring semester in school, and honestly the days are beginning to blur together and I really can't remember much from yesterday!  One thing I can think of was in my psychology class we finished watching the movie, "Young At Heart".  It was a very sweet documentary about a senior citizen choir.  We spent two class periods watching it, and it was touching and emotional.  I think even the professor was a little choked up at the end of class.  I highly recommend it to anyone and I am grateful I had the opportunity to watch it.
Today, right now, at this moment, I am thankful for silence.  It's that time of night when all three of the monkeys have finally drifted off to sleep, and all I can hear are people walking around upstairs, and my keyboard clicking while I'm typing.  Before you have children, you really don't ever appreciate the silence.  Now that I have children, I relish it.  It's comforting to know that all my babies are sleeping soundly, dreaming whatever their little minds conjure up.  Now it's my time to relax and get myself ready for dreamland too!  Sweet dreams and even sweeter silence!

Day 107, 108 & 109

I'm getting behind again, so I guess I better get my behind in gear and get going.
Monday I was grateful to have Alfredo up in the morning with me to work out. Regardless of how good my intentions were, I know I would have never dragged myself out of bed at 4:30 in the morning if he wasn't willing to come along too. So, thanks Alfredo for your moral support. I couldn't do it without you!
Tuesday I was happy I have such amazing running shoes to work out in. I have to admit, I never was a fan of the color pink before, but I LOVE my bright neon pink shoes. The early mornings are a little bit easier to handle when you have amazing shoes to wear.
Today, I am thankful for my near-miss in the roundabout when I was taking Donovan to school. Actually, I'm more thankful for the "miss" part, and less thankful for the "near". I have now almost been in two accidents in the same place, and they were both caused by people not reading the signs. I am thankful that I am a paranoid driver, and in both instances, it was because I slowed down or hit my breaks that I avoided being t-boned twice. So, thanks God for looking out for me and for blessing me with cat-like reflexes! Haha!

Day 106

Today I am once again thankful for our newer, bigger bed. Last night Giovanni ended up crawling into bed with us and slept most of the night between us. Even though that meant I was then sharing the bed with two bed-hogs, I still had plenty of room. That wouldn't have been the case in our old bed and I probably would have ended up on the floor. It is amazing the differences just a few more inches can make in a bed and I am thankful for the extra room!

Day 104 & 105

Yesterday for the first time in a long time I was so thankful that it was Friday. I always look forward to the weekend, but this one is extra nice because I have a very small amount of homework to do this weekend. That, added to the beautiful weather we have been having, made this Friday one of the best ones I've had for a long time.
Today I am thankful for the BEAUTIFUL weather. Spring is by far my favorite season, and today it felt like it had actually arrived for good. It was perfect outside - not too hot, not too windy, and no afternoon rain. I loved the weather today and it made me look forward to the coming warm weather even more so.

Day 103

Today I am thankful that I had a great afternoon at the middle school. Those kids can be a handful sometimes, but today I had fun. They were being a bit antsy, so I let them make paper airplanes and have a competition to see who could fly theirs the farthest. They seemed to have a lot of fun, and it kept them busy for a while. So, even though 90% of the time, they make me feel like I'm banging my head against the wall, I'm thankful for the 10% of the time that I have a blast with them. Like today - today was more like 50-50!

Day 102

Today I am eternally grateful for my in-laws who are always watching the kids for us. With Alfredo's and my schedules, it would be impossible to manage life without them. We are broke, so we can't afford to pay anyone, but with me in school full-time and Alfredo working, we couldn't do it without someone babysitting for us. Any time we have needed someone to watch the kids for us, one of them has been able to do it. I know that my kids (especially Giovanni) can be a handful some (most) of the time, so for them to constantly help us out for free, is beyond amazing. Thank you so much, all of you, for your help. We really could never manage without you!

Day 101

On the shelf next to my bed I have a little plastic container with some knitting odds and ends: sewing needles, measuring tape, and my homemade stitch markers. Tonight when I came home, I noticed the lid was sitting on my shelf, but the container and all the goodies inside were missing. Our room was a mess, so I started cleaning it, hoping I could find them. Knowing my kids, I expected to find bits and pieces of things all over the place. I looked all over the place, and couldn't find them. So, I started folding laundry to put it away and as I walked over to the boys' beds, I noticed on the floor, the container and all its contents in a neat little pile on the boys' rug. Nothing too exciting, but I'm happy I found everything all together and in one piece. Sometimes it's the small things that make you the most happy.

Day 100

Today I am thankful for amazing food! One of the best things about living with Alfredo's family is the wonderful food we get to eat. Tonight, Alfredo and his mom made Mexican rice, beans, homemade guacamole and this really yummy meat. Seriously, one of my favorite meals. Such good food, and I'm thankful so much for the opportunity to share it with mi familia!

Day 98 & 99

Yesterday I was thankful for the BEAUTIFUL weather. It was so great to be able to get Giovanni outside and let him run around. That kid has way too much energy and even though he is always escaping from the backyard, I'm glad that warmer weather is on the way so I can get him out and let him expell some of the energy. He's such a crazy little monkey!
Today I am thanful for the miracle that is Easter. Not only was it so much fun watching the boys search for eggs this morning, but I loved seeing all three kids in their cute little outfits. Donovan was so proud of their "fancy" clothes. He actually picked out his and Giovanni's new outfits a few weeks ago, and Adelin was so adorable in her very first Easter dress. I'm glad that Mom came down to go to Easter service at church with us. And, above and beyond it all, I am so grateful that God sent his only son to be the ultimate sacrifice for me. Jesus put himself in my place, and took all my sins onto himself. He suffered and died for me and conquered death so that some day I can be with him in Heaven. He taught me how to forgive by forgiving me. I am grateful that he gave me the ability to go beyond the pain and hurt that may come into my life and to rest in the peace that he can turn any heartache into good. Thank you Lord, so much for every single blessing you have brought into my life. Thank you for sacrificing yourself for me, and for forgiving all my sins. Thank you for the promise of eternal life. Help me to continue to be grateful and to live a life that makes you proud.

In Memory of Nonnie

Today I learned that someone who has been dear to me for most of my life passed away. It was fairly sudden - even though she had been sick for a while, she didn't tell anyone until just a couple of days ago. By then she was so bad that there was really only enough time for family to gather and say their goodbyes. I'm glad that they had the opportunity to be with her, but I can only imagine how difficult it would be to only have a short amount of time to process what was happening.
I had known her for as long as I can remember, and considered her an aunt, even though we were only related by mutual love and not blood. I had unfortunately lost contact with her a few years ago, and never got around to making an effort to reconnect. Finally being able to talk to her when she was on her deathbed was a horrible reminder of how easy it is to take someone for granted. Even though I regret not trying to find her earlier, I am beyond grateful that I did have the opportunity to talk to her one last time. It was so bittersweet. I am overjoyed that I had the chance to tell her how much I loved her, but so sad knowing that I will never be able to see her again, or introduce her to my children.
Even though the pain I am feeling is absolutely not even close to what her family is going through, the lesson I have learned is a very real one. Too often we say we care about people, but rarely do we really take the time to show it. Too often we intend to keep in touch with people, but rarely do we pick up the phone or write a letter. Too often do we make plans to visit someday, but rarely do we make the effort to leave our homes and actually do it. Granted, there will always be people who drop out of your life, people you grow apart from. But the people who matter, the people who are important to you, deserve to be shown that you care.
We never know what life is going to bring us whether it be a major illness, or a tragic accident -I've had people leave my life because of both. That is why it is so important to never miss the opportunity to spend time with those we care about. That is why it is so important to never miss the opportunity to say, "I love you," or to give that one last hug or kiss. Sometimes we get so busy living life that we forget to think about how quickly it all can change.
So, to all my family and my dear friends: I'm sorry if I don't express how much you mean to me. There are so many of you who have made such a positive impact in my life and I want you to know that I care about you. Family who have been by my side through every triumph and every bad decision. Friends who have given me a good laugh and a listening ear. I hope that you never question how much I care about you, and I hope I always take the time to express my gratitude and joy that you are in my life. May we all do a much better job of letting the people in our lives know how much they mean to us.

Day 97

Today I am thankful that I finally got my acceptance letter into the Elementary Education program at WSU. I have been not-so-patiently waiting to hear if I had made it in or not, and I am happy to say that I indeed did! Even though I was feeling pretty confident with my chances of getting in, there was always a chance that I might not. It was a huge relief to get that letter today. Now I only have about 2-3 more years of school and I will finally be done! Hooray!

Days 94, 95 & 96

I'm getting behind! Well, Tuesday I was thankful that my psychology test was not too bad. Even though I forgot all about it until the day before, and only had time to go over my notes once before class, I think I did fairly well. I guess you can ask me about it when I get my test back.
Yesterday I was thankful that Alfredo made it to Seattle safe and sound. He is going to be there for a few days at the Bothell Bonefish taking notes and getting ready for when the Richland restaurant will be opening for lunch. Even though I rarely see him during the week, it is weird that he is not home right now. But, I'm glad he had a safe trip over to Seattle and hope his trip back is just a good.
Today I am thankful for the amazing score I on my geology test. Studying with my classmates helped because I only missed 2 points and got a 98%!!! Yay! That means that I am well on my way to a good grade for that class. I am so happy!

Day 93

So, I may not be so grateful tomorrow, but right now I'm glad we got to go on a little family run/walk. Alfredo and I took the boys down to the path by the river and walked. Giovanni ran THE WHOLE TIME for what ended up being about 2 1/2 miles. Donovan, on the other hand tired out pretty quick and was constantly needing to stop and rest, and even got carried by Alfredo for awhile. :) Luckily, I was in charge of him for most of the time. We all still got more exercise than any of us have gotten for a long time and it felt nice. I'm hoping I'm not regretting it too much in the morning.

Day 91 & 92

Yesterday's and today's thankfulness items go hand in hand. Yesterday, Alfredo, Adelin and I drove over to my sister and her husband's house. I'm glad that we made it over and back safe. I'm always thankful when we have a trip that goes smoothly and everyone arrives at their destination safely and in one piece.
Today I am thankful for the new (to us) bed that Matt and Amanda gave us. It is not only bigger than our last one, but much more comfortable too! I'm so thankful that we were able to go get the bed and for all the people who loaned us things like a truck, and tarps and ropes, so we were able to bring the bed back home!
I can't wait to go to bed tonight and hopefully the kids will cooperate enough so I can truly appreciate our new bed with a good night's sleep!