35. I'm thankful that my beautiful (inside and outside) daughter was able to graduate from a school that not only encouraged her to excell academically but encouraged her spiritual and emotional. A school safe from violence, prejudice, where the teachers knew and care about each and every student.

36. I'm thankful for my dad being able to attend Kristie's graduation, for how proud he was of her and how that encouraged her.

37. I'm thankful for the friends that she made there, how they encouraged and support each other through the school year and I know will continue doing so even now.

Thank you Lord for WCC may you continue to rain down your blessings on this school.

100 Things I'm Thankful for con'td

32. I'm thankful for my brother in law who has come over on numerous occasions to help my husband renovate the backyard.

33. I'm thankful that my husband has the energy after work or a long work week to spend the evenings/weekends fixing up the backyard.

I forgot to get before pictures but here is some "inbetween" pictures: This is the front yard - the big rectangle square patch of dirt use to have grass in it.

This is the side of the house - at the end use to be a half fence and then the green shed. Along the side of the house use to be a big mess of leaves, dirt and rocks. We are going to put patio blocks in it so it is easier to keep clean.

Here is a back yard shot - the green shed use to be on the other side of the white shed. We are going to put in a patio there (where all the junk is now sitting).

Here are some flower beds that Murray has built for me and a picture of the guys building me another one against the back ofthe house.

34. I thankful my dog has a friend to play with.

100 Things I'm Thankful for cont'd

31. I'm thankful the orthodontist that has given Kristie such a beautiful smile

With braces:

After braces:

"100 Things I'm Thankful For" cont'd...

22. For new haircuts and hair that grows fast because when I'm not particularly happy with the cut/style/color it grows out of it fast.
23. Raspberry Sherbet.
24. The smell of rain - not sure what about the smell makes me feel good but I love the smell of rain, especially after a long hot stretch.
25. Badly written or boring books because they make me really appreciate the good ones.
26. Fights with my daughter that don't last long, and where we get over them fast. That even during fights/arguments I still love her fiercely.
27. Teaching Sunday School class - getting to hear what all the kids are thankful for each week.
28. I'm thankful that I didn't buy more than I did at the church garage sale LOL (and so is my husband!)
29. Pictures of my husband and me that others take and share with us, it seems those are the only pictures I have of the 2 of us together - otherwise it's one or the other taking the pictures.
30. The sound of my dishwasher washing dishes (instead of me).

Last week, Kristie got an award for being on the honor roll and a citzenship award. I'm very proud of my girl.

Being Thankful:

I usually end my blogs with a few words of thanks, basically because it is so easy to forget all the wonderful ways we are blessed when we are stressed, disappointed, frustrated, angry, worried, etc. Expressing words of thanks, to me, reminds me that life is good, that God is good, and things could always be a whole lot worse.

I’m reading a book called “Laughing Matters: Learning to laugh when life stinks”. In one chapter he is telling his son who can’t sleep to work on his list of 100 things to be thankful for. Then he lists a few himself and a few of them I really liked so wanted to share them and add some of my own. For those that read this blog – feel free to add to the list via the comment section – I would love to hear what other people are thankful for.

100 Things I’m Thankful For:

1.I’m thankful for a God who is ever loving, very faithful, every just, ever merciful.
2. I’m thankful for the valleys. Nothing grows up on the mountain; growth takes place down where the dirt is. (from the book)
3. I’m thankful for a job that is challenging, interesting, and is flexible with my hours when I need them.
4. I’m thankful that I’m not dizzy everyday.
5. I’m thankful that the sound in my ears haven’t driven me crazy yet (okay some people might argue this point!).
6. I’m thankful for a church family that is supportive, caring, loving and accepting.
7. I’m thankful for the dark. It’s the only time I can see the stars. (from the book).
8. I’m thankful my dad is able to move closer to his sons and get a new house to boot.
9. I’m thankful I’m not quite a keenager yet but I’m looking forward to when I am!
10. I’m thankful I don’t feel as old as I am.
11. I’m thankful that my hope is not fixed of the stuff of this earth. That I’ve got more than tomorrow to look forward to. I’ve got eternity. (from the book)
12. I’m thankful for music that reminds me that God’s plan is perfect even when I don’t see it or understand. In reference to the song “Perfect” by The Willie Sons.
13.I’m thankful for hot water, bubbles and a big bathtub that soaks away the chills.
I’m thankful for my daughter’s portable DVD player that lets me watch my shows while I’m soaking in the tub.
14. I’m thankful for flowers, greenery, spring and the warmth inside my black car when I’m chilled by the wind.
15.I’m thankful for my washing machine, even when it sticks, because I can get my frustrations out when I get to slam the lid shut in order for it to continue on with the cycle.
16. I’m thankful for the sound of birds chirping.
17. I’m thankful for friends that I can play WordTwist and Scramble with.
18. I’m thankful for the ability to walk.
19. I’m thankful for support from friends when you’re worried about your children.
20. Speaking of children – I’m thankful for my daughters smiles, hugs, and laughter that make being a parent so worth it.
21. I’m thankful for insightful moments from my kids when they come home and give you a big hug and say how thankful they are our family doesn’t yell and scream at each other.

To be continued....

This post is all about walking and catching up with what we have been up to.

First – we went to see Walking with the Dinosaurs. Was it worth it? In some ways yes but in some ways no. They put on a really good with the sound effects, special effects and the robotic dinosaurs. I did feel it was a short evening for the amount we paid though. It was fairly quick paced but there were times it was a little too slow, like when the flying dinosaurs was … flying up and down…and up and down….and flying some more up and down. Even my daughter at one point was ready to yell out “Ok we get the point, NEXT!” I’m still glad we went though.

Second – I completed the 10k walk in the Saskatoon Marathon. This year I walked again with my friend Arlene and my sister joined us to. Though my sister did fall behind, she kept at it and completed only a short time after we did. I’m very proud of her. The good Lord was nice and had the rain stop 20 minutes before the race began so we couldn’t bail out and use the weather as an excuse not to walk, and He kept the wind down until after we completely the walk. Now to stay motivated and keep walking on a regular basis. I did walk from YRC on 20th back to work after a meeting today. I think I might walk to my offsite meetings more often. It took me about the same time as waiting for the shuttle bus to walk it and with the weather being so nice...

Third – I’m a bad mom because it seems I haven’t taken my daughter to have her eyes check for a few years. Which means when we went to get her learner’s license “official”, she flunked the eye test. So until she has them checked and gets her glasses (if she needs them) she will still be walking or… I should more likely say in the passenger seat.

On another note – we have decided to do some landscaping in our backyard. We are going to move the metal shed to the corner and put in a patio. Plus I am finally (after 16 years of complaining) getting the small patch of grass in front of our driveway removed and cement blocks put in. It will be so much less work and look so much better! I’m quite excited about this development. Knowing us it will still take a couple of summer’s to do it but I see progress. I will have a place to sit and read my book in the back yard without having to haul everything out first – that is going to be so great.

I have also discovered that I’m getting addicted to Scramble and Word Twist on Facebook. Which when I look at the state of cleanliness of my house – is not a good thing.

Thank you Lord for sunny weather, motivation to do stuff, daughters, the ability to walk wherever I want to go, an income that helps put gas in the car, health, your patience and love.