Yes, I said tonight. I’m not always thankful and I am ashamed to admit it.  Often I am stressed, frazzled and frayed, over-work, under-paid, and everything in between.

But not tonight.

Tonight I am thankful for my sweet husband who is so patient and kind.  A true partner in my life, a devoted and well-loved father, and a truly brilliant man.

Tonight I am thankful for my opinionated, strong-willed, kind-hearted, passionate small people.  Their light shines so brightly in my life.

Tonight I am thankful for parents who love me unconditionally, completely.

Tonight I am thankful that I have beautiful, bright, heroines for sisters.  Real strong women whom I am endlessly proud of and who have more heart than many people will ever experience.

Tonight I am thankful for cousins who ‘get’ me, however that may be.  Their irreverent humor and intense loyalty astounds me.

Tonight I am thankful for extended family far and wide and the love they bring into my life.

Tonight I am thankful for my friends, both on and offline.  As real and dear to me as family.

For each person that has touched my life this year, last year, or in any year forwards and backwards…

I am thankful for you.

May you be blessed.

May I remember to be thankful year ’round.

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankful Thursday: 12/9/2009
2. Thankfulness: Randomness
3. Thankfulness: Type A Mom Conference Edition

Today was a good day.

We harvested what was left of our juicy home-grown pears and basked in the coolness of the Autumn breeze and the warmth of the late afternoon sun.

And after our ears were cold and our cheeks were pink, we re-discovered the joy of Play-Doh and Hungry Hungry Hippos.

We laughed until it hurt today and played until we collapsed.

My house is a mess.

But today was a good day.

No related posts.

@DanielleSmithTV @KatjaPresnal and myself at BWE 2009

This morning in the quiet after Jon had gone to work and before I woke the small people I read a devotional {as I do most mornings} to get my mind in the “right place” for the day.  But the basis of this devotional was how online or digital relationships don’t give people a sense or a reality of “true belonging” and that got me thinking, because that is just not fact for me.  Now, don’t get me wrong…I get that the moral of this devotional was that we {humans…duh} find “true belonging” in and from God alone, but the author spent much of her time describing how empty digital relationships left you. Let me tell you a little about the ladies who have wound themselves around my heart and the “true belonging” I found in them.

I live in a fairly rural {ok, most definitely rural} area where my personality and “self” is often not the norm.  I’m often the youngest in the crowd at KG’s school…in short I often feel misplaced like I can’t find a place to belong.  To put it more plainly I’m ‘Rock-n-Roll’ and am surrounded by ‘Country’.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but I don’t fit. However, through the relationships I have formed while blogging, on Twitter, on Facebook…whatever…I’ve found my “forever friends”.

@SLPowell, @ResourcefulMom, @Teachmama, and @KTnestingspot @ Disney's Social Media Mom Celebration 2010

Women who get it, who get me.  They’re in the same place I am and they know what it’s like to juggle home life, work {out of the house and in house}, kids, husbands {who are sometimes like kids}, blogging, social media participation, school participation and everything else that goes into our lives. They don’t judge…because they’ve been there or are there now. They’re women of all shapes and sizes, they come from different countries, and have different religious beliefs…we don’t all like the same music, live in the same area {or continent}, and some of us don’t have children, but we’ve carved out a place for ourselves online and in each other’s hearts.

I see some of these ladies once a year, some more, some less, some not at all…but this doesn’t make them any less dear to me.  You see, I have found “true belonging” with them. Would I love it if they were my physical neighbors? You betcha!! But just because the majority of our interaction takes place online doesn’t deteriorate the “true belonging” we find in each other.

/end rant

I’d love to know your experiences.

Have you found ‘forever friends’ online? Where do you find your true belonging?

No related posts.

This week I will keep it simple, I am simply thankful for the healthy pregnancy my cousin, LA, is experiencing this time around. After so much heartache, it is a relief and blessing to know that Baby Girl is growing strong and healthy safe inside of LA.

“I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

Happy Thankful Thursday!  Read more things to be thankful for today at Women Taking a Stand.

Read more of my Thankful Thursday posts.

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankfulness: Randomness
2. Thankfulness: Freedom
3. Thankfulness: 3/11

This post is for her.

So this morning I am sitting in my easy chair saying #prayersforanissa and finally writing the post I’ve been putting off since we got the news.

You see, my friend, fellow blogger, and phenomenal mom of three, Anissa Mayhew, suffered a massive stroke Tuesday and has been in the ICU since.

Now, I’m not gonna get all sappy and go into a long spiel about why I love Anissa, I just do. I love her for all the same reasons many others do.  Her bawdy humor, her devotedness to her children, her kindness, but most of all for being willing to make you feel like you are included…like you belong.

Truth is I’ve only met Anissa twice IRL (in real life), but have spent many hours laughing with her and being in awe of her strength.  Her kindness, hilarity, and snarkiness are beautiful and are ever present in her blogs, tweets and FB updates.

BTW: She would so be making fun of the 3000+ of us who are worried sick and have shed tears for her.

I hesitated writing this post because the truth is I could never do Anissa justice…I will never be able to adequately describe her effect on social media and the word around her.  However, there have been over 382 posts written for or about her (and linked up on Aiming Low), so I encourage you to take some time today and read them.  If you don’t already know and love Anissa, take a bit and peruse Anissa’s blogs, the blog posts, and the outpouring of love and support on Twitter…Just be sure to bring a ton of tissues.

You will need them.

Also, when you’re praying for your family tonight won’t you please say a prayer for Anissa and her family too?

You can find updates on Anissa’s condition, needs, and leave her a message by heading over to CaringBridge.  For more instructions on how to help Anissa’s family, head over to Aiming Low.

No related posts.

My children are healthy, smart, and kind…they have an amazing capacity for empathy.

My husband loves and supports me in all of ventures. He adores me and has been supportive of all my dreams.

The chance to give the teachers from our Special Education Department a box full of school supplies and a $75 gift card to use as they see fit, thanks to Office Max and Mom It Forward.

My church family is supportive of all my dreams and only slightly gives me a hard time about the time missed there.

My blogging friends, they love me just the way I am. They support me, they care about me, they worry about me, they encourage me…and when I don’t want to write they make me. My blogging friends are amazing…they love me despite the whining, the complaining, and the attitude I almost always have.

What are you grateful for today? Has someone touched your life this week and you just have to share!

This post is shared at Gratituesday on Heavenly Homemakers!

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankfulness: Grateful for My Church Family
2. Thankfulness: Randomness

Today I am grateful for much:

My husband, who no matter what, stands beside me and supports me in every avenue of life.

My Aunt L. She (with the aide of J and Mommaw) is keeping the girls from 4pm every day until Jon is able to pick them up on his way home.  She’s not just watching them. She’s doing KG’s homework with her, feeding, bathing, and playing with my girls while I am away.  All Jon has to do is pick them up on his way home and put them to bed each night.  Well, he also has to get them ready in the morning, but I’ve simplified that for him.

The beauty of the Smoky Mountains. Truly, if you have never been here, take some time and explore this gorgeoius part of our contry.

My dear friends. How good it is to see them all (or most of you) again.  I’ve missed them and had forgotten how being here only solidifies my sense that writing here, at Type A Mom, and Foodie Mama is right and good for me.

Type A Mom Conference itself. Being here teaches me more about myself, about my writing, and about where I want to go.

Most of all, I am thankful for the Lord’s hand in my life.  I’m thankful for the opportunity to come and share, learn, and enjoy myself. I know without God’s will, this would not be…there is just no way.

I’m thankful for you, dear readers, for coming back here day after day. For listening to my rambling, to my incoherence at times, and my raving at others.  Thank YOU for putting up with me and loving me just the way I am. In you I have found friendship. And for that, I am thankful.

For more reasons to be thankful, check out:

Share are you thankful for today? Has someone blessed you?

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankfulness: Randomness
2. Thankfulness: Freedom
3. Thankfulness: 3/11

I am prayerful and confident that this will help me to recognize the many blessings in my life.

I hope you will join me in listing these each day, if I find there is an interest I’ll start posting a Mr. Linky for you to be able to hook your URL too!

Gratitude 8/6:

• 1.  KJ was easy to wake this morning.  Even though we hadn’t gotten up early any this week.
• 2.  Both girls ate their dinner without a fight tonight.  Smoked sausage and faux fried potatoes are now a permanent on the menu.
• 3.  The organized chaos that is our schools current drop-off/pick-up zone.
• 4.  Jon made it home safely.
• 5.  Mommaw brought over KG’s anti-lice spray (hey. Don’t judge, I don’t want to have to clean up after lice. It’s preventative.) so I didnt have to go back out with the girls.

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankfulness: 3/11
2. Thankfulness: Randomness
3. Thankfulness: BlogHer Edition

I am thankful for:

1: Airplanes. I’m a rather excellent driver (I take after my dad) and while I am sure I could have found the Sheraton (eventually), I am thankful for the ability to take a 49 minute airplane ride.

2 & 3: being Type A.  This one counts for two since it has a double meaning.  I’m a type a personality and therefore had no problem introducing myself to perfect strangers the entire weekend. Also, I’m a Type A Mom editor and I am proud of it. I am proud of my fellow editors and writers and founders.

4: Free Alcohol. Okay, I know. I shouldn’t drink…but let me be clear. Never once was I so inebriated that I made a fool of myself or those around me.

5: Chicagoans. Whenever I needed directions to a destination (and that was a lot) I would ask a stranger who inevitably kindly pointed me in the right direction.

6.  the #BlogHerButler. Yes, he was awesome.  Not only did he deliver myself and a friend a cold Pepsi on the lobby floor, he took a tray full of goodies into the BlogHer breakfast to another friend the next morning.

7: the opportunity to have real conversations with people.  For so long now my friendships with many amazing women has been through avatars and still pictures, but no longer.  Now I have a real voice to hear the comments through, I have real facial expressions and can truly put a face to their names.

8: I was not hurt in the great swag run.  For all the craziness and to have given out swag at BowlHer, I walked away unharmed.  I am thankful for the insightfulness of the BowlHer planners in hiring security, though to be honest most all of those women seemed realtively calm.

9: the break.  I needed a break from everything and while yes, the lack of internet was annoying and I missed my girls and husband terribly, I needed to do this on my own. I came back refreshed and refocused.

10. my family.  My husband supports my every effort with minimal arm twisting, and while I know I scare them more often than not the rest of my family stands right there behind me.

11.  the Ford event.  Not only did it give me a chance to learn about Ford’s advancements in sustainability (more about that later), it helped me to feel better about this company my granfather had so dearly loved.

12: new friends.  I am so grateful for the new friends I made this weekend; women I had never heard of and never interacted with before have become fast friends.

13:  old friends.  How dear it was to spend time with you all, you I spend my days online with. I am grateful to know the you I love online is much the same as the you I love IRL.  You each made my weekend special in so many ways and I thank you for encouraging me along the way.

To my friends I have yet to meet, I can’t wait for the opportunity!! I hope to see you at an upcoming conference or whatever! You guys have formed a special community and allowed me to be a part. Thank you.

This post is linked up at Spiritually UnEqual Marriage and Thursday 13

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. BlogHer 09 Recap
2. BlogHer 09 Welcome and Speed Dating
3. Thankfulness: 3/11

My church family is as dear to me as my blood family.  We laugh at with each other and share each other’s pain.  We ease fears and help bolster up.  We love with a fierceness and we love to eat =).  We love you no matter what and you belong with us.  We welcome everyone and forget no one.  We are here. We are silent ears and comforting arms, we are gentle reproach when the time is right. We love Jesus and are sinners too. We’ll love you through it all and will lift your name up to the Lord.  If you stray, we will remain steady.  And whenever your ready, you can always come back home.  We are the body.

I am a better person for knowing each and everyone of my church family.  When you sit in a large room filled with laughter and love and know you belong…this is truly something to be grateful for.

Who are you grateful for today?

Don’t miss anything from Mom of Faith, sign up for a subscription to this blog or to have it delivered right to your email…the sign-up link is on the left.

Like what you read? Try these!:

1. Thankfulness: Randomness
2. Thankfulness: 3/11
3. Thankfulness: 2/18