Nov. 11...Today I am thankful for Veterans

When my mother told me that my brother was joining the Army, my first thought was that we were going to loose the war.  I think that this is a common reaction of big sisters.  I saw him as a lost little boy whose father had died too soon.  I didn't see him as a soldier who could defend an entire country.  I was wrong.  He went to Iraq and not only performed his job but came back alive.  He must have done something right.

Today, I thank God for every veteran and every man and woman who have been affected by war.  It was hard for my mom to send her only son to battle especially when she was still grieving.  It was harder for her to send him back after he extended his enlistment.  I thank God for mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, children, and all other loved ones who support the military in their lives.  I thank God for the safe return of so many and even more thanks for those that sacrifice their lives.  I am proud to be an American on this day and everyday.

Nov. 9 and 10...On these two days I am thankful for friends, prayers, and doctors.

Yesterday, Genevieve had a doctor's appointment.  Her spleen has been enlarged for almost two months.  It was first detected during a check-up when she had a high fever.  The fever and obvious viral infection was thought to be the cause of the spleen problems.  We have gone back to the pediatrician every two weeks since just to check on it.  Our doctor decided that enough was enough and sent us on to do blood work first thing this morning.  I knew that she was checking for lymphoma or leukemia.  I also knew that she was almost sure that it was neither of those things causing the spleen to be enlarged but they had to be ruled out.

I am thankful that the results came back normal.  Her spleen should return to it's normal size in a few weeks.  Apparently that viral infection was a bad one.  I am also thankful for my friends and family who provided so much comfort.  Even though I knew that the chances of something bad were extremely slim, it was so nice to know that prayers were being said.    I have the best friends and family.  I can call on them for anything.  I promise that I won't keep hogging all of the prayers though!!!

Nov. 8...I am thankful for Tuesdays

I know that I have already written about our Tuesday schedule but I continue to be thankful for this time that I have with my children.  Today Annelise joined us.  She usually goes home with a friend and then they both go to dancing until 8:00.  She has a big test coming up so she decided to come along with us for some extra study time during gymnastics and piano lessons.

Our suburban becomes a desk for homework, a dining room table for supper, and a holy place during our Rosary.  We always say the Sorrowful Mysteries and listen to the scripture verses that goes with each mystery on the ride home.  I meditated on the sacrifice of Jesus and the pain of his mother this evening.  What a unimaginable site it must have been for Mary to see her child suffer.  I am reminded that the struggles of my children are surmountable.  Tests and grades, while stressful for me and my children, will not result in the end of the world.  We will strive to do our best and to use our talents but I hope that we will put the results into perspective.

Nov. 7...Today I am thankful for my life

I have a wonderful life.  I could complain about a few things but for the most part I am so lucky.  As I put our house back together as I often do on Mondays, I realized that this is just what I should be doing.  I don't enjoy cleaning up but I enjoy the peace that comes from it.  I know that things flow smoother when the dishes are done and the laundry is put away.  

I often think how nice it would be to lunch with my lady friends in Anthropology dresses and fantastic red soled shoes at amazing restaurants.  I think that life would get old quickly.  I am more of a homebody with each passing day.  I get out for my children's activities but pass on the grown-up ones more and more.  I may not live a glamorous life but I live a fulfilling one.  I can go to sleep at night knowing that I am loved and I have people to love.

So many people have so much more than I do but way more have less.  I am a lucky girl.  I thank God everyday for my life.

Nov. 6...Today I am thankful for football

I am thankful for football not for what it is but for what it does.  We were invited to several football parties for the big game last night.  I saw numerous pictures posted on Facebook of people enjoying the LSU/Alabama game with friends.  I love that people get together and enjoy each other's company in the name of football.  While we declined the offers and chose to watch the game at home, we enjoyed it none the less.

We lit the pit for the Saints game today.  The children are ready to cheer them on.  We are somewhat lost on the weekends after football ends.  The crazy thing is...we aren't really fans.  If another offer is available, we will often forgo the game for something else.  We don't change plans for football but we do watch if we are around a TV.  It's not that we don't want the home teams to win but we just don't typically plan our lives around the games.  Yet, we still miss them when the season ends.

I have friends who live for football.  I am beyond happy for them when events like last night happen.  I am ecstatic that UL is doing so well.  I love the energy that this winning season has on our area.  I can only wish that spirit continues if the scores drop.

Nov. 5...Today I am thankful for Saturdays!

I am the only one awake right now.  This is a rare occurrence.  Usually, our mornings are hectic during the week and on Sundays.  We are trying to become presentable in a short amount of time...get dressed, teeth brushed (or not brushed depending on which child you are), shoes on, and hair somewhat presentable.  On Saturdays, we are relaxed and often stay in our PJs for hours after we have woken up.  We can enjoy each other (in a perfect world this would happen) without the stress of hurrying up.

I drink my coffee slower on Saturdays.  I don't yell as much (at least that is what I tell myself).  We take on projects that we normally don't have time for.  For example, today we have big plans to finally carve the almost rotting pumpkins that I bought two weeks ago.  Saturdays are for family and we take advantage of every one of them.  I am thankful for Saturdays and wish they came more often than once a week.

Nov. 4...I am thankful for "do-ers"

St. Katharine Drexel is one of my favorite saints.  She was a "do-er".  She didn't start out this way.  With prayer and action she made a huge impact on the world.  She asked Pope Leo XII to send missionaries and he responded that she should be the missionary.  She took this advice and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People which serviced her two great loves...devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the deprived people of our country.   She opened many schools throughout the United States including Xavier University in NOLA which was the first university to serve black students.  Her great wealth afforded her the ability to fund these institutions.  However, without her love of God and his people, she may not have followed through.

Yesterday, someone messaged me about the impact my blog has made on her life.  This was so humbling.  While I don't know her very well, I see this person as a "do-er".  She takes on projects and follows them to completion.  We are all called to be productive and she answers this call again and again.  We may not all make the impact of St. Katharine Drexel but today I am thankful for people who "do" in whatever way they can.  I am inspired by the actions of others and the impact these actions make.  I wish that I could take on more challenges...I wish that I could be more of a "do-er".

Nov. 3...Today I am thankful for Jason

I have the best husband ever.  You may doubt me but it is true.  Jason is kind, patient, and most importantly loving.  He rarely raises his voice and never complains.  He can keep his cool in almost any circumstance.

I am often chaotic.  I lose my temper easily.  He grounds me and makes me realize what is really important.  I can count on him which is the best part of our relationship.  I know that he will pick up my slack.

He recently brought five of our children to mass.  Several people who saw him there made comments to me about how great of a father he is.  I realize that not every dad would do this.  I sometimes take him for granted and forget that he is exceptional.

Jason has been away for work recently.  I miss him immensely when he is gone.  Our house doesn't run as smoothly.  We feel his absence in a way that goes beyond just having to take out the trash and cook breakfast.  He is gone now and Genevieve keeps looking for him.  She began crying last week every morning when he leaves.  Sam has been doing this for two years!  I don't take it personally because they would cry if I ever left too (I hope!).

I am so thankful that he is mine.  I see the other choices out there and know that I picked the best.  I hope that all of my friends feel this way about their husbands.  I can't imagine living life without kindness, respect, and most important...love.

Nov. 2...I am thankful for my washer and dryer

I got behind on laundry last week.  It was a bad week for that to happen considering we were fighting a terrible virus.  Actually, that virus was the cause of the pile-up.

I am so thankful today for my large capacity washer and dryer.  I have washed FOURTEEN loads of laundry in two days.  Genevieve went through eleven pairs of pants in one day.  They are now all clean!  We went through six extra sets of sheets (on top of the six that we normally do) and numerous blankets and towels too many to count.  I could not have done all of this with my old set.  I think that I would have just starting throwing things away!

How did our ancestors (many of which had more than the now standard 2.3 children) keep up with their clothes when germs invaded?  Could you see me loading up all those piles and dragging them to the creek?  I celebrate and give thanks for the hard workers at Whirlpool.  Hallelujah and Amen!!!

Give Thanks

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

St. Paul instructed believers to give thanks for everything.  I have been thinking about this verse for several weeks after I heard a discussion about the difficulties of this message on a Catholic radio show.  It is so easy for me to thank God for all of the blessings in my life.  I have so many and I try to be grateful for all of them.  The tricky part is thanking God for the bad in our lives.

Every difficulty in our lives provides an opportunity to grow.  I definitely grow more through struggles than any other time.  I see the need to thank God for these struggles and the evolution that they may bring.  However, I don't always feel grateful even when the outcome is beneficial.  In the past few weeks I have been really looking at the life-altering hardships that I have had including being diagnosed with an autoimmune arthritis, raising six children (rewarding but definitely a hardship at times), and the biggest...my dad's death.

Arthritis has taken a lot out of me.  Anticipating a flare-up makes me anxious, coping with a flare-up makes me tired, and having the pain makes me angry.  It has also taught me to take advantage of the many, many pain-free days.  I hate trick-or-treating but I felt good so I took my very excited children last night.  They had fun and I loved seeing them enjoy the experience.  I think that I do more with my children now in case there is a day when I can't.  I started this blog so that later they can read about our life and remember the fun that we had.

Having a large family provides more opportunity for bad things to happen.  When Meredith fractured her skull, we had to adjust our life to accommodate her healing.  During this time, I taught both Meredith and Annelise how to pray.  My relationship (and their's) with God changed.  I began praying more, learning more, and looking to the Saints for guidance in living a holy life.  It was the same when Katherine was born and was so sick.  I learned to depend on God and look to an everlasting life.  Recently, we had a health scare with one of our other children.  We chose to keep it to ourselves until we found the results.  This took almost two months.  I prayed harder than I ever had.  I also knew this time that I could handle the outcome because God's plan always proved to be better than my own.  Luckily, the results were what we hoped for and a crisis had been averted.

The death of my father is still a struggle for me.  I feel his presence and sense his love daily.  I miss his smile.  I wish that my children could know him.  I can thank God  for the other hardships but this one is more difficult.  I know that St. Paul meant "all circumstances" but I am not at the point that I can thank God for taking my Daddy.  I am not mad at Him about it and I am so happy for my dad that he is in heaven.  However, thanking God is still hard.

Last year, I listened to Father Gary give a homily about being thankful.  He suggested keeping a gratitude journal.  I decided to write a Facebook post everyday  about the things that I was thankful for.  I have that print out to remind myself how easy it was to think of 30 things.  I plan to continue that experience this year.  I hope to inspire you to do the same.