Thankful... Day 5

I'm thankful for my phone! I probably spend too much time on the phone some days. But I enjoy that connection. I've always been more of a home-body, though now that I'm at home, I find myself craving outside connection every once in a while. 

I'm especially thankful for clear nasal passages! Today Millie has a nasty cold and is quite stuffed up. Thankfully she's still been able to sleep. But she hates having her nose cleaned. J had a cold a couple weeks ago and so Millie started copying him by fake coughing. It was pretty funny! Sadly, now she really does have a cough. Colds are a part of life and at least they don't usually last too long. I hope Millie feels better by Thanksgiving because she's in line to get a bunch of hugs from family she hasn't seen for a while. :)

I'm thankful for Nebraska football! I may have already mentioned it but I love this time of year. I look forward to Saturdays game every week. In college I was in Wyoming and sadly didn't get the game most weeks. But my mom would either tape the game for me or record it off the radio. So by Tuesday or Wednesday I would get an audio tape or a VHS tape in the mail. I would excitedly take over the TV in the lodge or pop it in my tape player and start cheering. My roommate always told me I was crazy to be so excited because I already knew who won. But I couldn't help still cheering and yelling at every play. :) Now I have to admit that if the game isn't very exciting, I sometimes fall asleep. What can I say, I'm a mom now! Cool fall games are my favorite. I love pulling out my puffy red winter coat and bundling up. And I love squeezing into my seat at the stadium and feeling the warmth of so many excited fans. I love Nebraska football!

Thankful... Day 6

I'm thankful for Fridays! Fridays are the days that J comes home in a great mood. We can relax and look forward to spending the weekend as a family. He doesn't have to think about work until Sunday night.

I'm thankful for my parent's generosity. I know that Grandma loves to get outfits for Millie just because. But I am truly thankful that Millie can be well clothed!

I'm thankful for warm water! :) I love taking warm showers this time of year when the house is particularly cold. Simple pleasures are the best!

Thankful... Day 7

Thanksgiving is next Thursday. But I've already been noticing Christmas decorations everywhere I look. The mall is covered in lights and swag. Downtown has up the 12 days of Christmas decor. My neighborhood entrance has their wreaths hung. And Christmas sales are already in full swing. 
It makes me a little sad and mostly annoyed. What about Thanksgiving!?! I realize that Thanksgiving is about family and food and isn't commercialized as much so maybe that's why Christmas seems to come sooner each year. But I love Thanksgiving. I particularly love all the fall decorations. The colored leaves and vibrant colors are beautiful! Thanksgiving feels like the last hooray for enjoying fall. I also enjoying spending time with family. I enjoy this at every holiday but Thanksgiving in particular reminds me to be thankful for me. And Thanksgiving is about football for me! The day after Thanksgiving is always the the last Nebraska football game of the year. So this year, one way I'm specifically trying to enjoy this Thanksgiving season is to share what I"m thankful for in the next week.
Today I'm thankful for my wheels. I took our car in to get a few things fixed, including the breaks which have been setting off a beeping alarm whenever I turn right for weeks now. It was driving me crazy! So they gave me an old school ford Taurus to drive for the day. Wow, not even my Buick regal was this rickety. I am looking forward to having my Passat back at the end of the day!
I'm thankful for the words I get to enjoy spilling from Millie's lips. She has learned how to say mama and dada. And though I know she doesn't know she's calling my name, it's still a joy to hear. I love having conversations with her!

Trying to Christmas Shop

I've started my Christmas shopping. But as I browse through the stores, I can't help but fall in love with stuff for myself!! 

I always get in trouble at Aldo. What can be better than a store that sells purses and shoes? Nothing. Well maybe if they also gave away chocolate. So I went in looking for shoes for my hubby and totally fell in love with this purse and these adorable wedge boots...

But I held firm and stuck to the plan and my budget. But boy am I looking forward to Christmas. I know Christmas usually means new clothes for me. Each year I think I should consider being more practical with my wishlist. But that's no fun!

GO BIG RED

There is no place like Nebraska
Dear old Nebraska U

Where the girls are the fairest
The boys are the squarest
Of any old place that I knew

There is no place like Nebraska
Where they're all true blue
We'll all stick together in all kinds of weather For dear old Nebraska U.

 

Millie has been quite patriotic this fall!

Glee Season 2: Bummer

I started watching Glee last spring and enjoyed catching up on season 1 by watching reruns this summer. There were some elements that I didn't like but overall I wasn't offended by the show. I love the music! I've always been a girl who can enjoy a good musical. I loved watching The Sound of Music and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers growing up. So I've been looking forward to Season 2 and all the new music. My ipod has been working overtime as I enjoy the music of season 1.

Season 2 ... what a dissappointment!! 
Musically: I always loved the ballads and songs about falling in love or out of love or having a broken heart that we heard a lot of last season. We were really able to enjoy Rachel's voice. I admit I do have a special place in my heart for Britney Spears since I grew up in the 90s but a whole gimmic episode is too much. I just don't think the musical selections have been as good this season.
Plot: So far there's no story. I don't care about any of the characters. Last year I wanted to see Rachel and Finn get together. And I looked forward to finding out how everything worked out with Quinn and her baby. 
Morality: Not looking good. Cheesus Christ... As a christian I'm offended. I expect teasing. I expect them not to get it right. But this crossed a line. I felt mocked. Promoting homosexuality... I believe it's a choice and a wrong one. That doesn't mean I hate gay people. I just don't agree with their choices. And I don't have to watch a show that strongly promotes something I don't condone. Sexual promiscuity... It's shown as being ok and even expected and welcomed in high schoolers. 

After last week I decided to give Glee one more week to win me back. Didn't happen. I'm offended and disappointed by their message. Perhaps I'll still listen to their musical numbers on itunes but I won't be watching every Tuesday night. 

note: I wrote this post earlier than I posted it. Sorry if it sounds funny because I'm talking about the past in the present tense. 

Living Hope

These verses have been on my mind. We used them for Grandpa's memorial service.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

I'm thankful for friends who send me verses to remind me that they're praying for me and thinking of me. The Word of Truth is the best kind of encouragement!