Thanksgiving and Home

We just got back from our Thanksgiving in Palm Bay. It was a wonderful few days that we were sad to see end. It's always good to be able to go back and be reminded of the lessons we have learned. That dirt doesn't hurt; that you can get sunburned when it's 65 degrees outside; 7 year olds are the sweetest; that homemade is always better than store bought; that I want to be like my mother; and that no matter what I do or where I go I have an amazing family of wonderful people that will always love me. Lessons that have already been learned, it's just nice to have reminders sometimes.

From shadow puppets outside, and moms garden, to our Saturday picnic (see above), here are some glimpses of our weekend:

#23-30

23. Sisters
24. Hootenanny's
25. Education
26. Employment
27. Oak Trees
28. Florida weather
29. Relief Society

So at first this '30 days of thankful' was a little awkward. Besides the generic things it was difficult in the beginning to identify the little, less obvious blessings that we have in our lives. The awkwardness quickly passed though, and I am happy to report that today's post took approximatly 1 minute (and that was mostly because of my typing deficit). Our lives are so blessed. It is really kind of sad that it took us literally 'counting our blessings' to begin to understand HOW many blessings we have in our lives. So this brings me to my final number, not that I couldn't keep going, because I definitely could. It's just '30 days of thankful' wouldn't be very honest if it went on into the bazillions.

30. I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who sees fit to fill our lives with so many blessings. All we have to do is try to do what's right, and he answers with an outpouring of blessing that make our lives so much easier.

Hopefully with this lesson learned, and a little more fully understood, we'll be able to notice more often all of the things that we have to be thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

The Goodes

#17-22

17. Cold weather
18. Institute
19. Jacksonville
20. Cars
21. Personal revelation
22.Washing Machines

I was tagged by Nicole

6 UnSpEcTaUlAr QuIrKs

1. I don't eat pizza rolls whole. I really don't eat any 'bite size' thing (candy bars, pizza rolls, mini quiches) whole. Are my bites too small, or the worlds too big? Im not really sure...

2. I make a wreath for every holiday/season. Naked doors are kind of sad.

3. I brush my teeth as soon as I wake up in the mornings, and then again after I eat breakfast. My morning routine is actually quite rigid!

4. I have patience to teach children with disabilities how to read, but not enough patience to sit through one traffic light cycle.

5. I would rather be 40 minutes early than 1 minute late. (Everyone from church just laughed out loud, but I swear our tardiness is all David!!) When Im going to a place (class, school, someones house, church) I plan to leave at least 1/2 hour before Im supposed to be there...being late stresses me out.

6. I love going places, but hate to drive. Roadtrips and new places are my absolute favorite! Good thing my hubby doesn't mind driving =)

I TAG: Jac, Brittany, Carrie, Jenilee, Stephanie, and Lisa. Have fun ladies!


Here are the rules: 1.Link to the person who tagged you and comment in the comment section on their original "quirk" post 2.Mention the rules on your blog 3.Tell 6 unspectacular quirks about you 4. tag 6 bloggers (or more!) by linking to them.

Christmas is coming...

And I'm getting excited. Lucky for me I have friends who are just as Christmas crazy as I am. This past week we got together and look what we did..

Christmas
Present Trees
2008

#6 through #16

Well, this has not worked out quite like I thought it would. I think when I planned '30 days of thankful', in my mind I would post every night, reflecting on something that I was really thankful for that day. WhatI failed to remember was that I would have to fit blogging in second to: finishing a portfolio, a class of 44 students, an observation by a pricnipal, a visit from a supervisor, appplying for a job, signing up for certification exams, attending intern seminars, a young womens annual planning retreat (which involved LOTS of planning and prepration), a husband who has been seriously neglected, maintaining a clean living space, grocery shopping, finding a home inspector and scheduling an inspection, a few drives down to Middleburg to sign the never ending amount of paperwork for the house, attempting to begin packing a very unorganized apartment, keeping in touch with family, applying for graduation, the start of Top Chef, a long over due girls night, furniture shopping, showering, eating, and if there's time sleeping, AND starting to prepare for Christmas.

Needless to say, I've been a little pressed for time these days. So my '30 Days of Thankful' is going to be a little different than intended. So here it is, my attempt to catch up and reflect on the good things in my life. After all it's still November, and heaven knows I've still got a lot to be thankful for.

The list began with :

1. The gospel
2. Music
3. David
4. Democracy

and continues with Daivd's input to include:

5. Monty. He's one crazy cat
6. Our health
7. Holidays. Don't let dabid fool you, he loves the decorating that comes with each one.
8. Weekends. Especially Stake conference ones.
9. Good books. And with that the library.
10. Our big ol' family and all their support and silliness.
11. Fall time/seasons
12. La Napolera
13. Chinese food
14. Pickels
15. Target. Because without them we'd be forced to shop at Wal Mart for everything.
16. Employment. We've had some jobs let me tell you, but at this point we're both enjoying what we're doing. And that is something to be thankful for!

Now, lets see how the rest of the month goes....

#4: Democracy

At least I think I am =). There was something so invigorating about going to the polls to vote. I am thankful to live in a country where i count, and my opinion matters. I am thankful for The United States of America, and the great country it is.

# 3: David

I decided yesterday that I wasn't going to put David high on my list. I really don't like it when people get all mushy gooshy about how perfect their marriages and spouses are, so to save everyone else the gag factor, I decided that I wouldn't put David too high on my list. This is what I get.

You know it's bad when you are already dreading the planning retreat that is two weeks away and spending one night 5 minutes down the raod away from him. Or when the first thought you tend to have about things during the day is "I wonder what David would think", or "I wonder what he would say" (because it'll probably be something hilarious and wonderful). OR when you prefer a night sitting on the couch doing absolutly nothing with him there to a night out with the girls. Im not really sure when it got this bad. Or when I decided that David may actually be the greatest husband in the world (go ahead and argue with me, I have data to support this), and the smartest most wonderful man EVER. But it has happened. And holy guacamole am I ever so grateful for him. For our marriage in the temple. For the way I feel when I'm with him. For the peaceful quiet and stillness he brings into my c.r.a.z.y. life. For his sense of humor, and his understanding of mine (not many people get me). For his love of the jaguars, and hate of seafood. For his understanding of the gospel, and his desire to live it.

I am thankful for David.

NOVEMBER

Sacrament meeting today was really great in our ward. Sister Caruso, the ward chorister and my Visting Teacher, mentioned in her testimony how much she enjoys November. She talked about how she tries to spend time each day thinking about things she is thankful for. It sounded a little like a challenge to me, and so with out further adu.....

30 days of thankful begins!

I'll really try to keep up with this, if I miss a day, I'll do my best to make up for it. My goal here is to find at least one thing every day that I am thankful for. I don't anticipate it being difficult, I know that my life is full of blessings. I just think it will be good to really focus on the good things in my life, and to reflect on how truely blessed I am.

So......

1. The Gospel.

Tonight David and I got to go to a CES broadcast in the Mandarin bldg. There is something about broadcasts, and hearing a General Authority speak, that renews my testimony of the restored gospel. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have of the gospel, and the peace and joy I have in my life because of it.

2. Music.

I love music. I'm pretty sure I am part music. Music is my color. It completes me (thank you for the line Tom Cruise). I am thankful for music. For good music that matches my many moods, that inspires me, uplifts me, encourages me, moves me, motivates me, reminds me. I am thankful for music.