Thanksliving

Thanksliving...not a typo.  I know that Thanksgiving is the time of year that we all focus on being thankful.  And while that's a wonderful thing to do, I am challenging myself to be thankful as often as possible - to live a thankful life = thanksliving. 

So what is "Thanksliving"?  For me, it's taking time to be thankful for the little things and the big things.  It's choosing to focus on what is good and not what is bad (which is my habit).  I am being challenged by this verse:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NAS) in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus

Giving thanks in "everything" is not for the faint of heart.  This is a challenge - to be thankful in good times and bad = everything. 

We recently had to get our mini van fixed (yes, I'm a mini-van-mom).  It was still under warranty, but we were required to pay $100.  My first reaction was to be irritated, upset, and negative.  Thoughts such as, "If this is under warranty, why am I paying for it?" and "That's ridiculous!  I'm not paying a dime!" ran through my head...until I stopped myself.  Couldn't I just be thankful that I'm only having to pay $100 vs. over $1,000 worth of work that needed to be done?  And couldn't I just be thankful that we had the $100 to pay it, even if we were scraping the bottom of the barrel?  It wasn't easy for me, but I chose thanksliving.  To live out thankfulness in my actions...to be thankful we even have a vehicle, to be thankful that we were able to get it fixed, to be thankful that we could pay the $100...

AND GUESS WHAT???   My husband and I received a $100 bill from someone in our church the same day we went to pick up the van. 

I truly believe that God blesses us when we live out our thanks!  Take the Thanksliving challenge with me and see what happens!

Why not? My Election Soapbox.

Obama. Romney. Biden. Ryan. Democrat. Republican. Libertarian. Green. I agree.  I don't agree.  I'm not sure.  Pro-life.  Pro-choice.  ObamaCare.  No to ObamaCare.  Crumbling Economy.  Improving Economy.  Taxes.  More taxes.  Money. Money. Money.

These are just a smidgen of the thoughts that are bombarding us today.  And since politicians are using their soapboxes, just this once, so will I.  I'm not a "stand-on-my-soapbox-and-scream-until-I'm-heard" kind of girl, but I am going to take a small step onto my soapbox today.

I'm not going to get into the whole issue of parties, platforms, or politics.  But I AM going to say:  IF YOU ARE OF AGE, GO VOTE!  This is a much-coveted freedom that many in the world do not have, and many Americans are so apathetic, indifferent, or undisciplined that they will not exercise this freedom, this right. 

It's sad to say that we live in a country where if you don't completely agree with any candidate, you simply don't vote.  When my husband and I were buying a house, I'll admit, we were pretty picky.  Finally, our realtor told us that it's very unusual to find EVERYTHING, 100% the way you want it.  She told us to find a house we could live with (and in), to hold on to our "must-haves" and be willing to compromise in other areas.  If we weren't able to see it that way, we would still be living in a place we were un-happy in.  I apply this same logic to my voting.  I'm not going to 100% agree with anyone.  I have to look at which candidate I could "live with" being in the White House.

I will also give fair warning: If you are able to vote and choose not to, please do not bombard me with your complaints, negativity, and/or propaganda.  I understand that it's your right (freedom of speech), but this is my request.  You had your chance to let your voice be heard.  You didn't.  Your choice, I  get it.  But it's somewhat ironic that the people you choose not to vote for are the ones upholding your right to "not vote".

Stepping down from the soapbox now.

Halloween Fun 2012

Boy #1:  Hawkeye from The Avengers

Boy #2:  Gynka from Beyblade

The Girl:  Minnie Mouse

Cleaning out our Pumpkins:

Boy 1 had fun!



Boy 2 thought it was funny for some reason... :)  He's just silly that way!

The Girl kept saying, "Ewwww!  This is disgusting!"

The Final Results:

And my favorite part...roasting up the seeds!!!

By the end of all of our events, even the dogs were tired:

 It was a GREAT day!!!



Glowdeo

What's that you say?  You've never heard of a Glowdeo?  Well, my friend, you are missing out!

Glowdeo's are the evening events here in Albuquerque during Balloon Fiesta.  The hot air balloons all inflate, but they stay on the ground and "show their colors".  The night we went started out really windy.  We were SO disappointed, as this was the 2nd time we had attended a Balloon Fiesta event (this year), and the first one we went to was cancelled due to weather.  As sunset approached, the winds started to die down, but none of the balloonists were unloading their gondolas or balloons.  We were pretty bummed.  Then, finally, one balloon team got brave.  Here is the first lone, brave balloon to inflate:

We were exited, but didn't want to get our hopes up since we still weren't sure on the weather situation.

Then, just at dusk, it happened.  More balloons started going up.

By the time dark came, we were like kids at a party with larger-than-life party balloons!

Then, the countdowns began over the loudspeaker...

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...NOW!  ...And instantaneously, all the balloons light up!

I'm tellin' ya...if you've never been to Balloon Fiesta, you MUST add it to your "Bucket List".  There's nothing else like it!

 

Not According To Plan...

Well, my friends...we had QUITE the eventful and uneventful weekend, all at the same time! 

Our plan was to:
1.  Wake up before the crack of dawn to go to Balloon Fiesta. (check)
2.  Get a good parking spot and get to a good sopt on the field (check)
3.  Watch in awe all of the magnificent hot air balloons going up all around us.  (non-check, as the weather was too windy for any of the balloons to go up.)  BOO!  We got up for nothing really.
4.  *Un-expected*:  Boy 1 and I were on the news. :)  We stood behind the channel 4 weather man, Steve Stucker, while he gave one of his reports.  We even got texts from friends who saw us! :)

IN OTHER NEWS...

We had to get rid of our cat, Zeke.  We've had him for over 13 years, but for family reasons, we just couldn't keep him anymore.  Even though he's "just a cat", pets (even obnoxious ones), become part of the family.  He was my companion in college when Darrin was working or was away for long periods of time with the National Guard.  He will be missed. 

We had always told the kids that if Zeke died or we got rid of  him, we would consider getting another dog.  SO...We now have "Gizmo" with us.  If it all works out, we will keep him.  We still have McGee (pictured above with Zeke).  McGee is HYPER, to say the least.  He's jumpy, loves to run around, and will play with the kids for hours on end...and we LOVE him!  Gizmo, on the other hand, is pretty much the polar opposite of McGee.  He's calm, loves to snuggle up next to me, and is content to just follow me around the house as I do "regular stuff".  Here's a picture of Gizmo:

I think he looks like an Ewok. :)

So, as far as the weekend is concerned...things didn't go according to plan, but it was still GREAT!  We will try Balloon Fiesta again this weekend.  Hopefully the weather cooperates!

What did you do this weekend?

Hot Air

YAY!!!  It's "That Time" of year again...Balloon Fiesta!  If you don't know what Balloon Fiesta is, you're missing out!  It's the largest hot air balloon gathering in the world, and it's hosted right here in Albuquerque!  We usually have 600-800 hot air balloons attend this event. 

We're going tomorrow morning, not-so-bright and early.  We usually leave the house around 4:30 am so we can see dawn patrol which looks something like this (picture taken last year):

The trucks with the gondolas and balloons roll onto the giant field at Balloon Fiesta Park and begin unrolling the balloons and filling them with air from giant fans.  You can literally be right next to the balloons like Boy 1, Boy 2, and I last year:

It is truly magnificent to see hundreds and hundreds of balloons launching one after another after another...

If you've never been, ADD IT TO YOUR BUCKET LIST!

Later this weekend, I'll be posting TONS of pictures from tomorrow's fun!!!

Hoarding

Have you ever seen the show "Hoarders"?  It's a show about people who save EVERYTHING, and I mean EVERYTHING.  They have no room in their homes because it's so packed with junk that they think is important.  Often, because of their hoarding, they don't have any more livable space in their home. And the thing is, they've become so accustomed to the clutter, they don't even notice it.  In fact, they value it.

I don't often watch this show because, quite frankly, it grosses me out.

I recently cleaned out my dresser and closet.  There were some great items of clothing that I love, but for one reason or another, I don't wear them anymore, so they have become "closet clutter".  I used my trusty old slogan, "When in doubt, do without" and went to work weeding out clothes I don't wear.  It was time to get rid of the stuff I don't need anymore.

I started thinking about life and how I'm pretty sure that I hoard old feelings, old memories, negative thoughts, etc. and how "cluttered" my heart must be.  And just like the houses on the show "Hoarders" grosses me out, it is quite possible that I have trash in my heart that should gross me out too.  Is there any more livable space in my heart?  The answer is, yes.  There is some livable space in my heart, but I'm sure I can clear out some of the clutter that I have become accustomed to. 

So my challenge to myself is to de-clutter my heart.  I need to work on weeding out unhealthy thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.  I know that I can't ever forget certain things, but I can choose not to focus on them.  I can't erase past hurts, but I can choose to forgive.  I can't take back harmful words/actions directed at me, but I can choose to give someone another chance.  I can choose to label junk, as "junk"...to stop valuing it, and to put it in the trash where it belongs.

Life truly is about choices.  What will you choose?