Thankful for my niece Kristy Day 20

     I am so thankful for my niece Kristy.  She was one that I babysat for as a teenager.  Now she is my friend.  Although we are far apart in age we seem to get closer as the years go on. It has been a joy to see her grow up, go to high shcool, college and get married.   Now that she has children of her own, Brady and Colby, it is my joy and pleasure to see her in the role of Mama!  And what a great Mom she is.  Now we have so much more in common.  Mama's share that special something only we know best!  And that is the complete, utter love of our children!
     I am glad I have been there with her as she raised Brady and while she was pregnant with Colby.  I even got to be in the delivery room when Colby was born!  That was pretty special!  When Brady was a baby, she always pumped milk for him because he wouldn't nurse.  I could not believe the dedication and love that it took for her to do that for a year!  She spends so much time with their boys and it shows.  They are polite, funny, talkative and so very smart!  Brady is 5 and can already read!  She plays games with them, reads, does crafts with them and is ever so patient!  Truly one of the best Mamas I know!  It is my joy to spend time watching her parent and love her family.  She is always thinking of others!  Gave my daughter Holly an amazing baby shower.  She thoughtfully made me copies workout tapes to use to train for the spartan race!  She makes amazing photo books for her Dad every Christmas.   She makes time for everyone in the family and her friends and is always thinking of ways to bless others.  She is something special.  And once again, I could continue on but will keep this short and sweet.  She is a special lady and so very loved by all of us and especially her Aunty Janet!

Thankful for the chance to make Thanksgiving Dinner at my house Day 19

     Mama and Daddy always have the Thanksgiving dinner at their house.  For the last 22 years or so it has been at the barn.  It is always wonderful.  Things are getting harder for Mama now.  She is completely "with it" but physically she has had to slow down quite a bit.  I offered to cook dinner for the holiday this year.  Of course she said no!  But then a few days later, she surprised me.  She said she talked to Dad about it and he agreed to come to my house this year!  So for the first time, I get to cook!  Of course Mama is still bringing the pies ~apple, pumpkin and chocolate cream!  I will cook the turkey and stuffing and gravy and Sue will bring the vegetables!  It will be a team effort!!  The house will be very crowded.  We'll all have to eat in the kitchen because there is no dining room.  But it will be cozy and fun!  And hopefully my Mom can rest.  After all she has made Thanksgiving Dinner for the last 64 years or so! 

Thankful for my church Day 18

     Thankful for the church I go to.  Church of the Rock is in St Albans, Vermont.  It is where Paul and I have been going since Faith was born in 2001!  So grateful for every smiling face in there.  For Pastor Roland Ludlam who is blessed with the gift of teaching the word.  Who makes us laugh and instills the word of God in us and teaches us how to apply it to our lives!
     I love the music best of all!  To hear all the different members of the assembly praise God with their voices and instruments so blesses me!  It is ever changing!  I am also so thankful that it has been a place for my children to learn about you Lord.  In a fun and exciting way.  Can not even do it justice with my words.  But so very thankful you have brought us to that place.
     In case you want to hear a sample of our wonderful pastor, you can find it at this link. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jSpr8Oej3s&feature=share

Thankful for the Cutlass Day 17

 


  I drove home this afternoon and saw Paul out front showing his 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass to a prospective buyer.  I couldn't help but be reminded of all the fun times we have had in that car!  We are trying to get rid of a few bills so we thought we would try to sell this "toy" of ours.  When we bought it a few years ago we were online looking for a reliable car for me to drive.  We saw this one and I kept saying I liked it, I wanted it.  Paul drove to Newport to check it out and sent me a two word text - "Oh Baby!"  I knew he liked it and it was in great shape.  So when we bought it, I told him I didn't really want to drive it.  I wanted him to have it.  This muscle car had his name written all over it!

     So he brought it to some car shows and kept it looking spiffy!  The funnest part of all though was just taking it for rides to get an ice cream or go out for dinner!  Fun to hear him rev it up!   And best of all when he would leave somewhere, burning the tires and making incredibly smelly smoke shows!  I would crack up laughing and so would Faith and Audrey!  He left some places with so much smoke we could barely see!  Once when we left his sister Ambers birthday party, she scooped up a softball sized piece of rubber from the tire marks he left in the street!  It is probably not the best environmentally friendly thing to do but boy, do the guys love it!  Many thumbs up and appreciative smiles for the old cutlass!
     Even if we do it sell it to keep up with the bills in this economy, we still have a ton of memories from it and there will be other cars!

Thankful for my Washer and Dryer Day 16

     I am so thankful to have a laundry room!  When we worked on our house last year, we designated an extra bedroom as the new laundry room.  Installed new linoleum, shelving and washer dryer hookups!  So very thankful that I have this room now.  It is sunny and bright and warm!  It also holds a desk area where I can do my scrapbooking and be creative!  I do love that room and having clean clothes; even if they do come out looking like a twisted mess sometimes!

Thankful for my hairdresser Day 15

     So thankful that I have had the same hairdresser for the last 13 years!  Angel Larose is a great lady.  She always makes me feel welcome in her salon.  She cuts, colors and styles my hair beautifully.  She also usually throws in a free facial or makeup session.  She dyes and waxes my eyebrows and I always leave there feeling as pretty as a soap opera star!  So grateful for the fun talks we have and the sharing of family stories!  Thanks Angel!

Thankful for Mousetrap Pediatrics Day 14

     Today I am thankful that when I called Mousetrap Pediatrics to get Faith an appointment, I did not have any trouble getting through on the phone line.  That in itself is unusual.  Often I have to be on hold for a while.  Today, we were able to get right in! Poor Faith had an infection, a cyst under her arm.  When we got there, Karen and Dr Chip brought us right in and got to work fixing Faifer up.  Poor kid had to have it lanced.  It was very painful but she was a trooper.  She did not shed a tear until we got into the car.  So very thankful for Dr Chip's kindness and gentleness.  Praying now, that the infection is not serious and that the antiobiotics work to heal her completely!

Thankful for my new car Day 13

     Paul came home from work early with a picture of a Dodge Avenger.  He said, come on, lets go pick up your new car!  So we drove to Burlington, to Goss Dodge where we checked out the Avenger.  However, there was a sweet looking black Chrysler 200 next to it just calling my name!  I took it for a test drive and really liked it!  So thats what we picked.  It's the newest car I have ever owned!  I surely am always grateful for what I drive.  Paul has always got us used cars that run fine!  But it was pretty exciting to get this new, shiny, elegant looking car!  I am so very thankful to have a dependable car to drive especially after having had so many transmission problems in the last month.
     Thank you for providing for this need of a car in our life Lord!!

Thankful for my son Jake Day 12

     Whenever anyone asks me how many children I have, I always say 5.  I gave birth to four but when Paul and I got together, I was privileged to gain another son.  Jacob was 11 when Paul and I met and moved in with us shortly after.  He is a brother to Nolan who otherwise would have only had sisters and an extra big "bubba" to my girls.

     Jake is light and laughter and funniness!  He is athletic, strong and loves to play.  He makes adventure out of the simplest things and even going for a run with him, you'll find him leaping fences, dodging obstacles and spinning in circles.  He loves the outdoors and especially snowboarding!

 

 He is creative, stubborn and a "bit" resistant to authority.   But he is, above all, loyal and a lover of family.  He has given us some rough times.  Some things have happened which maybe someday I could share here.   Definitely some challenges.  Not quite ready to divulge those secrets.  He and Faith have a special bond!  He takes her on hikes, bike rides and out for ice cream.  She so looks up to him and Nolan too. 

Jake and Nolan both showed up for Faith's play Saturday night with boquets of flowers for their little sister!  Boy was she thrilled! 

 

Jake has always jokingly called me "x-Mom".  One time, years ago, instead of saying step mom, he said x-mom.  He must have been thinking of x-wife because of the divorce.  Anyway, the term stuck.  I am Janet ~"X -Mom"!  Kind of funny.  Thanks Jake for all the joy you have brought to me.  I have two sons and three daughters and I am so very, very blessed!

Once again, I could go on and on about this boy of ours but this bragging X- mom will stop.

 

Our boys!

Thankful for my lesson on driving a standard car Day 11

     Today, Paul drove me to Hannaford to pick up some groceries.  He then drove me to the school to drop off food for the food drive for victims of Hurricane Sandy.  Then he told me to get in the drivers seat to have a driving lesson.  You see, we have been having a multitude of car problems lately.  Truck is in the shop.  The car has transmission problems and I just borrowed my sisters Sues car, Thursday and that broke down too.  I could cry, but I guess I will laugh at the unfortunate circumstances until we buy a new one.   It has certainly been an interesting few weeks of break downs and rescues by my hunny. 
     He very patiently gave me a lesson on how to drive the one remaining car we have left to drive - a standard.   Many chuckles as I stopped, started, stalled, revved, and jerked my way around Enosburg Elementary School about 20 times.   I am learning.  It was very frustrating and not coming too easily for me.  But we kept on.  Clutch in, start, on clutch, on gas, off clutch on gas, go, clutch in brake, stop start, round and round.  I am sure Paul was dizzy and bored but He is a great teacher.  I'll keep trying till I get it right! Thanks for the lesson Hunny!

Thankful for my job! Day 10

     So thankful that I have a good job that I love.  I have worked as a dialysis technician for 15+ years.   Although sometimes I long to do something new or different I realize that there is great security there.  Good benefits, good pay and people who need me.   So grateful that I am comfortable and competent at what I do.  It has taught me not only professional skills but also people skills.  There are always lessons to be learned.  I am able to take care of the same people for sometimes years at a time.  I strive to always love each patient where they are at and make dialysis the most comfortable, painless and secure treatment possible.  Working with my husband is another bonus.  We work well together ~ a rare thing for most people I am sure.  We can drive in to work together, troubleshoot, complain, commiserate and be eachothers best confidantes!  We also have a lot of laughs.  So very thankful for him and my job!