Thankful Thursday

Today is the first day of "Thankful Thursday," my new weekly topic that will give me a chance to thank God for the week's blessings. Nothing beats stress away like looking for the positive and finding gratitude there. So here goes:

1. Cold weather -- even a *little* snow last night! -- the kind of frigid temps we rarely see here in TN, the kind of temps that beg for hot cocoa [or tea...see next item]! Now there's a celebration!
   
   
2. Loose-leaf tea. If you haven't tried it, you are missing out on a tasty, calming winter treat!
   
   
3. Playtime with Kaden. My new napping strategy for him includes purposely wearing him out in the morning. This is no easy task since he seems to have hidden reserves of energy, but I'm up for the task. We've been playing outside, going to the Y, walking in the woods, and having lots of fun while getting ready for a good, long nap. Bonus: exercise for me!
   
   
4. Laney learning new things. She is in a constant state of motion and discovery, and it's fun to see her growing up into more of a toddler and less of a baby. She's getting steadier on her feet, and I think it'll only be a few months until she's walking! She pulls herself up on furniture like a champ!
   
   
5. My uber-industrious hubby. I'm grateful for how hard Josh works to provide for our family and that he hasn't given up despite business start-up stress and working at a job that is not exactly where he pictured himself. I'm proud of you, baby!
   
   
6. Weight loss! I lost 2.5 pounds in the last week, and that is something to be happy about! I think all that naptime exercise is paying off. :-)
   
   

Those are just a few of the many things I have to be grateful for, but it's a good place to start for today. If you want to join me in exercising my gratitude muscle, feel free to jump on the bandwagon!

Gluten-Free Chic

Anyone watch "The View" on TV? Well, last week on Friday, one of the hosts, Elizabeth Hasselbeck, announced that she has celiac disease, just like me!

Here's a link to another blog that talks about the segment: Gluten-Free NYC.

It's nice to hear of celebrities who have celiac -- people who can speak out and bring more attention to the disease. More attention, more research...maybe someday a cure?! I don't spend my days pining after bread, but every once in a while I wish I could just go back to being "normal." Anyway, just wondering if anyone saw the show and thought of me!

Now, if only that size 2 figure of Elizabeth's went along with the celiac package. :-)

Baby Meets Google

Older "boomer" types (and beyond) often comment to me that they can't believe all the baby gear that we have nowadays. Usually, they speak wistfully of these items, wishing they could have had some of our modern conveniences when their babies were young. I'm talking Bumbo chairs, pack-n-plays, removable infant car seats, Baby Bjorns, ...you know, all the gadgets and whatchamacallits. So then I was thinking, What one parenting tool could I not live without?

In .02 seconds, my mind returned this result: the Internet!

It's true. Take my Snugli, take my Bumbo, take my light-up, sing-out toys (yes, please do take those!)...but please, please don't take the Internet away -- and especially Google! I love having so much information at my fingertips, and when you're constantly treading into new phases of toddlerdom and babyhood, it's nice to know that you can find out what's normal and even find support from other parents who have been there.

Now of course, I use the Internet for non-parenting stuff like email and such, but I honestly do use it a lot as a mom. Take for example some of my recent Google searches:

• infant, fever


• robeez crib shoes


• 2-year-old, napping [This is a blog in itself, Dear Reader.]


• average formula feeding, 9-month-old


• Nuby sippy cup replacement spouts


• digital scrapbooking [Laney is baby book-less...poor thing!]


• family bowling, middle tennessee

So that made me wonder, if AOL can flub up and release personal search information, what might my Google searches say about me if they were ever to reach the light of day? I think I would be easy to track down based on my frequent use of Google. So what would your Google searches say about you?

P.S. As a side note, I worked for about a year with the author of this article. It was weird to see his name pop up in...you guessed it, Google. :-)

Happy Birthday, Ashley!

Another family birthday greeting goes out to my sister-in-law, Ashley. Happy Birthday, Rashy! :-)

I think my brother chose an amazing wife. She is a new mom, just like Jess, and she also is going to college part-time to finish up her degree to become a Physician's Assistant. Ashley has always been a hard worker, and she throws herself 100% into everything she does. She has a lot on her plate right now, but she is keeping her priorities straight (and trying to fit in a few hours of sleep around being a wife, mother, and college student). It makes me tired just thinking about it!

To my smart, giving, beautiful, fun-to-be-around SIL...I wish you a great year. I love you!

With a Little Help from My Friends

Thanks to those of you who commented, emailed, or called to see how you could help to encourage me in my new resolve (see my last post). I appreciate your prayers and support more than you know! God is good to provide the right people with the right words at the right time.

I love to "pay it forward" and lend a helping hand when I can -- and today I got an opportunity to do just that! My good friend, Laurie Roe, is opening her own clothing store here in Nashville that specializes in petite clothing for women. It's called Petite Boutique, and I finally got to lay eyes on her big project for the first time today. It was awesome to see all of the things I've been reading about on her blog in real life. It's wonderful to see a friend realizing a dream.

Plus, I got 5 hours of childfree bliss -- the first of its kind in quite a while. I mindlessly moved pants, skirts, blouses, and suits from plastic hangers to wooden hangers, and guess what?! All that mindless work was quite wonderful, actually. No one asked me for juice, needed a diaper change, or whined at me. I'm telling you, adults are a breath of fresh air. :-) Plus, I got a free lunch from Moe's out of the deal. What could be better?

It was WONDERFUL to see my family after our little hiatus. It's amazing how just a short time away rejuvenates me!

And by the way, if you're petite -- and even if you're not (Laurie's carrying some awesome accessories like handbags, jewelry, shoes, etc.) -- stop by or make a special trip to Petite Boutique! It's shaping up to be such a delightfully fun store. Best wishes to you, Laurie!

Happy Birthday, Jess!

I am officially two days late in writing this blog, but I'm cheating by post-dating it to show my sister's actual birthday: January 22nd. Sorry for the belated blog wishes!

My sister is such an amazing person, friend, wife, and new mom that I am honored to know and love her. So Happy Birthday, sis! You are one of my closest friends and most favorite-est people in the whole world! :-) I am very excited about 2007 because our two families are going to have a few years of togetherness to look forward to. (Stefan & Jess are moving to Nashville later this year so that Stefan can complete his doctorate in International Politics at Vanderbilt University. YA!)

Well, Jess, I know you had a great birthday, and I think 2007 is going to be a pretty awesome year for you, too. Love, hugs, and best wishes to you! XOXO Love, Jenn

Climbing Outta the Funk

Ever feel like you're in a rut? Emotionally, spiritually, physically?

I do. I'm a little hesitant (and embarrassed) to bear my soul here, because I think people mostly want to hear updates on the family or tales of Kaden's antics, but I'll just say I've been losing the battle with that one sin that Satan always throws my way (not to say that I only mess up in one area!!). No matter what your weaknesses or what your past, I'm sure just about everyone can identify with a period of feeling too weak to overcome your weakness(es).

What really stinks is that the internal battles I've been fighting are apparently not as internal as I thought. Josh can tell when I'm indulging in "stinkin' thinkin'" (not sure where that phrase came from) or when I've thrown in the towel, giving up the hope that I'll ever have victory again in this area. It bothers him to see me in this defeated state, and I know that this distraction, this emotional drain, affects my effectiveness as a wife and a mom. And that bothers me, too!

So it's time for a new plan. I've been wallowing about in self-pity for long enough, and it's time for the next step! A big part of the plan is discipline, and another big part involves carving out time each week for me, which I have to say is hard. Being a busy mom of two is a rather convenient excuse to push away the stuff I "don't have time" to deal with. But as is always the case, carving out a bit of time for myself to do the things I need to do for my soul and my body always makes me more alive in every other moment of the day when I'm focused on Josh or the kids.

And when it comes down to it, that's what I want to be. Fully present, fully alive, fully on mission in every moment, not distracted and faltering under guilt and shame and self-pity. The best news, and I can't fail to mention it, is that I'm not in this alone. Not only do I have a supportive, loving husband, but I serve a God who is stronger than my weakness. My Father wants to see me succeed in overcoming the flesh and becoming more like his Son. Satan tells me I'm all alone, but it's not true -- God is with me each step! Victory today does not guarantee victory tomorrow, so I must continue being vigilant and making the best choices I can! So, that's me in this moment. Feeling defeated and rather sorrowful in my heart, but ready to try again.

If you want to share, how do you attack your area of weakness...or kick your butt into gear when you're in a rut?

Thanks for letting me vent. I'll try to think of something happy to post about next time. :-)

Getting Back to Normal

Wow. The past month has been B-U-S-Y. I'm sure you all can relate! I returned from PA with the kids on Wednesday, and we were greeted with one crazy mess of leftover renovation supplies, Christmas decorations, dirty laundry, and Christmas toys and presents that still need a home. Oh...and one happy husband and daddy to have his family back in Nashville. :-) Being back together was more important than all the disorganization, but I'm still chipping away at the projects so that our home can get back to normal.

Josh was busy while we were gone. He painted our bedroom to match our new bathroom that Dad Hesse completed over the vacation. We are the 2nd owners of our home, and the people who built it did not correct a big mistake the contractor made in our bathroom -- a stall shower AND a tub/shower combo. Who needs 2 showers?! So "Papa" cut out the stall shower, put up drywall and a door to create a linen closet, installed a ceramic tile floor, and painted the room. Phew! It was a busy 10 days for him. But it looks GREAT -- thanks, Dad! :-) What a great Christmas gift for Josh and me.

Well, I hope you are all adjusting to 2007. How are those resolutions coming? I'm doing great -- mostly because I didn't make any. :-)

I better get back to work. I have a short project for Thomas Nelson to finish in the next week, so there's no time to waste!

It's great to be back home!

10 Questions for the New Year

I recently read this on one of the blogs I frequent, and I wanted to pass it on: Ten Questions for the New Year.

I liked the way the questions help you zero in on specific things you'd like to accomplish in the coming year -- besides getting off those pesky 5-10 pounds. :-) I also really liked the other 21 questions he lists after the first 10. I plan to spend some time pondering these questions in the next few weeks, and I thought I'd pass on the list in case it might be of interest to anyone else.

There's a lot of talk about New Year's Resolutions this week, and I'm hoping these questions will help me to identify some meaningful and measurable goals to work toward throughout 2007.

Are you making resolutions this year? Tell me what your goals are if you want to share!

Still Alive!

Hey, everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I'm still here. Actually, I'm in Pennsylvania at the moment visiting my family. We have been so busy with Josh's family visiting, traveling to PA, and now visiting with my whole side of the family here in Duncansville that I haven't had time to think about blogging. It's been a flurry of grandbabies and grandparents, and it's been fun so far!

My sister arrived today from CA, so we had a little reunion tonight with all 3 siblings and all 4 grandkids. Unfortunately, Josh and Stefan had to stay behind in Nashville and San Diego to work, but we're lucky to have my SIL Ashley here since she and Jon only live about a mile away. Miss you, Josh and Stefan!

I don't really have anything exciting to post, but I just wanted to share the update. I'll be in PA with the kiddos until the 10th. Then the holidays will officially be over, and I can return to normal life. :-) Happy New Year to everyone, and I wish you all the best for 2007.

Making New Traditions

This past week has been very busy! I'm sure everyone's in the same boat. We made chocolate bark, decorated sugar cookies, shopped for food, crafted our Christmas dinner menu, finished decorating, wrapped presents, shopped for more food, welcomed guests, and ate enough sugar to sink the Titanic. And it isn't even Christmas yet!

Josh's parents, sister, and grandmother are visiting us this week, and we're really enjoying the company. Papa is working on another remodeling project (this time, the master bathroom), and Grandma brought enough fun projects to keep Kaden busy for a few weeks. Papa and Grandma see who can keep Kaden's attention the longest. So far, hammers and drills are enough to distract him from sugar cookies (Is he really my son?!).

Since this is the first year that Kaden can really dialogue about Christmas and start to grasp what it's all about, I've been thinking a lot about family traditions and how we want to celebrate the day. It seems hard to balance the present factor (me-me-me) with the fact that Christmas is really a celebration of Christ's birth.

One thing that we're doing this year came from a forward I received from a friend. Here it is:


SIMPLE WHITE ENVELOPE

It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas --oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it-- the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.

These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat! .

Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids -- all kids -- and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball, and lacrosse.

That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church.

On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas this at year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition -- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us. May we all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas spirit this year and always.

I love this idea. Giving instead of receiving. Others instead of me. I think it honors Christ's birthday and the way he lived his life in a way I've never done before and in a way I want to teach my kids. Are there presents under our tree? Yes, of course. But there will also be a white envelope on our tree this year...to remind us that we're not just here on this earth for us. I hope this story may inspire some of you, too.

From our house to yours, Merry Christmas!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Just wanted to give a Happy Birthday greeting to my mom. Today's her special day!

Happy Birthday, Mom. I love you!

Peacemaker

I love this song by Greg Ferguson (of Willow Creek fame). It characterizes God in some ways that I've never seen anywhere else. As we're all gearing up for Christmas, I wanted to share these words for you to ponder in the next few days leading up to the big day. They're simple, but so beautiful! I hope they touch you, too.

"Peacemaker, Fear taker,
Soul soother, Storm smoother,
Mind clearer, Sigh hearer,
Hand holder, Consoler,
Light shiner, Lost finder,
Cloud lifter, Deliverer,
Would binder, Tear drier,
Strength giver, Provider,
Heart toucher, Truth lover,
Heart healer, Kind father,

Who other could be...
Fear taker, My Savior, Peacemaker to me?"

Ropes of Kindness and Love

The kids and I played hooky from church today because we're all recovering from yet another head cold. Josh volunteered in the media booth, so he had to leave home at 6am this morning. Unfortunately, he didn't get home from work until about 1am last night and is at work again tonight. Poor guy. ;-( He does love volunteering at Cross Point, though -- it's just hard when an early morning is sandwiched in between two nights of work.

Anyway, I was reading my one-year Bible this morning, and this verse jumped out at me:

Hosea 11:4 - "I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him."

What an encouraging glimpse of God's character! Does anyone else other than me sometimes (okay, regularly) need reassurance that God is going to continue meeting our needs, leading us along with his ropes of kindness and love? I know that I do! No matter how he's come through for me in the past, my human heart is shamefully forgetful. I hate to admit it, but it's true.

I love Bible verses that give us visual pictures, and this one definitely qualifies. I imagine a cord reaching from heaven right into my life, an invisible cord that has been there my whole life and is woven into the intricacies of each blessing and each decision that has brought me to today.

Josh and I have talked recently about how the nature of our work (day jobs, night jobs, and regular leaps of faith) makes it obvious to us that God has "stooped to feed us" many times over the past two years. Although part of me misses the "security" of a 9-5 salaried job, I can see that our self-employment jobs are a blessing because they tie us directly back to God's gracious hand -- freelancing projects, new clients, and generous tips at the restaurant. We don't necessarily have a company or boss to attribute our finances to, so our gratitude goes directly to God.

But...I think that direct tie is also why I worry sometimes -- worried that I'll do something wrong to cut off his grace or that he'll change his mind about me or about meeting my needs. This verse tells me that it's not about me. It's about HIS kindness, HIS love. And on this side of the Cross, it's all about Jesus' righteousness that makes me worthy of God's love.

If, like me, concern or worry [gasp!] ever grips your heart, know that God has lifted that yoke from your neck. Trust that his ropes of kindness and love will lead you along the right path he intends for your life. I fully expect that part of his love will lead me through difficult times in order to grow me and shape me. And that's okay.

I am so grateful for the way God uses his Word to directly answer prayers and remind me of what an amazing Father he is.

You don't have to comment here, but just think about this: how have you seen God's ropes of kindness and love weaving through your life and holding you up at just the right times?

The Blended Salad

A few days ago, Shelley Fuge, one of my friends from Cedarville U., posted about her new, healthy treat: a Blended Salad.

Now, although it may sound weird, I thought it would be perfect for me because I have been having such a hard time coaxing myself to eat raw veggies for the past year or so (I do much better with cooked). While I was pregnant with Laney, raw veggies made me nauseous, and I guess I got out of the habit b/c I still haven't really incorporated them back into my diet very well. I used to eat a big salad for lunch every single day, but that takes a lot of time to prepare and chew, chew, chew. And honestly, I don't really have a half hour to devote to just feeding myself at lunchtime. Or dinnertime, for that matter. I do sit down and eat, but when I make a big plate of salad, I can't seem to make it the whole way through it without getting distracted.

So when I saw those raw veggies blended up in a smoothie, I thought, "Eureka!" :-) Now, I'm sure this is not the miracle pill or something that will instantly make me lose these 15 pounds of weight from my pregnancy, but hey -- it's worth a shot. I'll tell you this...I've had two of these shakes, and I am seriously already feeling healthier. It may be psychological, and my logic may be faulty, but I'm thinking this is the best way for me, at least at this busy point in my life, to get in a great big serving of fresh veggies. I can cart my cup around with me from room to room as I change diapers and run after a toddler. And it's good for me!

Here's Shelley's recipe:

A fistful of Spinach
1 Cup of Rice Dream (found in the dairy section, but not a dairy product)
1 1/2 Cups of Frozen Fruit
1 Cup pre-blended Romaine Lettuce
2-3 Tbsp. Flaxseed
Optional: Carrots and anything else healthy

Now here are my changes: Whatever kind of milk you drink will work. I nixed the romaine and added more spinach. The first night, I added half of a small tomato. Bananas are highly recommended to sweeten up the spinach. And I also have to admit that I put a approx. 1/2 T. of honey in there. I think I can phase that out as I get used to drinking vegetables. :-)

So that's it! Oh, and I have to add that Kaden even drank some the first night. I cut it with half milk, but hey -- I'm happy about any veggies making it into his little body. [He actually said to me a few days ago, "I don't like green." ...meaning veggies. He won't even take one bite!]

Try it, okay? Let me know how it goes.

Christmastime is Here Again!

Well, it's Christmas in the Hesse house. We started decorating our tree a few days before Thanksgiving, and we finished it about 2 days ago. [Yes, it took us a week just to decorate it. We had to do it in small spurts to work around the kiddos.] As you can see from the pictures, the tree is currently presentless, but that problem will quickly be remedied when a certain minivan from New York carrying 2 grandparents, 1 great-grandparent, and 1 aunt arrives before Christmas Day.

You may not believe it, but Santa actually loans a few of his reindeer to the Hesses since these world travelers are used to carrying sleighs full of presents for every child in the universe. Yes, we're talking a lot of presents. As in, "We each brought 2 sets of clothes...and the rest is all presents." Plus, I'm sure a few presents will find their way under the tree even before they arrive. It's great to have doting grandparents and great-grandparents, and we're fortunate to have many on both sides of the family. And for more reasons than just Christmas presents, of course!


Back to the issue at hand -- the tree. I'm posting two pics here so you can see it in all its glory. Yes, it's artificial. I know, I know -- where's the authentic Christmas spirit in an artificial tree?! But for those of us with sensitive skin and a weird allergy to evergreens, my skin and lungs thank me for insisting on a fake tree. Plus, no water bowl to keep the kids out of! Josh and I both like that little perk. Maybe one of these years when the kids are older and could enjoy a tree-hunting trip to find the perfect tree I will try to tolerate a live tree again. But for now, it's fake all the way.

My husband says I'm a scrooge, and compared to him, yes...it is true. However, I am really enjoying the twinkling lights and listening to Christmas music on the radio and looking forward to sharing Christ's birthday with my family. Christmas is in the air!

Calling All True Loves...

Get ready to shell out $18,920 for your twelve-day Christmas extravaganza this year! For all those True Loves inspired by "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song, you can expect to shell out over 3 percent more than last year for your milking maids and piping pipers. Here's a little glimpse from the PNC Wealth Management press release announcing the news:

22nd ANNUAL PNC CHRISTMAS PRICE INDEX UP 3 PERCENT; DANCERS, DRUMMERS AND PIPERS EARN MORE IN TIGHT LABOR MARKET

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 27, 2006 – Historically low unemployment is making it more expensive to give the gift of live entertainment this year, according to the PNC Christmas Price Index. The tongue-in-cheek economic analysis by PNC Wealth Management is based on the cost of gifts in the holiday classic, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

According to the 22nd annual survey, the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is $18,920 in 2006, a 3.1 percent increase over last year. Gift prices mirrored the U.S. government’s Consumer Price Index – a widely used measure of inflation calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As part of its annual tradition, PNC Wealth Management also tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items gifted by a True Love who repeats all of the song’s verses. This holiday season, very generous True Loves will pay more than ever before – $75,122 – for all 364 items, up from $72,608 in 2005. This 3.5 percent increase is substantially less than last year’s 9.5 percent increase. Kleintop observed that Christmas Price Index inflation may reflect trends that led the Federal Reserve to pause interest rate hikes this year.

***

Okay, I just had to share that...pretty funny stuff, right?

So...now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are over, the Christmas shopping season is officially underway! Any special gifts you're hoping to receive? Or maybe a special gift you're buying for your True Love? :-) Leave me a comment!

Online Bible Podcast

Josh created a survey last night to begin researching the possibility of doing a daily podcast that would read through the Bible in one year. If you don't mind, take 30 seconds and take his survey for him -- it will make him happy to hear from you.

If you're scratching your head thinking "pod-what?!", just post a comment on Josh's blog and he'll educate you. :-)

The Fridge Challenge

My fellow blogger and friend, Margaret, double-dog dared her readers to post a picture of our post-Thanksgiving Day fridge. So here I am! As Margaret said, if you've read this, consider yourself tagged!

By the way, the strange garbage bag on the top shelf is actually deer meat that my expert hunter/gatherer brought home for us. ;-)

Happy post-Thanksgiving!!!

A Day of Thanks

What am I thankful for?

God, to whom I owe all my thanks!
A wonderful husband
Two healthy, happy kiddlets
Friends and family who support me through good times and bad
The chance to be a SAHM and do work I enjoy from home
A warm home, good food, and friends to enjoy Thanksgiving with

I could keep going and going, but the turkey's calling!

God Bless and here's to a great year!!!