30dayofgivingthanks: day 12

November 12, 2013

Today I'm thankful for indoor plumbing and water heaters!

We're just returning from a trip to the Sahara Desert (which is a funny name, in and of itself, because the word for sahara is actually desert; so it's like saying let's go to the Desert desert, which is just odd). I'll definitely have to fill y'all in on all our adventures at a later time, but for now, after spending a night sleeping in sand, today, I'm thankful for indoor plumbing and hot water heaters! A long, hot shower after a camping trip is a huge blessing!

Today's Challenge: Thank a Veteran Day

30daysofgivingthanks: day 11

November 11, 2013

Today I'm thankful for my pets!

When my parents first moved to Colorado a few years back, leaving me and my sister still at home, the first thing we did was get a puppy! Sweet Selah Ray was something of a runt, but she has the sweetest disposition for a predominantly German Shepard mutt.

Selah Feb. 2011

Mississippi weather was too much for Selah, so she's gone to live with my parents on a lovely 10 acres of wide open spaces. I think she loves it there, but I sure miss her!

Me and Selah Dec. 2011

Bnaya and Chess are our African cats. You can get the full scoop on them here, but for now, here's a few pics.

Baby Bnaya

Bnaya - This cat loves getting under a blanket!

Baby Chess

Chess's job for the week is clearly to protest Jordan's departure!

So today I'm thankful for furry friends that warm the heart!

Today's Challenge: Wake Up and Smell the Roses Day

We all get so busy that we can ignore the wonders all around us - like the smell of coffee in the morning, the roses in the backyard, or a friend who drops by to say hello. Today, take the time to notice your surroundings and give thanks for the things we often take for granted.

30daysofgivingthanks: day 10

November 10, 2013

Today I'm thankful for coffee!

I never really started drinking coffee until I chaperoned a middle school trip, and even then I could only drink the frufru kind. But in recent years, my roommate has gotten me quite addicted! The morning just isn't right without a hot steaming cup of coffee, still with creamer and sugar, of course.

I'm also incredibly thankful to all of you who have provided delicious coffee from back home! It really does make everyday feel a little more comfortable and familiar, even when everything else around us is quite foreign! Thanks for the coffee!

Today's Challenge: Give Thanks for the Word

Offer up thanks to the Father for giving us His words! Ps. 119:105

Here's a special look at the Thanksgiving Wall in our house:

Some of my personal favorites (to protect the special bonds of roomies, I'll leave the quotes anonymous):

"I'm thankful that Brandi is no longer on Codeine."

"I'm thankful that I didn't die while trying to exercise!"

"I'm thankful for peanut butter."

"I'm thankful for Dove Chocolate Philosophy."

"I'm thankful that Arabic doesn't have linking verbs!"

"I'm thankful for Pepto Bismal."

Leave a comment and let us know what YOU are thankful for!

30daysofgivingthanks: day 9

November 9, 2013

Today I'm thankful for lazy Saturday mornings!

Saturday mornings hold many a beautiful thing! Sleeping in is one of them, even if I only sleep a moment past my normal wake up time, it's infinitely better than being forced awake by a blaring alarm. That right there makes me a nicer person to begin with and then I have time to play! Saturdays give me a chance to work on my new craft projects, to pick up a good book, journal about life, and play around with my camera and photo editing apps!

Here's a in-depth look at it all:

New Craft Project: English Paper Piecing

This is one of those sewing projects that caught my eye on Pinterest and I just up and decided to try it. There are a lot of things I love about it: 

1) It's all by hand, so there's no fussing with getting a sewing machine out and I can work on it anywhere. 

2) Because the pieces are so little, it uses up all the scraps we've got left over from our many other sewing projects. 

3) There's a new sense of accomplishment when you look at something you did all by hand. 

The bad news about this little project is that it will take approximately 1,000 hexagons to make a decent size quilt...aka...it will take forever to finish!

Reading a Good Book

I found a used bookstore of sorts a few months after moving here and now I'm trying to find the time to read all the books I bought before I head back over the water. My friend, Jordan, is in love with the Harry Potter series and has challenged me to read them. I'm currently stuck on the second book, but I really will try to finish it!

Journaling

Since living overseas, I've discovered what a release and great way to process writing can be. It really helps me think through a situation and then gain perspective about it. Lately, I've been doing a poor job of journaling in my pretty little journal but I have been blogging...which is basically just journaling for people to see, so it still counts, right?

Photography and Photo Editing

I'm currently quite enamored with the Fotor app (photo editing and collage making) for Mac. I love that you can both edit and collage photos with the same program, although not in the same screen. This app is very user friendly and easy to learn! Lots of cool auto correct options, but it also allows you to self-correct photos yourself. I especially enjoy the tilt-shift option, even though I don't fully understand how it all works (I used it in the journaling picture to pull focus from paper and spiral to the pen and natural light...I think).

What are things you do on lazy Saturday mornings that you're thankful for?

Today's Challenge: Reminder Day

Have a hard time remembering to be thankful? Put reminders up around your house, a note on your refrigerator, for example, that says, "Give thanks!"

30daysofgivingthanks: day 8

November 8, 2013

Today I'm thankful for a good story (or a perfect plot)!

In what appears to have become an unbreakable tradition, Friday night is TV or movie night around here. Tonight as I enjoyed watching "our shows" with friends, I realized how much I enjoy a good story, which is exactly what film is to me - a visual story. I know some people who just turn a show on for background noise or just because they don't have anything better to do. Sometimes I'm no different but more often than not, when a show or movie starts, my mind starts moving faster, analyzing the many facets of the process: the actor's ability, the movement of the plot, the symbolism in the story, the producer's fingerprint, and most of all, the writer's wit.

I love feeling a character's pain or triumph. I love when suspense grips my gut and my heart starts racing when a plot thickens. Sure, I know some might say, "It's all fiction," but I can guarantee you that that fiction was born from someone's reality.

Hopefully one day, I'll have a finished "good story" that I'm ready to contribute or who knows, maybe I 'll take up my local friend's offer from today to write her story. What an interesting journey that would be!


Today's Challenge: Laughter Day. There's just something about laughter that makes it easier for us to be grateful people. So, make today laughter day at your house. Tell funny stories, jokes, watch a good comedy together and thank Him that He gave us the gift of humor.

30daysofgivingthanks: day 7

November 7, 2013

Today I'm thankful for friendships that miles don't separate.

One of the biggest drawbacks to living away from home... is just that - you live away from home, old friends, and familiar sights. But I'm thankful for the many friends who have diligently kept up with me, even when there's time zone math to be done. Even though there's miles between us, thank you to all of you who have shown me friendship, encouragement, and love through your emails, Skype calls, fb comments, phone calls, notes, and packages.

Today we even received some flowers from a friend back home, who thought we should be the recipients of day 1's challenge!  

Not quite sure how you managed to pull it off, but thanks so much for thinking of us and lifting us up, Poly!

Today's Challenge: Thanks for the Pain? Each one of us have hard times, but He is with us even in the worst circumstances. Thank Him for His presence, comfort, and strength that has helped you get through a rough season in your life. (taken from a website that I can't seem to re-find on Pinterest)

30daysofgivingthanks: day 6

November 6, 2013

Today I am thankful for peace.

It may sound too short and sweet, but all I can say is I'm thankful for peace that passes understanding and is available to any who ask. ;)

Today's Challenge: Thanks for the Encouragement. Today, think of someone who has helped you know the Father better. Mail them a note, send them an email, or tell them in person that you are thankful for their help along the way.