Wednesday, November 30, 2011

30 reasons to be thankful

This month I have been postings what I am thankful for each day. Here is a lil recap:

  • For today Nov 1st: I am thankful that Maddy is so smart! She got a 97% on her history final - We are a proud Momma & Poppa tonight :-)

  • Nov 2nd - I am thankful for having Rocca, our 3 yr old German Shepherd, in our lives (esp. after the loss of BayLeigh last month)

  • On my third day of being thankful I must recongize the power & blessing of having such a close knit extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents)... it has been forever & a dog's age since I was home to Tamaqua! I love you all so much, miss you TONS, and thanks for being such an important part of Maddy, Dan, and my life :-)

  • On the 4th day, I am thankful for my friend Elizabeth Lerda Meighan :-) She is my secretary and one of the first people who made my transition to New Franklin last year just a little more bearable. Today is her last day before she starts a new job on Monday & I am going to miss her to pieces! I'll be praying - you are gonna rock it!

  • On the 5th day of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for coffee. Oh, it smells like freshly ground heaven all right & my favorite part - all the different kinds of creamers to add: sugar cookie, french vanilla, caramel latte, & my personal fave Pumpkin Pie Spice :-)

  • Today, November 6th, I am thankful for my church, Prince Street. We have been attending for about 7 yrs and I marvel at the way my faith has grown because of my church family. I have created so many lasting relationships and have had so many amazing experiences. I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me in the future :-)

  • On this day (Nov 7th) I am thankful for my husband Daniel Eckenrode. One of the many reasons I married him was his ability to take care of us by being just a "jack of all trades" when it came to fixing stuff around the house. This weekend he proved that to us again by finishing the installment of our new water heater (so we don't have to buy fuel for the furnace anymore), putting the furnace on its own breaker, and hooking up our cute kitchen bar lights. I love you baby & thank you!!!

  • Today I am thankful for internet. Last night we were without phone (which didnt us that much since we have cell phones) and internet. When your computer doesn't have internet you forget that the rest of your computer does work :-P Anyhoo, it is back on and we are good to go!

  • I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my job. I am thankful for my job. (this will be my mantra as I conduct 22 parent teacher conferences in 2 days)

  • Today I am thankful for PSUth (Prince Street Youth Group). Wednesday night Powerhouse was just what I needed to turn my frown on this hellish week into a smile. I love meeting & hanging with the youth and all the other adults as well. We might not be "reaping a harvest" every week but I definitely we are planting seeds and watering them!

  • Today I am thankful for all the men and women who have fought for our freedom. Your efforts never go unnoticed by our family!
  • If you can read this, thank a teacher.
  • If you can read this in English, thank a solider.

  • Today I thankful for lazy Saturdays to recuperate from a busy week and try to get my head on straight again.

  • Today I am thankful for my book club. Kristin Simmons, Elizabeth Lerda Meighan, Devon Dewalt Highlands, Anne Potter Rau, Jennifer Chance, Erin Rotz, Terri Vetock are such amazing ladies and I have a blast reading & bonding :-) See you all tonight!

  • Today I am thankful for autumn. I live for hoodies, pumpkin patches, apple cider, colorful leaves, football games, and the cool down from summer :-)

  • Today (November 15th) I am thankful for my home. It provides a roof over my head to stay dry, a bedroom to get a good night's sleep, a bathroom for a hot shower, a living room for my family to spend time with each other in, a kitchen with food in it so we aren't hungry, and many more things :-)

  • Today I am thankful for my morning commute. Listening to Word FM and sipping my cup of coffee really centers me & get me ready to face the day to do God's will

  • On Thursday, November 17, I am thankful for God. (this should have been my first post!) He is so amazing, full of mercy, & forgiveness. Because he loves me so much, he sent his son to die for me on the cross so I can have the chance to have eternal life!

  • Today I am thankful for all those wonderful and special people that I have the privilege to call my friends :-) We may not get to see each other as often as we would like sometimes, but you are never far from my thoughts or heart ♥

  • Today I am thankful for Christmas parades. YES I know I havent eaten my turkey yet but the parade is beautiful & always makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside

  • Today I am thankful for my camera (a Canon TSi Rebel) It was a graduation present when I received my master's degree ans since then I have been having so much fun capturing life's memories. Today I have the honor of doing a photo shoot for my cousin Nathan Miller of his 17 month old son Blaze. It is gonna be a blast!

  • Today (November 20th) I am thankful for the great weekend I just had. Date night on Friday with Jim Bolich and Janet, Christmas parades on Saturday, and a super fun photo shoot yesterday with Blaze Michael :-)
  • Today I am thankful for the food that nourishes my body and gives me the energy and ability to live each day. So many people around the world go to bed with an empty or rumbling stomach and I am so thankful that I am not one of them!
  • Today I am thankful for this quaint little town of Shippensburg. Over the past 7 yrs I have began calling this place home and love everything it has given back to me. Without Shippensburg, I wouldn't have a college & master's degree, a husband & daughter, Prince Street Church, and Knute's which is where I am getting my wing night on tonight :-)
  • Today I am thankful for Maddy's motivation to run a 5k and help out her good friend Hayleigh! You go girls - finishing the race in 35.34 :-)
  • Today I am thankful that I do not do Black Friday shopping! You will see me in the grocery store this morning and then back to my kitchen to cook & bake all afternoon to serve my Momma Beverly Miller Kistler, Tom, and my Brotha Chad Michael, Madeline Eckenrode, and Daniel Eckenrode Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow :-)
  • Today I am thankful for Daniel Eckenrode and Madeline Eckenrode who have helped me clean and cook to get ready for our family's Thanksgiving meal today :-)
  • Today I am thankful for the entertainment of movies & their ability to escape the every day stresses and just relax! Last night we rented the new Pirates movies, tonight I am going to see the new Muppets movie, and Tuesday Maddy and I are FINALLY going to get to see Breaking Dawn!
  • Today November 28th I am thankful for my nephews Benjamin & Gabreil. we had a sleepover last night and today we get to hang out all day too!
  • Today I am thankful for days off of work for the holidays to spend time with Madeline Eckenrode :-) On our agenda today - swim team, vet, lunch with PSUth ladies (and Dan Henley), and Breaking Dawn!
  • And lastly, on this last day of giving thanks I am so thankful that I have so many blessings to count throughout the month. I could have done this exercise for another month or so. It has taught me once again that even the gloomiest day has things to be thankful for and blessings to count!

    Friday, November 25, 2011

    Prep Day

    So this is my favorite day! No, not because I go Black Friday Shopping, but it is my bake & cook all day Day :-) Tomorrow, it is our family's tradition for my family to come down from Tamaqua to eat around our Shippensburg table
    This year, we will sadly be missing Dad, Maggie, Andrew, MK, and Sandi from our table - We love you all and will miss you terribly tomorrow as we sit around together and count our blessings. Hopefully, you will be able to rejoin us next year!
    On my list of things to prepare today
    • mashed potatoes (they will go in the crockpot with sour cream & cheese tomorrow morning)
    • turkey (tonight it will get parsley butter shoved under the skin & then placed in the electric roaster overnight)
    • pumpkin pie (from scratch)
    • Candy Apple Pie
    • homemade bread (with a little help from the bread machine)
    • green & red cupcakes (those are actually for christmas, but I am gonna bake them today and then pop them in the deep freezer to icing and decorate at a later time)

    As I am writing out my grocery list and digging through the recipes to find that 2nd pie I want to make Madeline is watching a FRIENDS episode in the background. It just happens to be one of my favorites (Thanksgiving episode of course) and I hope this NEVER happens to me



    Thursday, November 24, 2011

    Happy Thanksgiving

    Today it is such a blessed day! We may not be with all the family that we want to spend the day with but you are all in my heart and my arms are stretching across the miles to give you hugs and love <3

    This morning, Madeline ran a 5k in Shippensburg affectionately called the "Turkey Trot". She had ALOT of fun and completed the race in 35 mins 34 seconds WOO-HOO Maddy :-)

    Hayleigh Highlands and Maddy

    "Run girls run!"

    Maddy's finishing time 35:34

    the fam @ the Turkey Trot


    Sunday, November 6, 2011

    Football Season

    well the last official game of the football season was on Friday night (not counting playoffs that begin next week - which FYI we made!!! Greyhounds went 8-2 this season). We froze a little bit, but it was a gorgeous November evening under the lights with the band putting on a stellar performance and the Greyhounds winning the game 37-13 against Gettysburg.



    It is hard to believe that 10 football games/Fridays have just blown right past in the last 2 months! (5 away, 5 home) Maddy has had such an amazing experience already and I am SO proud of all the hard work that she (and all the other band kids) have put in to produce such an incredible field show this year.

    I am happy continuing my duty as Band Booster secretary. I have created some great friendships this fall and have loved working with the other officers and band parents to create memories for all our band kids. I know the year isn't finished but at the end of football season is when the obligations of marching band are done (minus parades) and so I won't be as busy with band matters and so I just want to thank everyone who has had a hand in making Maddy's fall band season and mine a wonderful experience!!

    Tuesday, November 1, 2011

    Fetch

    So we are out in the back yard today and Rocca go tearing off through the back yard to the big brush pile. I ask her what she is up to and when she comes around she has this in her mouth.....





    "What do you think Mommy? Can we play fetch? It this good?"

    too priceless

       


    When she pauses to look up at the screen, you can image her saying "Mommy are you gonna help me with this or just continue to play on that toy of yours?" LOL

    If Bayleigh was still alive, she would be at one end of the stick, Rocca at the other and they would be running through the back yard together.