Things I'm Thankful For...

1. my family
2. a day off
3. hang-out time with friends
4. a large mocha from seattle's best
5. a clean, warm house
6. a car that works
7. "do anything for them" friends
8. a chance to sit at my desk and scrapbook
9. this new-to-me computer i'm typing on (yipee!!)
10. my church
11. abby's two missing front teeth
12. a new episode of grey's or lost
13. my washer and dryer, even if it means i have to fold the clothes and put them away
14. the first warm days of spring
15. roadtrips
16. date night
    
17. jacob's freckles
18. a good movie
19. a good book
20. late night chocolate and a glass of milk
    

Happy Birthday Mom!

I wish I had the words to tell you exactly what Mom means to me and my brother and sister. Her example is one of quiet strength and leadership for our family. She is the embodiment of support and encouragement to us, through good times and bad. She sacrifices daily to provide for us and has prayed us through some unbearably difficult times, and continues to do so. She puts up with persistent teasing and ridicule from my siblings and me and does so with a priceless sense of humor, and has even learned to dish it out in return. She loves and cares for us with everything she is and everything she has without hesitation. Aside from a strong dislike for cleaning, failing memories and tendencies toward disorganization, she and I have little in common - I am loud and opinionated, quick to speak, at times aggressive and insensitive, selfish and attention seeking - and she is none of these. My sincere prayers would be that I would become a little more like her every day, and that she would continue to put up with me, Katie and Steve (since they're a lot more like me than they are like her!) until God answers the first.

I love you Mom!! If I haven't said it before, THANK YOU for being the mother that you are to me and for everything that comes along with that. And I'm sorry that it took me so long to come to appreciate you.

It's happened again...

I had another birthday. They seem to come with surprising frequency anymore. I still remember when it felt like an eternity would pass before the big day rolled around again, with the plans and preparations, guest lists and activities... skating rink or sleepover? Man, those were the days!
In honor of the birthday, I'm posting my most recently completed layout. I didn't set out to create it because my birthday was coming up - it was actually just inspired by the giant clock. And I originally saw the focus as just how fast the kids are growing up, but I guess somewhere in my subconscious I was kicking around the idea that I am, in fact, getting older. Shut up Katie. ;) The journaling reads: "Where have these 34 years gone? High School was just yesterday! I barely remember college, it happened so fast. Is it even possible that Adam and I have been married almost 13 years?? or that I'm old enought to have kids in elementary school? Didn't I just get my braces off and go to summer camp??"