Happy Thanksgiving!

Are you ready for Thanksgiving? Are you ready to shop? I'm hoping to get some Christmas shopping done on Friday. Lots of good deals ya know. But I'm definitely not one of the shoppers who gets up super early to go. One year I did that. I don't need to do that again. Some of the stores are opening at 3:00 am. That's just crazy. Do you get up early and fight the crowds? Nevertheless I will be doing some shopping with my mom and hopefully my sister. And maybe we'll get lucky and the kids can stay home with Daddy. (I haven't suggested this idea to my husband yet though). But of course all that shopping isn't done until after the super yummy feast tomorrow. I can smell the turkey already. (Well, not really since it's only Wednesday morning and my mom's the one hosting the dinner). But I will smell the turkey and it will be delicious. We are so blessed that my mom goes the extra mile to make sure that Jack can have what's being served. She even has a dessert tray that's especially "Jack safe". Another thing we'll do tomorrow is exchange names for Christmas. And my grandma always wants a list for the kids. In fact your Christmas list is your ticket in to Thanksgiving dinner at her house. No list, no dinner. (I don't really think she'd deny us dinner, but...you know). Since we won't be at her dinner on Saturday, I'll need to have our lists ready tomorrow.

And yet, it really is Thanksgiving. A time to be thankful. To thank the Lord for his incredible blessings. To enjoy being with family and friends. Emma even mentioned it's a time to be thankful for the soldiers who are fighting. Yes we need to be thankful for everything. Because we have a God who is faithful and gracious and merciful. Whether we have lots or little, we have the Lord. He is our joy and our strength and the only true source of fulfillment.

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window... a gray day today after enjoying some wonderful sunshine.

I am thinking...all that I want to accomplish this week

I am thankful for... a much better back. My hurt back seems to be well on the mend.


I am going... to do lots of errands today, including bringing my kids to get their H1N1 immunization today.

I am hoping... that Jack's feeling better. He had one of those mysterious before-school, Monday-morning stomach aches.

On my mind...our upcoming visits to family

Noticing that... I'm starting to feel a bit more Christmas-y lately. The holidays really snuck up on me this year. It just doesn't seem like it should be that time yet.

Pondering these words... Lord, You are able to keep me from falling today and will present me without fault before Your throne. Praise be to You both now and forever! (Jude 24-25), Sandra Higley

From the kitchen...band trip fundraiser tonight at The Pizza Ranch so no cooking for me.

Around the house... still fall and harvest decorations. Looking forward to changing it out for Christmas stuff next week.

One of my favorite things~ hearing my daughter wake up singing in the morning.

From my picture journal...Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook for more daybook posts or to join in yourself!

Photo of the Day

Saturday

We don't really sleep in on Saturdays in our house. I get up for Praise Team rehearsal, the kids get up for basketball at the Y and Pete has to take them there. Though we've discovered that at this point basketball is just not for Emma. The last couple of times she's gone she somehow ends up getting hit with the ball. This time she was, um, standing under the basket not realizing that someone was shooting and the ball hit her on the head. She started crying and refused to play anymore. This happened about 10 minutes into the game. She won't be signing up again.

Right now, though, we're just taking it easy. Pete's dozing in the easy chair and I'm so glad. He has not been sleeping well lately and this rest is just what he needs. Emma's chillin' in front of my bedroom t.v. and Jack's out playing with a friend. I, of course, am here blogging and lying on the couch. My back is feeling quite a bit better today for which I am truly thankful. I think I'm on the mend.

What does your typical Saturday look like?

I went to the doctor this morning for my back. I was going to wait to see how I felt on Monday, but decided that if there's something they can do to help today, that I didn't want to just sit here in pain until then. The doctor said that there is a nerve that's irritated. It's a bit higher up in my back then sciatica which is why the pain throbs on the front of my thigh instead of down the back of my leg. He said quite often it all clears up in about 2 weeks, but that 90% of the time it's for sure cleared up in 6 weeks. If it doesn't then we're talking MRI, etc. He said the only limitation in what I can do is not to make twisting motions or lift something over my head. Otherwise I can walk or even jog and that moving around with actually help the healing process. I can use ice or heat,whichever seems to help. And to keep taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen. He did prescribe a stronger pain medication that I can use if the pain keeps me up at night again. So I also made a stop at the pharmacy. I had to go there anyway because one set of Jack's epipens expire at the end of the month. Every year those things go up in price and today I paid $139 for a set of two. Next month the other set expire so I'll be replacing those as well.

Today I'm working my last afternoon in the 5th grade class I've been in for over a week now. I've enjoyed getting to know them. But I've decided that I won't take any jobs next week--at least not on Monday. I need some time to focus on my house and family again. I feel like I've been getting behind, especially since when I have been home I've needed to take it easy. My floor hasn't been swept much less wash a very long time. (Maybe I should go do that now). And then it's Thanksgiving already. I don't know about you, but the holidays have really snuck up on me this year. It just doesn't feel like it's that time yet. Maybe once I get the decorations out it'll start to feel more merry.

Thursday Thanks Tank

No matter what's happening in our lives, there's really always something to be thankful. Take time with me and others today to thankful. Today I'm thankful.....

• For this wonderful back pain medicine I found at Walmart yesterday. That and some rest has helped me feel a bit better today.
• that I got to play my flute today with our high school's orchestra. They needed some extra people to help fill in some parts for an upcoming concert.
• for quiet nights at home. Last Friday night we got Papa Murphy's pizza and just enjoyed doing nothing at home. Too many busy evenings lately.

My Aching Back

So I'm lying here in bed with an aching back. Yesterday morning it was feeling quite a bit better, but by the end of thd day I was hurting more than ever. What started out as an overall ache across my lower back a week ago now feels like a pinched nerve located in one spot on the right side of my lower back. It even throbs on the front part of my upper thigh. And it made it difficult to sleep last night. I was supposed to sub this afternoon and am scheduled each afternoon for the rest of this week. I called in "sick" though and am hoping to really do some effective resting today. I'm wondering if I need to go to the doctor. I've never gone to the doctor for back pain. Is it worthwhile to go in at this point? Or do I wait a couple of days in pain? Is there anything they can really do? Tomorrow is supposed to be a busy day. Uggh! I hate this pain and I want it gone!

Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...
Outside my window... it was sunny today but there was a cold breeze.

I am thinking... how it's better late than never today

I am thankful for... the work days I have this week.

I am wearing... my pajamas (as usual, though this time it's the end of the day instead of the beginning)

I am remembering... playing games together as a family when I was a kid

I am going... to be working in the same classroom each afternoon this week

I am reading... nothing at the moment

I am hoping... to get some extra rest for my back tomorrow morning. I hurt it last week and it's still sore

On my mind... making my schedule work on Thursday.

Noticing that... I'm feeling pretty tired right now

From the kitchen... we had roast and potatoes for supper tonight

Around the house... Emma's in bed, Jack and Pete are reading

One of my favorite things~ a yummy smelling candle

From my picture journal...

Falling Flat

Today I was coming out of the YMCA when I stepped off the curb in a funny way and found myself falling flat on my face. Well, not on my face exactly because I was able to brace myself with my hands. A few people asked me if I was okay. I was just embarrassed. It didn't help that the exercise room windows face the parking so they all saw it too. Nice.