It's the Little Things...

It's the little things that make me happy and comfortable... in no particular order!

• The perfect ratio of sugar to creamer in my coffee. 
• Kisses from my husband. 
• God's love. (Ok, not quite so little, but extremely comforting).
• A song that instantly changes my mood.
• Tickling my toddler, hearing him cackle. 
• Group texts with my best friends. 
• Vacation plans. 
• Worship.
• The smell of a campfire. 
• Fresh baked cookies, warm and soft!
• Newborn smiles.
• Talking to my Gram. 
• Movie nights. 
• Popcorn and M&M's. 
• A hand written letter. (No one does this anymore!)
• Shoe shopping. 
• Phone dates with my cousin.
• Hearing 'I love you' daily and knowing it's true.
• Warm, fresh, clean sheets.
• Cozy socks or slippers. 
• A good book. 
• Cuddles with my kids. 
• Visiting family. 
• Encouraging people I love.
• Slides. 
• Chocolate. 
• Belting "On my Own" from Les Mis while alone in the car.
• Hearing 'You're beautiful' exactly when I need to hear it. 
• Tattoos. 
• Birthday parties. 
• Writing. Blogging.
• A new pair of jeans. 
• Flip flops. 
• A new necklace. 
• Dancing around the house with my toddler. 
• Belting out broadway showtunes in the shower.
• Making someone laugh. 
• A glass of wine. 
• Marshmellows. 
• A cold root beer. 
• One Tree Hill. 
• A new soundtrack. 
• Knock knock jokes.
• Snapchats. 
• Being encouraged by people I love. 

Feel free to comment and let me know some things that make/keep you happy! 

Blessed and Thankful.

My Dad, Steven, was in a serious car accident earlier this weekend with 3 of his friends in Sioux Falls, SD. The truck, trailer and 4 motorcycles were totaled but thank GOD everyone is doing good, they had very minor injuries. My Dad has a broken collar bone and his friend Melvin had a head laceration that was stitched/stapled up and mostly superficial. The other two (Paul & Tony) came out mostly unscathed.

They'd been on this motorcycle trip since the 18th - they were headed back home on Friday. It could have been so much worse. 

Basically they had someone pass them and cut them off on a two lane highway, forcing Paul (the driver, and my Dad's Pastor) to slam on breaks while pulling a trailer twice as long and twice as heavy as the truck pulling it. They were pulling all 4 bikes in the trailer. The action of slamming on the breaks caused the trailer to fish tail badly and with all the weight sent them into a grassy median, flipping the truck/trailer probably more than once. The top of the trailer came off when they finally stopped, landing on the side; and the bikes, along with the truck and trailer, were just ruined.

My Dad and Melvin have been released from the hospital and after a hotel stay that night they used some buddy passes from a friend in their church to continue their journey back home (Paul and Tony drove a rental home with all the personal effects they were allowed to take from the wreckage) to all of their wives and families. 

We got to see Dad yesterday for lunch after church and I'm just so thankful that he only has a broken collar bone and some bruising. He was very sore though and supposed to see his doctor today. I'm praying he won't require any surgery to repair his clavicle. He's thankful to be home but still talks about how much of a great time he had and he'd do it all over again. He was so positive and I'm so thankful that he's home and safe and that the wreck wasn't any worse... now we wait to see if insurance says about the bike. 

Here are some photos from our visit yesterday: 

One of my happy places, with both of my parents!

My crazy child, in the dog bed with Sasha!

 

30 Days of Thanks

I'm making this post to keep up with what I post on Facebook for the 30 days of Thanks. So keep checking back to see what I'm thankful for! (:

1. Today I am thankful for a loving and forgiving God! He died on the cross for me and I know I'll have eternal life with him in Heaven! Missing my Gramps today, but thankful I know where he is and that one day I will see him again! Love you, Gramps!!

2. Today I am thankful for my husband - the man who stole my heart when I thought it was time to give up on love; the man who loves, supports and appreciates me even on my cranky days; the man who works for our family's living and has given more than I could ever even ask for! He's the rock in my life and I would have never gotten through this last year without him! Wesley, I love you!

3. Today I am thankful for modern medicine and doctors who have extended office hours! Ryan and I both went this morning - coughing and congested. We are doing better now, but it's been a long day! 

4. Today I am thankful for Lifesong church and the people it's brought into my life! I pray daily for them and love them all like family! They are kind, considerate, and caring when it comes to me an my family! 

5. Today I am thankful for my sister Stephanie - she is such an amazing, loving person! She is one of the most important people in my life. I'm thankful she took my dog, Larson, when I didn't think I'd find him a home. She is beautiful inside and out; she has a super creative mind; and she is a great Aunt to Ryan! Love ya, Steph!  

6. Today I am thankful that my voice can be heard! Get out today and vote! Praying for today and remembering we are "ONE Nation Under God". 

7. Today I am thankful for all the little things: getting my hair done, sleeping in clean, warm sheets, early morning coffee, baby smiles, toddler love and dinner plans with some great friends! I'm going to focus on the good things and rely on my faith to get through the next four years.  

8.Today I am thankful for my parents and all that they have done for me and my little family. Not only did they raise me to be who I am today, but they have continued to remain a huge part of my life, and my son's life as well. I love them very much and look forward to a future full of love, and giving them more grandkids to love!

9. Today I am thankful for Netflix - helping keep me sane in an insane world! (Catching up on Bones, hoping the put the next season up soon!)

10. Today I am thankful for my Dad's home-grilled burgers! Yum! (:

11. Today I am thankful to all the branches of military who serve this country and fight for my freedom! Also, remembering veterans today, thank you for your service! Remembering specifically my Gramps who served in the Air Force.

12. Today I am thankful for my best friend and cousin, Kim Chance! Not only is she my blood, but she's connected to me by heart as well! Double trouble as kids and now we are just as much more trouble as adults! She's the first person I call when life gets hard, and she's the only person who knows and understands me on that level that matters. I love her with all my heart and look forward to our futures as Mom's! (Also, I can't wait to plan our 30th trip together!) Love you girl!     

13. Today I am thankful for my sister, Renee Smith. She doesn't always hear it from me, but I love and appreciate everything she does for me and my little family! I'm looking forward to her wedding in the future and wishing her well in her life! Love you Sis! 

14. Today I am thankful for a lady who became my friend at a time when my life was changing drastically and she helped to make it a smoother process for me... more than once. Marlena Worthan Bell has been a great friend through the past three years and I don't know what  I would do without her. She was the one around the most when I was pregnant and when Ryan was born, she was the person I looked to when I needed advice on being a new Mom. She was also the one who turned around and came back to my house after I called her about my Gramps, to give hugs and support. Thank you for being my friend, especially for helping me make it through some tough times. Love ya, girl!  

15. Today I am thankful for my new friend Laura Ricks Miller. I've known her for over a year now, but we've just recently become closer than ever. She is an amazing woman and a true friend! She is a SAHM as well so she's around when I need someone to talk to during the day... and she is always willing to listen, no matter how small my problem. I love her already! I look forward to many more years of her family and mine being close! I love that our husbands get along and that we can hang out as families and have a good time!  

16. Today I am thankful for my online friend Mariska. She is such an awesome girl and she is always challenging me. She was there with me through all my years of dealing with my Ex and she also shares my love of One Tree Hill. She's stronger than she knows and I love that we have a relationship where we can encourage one another and also teach one another. I've learned alot from her over the past few years and I look forward to meeting her face to face one day. She's such a talented photographer as well as a creative person!

17. Today I am thankful for another friend of mine, Bobbie Stanley! She is a rock in my life and I love her to pieces. She is that one person that I can literally be brutally honest with and bare my soul to without fear of judgement in any way. She's the person who shares my love of music, tattoos and Adam Levine! She is a person that I want in my life for years to come. I love that our boys are close to the same age and that we don't live too far away from one another! I can't wait to go visit her in March for the Maroon 5, Neon Trees and Owl City concert! (:

18. Today I am thankful for my lifelong friend Devin Ragnow... she ended up farther down this list than I originally planned, but I've also known her the longest. She's such a great friend and it's not uncommon for us to not talk or visit for a while, but when we do, it's like there was never even any distance between us! I love her with all my heart and I appreciate her so much! She's got so much potential in this life and I can't wait to see where her future goes! Love you, girl! 

19. Thankful for great friends and a mountain getaway that cost way less than most!