... for My Improved Vocabulary!

My vocabulary improved drastically when Hannah started talking.  I have found myself repeating her words in an attempt to keep the cute words and phrases going as long as possible.  To commemorate some of these fun sayings, I will list a few of the best here (with definitions) ...

1. "Oh, for great!" is used when you are slightly annoyed but still trying to be cute.

2. "Good Fing!" when Mommy tells you that she has not put onions in your food.

3. The "commote" is that thing we use to change the TV channel.

4. "Commotes" is a game on Xbox that the unlearn-ed call Scene It.

5. "Meveah" is the name of her best friend; the rest of us call her Neveah, but what do her parents and the rest of us know, anyway?!  ;-)

6. "Stupid is a bad word!" The word "stupid" can be substituted with "hate" and either phrase is heard about 10 times a week as Hannah disdainfully attempts to correct the bad behavior of the adults in her life.  When Tia (Jenny) is home and in her most instigating mood, we hear these phrases about 5-10 times a day.  It even gets to the point that Hannah doesn't get a chance to say the phrase since we immediately say it for her.

7. "Are you peating me?" is asked when you either want to know why someone is copying you or you want them to copy you; the level of sugary-ness in your voice dictates what is meant by the question.

8. "I don't fink so, that's not right," said while shaking your head and holding a hand out, and commenting that you disagree with the statement you just heard.  Squinting your eyes just a tad is not strictly required, but clarifies just how much you disagree.

9. "Does it go fast like this or like this?... Aaahhhh!" This is a question you ask when you want to know about a ride you will be on for the first time, and the question requires hand motions.  It is ALWAYS followed with a frustrated "Aaaahhh!" when you learn that the adult means business and you will DEFINITELY be going on that dreaded ride.  The slightly different question that has the same response and explanation is "Does it have a hill like this or like this?" again with hand motion accompaniment.

10. "Tangled Long Hair" is the name of the main character from Tangled, aka Rapunzel.

Oh and last night, I got to see my child stand up in the middle of a game and start yelling smack at the Scene It TV announcer when he made some snide comment about her performance.  She actually hunched down slightly and stuck her head and hands forward for effect.  Hilarious!

Of course, there are many other fun phrases, but this blog would get too long if I put them all down.  As I have mentioned before, this kid cracks me up!  I am thankful to Hannah for teaching me so many fun phrases and fun ways of saying boring things.  I can't wait to see what new things I am going to learn.

So Today I am Thankful for my Improved Vocabulary!

... for my Mom!

My mom is awesome!  She is the most caring, generous, loving person I have ever met.  She is the best example of what I want to be as a mother.  And when she laughs, I just want to laugh too.  She is such a happy person.

Here is a picture of Mom doting on her granddaughter.  I am not sure who was happier here!

This is a picture taken on the way back from Tower of Terror.  Mom had a bizarre reaction to her first ride on this ride, but she loved it.

Today, my mom came up to spend time with my sister, Hannah and I.  She dotes on Hannah like nobody's business.  Sure, Hannah is her only granddaughter so there is no filter to her grandmother instincts, but I do find it interesting how one teeny five-year has such hold and control over a woman of her age.  Mom always marvels at how well Hannah listens when I tell her to do something, and I just say that is because she knows I won't give in like she does.

In any case, while she was here, Mom made us a great meal of ham, boiled potatoes and fresh greenbeans.  This is a wonderful old fashioned meal that I don't get to enjoy very often.  It was fabulous!  She made the same meal for my dad and grandmother and then came up to make it for us.  She is so special!  Then she followed that up by washing my dishes.  I was blessed with the best mother ever.  Thanks Mom!

So, Today I am Thankful for my Mom!

... for My Health.

Today (Friday), I learned that a very special man at work is losing his battle with pancreatic cancer.  If you don't know much about different types of cancer, let's just say that is one you want to avoid.  He has been quietly living with this disease for more than a year, but recently made the decision to quit his job, ostensibly to spend his last few days with his family.  This man is one of the sweetest people I have ever met.  He was involved in my training at work and he is considered a very valuable employee.  When visitors come to the lab, he is one of the poeple who demonstrates what we do.  He is great with people.

It struck me that aside from a few cases, I have been relatively healthy my entire life.  Hannah had a pretty severe case of pneumonia a few years ago but even she has been healthy for the most part.  I can't imagine having to hear the news that I have been disagnosed with some form of cancer, but if I am, I hope I handle it in the same way as this gentle man from work.  The dignity with which he continues to do his job and deal with people is a great example.  I am thankful that God has blessed all of the members of my immediate family, including my parents, sister, Hannah and I, with no major health isues.  As I get older, I know that this is becoming increasingly less likely, so I know how fortunate I truly am.

So, Today I am Thankful for My Health!

... for "Joy in My Heart!"

A few months ago, I had the opportunity to visit friends for the evening.  Their daughter and Hannah are close friends.  During the visit, we decided to have the girls lay down for the evening.  Since their daughter was going to bed at that point, they did their bedtime prayer.  What was cool was that they held hands with their daughter and each did part of the prayer; they invited us to do it with them, so we all got to say part of the prayer.  I LOVED THIS!  What a cool way for Hannah to learn how to pray and see that I consider it an important part of life. 

So, we have been doing this ever since, passing the prayer baton nightly and sharing with God what we are thankful for and what we would like.  We also ask for forgiveness for being naughty.  Well, tonight, Hannah said, among other things, that she was thankful for the joy in her heart!  Wow!  What a lesson for me.  She was thankful for being joyful.  How many times have I thanked God for being joyful.  That would be a big goose-egg, sadly.

Psalm 98:4 says, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music."  The Bible tells us to be joyful, to burst into song.  I do get that joyful at times (I think) but I certainly have not been thankful for it.  And for the 5-year-old to recognize that there is joy in her heart, is even more awesome to me.  I want that kind of joy.  I can have that kind of joy, I just need to ask God for it and then remember to thank Him for it.

So, Today I am Thankful for Joy in My Heart!  (Thanks Hannah!)

... for my Daughter!

Ok, it has been a full two days and I have not really mentioned my daughter.  Her name is Hannah.  She is the funniest, kindest, orneriest, most gentle, most empathetic, smartest 5-year-old I have ever met.  No, I am not biased.  ;-)  Check out this cute picture below and see if you don't agree with me.

Hannah was born in Guatemala on December 3, 2005.  I first met her on my birthday in 2006, just a few months later, and the next day was Easter, so my birthday and Easter always have an even more special feel now.  I know it is cliche, but I really have a hard time trying to remember what life was like before she came barreling into it.  I can say that without her, life would have been a whole lot duller.  She adds that cerrtain spark to life.  She has this knack for knowing just what to say to make things seem better.  And with the exception of my sister, no one can crack me up as easily as this little girl.

Now, I would be lying if I said that she is always a perfect angel, but even when she is being her naughtiest, she is still the coolest kid I have ever met.  She makes me want to be a better mom! 

Here are just a few pictures to show you how cute she is (again, not biased in the slightest) in no particular order.  First, with her aunt (whom she calls Tia, which is Spanish for Aunt):

Here she is peeking over the bench as we wait for a boat at Disney World.  A copy of this picture peeks at me in my office framed by a heart with the phrase, "My heart belongs to Mommy."

Here she is showing off her fashion sense.  For some reason, whenever we ask her to pose, she strikes a vogue pose!  But I have to say, she knows how to work it!

Here she is eating with the peasants after being pampered Jasmine style.  At the time, Jasmine was her favorite princess.  Now it ranges from Ariel to Jasmine to Rapunzel.  Why limit yourself, right?

So now that you have seen these few pictures, I am sure you agree that she is the cutest little girl you ever met.  I certainly have a lot to be thankful for.  As a single woman, there would not be a guarantee that I would have a child.  However, God had a plan for a certain woman in Guatemala to make the ultimate sacrifice and make a plan for adoption for her unborn child.  I will never be able to thank her enough for her graciousness but I hope that she is happy and that she knows her daughter is cared for and loved beyond all my ability to understand.  I also am thankful that my Father saw my desire for a child and fulfilled that plea better than I could imagine.  Because of Hannah, I am a big believer in nurture vs. nature, because although we don't share a genetic link, she is so much my child I can't even explain.  But she is the best of me.  I have so much to be thankful for when I think of this beuatiful little girl.

So Today I am Thankful for my Daughter!

... for my Job!

So today was the first day back after the holiday weekend.  Ugh!  I like my job, but really!  Who wants to come back after 3 nice days off?!  And to top it off, last week, I was out most of the week at a conference so this week is going to seem even longer.  Yikes!

Ok, the real tough part about returning to work today was that I am very far behind, having essentially been off for 6 of the last 8 days.  My job doesn't really allow for me to ever be caught up in the first place, so being out makes things that much harder.  HOWEVER, and this is a big however, I kept thinking all day that there are a lot of people in this country (I have heard estimates of up to 20% or more) that don't have a job at all.  Or that are considered, underemployed - that is to say that they do not make enough to support themselves and/or their families.  I am fortunate not to suffer from either of those problems.  God blessed me with the ability to obtain this job and to be good at it.  What's more, in an unstable economy, I have been able to keep it.  That is really saying something.

And honestly, did we get promised an easy life.  Nope!  I am sure that this would extend to our jobs.  Deuteronomy 5:13 says, "Six days you shall labor and do all your work."  I guess I should be grateful I don't have to work 6 days a week.  Wow, what a thought!

So, this morning, while moping about how much there was to do and how much I wished someone else would do it, I started saying, "I am thankful for my job!"  Ok, so I was being facetious at first.  And then I was saying it somewhat sarcastically, but by the end of the day, I truly did realize I am thankful for my job.  I can go nice places and buy nice things with the money that I earn.  I was able to afford the costs of an adoption with this job (Thank you, God!).  And I have a job that is stimulating and challenging to me.  I get to work my brain!  Not many people are as fortunate.

So, Today I am Thankful for my Job!

... for Freedom!

Since this is the first post, I should probably provide a little background. I am a single woman with a beautiful 5-year old daughter named Hannah. We live in a small town in Ohio, near my sister and parents. We spend our free time in Walt Disney World.

My sister is the natural born creative one, and she has been blogging for more than 2 years. If you are interested, you can find her blog at www.enlightenmyeyes.blogspot.com. I am not a very creative person, but what I do have is a whole lot to be thankful for. So this is my poor attempt to say thanks to my Father for His unending gifts. If I meet my goal, I will have a post every day, thanking Him for one of His blessings. It shouldn't be hard, since I have so much to be thankful for.

So here goes, the first thing I am thankful for is freedom. On this anniversary of the birth of our nation, I can't help thinking of the young men and women risking their lives to make sure that I can worship the way I choose, work where I choose, adopt a child and live on my own as a woman. On Friday, a young man from my high school, who graduated in 2005, came home from Afghanistan. He suffered some pretty severe injuries, including the loss of his sight, more than half of his hearing and being paralyzed on his left side. He will spend the rest of his life dealing with these injuries while I can continue to enjoy the many freedoms I have from being born in this country. When he came home, the town gave him a parade. My daughter attended it and I asked her to tell him thank you for protecting us. As the good little girl that she is, she did, but it occurred to me, when have I said thanks? So here it is, "Thanks, Josh!"

And thank you, Father, for allowing me to grow up in America, where I don't have to wear certain clothes and where I can own property. Where I can choose how I worship my God and how I raise my child. Where I get to live where I want to and say what I want to.

Today, I am thankful for freedom!