Speaking from the Heart

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Since the beginning of school, Mark has had 3 bus drivers. The first one was fired, because the driver dropped a kid at an elementary school, which isn't too far from the kid's home. To make  the story short, the kid had fallen asleep and missed his regular stop. When the bus driver realized it, he knew that he was going to be behind schedule if  he turned the bus around. The kid's mom was mad and called the driver's supervisor.  The second bus driver was transferred to another route. Mark  liked the first two drivers, because they allowed the kids to do whatever they wanted, within boundaries. I liked them too. They drove Mark to our house, which is 3/4 mile from the bus stop, whenevever I ran late.

The third driver is another story. He was a bus driver for many years, before he retired last May. He probably got bored staying at home with nothing to do might be the reason why he returned to work. He is totally the opposite from the first two bus drivers. He is a stickler to rules. He has no qualms of giving out referrels to misbehaved kids. A neighbor's boy was cited, because he got off the bus at his friend's bus stop. The boy refused to return to the bus, after the  bus driver asked him.

In addition to not dropping off Mark at our home whenever I am late, I thought the bus driver went overboard when he didn't allow our neighbor's kid get off at his friend's house. As I festered over how unfair the bus driver  is to our kids, I began to see the positive side. A bus driver knows while the kids are on his bus, he is responsible for them. Since he is a stickler to the rules, he  is unlikely to text messaging while  driving., which  I am thankful for.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Whenever my sister Ann  and I get together, we would talk about our teenage years. We thought we had the strictest parents in the world. Whenever we asked them  if we could do something, we often didn't like the answers mom and dad gave us. It was unfair that we were stuck with two parents who were party poopers. However, on this particular weekend, we were thankful for our parents' firm hands.

Carol was Ann's childhood friend. Her parents gave her a car when she was sixteen. Like most teenagers, she and her two friends cruised and partied on Friday and Saturday nights. One Friday night, Carol invited Ann to come along on. Knowing that the girls had started drinking, and that mom and dad would have had said "no" to the idea, Ann didn't even bother to ask.  

When Ann returned to school on Monday, she found out that Carol and their two friends were involved in a head-on collision. Their friends walked away with minor scratches. However, Carol wasn't so lucky. The collision caused permanent injuries to her head. She had many months of therapy, which included speech.

Today, Carol can talk and walk. However, the Carol that we knew before the accident is forever gone. Carol lives with her parents. She has problems dealing with life in general.

As Ann and I reminisced about our teenage years, we are so thankful for Mom and Dad's firm hands. We can't even begin to imagine what Ann's life would be like today, if she was in that car twenty four years ago.  

    

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Happy Black Friday !!! May  you find many bargains today and  your Christmas shopping is done. As for me, I will begin my Christmas shopping on the 20th of December.  I am My husband is  thankful that I didn't leave the house at 4:00 this morning hunting for bargains.  As for me,, I am thankful that I'm not a sales person at a local mall/stores.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

I am celebrating my 38th Thanksgiving Day in America. I remember not liking anything that my grandfather fixed. It's hard for me to imagine not liking turkey, dressings, green bean casserole, succotash, and pumpkin pie. I am thankful that my taste buds have changed.

I hope you and your loved ones have a Happy Thanksgiving.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Instead of staying home and watching T.V. on  Sunday afternoons, we've been  going out for a Sunday drive. Since I had to prepare a lesson plan, Jeff and the kids waited for me. By 3:00, I told Jeff that I could be here for the rest of the night. Therefore, I  took a break. We loaded into the car started driving to the destination of nowhere. However, we ended up at our favorite joint, Sonny's BBQ. Afterwards, Jeff took us to St Armands Circle for a leisure stroll. I am thankful that I don't have to cook on Sundays.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Knowing that we are going to grandparents' houses for Thanksgiving, I asked Mark if he needed to check out some books from the library. Last Friday, he said no and that he had picked up some books from the school library. Therefore, Katherine and I went to the library to get some books for her. However, on Sunday night, both of them said they read all of their books and needed to go to the library for more books.  I am thankful that my children love to reading.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

My friend's son  attended a gifted elementary school. The school was a mixture of social classes. Because the kids had to wear uniforms, they didn't know who was wealthy and who was poor. When he approached junior high, he returned to a public school and uniforms are not required.

Without uniform comformity, the kids know who are wealthy, middle class, or poor. The rich kids often think that everyone wants to be his/her friend, because of his wealth. On the other hand, the poor kids long  for acceptance by  their peers.

I remember trying so hard to be accepted by my peers. I had two things against me. I was Vietnamese and I lived in a rural town. Just like today, those who live in the country is automatically considered to be a redneck.

I am thankful that I can shield my kids from unneccessary pain ( i.e. name calling). I am also thankful that it is my choice to send my kids to public schools.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

For the last 4 weekends, Katherine spent a night at her best friend's house. Most of the time, she would get her schoolwork done before heading to Lindsay's. Because of the Renaissance Fair, she wasn't able to complete her work on Friday.  She will be finishing her schoolwork after church.

I am so thankful for the homeschool Co-op. It holds me accoutable for Katherine's assignment. If we weren't in the group, I would have told Katherine to delay it until Monday. Knowing me, when Monday comes around and If I feel like  we were behind schedule, I would have completely skipped the assingment.

I will miss teaching her. Well..... maybe not.

During school hours, I will miss my little shadow.

It is hard to believe that  in 7 years, I will  have an empty nest. Mark will have graduated from college, and Katherine will be a freshman.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

It is 12:45 AM. I can't believe my batteries are still running. It must be the medium vanilla iced coffee that I gulped down an hour ago. It was a busy day, but it was a fun day. The morning began with Katherine and me attending the Medievel Fair with her history class. It was nice  having that one-on-one time with my favorite girl, before leaving her at her friend's house for the night.

Mark's school football team had a regional playoff.  Instead of dropping him off and going shopping, Jeff and I decided to join him.  While Mark was running around with his friends, Jeff and I watched the game. Because we didn't have any kids with us, It felt like a date.

After the game, we went to McDonald's for some treats. It was a special night, because Mark didn't have to share me and Jeff with his sister, which is very rare.

I am thankful that I had the opportunity to spend some quality time with each member of the family.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

While most wives might get upset, because their husbands' overtime  (O.T.)  is reduced. Not me, I am thankful for the mandatory reduction. We will have more family time; furthermore, Dad will get some rest and recreation.  

I am thankful that we have enough money in our savings to cover the property tax. When we refinanced our home, we opted not to add an escrow account to our mortgage. We pay it in a lump sum in December. Having to put money aside each month has disciplined us to be conscientious of our spending habits.

I am thankful for the visa debit card. Since the money is instantly withdrawn after a transaction, I think twice before buying frivolous things. When I was using the visa credit card, I would tell myself that I will pay it next month. Before I knew it, I had already  gone over my budget.

I am thankful for my dear husband who works hard to provide food, clothes, and shelter for his family.    

I am thankful that I have an awesome relationship with my mother-in-law. She and I hit it off  from the start. When she met me twenty-two years ago, she told Jeff that I'm a keeper. If it wasn't for her and it was up to Jeff, Jeff and I would have gotten married at the courthouse. She explained it to him that I probably would have  gone along with it, but I would eventually regret not having a wedding ceremony.  She was absolutely right.

It was heaven having  her around after the births of both children. During her first visit, she and Jeff were going through boxes, and deciding what to keep and what needed to go to Goodwill.  The first box was my sewing and craft supplies. Knowing that I had not sewn in awhile, and I wasn't going to have anymore leisure time, Jeff didn't see any problems of donating the supplies. I am so thankful that my MIL was there to salvage my materials.

My Mother-in-Law is one of a kind.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

I am thankful for the inner peace that I felt, while  teaching general science to 18 middle schoolers. I wasn't calm last night, when I was running around trying to gather the materials. After a sleepless night and worrying about not being prepared, teaching was the last thing I wanted to do. I wanted the old teacher to return. Two weeks with 18 middle schoolers was enough for me.

At this point, you probably are wondering if  I wanted some "whine with my bread".  I can't argue with you. My atttitude was worse than my kids'. However, as I was waiting for my copies, I saw a friend who is a cancer survivor. I realized that there are many friends who had gone through worse things than me. I had no rights to complain, because I had to teach for an hour and a half.

"Lord," I said quietlty, "please forgive me for being self-centered. I know that You do not put me in situations that I can't handle, and that You will not abandon me. Help me to get the points across to all kids. Amen."  

It's amazing in the powers of a prayer. As I began the class, the desires to teach the kids over filled me. I gained the confidence to teach from my  heart, rather from a written report that I had prepare the night before.  

2008 Day 16 Thankfulness

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

 

 

Once a month, a couple of my divorced friends put their kids on the planes and send them to their dads. One set of kids head north and the other set head south. The kids who head south usually stay with their dad for a 3 day weekend. Meanwhile, the other set of kids, who homeschool,  are able to stay with their dad longer. Because time is precious, I have no doubt that they have a great time with their dads. Once the visits come to an end, the kids return homes (reality) to their mothers. Moms and kids try to resume normal routines, until it is time to visit dads again.   

 

I can't begin to imagine what it would be like to shuffle my kids to and fro, to coordinate holidays and vacations with my ex, or to find a job so my kids and I can have food on the table.  I am so thankful my kids have a stable home.         

 

   

2008 Day 15 Thankfulness

   

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

 

Katherine  has musical talents, while the rest of us is musically challanged. When she started piano lessons, the deal was for her to take it one year. After that, she would  decide if she wanted to continue. Katherine loves playing the piano, but she hates practing it daily. Dad and I  knew that she had talents, and  had to find a way to persuade her to continue .  

 

Almost every little girl wants her ears pierced. Katherine is no different. She wanted her ears pierced since she was nine. However, Dad thought differently. He still doesn't understand why anyone would want to put a whole in its body. Katherine and Dad went back and forth on the topic for several years. The answer was always no, until they agreed on the  "Big Deal" . Katherine was allowed to get her ears pierced if she was willing to take piano lessons for five years. Needless to say, she accepted the deal.

 

She still dreads practicing piano every day, but she does it with a good attitude. Somedays, she wonders if getting her ears pierced was worth it.  She might not agree with us, but Dad and I think the "Big Deal" was priceless whenever we listen to her play.

 

I am thankful for God giving Katherine the talent of music. I am also thankful for Dad seeing the talent in our daughter, and wanting to invest in her talent.

2008 Day 14 Thankfulness

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

I thought listing one gratitude a day would be a simple task. However, as each day passes, it gets harder. It is easy to thank God for the big things that I remember:

For God so loved the world that he gave gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Nevertheless, I often forget to thank Him for the daily blessings. Similarly to a sin is a sin, no matter how big or small, so is my daily blessings. It is still a gift from above.

I am thankful you for the daily blessings that I often take for granted:

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30:11-12


Dear Lord,

When I asked You into my life, You promised me that You would never abandon me. However, at my lowest moments, I felt alone.

Not until the storms were over, did I realized that You were there with me the whole time. Thank you, Lord for the life's storms. Through them, I learned to trust You for your wisdom, and to not  lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5) .    


2008 Day 12 Blessings

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

My Princess is fearless. She has her dad's teasing nature. LOL, if she was our first child, she would have been our only child. She is twelve years old (attitude stage). Some days, I want ground her for life. Other days, I hold her so tight that she literally can't breathe. She is full of surprises. I never know what she will do next.

While I was cycling, she was at home doing her schoolwork. When I returned, I asked what assignment had she completed. She told me she finished math and science. I was gone for an hour and 15 minutes, and that she only finished two subjects. We definitely need to work on speed. I thought to myself as I walked to the dryer. Just as I was about to fold the towels and dreaded the chore, I noticed that my dryer was empty. I am thankful for my daughter's thoughtfulness.

One post of gratitude, everyday of November. Click on Karla for more details.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6

.....And patiently wait for His answer. It might be days or even years. Sometimes, we think He has forgotten us, but He hasn't. We must remember it is in His timing and not ours.

My "first love" occurred during my college sophomore year. From the start, I knew our differences in religions was going to separate us. Regardless, I chose to ignore that he is a Muslim and I am a Christian. We've been dating for 6 weeks, when a Christian friend began to question me about being unequally yoked. Instead of keeping it to myself, I began discussing it with him. Being a devout Muslim, he also began to question our religious differences. A few days later, he broke up with me.

Needless to say, I was heart broken. I was willing to put my beliefs in the "back burner", so I could be with him. I prayed for our reconciliations, and anxiously waited for God's answer.

That was more than 20 years ago. Today, My best friend and I have been married for 18 years. We have two children, and are looking forward to growing old togther. Thank you, Lord for unanswered prayers.

2008 Day 9 Thankfulness