a little thanksgiving................

Family-“a group of people who are generally not blood relations but who share common attitudes, interests, or goals and, frequently, live together, all those persons considered as descendants of a common progenitor. the children of one person or one couple collectively: parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.” This is part of the definition of family from dictionary.com.
This is what I am thankful for……………………… My sister has married into a “ready made” family, her husband has 3 delightful children that they both care for in joint custody, with the children’s mother. Then there is my family blessed by God 3 x in adoption. And my parents truly loving and adoring couple., God brings us together to love one another, and not cast judgment. This is easier said then done, but we only human, and as people we must try . As we enter the season of thankfulness for this great nation, and those we call, “family”, may we feel a sense of childlike unconditional love. It was a week and a half ago I had pre-Thanksgiving with my sister her family, my parents, and my husband and children. A great sense of peace flowed through the restaurant that day, we were traveling back from our long weekend in the Midwest. We were happy for our 2 hours of communion, and embraced one another with unconditional love. It may have been short, but it was filled with joy.
God is good, life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

peek at my pad #9

LAZY.................. This is a picture of our 5 year old weimaraner, Greta. This is her favorite place to be, besides jogging with my husband. The bedspread was a "big" purchase 2 years ago at Anthropologie. It is soft, great colors or burnt orange, lime green, yellow, robins egg blue, and rust. The night stand next to my bed is red, and has old glass knobs, it belonged to a hardware store and used to hold dynamite. I know this is not a usual bed stand, but I'm not a usual girl.
That's all, it is a rainy day, and I'm off to bake.
God is good, Life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

I am blessed...........

What does it mean to be blessed?
My life is filled with blessings………….. I am thankful for the good bad and ugly!! I know, you are thinking, “yeah, sure crazy Christian , martyr, blah..blah..” Well, I am far from anything, or anyone to put on a pedestal. I was going through my life, and making a list of the things that stand out. I can’t remember a time I did not feel loved by my parents. My family had a deep Midwestern view on values, and Christian living. My memory of childhood and adolescent friendships and relationships was filled with fun, questioning life, and hardships, all something to be learned from. In my youth I spent many a summer -spring break on short term mission trips, helping build schools, churches, and share the love of God and America to far away lands. My love and rock, hubby and I were married at the ripe old age of 20, and 22. Just 3 short weeks later we put our vows to work on sickness and health, I spent a full year in recovery from a broken neck. When almost healed physically we traveled to Europe for both business and pleasure, a truly amazing time. My short career as a preschool teacher and midwife are full of adventure, and majesty when viewing new life and young children. At 23, the loss of my first pregnancy brought the reality of how fragile life is, and how little control we have. Pure joy and amazement, at 24, with the adoption of our first child .Then came my new job of motherhood, I loved that first year full of “newness.” This was the first time I wore my heart on my sleeve. Just 18 short months later at 26 came our second incredible blessing from adoption, she made our firstborn become a sister. Then the death of my Nana, to be present during those last breaths was something i shall never forget. Shortly after we moved cities, along came new friends, and bittersweet goodbyes. Life felt different and new somewhat exciting. With this change came a new pregnancy at age 29. This was filled with much anticipation, each moment a bit stressful, yet full of great pause. Our son, born still, and was here only a short time. Many lessons were learned, and my heart wears a scar never to be the same.
Another miracle of life slips away at age 30. Much despair in the months to come. My life did not feel like my own, just going trough the motions, my strength came from loved ones, and a deep faith. I would forever live life in a, “new normal.”
Through prayer, and a welcomed surprise at 31, the adoption of our son. The light shone bright, a new day, hope returns.We soon said goodbye to Papa after a long battle with many physical illnesses, a dry sense of humor, and stately man. Shortly after another move, far away from what I knew. More blessings, and friendships, tolerance learned. Daily life, enjoyed routine, yet not mundane. Summers in Michigan a time to remember childhood, embrace old friends.
At 35 emergency surgery, intense recovery, more scars, life is fragile, each day is a gift. People blessed us by family and friendship helping in a time of need.
In a nutshell, these minor and major events makeup my life. I am thankful, in this season of Thanksgiving.
God is good, Life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

A long way from NJ................

Midwest to remember-
My husband is currently “benched” by the Wall Street crisis. I know, don’t cry in your latte……… But it is currently very strange having him home, a lot lately. It is good for the kiddos, and mostly good for me (a little annoying). Blah, blah…
We decided to take a trip this past week to Indiana to visit my husbands aging grandparents. I do NOT like road trips, especially LONG ones, especially with SMALL children who have no concept of time. Needless to say, we drove the 11+ hours in our mini van to visit the Midwest family. The first leg was fairly uneventful, and the kids were busy with books, games and movies. The second leg of the journey we stopped for lunch at Taco Bell, the kids were excited to get out of the car, and load up on burritos. As we finished lunch and got back into the vehicle Hubby and I arranged the some of our belongings, he put the computer case and extra pillows into the back, and I decided to put my bulky purse on top, as to not miss place. Off we headed onto the 2 lane highways of rural Ohio. Moments later my middle child says, “Daddy, I feel air back here, Oh NO the TRUNK is OPEN”!! Bob immediately turns back, to our horror, pillow were in the middle of the road, and I GASP, “MY PURSE.” We circle the parking lot, nothing, we go back to Taco Bell, nothing, we call the police, NOTHING!!!
Thank God Hubby is organized, he had all important information in his phone, we cancelled credit cards, stopped checks etc………………. I was red hot mad, mad at myself, mostly mad at hubby. After a bit of a fit, I got back into the van and decided the purse was gone forever, having lived in a fairly urban area for sometime, and watching too many “news” programs, I knew I would Not see this item again.
However, there are GOOD people out there, some kind person saw our things fall out the back of the van, and drove them to the local police station, they are currently being mailed back to me, as I type this blog. Many lessons were learned the past few days.
All in all it was good to see my husband"s grandmothers, they are doing well in daily life as elderly women, his grandfather now lives in a nursing home with advanced dementia, and no longer recognizes most of his family. The children had fun playing with 2nd and 3rd cousins, and soaking up the simple rural life in America.
God is good, life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

Peek from my pad #8

This is a sneak peek at my Christmas display. It all starts the day after Thanksgiving!! I spend hours and hours decorating my house with new and vintage Christmas décor. I am always VERY happy doing this with my 3 little helpers. My husband, “Ebenezer Scrooge”, doesn’t get into this at all, but after 15 years he tolerates it fairly well. I am already buzzing with excitement about how I will display my 2-3 trees, and 1950’s vintage paper houses, with the little vintage candles, and cotton snow. This is when my half crazy-girly girl side shows it’s true color. If this is not your idea of fun or sane activities then SORRY (LOL).
The true meaning of this next holiday is being thankful, and I am very THANKFUL……….
Xoxo,
God is good, Life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

Give me a break................

Why must life be so hard………………..?? The stories of people losing their 2nd and 3rd homes to foreclosure , children abused by their Mom’s ex boyfriend, animals starved by crazy people with 15 indoor cats living in a trailer with one litter box. These are the kind of stories in our news papers.
Don’t you want to scream, “LISTEN DUMMY, WAKE UP, AND SMELL REALITY”!!!
That is what I think…………………….. The serious stories of loss, and hardship are sad and disheartening. But this stuff makes me NUTS. In America the “Land of Plenty,” maybe we should take a second look at what we have, and what our priorities are…………
If it must take 2 incomes to buy that MAC-DADDY ski lodge retreat, should you really buy it? If your current boyfriend has felony for assault and battery, should he REALLY baby-sit your kid? If you live in a trailer, should you really have more than one animal living with you? Come on America, this isn’t life being hard, this is us being STUPID!!
God is good, life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie

Live from NY it's................................................

Peek at my Pad #7, not really………..

I promise to resume Thursday’s to where I really reside, next week (well I’ll try anyway).
Last spring I “won” tickets to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in NYC. The taping day was yesterday, and it was VERY FUN, he is HILARIOUS, and very professional, his guest was Bill Kristol, who is founder and editor of The Weekly Standard, the influential journal of politics and ideas located in Washington, D.C. He is also a regular panelist on Fox News Sunday and an analyst for the Fox News Channel.
Mr. Kristol served as chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle during the first Bush Administration. So, this was an interview of complete opposites………………………….. Both men were really good sports, especially the outnumbered Mr. Kristol. I laughed so hard my sides ached. Included you will see my 2 friends (hubby was taking the picture), and myself.
God is good, Life is hard, I am blessed,
Carrie