Season of Gratitude

Today is my first payday in over two years. I am so lucky to have a job, especially one that I like (or think I will like, I haven't really gotten started on my own just yet). My office also officially becomes my office today. I'm a real professional now... or something. :)

I just thank God that He's given me this opportunity.

Season of Gratitude

Today I am grateful that I got to see my Kindergarteners again. I was sick two weeks ago and then hurt my back so I had missed two Sundays. I loved getting to sit with those little ones and have them tell me about school and how Harry Potter 3 is so scary and that guy with the weird nose is creepy. These little ones keep me young, give me joy, and just make life better.

Season of Gratitude

Today I got to shadow the service coordinator who I am replacing. Her husband's in the military and they're moving for his new station, so she's leaving on good terms. Her goal is for me to meet most if not all of the 40 or so people on my case load before she leaves. We met probably about 15-20 today.

These are some of the sweetest people ever. Today I was hugged more than you can imagine (plus one guy tried to kiss me, but I ducked that one) and was told that I was "a very pretty lady." The woman I'm replacing told me that it's hard for her to say good-bye to some of the clients, and I can see why. Many of them tugged on my heartstrings today.

For those of you who don't know, this week I started a job as a Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Service Coordinator. The people in my case load have various levels of disability ranging from highly functioning to non-verbal persons.

One thing I know will come of this new position is a renewed gratitude. We often take our health for granted, but even more, we take for grated our basic functioning. I don't think about how lucky I am that I can walk normally, can work, can talk, can make my choices regarding what I wear or eat, and in general, can interact with my environment.

Obviously, I don't know what it would be like to have some of the impairments that my new clients have, and I know that they are receiving the best of care to provide the best quality of life possible; and if not, it's my job to make sure they do (and I will take that responsibility very seriously).

I guess what I'm grateful for today is that God has given me the opportunity to have these forty or so people in my life and the amazing blessings that I know will come from my friendships with them.

Season of Gratitude

I have a really awesome husband. Just so you know. He may not be the most touchy-feely guy in the world, but I always know that I am loved.

That's all for tonight. :)

Season of Gratitude/ Prayer Request

I start work today! I'm really excited and hopeful about the positive changes this will bring to our family. However, I hurt my back last week (hence not so many posts these past few days) and it's still hurting. I would appreciate your prayers for healing.

Season of Gratitude

Today I am grateful that we cut Simon's nails. As some of you know, he has a bit of an aggression problem. We think it's linked to the fact that he ate some crafting supplies as a kitten which acted like a neuro-toxin and left him with an occasional tremor. We think he might just be a little brain damaged which leads to more aggression.

All that to say, he's been pretty aggressive the past few days, and we couldn't figure out why. Well, when Philip got home from work he noticed that Simon had some fuzz stuck in a claw. We then looked, and saw that his claws had gotten pretty beat up. Our apartment has cement floors and they do a number on his claws. When we saw how bad they were we decided to trim them up. Simon hates getting his claws trimmed, like most cats, but afterwards he was an angel.

He's been sweet and rubbing up against us, wanting to be petted. He's laid down in our laps, and actually wants to play. The poor thing was just trying to get us to pay attention to his feet, and we didn't know it. Finally, he's feeling better, and I think my arms and legs might get some time to heal.

Season of Gratitude

Philip had the day off today, which is very uncommon (having a weekday off). We had a really good day. Did some shopping for Christmas items and got a new game he'd been looking forward to. We also looked at some apartments that we might be considering. We're just not sure if we want to move at Christmas time. It's been a really good day. It was nice to be able to just have a day together.

Season of Gratitude

I have a job!

I start at Betty Hardwick next week!

Woot!

Season of Gratitude

Tomorrow will be one year since my accident. Today I went on a walk with Philip for twenty minutes, did about five minutes of yoga, and danced for ten minutes, and have no hip pain! Considering I could hardly make it to class on November 1st of last year, that's amazing.

Praise God for healing. Thanks to Philip for his support, and prayers that I keep up the motivation.

Season of Gratitude

I have one awesome husband. I really do. And I don't think I show my appreciation for him hardly enough. God has truly blessed me by allowing me to be partnered with Philip these past four years, and I pray for many more to come.

Season of Gratitude

Today I am grateful for keeping busy. I've been working crazy hard on the etsy shop (I hope it shows). It seems as if this week has just flown by. I am grateful for having more to do than I know how to get done. However, I'm also reminded that I need to slow down and prioritize. For instance, I haven't done a gratitude post in quite a while. I've also not done any of the homework for tomorrow's Bible study.

Well, I've got a lot of catching up to do.

Season of Gratitude

I just received the last little bit of paperwork from the accident! All insurance claims from both my insurance and the other guy's are finished and complete! I am so excited to not have to deal with this any more. I still have a lot of work to do on my hip, but I don't have to worry about any paperwork or phone calls or anything... It is wonderful!

Season of Gratitude (from last night)

Philip had to work late last night, but when he got home he dropped a bag of Reese's miniatures in my lap. He had read the blog during a break and knew I wasn't having the best of nights and wanted to cheer me up. I really do have a wonderful husband. I don't know that I can ever be grateful enough for him.

Season of Gratitude

Today I'm going to choose something that may seem a little strange. Today I am glad that God made me a woman! (Or I guess, that the sperm carrying the X chromosome made it to ovum first, either way.) I was reading some blog post about sexism and the tweeting that went on about it. I'll be honest it got my feathers a little ruffled, but that's for another day.

What I'm grateful for is that God made me a woman and that I have come to see my femininity and sexually as something that is good, from the Creator, and is not something I have to defend. I have no need to label myself a "feminist" or to fight for female power or anything like that. God is good and I am made in His image which includes my female attributes. The world might have a different view, but this world is temporary, and the word of the Creator that I am "very good" is eternal.

Now that's girl power.

Season of Gratitude

The weather today has been wonderful. I had the slider open all day and Simon and I just relaxed and enjoyed the breeze. It was 53 degrees out when I went for a walk this morning and I've worn a jacket each time I've left the house. I am a winter child and my soul feels at home in this weather.

Season of Gratitude

It's late so I'll make this short. I had two sales this week! I'm so excited! I'm hoping that this means an increase in business for the holiday season.

Well, we just picked up the new Batman game, and it's time for bed.

Season of Gratitude

I feel as though I'm slowing down with this exercise. When I first began, I was all fired up and thought of so many things. I felt as if I was really learning something and that this exercise was really helping to change my perspective.

While I still find it to be beneficial, I'm just not feeling it today. Perhaps it's because I didn't sleep very well last night or because Philip has to work (he's usually off on Sundays) or maybe I'm just in a funk. Whatever it is, I just don't really have something for today.

I thought about just choosing something and put down the logical reasons why I'd be grateful. After all, there are many good things in my life right now. I have plenty to be grateful for. I just don't feel it.

Perhaps that's the point. Maybe the point of this exercise is to be grateful whether or not I feel like it. Perhaps it's about making gratitude a choice not a reaction. Often we are grateful in response to something, but how often do we choose to be grateful for something. Now, you could say that gratitude is an emotional reaction and therefore cannot be chosen, but I don't think I buy that.

Tonight I am going to choose to be grateful. I will choose to be grateful for the cat that woke me up at 4 a.m. because he brings joy into my life. I will choose to be grateful that Philip is at work because his job, and his dedication to it, supply for our needs. I choose to be grateful.

Season of Gratitude

Today is Simon's birthday!

When we first decided to sell our chinchilla, Bruce, and get a new pet, we were looking for an animal to be at it's core a companion animal. Well, we got Simon. He may not always be the most kind and loving cat, and I think I've sacrificed more flesh to his wrath than the ancient Greeks, but I am incredibly grateful for him.

He has his moments of sweetness, and these are growing. If nothing else, he has made it much more bearable to be home these past weeks. He's entertaining and engaging and keeps me on my toes. While he might not be the most amiable pet, he is still my little furry companion.

Season of Gratitude

I think what I am most grateful for right now is having a goal. I'm going to be at Art Walk this Thursday with some friends from school and I've been working to get items ready. I've also been working on inventorying the items that we already have for the future gaming/comic shop. I'm also hoping to start writing my first book soon. I'm just not sure which idea I want to focus on... Either way, I'm glad to have something to do. I'd love a paying a job, but at least I'm keeping busy!

Season of Gratitude

So, found out today that my mom will most likely get to visit for Christmas! This will be the first Christmas we've spent together since I got married... That means the first Christmas since 2005! I'm excited. I love Christmas and this is just going to make it that much better. Now let's start praying for Christmas snow, just not so much as to cancel flights. ;)