day 46: "i am thankful for.......COMPLETION!"

....because our roof is done! 

and the choir sang......"Hallelujah!  Hallelujah!  Hallelujah, Hallelujah...Hallleeeeluujah"!!

you know those things in life that you vow NEVER to do again??!  well, ladies and gents, i have now added roofing to my 'never' list ;) 



.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 45: "i am thankful for......BABAR BARNES!"

babar barnes...aka....babs...was  my sisters cat for 18+ years.  he was such a blessing to her for so many years.  he will truly be missed, not only by her, but by all who knew him.  God bless you babs....and thank you for being such a huge blessing to my sister.  you were the best...we will miss you :)

my sister and babs....on one of the happiest days of her life (earning her doctorate!)

......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 44: "i am thankful for.......GUESTS!"

i love having guests.  it not only gives me some company...but, it gets me motivated to clean my house! my in-laws were here all week.  they are such a blessing.  i feel very lucky to have them in my life.  thank you sandra and eddie for making our week extra special!  we love you....

here are a few pics taken yesterday:

......so, what are you especially thankful for?!

day 43: "i am thankful for......BREAKS!"

i'm gonna take a break from my blog for a while....no more 'daily' posts.  i will post when i want!  no more pressure.....to perform ;) 





.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 42: "i am thankful for......MY VERY OWN LIVE-IN BABYSITTER!"

aka....my 11 yr old son!  sam is one trustworthy kid...and i am so thankful he can be relied on enough to babysit his 8 yr old brother.  i am also thankful for not needing to find a babysitter at the last minute anymore.  they are hard to find....especially since i don't know anyone to call here in ohio!  i had a gem of a babysitter in ny.  i was very blessed to have a girl that just lived up the street.  here in oh though, i haven't branched out to meet people....so, that is why i am SO thankful that sam is not only old enough, but mature enough to babysit now. thank you sam for being one hell of a good kid!

here is my handsome babysitter.....

.......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!  

day 41: "i am thankful for......"OK MOM"!

monday night, i got creative at the 'mom job' and came up with a great idea!  i created two jars....one for sam and one for ryan.  they are just simple glass mason jars that i wrapped a piece of paper around....labled with: sam's 'ok mom' jar and ryan's 'ok mom' jar.  i have been feeling a little cranky and down right bitchy lately because i get...complaining, bickering, arguing, pia attitude!....when i ask my boys to do something, whether it's 'please pick up your clothes off your floor' or 'please wash your hands' or 'please do your homework'....etc.  you get the idea.  i'm just sick and tired of it!!  so, i am putting my foot down.  they have to respect their mother!

when the boys fill their jars with hershey kisses, they get to go to the store....and buy something (under $10).  well worth the money in my opinion.  they are both on board, and have already earned 1/3 of their kisses!  oh, i also make them kiss me before they get their 'hershey kiss'!  win, win! way to go boys....! and way to go mom...for this brilliant idea!  hey, what ever makes my life easier...i'm all for it.

......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 40: "i am thankful for......ADMITT AND ACCEPT!"

....i like this.

 "once you've admitted and accepted your shortcomings and flaws, no one can use them against you"

....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 39: "i am thankful for........DIMINISHING PALLETS!"

we cranked out the shingles this weekend....!  yesterday, we were on and off the roof for 11 hours!  yes, ladies and gents...the time on the roof is coming to a close.  and, am i ever ready for it to be.  roofing is definitely one of those jobs i will leave to a pro next time, even if i know how to do it.

here is a pic of the materials we started with:

and what is left as of this morning: (the starter shingles on the right, we are returning!  we are done with them....ordered too many)

not to shabby, huh?!  yes, we started over a month ago...but, keep in mind.  its rains every other day, and we are only 2 people.  so, with those odds...i think we are kicking but!



......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 38: "i am thankful for.........QUIET!"

this morning when i went outside....the first thing i noticed?....quiet.  no sounds....  and it stood out.  in my neighborhood, there is usually a plethora of sounds coming from every direction.  here is a list of some of the noises....

1.  dogs barking.... (in EVERY direction)
2.  goat maaaaaing....
3.  horses neighing...
4.  roosters cockadoodledoing....
5.  birds chirping...
6.  chickens clucking...
7.  turkeys (doing what they do...)
8.  geese (sounding like they are dieing sound...)
9.  people target practicing...(ALL the time)
10. crickets chirping...
11. jets engines flying...
12. cars 'booming'
13. go-carts
14. teenagers partying
15. and of course, as of late....roofing hammer!

(and we live in the 'country'!!)

i hear these sounds everyday, all day....some days are louder than others of course.  we make fun of it!  we tell our dog casey, who is the only dog on the street that doesn't bark, "are you going to join in "the neighborhood chorus"?

that is why, this morning, i'm relishing in the quietness...because, actually, as i type...it is over.  my peaceful morning as come to pass.  i hear my husband on the roof tearing off shingles.  God, give me strength to get my aching body up there to help!

enjoy the quiet folks....because it never lasts :)


.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 37: "i am thankful for.......SOCCER!"

the soccer season is coming to a close... i have enjoyed going to all the games and look forward to next fall.  i am very glad sam has decided to become a soccer player.  i used to play, so i know how enjoyable it can be.  here is a picture of me i dragged out of the archives....:)

junior varsity-i was only 16!

i miss soccer...so i'm especially thankful that sam is playing. i get to kick a ball around once and a while again.  i also get to 'coach' him all the tricks i learned while i played.  i hope he sticks with it.  he not only gets in shape, but will make lasting friendships.  he will also learn skills such as leadership, competition, picking each other up, and supporting and helping others, to name a few.  these traits he can carry with him through out his life.
now, here are some of sam!

(far left..run sam run!!)

2012 bethel strikers!

soccer is good for the soul...at least, i think so...:)


....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 36: "i am thankful for......JUST IN TIME!"

registering to vote in the state of ohio has been on my to do list since i moved here last year.  so, last night...after watching the presidential debate (on youtube), i decided to look up when the deadline is to register before the presidential elections on november 6th.  i found out i have until next tues!  so....guess what i am doing today?  i am heading over to my county office building, to hand in my registration form i just filled out online.  whew...i'm so glad i didn't run out of time....ohio is one of those states that can go either way.  i could not live with myself if our current president won the election by 'one' vote...God forbid.



.......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 35: "i am thankful for.......GREEN HAIR?!"

last week was 'spirit week' at the boys school.  i just had to post this pic of them after i sprayed their hair last friday morning with their school colors (green and white).  they loved it!!  and, i have to admit...so did i.  i don't get to mess with their hair very often :0)

i dare you to go to work with green and white sprayed hair!!  just do it!!  act like a kid....and you just might feel like one too!  anyways, i'm sure it's written somewhere that it's good for the heart and soul (acting like a kid that is...not spray painting your hair... :) 


......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 34: "i am thankful for......my NY PHOTO BOOK!"

             Click here to view this photo book larger

i spent 6 hours last night arranging a 96 page photo book of pictures taken of our home renovations in new york.  i have been wanting to do this for several years, since we finished that house...but, have not found the time or the money to do it.  shutterfly gave me the motivation to finally get it done by offering 50% off their 12x12 hard cover photo books!  yeah!  it is on order and will be shipped within days.  i have wanted to show my grandparents our renovations, but always found it bothersome to bring my laptop when i visit them.  now, it will be easy....all the pics will be in one book!  i will create another book of our ohio house, when it is done.   hope you enjoy looking.


....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 33: "i am thankful for......TARPS!"

we have started tearing off/shingling our house roof now.... we ripped off one side, and part of the other.  we have shingled almost up to the ridge on the back side of the house.  we are taking a break due to the rain... so, yes, needless to say, i am very thankful for our tarps covering the exposed part of our house roof so we do not have to sleep in wet beds! 

back side of house

front side of house

my husband says to be thankful for the rain....so i can take a break from roofing.  well, i don't want to take a break.  i want it DONE!  but, with all this rain....i can't!  i'm very frustrated at this point.  it is one of the most unforgiving jobs....physically...for me.  i need to have it done already.  my body can't take any more 'dragging it on' due to rain....  so, please my friends....pray for sun!  thank you...


.....so, what are you especially thankful for today?!

day 32: "i am thankful for........a WORKING LAWNMOWER!"

i like to mow.  i really like to mow....it is the ONE chore that i like to do.  but, for over a month, our lawnmower was inoperable.  first it would start, but the blades would not run...then, it just stopped starting.  we would charge the battery at night...then it would start, no blade...  ok.  new battery.  still, would not start the blades.  then, it just stopped starting...even with a new battery and charged over night.  ok.  what can we do?!  the lawn is getting above my ankles!  (and i am one to keep my lawn short...getting a little embarrassing...)

now, we have an alternator on order.....new battery did not cut it.

1 1/2 weeks later, the alternator shows up.  hubby installs....yeah!  i get to mow!!   but......only about 5 blades of grass, before the darn blades disengage.  UGH!

think....think....think..............

good thing my hubby is a smart man....and extremely mechanical.

new clutch on order......

one week later.....clutch installed.

please...please....please......the grass is knee deep!

and the verdict is.....?????????

i got to take a break for a few hours from the roof this weekend....to mow our whole yard!!!!!  THANK YOU GOD!  my grass is short once again.....it's the little things like being able to mow my grass that gives me happiness....:)


.......so, what are you especially thankful for today?!