day 72: "i am thankful for......HOT CHOCOLATE!"

we finally have some winter weather around here, so yesterday the boys were hard at play 'trying' to sled, making snow angels, and 'trying' to make a snowman (we only have an inch!).  today, sam had to be away for basketball, so ryan and i ventured out in the cold for a bit.  when we came in, i decided to look up a this homemade hot chocolate recipe . here are two cups ry and i are about to gulp down, topped with mini marshmallows...(i didn't have whip cream!)



i have such fond memories of playing outside in the snow as a kid in upstate ny with my sister and cousins...sledding, tobogganing,  snowmobiling, snow angels, snowmen, snow forts, snowball fights and skiing.  my grandmother momma used to make homemade hot choco for us, so this is just one of the traditions i'd like to pass down to my kiddos....





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




 

day 71: "i am thankful for.....ANSWERED PRAYERS!"

thank you, thank you, thank you God for the good news!  a dear friend of mine called me yesterday concerned and worried about something going on in her life.  but, all is good.  she got a test back....and it's negative!  gotta love it if sometimes God answers our prayers with a "no"!  thank you Lord, for all your goodness, and compassion.....You are the best!!

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

day 70: "i am thankful for......FACEBOOK!"

facebook, as i'm sure you are all aware, is a social networking website launched in 2004.  you join this site to meet new people, or rediscover the old.  i joined in february 2009.  since then, i have been able to reconnect with many people from my past, as far back as elementary school.  we are able to 'post' pictures of our families, write to each other, and share really anything you want!  last summer, i decided to get off of facebook because i thought it was taking up too much of my time and also i was becoming too self absorbed....i was posting too much about my own problems, and not focusing on what really mattered.

a few weeks ago, i received a phone call from a friend of mine giving me some very disturbing news about a mutual friend of ours.  this is when i decided to log back onto my fb acct, in order to get connected again, to my friends.  i needed to get status updates, especially on this particular friend.  she is actually the person, back in 2009, that told me about fb.  she is a very sweet, loving God fearing person. a friend that helped lead me to Christ, back in 2006.  she is such a blessing in my life....and now it is time for me to bless her.

i asked her if i could post her latest post to my blog.  needless to say, she was pleased that i wanted to "share God's goodness with whomever you want to".  thanks girlfriend....i love you, and i pray for all of you every single day.

here is her latest post:

This message is going to be s long one, Spent most of the day at the Cancer Center today. D's maybe gained a pound, now 170 lbs. on his 6'3" frame! Blood count and platelets have made a slight increase and PSA count slightly down, though his numbers are still over the top and around the world. We were just really thankful for some advance real focused prayers on our telling the radiation oncologist doctor that we were not ready to consider radiation as we wanted to see how the hormone therapy drug would work, and what we did not mention was also the Gerson cancer healing diet D is on nor the doTERRA Life Long Vitality Supplements, and The Frankincense essential oils I massage him with as we didn't think he'd be too interested in that, though the nurse practioner was very interested. Good to have one advocate in our camp who gives some validity to what we are doing. We are so thankful for our Blendtec that arrived last week that was a gift of love from friends who went together to provide it for us, it's been such a blessing. We are hoping to shortly order the Norwalk Juicer that we are in real need of for D to make the most progress as this one provides what is necessary for cancer patient's high needs. While I am on a roll here of thankfulness, and I don't have the room to put it all here right now, but I will tell you about one of the first amazing blessings; before D left the hospital I was asked by someone what the one thing was that could be done for us and to name anything. I told them that I had a hard time thinking of D coming home from the hospital with the pain of cancer in his bones to our unsuitable mattress that for quite some time he couldn't sleep on more than 3 or 4 hours a night... The short of the story, God provided us with an awesome new locally built mattress, with a wool time covered by organic cotton. One we had been dreaming of having before we adopted the last pair of kids, then following that the construction economy tanked, so no new mattress. Since D has come home from the hospital he sleeps every night on his back for a full night sleep! He is sleeping better than he ever has before, I will add that I am too with all of my back issues I have had. What huge blessings God has given us to encourage us in a time like this! Every day there is something that encourages us. The Christmas cards have also made us feel so very loved knowing how many are praying for us and have blessed us with financial gifts, I m glad I can communicate with so many of you this way as there has not been a Christmas card I've written, not even a gift purchased up to this point. The focus has been a bit different, though things will come together how they should, but there are going to be a lot of blessings to recount and much to remember this Christmas. Thank you to all of you for always encouraging us! PS: I felt good today! Hoping the next will be good too ;-)

although her husband is fighting cancer, she still prevails to be thankful to God and her friends...she has blessed me in more ways than i can count...now, i want to bless her, her family and other families on fb that are going through hard times....and through facebook and God's willingness, i will try to be a better friend...to stop thinking of myself. 


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

day 69: "i am thankful for......6 YEARS!"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY WADER!!!!!"

today is my nephew's 6th birthday!  i was there in the hospital the day he was born 6 years ago.... here are a few pics of me holding him for the first time....i was a very happy and proud aunt!  and i still am!

such a happy day

so beautiful

i love babies little fingers

wader is a very special little boy.  i just love listening to his sweet little voice on the other end of the phone (he lives far, far away :().  he just LOVES his cousins!  he really looks up to them....literally!  here is one of the latest pics taken of my boys and him together while we visited my sister in montana last summer...

medicine rocks state park

wader started kindergarten this past fall.  he just loves going there everyday.  he is a very smart and friendly little boy.....especially with the girls :)  you are gonna make the girls cry someday wade, with those big blue eyes of yours....  i love you soooo much, and miss you everyday!  have a WONDERFUL birthday...save some mario cart for when my boys visit!!

i will leave you with a few more favs....

ry, wader, and sam

ry and wader

sam, wader, and ry

me and wader

sam, wade, ry and momma

me and wader

i am so thankful you are part of my life wader.  i love you more every day....
Love, Aunt Kerry



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

day 68: "i am thankful for.....'HEALTHY CHILDREN!"

this article stuck a cord with me....i still have tears in my eyes as i type.  i am just so thankful my children are healthy, obedient, empathetic, loving children.  my words can't express how much i appreciate them. 

here is the article.  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-mental-illness-conversation_n_2311009.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=1785563,b=facebook



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

day 67: "i am thankful for......"CASEY, WANT SOME COOKIES?"!

the other day, my husband was baking some double chocolate chip cookies to bring into work the next day.  well, during his 1 1/2 hours of cooking preparing/baking, casey, our 5 yr old golden retriever, decided he wanted to help!  here is a video my husband made while the cookies were baking.....hilarious!

i just LOVE that dog!  he is my bestest bud...and i love him to bunches!  i'm sorry to say, casey did not end up getting any of his patiently earned cookies...no chocolate for doggies :(  maybe when i make my cream cheese Christmas cookies, i will let him lick the bowl...!



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

day 66: "i am thankful for.......BLESSINGS!"

everyday, each and every one of us, are given blessings from our Lord God above.  it's up to us to have faith and recognize those blessings.  from having a coat on our backs, a roof over our heads, food to eat everyday, or a sports car....  they are ALL blessings...  we forget about the little things when we go through battles in our lives.  it's just human nature to want more....  when tragedy hits our lives, we forget about all God has given us.  we become so self absorbed, we can't look behind the pain we feel...  please remember that our precious God hurts when we hurt...  He is still there, holding our hands, and continues to give us, through His compassion, and mercy, His grace.  He loves me...He loves you....always and eternity. 

i was just listening to this song by laura story on k-love driving back from school this morning, reminding me just how blessed i really am.  thank you for the reminder Father.....i love You.  this morning i pray for those who don't know You....for those who need You....for a miracle this morning by Your healing hands.....in Jesus Name, AMEN.

i am comforted knowing 'this is not our home'.   i hope you can be too.....



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

day 65: "i am thankful for......"SMELLY FEET"!

what??  what on earth do i mean "i'm thankful for 'smelly feet"??!  well, i'm only thankful for them if they make me laugh out loud!  here's the story....

this weekend, i printed out a bunch of birthday invitations for ryan's 9th birthday party being held at chuckee cheeses.  he handed them all out yesterday to his class.   this morning, on the way to school, i told him his friend alejandro was coming (his dad called last night).  ryan was so excited to hear that!  he proceeded to share with me about what his friend cameron said to him yesterday in regards to coming to his party... i guess when ry gave this boy cameron the birthday invite, his friend told him, and i quote "i don't know if i can come because my parents don't like 'smelly feet'..."!  WHAT???!!!  oh my GOODNESS!  the boys and i were laughing the whole way to school...!  now, to figure out what the heck this means?!  do his parents not want him to go to chuckee cheeses because it stinks like feet there?!....or have they met ryan and thinks that he stinks..??!  oh, my.....guess, i can't look too much into this...to not take it personally...i mean, it came out of an 8 yr old's mouth, right?!

kids crack me up!!  they really do.....  thanks ry..or should i say 'thanks cameron' for the laugh this morning..:)



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

day 64: "i am thankful for.......CHRISTMAS CARDS!"

i love receiving Christmas cards!  i also enjoy writing/sending them... every year, i go thru my address book and write out Christmas cards.  i put a mark next to each person after i am done with their card.  it's funny....now there are 5 marks next to each name!  guess it's time for a new address book :)  it's also funny to think how many states my cards go to.....

my 2012 stack!

 here are all the different states i addressed to tonight:

 arkansas

florida

indiana

massachusetts

montana

new jersey

new york

north carolina

pennsylvania

tennessee

texas

woweee.....!  and that is only the friends that i have addresses for!  i get around i guess.....air force wife and all.  if you don't get a Christmas card from me this year...it's only because you are not in my address book....  or if you are and i skipped over you, maybe next year, if you're lucky..... ;)


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

day 63: "i am thankful for.......FELICITY!"

i just finished all the episodes of the tv show 'felicity' on netflix.    here is the opening theme song i got off of youtube......'a new version of you'.

the show is about finding yourself...in a big world of uncertainties, rash decisions, and emotions....it's about making friends and sticking with your convictions...it's also about forgiving those you care most about.   i really liked it...and i really liked this song.  it made me think...no matter how big the mistake, you can make it right again, just as long as you create 'a new version of yourself'.  if you do this.....than lasting relationships are possible...no matter how screwed up things get.



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

day 62: "i am thankful for.......SOPAPILLAS!"

tonight, my husband and i tried out a local mexican restaurant called el toro.  we don't get out much, so we were excited!  we both loved the food...drinks...and especially desert.  my husband ordered the flan and i ordered sopapillas.  i told my husband that we used to make them in my senior spanish class in high school.  oh....what memories....i have of that class...mrs. kelly, singing spanish Christmas carols around town....and sopapillas!

this is what they looked like....laced w/choco syrup and whipcream!

here is pic our 'babysitter' took of us before we left out for the night....

thanks sam for the picture....and for babysitting.  i really appreciate you and i really appreciate being able to go out to eat because that means i don't have to cook! :)



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

day 61: "i am thankful for......STAGE 5!"

what on earth is 'stage 5' you ask? well, it's the 'texturing' stage of course!  i like to come up with little terms...it keeps me smiling :)

here are the different stages i have come up with during my years of remodeling:

stage 1:     demolition (tearing down a wall, doors...etc.)
stage 2:     preparing the wall for sheet rock (this usually involves shimming)
stage 3:     install new sheet rock
stage 4:     taping/mudding/sanding new wall (days later........)
stage 5:    texturing the walls
stage 6:     priming the walls
stage 7:     painting the walls
(**an optional stage:  install bead board and chair rail/prime/paint) 
stage 8:     install crown molding (we are kinda addicted to this stuff :))
stage 9:     install baseboard (prime/paint)

and last but NOT least........

stage 10:   ENJOY!

today, my friends, i am in 'stage 5' of our hallway remodel.   here are a few pics of the process up till now:

first time we looked at the house (if only you could 'smell' the cat pee radiating up from the carpet..)

tore out 2 closets and bathroom door (stage 2)

hubby sawing off section of wall...preparing for sheet rock (stage 2)

stage 4 (tape/mud/sand...days of sanding/mudding)

today:  stage 5.....ready for texture!

today: stage 5....ready for texture!

 ok...gotta get off the computer now folks!  i have 'stage 5' to do!  have a good one.....



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

day 60: "i am thankful for.....the TSO!"

last night, my boys and i went to the wright state nutter center to see the trans-siberian orchestra perform live on stage!  it was one of the best performances i have ever seen live.  my boys loved it!   here is one of many videos my husband took last night with his phone.  i just had to add this one because one of the guitarist actually high-fived ryan on his way back to the stage!  ryan was very happy about that...;)  (ryan is the one screaming and my husband is the whistle blower!  bet people loved sitting next to us :))

i will upload more of the videos on my youtube channel today if you want to check them out....!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/thepahalfamily

and here are some pictures!

if this show comes to your area....it's a must see...they are worth every penny! bring the kids...make a night out of it!  have a great day my friends.....and MERRY CHRISTMAS!


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

day 59: "i am thankful for........K-LOVE!"

k-love is a christian rock radio station. http://www.klove.com/   i started listening to it back in 2005 when i became a christian.  i feel so comforted knowing every time i move, k-love moves with me.  it is the one thing i don't have to change unlike every thing else.  so, thank you k-love for always being there for me when and where i need you.... you are such a blessing!  k-love is listener supported.  it is one of two organizations that i make a monthly donation to. 

so, today...tune in to k-love...where ever you live.  it could be one of those good changes in your life...and they are hard to come by.



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

day 58: "i am thankful for.......SANDING BLOCKS!"

.....because w/o them, my life as a renovation expert would not only be harder, it would be near impossible!   i own a plethora of different shapes, sizes, grits and colors.   for anyone that finishes out walls as much as i do, they really are a necessity.  here is a pic of my stash..(and that is not all of them!)

i use all of them....as you can see!  they do wear out, and i have to buy more.  i use different sizes, shapes, and grits for all the different stages while finishing out a wall.  i have become quite an expert on sanding blocks over the years.  personally, i think they are the best thing since sliced bread.....but, that's just me :)



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