Thankful Thursday . . .

Well, I started this post yesterday but in what seems to be my new blogging trend, I quit on it.  So, if you are wondering why you are reading a "Thankful Thursday" post on Friday, well . . . that's why.  I'm a quitter . . . or a slow starter . . . or re-starter . . . but I'm thankful!

These two smiling faces were my birthday morning serenaders--                                                                       

after graciously allowing me to sleep in they appeared giggling at my bedside and preformed the sweetest "Happy Birthday" duet.  They then crawled in on either side of me and started chattering about a birthday spankin' . . . until mama said, "Ohhhh no you don't"!  At which point they decided that 49 kisses would be more appropriate and began smooching my entire face--as I counted.  My day was made. Truly.  To be 49 and sandwiched between my very own seven year olds.  Be still my heart.  

I am so very blessed.  We took the day off school and went on a picnic instead--thank you south Texas for a January birthday celebrated outside! My bigs celebrated me, my beloved took me on a birthday date, I had phone calls, Facebook "love", and got to Skype with my sister.  I got a beautiful bouquet of flowers from my sweet friend Terry, who also kept the littles for our birthday date.  Blessed, I tell you!

It didn't end there . . . Terry and I were supposed to have a girl's night on Saturday to celebrate me again--we were going to burger-it-up at Red Rob*n and then hang out together, or so I thought.  Except that when we walked into the restaurant there were other familiar faces waiting there--

to include my big girl, Taylor, and Terry's bestie-now-become-my-friend, Kay!  Don't you love it when friends share their friends?  I bet that makes God smile, big!

So we partook of some delightfully delicious food, and then our waiter brought my complimentary birthday sundae--(which really complimented the large plate of decedent York Peppermint brownies that Terry had made me) and then the girls sang to me.  And it was lovely.  The singing, the birthday love, the fun gifts (which I neglected to photograph), the swiss mushroom burger dripping in honey mustard (which is thee mustard they will serve in heaven, I'm sure of it), the bottomless fries, the free sundae, the brownies . . . ooooh the brownies-- plural, plural, plural!  So good.

After dinner we HAD to go shopping for a little bit (yep, had to) while we waited for 10:00 p.m. to roll around so that we could go Cosmic Bowling--also planned by Terry.  Thank you, friendy!

And guess who kicked bowling booty?  The girl who never kicks bowling booty, because she has an offspring who is a much more accomplished bowler than herself (several offspring really--but only one was there) . . .

Let the games begin!

When all was said and done, the birthday girl had won two outta three games!

(The accomplished bowler offspring took the third game.)

Yes, I was proud . . . 

and not very humble.  At all.

So my Thursday birthday stretched into a very thankful three day celebration.  It was good!

In more thankful news--

these two silly faces that I love

are coming to the nest for a visit on February 29th!

I am sooo looking forward to 

seeing my Brady boy,

 and his Sloane, my daughter-in-love-to-be!

Wedding bells, four months from today!

I could go on and on about my thankfulness, but I will end with this . . . In the weeks since Christmas break I have been ready to throw in the homeschooling towel.  Really.  It's been hard, and we haven't been able to find our groove.  Or get our work done. Or not complain. Or not get mad.  Or not whine.  A lot. (And this all includes the teacher).  And everyday I've reminded myself how blessed I am that I am able to do this--yet myself was NOT buying it.  Through gritted teeth I would thank the Lord for this opportunity to teach these youngest of my treasures.  I was thankful, really I was, but I was NOT enjoying it--not more than a moment here or there.  But, we persevered and we've gotten over the hump, and last week was a little better . . . and this week I can honestly say we are making it, and enjoying each other, and learning--and not just surviving.  Whew.

Thank you Lord for the opportunity to homeschool. Thank you that even when it's rough, you are in the midst of it, cheering me on, whether I am listening or not.  Thank you for patience. Thank you for littles who are learning about You, even if it feels like we haven't accomplished much else.  What could be more important?  Thank you for wisdom as You've helped me work this out, and for littles who are cooperative and excited.  Thank you for never giving up on Your children, no matter how much we pout . . . or stomp . . . or whine.  Thank you for loving us through the tough stuff and teaching me in the midst of it.  Thank You.  Thank you for 49 years of blessings, for 49 birthdays--and for the people I love to celebrate them with me!  Thank you for birds coming home for a visit!  My heart is full.


Blessings from my nest ~

Tina