Thankful Thursday

Wow, it's been a sort of challenging week to find things to be thankful for. I'm not sure why... no particular reason. I guess I've just been mired down in "real" life. So I was glad to take some time to be grateful. I've been enjoying some stress-free yoga sessions and morning quiet times. I think those have been my saving grace. I've watched how God has protected me, even cause joy, in the midst of some hard situations.

I'm also thankful for:

The hope of June/July and all its changes and adventures.

My friend Jenny who has helped me navigate the TriCare system.

New recipes.

Days at the beach.

Yoga workouts found on YouTube.

Mini Snickers bars from a co-worker.

My Coastie's voice when he calls me late a night.

Be thankful today! Spread the gratitude to others!

Thankful Thursday

It has certainly been a few weeks since I have written. I wish it was because my life has been full of scintillating adventures and tales worth repeating, but alas... my world has been blissfully normal and quiet.

I had a great visit with my best friend Elizabeth (check out her blog at Mama Liz) and her baby boy Connor. There is nothing, and I mean nothing, quite like 5 days of best friend time. I wish the Florida weather had been more cooperative, but that was just a good excuse to stay up late talking and eating junk food. We've been friends for 20 years (are you sure I'm old enough to say that??), but our friendship still feels as loving and deep as ever, despite the miles and the changes we've seen in the last year.

Anyways, enough mushy talk. This week, I am just grateful for the Lord's provision as He called us California. We'd been praying and praying that we would be called where He could use us. Honestly, we never even considered He would pick a Mayberry-sized town in middle-of-nowhere California. However, Team Preston will be joyfully packing up and heading west come this summer.

I'm also thankful for:

Fresh strawberries.

Matthew 6:25 and Psalm 119:116.

Phone calls from all the important women in my life.

Increasing self-discipline.

Proof that being polite can go a long way.

A trip to Tennessee soon.

Emails and short phone calls from across the seas.

His safety and health while away.

And mostly, Team Preston itself. I couldn't have chosen a better man to partner with on this journey. In his words, "No matter what hill comes our way on this path, I know Team Preston can climb over it and be better for it."

Aunt Hilary and baby Connor

Thankful Thursday

For those of you who understand our lifestyle, you can probably guess why I haven't posted very much in the last few weeks. But don't you worry, you one random person who is the only one who reads this besides me! I will be posting a lot more very, very soon.

Until then, I will still post a Thankful Thursday list. This week, I am thankful for:

Leviticus 19:32

A free lunch

Tri-care insurance

Maintenance workers who fix things around my house for me

Grapefruit

Honeynut Cheerios

Books that can enthrall me

Recipes from blogs that rock my socks off

My husband... every day and every minute

Be thankful today! Spread your positive gratitude to others!

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday! Again?? Where has the time gone? Last week, I was so excited and busy for Christmas. This week, I am procrastinating on putting away Christmas decorations and feeling completely overwhelmed at work. However, I know I always have something to look forward to on Thursdays. I feel blessed that I have at least a few minutes to focus on all my many, many blessings (one of which is the sweet cat currently sitting in my lap).

As I think about all the amazing and hidden blessings in my life, I am reminded most of the Lord's presence in my life. Don't worry, I'm not going to sermonize. But, my social worker heart must also recognize and feel blessed for the family and friends who believe differently than I do and celebrate different reasons for this season. No matter what you believe, I am blessed to have you in my life - to love me, challenge me, and provoke deep thoughts. Thank you.

Okay, enough of the random deep thoughts. This week, I am thankful for:

New pearl earrings from my Coastie.

A successful Christmas dinner with lots of good food and friends.

A Christmas morning Skype date with my mom, sister, and brother-in-law.

A husband who can fix cars (and looks handsome while doing so!).

Walks at sunset.

Transforming leftovers into yummy meals.

Homemade fudge.

Books on cd for the long commute to work.

My new kitchen accessories.

A sweet first Christmas with my Coastie.

Cool mornings in Florida.

Leftovers.

Sweet, sweet friends who bless me in ways they could never imagine just by being alive.

A good night's rest.

I hope you can take a moment, count your blessings, and feel thankful for something or someone in your life today. Be blessed!

Thankful Thursday

This week has been a week full of reality - both the Coastie and I are hard at work at our jobs. However, we've been blessed to have similar schedules and be home at about the same time. We're also able to do some of our regular activities we enjoy - rock climbing for the Coastie, evening walks for me with a friend, and date nights.

So, this week has been peaceful and wonderful. I am so thankful for:

Apple Crisp

Our beautiful live Christmas tree

Cooler weather

Sweet co-workers

Cooking in the crock-pot

Prayers

Long afternoons with the Coastie

Productive days

Reliable vehicles

Candlesticks made by my great-grandfather

Sunday naps.

Be thankful today!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today is another special edition of Thankful Thursday. Tomorrow, the 18th, marks one year of missing my grandmother, Mimi. I've been afraid to let myself feel the grief this past week, what with being alone in a strange place without my husband or family, but sometimes, it is good and right to let grief run its course.

So, here's to my Mimi.

2007

Thankful this Thursday for my Mimi - for all the love, hugs, dilly dally's, advice, encouragement, nights of being my babysitter, sweet postcards and letters, raising 3 amazing kids, boxes of chocolate, watercolors hanging on my wall, and teaching me how to love a husband. 


We sang my Mimi home - all of us, her husband, her children, her grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. We sang her favorite hymns from her Baptist upbringing. We sang her favorite Presbyterian hymns. We sang songs we knew would bring her comfort and peace. We were there, surrounding her, touching some part of her (a hand, a leg, a shoulder) when she met Jesus face to face. The intense sadness could only be survived by the astounding beauty and peacefulness of the moment. 


I will remember many things about that day - driving the 2 hours to be there in the nursing home after I got the call; the friends and church members who came to love us; the incredible nurses who kept her comfortable and the quiet voices they used to soothe us; her family telling her how much we loved her, but that is was okay to leave us.


Most poignantly, I will remember the words my Dandy, her husband of 62 years, spoke to her in his last moment of clarity: 


"Betty, I am not far behind you. Then we can spend time together just like we wanted." 


Then he kissed her cheek and, I truly believe, this was the moment he also left us. His body remained, but they were together already.

(My undergraduate graduation)

If you have never been with a dying person, you can't imagine the sorrow or the beauty of the moment. It is indescribable. While it is the greatest pain I have ever experienced, it changed me. It changed my view of everyday life, of priorities, of knowing what I could let go and what I should keep, how important family is at the end of the day, and who true friends are. Even in her last act as the matriarch of our family, my Mimi taught me a lesson I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

So I am thankful for my Mimi's life, ministry, family, quirks, courage, and legacy this Thursday.

Mimi, you are missed just as much as the moment we held your hand and sang you home.

Thankful Thursday

This week has been another week of personal challenges, hard lessons to learn, and simple, small joys. We have a lot going on here at the Preston household, but we are grateful to have each other and this life.

This week, I am thankful for:

Quiet mornings of coffee and yoga.

Another Skype date with my husband.

A paycheck.

Getting to know more of my heart and mind throughout challenges.

Sweet words from residents.

Beautiful sunrises.

Seeing two rainbows.

Trying a new recipe and it actually being delicious.

Somehow always having the resources to do what I need to do.

The support of my husband.

Snuggles from Mr. McGee.

Veterans who sacrificed their own agenda to protect my safety, security, and freedom.

My husband who sacrifices his safety, sleep, hobbies, and time at home to make sure bad people and bad things don't make it into this country.

Be thankful today! Try to thank a veteran, too!

Thankful Thursday

I'm writing this so late in the day, but better late than never! A lot has happened in a week - some good, some not so good. But Team Preston has remained strong and united. It is always encouraging, too, to see how God answers prayers.

Here's what I am thankful this week:

Skype dates with my husband (he is so handsome!).

Friend time.

Pictures of friends celebrating Fall back home.

Quickly answered prayers.

Humbling, but huge, learning curves.

Homemade hummus.

A clean office.

A job.

Friendly customer service at our bank... even at midnight.

More family coming to visit.

Phone calls from my mom and sister.

My "Millie" (mother-in-law).

Power yoga in the mornings.

Cheesy tourist attractions (see below).

And only 3 more weeks until family time in Tennessee!!!

Thankful Thursday

Since I haven't blogged in a week, it is perfect that it is Thankful Thursday!! I've had quite a busy week - full of starting a new job, lots of company, and new adventures in my new local town. This post helps me focus and shift my attention back to what is truly important. I find it is so easy to become mired down in the day-to-day worries and concerns. Thursday is my day to acknowledge all the blessings I have.

So, this week, I am incredibly thankful for:

A visit with my mom.

A week of incredible sunsets.

Exploring the local area and seeing incredible art.

Meeting other military wives.

Hearing my husband's voice.

Sweet friends.

Chicken and veggie stir fry.

The hilarious and sweet residents at my new job.

Naps.

Decisions that bring me peace.

Quality conversations.

Afternoons at the beach.

Be thankful today and every day!

Thankful Thursday

I have SO many things to be thankful this week. The first and most important - I am officially employed!!! Not only am I employed, but I have a great title, my own office, and it's with a Christian company so I can share my faith. Plus, I've only been here 3 weeks! God is so good! We feel so blessed for this calling. I am completely at peace and so eager to start to work.

I'm also thankful for:

Chicken tetrazinni.

My cute pink glue gun.

My mom's upcoming visit.

Phone calls from back home.

Skype dates with my best friend.

New recipes.

A wonderful friend in another Coastie wife.

A free gym membership (that I actually taken advantage of!).

The friendly people at the Family Readiness Center who are so helpful.

The very cool Florida weather.

Encouraging words about this blog from others.

Sweet cards in the mail.

Be thankful today... and every day. Happy Thursday!