30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 29 & 30

November is coming to an end and one of my favorite months is starting tomorrow.  This November for me was all about reflecting on God's blessings and all that I am thankful for. 

Day 29: I am thankful that in a few short months I will be an aunt for the first time!!!  Cindy and Tony are expecting a baby girl (Mary) in February.  This makes Josh and I an Aunt and Uncle and Anya will have a cousin.  I couldn't be happier that she is having a girl!  Anya is already learning how to share all of her baby things with her.  It's fun passing down my favorite dresses that Anya wore to Cindy.  I hope Anya and Mary have as tight of a bond as Cindy and I do.

Day 30:  Josh was adopted as a baby by two AMAZING parents!  I am so thankful for the young mom that so courageously gave him to them at his birth.  She probably went through many trials being a kid herself and pregnant, and fought through that to make sure she could give him the best life possible.  I can honestly say that she made such a great decision.  Josh was raised by the most caring, most sacrifical parents, most godly, most servant-hearted parents...I could go on and on.  Thank you God for your perfect plan!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 27 & 28

Day 27-  Almost six years ago, Josh was offered his dream job.  We were just married, still in college full time, and waiting tables and DJing weddings, and Josh got a phone call from the school district he had always wanted to get a job with.  Most of us thought Josh was setting his standards too high, and should look elsewhere because he probably wouldn't get hired there.  Don't get me wrong, he's an incredible teacher, but with the economy the way it was and the low hiring rate in the teaching world, I thought it would never happen.  To my surprise (God loves surprising us!) he got the job teaching high school biology.  And he loves it!  I am so blessed that my husband loves his job, and that he's so good at it.  He is truly making a difference in his student's life.  They are lucky to have him as a teacher!  And we're so lucky he has summers off and breaks in-between!!!

Day 28-  I am thankful for God's grace that He continually extends to me each day.  It's awesome to wake up and no that I can have a clean slate, a fresh start, and am forgiven. 

Anya at 18 months

Seriously Anya has started talking so much over night and expressing to us that she understands so much more than I thought she knew! 

Just for fun pictures from last year at Thanksgiving:

This year:

Here are some things that have happened in the last week that I want to remember.  I know there are more, but these are the first that came to my mind!:

1.)  She says "Ring" "Ring" while grabbing our hands means she wants to play "Ring around the Rosie!"  When we went to Zeke's house today she grabbed his hands and started to play it with him.  It's adorable!
2.)  Owls are one of her favorite animals.  She'll see an owl (big or small) and say "Ow".  Yesterday she was sitting out the table saying it and I said Anya I don't see any owls, and she said it again pointing to the small owl on her cup.  It amazes me that she can recognize the Winnie the Pooh Owl as an Owl and then a cartoon owl and knows it's an owl.
3.)  She loves looking at photos of people she knows.  She says Ari, Ari to Ariana's picture.  The other day she then made our noise for elephants and I then realized Ariana is holding a small elephant toy. 
4.)  We were shopping at Kohls and she said "Uh oh, uh oh," and just kept repeating until Josh realized we dropped her coat!
5.)  She is obsessed with anything puppy or doggie.  We have a book I just introduced to her call "Please Puppy Please" (Josh can't stand the book) but Anya loves it and wants us to read it over and over again to her!
6.)  Anya has been telling everyone we see in public (church, stores, friends, family) "Shhh" and putting finger to her mouth.  It's to funny!
7.)  Yesterday we were at Walmart and she said "ball".  I realized she saw the gumball machine near the door.  Seriously, how did she see that!?
8.)  Just within the last week she has started to give tons of hugs and kisses!  It melts my heart.  There is nothing sweeter than getting hugs and kisses from her all day long!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 24, 25, & 26

 

Day 24:  I am thankful for the long weekend that we had and the memories we are starting for Anya.   November is really flying by!  It's hard to believe Thanksgiving is over and now we are beginning the Christmas season.  On Saturday we decorated our house for Christmas, while Anya was down for her nap.  When she woke up she was so excited to see the beautiful tree and lights.  She immediately said "no no" pointing to the tree.  Haha!  How does she know we don't want her touching it?  I love that girl!  Friday we braved the Black Friday rush at 6:30 am.  Anya tagged along too and did great!  We began the day with Caribou coffee and breakfast sandwiches.  Later we realized hot coffee and a stroller bumping into tight aisles at Kohls is not a good combo!  We've also started watching some Christmas movies: "Home Alone" & "Christmas Vacation" kicked off the season for us.  And I have to admit that some cheesy romantic Christmas movies played in the background while I was on Pinterest.  Am I the only girl who enjoys these flicks?  I'm now officially addicted to coffee, as Josh so kindly picked up Egg Nog creamer and Peppermint Mocha creamer.  Starting next month I'll begin an advent calendar with Anya, along with reading our true meaning of Christmas storybooks.  Our elf "Bubbles" will even be visiting us during the Christmas season.  It's the "Elf on the Shelf" but I'm doing the Christian/ Mommy made-up version:-)  I want Anya to grow up knowing that Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas.   

Day 25:  Another blessing in my life is the flexibility in my schedule.  I love that I am able to get involved in the Woman's ministry at our church: Women 2 Women.  We meet the 2nd Thursday every month and have a speaker come and share tips and advice on a certain topic.  We also have a breakfast buffet brought buy the women who attend.  Every month we have play dates and get togethers.  It's a wonderful ministry that's focused on getting women connected and building relationships. 

Day 26:  As I look around my loft deciding on another blessing in my life, I can't help but notice the sippy cup laying on the floor, the Cabbage Patch Doll who just happens to be "cuddling" with baby doll, "The Five Little Monkey's" book lying there waiting to be read, and the Little People farm animals scattered around.  I am so thankful to see toys in my house because it reminds me of my little Anya and the blessing she is.  Everytime Josh and I trip or bump into a toy we laugh because we are reminded of her and how thankful we are to have her!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 23 & Thanksgiving

Day 23: I am thankful that I have a husband who loves my family as his own, and vice versa.  We are very blessed to get along so well with our families and in-laws.  Yesterday we celebrated Thanksgiving twice.  We had a turkey lunch with my parents and sister Katie (Cindy and Tony are in OH with his parents).  The food was amazing! My mom made amazing homemade gravy and my dad made his classic roasted asparagus.  After visiting with my family we headed to Josh's aunt's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  He comes from a pretty big family so the house was packed.  It was a great time.  Anya was able to play with a lot of little friends.  Her favorite thing was playing with the bigger kids and chasing them around the house.  She was so exhausted at the end of the night; she crashed in the car. 

Reading books with Grandpa

Mommy and Anya (and that's a doll!)

 Anya stole Grandpa's seat!!!

 

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 20 & 21 & 22

Day 20- I am thankful for our couple's bible study group.  God has truly given us a group of friends that are encouraging, wise, and great role models for Josh and I.  They challenge us to grow in our faith and hold us accountable to being in God's Word.  We look forward to Tuesday nights because we are child-free and we get to be with our friends.  I am blessed that Auntie Kates comes on Tuesdays to watch Anya while we are at our bible study. 

Day 21- I am thankful for our golden retriever Charlie.  He is THE BEST dog in the world!  Anya can climb all over him and he just gets up and moves if she is bothering him.  He is also the best cuddler in the world.  I love him!

Day 22-  Happy Thanksgiving!  Wow, God has given us so many blessings.  I am thankful for the company we are going to be with on this special day (our family and extended relatives).  Is it okay to say I am also thankful for the long weekend?  What a blessing it is to have Josh home four days in a row!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 18 & 19

Day 18-  I am thankful to have gone through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (FPU) class 4 years ago.  Because of his class, we learned how to work a budget, pay off debt, and save.  We are so thankful that we can say we are debt-free (minus the morgage)! 

http://www.daveramsey.com/home/







Day 19: I am thankful for Anya's little friends!  They melt my heart!  Ariana is one of Anya's best friends.  She hasn't seen her in awhile since she's been fighting colds and Ariana has a new brother (we don't want to spread germs!)  But finally...we get to see her Wednesday!  Anya sees Ariana's picture on the refridgerator and says "Ari, Ari" and says "Hi" to her.  SO so cute!

Zeke and Anya!  Like brother and sister

Anya's favorite neighbor Emma!

Seylah and Anya!

Cousin Luke and Anya!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 17

Day 17- I am thankful to for all of the amazing volunteers and staff who help out in Kid's World at Christ Community Church!  I am so blessed to go to a church where they invest in the lives of the future generation and showing Christ's love to each child.  Anya adores going to church and playing with her friends in the toddler room.  The volunteers are so sacrificial and show Christ's love to each child.  I love being a part of a church that offers childcare/ Children's church, and allows the parents to go to the service kid-free!!  If you are in the area and are looking for a church, I highly recommend Christ Community Church: http://www.ccclife.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=136119
Some friend's of ours in college referred us to CCC and we've been going ever since!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 15 & 16

Day 15- I am thankful for my girlfriends both old and new.  God has truely blessed me with amazing friends.  I can't even begin to explain how fortunate I am!  It's so nice to have connections with other moms who also stay at home with their kids, and be able to share and exchange advice and encouragement!  I don't know what I'd do without the girlfriends in my life!

Day 16- I am thankful that I hear Little Miss talking through her monitor right now.  (Not so thankful for her cough, but there are worse things!!!) Whenever I hear her sweet voice I am reminded by God's sweet blessing of Anya!  I love her so much!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 14

Day 14-  I am thankful that I have a husband who is very involved in our daughter's life.  Josh and Anya have a very close bond.  When he comes home after a long day at work, Anya is so happy to see him.  Yesterday he picked her up when he walked in the door and she cuddled into his chest.  Normally I put her to bed, but yesterday Josh wanted to put her to bed since he won't be seeing her much the rest of the week.  When he put her down she was crying, so he said "Night, Night Anya.  Give Daddy a kiss."  And she took out her paci and gave him a kiss.  He loved it so much he asked her again and she repeated.  She hardly ever gives me kisses, but always kisses Josh.  I love how much he loves her. 


These are pictures from Easter, but I think they are cute to use for this!  Fortunately for Josh, she doesn't pull his ears anymore.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 13

Day 13:  I am so thankful that Anya is growing leaps and bounds in her language development! It seems like since she turned 18 months (10 days ago) she has really grown up.  She is talking up a storm; saying a bunch of new words every day!  She loves to wave and say "bye" to everyone as we leave.  She even pretends to say bye and shuts the gate as if she is leaving.  Her other new favorite word is "please" although it sounds more like "peeez".  It's the cutest thing ever!!!  It's so hard to turn her down...so lately she's been getting a lot of what she asks please for.  Ooops!  I am so thankful for her adorable words.  She is such a blessing!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 10,11,12

Day 10: I am so thankful that we live close to our parents!  I am fortunate to live 30 minutes (sometimes 45 minutes with traffic) from both sets of parents.  Since my hubby and I grew up in the same town, our parents live in the same town as well.  It's great that we can get together with them without having a terribly long commute.  It's also a huge bonus now that we have a daughter.  They are able to visit with Anya a lot, and we have amazing babysitters! 

 I am also so incredibly thankful that my little sis Katie lives close to us! 

Day 11:  I am thankful for my church; Christ Community Church!  We have been attending since we were in college and fell in love with the services, pastors, and the people!  We have an amazing couples community group that we get together with weekly.  And I am fortunate to be a part of a women's bible study as well, that meets on Tuesday mornings.  Christ Community has a huge focus on our International partners.  We were blessed to be able to go two "Go Teams" to Haiti.

Day 12: I am thankful that my husband is a teacher and has summers off!!!  Need I say more about this?

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 8&9

Day 8-  Although I didn't blog about what I was thankful for I was thinking that I am so blessed to live in such a wonderful community.  We are blessed to live in a gorgeous new subdivision settled in a small town that was once farmland and marsh.  Our neighborhood is filled with young families and lots of children!  We are blessed to have the best bike/ walking trails throughout the community. We are fortunate to have the path right outside in our backyard.  It makes going for walks with friend's that have strollers so nice because then the Mommys can fit side by side.  We have fountains, tons of lakes and ponds, and even a stream that runs through the community right down the path from our house.  Our community also has a wonderful rec center, pool, and exercize classes that they offer (included with association).  We also have access to tons and tons of nearby parks.  It's so awesome!

I love Cambridge Lakes!!

Do you spy the path in these photos? 

 

Charlie loves our backyard. 

Daddy and Anya at one of our many favorite neighborhood parks.

 

Day 9- Today, whew!  I didn't miss another day:-)  To go along with "yesterday's" post...I am grateful to be living in a townhome.  It's so nice to not have to cut your own grass, trim bushes, and worry about outdoor maintenance, yet still have the freedom to have a summer garden and do whatever we'd like to our garden area... I just added knock-out roses and hydrangeas in August.  I don't know how I'd get it all done with yard work!!!  I am very grateful for our landscapers and maintenance crew!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 6&7

I missed a day.  Oops!  I knew that would happen. Can I blame it on my head cold?
Speaking of...

Day 6-  Our family has been fighting colds for the past month.  The only reason I know it's been that long is because my girlfriend had a baby October 9 and I have yet to meet him because either Anya was sick with a fever or a cough, or I have a cold/ cough.  As annoying as a runny nose can be, I am so thankful to God for the good health God has blessed us with!  It really puts things into perspective.

Day 7-   I don't know about where you live, but the temps have really dropped in Chicago!  It's been so cold lately, which reminds me of how grateful I am that God has provided us with a home with heat and comfy beds with blankets.  I pray for those of you who live on the East Coast right now; that your power will be restored and that God will provide you with a warm and safe home! 

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 5

Day 5- With Election Day tomorrow, I realize how blessed I am to be able to vote.  I am so thankful that I live in the USA; where I have a voice and this great freedom! This is a right that I will never put to waste. 

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 4

Day 4:  I am thankful to God that I have such a loving, caring, and great relationship with my family.  I feel like that is rare in this day and age.  I have two younger sisters that I absolutely adore, sacrifical parents, and best best in-laws anyone could ever ask for.  My parents and in-laws have set a great example of a committed marriage (both just celebrated 31 years!).  On top of that my extended family is also a huge blessing.  I am grateful I get to talk frequently on the phone with my Grandma, just to catch up.  She is like a second mom to me:-)

My dad, mom, sister Katie, Anya, and Hubby

My in-laws

Katie and me with Grandma

My brother-in-law Tony

My sister Cindy

My sisters and me