The content in this blog is based on my experiences and the guidance I have received from my Care Team determined by my individual and evolving needs. Before beginning, trying, or experimenting with anything mentioned in this blog, you
Like many others out there, my funds are limited but the pressure to appear fabulously festive is on us. So today, I am thankful for the endless do-it-yourself opportunities that amazingly creative people are able to share via the web. I stumbled across this do-it-yourself style Festive Dollar Store Projects for Gorgeous Home Decor! Here are a few of my favorite up-cycling ideas; they listed (in no particular order).
A garland of ornaments! I always find myself looking at the small plastic bulbs that come in bulk packing at a low cost store and I'm sure many of you have extra ones just laying around. This is a great idea! The site suggests taking some ribbon (or maybe a shoe string?) to string together the decorations to a little elfy perk to your window sill or hearth or something.
Tying candy canes around an existing vase can add a Christmassy touch for super low money. But I would probably need a few rubber bands to hold the candy canes against the vase, that is probably why the red ribbon is there... My experience with this one is to keep a stash of candy canes somewhere in your house, because people cannot help themselves - they will slip a candy cane or two out of this display! Who can resist their pepperminty goodness?
Have an ugly awkward candle in a closet or in a drawer at your house? I do too! (I have lots!) The link above suggests using double stick tape and glitter to create a festive up-cycled item!
Caution: I'm not so sure how the whole lighting the candle and double stick glitter tape works together. So please research this one a bit more if you are actually going to light up these bad boys!
I really really like this, its creative and unique and you can tailor it to whoever you are creating it for or for whatever room of the house you want to hang it! Plus if you are like me, you have a ton of holiday socks that - while they may be adorable - you just simply cannot wear for one reason or another. This would be a great way to recycle them! I'm not 100% sure how they did this, I'm going to do some more research... For more amazing do-it-yourself dollar store decorating ideas, explore the possibilities!
I know I have already mentioned my sister in these gratitude posts, but this picture made me giggle and think of our relationship. We are more than sisters, we are friends. But not only that, she inspires me every day to find something to laugh about. And sometimes I think that I can coax a wilder side from her. This picture represents our relationship perfectly! Yes, I mean those two cracking up on the first row :)
This may sound odd to others, but today I am thankful for the special family members I have been blessed to know during my life. Yes I am thankful for the people in my family but also the animals that made the days so much brighter. Puppies, kittens, dogs, cats - all rescued by a loving family... they all touched our lives in some way.
I firmly believe that animals go to Heaven and that one day, I will see them all again.
This morning I am thankful for the fact that our office allows animals. Staff are able to bring their cats or dogs from time to time. I haven't brought Molly - yet, but may do so in the future. We also have two office cats that keep us all company during working hours. The individuals love coming up to pet and play with the cats, and the stress relief of having a pet around is amazing for moral! Other staff have fish, which my favorite is the salt water aquarium upstairs.
This is Sirena, she is an absolute joy (even though she does steal my pencils!)
Today I am thankful for my health. While I have my share of medical problems, I am still able to do things that mean so much to me. Instead of looking at the things my condition have taken away from me, I would like to count the things I rejoice at being able to do!
Dad used to call the bathroom the 'Royal Reading Room'. It always made us laugh and drove Mom crazy! He used to say that the bathroom was the only place he could go read in peace, without being asked to do something or get something. Seeing this picture today, brought that back - and I laughed. I don't mean I giggled, I mean I belly laughed... remembering Dad's face when he would say "Well I'm off to the R.R.R." and Mom's face as she rolled her eyes and barked "Mark!" I miss them. I am so thankful that they instilled on me the value of reading... How adventurous it could be, how the entire world opens up when you crack the pages of a book... Mom and Dad both read to us (Jen and I) - whatever we wanted to read, whenever we wanted to read. It didn't matter how many times we had read the same book or how much they disliked the book... For me, it was books about adventurous romances- like Lancelot and Guinevere, or Robin Hood and Maid Marian. I fell in love for the first time with Little Women and grieved for Luke in The Prince of Tides. Even as an adult, I cannot help but be hypnotized by the retelling of Arthurian Legends or bewitched by Grimm's Fairy Tales. And today, I am able to enjoy these digital classic on Amazon's Free Kindle Applications. For that, I am very thankful! :)
This morning I am thankful for Facebook. Not only has it allowed me to catch up with friends from my childhood, but it has also helped me communicate with other spoonies so I feel less alone. I also post a lot of pictures that make me laugh or inspire me.
One of my favorite pages is When the Dinner Bell Rings. I'm not sure who does it, but it haves amazing DIY type things. From how to whiten your nails for the holidays to easy crock pot recipes, it is definitely one page I look forward to seeing each day. I have used some of their yummy recipes when I am having a fibro day and very few spoons to spare. If you are on facebook, please take a minute and check out their page.
I am thankful for the memories I have of my parents... and for the videos I have of my Mom on my phone. They never fail to make me laugh, even though I seem to miss her even more after watching them.
Today is our Thanksgiving Dinner at work. I am so thankful for the community members, volunteers, and family members who have gathered together to celebrate this humble holiday with our clients and staff. We are truly blessed.
Today is an extremely difficult day for my family. One year ago today, my Mom passed away... While the last 365 days have been the hardest of my life, today I have reached a place of semi-acceptance... where I can honestly say that I am so thankful for the 32 years I had with her. The last 6 years we became best friends, was a blessing that I didn't expect but am no less grateful for. My Boss said something a while back that is really staying with me today... Only a great love, deep respect, and an amazing person can leave a painful hole in someone's life like this... He is right, I miss her more today than I ever thought possible... I love you Mom, yesterday, today, and always.
Day 14: Today I am thankful that God blessed me with amazing parents. While I feel my time with them was cut short, I trust in Him and His timing... I am so blessed to have had 32 years of their guidance, support, and influence. When I look around, so many children have been left to their own devices... electronic babysitting, watching their parents live immorally, never learning to be polite and having absolutely no self respect... I am so very honored to have had parents who taught me from an early age to be honest, kind, thoughtful, supportive, obedient to the Lord, and thankful for the things I have.
I honestly feel that it has been my raising that has helped me handle my chronic illness combination. My parents taught me to trust in God's will, even when I'm not happy with His choices... I was also taught that hope, faith, love, and attitude make all the difference in the world. Each day I try to teach Missy those things, to be an example to her. Don't get me wrong, my parents were far from perfect... but that only helped me understand that it's ok that I wasn't perfect either. Thank you God for blessing me with such wonderful parents.
Today I am so thankful for movies that make me feel safe, loved, protected, and treasured. I know that is a lot to put on a movie, but the Wizard of Oz is truly one of my favorites that takes me back to those carefree childhood moments. And I cannot believe what is happening on March 8, 2013! I am so excited, I can barely contain myself!!
HOLY CRAP!!
Have you heard?
I've already marked my calendar!!!
There will be a NEW Wizard of Oz movie!
While I take a breath, take a moment and savor this sneak peak of what 2013 holds (movie wise)!
Oz: The Great and Powerful is an upcoming 2013 American 3D fantasy adventure film directed by Sam Raimi. The film is adapted from L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and is a prequel to both the novel and the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. The film stars James Franco as Oscar Diggs, otherwise known as "The Wizard of Oz". It also stars Mila Kunis as Theodora, Michelle Williams as Glinda, and Rachel Weisz as Evanora. The film will be released by Walt Disney Pictures in traditional 2D, as well as in the Disney Digital 3D, RealD 3D and IMAX 3D formats. Raimi's film is set before the events of the the 1900 book and 1939 film. When Oscar Diggs (James Franco), a small-time circus magician with dubious ethics, is hurled away from dusty Kansas to the vibrant Land of Oz, he thinks he’s hit the jackpot—fame and fortune are his for the taking... that is until he meets the witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz), and Glinda (Michelle Williams) who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone’s been expecting. Reluctantly drawn into the epic problems facing the Land of Oz and its inhabitants, Oscar must find out who is good and who is evil before it is too late. Putting his magical arts to use through illusion, ingenuity, and even a bit of wizardry, Oscar transforms himself not only into the great and powerful Wizard of Oz but into a better man as well.
Normally, by this time of year, I would be calculating how many days of kerosene we would have and trying to figure out, according to the weather predictions, when I would need to get some more so we didn't risk running low... The fumes of the kerosene always messed with my asthma, sinuses, gave me migraine headaches, and kept me up at night with worry that it would catch fire to everything else... Don't get me wrong, I was thankful for the kerosene heater, because it helped Mom and I stay home as long as possible... But today, I am thankful to have central heat and air available. I'm so thankful today to God for providing me with a weather proof shelter, a comfortable bed, warm clothes, good food, and a loving family - that even though we fight we are still each other's family. And that means everything!
Today I am thankful for those who served and who are serving in our nation's military. I am thankful, not just today, but every day. My Dad brought me up to respect those who make the sacrifices that gave us the freedoms that so many Americans take for granted. Dad taught me to say thank you to those I meet along the way, that made sacrifices necessary to keep America free. The thing is, it isn't just those in the military that served, it was also their families. Sacrifices were made by everyone involved with those brave men and women... I don't think one day set aside to honor our Veterans will ever be enough to repay what they have done.
Those that know me, know that I have pretty bad asthma - which my lupus tends to aggravate. Today I am thankful that my asthma seems to be easing up a bit. Hallelujah!
I couldn't be happier!! Seriously. I'm even happier than this crazy hyped up gator.
The thing is, today is one of the first days I've been able to breathe semi-easy (especially for this time of year)... and how do I spend the day? Resting. lol I have been able to actually rest and recharge my battery a bit, not being able to breath wears a girl out. On the topic of asthma, I really want this shirt.
This morning, I am so very thankful for God allowing my family to wake up. When I think about the sweet innocent children in my life - He allows them to wake and begin a new day.... that is something I think I always took for granted, until this morning... My thoughts and prayers go out to a very special family and their devastating loss...
Today, and every day, I am thankful for my extended family. Losing my parents has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through and I fear, will ever go through. My Grandmother, Aunt, Uncles, and close Family Friends have been amazing at supporting me through everything - even though they are also hurting. Sometimes we get lost in our own grief and don't see the pain of others... I am so very thankful that they seen me... I know I have shared this video before, but.. today, it is keeping me company in my head. I wanted to share it here. Please pay close attention to the lyrics.
When I was first diagnosed with an illness, I was in high school, Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. We didn't the internet back then and my doctor was more focused on talking with my Mom than helping me understand what was going on with my body. Then in 2006, I was diagnosed with the flu, shingles, and a few other things... After numerous specialists and almost two years of researching, I was diagnosed with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, which (according to my doctors) is a combination of Fibromyalgia Lupus and Arthritis. But this time, I wasn't alone. I had support from my family and friends, as they educated themselves about my condition. I also had the group of spoonies I had met online, twitter, facebook, online chat rooms, blogs, podcasts, forums, support groups.... I wasn't alone! And that made all the difference.
Today I am thankful for the opportunity to vote. This precious gift is a right for every American that was paid for by every single military person who has served or is currently serving. Please don't let their sacrifice go to waste, everyone needs to vote and make your voice heard. If you have questions about voting, from where to go to what kind of identification to bring, please take a moment to get that information here.
Missy means the world to me, she is 5 years old and full of wonder. Energetic and imaginative, she reminds me to take each day with gusto and seize the moment to make magic happen.
Day 4: I am so very thankful for my sister, Jennifer, and her husband Johnny.
I am thankful for them every day, but wanted to write about them today. We have spent the day together, running errands, and just laughing. I frequently refer to Johnny as my brother, or Bubbey. We might not always get along, sometimes we fight so much I think the house will cave in! But - no matter what - I have their backs and they have mine.
They both mean the world to me and I am so proud to say that we are not just siblings but we are also best friends.
I am so very thankful for Netflix. I know that this may sound a little out of place in my list of blessings, but I sincerely am appreciating Netflix today. It's a rough day, pain and fatigue, monster headaches. Blah. But you know how that is. More specifically, I am thankful for The Cleveland Brown Show.
This show has me in stitches today and I would like to share one of my
favorite moments... that reminds me of myself. lol I did find a better
vid of this clip but I love the guy's laughter as he is recording it.
And the part that reminded me the most of myself was when he steps on
the treadmill and is like "Ooh this isn't so bad"... and then Holt turns
it on! LOL
Day 3: I am thankful for the brief escape that Netflix provides those of us with chronic pain.
Today I am thankful for a job that I enjoy. I am blessed with coworkers who seem to understand me and insurance to cover my medical needs. The most amazing part of my job is that I can adapt what I am doing to how many spoons I have or how I am feeling. Which is truly a blessing! So while sometimes I do complain, I am truly blessed.
November is a month to count your blessings and offer thanks for the wonderful things in your life. I'm not sure why we can't do this during the other eleven months, but I don't want to miss an opportunity to express my appreciation for all of the wonderful things in my life!
Day 1:
I am thankful that I have a loving supportive family who prays for me. They might not all be blood related, but they are my family... all the same.
