Thankful Day 30 - Gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude encourages you to look for the good in life and to remember blessings that are so abundant.  I am grateful for the month of November which has helped me to focus on giving thanks.

Thankful Day 29 - Humor

My children are a great source for humor in my life.  For example, Kristen asked me last night, "Mom, do we celebrate Harmonikkah."

Thankful Day 28 - Inspiration

I am thankful for the inspiration that brings "aha' moments, guidance, great ideas, answers to prayers, and feelings of peace.  Such a blessing.

Thankful Day 27 - School

We have had a good week with the girls home from school and, except for Kristen, my girls don't really want to go back to school.  Whereas Mondays use to feel too much like "getting back to the grind," I love the peace and quiet of my house on a Monday morning now.  I am thankful for school.

Thanksgiving Day

We had a rather low key day.  It was just us for a late afternoon Thanksgiving dinner.  It is times like this when I miss living close to my family and being able to share holidays with them.  We had the typical Kline family Thanksgiving meal--turkey, mashed potatoes, lots of veggies, rolls, jell-o, pumpkin squares, and I introduced a baked sweet potato this year.  I thought it was great--my girls, not so much.

Chris spent time hanging Christmas lights outside (not his favorite thing to do) but had Amy and Misha as helpers.  Kristen was outside too, but she was riding her bike in the almost 70 degree weather.

Normally I look through all of the store ads and plan out my "Black Friday" shopping day.  This year, I purchased a lot of things on line on Thursday and skipped the Friday morning craziness altogether.  It was a nice change of pace this year, but getting in to the "craziness" can be fun too.  We ventured out as a family later in the day and helped the girls find a few things for family members, but there just wasn't much that we needed to get.

Lion King

We are trying to offer our girls "experiences" for their birthday.  For Amy's 12th birthday this year we got tickets to the musical "Lion King".  We made dinner reservations at Osteria Marco on Larimer Square and enjoyed a delightful night in downtown Denver.  The weather earlier in the day had been in the 60s so it was a more pleasant night than it might have been for a typical November.

We had plenty of time after dinner to walk over to the Denver Performing Arts Center.  Can I just say that the performance was A. MAZ. ING!  The opening scene was incredible with the animal characters entering through the side entrances and walking down to the stage.  I highly recommend it.  Sadly, I forgot my camera for any before or after shots.

Painters

Like I mentioned in my Thankful post a couple of days ago, I have had my fill of painting.  When I found a coupon on Groupon, I was more than happy to take advantage of it.  I hired them to paint the main floor powder room and Amy's room.  Amy's room was one of her Christmas presents.  She has never liked the olive green as her wall color and has begged many a time for me to paint her room.  Now it is gray (though she claims at certain times of the day that it is purple!)  I asked, "Do you like it better than the green?"  Her answer is a definite yes.  "So, no complaining then."  I respond.

The main floor powder bath is now a slate blue color similar to my office.  I had to replace the curtain since it had faded from a nice blue to a dull gray over the last eight years.  After a little searching, I happened on to a full-length curtain in the seconds pile at Bed Bath and Beyond.  It was a perfect shade match to the blue I had chosen, with stripes of brown and ecru.  Perfect, though I did have to cut it down to fit my window.  Twenty minutes of cutting and sewing and Voila!

Thankful Day 26 - Online Shopping

I just have to say that online shopping makes life so much easier.  And it is fun to have packages delivered to your door.

Piano Recital

My girls had a piano recital on November 13th.  Amy's participated in them before with her teacher, but this was the first piano recital for Misha and Kristen since they started taking lessons.   They were all a little nervous but did great.  They even invited their friends to come along with them--for moral support? to goof around?  Can't imagine it was that exciting for them otherwise.  The girls each played six songs.  I am proud of them for working so hard.

Bowling

Chris and I took the girls bowling a couple of weekends ago.  They were pretty excited as it is usually a pretty fun experience.  Amy has improved a lot.  Even though she had bumpers, she didn't make use of them much.  Kristen was sadly disappointed after our first round because she had done so poorly and was determined that she wasn't going to play anymore.

As you can imagine, her sisters were quick to take over her turn.  After the first round, I said to her, "You will never get any better if you don't try.  I will help you."  I pretty much didn't give her an option to sit and sulk--nothing good ever comes from sulking.  We pulled her "bowling help" up to the line and instead of using the light little ball she had been using, loaded on a heavier one.  We weren't completely successful until the third of fourth turn where Chris was now helping her by using his heavy ball.  She began to pull ahead in the score and each round would get a little more excited.

We were all pretty close in our scores.  I could have pulled ahead of Kristen on my last turn if I hadn't accidentally bowled into the gutter.  Chris' ball somehow eneded up in the gutter as well, and you couldn't believe the smiling face and happy dancing of a little girl who just achieved the highest score of the family.  It was a good day.

Invention Convention

Misha participated in her school's Invention Convention this year where students come up with ideas for a new product, submit a patent to their teacher, and then try to create a working model of their idea.  Misha came up with the Fast Freeze Freezer (mind you, she didn't tell us about it until a few days before it was due).  Thus started the scrambling to help get her project done.

The finished "invention" involved a styrofoam cooler, tubing, some plumbing fittings, a can of air, and a can of soda.  Other students got to look at all of the inventions and loved coming by Misha's to feel the cold can of soda once it had been "fast frozen".

Misha's friend "REALLY" loved her invention and jumped in to demonstrate on more than one occasion and loved trying it out even if there was no one watching the demonstration.

Thankful Day 25 - Sunshine

I love sunshine.  I love living in a state where there are more than 300 days of sunshine every year.  I am thankful for every single one of those days of sunshine.

Thankful Day 24 - Thanksgiving Day

I love Thanksgiving.  I love the time we spend together as a family.  I am grateful for a day dedicated to being thankful.

Thankful Day 23 - Camera

I must have been bitten by the photography bug a little later in life, but I sure do love taking pictures now--or maybe I just love the great subjects I have for my picture-taking.  My family is great at posing and stopping along the side of the road for my random photo moments.  I am grateful for my camera and for the amazing memories it helps to keep alive.

Differences

As Amy and I were driving to pick up Kristen from her dance class last night, we were listening to a radio station that has already started playing Christmas music.  The announcer lady was commenting on the fact that at Christmas, many of us are still kids at heart.  Amy's comment made me laugh, "Yeah, some are just bigger and have credit cards."  Ahhh, so true.

Thankful Day 22 - Grocery Stores

For a large percentage of the world, walking in to a grocery store as we know it would be akin to witnessing a miracle.  Fruits, vegetables, dairy, breads...ready-made and all in one location.  I am grateful for such a miracle in my life.

Thankful Day 21 - Painter

I have done my fair share of painting in the past 10 years--enough to know that I don't enjoy it. Even more than enough to know that Chris professes that he is no longer helping.  It is a lot of work to prep the room, tape it, paint, touch up edges, and clean up.  I am grateful today for a painter who is working on two rooms for me.

Thankful Day 20 - Airplanes

Air travel is amazing and convenient, but I am mostly grateful that there are airplanes that always bring my husband home to me.

Thankful Day 19 - Friends

I am thankful for my friends, my girls' friends, cyber friends...all kinds of friends.  They make life fun and interesting and are a great blessing.

Thankful Day 18 - Health

I am thankful for a healthy body and for good health in my home.

Thankful Day 17 - Washing Machine

As I listen to the swoosh of my washing machine, I can't imagine how much my life would change if I had to do laundry by hand.  I DO know my kids would have a lot less clothes.  My washing machine, along with all the appliances in my home, make my life incredibly easier. 

Thankful Day 16 - Heated Seats

To the person who invented heated seats, I love you.

Thankful Day 15 - Brothers

I have FOUR brothers--they're all great.  My girls won't ever have the experience of being teased by a brother of their own, but their uncles don't mind giving them a taste of what it is like.

Thankful Day 14 - Sunrises and Sunsets

I love the colors of the rising and setting sun--so glorious.  I am thankful for the new days they usher in and the successful days they bring to a close.

Thankful Day 13 - GPS

Being directionally challenged, I am grateful for a GPS that gets me where I need to go.

Thankful Day 12 - Books

I love to read.  I usually have five or six books checked out from the library at one time.  I read Christian fiction books, manuals, magazines, the daily newspaper, and blogs mostly.  I am grateful that my children are picking up on this trait as well.  I had to say to Misha the other day, "You are not allowed to read another book until your project is finished."

Choir Concert

I was a little sad when Amy decided that she didn't want to continue with band this year, something about not especially liking the band teacher.  I'm hopeful that she'll want to take flute lessons or be in band again someday.  Until then, she was thrilled to be in choir.  She even auditioned for and made it into the Honor Choir at school!  Amy's first concert was held on November 10th.  Chris arrived home from work in Denver not too long before it started.  I told him to come just for Amy's portion instead of sitting through the band, orchestra and other stuff.  With a little sly texting in my purse, I sent a message that they were moving through the program fast and that he'd need to be there sooner than we'd talked about.  He slid in to the seat next to me just as the 7th grade choir started and left shortly after to get some projects done at home.  Amy and her choir did great.  The entire concert was a tribute to all the men and women of the Armed Services.

Thankful Day 11 - Freedom

As a citizen of this great nation, I am profoundly grateful for the privileges, rights, and freedoms that belong to that status.  I am grateful for those who serve this nation and are willing to sacrifice for me. 

Thankful Day 10 - Citizenship

I am proud to be an American. 

Gaining my citizenship was a long, arduous process that took over six years.  I am so grateful to stand and sing the national anthem of the United States of America--it is emotional for me every time.

Thankful Day 9 - Dates

Chris and I have made an effort to go on dates every week.  (It helps to have a daughter who can babysit for us.)  I love spending time with him, having fun, and taking a break from the normal activities in my life.

Thankful Day 8 - Technology

I love that I can connect with family and friends online.  Technology is amazing and truly simplifies my life.

Thankful Day 7 - Sisters

I am so thankful to have three girls who are great sisters.  They all have beautiful brown eyes and smiles to light up the world, yet they are as different as they come. 

I am thankful for my sister.  She is three years older than me, and growing up I always wanted to be doing what she was doing and going where she was going.  She was a great example and friend, especially as we left home and were living adult lives and could have had a myriad of other friends.  We chose to be friends.  I'll have to remedy the fact that I don't have many pictures of her and I together.

Thankful Day 6 - Institute Class

I have been amazingly enriched by attending Brother Lehman's Institute class at the church.  He is a fabulous teacher who enriches my life every week with insights, scriptures, knowledge, truth, and hope.

Thankful Day 5 - Treadmill

Yep, I really am going to say that I am thankful for my treadmill.  It helps me stay healthy, sane and balanced.

Thankful Day 4 - Kristen

I am so thankful for Kristen.  I love that she has such a kind and generous heart.  Chris and I have always commented that she has a mind that is perceptive beyond her years--there is so much that she just gets.  As the third girl, she brings a lot of drama and flair and style.

Thankful Day 3 - Misha

Ah My Misha.  Always she will be "My Misha" in my mind.  Not sure why, it just fits.  Misha has such an amazing presence in our family.  She eschews the girly-girl attributes that her sisters so readily embrace and loves to be her own kind of girl.  She has a bright mind that seeks to understand the why, what, when and how of things.  I am thankful for her and the blessing and balance she is in our home.

The Three Little Goats

One Friday afternoon, while I was waiting with Misha and Amy to pick up Kristen from her dance class, I watched these three little goats playing in the field next to us.  They reminded me so much of my children.  One little goat just couldn't keep his nose out of the others'  business and he would run up and butt them for no reason and without any warning.  It was pretty funny to watch.  And since I had my camera handy...

Best Worker

Granted there are weeks when Kristen isn't so amenable to Saturday chores, but generally, she is quite happy to pitch in and help with chores.  We have four bathrooms in our house.  I clean the master bathroom, Amy and Misha trade off between the basement bathroom and their upstairs bathroom, and Kristen cleans the main floor powder bathroom.  She also vacuums the living room and has to clean her bedroom.  She likes to dig in and get her chores done early on Saturday morning, whereas her sisters have been known to procrastinate well into the day.  I like Kristen's style.

Thankful Day 2 - Amy

"You’re a GIRL! I was certainly surprised. I thought for sure that you would be a boy. Dad and I went for the ultrasound yesterday morning at 8:30 am. The technician, Kaylene, who did the ultrasound was great and answered all of our questions. She asked us whether or not we wanted to know your gender if she was able to determine it and we both said, “Yes.” I was completely prepared for her to say that you looked like a boy, but instead she said you were looking like a girl. I didn’t believe her at first, but she said that she was 99% certain. The transition was amazing. We immediately started referring to you as “she” and “her”.

As I laid on the bed watching the ultrasound, seeing your heart, hearing it beat, seeing all of the parts of you working so wonderfully, little tears kept spilling out the corner of my eye. We are thrilled about you." Journal entry Friday, July 30, 1999

Once I knew that our first child would be a girl, I dreamed of a brown-eyed, curly-haired little girl. As I held Amy in my arms after she was born, I was amazed by this sweet girl with a curly-cue of hair on the top of her head. I am so thankful for the wonderful blessing of Amy in my life.

Thankful Day 1 - Christopher

My path didn't cross with Christopher's until I was 29.  There were many times when I tried to convince the Lord to hurry up his plan.  Chris was a recently returned missionary when I met him and not even on my radar as far as a potential date let alone husband!  Chris was persistent and convincing and oh so worth the wait.  I am thankful to have him as my husband, my partner, and my best friend.