Sydney

Today I am thankful for Sydney.

God gave me a great gift and friend in a young lady that was placed in my life through the Lightbearers Discipleship Program. We've been meeting together since August and it has been so awesome to see how the Lord has placed us together at just the right time in both of our lives. I've seen Him doing great things in and through her, and He's done works in my heart as a result as well. We spent two hours today telling stories of God's faithfulness and praising Him for all the glory due His name. Is there a better way to spend an afternoon?!

Paperwork

Today I am thankful for paperwork.

It's an odd thing to be thankful for, but when all of your paperwork could have very easily become ashes in an office fire, you learn to appreciate it.

We had a minor electric fire at Woodway last night. Praise the Lord, it was caught quickly and the damage was minor. It will displace those of us who work out of there for a month or two, as we'll have to end up replacing the whole roof, ceiling, floor and a couple of walls (yes, I promise it was minor damage). BUT...it is so much better than it could have been, and I for one am grateful that it happened late on a weekend evening and not while I was sitting at my desk typing away.

Laughter

Today I am thankful for laughter.

We had a small group of 'young folk' at LifeGroup tonight, and when we were done with our study, we just hung out for a bit. And we laughed. Mostly at Ryan's horrible date stories, but we laughed. A lot. I needed that this week. Thank you, Lord.

Football

Today I am thankful for football.

It seems so insignificant compared to yesterday's post, but football is something small that I appreciate. I love spending Saturdays with my family watching games we both care and don't care about. It's a common interest we share, and something that brings us together in a fun competitive way. And it's always fun when the hogs win!

Hugs from my Daddy

Today I am thankful for hugs from my daddy.

This may be a post that makes me cry, but I just have to write it.

My daddy had a heart attack a week ago. In China. And he didn't know it until Tuesday. And he couldn't get home until Wednesday night.

I can't think of anything worse than that.

BUT...

God is faithful. Always.

On Wednesday night, I got to give my daddy a hug after he got off a plane and before he went to the hospital.
On Thursday afternoon, I got to give my daddy a hug in his hospital bed before he nervously went in for a heart cath.
On Friday morning, I got to hug my daddy on his way home from the hospital, because God miraculously caused the blockage to correct itself before the doctors could do anything about it themselves.

I can't think of anything better than that.

Loving Choices

Today I am thankful for Loving Choices.

I experienced my first Loving Choices banquet tonight and it was so awesome. I was taking care of a restless two year old the whole time, but I still left encouraged and challenged. If you're not familiar with the work they're doing in northwest Arkansas, please check it out. God is doing great things in the lives of the unborn and their moms.

A Growth Moment

Today I am thankful for a growth moment.

Ryan mentioned to me in passing on Thursday that we were singing 'Waiting Here for You' on Sunday. It's one of my favorite songs as of late, and I was excited about it. I jokingly said, "Can I sing the solo?"

Well, I got a text last night from our music pastor that said Ryan had mentioned I was interested, and would I do it? Ummm...

So I guess I'll be singing a short solo tomorrow in church. Sooo not me, but it's a growth moment. It's another version of stepping outside of my box and allowing God to receive the glory. This song is especially poignant for my stage of life now anyways, and I look forward to praising Him with my church family.

A Greater Passion

Today I am thankful for a greater passion.

The cardinals are a big deal to my dear husband. Not the beautiful birds, but the baseball team. It take a lot for us to miss a game, especially I'd they are playing in a championship series, as they are now. But...this week has been different. Last night, we had LifeGroup at our house and we turned the game off in the 7th inning. Major sacrifice. Tonight, we're at the church so that Ryan can give trip training for an upcoming mission trip. We're missing almost all of the game. It surprises me that he's not rising through the material, but it shouldnt. He has a greater passion. He is more concerned with the salvation of a people group on Africa than he is for a win on the baseball field. I love that about him.

A New Phone

Today I am thankful for a new phone.

Now that we are officially in our 12th month of marriage, we decided to celebrate with new smartphones. It took all day to get my contacts cleaned up, but I am now obsessed. Let's hope I don't become one of those people who can't leave the phone alone for two seconds, though!!

Budget Crunching

Today I am thankful for budget crunching.

I do love working out a good budget at work and at church. But, the process that takes place beforehand wears me out. The latter I only hear about, but the former I am extremely involved in. Everyone wants this number or that number, or this line item changed or that number moved to a different category. It's exhausting. But it's necessary.

Right?

Family Time

Today I am thankful for family time.

I was going to be home alone for most of the day, so I decided to change that up. I'm not at the stage of life yet that I want a day alone, though I'm sure that will come someday!

When Ryan headed out to BB&BBQ, I went to watch Courageous with Ellen for some needed sister time. Then, as soon as I got back home, the three youngest of my brothers showed up to hang out while my parents were surprised with a date night. I didn't have to be lonely, they all entertained me, and mom and dad got a night out. A win for all!

An Evening at Home

Today I am thankful for an evening at home.

We had nothing to do tonight. Nothing. Do you know how rare that is? We leftovers and enjoyed a simple evening with nothing required of us. I had things I could have done, and I don't go to bed feeling productive, but I feel rested. Now bring on the busy weekend.

Christmas Music

Today I am thankful for Christmas music.

It's Christmas time and time for a carol...

Well, maybe not, but our choir at church started Christmas music tonight. We're doing a pretty big 'production' this year on a Sunday night, so we have to start early to be able to do it well. Some of the songs are incredible. It's so nice to incorporate the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus into Christmas...it's all about Him and ALL of that mattered!!!

Deep Conversations

Today I am thankful for deep conversations.

I've been slowing down a bit at work lately. I used to be very task-oriented, and I still am in a big way, but lately, I've been trying to add a little bit of 'people person' to the mix. That's led to some midday conversations with my co-workers about really big things. Things like, what does it mean to raise children in this social media/technology/entertainment era, and what should we be praying for the local church, and other deep topics. It's been good to bounce ideas off of each other and learn from each other.

And you know what? I'm still getting all of those tasks done. :-)

R & C

Today I am thankful for R & C.

We have a couple of dear friends (almost twice our age) who were in town for the day interviewing for a position, and we were blessed to have a late night ice cream date with them. I am so encouraged by their love for the Lord and ministry wisdom. I was exhausted at 10:00 when they called, but we so badly wanted a few minutes with them. It was a blessed 50 minutes that is sure to have effects that last much longer.

Life Group

Today I am thankful for Life Group.

Tonight was our third meeting so far, but the first since I started posting again, and the first in our actual book study this year. It makes for a busy Sunday, especially since we're hosting and Ryan's leading this year, but it's such a blessed refreshment to begin every other week. Our group is small, but God has sovereignly placed us together for this semester, and it's a treasure!

Piano Lessons

Today I am thankful for piano lessons.

I decided rather randomly a few weeks ago that I was ready to give piano lessons again. It had been a while since I had allowed that to fit into my schedule, but now seemed like a good time. That's my plan for once we have kids (to add a bit of extra income so that I can stay home), and while I don't know when that will happen, it's good to get started slowly with only a few students.

Anyways...right now I have four sweet girls to teach on Saturday mornings, and while it means I can't sleep in on the weekends, it's been a really fun beginning to my morning. It's nice to be on the other side of the piano as the teacher, and to get a dose of what it was like on weeks when I chose not to practice. :-)

Ice Cream! Ice Cream!

Today I am thankful for Ice cream! Ice cream!

My dad and Ryan both had meetings at the church tonight, so my mom and I took Aaron and Caleb to get some frozen yogurt. We had a few errands to run first, and apparently it was testing my youngest brother's patience. Every ten minutes, he would say, "Becky, ice cream?" After what felt like a thousand 'yesses,' we finally pulled into the parking lot...

"Ice cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!"

I agree. It was pretty exciting. :-)

Familiar Music

Today I am thankful for familiar music.

While moving legal-size folders to letter-size folders today (yes...this was my task today), I took advantage of a quiet office and plugged in my iPod. I listened to some systematic theology podcasts for a while, and then turned on the new Ben Rector album. I turned to the only co-worker in the office today and asked, "Why does this cheer me up so much?" I then laughed as I remembered that Ben was just about all Ryan and I listened to while we were dating. It brought back such happy memories and lightened up my afternoon. Thanks, Ben!

Still Thankful

Today I am still thankful.

It's been a while. I realize this. You just need a break sometimes, and I realized this after posting my "I'm back" notice. I didn't take a break from being thankful...just from posting here. I've been seeking to express my thankfulness to the Lord more than publishing it on the internet. The latter was lacking any true communication with the giver of the blessing, and I needed to correct that. I'm not doing a perfect job by any means, and never will, but I am doing better. So...I'm going to try to be "back" for real on this blog, and when you read, please read this as my thankfulness to the Lord, and know that I'll be thanking Him directly as well. :-)

Learning Experiences

Today I am thankful for learning experiences.

I'm back. I think for real this time. I've taken a break, not from being thankful, but from posting. I could have managed it, but I just needed a break.

Anyway, this has been one of those weeks that is full of new things that I don't know how to deal with, but that I have to learn how to deal with on the spot. Things like 'what to do when your mother-in-law doesn't like your planned menu' or 'how to react when your husband's online payment account gets hacked' or 'what to say when another person's words shock you to the core.' I guarantee you that I didn't respond like I should have in the moment, but I know that I learned much in the experience and in the thought process, humbling apologies and recurring occurrences that followed.

On Tuesday, we'll have been married 10 months. I have soooooooooooo much more to learn than 10 months could do.

An Empty Bowl

Today I am thankful for an empty bowl.

This is something I haven't seen in more than 10 days. It is symbolic of a completed meal. A meal that I finished myself and didn't pass over to my husband or put in the refrigerator for "when I'm feeling better." A meal that I didn't think I was going to be able to eat tonight after hearing the doctor say he didn't "fix" anything because he couldn't find anything to be fixed. A meal that may very well top the list of meals for which I have been most grateful.

Good Health

Today I am thankful for good health.

I've fallen behind on this blog, and normally I try to go back and catch up, but I've decided I just can't do it this time. It's not that there haven't been things to be thankful for at all. I'm just having trouble getting that task done.

Today, though, I'm thankful for the huge majority of my life that I've been healthy. This week has been one of the hardest weeks of my life, and one of the only weeks I can remember being unhealthy, at least to this level. It's made me so grateful for the good health that I've had up to this point, and hope to have again after Tuesday!

Date Night

Today I am thankful for date night.

We spent the first day of our vacation with Ryan's parents, but this afternoon we parted ways so that we could enjoy separate "date nights." Even though we both chose Italian restaurants and ended up at the same mall afterwards, it was a beautiful night with my man.

Vacation

Today I am thankful for vacation.

It's been a long time coming, or so it feels. Today we begin our vacation in Saint Louis...and I am ready.

Cara's Cookies

Today I am thankful for Cara's cookies.

Best cookies ever. Period. Hands down. They were incredible. And warm. And brightened a long day at work.

Do I see a "favorite tenant" award in the future?

A Piano

Today I am thankful for a piano.

It was one of the biggest surprises of my life to date. That's saying something. My dad called last night and said he wanted to buy me this piano he saw on Craigslist. Ummm....okay! God worked every detail out today even though it seemed unlikely, and now there's a beautiful upright piano in our living room that is stained the exact color of the rest of our furniture. Go figure. Such a treat! There are some free piano lessons coming soon to this guy because of it. :-)

Movie Night

Today I am thankful for movie night.

My sister came over tonight to see the new house, have dinner and watch a movie with me while Ryan had a meeting. We used to watch girly movies together all the time when I was in college, and I miss having somebody to enjoy the cheesy stories with. It was a fun night, especially once the rain started and we could celebrate that!

A Sunday Evening Drive

Today I am thankful for a Sunday evening drive.

My car needed an oil change tonight, so while we were waiting on them to finish that up, we went on a drive around town. We have this church directory that we keep in the car because Ryan gets asked for phone numbers a lot, or needs them himself. So...we did something creepy and started driving by church members' homes to see where they lived. Totally normal, right? Well, after having trouble finding one, we decided that was a bit weird to do and thankfully got the call just in time that my car was done. It was a weird drive, but nice to have some simple car time.

Nine Months

Today I am thankful for nine months.

In the past few weeks, Ryan and I have had an ongoing game where we'll give each other our "Top 5" or "Top 10" things we love about each other. It's become a joke now, as some of the most random things we'll do in a day (some quite unflattering) will receive the comment of "Oh, that's Top 10 right there." To attempt to take that back to a sweeter sort of game, here's my Top 9 (for nine months) things I love about Ryan.

9) He refuses to let me go to sleep or leave the house without a kiss
8) He plays catch and home run derby with my brothers when they come over
7) He will spend the whole evening just listening to music with me
6) He knows that Friday nights are wedding show nights on TLC and lets me watch them
5) He tells me exactly what he thinks of my new recipe if I stare at him chewing long enough
4) He drops me off at the door of church every Sunday before parking the car
3) He leaves me sweet notes in my car while I'm getting ready for work
2) He holds my hand when we walk off-stage after leading worship together
1) He prays so long at dinner for UBC and its missionaries that the food gets cold

Okay, so probably not really the actual Top 9 things I love about him because so many great ones didn't make the list, but hey, it's nine things I really love about this man! :-)

A Build-A-Bear

Today I am thankful for a build-a-bear.

Well, technically, it's a build-a-dog. He's such a cutie. I've been wanting to go to build-a-bear with Ryan for about two years now...no idea why, it just sounded like fun. So today we went and I got my cute little puppy dog, Cadillac. We named him after the street we lived on for the first (almost) nine months of our marriage. He adds a nice little look of youth to our master bedroom now. :-)

Mixed Up Meatloaf

Today I am thankful for mixed up meatloaf.

Something about having a real kitchen has made me feel the need to "really" cook. No more frozen pizzas or pasta bags for us...at least for now. I had a strange craving for meatloaf, so I called my mom for her recipe and decided to give it a try. As I started throwing things together, I found that several ingredients were missing from my pantry, so I replaced them with a little of this and a little of that. I wasn't sure what to expect, but let me just say, best meatloaf ever. It was so yummy, and I'm not sure I can ever exactly replicate it because it was so mixed up! It made me feel like a real cook for the evening, though, and that was the best part.

A McKinney Meal

Today I am thankful for a McKinney meal.

Before we realized that we would be settled in the house this soon, some of the sweet members of our Bible Fellowship class signed up to bring us meals (to help while we're "settling"). It turned out to be perfect timing this day, though, since I still wasn't feeling well. We can't let this happen too often, because having a professional chef bring dinner to your home will spoil a husband (and a wife!) quickly. It was quite yummy, though!

A Cup of Hot Tea

Today I am thankful for a cup of hot tea.

I'm sick. Apparently you should always check to see if a little brother is sick before sharing a straw with him. Anyways, it really set in today and my husband was so sweet to bring me a cup of hot tea while I rested tonight after dinner. I'm not much of a hot tea person; in fact, it was cold by the time I drank it and I probably ruined its intended effect, but it was the thought that counted. 

A New Month

Today I am thankful for a new month.

There's something about starting fresh at '1' every month that I enjoy. I don't really know what it is other than maybe I get bored with writing the same month for 31 days as I date things, or maybe it makes my August vacation seem that much closer, but I enjoy it. Every time. I might also appreciate it because it means fall weather should be right around the corner. Let's just state the facts here...it's hot!

A Shared Bathroom

Today I am thankful for a shared bathroom.

That seems like such an odd thing to be thankful for, but for the first time in our marriage, Ryan and I share a bathroom. It was more convenient at our apartment to use separate closets, bathrooms, etc., so that's what we got used to. It's taken a bit of adjustment to use the same space, but I'm enjoying the simple joys of brushing teeth in the same room, getting ready in the mornings together, etc. Perhaps a bit weird...but I'm still thankful for it!

A Final Blessing

Today I am thankful for a final blessing.

We had a couch and a tv cart that we didn't want or need at the new house, and we had planned on asking Potter's House or Salvation Army to come pick it up. When we went to the apartment for the last time to grab our food, our neighbor came out to say goodbye, and we mentioned that we still had the couch left. He had a friend in the next building over that desperately needed a couch, and we were able to deliver that to him that night. A blessing to him, a blessing to us and a last-minute testimony to our neighbor as he was able to watch the exchange. We've known all along that God put us in that apartment for a reason, and I pray that part of that was that we were able to minister to Mr. M not just tonight, but during our entire time here. I long to know that he will accept Christ as his Savior someday soon!

One Last Night

Today I am thankful for one last night.

My dad showed up and surprised me tonight with a desire to fill three vehicles full of our belongings after I thought we were done moving for the day. That led to the realization that it was about to be our last night in the little apartment that we made our first home for almost nine months. It's a bittersweet moment as we think back on everything that has happened in this place, but we're excited what the future brings in the new place God has for us!

Another Hand

Today I am thankful for another hand.

I was writing Colossians 3:2-3 in discipleship notebooks for 63 students today, as we were getting them ready to put in welcome baskets for students moving in next week. That's a lot of words for a tired little hand like mine, and I was ever so thankful to have a co-worker step in and ask for an alternate project from her to-do list to help me with. All 63 were finished in no time. What a blessing!

Speaking of Colossians 3:2-3...it's a good verse to be thankful for today as well, and since I happen to have it memorized now... :-)

"I pray that your hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

A New Groove At Work

Today I am thankful for a new groove at work.

With the marriage and staff departure of one of my co-workers, I gained a lot of new responsibilities beginning this week. A lot of the tasks are things I've been doing behind the scenes for a while, but now they're actually things that fall under my job description. I moved to a new spot in our little office...front room rather than back room...and I've enjoyed seeing the faces of the voices I've heard from my hidden corner desk for the past couple of years. I'm the kind of girl that needs regular tasks with a refreshing change every now and then to spice things up. This has done the trick for me this week! I can hardly believe it's already Wednesday. :-)

To Have My Family Home

Today I am thankful to have my family home.

It seems as if they've been gone for weeks rather than a week of days, but I am so glad that my family has made it home from the big state of Texas. They were able to see our house tonight for the first time since we had just started painting, and my dad was able to get us started on curtain-hanging. Hooray!

My Daddy

Today I am thankful for my daddy.

It's his birthday today, and while I didn't get to see him in person, it was good to have a few minutes on the phone with him as he drove the rest of the family home from Texas. It's funny how it seems so difficult sometimes to tell someone you love them in person, but happy birthday phone conversations have a way of making sure you share those feelings with somebody. I am so thankful for the way that my dad can make me smile, laugh and cry after one conversation...besides my husband, he's probably the only one who can really do a number on my emotions. I think that's because he loves me, and I love him, and even when we don't say it, we both know it.

I love you, daddy.

Unpacked Wedding Gifts

Today I am thankful for unpacked wedding gifts.

We started moving non-essential kitchen things today, which meant it was time to start unpacking "the closet." It was organized, but it was still a lot of stuff that we didn't have a place for in our little apartment. Well, now we do, and it was so exciting to find some things I forgot we had. Corningware, a nice set of drinking glasses, table linens...it was like Christmas (or a wedding shower)!

A Functional Vacuum Cleaner

Today I am thankful for a functional vacuum cleaner.

Our vacuum hasn't been working for quite some time now, but we had to have one yesterday. I had taken it apart before, but I guess never as much as I did yesterday. I discovered that we had washable filters that hadn't been washed in a while. A good wash plus some drying time in the sun, and finally the machine works again. I guess I don't have a good excuse to refrain from cleaning the house now...

Completion

Today I am thankful for completion.

My arms are so happy that the painting is done. As is my head and my lungs - the paint fumes don't get along with me very well. But it's done! And it looks good (except for a few spots on the ceiling that we're going to learn to live with)!

A New Do

Today I am thankful for a new do.

It's just too hot for long hair, and doing so much manual labor didn't work well with the long ponytail either. So, in a moment of urgency, I got it caught off. Seven inches worth. It was more than I wanted, and mildly traumatic for the first 30 minutes, but it's growing on me. It's always difficult when the stylist makes it look good and then you have to wash it...but it's still a fun change that I'll learn how to work with.

Alfalfa Sprouts

Today I am thankful for alfalfa sprouts.

I needed some extra flair on my turkey sandwich today, and the sprouts did the trick. What else is there to say? I just love them!

Discipleship

Today I am thankful for discipleship.

We had the Lightbearers mentorship training tonight ... I've been around the process for a couple of years, but I've never actually mentored a student myself. It was good to hear again why it's important, and more than that, to see the perfect example of discipleship in Jesus and to know that as long as I'm seeking to know Him more, the rest of that process will fall into place. It's a good training for the next year before we have kids, because then I'll REALLY get to put discipleship into practice!

Leftovers

Today I am thankful for leftovers.

It's a busy week in the Martin household, and on top of everything going on, my back/neck pain has reverted back to square one (if not worse). After a 10-hour day at work and the inability to hold my head up straight, leftovers were the very best thing available for dinner at home. I'm not complaining...still very much thankful. Just more thankful for the leftovers than for the neck pain today. :-)

My Unconventional Mind

Today I am thankful for my unconventional mind.

I'm weird. I admit it. Most recent solid proof? We're not moved into our house. We're not even finished painting and we haven't cleaned the carpets. But what did we do today? We hung 13 pictures in our living room and decorated the mantel. I wasn't going to paint on a Sunday, but I felt like doing something over there, so we took two armloads out to the car and spent an hour measuring and nailing. From what I've heard, that's the last thing most people do...but remember, we're not most people. We're weird.

A Lesson in Learning

Today I am thankful for a lesson in learning.

We painted today, and then were ready to hang some mini-blinds (I'm tired of seeing the neighbors and they're probably tired of seeing me). We didn't know how to do it, so my dad showed up. He hung two of the six that were ready to go, and then he was ready to go himself. Our attempt at finishing the final four started off badly, and we became frustrated that my dad had left. We kept on going, though, and learned a lot on our own. It's all part of growing up, I suppose, and it's worth it in the end.

Carmelized Onions

Today I am thankful for carmelized onions.

 Nope, it had nothing to do with what we ate today, but it will here in about a month. You see, I'll be cooking in a kitchen that is painted 'carmelized onions' - the color. I liked the color first, but then when we saw the name, it only seemed to be perfect. My arms, legs, back, hands...and just about everything else...are sore from painting all afternoon, and it's still not perfect, but it's my future kitchen...and it's pretty. :-)

Winter

Today I am thankful for winter.

I'm just reminding myself that no season is really all that bad when you compare it to another one. In winter, I hate the cold and the snow. In spring, I dread the rain and tornadoes. In summer...like today, I find the heat and humidity miserable. In the fall, well, that's pretty much perfect. BUT I am thankful for the changes that we see over time, and I'm just about ready - no I AM ready - for the next change!

A Cranky Door Knob

Today I am thankful for a cranky door knob.

It was supposed to be an easy task. We closed on the house earlier in the day than expected, so we thought we'd run over to the house and change out the locks before going back to work. That was at 9:45. We got to work at 12:00 with the task very much unfinished. I have a feeling that will go in the books as the most difficult project of the whole house preparation.

BUT...it means we have a house that belongs to us that needs new door knobs. And for that, I'm willing to put up with just about anything!

Rain

Today I am thankful for rain!

It just started a few minutes ago, and it looks on the radar like it could stick around for a few minutes. We shall see about that... It was wonderful to hear it and see it from our deck, though! Some 'cooler' weather would be nice the next few days while we work on the house. :-)

A New Puzzle

Today I am thankful for a new puzzle.

It's actually a very old puzzle, but it's the first time it's been put together...ever. We found it in the back of Ryan's old closet back home in Kentucky, and I thought it'd be a fun thing to do tonight. We came ever so close to finishing it (my dad has made me a puzzle pro), but bedtime is about to beat my overachieving side.

A Van Full of Laughs

Today I am thankful for a van full of laughs.

We decided to drive out to my parents this afternoon to do something other than stare at each other in the apartment. :-) It turned into a ride into Siloam Springs for pizza with the younger boys and Mom and Dad. My mom would tell you it was a very awkward van ride, but I say it was hilarious. Samuel was trying to convince us why Ryan should be an elder, why he should spend the night at our house, and why we should and shouldn't be more romantic. I wish I had written down every hilarious quote that came out of that boy's mouth...we laughed until we almost cried. It was wonderful.

Frozen Cookie Dough

Today I am thankful for frozen cookie dough.

I'm supposed to make four dozen cookies for tomorrow, two dozen to take to a potluck and two dozen to provide to Music Camp kiddos for the week. In my world today, that was a lot to make on a Saturday evening from scratch, so I bought some frozen cookie dough and dished them out. It feels a bit like cheating, but will they taste any different to those kids? Probably not. :-)

My Grandmother and Her Handyman Husband

Today I am thankful for my grandmother and her handyman husband.

It's my grandmother's birthday today, and the best give I could come up with (besides a phone call) was to let her come over and see the inside of our new house. It sounds selfish, but really she had been wanting to do that for a few weeks now. She came over for a few minutes while I was there and looked around, and brought her sweetheart over to see it, too. He's more interested in the mechanics of the house (he looked in the attic before anything else!), but that's helpful to us! He took a look at a few things we were curious about fixing, and had a solution within seconds for each one them. What a blessing!

A Closing Date

Today I am thankful for a closing date.

It's official. We're buying a house. Scary! Exciting! We found out today that we're going to close Wednesday morning. It can't come soon enough! :-)

Home

Today I am thankful for home.

Our apartment won't be home for more than another few weeks, but it is so nice to be sitting inside of it right now. After staying out at my parents and then having the overnight getaway before leaving town for Kentucky, it is wonderful to be home with plans to stay there for a while! This was one of the longest 8-hour drives yet for a lot of reasons, and it's a blessing that it's over now.

Oh, and I am very thankful, too, for eight months of marriage! We had a fun time during the 8-hour drive coming up with highlights each hour for each month together so far. You can find those highlights at twitter.com/beks_martin. :-)

Life & Death

Today I am thankful for life and death.

Funerals are so hard for me to attend. It's wonderful to celebrate the life of someone you love, and especially to celebrate the new and eternal life that that person now enjoys if they are a believer. So many of the funerals I've been to lately, though, seem to dwell so much more on death than on the life part. I know that's the part that we're grieving at the moment, but the death of a believer is only for an instant. The life that we shared with them and the life they now enjoy with Christ is such a greater thing to celebrate! It was difficult to witness the pain of friends and family today as they mourned a grandma's death, but I am so grateful that she is now at the feet of her Savior in awe and wonder of Him alone!

Independence

Today I am thankful for independence.

 Yes, it is Independence Day and I am thankful for the governmental and religious freedoms we enjoy, but I'm also thankful for the independence that comes with being an adult. Every time we're back in the homes of our parents, it feels a little bit like that is temporarily lost. It's not a big deal at all, especially for such a short time, but it does make you grateful for the fact that you've grown up, too.

**Yes, this post is delayed. It was a CRAZY weekend.

Another Year

Today I am thankful for another year.


It's been one of those birthdays that's memorable for all of the wrong reasons. Not that it's been bad...just uneventful. Sunday birthdays are always a little bit weird (definitely not in a bad way), but that wasn't the problem at all. We left soon after church to begin the drive to Kentucky for Ryan's grandma's funeral. I am thankful that we avoided rain for most of the way, but once we got to the big metropolis of Sullivan, Missouri, I started feeling a little bit down. It just wasn't the birthday I had imagined. I keep reminding myself, though, that it's not about the celebration...it's about the grace of God allowing another year of life and blessings. Really, another day, or minute, of life and blessings when you think about it.

Oh, and I'm also grateful that it's been one year since I told Ryan Martin that I'd be his wife. It is kinda fun to travel the roads we took last July 3rd on our way to the proposal site. :-)

A Sunflower Cake

Today I am thankful for a sunflower cake.


I've been bugging (hinting at) Ryan about a sunflower birthday cake for a few weeks. I don't really know why it was so important to me, but I do love sunflowers and the idea of having one on a birthday cake was exciting to me. I wasn't sure if it would really happen, but between he and my mom, I ended up enjoying one with the family. :-)

An Eventful Day

Today I am thankful for an eventful day.

My birthday weekend has officially started! We had a fun dinner with friends last night (and a delicious strawberry shortcake to go with it!) and then Ryan surprised me right before I went to sleep with my first birthday gift ... a night at Embassy Suites just for a fun little getaway. I don't like to go far, so a mini-vacation 20 minutes away is perfect for me! So, I'm thankful for that tonight, especially after a week of babysitting brothers. :-)

To go along with that, we enjoyed a double-date tonight with my parents before my dad heads off for another week-long business trip. Olive Garden and TCBY - such a fun treat!

This morning began with the home inspection, the final step before closing on the house. Praise God - everything checked out well with the exception of a few minor things that will be easy to clear up after we get moved in. We thought that would be the case, but it was a relief to have approval from an expert as well.

After that checked out, we went and picked out living room and bedroom furniture. So much fun!!! I am oh so eager to get in and start making the house our home.

Oh, and I am also thankful today for birthday coupons and leftover cake. I'm trying to plan out my free meals according to the coupon expiration dates so as to maximize the benefits of the celebration. :-)

It's been a busy, but refreshing day. After a hectic week and with a quick drive to Kentucky and a funeral to come in the next few days, this particular Friday was a huge blessing...worthy of a longer post than normal!

Ms. Janie

Today I am thankful for Ms. Janie.

I met her for the first time on July 4 last year, the day after I agreed to marry her grandson. This morning, she met her Savior face to face for the first time. I wish I had known her better or longer, but even today I learned so much more about a sweet lady as Ryan shared memories and special stories from her life. She raised a wonderful son and daughter, and enjoyed many moments with two grandsons (one who is something pretty wonderful to me) .... all who rejoice tonight knowing that she is at the feet of Jesus in awe and worship of her Lord.

We love you, Grandma Allen.

A Refreshed Mom

Today I am thankful for a refreshed mom.

These were a hard couple of days. Being left as the responsible adult for a few brothers who don't want to see an older sister as an authority figure is not the most appealing situation. BUT I loved seeing my mom come home tonight refreshed, happy, relaxed, more in love with her husband, etc. It made it worth it, even if at the moment I am promising to wait a looong time before doing it again!

Life Before Kids

Today I am thankful for life before kids.

Don't get me wrong. I love kids and I look forward to having kids someday. But after babysitting my brother this week and feeling like Ryan and I have barely said hello to each other, I really am thankful for this phase of our lives before having children. I have a new understanding of how important my parents' date nights were over the years...

A Paint Project

Today I am thankful for a paint project.

I've been itching to paint some canvases to display in our new house, and a few days in a non-rented space was the perfect chance to be messy. I painted for a good portion of the day and even let a couple of brothers in on the fun this afternoon. They enjoyed it, it relaxed me, and I ended up with some fun and personal touches for some vacant walls. Craft itch, consider yourself scratched. :-)

Piano Time

Today I am thankful for piano time.

I had a couple of people tell me today that my fingers must be tired after playing the piano so much. I played during the service at church this morning, and then I played for the wedding this afternoon. That's always been a weird comment to me because never once have my actual fingers gotten tired. I guess they have built up a lot of endurance over the years since they belong to a musician and a writer... Anyways, it's always my back that really gets worn out from sitting on the horribly uncomfortable bench. I enjoyed the time, though, to play the piano more than normal. I miss having one in my house and at my disposal whenever I want.

Last Minute Weddings

Today I am thankful for last minute weddings.

I got a call yesterday morning asking if I could play the piano at a wedding tomorrow afternoon. The wedding wasn't last-minute...just the choice of musical selections. As it turns out, the groom is my second cousin anyway, so it's sort of a family affair. Ryan got to meet my aunt, uncle and cousins for the first time at the rehearsal dinner tonight. Fun times!

Utilities

Today I am thankful for utilities.

After three days of working to get utilities turned on in our new house and several trips to the house today to make it happen (including a trip to mop up the water that sprayed out of the washer valve in the laundry room when it came on), I couldn't be more thankful to have it all done. We will have to pay a bit more in utility bills over the next couple of months (since we're paying at two locations), but at this point, we're just thankful to have working faucets, lights and hot water.

The End of a Work Week

Today I am thankful for the end of a work week.

Thursday evenings are always welcome around here since Ryan and I both have Fridays off. This week, though, was especially exciting when Thursday night rolled around. With VBS in the Community being four nights this week, we are exhausted. It was tough going to work at 7am and not getting home until 9pm, but it was still good. All of that aside, though, the work week is over...and I am thankful.

An Approved Contract

Today I am thankful for an approved contract.

So our offer was approved...ummm, last Tuesday, but it took until this afternoon to finally get the contract finalized. We were starting to get worried because HUD was asking for so much paperwork, but I'm sure they had good reason and we learned a good deal about patience in the meantime. It actually ended up working out well because with the delay, we'll now be able to do our home inspection while our agent is on her honeymoon (yay!) and then if anything needs to be worked out after that, we'll still be within our 15-day timeline to get in touch with them when she gets back.

So now begins the adventure of getting utilities turned on in the right order and then all we have left is the home inspection and new appraisal. We also learned today that this is all we have left, so as soon as the appraisal comes back, we can close the very next day. We may just get in before July 15th. Sooo exciting! Paint colors and furniture arrangements are about all I can think about right now. I'm ready to put those thoughts into action. :-)

A Typing Book

Today I am thankful for a typing book.

I'm starting a new project at work where I have to re-type several mission project books dating back to 2001. We need to have them in a different format, but don't have the originals on file, so I get to type away. I'm actually kind of excited about it ... back in the home school days, my mom bought me a typing book so that I could work on learning how to do that correctly. Days like today make me so very grateful for that!

Dinnertime

Today I'm thankful for dinnertime.

It's one of those weeks when finding time for dinner is next to impossible. We're helping out with VBS in the Community for church, and we're blessed to do it, but when we get home at 5:15 and have to be at the park between 5:30 and 5:45, dinner doesn't really happen. Weeks like this make me thankful for weeks that are not like this!

My Daddy

Today I am thankful for my daddy.

He probably didn't think anyone noticed, but when he opened his gift (a canvas print of a hug he and I shared right before I left our wedding reception with my husband), I saw a tear in his eye. He little girl is married off...but she still loves him like crazy, and I know he loves her, too. :-)

I love you, Dad.

Front Seats

Today I am thankful for front seats.

Ryan was playing golf with a guy from church, and since I didn't want to stay home by myself, I rode along with my mom to take my sister off to her camp counselor job at Camp War Eagle. It was all fun until we got on the main road to the camp...reminded me of driving up the mountains in Oaxaca, Mexico. We would get out of one curve only to find ourselves in another, and the same was true with pot holes. I was in the back seat on the way there, and if the drive had been five minutes longer, I would have been sick. Once Ellen was dropped off, I got the front seat back. The drive down the mountain went much easier that way!!

Fireworks

Today I am thankful for fireworks.

We went to the Naturals game with some friends tonight and stayed long enough to enjoy the fireworks afterwards. We usually leave early and miss that, so I think this was the first time Ryan and I had watched them together...a fun couple thing to do. :-)

Other People Who Fail

Today I am thankful for other people who fail.

I met with the other pastors' wives tonight for some good study & fellowship time. It's always such a blessed time for me because they have so much wisdom and encouragement to give, but are also willing to share their hearts and their failures as wives, mothers and in ministry. It seems that often our conversations reveal more of my failures than I'd like to see in one setting, but it's nice to know that other women are struggling in the same way, too...makes it a lot easier to help each other succeed at improving.

A Test of Faithfulness

Today I am thankful for a test of faithfulness.

A few months ago, I went out on a limb and applied for a part-time teaching job in Rogers. I had a variety of reasons for doing so, and I never thought I'd get a call. A few months went by and I had resigned myself (contently) to remaining full time where I'm at now. Then today came...

I received a call from a great principal requesting an interview with me this afternoon for the job. It was just an interview, so I met her after work. It went really well, but I walked away struggling with even the thought of taking the job. While I loved my year of student teaching, I don't know that I could say with confidence that teaching French is my passion at this point. More importantly than that, though, was the fact that I spent a whole week wrestling through a decision (the house) in order to make sure that my heart was longing for material things rather than what God wanted for us. I had a hard time looking at this decision without looking at the material aspect...because without that it was an easy decision to make. After the heart inspection I had to do last week, it came as a good test of my faithfulness to the point that God brought me to then.

I still love the idea of teaching French someday...and maybe God will provide that...just not right now. :-)

An Accepted Offer

Today I am thankful for an accepted offer.

We're buying a house! I expected to be saying this tomorrow, but God was gracious to allow the owner to accept a low offer today. It turns out my mom prayed specifically for that yesterday, so I guess I'm grateful for her, too. ;-)

The Beginning of an Adventure

Today I am thankful for the beginning of an adventure.

We made an offer on a house today! I'm excited, overwhelmed, impatient for an answer, grateful, overwhelmed and excited! :-) We should hear something tomorrow morning...we expect it to be a bottom-dollar counter, which means we'll most likely have an approved offer on Wednesday. It's a HUD-owned home, so the process is fairly predictable (per our agent-friend). I'm sort of scared at the thought of owning a home, and yet I can hardly wait until Wednesday when the real adventure can get started!

Our Future Home?!?!

Ryan's Homecoming

Today I am thankful for Ryan's homecoming.

My husband was born very premature...he weighed only 2 pounds when he was born and had to stay in the hospital for a while. He was born on January 29, but wasn't due until May 13. He got to come home for the first time on June 12. It continues to amaze me that he survived, but I am so glad that he did! His parents have always referred to this as his homecoming anniversary, and today I'm thankful for his 28th anniversary.

Weddings

Today I am thankful for weddings.

Ever since November 6, 2010 (my wedding day), it has become very difficult for me to attend weddings. I love weddings...really love them...but it seems I loved our wedding so much, I may forever critique those who do things differently. I hope that changes soon, because in a family of my size, there's sure to be many more ceremonies to attend. That started even today as the first of my cousins got married. In the meantime, though, I'll find some reasons to be thankful for my current predicament.

1. It makes me more and more grateful for the simplicity that my parents raised me to appreciate.
2. It makes me more and more grateful for pastors who were intentional in making the Gospel clear to our friends and family.
3. It makes me more and more grateful for a husband who helped with every step in the process and didn't let me become Bridezilla.
4. It makes me more and more grateful for the joyous, but serious, commitments that were made.

There's more, but I feel like I'm going to start ranting...let's just say I'm glad today was my last wedding for a while.

A Shiny Ring

Today I am thankful for a shiny ring.

We spent a good portion of the day (more than expected) painting a wall in Ryan's office at church. Since we would've taken our rings off to do that anyway, we took them to the jeweler to have them cleaned...or to get their seven-month checkup, as I like to call it. :-) I feel like I'm wearing a new ring tonight and happy to have it back. After wearing it all the time, it was weird to have it off...even for just a few hours.

A simple thing to be thankful for compared to other events this week, but it serves as a good reminder/symbol of a much bigger commitment I am very grateful for!

A Surprise Birthday Dinner

Today I am thankful for a surprise birthday dinner.

We surprised a good friend tonight for his birthday, along with some other friends from work and church. I was really tired after a hot and busy day, and I wasn't sure how long I could last at the party. We had so much fun, though, and after cooking and cleaning together with other girls and enjoying fellowship around the table, I was energized and encouraged. I could make a habit of birthday dinners like that...good thing mine's coming up next. :-)

Dinner with My Baby Brother

Today I am thankful for dinner with my baby brother.

I shouldn't have been able to have dinner with my youngest brother tonight. He shouldn't be breathing right now...except for the grace of God. Our family suffered quite the traumatic event yesterday that included a near drowning, but by no other possible reason than God's unfailing mercy, my favorite two-year-old is completely fine. It's been 30 hours full of every emotion possible, but it all comes down to one thing: God is sovereign over EVERY SINGLE DETAIL of every life and He is good no matter what.

I can be thankful for that every day.

A Praying Husband

Today I am thankful for a praying husband.

I walked in the living room this morning after getting ready for work and found my husband on his hands and knees, flat on his face before the Lord in prayer. We found a very potential house over the weekend and have committed it to much prayer ever since. It's a weighty decision, and I'm grateful that it rests in the heart of a man who will make such a choice by seeking only the Lord's will - not his own and not his wife's.

The First Night of Bible Study

Today I am thankful for the first night of Bible Study.

I'm leading a Bible Study in the Psalms for our Bible Fellowship women this summer. I feel highly unqualified considering I'm the youngest in the bunch and the only one without a child...or two or three or four. I really felt like God was leading me to do that as a ministry to young moms for a few weeks, though, so I'm doing it. We got started tonight and it was so encouraging! I'm really looking forward to the next nine weeks.

Enthusiastic Worship

Today I am thankful for enthusiastic worship.

We changed up the music format at church today, as a test drive of sorts for the summer. I wasn't sure what to expect of live drums, electric guitar, keyboards, etc., but the enthusiasm that exuded from the congregation was terrific! There's still some changes that will need to be made and the congregation will have to adjust to it, but it was a great start today!

A New Painting

Today I am thankful for a new painting.

A friend was having an art sale and I saw this canvas painting and decided I had to have it. No baby room to put it in yet, but I did put it on a nail in the closet so at least it's hanging until that day comes. :-) It's way too cute to pass up!

Things More Important Than Baseball

Today I am thankful for things more important than baseball.

The Hogs lost today. It's not quite the end of their season, but it might as well be. It's fairly ridiculous how much that affects my emotions, but I feel like it's getting better than it used to be. There are things that are more important than baseball...though at times it sorta seems like that list is short. Ha! :-)

A Fun Night with Brothers

Today I am thankful for a fun night with brothers.

I was making mostaccioli again, and since my brothers liked that so much last time, we invited them over. They loved it even more this time and said they wanted thirds but were just too full to do it. :-)

We enjoyed snow cones, UNO and a few jokes...all in all just a fun laid-back night with a couple of boys.

My Best Dinner Ever

Today I am thankful for my best dinner ever.

We've had a couple of good dinner nights around here. Last night was late (because of the ant problem), but worth the wait. Tonight was on time and Ryan said it just might have been my best meal yet! That's always a nice thing for a newlywed/chef-in-training/wife to hear. :-)

Ants

Today I am thankful for ants.

Another "because I have to" post...

We had a swarm of ants appear on our bedroom window earlier tonight. It was one of the grossest things I have ever seen, and I am still having at least imaginary itching from it. The maintenance crew was already gone and we had no bug spray, so we killed the swarm with a whole bottle of multi-purpose cleaner. Maybe not killed, but dazed long enough to allow us to squash them with paper towels. Hopefully, the rest of them will be killed tomorrow and the problem will be solved.

I'm not sure that I can come up with anything to be thankful for about ants. In an effort to find something good, I did a little Google search...

"During the reproductive season, an ant colony will produce winged males and females which usually swarm around a landmark, such as a tree or hill, to mate."

Yep, we have the winged ones. They are swarming around our landmark of a window to mate. Lovely.

Perhaps today I am thankful for multi-purpose cleaner. :-)

My Bed

Today I am thankful for my bed.

We're home! We had a great time in Kentucky with Ryan's parents this past week, but after more than eight hours on the road and then another couple of hours with my family out at their house, I am so happy to be back home. After living here myself for seven months, this was the first time I've come back after time away and really felt like I was home. We don't have the greatest of mattresses to sleep on, but it's ours and what we're used to...so, so excited to sleep in it tonight!

My Sister

Today I am thankful for my sister.

It's birthday time around here lately! Ellen turned 21 today, and although I wasn't in Fayetteville to celebrate with her, she wasn't there either. :-) She is experiencing summer camp for the first time, and as a counselor at that! My dear sister and I didn't get along all that well while growing up (for a variety of silly reasons), but we love hanging out together now! I love you, Nora!!!

The Simplicity of My Wedding

Today I am thankful for the simplicity of my wedding.

We went to a pretty extravagant wedding tonight. It was beautiful and everything we thought the bride would've chosen, but I felt somewhat out of place in such a fancy environment. Ever since planning my own wedding, I've had a hard time keeping myself from judging the event choices of other brides and grooms. I know we're all entitled to our own opinions when it comes to that, but I'm still thankful for the simplicity we enjoyed almost seven months ago. 

A Manicure & Pedicure

Today I am thankful for a manicure and pedicure.

The boys went off to watch golf again, and when the guys are gone, the girls will play. :-) Pam and I went to get manicures and pedicures at Pretty Nails. Funny name, so-so service, but still a treat. I do that so very rarely; in fact, the only other pedicure I've ever had was the day before my wedding. I didn't love that it was a man rubbing my hands and feet, but I enjoyed relaxing and coming back with shiny red nails!

Aaron

Today I am thankful for Aaron.

It's my youngest brother's second birthday today, and I so wish that I was at home to celebrate with him. I'm sure he isn't feeling like it's a day any different from others since we spoil him all the time, but still, the second birthday is a fun one. :-) We did call him and sing Happy Birthday, but he wouldn't say a word to us on the phone. I guess now that he's two, he doesn't need us!

Happy Birthday, baby brother!

No More Storms

Today I am thankful for no more storms.

So, technically, I am writing this on Thursday night, but I will change the post date to make it look like it was late last night. I do that every now and then...sometimes I fall asleep before getting a chance to post. :-)

Anyways, this night was tricky because we had a pretty significant storm headed right into Louisville, which is where we are staying in the top floor of a hotel. We were up late watching weather trackers online and on the tv waiting with our shoes on to go downstairs if we needed to do so. This particular round of storms had been tornadic earlier on in the day. Thankfully, by the time it got to us, it was "just" 90 mile-per-hour winds. They told us not to stand near windows until it was over, but I'll admit we opened up the curtains and watched it roll in. Storms are scary, but fascinating to watch when you feel like you're safe! They're saying this is the last of the severe storms for a while. I couldn't be more grateful for that fact!

A Safe Arrival

Today I am thankful for a safe arrival.

We had a very clear and warm drive to Kentucky today, starting at 6am this morning. It was uneventful except for missing a turn-off in Joplin because the interstate sign had blown away. I know the clear skies didn't do a lot to help the storms that are going on tonight, but it was certainly an answer to prayer for me for eight hours.

The Day Before Vacation

Today I am thankful for the day before vacation.

I kept forgetting all day that I wasn't going to work for the rest of the week. When I left at closing time, I had to remind myself again that I wasn't coming back tomorrow. I'll be honest...I'm not looking forward to a potentially rain-saturated drive, but I am super excited about a week-long vacation!

A Top-Floor Apartment

Today I am thankful for a top-floor apartment.

This is another one of those posts where I have to "choose" to be thankful for something that I find myself complaining about frequently. We spent the night at some friends' house tonight until we thought the storms had subsided, but then once we got home it kicked back into full gear. Scary when you're in a top-floor apartment and you don't know your downstairs neighbors and whether they enjoy getting a stranger knocking on their door at midnight. I'd really love to be in bed by midnight, but it may not happen. Compared to what some people an hour or so to our north are facing tonight, though, I am willing to be thankful for a top-floor apartment.

Benjamin's Graduation

Today I am thankful for Benjamin's graduation.

Half of my parents' children have now graduated high school, and today we got to watch number five walk across the stage. It was only his immediate family that was there, but reportedly we had the loudest cheer in all of Bud Walton. :-)

Congrats, Ben!

Family

Today I am thankful for family.

The Razorback baseball game was rained out tonight, so we spent the evening hanging out with my parents, Aaron and my grandma. It was relaxing and Aaron was having one of his most hilarious nights. I love that crew.

A Day of Solitude

Today I am thankful for a day of solitude.

Lightbearers gives its staff members two paid days each year to take a day of solitude for personal restoration. Basically, it's a personal day, but the intention is for us to use the majority of it for time in the Word, meditation and prayer. I hadn't planned to use that this week, but it became very clear on Monday and Tuesday that this needed to happen this week. Since I don't work on Fridays, I only have to work Monday and then I get a week of vacation! This is just the rest that I have been craving.

A Late Dinner

Today I am thankful for a late dinner.

We didn't have time to eat dinner before church tonight, and since Ryan was leading The Gathering, we had to stay until everyone had left. We ended up eating at close to 8:00, and it was the best barbecue sandwich I have ever had, I think, but that's most likely because I was so very hungry!! It was fun to break the normal routine, though, and have a "late-night" date with my hubby. :-)

A Patient Husband

Today I am thankful for a patient husband.

I really do love him. Tonight, after looking at a couple of houses, we had planned to go to the Razorback baseball game because it was so nice outside. Ryan had been craving a hot dog (no idea why), so I ate beforehand and he made plans to eat at the game. We hadn't been in the stadium five minutes when I began to feel sick. It was a combination of a lot of things, but I think mostly attributed to exhaustion, muscle soreness from a chiropractic adjustment, and allergies. I was more than willing to stay, but my sweet husband made the decision to go ahead and leave after only an inning and a half. He didn't even have time to get his hot dog, so we stopped by Chick-fil-A on the way home (a much better alternative, in my opinion!).

I wish I knew why this keeps happening to me. I'm not pregnant - already had that checked out. For some reason, extreme fatigue and slight nausea hits me almost every day, usually right after dinner. Ryan says he never gets me at my best except for the weekends, and I hate to say it, but it's true. We're still working to determine how I can change that (i.e., taking daily vitamins, exercising more, eating healthier), but in the meantime, I am SO VERY thankful that my dear husband is patient with me.

Safe Arrivals

Today I am thankful for safe arrivals.

At Lightbearers, we have several teams overseas right now: one staff discovery trip, and three staff-led student trips. For those of us who stayed behind this time, we always enjoy getting updates from the field, especially the first ones letting us know that they have arrived safely. My favorite so far:

"All is well and we are here."

Pretty well sums it up, don't you think?

Chinese Food

Today I am thankful for chinese food.

I rarely get to eat chinese food anymore because for some reason, that last few times it made me "crazy." It's perhaps a coincidence, but twice I had food from Hunan Manor and spent the next few hours dizzy and disoriented. Very weird, I know. I really love sweet & sour chicken, egg rolls, and chicken fried rice, though, so today we picked some up for lunch. So far, so good...

On a side note, I lost my very first tooth after eating at Hunan Manor (the old College location). It's worth going crazy for a little while to be sentimental, right? :-)

A Day Without Graduating

Today I am thankful for a day without graduating.

It seems like I've been to a lot of graduations. I've been to three of my own, three for siblings, and a handful of others for friends or because I was a musician for one. I could've gone to the UofA graduation. My brother, sister-in-law and a host of dear friends from my college days were getting diplomas, but I just couldn't bring myself to sit through another one this year. Another brother will have a high school graudation next week that I'll probably attend, but today we chose to keep the youngest brother at home with us while the rest of the family went to Barnhill Arena. It's not that I'm not proud of all those I know who graduated, because I am; I just needed a day without graduating.

My Dad Coming Home

Today I am thankful for my dad coming home.

He's been in China for two weeks and will have to return for another two weeks in...you guessed it...two weeks. Even though I don't seem him that often even when he's in the country, it's always good to know that he's home again safely.

People Who Can Make Meringue

Today I am thankful for people who can make meringue.

I attempted my first chocolate pie with meringue tonight, and while the pie looked and tasted fine, the meringue was more like a glaze on top of the pie. Again, it tasted fine, but it just didn't look as nice as my grandmother's chocolate pie. I'll probably keep trying, but until then I'll have a greater appreciation when I see a nicely peaked meringue.

A Child's Song

Today I am thankful for a child's song.

Tonight was the end-of-year choir performance for the children's choirs at UBC. While I always have to forgive the fact that the kids can't follow a rhythm very well, it's one of my favorite events all year. I love seeing the children's faces as they wave to their parents, look intently at their teachers while singing, and then show off a huge smile after they finish singing. I'm eager to teach my own children the joys of music someday, but until then, I'm grateful to enjoy it through the songs of other parents' kids. :-)

Air Conditioning

Today I am thankful for air conditioning.

Our A/C in the office was out yesterday. Well, technically, it had been out for a while, but with yesterday being the first really warm day, it was the first time it mattered to me at all. Our repairman finally showed up this afternoon and was able to get it working almost right away. What a relief! Our apartment tenants probably prefer seeing an employee in the office that's not covered in sweat. :-)

On another note, I went back to the chiropractor today and they didn't want me in the massage chair again. Oh well...he did pop my neck and back and set me up for another month or so of treatment, so I shouldn't complain!

An Unexpected Back Massage

Today I am thankful for an unexpected back massage.

So, I've had some pretty extreme back and neck pain/tightness for about as long as I've been married. I don't think there's any correlation between the two, but basically it's been hurting for a while. I finally got tired of it and went to the chiropractor today. I'll find out tomorrow morning what is causing the pain, and whether they'll be able to fix it (rather, how much it will cost me to fix it), but at the very end of the appointment I got a surprise. The doctor recommended something called "therapy." Basically, they put these ice bags on a table and told me lay on top of them, and then they turned on the electric massage. I got to lay there for 15 minutes while this chair rubbed and relaxed my back. It was amazing. I wonder if I can find a way to get the same treatment tomorrow. :-)

My Mama

Today I am thankful for my mama.

Predictable? Yes. Still true? Absolutely.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you!

Rest

Today I am thankful for rest.

Well, at least the idea of it. I feel like I haven't had much rest in a while, and so I'm learning to be thankful for those moments when I can really rest. Life has been a bit overwhelming lately, and good solid rest has become a thing to cherish.

Half A Year

Today I am thankful for half a year.

I got one of the best phone calls today at 3:14 in the afternoon. Ryan was out golfing with a friend from church, and called me to tell me "Happy Six Months...Exactly." The fact that he remembered the right time and thought to call me was really special. The past six months have been such a gift, and I love living every day with this man.

Happy Six Months, Ryan!

An Observant Mother

Today I am thankful for an observant mother.

No, this isn't meant to be an early Mother's Day post. That one is still to come. This post is all about the unplanned house search that my mom has been conducting for us. All I had to do was mention a few weeks ago that we're thinking about looking at houses again, and now every week my mom has noticed a new neighborhood for us to check out. Tonight, the one she found looks really promising. Certainly no guarantees, since we've only seen it online so far, but it's encouraging to see that what we are looking for can be found in our price range. I'm excited to see where this goes...if it goes anywhere at all. :-)

An Empty Sink

Today I am thankful for an empty sink.

That frying pan from the other night has been soaking since the disaster that nearly ruined it. I've been scrubbing it with all sorts of chemicals, but it wasn't until I brought out the steel wool tonight that the residue gave in. It has some new stains, but it's clean.

My Car Heater

Today I am thankful for my car heater.

After a dinner date at Chili's, we walked outside and noticed the sky looking like this:

That rain moved quickly into our area and dumped rain on us at Baum Stadium, consequently causing the temperature to fall as quickly. We were unexpectedly wet and cold, but stayed until the end of the 7th inning because an old friend had come to watch the game and catch up. By the time we made it to the car, I was shivering, and thus, VERY grateful for the heater in our car!

Alan

Today I am thankful for Alan.

He was Ryan's mentor first, but then I met him. :-) He's a dear friend of both of us and shares our love for the Lord and for music. He played the piano at our wedding and shared a few thoughts before we said our vows as well. Today is his birthday, and I am thankful for him! Love you, Alan!!

A Forgiving Husband

Today I am thankful for a forgiving husband.

Why? Because I turned this...

Into this...

Let's hope tomorrow I can be thankful for a non-ruined frying pan. It, like my pride, needs some time to drown a bit.

The End of a Royal Weekend

Today I am thankful for the end of a royal weekend.

I wasn't into the royal wedding at all, but I feel as though the media has forced me to absorb every minute of it. I woke up Friday morning right as the wedding was ending, so I watched the last few minutes of that up until the balcony kisses because big expensive ceremonies like that do fascinate me. That was more than enough for me, though, and I am quite ready to turn on the television or open up Yahoo news without seeing anything about William & Kate. Congrats & Best Wishes to them, but it's time to go back to real life. As real as royal can get. :-)

The Best Burger in Town

Today I am thankful for the best burger in town.

Red Robin.
A1 Peppercorn Burger.
No Tomato.
French Fries.
Campfire Sauce.

The End.

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Today I am thankful for chocolate-covered strawberries.

They're one of my favorite things in the world, and a rare treat. We had dinner at my parents' house, and my mom had prepared some strawberries earlier in the afternoon. So yummy! Ryan said I ate them unpolitely (aka without taking tiny bites), but it's hard to do with something that good!

Processes

Today I am thankful for processes.

We spent a lot of time today working through some issues that have been created over the past year at work because we didn't have a process. It made it very clear why having a defined process is essential, as well as made me quite grateful to know that next year we won't have this problem!

On tap for tomorrow? Creating another new process.

Sunshine

Today I am thankful for sunshine.

It was brief. Very brief. But at this point, even a break of green/red/yellow/orange mix on the radar is like seeing the sun come out. More rain to come still, but for a moment, it stopped.

A Lot of Things

Today I am thankful for a lot of things!

While driving home on flooded roads with rain pouring down over me, I decided to use the time to thank God for everything that came to mind rather than working my nerves up over the circumstances. Here's the list as I remember it:

Thank you that this road isn't flooded.
Thank you that I have a job that will let me leave early.
Thank you that Ryan found his way home.
Thank you that the car behind me is okay that I am driving 40mph in a 70mph zone.
Thank you that my windshield wipers are working.
Thank you that is isn't raining as hard as it was earlier.
Thank you that this off-ramp isn't flooded yet.
Thank you that I live in an elevated area.
Thank you that our apartment is on the second floor.
Thank you that my family is safe.
Thank you that I'm almost home.

So about this time, I've reached a place where it looks like I'll make it home without any problems. So, I turned on the radio and heard this:

...it had suddenly become a really awesome worship experience!

A Risen Savior!

Today I am thankful for a risen Savior!

Death could not hold Him. The grave could not keep Him from rising again.

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!

How do I know He lives?

He lives within my heart!

Productivity

Today I am thankful for productivity.

This might not seem productive to some, but to me, it was a big accomplishment. I've been working on a cross-stitch project for several years (no exaggeration there), and am so determined to get it finished in the very near future. I was able to sit at my parents' house and work on it for a few hours today while hanging out with the family, and I reached a "goal point" on the project that I had been working towards for a week or two. Other things would probably be more important to some people, but on a slow rainy day with nothing else to do, it was good to feel productive in my own simple way.

Blood

Today I am thankful for blood.

 Not just any blood, though. The blood of Jesus. It's Good Friday, and I couldn't help but think throughout the day about what Jesus was going through so many years ago. He was pierced; His hands and feet had nails in them; He had thorns on His head. He was bleeding. For me.

Thank you, Jesus.

A Bagel

Today I am thankful for a bagel.

Last night ended with a bit of difficulty in the life of the Martins, and even though all was forgiven when we went to bed, we both woke up feeling a bit sad this morning at the way we had acted. That said, we both wanted to let each other know how real our love still is, and my husband showed that to me in the form of a surprise bagel being delivered (by him!) at work. Such a simple thing does so much.

A Raise

Today I am thankful for a raise.

It was relatively unexpected, but such a huge blessing. It's nice to be valued, and when money comes with it, it's extra special!

Quarter-Sized Hail

Today I am thankful for quarter-sized hail.

I don't think I've ever seen hail as big as I did today at our apartment, but at least it wasn't as big as a lot of people saw. There were some areas of Fayetteville that had hail the size of baseballs, but ours was limited to quarters. Did I mention I'm thankful for a strong roof as well?!

A Corsage

Today I am thankful for a corsage.

I accompanied some vocalists at a Pastor/Deacon Appreciation dinner in Springdale tonight, and one of the hostesses brought me a corsage. I haven't had one of those in years, and for some reason loved having fresh flowers that matched my dress perfectly pinned to my shoulder. I put it in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for as long as possible, and I'm not really sure why. Once it dries up, I'm sure I'll just throw it away, but I guess it's just one of those girl things. ;-)

Gospel-Centered Worship

Today I am thankful for Gospel-Centered Worship.

Some Sundays, the music is just really good at church. Today was one of those Sundays. We sang so many songs about the cross and the Lamb and our Redeemer. At one point, the lights dimmed so that only that cross was illuminated. It was powerful and completely Gospel-centered. And I loved it.

A Good Laugh

Today I am thankful for a good laugh.

I used to laugh all of the time with Ryan, but lately, our lives have been so busy and stressful, we've had a hard time finding things to laugh at (other than ourselves). Today was one of those days where one of us would say something the other didn't expect, and we'd just laugh together. It happened several times, and it was so refreshing. I'm learning how to make him laugh...and he's known how to make me laugh for a long time. I love my husband. :-)

A Baking Lesson

Today I am thankful for a baking lesson.

I made chocolate chip cookies with Aaron tonight, and I really did let him help me. I talked him through the whole thing, and while I doubt he'll remember any part of the lesson, it made the process much more fun, albeit much slower as well. It was especially fun to give him a warm cookie at the end and tell him he made it!

Friends to Weather the Storm With

Today I am thankful for friends to weather the storm with.

Around here, we hate storms. With a husband who has endured two tornadoes flying over his head, it's not something we take lightly. They were predicting very strong weather tonight, and normally that means we stay on the couch watching weather reports closely, but tonight we already had other plans. We spent the evening with Trey & Kristen, and they made it so much easier to watch storm watches pop up on the screen. We laughed until the worst seemed to be past, and for that, I am so grateful.

New Blogs

Today I am thankful for new blogs.

I figured out how to work Dashboard today, and thus went on a hunt for new blogs to follow. It was fun to connect the dots from blog to blog as I found friends who were following friends who were following friends. In the mix were some family stories, photography, news articles and even a bit of Biblical theology for women. Now I'm sure to have some reading material every now and then, and that's a fun thing to appreciate.

A Walk

Today I am thankful for a walk.

We were babysitting Aaron tonight, and since it was so nice outside, we decided to take a walk after dinner. All three of us, with Aaron in the stroller, walked down to the pond and marveled at the fountain and the ducks, then we looked at the swimming pool in amazement, then we walked around the neighborhood and back to the apartment, where we stood in awe of every car that drove by and said hello to every runner/walker that entered our view. Okay, so maybe those things were more Aaron than Ryan and me, but it was still fun. I'm so looking forward to the day when we can do that with our own children!

A Frozen Yogurt Twist

Today I am thankful for a frozen yogurt twist.

I told Ryan last night (via Twitter & Facebook) that growing up, whenever the Hogs swept a weekend series, we would all get ice cream. Following the first sweep of the season, and a big one at that, I felt like I needed to enjoy that tradition. For a few reasons, it didn't happen yesterday, but after his meeting at the church tonight, Ryan showed up with a small cup of frozen yogurt twist for me. I'm already looking forward to the next weekend sweep.

Product Warning Labels

Today I am thankful for product warning labels.

I refuse to go into the details of what I used incorrectly and how I used it incorrectly, but let's just say from now on I will be happy to read the warning labels on products that I use. Neglecting to appreciate those can be...well, uncomfortable. 

Stitches

Today I am thankful for stitches.

Cross-stitches. The other kind is much hard to appreciate. I've been working on the same cross-stitch project for a few years, and have decided recently to make sure I finish it soon. I had quite a bit of time today to work on it, so I made some good progress. Hopefully, there will soon be a "thankful for..." post about a completed project!

Rick's and Razorbacks

Today I am thankful for Rick's and Razorbacks.

We started the day with a couple of brothers and seven different Rick's Bakery donuts. Yum! I'm not so thankful for the calories that were included, but since we skipped lunch, it was worth it. :-)

We ended the day with a Razorback win against LSU on a beautiful night at Baum Stadium. Good beginning and ending to a wonderful spring day.

Mostaccioli

Today I am thankful for mostaccioli.

I felt like trying out a new recipe tonight after a few weeks of eating out or having boxed/bagged dinners for several busy weeks. We had a couple of my brothers over, so I tried out a new recipe from another blog. Mostaccioli is most delicious, and so easy to make. I'm looking forward to leftovers!

Five Months

Today I am thankful for five months.

Ryan and I celebrated our five-month anniversary today. Well, celebrated in the sense that we mentioned it to each other. Wednesdays are the busiest days in our lives, most of the time. It's been a good five months, filled with everything marriage should be filled with: love, laughter, heartache, tears, sanctification, growth, joy, provision, protection, etc... For each and every one, I am thankful.

Another Brother

Today I am thankful for another brother.

I had a Facebook notification on my phone today that ended up being a scary status from my mom. Aaron had fallen 5-6 feet off some playground equipment and face-planted on the ground. They took him to the Emergency Room, but ended up leaving without seeing a doctor because he perked up so much. Although it would've been nice to hear something like that in a form other than a Facebook text message, I was grateful for the phone call to tell me my little brother was fine.

My Brother

Today I am thankful for my brother.

Benjamin turns 18 today and is the fifth of ten Burns children to reach the age of adulthood. A congratulations to my parents - "You're halfway there! Go for it!" Since this is his post, though, I'll finish with a congratulations to my brother - "Happy Birthday, Ben! I love you!"

Radical People

Today I am thankful for radical people.

We kicked off the big Radical Experiment at UBC this morning, and as I was standing in the lobby to direct people to the Experiment resources, I noticed two different groups. One group obviously scooted out the door as quickly as possible and avoided eye contact with anyone who was representing the Experiment. The other group walked out of the sanctuary with their commitment cards signed, and headed straight for the resource tables to find out what exactly they had signed up for. I'm grateful for every person in my church family, but today, I found myself especially grateful for those who are willing to live radically for Christ. 

My Chacos

Today I am thankful for my chacos.

Ryan got them for me for Christmas, and I wasn't sure I would like them, but I do. Today was the perfect weather to wear them, which is another great thing for which I am thankful! Come on, spring!

Sanctification

Today I am thankful for sanctification.

It's been one of those days when I feel like I'm having to seek forgiveness of my husband every hour or two. For some reason, we've both been on edge and that, sadly, leads to disagreement a lot of the time. I'm grateful, though, that we made vows to each other almost five months ago that we are committed to keeping. Whenever anyone asks how married life is going, our answer has now become "sanctifying." I'm grateful for that.

My Christmas Gift

Today I am thankful for my Christmas gift.

Ryan and I received tickets to Chris Tomlin's concert in Tulsa from my parents for Christmas. Last night was our dinner/concert double-date with them, and we had so much fun. I was a full three-hour concert, complete with Rend Collective, Christy Nockels, a ton of Tomlin music and a great presentation by Louie Giglio. I usually don't like delayed Christmas gifts, but this one was worth the wait!

My Father-in-Law

Tonight I am thankful for my father-in-law.


Today is the first birthday Ken Martin has had since he had a daughter-in-law, and I'm thankful to be that girl. We sang for him before 7:00 this morning, and apparently I have a better morning voice than my husband. :-)

The Last Night of Handbells

Today I am thankful for the last night of handbells.

Once I'm there, I really do enjoy it, but it will be nice to come straight home on Tuesdays from now on. I always hate asking Ryan to go home alone and start dinner for me while I'm at practice, especially after nights like last night when he didn't get home until 9:00. I keep feeling like I need to further de-commit myself from things, specifically evening things, but it seems so hard to do when you're doing ministry things. Such is our life right now...

A Busy Day

Today I am thankful for a busy day.

It's not often I'm grateful for days when I leave work without being caught up, but today was an exception. After being away for a week, I enjoyed working through everything that I missed during my trip. It always helps, too, when 10 hours go by quickly and 5:00 surprises me. I like it when that happens.

My Husband's Passion

Today I am thankful for my husband's passion.

I haven't written these in a while, but I want to make an effort to start it up again. It's a good practice to thank our gracious God for His blessings on a continual basis.

Back to today's blessing . . .

A couple of hours ago, I got to watch the Kentucky Wildcats basketball team win their game versus North Carolina to go to the Final Four. He follows them so closely every year, and it takes a Final Four to make the season feel successful. This year, they did it, and I loved celebrating with him. My family even joined in on the fun tonight, and that's a sign of true love!