30 days of Thankfulness

This year I followed the crowd and posted 1 thing I'm thankful for each day. I try to be thankful on all days, good and bad, but this was interesting trying to recognize something or someone to be specifically thankful for each day. There were times I got behind, but I did end up doing it the whole month. 

Day 1: I'm thankful for Jesus!

Day 2: I'm thankful for my crazy husband who always makes me laugh!

Day 3: Thankful for wonderful grandparents who love Taylor so much! She is so happy to stay with them, it doesn't bother her at all that Mommy and Daddy are leaving!

Taylor waving bye as we leave for Baton Rouge

Day 4: I'm thankful that our parking and seats at Bryant-Denny are a lot easier to get to than what we had in Baton Rouge, otherwise, this 7 month pregnant lady couldn't be going to anymore games. :(

Day 5: In honor of Orphan Sunday yesterday, I'm thankful for the many, many friends that have adopted, are in the process of adopting, are involved in foster care, or are otherwise involved in orphan care through child sponsorship, adoption support, etc. These people challenge me daily to be more involved in the orphan crisis! I wish I could tag all of you, but I'd surely forget someone!

Day 6: Thankful for the ability to vote on our leader! Hopefully after tomorrow all the nasty political posts will cease, at least for a little while.

Day 7: Thankful that most (unfortunately not all) of my FB friends surprised me this morning with their comments on the election's outcome and their acknowledgement that God is sovereign! I'm sorry to say surprised, but during the days/weeks/months leading up to yesterday, I saw a lot of comments that weren't very Jesus-like.

Day 8: Thankful for the ladies in my small group. I look forward to meeting with them every time!! 

Day 9: Thankful to feel the many kicks and punches my little Leah gives me everyday! 

Day 10: Thankful that there is so much more to life than Alabama football...Taylor gave us big hugs when we got home! 

Day 11: Thankful for my wonderful Grace Life church family! 

Day 12: Thankful for clothes and linens to wash and a washing machine and dryer to use when washing them!

Day 13: Thankful for our veterans, especially the ones in my family!

Day 14: Thankful for a job I enjoy going to!

Day 15: Thankful for wonderful co-workers that always make me laugh!

Day 16: Thankful for my sweet, little Taylor. Daddy is hunting out of town this weekend, so we are having a girls' night. We got our nails done, eating pizza for dinner and watching a movie.

Day 17: Thankful for a wonderful mother who came up and helped us paint Taylor's bed, vanity and nightstand. I couldn't have done it without her! She was even babysitting Andi!

Day 18: Thankful for the good Samaritan God sent to Exxon to first put air in my tire and then change it when it wouldn't hold the air. I prayed on the way over there that someone would have mercy on me and help. I had barely gotten out of the car when this guy asked if I needed help. He said he had a wife and two daughters and hoped someone would do the same for them. Thank you Lord for providing, please bless this man!

Day 19: Thankful for the wonderful nurses that work at UAB Women and Infant's center and take care of the little bitty babies. I've been volunteering there through the Junior League and have gotten to see all the amazing things they do! They love and care so much about these little ones and their families! 

Day 20: Thankful for all medical professionals! My OB is great and I have several friends and family members that are nurses. Thanks for what you do!

Day 21: Thankful for the many ways God speaks to me--the Bible, brothers and sisters in Christ, Christian authors, etc--all through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Day 22: Thankful for my huge, loud, wonderful family. We had 22 people at my parent's house, including 5 kids 4 and under. We were also missing 7 people! 

Day 23: Thankful for a house to clean and Christmas decorations to put up. 

Day 24: Thankful for wonderful in-laws to celebrate Thanksgiving with today!

Day 25: Thankful for the wonderful Sunday school and nursery workers at GLBC who take such good care of our little ones while the we're in class or worship. 

Day 26: Thankful for Wee Flip for providing a wonderful birthday party for Taylor and a stress-free birthday party for me! The kids loved it! I highly recommend!

Day 27: Thankful for my wonderful sister, Hilary! I am so proud of her and watching her be a mommy to Alexis and Andi is amazing!

Day 28: Thankful for my wonderful dad who was and is always there for his girls. He is always there for his granddaughters too! Thanks for being a wonderful Dad and Papa Rex!

Day 29: Thankful for a healthy pregnancy! Less than 9 more weeks before I have another beautiful little girl in my arms!

Day 30: So thankful for my amazing 3 year old! Happy Birthday sweet Taylor! She is funny and smart, sweet and strong, curious and witty and oh, so loving! God has blessed us with an awesome little girl!

LSU Weekend

As you can tell from previous posts, Adam and I enjoy travelling to some of the away games. We decided at the last minute to go to the LSU game. That makes Dallas (Michigan game), Missouri and now LSU games that we've been to. Adam even went to the TN game. I don't have many pictures from the trip because it was a quick one, but here's the stadium from the second row from the top!

I'm so glad our seats at Bryant Denny aren't this hard to get to or I wouldn't be able to go to anymore games.

While we were gone, Taylor stayed with Nannie and Papa. They just got a new cell phone with a camera, so we got lots of cell phone pictures this time!

She played with Play-Doh, which is her favorite thing to do at Nannie and Papa's because Mommy and Daddy don't really let her play with it at home.

"I love you" sign

Watching Nannie get ready, I think

On Sunday, she played at the Fall Festival at Nannie and Papa's church.

 

 Alabama got another great win and Taylor had a blast with her grandparents! It was a great weekend!

Missouri

This past weekend, Adam and I headed to Columbia, MO to watch Alabama. This is Mizzou's first year in the SEC and we didn't know when we'd play there again, so we decided to make the trip. We spent an afternoon in St. Louis touring the Anheuser Busch brewery and going to the top of the Arch. We had a lot of fun on what was probably our last trip alone for a little while!

These were the nicest stables I've ever seen!

And the nicest brewery! Not that I've seen many, or any!

Bottling plant

Drinking my Pepsi after the tour! 

Such pretty trees we got to see all weekend during our 20+ hours in the car!

View from the top of the arch

Cardinals stadium

Outside at the bottom of the arch. We got a picture at the top, but it wasn't very good.

Pre-game and pre-rain

We weren't at the top, but we were about 5 rows from it! 

The Hill, standing room only

We were SOAKED by the end of the game! 

 The game was the second worst game, weather-wise, that I've ever sat through, but we stuck it out until the end. Or, almost the end, there were about 2 minutes left in the game. We got a great win though, so it made it a little better. Roll Tide!!

Football Season Begins

Adam and I started off the football season headed to Dallas for our big game with Michigan in the Cowboys Stadium. Danielle, a friend of ours that taught with us in China lives in Tyler, TX so she made the drive to come see us in Dallas. We just spent time walking around the mall, eating lunch and catching up. I'm so glad she was willing to drive to come see us. I miss her! 

Dandur (her nickname in China) and me

Roll Tide

We attended an Alumni pre-game tailgate party!

Cowboys Stadium

View from the top, literally!