Top Ten

Well last night ended and this morning started off with me compiling a top ten list of reasons why today is a bad day. It was a good list too, in my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their “everything is going wrong” days and I declared today to be mine. Those who know me know that I try to embrace everything thrown at me wholeheartedly and I try hard not to let things get the best of me ….but I am still human and appreciate my whiny days to gather perspective and put my head back on straight. I allow those days so rarely that I felt it was justified. Wrong. Who am I to declare how my day will play out?

So, I’m shredding the negative top ten list and sticking it to Satan and creating my “Top Ten Reasons I’m Thankful” list! These are in no particular order.

10. I have a wonderful family. Just last night, I was able to sit on the couch with my husband and son and spend some time together (Emma was already asleep). Okay, this was while watching the Biggest Loser (haha), but we were still together and it was a moment for me to appreciate since our schedules are so crazy normally. The two of them will never know what those little moments mean to me or the depths of my love for them (maybe corny sounding, but so true). Of course earlier in the day I was able to spend time with Emma and those moments are always as equally welcomed and appreciated. I think everyone knows how I feel about that! These three people are my world.

9. I have some amazing friends. Whoever once thought the quantity over quality of friends was more important…was WAY wrong. I wouldn’t trade my handful of friends for anything in this world. They love me for me (which says a lot!) and I couldn’t ask for anything more. They are the people who build me up when I need it, are also there when I need a listening ear and make me feel loved. Just a sample….yesterday was Emma’s IEP meeting (a pretty big one). It was a big day for us. And within 24 hours (and yes I had facebook comments, texts, emails and phone calls from other friends and family members and I am so thankful and appreciative to each one of you for your care and concern, but this number 9 is about friends so I’m pointing out three specific things that occurred with 3 close friends :)…

Yesterday afternoon, one friend called to ask how Emma’s IEP went and was encouraging as always boosting me up…and I might mention she took the time to do this on the way to a funeral for a family member. So amidst an unexpected tragedy in their family, she took 5 minutes to call me. Me! Wow. Thank you friend, you know exactly who you are.

Another friend met me for lunch and this was a planned meeting for the sole purpose of being there for me so I could talk about the IEP and how I felt once it was all over. She knew I would need her and she was there. Thank you friend, you know exactly who you are.

Then this am, at 7:30, I received a phone call from another friend who gave me some very encouraging words that came at a perfectly needed time. She went on and on about what a great advocate she thinks I am for Emma :). She said this from both a professional and personal standpoint, which made it that much more meaningful. It meant the world to me to receive that phone call. So, thank you friend, you know who you are.

Friends, are a great blessing.

8. I have baseball. I love baseball. Again, for those who know us well, you know baseball is a big part of our world. Jon played it. Drew plays it. Emma plays it. I play it…just kidding. I’m just seeing if you are still awake. I don’t play it, but I certainly watch it and love it! Drew has been fortunate enough to play on a travel team for 5 years now and has played regular season baseball for 8 years. We eat and sleep baseball during the season. This weekend is our first travel team tournament of the season. The team is also going to Cooperstown, NY in July!

7. I have our parent’s health. Jon and I are so fortunate to have both sets of parents and their good health. None of us are ever promised tomorrow, but we are so glad they are here today and present in our children’s lives so they will know and learn their heritage. Not much more to say about that, but certainly something I am thankful for and never want to take for granted. We love our parents dearly.

6. I have my job. And Jon has his job. Obviously anyone who has a job these days should be thankful. Even though it was sad and hard for me to enter back into the more consistent work world over a year ago, I stumbled upon a job (thanks to a recommendation from another good friend!) that allows me to leave each day in time to pick up the kids from school. I wouldn’t have it any other way at this point. I am able to still be mom first and work second. So thankful for this!

5. I have my home. Our home was the perfect fit for us back when we were 23 and only had Drew. We have since outgrown it tremendously, but until we move out of it, it is still our home. The home we have been blessed with and worked hard for. The home where our kids have been raised thus far. Yes, the house is full but I am thankful for a warm place to rest my head at night and to know that we did it all on our own at such a young age. Our home.

4. I have my faith. Though I have not ranked these in order, this is by far the most important thing I am thankful for. I am a daughter of the King and He loves me. Another reason to not stumble into the wrath of letting a bad day get to me…. God knows the plans HE has for me and HE is in control of them, not me. Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version) “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. My faith. Something strong, solid and grounded that can never be taken away from me. I have my faith.

3. I have hope after an iep meeting. What?!? Say that again. I have hope after an iep meeting. This is rare I must say! Ask any parent who has sat in an iep (individualized educational plan) meeting. Now I must preface what led up to this moment. Do you have all day to read this blog? Hmm, let me be as concise as possible. After a long battle, we have decided to retain Emma once again next year and mainstream her into a regular kindergarten class. She will be pulled out for two hours a day for some resource (reading, writing and math). This seemed like an impossible challenge months ago, making everyone listen and understand where we are coming from, but we did it!!!! We are going to try it. It may or may not work, but I have done my best to give my daughter what I feel she needs. I have not been pushed into a corner and I have not given up. To walk away from one of those meetings and feel relief is an amazing feeling. One I don’t think I have experienced in her 7 years yet.

2. I have blessings. Oh my. Blessings. I can not even count all the blessings handed to us over the years. I really can’t. Some tangible, some not. There have been so many but they all deserve recognition! Blessings have been through some very tough times as well as some very good times. (Insert my little blurb about paying it forward). You never know when a blessing is just what someone needs. Just keep that in mind and pay it forward because I am sure each of you has been blessed. In fact, I know you have.

1. I have life. We all have life. As I said before, none of us are promised tomorrow. Today though, I have my life. I am so thankful for each day that God allows me to wake up, refreshed and renewed and live another day on this earth with my family and friends. So, since each day is a gift, I am committing for living the rest of today in a better spirit than how I started it this morning.

Want to join me?