Love My Life

It is Saturday, at 2:30 in the afternoon, and I am sitting at my computer sipping coffee while my girls are napping and my husband is relaxing.

The air is clear and crisp (yes, a chilly 65 degrees in the Middle East- we brought out the parkas. and the boots.)

I have had lunch, gone grocery shopping, folded laundry, loved on my littles, planned a date with my husband, and made steps forward in Grace's potty training. Did I mention it is only 2:30?

It is days like today where I can sit back, sigh, and say "I love my life."

Truly, I do.

There are days when I get caught up in my lack of sleep, annoyed by the cultural differences that surround me, or homesick to the very pit of my stomach. On those days, I completely forget what it is that I love about my life.

But I am living a full life. A happy life. A blessed life.

We have a roof over our heads, a car to drive, food on the table, and work to be productive at. I have a loving husband and two beautiful daughters. I get hugged dozens of times a day, grinned at, laughed with, and cuddled until my heart is content.

Grace brought a smile to my face this morning, on our way back from the grocery store when she started singing "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands." How often I forget that I rest in His palm and am taken care of by the one true Provider.

I've been writing down things I am thankful for. Not every day, but every 5-6 days I sit down and reflect and can usually come up with 10-15 things that have brought a smile to my face or has lightened my heart. A spirit of gratefulness is settling over me and replacing the shrouds of discontent and I am so happy. Relaxed. And Thankful.

Thankful for the life I have been given.

It is not what I pictured for myself or my family, but it is what we should be doing so it is good.

It's not Thanksgiving, but I am so thankful today!

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Love My Life

Our Thanksgiving

First, an update on the housing situation: We got the approval for the financial side of things, but we realized to be anywhere near the square footage allowance would mean closing off far too many rooms, so we've turned down the house. There is just too much wasted space in the hallways. Boo.

I've been bummed all afternoon but my wonderful husband has helped me redeem the evening by letting me not cook dinner (instead we ate chocolate cereal. awesome.) and watching Army Wives (so good, and not as skanky as I would have guessed!)

Thanksgiving 2011 was Ian and my 4th Thanksgiving spent together.

In 2008 I was sick as a dog but drudged my way through it (turns out I was seriously allergic to my down comforter at my in-laws.)

In 2009 we were at my in-laws again and their 2 dachshunds tried to eat my Uggs. Sad, but that is the only thing I remember/know about that Thanksgiving!

In 2010, last year for those of you confused about what year we are currently in, we were living here in the Middle East, and had a potluck dinner with some friends of ours. It was our first real holiday away from the States and I did all I could to keep it together and not cry all night.

This year was a great improvement. Same group of people (basically) and same (wonderful) food but I wasn't on a precipice for emotional disaster all night long.

We got there before the sun was down and I helped set up the buffet while Ian and Grace hung outside watching the big kids bounce on the trampoline...

Then dinner rolled around and we fed Grace THREE cups full of mashed potatoes before digging into a delicious buffet full of American goodies. We had some people from Syria, South Africa, South Korea, and England there as well, along with some of their foods, but I had to be very un-PC and not eat their foods. It's Thanksgiving! I only have so much room on my plate!

I brought deviled eggs, a green salad, Northern style stuffing, and apple cobbler. I chose easier dishes since we had school all day and then would only have a couple of hours before we had to be at dinner.

My favorite dish to eat this year? Sweet Potato Casserole. My friend had to dye the sweet potatoes orange though, since ours are a whitish/gray when mashed, but it was amazing!!

It was a good evening and we packed up and headed out shortly after we ate so that we could skype with our families before they sat down to lunch.

I'm looking forward to next year, when we are in a home with an actual table. I think I'll cook my first Thanksgiving meal and host, so that we can have Thanksgiving like we like- a little more formal with more hang out time during the cooking process and afterward!

If anyone wants to mail us a dvd of the Macy's day parade I'd love to see it!
This year, I am so thankful for my husband, sweet daughter, family members who try so hard to stay connected, friends who love me despite the distance, and the technology that holds us all together, ha!

May this season of Thanks continually remind you how blessed we all are!

Happy Thanksgiving from the Galloways!

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Our Thanksgiving

Let Me Count the Ways...

Let Me Count the Ways That I'm thankful!

(I know, I know, poor Elizabeth Barrett Browning would be rolling in her grave if she heard me using that phrase as such....but, alas, she's not alive, so oh well!)

I decided to start a new family tradition.

Well, Ian doesn't know it yet, but we are starting one.

Every year, we will list things we are thankful for, how every many years old you are that year. So, for example, I'm 22 this Thanksgiving, so I need to come up with 22 things!

I think this will be a great tradition to carry on when we have children, because it is something even young children can do!

So, without further delay, my Thankfulness List for 2009....

1. For my sweet, wonderful, loving Husband. He spends so much time taking care of me and making sure I'm alright!

2. My sister. For giving me someone we can laugh, cry, scream, or smile with and in the end it will all be alright.

3. My parents. They are wonderful. Seriously. Wonderful.

4. For a roof over our heads and a bed to sleep in. We may have been out of job and "homeless," now for almost 8 months, but our families have taken care of us!

5. For my in laws. I may not always understand how they communicate or why they do things certain ways, but they love me and I love them! I'm so glad I don't have an "everybody loves raymond," type of situation.

6. For my friends! They really are the best. They have really stuck with me despite my moving all around (and the future moving around!)

7. For my Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins. I am so glad that God gave me extended family that tries so hard to stay involved!

8.For blogging....it has been such an outlet for me over this stressful year or so. I can't wait to see where I go with it and what gets recorded!

9. For my camera. Though I really have a love/hate relationship with it right now, I know that it is a good camera and that it could really last me a long time if necessary!

10. For the Florida Gators. They make me happy. Even if they weren't doing so great (and I really don't think this year is as good as last year,) they are still my team and provide me with great joy.

11. For books. Um, do I really have to explain?

12. For the ability to travel. I can't imagine how different my life would be if I lived even a hundred years earlier!

13. For Chocolate. Oh how I love thee. I have missed you greatly since living in my {health nut} in laws home!

14. For our church family. We have quite a few of them now, since we have been moving around, but our real home church makes me feel like I just stepped into a giant hug when I come home!

15. For a job. Though we aren't on payroll yet (one more month!) we do have a job and it is such an answer to prayer!

16. For our freedom. I don't think about this often enough. And I know I'm not thankful for it as much as I should be!

17. For prayer, because it is what brings me peace in stressful situations and joy in the day to day breathings of life.

18. For coffee. I am really getting into coffee lately. I'm not really a coffee snob either...I can even go for the instant stuff!

19. For my softie. A lady gave us a blanket for a wedding present and for whatever reason it has become a great source of sleeping comfort to me. Maybe because we had to pack up all of our other sheets and blankets so this is the only constant. But seriously, I'm like a 2 year old with a blankie with it...I can just pass right out for the night if I have it on me!

20. For Icy Hot. I pulled a muscle in my neck on Sunday and it is all bruised and swollen and uncomfortable right now.

21. For children. Like, in general. haha. I love kids so much and they have brought me so much joy!

22. For my intelligence. I know this one is especially strange, but I am so glad that God created me like He did! I can't imagine what I would be like if I wasn't into learning, reading, and growing!

So, that's it for now. I skipped into the other room and let Ian know we have a new tradition. I told him he better get writing! Maybe I'll post his....we'll see!

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Let Me Count the Ways...

Old Year's Reflections

Today, as I was cleaning our little apartment home for our "New Year's Eve Party" (aka Sam is coming over and he and Ian are going to play video games, I am sure,) I was listening to one of my favorite cd's. It's called "Hymns:Ancient and Modern" and it is wonderful. My favorite song on there would have to be "The Doxology," and I thought I would use it as a way to reflect on this past year.

Check THIS out to read up on the history of the song:

The Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

God, thank You for everything you have done for me and my family this past year. Helping me get through my final internship, graduation, the planning and implementing of our wedding, the establishment of our marriage, moving to Gainesville, miracleously getting the job at Borders, Ian having a steady-flexible job, my getting a job teaching, the peace You gave us when I lost that job, and the hope in the future position you have set in front of me. Thank You for all You have done. Even when I am not the most grateful, in retrospect, I can see Your hand on our lives.

Praise him, all creatures here below;

God, thank You for allowing me to take part in your beautiful creation. From Virginia, to seeing the Keys for the first time, to snorkling and realizing how intricate Your designs are, to flying up the eastern seaboard to Rhode Island, to hiking in the Georgia mountains, and to sitting in the quiet stillness at the beach, I praise You for making a creation we can marvel at. I have so many questions for You about the how's and why's of Your design, but I know the answers will come with time.

Praise him above, ye heavenly host:

It took me awhile on this one God. I had to really think hard on what this line means. I believe it means that, as Your creation, Your child, my goal in life should be to honor and praise You with all that I do, so that, eventually, my praising you becomes equal/surpassing that of the angels in heaven. I can't do this task alone, God, so for now, I praise You for how You have brought this to my attention and pointed out the meaning of this line. It might take me my whole life to get to this point, but at least I know what I am working towards.

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

God, thank You so much for being my Father, for loving me only as a Father could. And thank You for sending Your Son to live and die for me, so that I might one day be with You. God, I praise and thank You for leaving us with the Holy Spirit (or Ghost,) for I do not know how I would hear that "still small voice," without it. Thank you for the direction in my life and I am looking forward to learning more about You, and Your word in the coming year.

Amen

Happy 100th Post

From Brittney at

Witheagerhands

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Old Year's Reflections

Feeling the 'gimmes' comming on..

For the past couple o days, I have had the uncontrollable urge to say "oooh, I want that," with every passing glance of storefronts, newspaper ads, and commercials. So, in order to combat the "gimmies," I wanted to let you know a few things I am thankful for.

I am thankful that we have a great working dishwasher and oven.

Along the same lines, I am thankful we were able to move into a safe apartment complex, near a great church, that would probably be given 4 or 5 stars.

I am greatful for our beautiful office, where I escape to in order to turn off of the "wantings." Except when I start looking at our books and researching new books and authors. Then they come back. Haha. But still.

I am thankful that Ian and I both have jobs that are bareable and that are relatively flexible.

I am thankful for my parents paying for my cell phone still so that I can keep in touch with everyone.

I am thankful that I finally got approved as a substitute and am waiting to hear the next step in this process.

More "thankfuls" are coming in November. I plan to list at least one EACH day in November. Which is kind of a double whammy. Not only am I going to come up with more than 30 thanks, but am going to attempt to post everyday for a month.

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Feeling the 'gimmes' comming on..