And....she's back

I've really neglected this spot! I always have good intentions, but then life gets in the way and posting on here slips my mind.

Summer has been awesome, as it always is. I love the hot weather! I get such a sense of accomplishment seeing everything I planted grow and produce, and I don't even mind picking off all of those Japanese beetles. The ugly grey squash bugs, though, are something altogether different. I don't want to touch them. So gross!

The three boys spent 10 days with their grandparents at the beginning of July. They had a blast, but it was hard for me at first. For a day or two I could only wander around, at a loss. It was so quiet and the house stayed clean. Amazing!  Once I got used to the quiet and the fact that I didn't have to do all that mom stuff constantly, it was nice. I was able to work on my book and really make some process on it. Go me!  

Now I know what parents with only 2 kids (teenage) experience. Wow! Easy street for sure.  Ha ha, no , not easy, just different. 

I missed my little boys, though, and I wouldn't want to be without them.

At Navy Pier

Day 16

Today I am thankful for my wonderful children. I've been blessed with five children, each of them different and awesome in their own way. It's not always easy, but I wouldn't change one thing. Children are always a blessing, especially mine!!

Day 14

Today I'm thankful for another sunrise. Watching the sun rise always feels like a gift to me, like a special moment not everyone experiences. Thanks, God!

Day 8

Today I am thankful for where we live. The view from the back of the house is awesome. It overlooks two ponds (our neighbors's on each side) and I've seen deer, coyotes, lots of geese, a few swans, not to mention all the birds and squirrels that come up near the house to eat birdseed. It is so worth everything to see how the kids love the big backyard.

Thanks, God, for leading us here.

30 Days of Thanks

My family doesn't know it yet, but for the month of November we will be giving thanks for something everyday.  I plan on making a poster or book of somekind for this. (yeah, yeah, should have it already done, but whatever)

It seems like Thanksgiving is overlooked nowadays. I mean, Halloween decorations show up in August. August, people! That is ridiculous.  And anymore, Thanksgiving is sort of forgotten, with all the Christmas frenzy that starts this month. Who really slows down and considers all we've been given? 

So anyway, that's the plan. Since I'm also participating in NaNoWriMo this month, it will be interesting, to say the least.

Look for a post later today or tonight (tomorrow?) about Day 1 of 30 Days of Thanksgiving.

2010 in Photos

I saw this on another blog, and decided to do one of my own.  A photo (or two) for each month of 2010.

January:

February:

March:

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

And there you have it: 2010 in photos. It wasn't a bad year, all in all.