Day 5: Good Teeth

This is one I definitely take for granted ALL THE TIME.

I went to the dentist today for my regular six month check-up.  Now, I know that most people detest going to the dentist, but I am not one of those people. I actually enjoy my visits to the dentist.  I get my teeth cleaned by a gentle, careful hygienist, then get my teeth examined by the dentist, who says "beautiful teeth!  Doesn't she just have the most beautiful teeth?!"

So that's probably why I like the dentist.  Because I have healthy, beautiful teeth. Even if they're not straight, like I always wanted them to be, my pearly whites are healthy and beautiful.

And today, I'm choosing to be THANKFUL for this usually unnoticed blessing.

Day 4: Simple Things

Today I'm thankful for two simple things that made my day:

1- Early morning text messaging with my best Helen.  TOTALLY kick started my day!


2-  Distant memories of Sunday School (included in the early morning text missives).

November is great because I get to be thankful for these little things "out loud!"

Day 3: Children's Church

I've been teaching children's church for about three months now, and I LOVE it!  It's been fun to teach the kids about different things we can learn from the characters in the Bible.  I'm using a teacher's book that not only familiarizes the children with some of the key characters, but it also focuses on what we can learn from them.  For instance we learned from Esther how God can make us brave. And from Nehemiah how God can help us do what is right.  And we learned from Joseph that God made us special and has a plan for each of our lives. Daniel taught us that we should pray and obey God. Each character is focused on for a month.

This month, I took a break from the characters, and skipped to the 2nd half of the book that focuses on different things we can learn about Jesus or things in the New Testament.  And, YAY, there is an entire section on.... THANKFULNESS!  So that's what we're learning about this month.

Today, we learned to be thankful that God keeps His promises.  We talked about different verses in the Old Testament that told the people of the coming Messiah, and then we looked at a place in the New Testament where these things came true.  I'm thankful for the opportunity to not only teach the children these truths from God's Word, but to learn them for myself, too!

Day 2: Extra Sleep

For the first Saturday in... quite a while, I had absolutely no reason to get up early.  I didn't have to work or be anywhere.  And I was so excited last night for the opportunity to sleep in!

And I woke up at 7:15 anyhow.  Without my alarm.

Then I remembered that it's daylight savings time switch-a-roo tonight, so I get to sleep an extra hour!

So today, I'm thankful for extra sleep.  Whenever I happen to get it!

Thankful November, 2013

YAY! It's finally November again!

For the last two years, I've done a "Thankful Thoughts" November, and I've decided to keep it up again this year.  I'll [try] to post about something for which I am thankful every day for the entire month. 

Day 1- Thanksgiving

I know, I know.  It's still weeks away, but I just get practically giddy over the thought!  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and for me, it is the kick-off to the entire holiday season.  Thanksgiving is great for so many reasons, but I'll just list five for now:

1. An entire day dedicated to giving thanks to God.  It encourages us to BE THANKFUL!  Something totally lost on the average American.
2. Vance Family Dinner.  If you know the Vance clan, this is self explanatory.  We've hosted Thanksgiving for my dad's immediate family for as long as I can remember (with the exception of one or two years).  
3. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  We've missed this the last few years because of the conversion to digital television, which was completely lost on the Vance household, but I will have fond memories of this tv-watching event from my childhood until I'm old and in the home.  Maybe longer.
4. Pumpkin Pie.  Fake-n-Bake cinnamon rolls. Coffee.  Three staples of Thanksgiving day in our house. Can't have Thanksgiving without 'em.
5.  The excitement and anticipation it stirs inside of me.  Most people get this feeling after Thanksgiving in anticipation of Christmas.  But me?  I get this feeling November 1 and keep it until January 2.  I LOVE this time of year.  Who doesn't, right?  But there's just something special about knowing that for the next two months I'll see way more of my family than usual (immediate and extended), most of it spent around extremely delicious food!