Donna M.

Remember how I said that libraries just seem to attract the coolest people? 

Well, my friend Donna is one of them.  I met her in 2004 when I started working at Troy University in Dothan.  And honestly...  in the beginning I was scared of her.  Haha... I don't know why.  She just seemed sort of intimidating to me.  And that's probably because Donna has a strong "go-get-'em" personality.  She doesn't let things get in the way of her accomplishing the things she wants to do... And I admire that a lot. 

She once said something along the lines of "Well, you just take that leap of faith... and if you end up falling on your face, you just get up and start walking again."  That's not really a direct quote.  It was 2 years ago, and I don't remember the words precisely.  But basically, that was the gist of it.  And, like I said, I admire that.  Because I don't necessarily have that kind of chutzpah.  

Of course, over time, I stopped being so intimidated by her and realized how awesome and fun she really is.  She introduced me to a whole lot of awesomeness -- like Aspen mulling spices for spicing up apple cider and Edgar's Bakery in Birmingham.  There was one treat at Edgar's that she was trying to replicate and she would bring in to work all the "attempts" for us to gobble up.  And let's just say that was thoroughly enjoyable. 

She also taught me how to sew and make "I Spy" quilts.  So here's how that went:  she brought her light-weight Singer sewing machine to work and we put it in the back room (a.k.a. periodicals storage and lunch room).  And we'd work on our quilts during breaks and lunch.  It was seriously awesome.  I managed to get 3 quilts made this way, one for each of my nieces and nephew (I've since added to my list of nieces and nephews, but haven't managed to make anymore quilts yet... Clearly I need to go to work with Donna again.)

And when I left Dothan to head to graduate school in Tuscaloosa, Donna was one of the dear friends it was so hard to say good-bye to.  As a going-away gift/birthday present, she gave me a piece of Polish pottery so that I'd always remember her (she collects that).  And it has sat in a special place in my home (wherever that may be) ever since.  Because, even though I can't imagine every forgetting her anyway, it's a constant reminder of a dear friend who taught me much and who still makes me laugh with her anecdotes.  She seriously has some of the most hilarious stories, like the guy in the Pinto in Alaska in the middle of winter; or her friend who managed to hit the squirrel, even though she was driving 5 miles per hour specifically to miss the squirrel.

Donna is just one of those people who added a whole lot of brightness and laughter to my life, and I'm glad I still get to see her every time I go back to Dothan.  I know there will come a day (probably sooner than later) that she will retire and move away...  But until then, I'll just look forward to our visits in my old stomping grounds of Troy Dothan :).

What are you grateful for today?

Vaccinations

So there are a few things in life I don't enjoy.

One of those things is shots.  You can ask my mom.  In my younger years, I was pretty much an embarrassment to her when I had to get shots or have blood drawn.  I'm not talking about when I was 4 or 5... I'm talking about when I was 12 and 13.  Let's just say there was a time that required me to be held down by a couple of large orderlies in order for them to draw my blood.  Not one of my prouder moments, but I seriously hated shots and blood draws.  I felt very strongly that, if I was meant to have needles stuck in my skin, I'd have been born with them there.

I've managed to get over those issues in my old age.

Another thing I really don't enjoy is hearing my baby girl cry in pain.  I can actually say I hate that.  It is heart-breaking.

So I didn't look forward to today and the 6-month check-up.  Because with it comes the vaccinations.  And though I really don't like shots (they don't feel good, after all); and I really hate to hear my baby cry in pain...  I believe that vaccinations are a blessing -- and are among the best things I can do for my baby girl whom I love so very much.

How grateful I am to live in a time -- and a place -- when things like tetanus and polio can be largely avoided because of medical advancements.  It is hard to realize that, even though we live such an abundant life, it isn't so for everyone, even in this day and time.  And I have to acknowledge how grateful I am for the fact that I have access to the vaccinations -- however unpleasant -- for myself and my baby girl.  And as I pondered that fact this morning while I gave thanks in prayer for the availability of them, I realize I want to do something to help people whose circumstances are different than my own.  I want to help some mother somewhere else be able to get what she needs to protect her baby.

Because even though it is awful to hold my baby's hands still and keep her secure on my lap while 3 needles are jabbed into her legs...  And even though it is heart-breaking to hear her cry in pain as a result...  I know it would be far more heart-breaking to lose her to a disease that was completely preventable.  And so I do it.  Because I love her. 

What are you grateful for today?
 I know not everyone shares my views on vaccinations.  I respect others' right to have their own opinion, but this is mine.

My Precious Lynnaea

On this Thanksgiving, this day set aside to be grateful for all we have (though, truthfully, we should be thankful every day); I decided to write about the greatest blessing I received this year.

And she is my daughter Lynnaea.

This time last year, she was a secret no one knew, except her dad and me.  This time last year, I was waiting for my first doctor appointment to hear her little heart beating.  

It is so hard for me to believe she is now 6 months old.  That at the beginning of this year, I was just barely starting to feel her wiggle around inside of me.  That I wasn't sure if she was a she or not (and we didn't find out until she was born!).  That every month or so, I waited anxiously to hear her little heartbeat.  It is hard for me to believe, even though I know it's true, that I have actually gone through labor and delivery and survived the sleepless nights.  It's so unbelievable to me at times that she is mine.  That the wonderful little baby girl with the roly-poly arms and legs sitting up on the floor playing with her toys as I write this is my sweet girl.  That I am her mommy.  But it's true.

She has changed my world.  She has changed my life.  She has changed me.  She has brightened my world.  She has improved (and sometimes complicated) my life.  She has made me a better person.  She has taught me how to be more patient, more loving, more compassionate.  She has given me reasons to work on being more kind, less judgmental.  More positive, and less pessimistic.  To really examine myself so that I can work on being the best example for her I can be.

She puts a smile on my face faster and easier than anyone or anything else in the whole world...  And she does it just by being herself.

It's hard to explain, really, but since having her, I think I feel more deeply.

I am grateful every single day for this precious life that has been entrusted to my care.  I feel inadequate more often than not.  But I feel blessed.  And thankful.  Though I can clearly remember what life was like before she was here, I can't imagine life without her from here on out.   Nor do I want to.   I hoped for so long to have a baby -- and feared for so long it would never be.  She helps make my dreams come true.

I have much to be thankful for.  Much that makes my life blessed.  And my sweet Lynnaea is at the top of that list, every day.  And so, this Thanksgiving, I give thanks for all my blessings.  But especially for her.

What are you grateful for today?

Home-Made New York Style Bagels (and the Friend Who Showed Me How!)

So I swore up and down I wouldn't make these again.  Especially all by myself.  Don't get me wrong:  it's not because they aren't completely chewy-delicious.  They just require a large time commitment.  And I was pretty sure I didn't want to commit that much time to it ever again.

But then, for some reason, I have been craving a really good bagel lately.  I'm a bagel girl quite often.  That's another thing I used to have almost every morning when I was working:  a bagel with cream cheese.  And usually I just go with those store-bought (sometimes from the day old bread store...) multi-packs.  Easy. 

Then, one day, my friend Ani (who has since committed the ultimate no-no and moved halfway across the country... ;)) mentioned that she had an awesome bagel recipe -- and she'd be happy to come over and help me make them.  I was a pretty hungry preggo woman back then -- with no job and not much to do.  So I was all for this experience -- especially since it resulted in yumm-o bagels!  We ended up quadrupling the recipe (well, okay, we made double the recipe twice).  And though not technically hard, it does take time.  And it does dirty a lot of dishes. 

But the end result is so fantastic.  I ended up with 30-something bagels of different varieties.  I sliced them all, plastic-wrapped them, and froze them.  And enjoyed eating them over time. 

And swore I'd never do it again.  Especially by myself. 

Just one more time I have learned to "never say never" (ack! split infinitive...  my Grammar teacher would so not approve...).  Because some cravings just drive you to do crazy things. 

Like make more of these bagels. 

And sure, it wasn't nearly as fun making them alone as it was with a friend.  And these aren't nearly as pretty as the ones I made with Ani, because I'm more impatient.  But I survived -- and I'm eating one now.  And it turned out yummy :). 

So, thank you Ani...  You are awesome -- and so are the bagels.  And I'm grateful for you both! 

The recipe can be found here.  I recommend you at least double the recipe, because it's an awful lot of work for just 8 bagels -- even if they are phenomenal.

What are you grateful for today?

My Sense of Smell (and Taste!)

About once or twice a year, usually when the seasons change significantly, I come down with a mild cold.  Mostly it's just pesky.  And usually, for at least one day, I lose my sniffer.  And, sadly, my taster as well.

It's looking like I'm heading into that time period as I type.  Blah.

On the up-side, it did make me remember how grateful I am for my sense of smell.  Both for the fact that I can enjoy pleasant aromas and for the fact that I can taste deliciousness!

True, having a stuffed-up nose does make poopy-diaper changes a little less unpleasant.  And there are a few other instances when I wouldn't mind not being able to smell. 

But for the most part, I love that I can enjoy scents such as flowers, fresh-baked cookies, home-made bread baking, my baby's "baby smell," the smell of my husband's deodorant (which just makes me think of him!). 

I'm glad I can determine if I smell stinky and need a bath and deodorant ;)!

And I'm glad I can taste such wonderful things like fresh-baked cookies, home-made bread, mint hot chocolate, oranges, cheesy potato soup.... 

I don't know if there are some people who do not have the ability to smell and taste, if there are people born without the privilege.  But I do know I'm grateful that I can do both (on most days ;)).  Because what a wonderful world of smells and tastes I would miss out on, if it were not so!

What are you grateful for today?

Cuties (or "Those Little Oranges")

I don't know why, but I love these little oranges.  I love that they are easy to peel.  I love that they are almost always seedless.  I love that they are small.  And full of flavor (usually).  And healthy. 

I ate a ton of these things when I was pregnant.  In my efforts to curb my even-more-sweet-than-usual sweet tooth with something healthy. 

I always get excited when I start seeing them for sale again in the stores!  And then they go on my grocery list pretty much until their season is over again. 

I know it's a pretty small thing to be grateful for...  But I am a firm believer that so often the small things are the things that add big joys to life!

What are you grateful for today?

Primary Program Sunday

Today was the Primary Program during Sacrament meeting at church.  And it was awesome.

I used to work with the Primary kids at church (kids ages 3 to 11), and I can say they are amazing.  Smart, sweet, funny, fun, and so many other things.  Though I've never hustled so much in my life (the weeks I had to teach always found me standing in front of the younger group, sweating like crazy for some reason... I think it's all the energy!), I have to say that serving in Primary with those wonderful kids was one of my favorite callings ever.  They truly are amazing.  They say the darndest things (as the saying goes).  But they are so smart -- and like little sponges.  Soaking up everything. 

After 2 years of working with the kids, I was released from my calling in Primary, because I was about to have a little one of my own. 

But today, I got to see all the kids in Sacrament meeting as they talked and sang -- teaching us the things they have been learning.  And it was just so sweet.  I love to hear their little voices from the front of the chapel, coming through the microphone.  I love to watch them stand and sing the songs that they have been learning all year.  There's just something special about Primary Program Sunday -- and everyone seems to feel it.  Because everyone seems to be just a little more attentive... a little more focused on the pulpit as the children take their turns.  And the kids just shine with happiness and excitement and joy as they say their part and sit back down. 

I just get the warm fuzzies...  And today I did.  I'm grateful I was able to be there to enjoy it.

What are you grateful for today?