Day 25...

Yeah I know.. I haven't really done a very good job of keeping up like I should have but here goes... I sit in my home tonight with the first Thanksgiving as a wife is complete. We survived and everyone seemed to have a good time eating together! So in honor of my sweet friend Amanda I will do a top 10 of Thanksgiving!

#10... Thankful for a warm house, warm bed, and warm food in my belly.
#9... Thankful for a family of two. Being married has been a journey to say the least. I have learned and still am learning to be the best that I can be. I hope that each day I will be what I can be for Bo and that we can continue to mold our lives into one!
#8... Thankful for my Papa. He is 93 years old and his health hasn't been the best lately. He hasn't been doing very well and he is spending his Thanksgiving in the hospital. I went to visit today and he wasn't very sure who I was and didn't know that it was Thanksgiving even though we watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade. I am just thankful for every day that God gives him to me. I have been with him and spent a good amount a time with him. Listening to stories of the past century and could have listened for hours more! I pray and am thankful for each day that God continues to give him to us.
#7... Thankful for friends... I am so blessed to have friends who have invested so much of their time into my life, my marriage and my well being... Thank you guys for loving me, when I am sometimes not so lovable.
#6... Thankful today for Julie, Jason, Ian, and Ivy Thomas.. They have a brand new baby girl who is the most precious thing in the world. I have seen through them that we have so much to be thankful for! Thank you Thomas family.. We LURV you!
#5... Thankful for my job. I am thankful each day for my job as a teacher. I am blessed to be able to share 7 hours of my day with my precious 23 second graders. Each day they teach me way more than I can teach them.
#4... Thank you God for my family. They have loved me when I haven't been so lovable. We are blessed to have Bo's parents here from NY. We love it when they come to visit and they truly treat us like gold when they are here. We are blessed to have both of our families who have invested so much in our lives!
#3... Thankful for Bo. He has blessed my life in more ways than I can describe. I love the times we have laughed, cried, played, chased each other around the house, and just sat and existed! Thank you for being my husband!
#2... Thankful to have a God who is AMAZING! I love serving a God who knows me inside and out and knows my cares, my fears, my tears, my laughter, my worries,and my sorrows. All before I even know them. Thank you Lord for being my ABBA.
#1... Thankful to have so much to be thankful for!

Thankful for Radio...

As strange as it sounds in my 30 minute commute each morning I am very thankful for radio. I listen to Bo as he amazingly completes his radio morning show: The Bo and Lauren Show. I am able to listen and laugh and leave cares and worries back at home, but this particular morning I am so thankful for 106.9 The Light. The Light is a Christian radio station that I many times listen to in the afternoon on the way home as a decompressor of the day. I was listening though in the morning and with all the stress of life God knew what I needed to hear this song today. Every verse touched my heart. I sang (scary I know), I cried, I even raised my hands in worship as I drove... God is so good and knows every worry and stress we carry and sent this song to me. The video has some neat clips from the movie Fireproof also.. Just love the song. Good Movie also!



Three in the morning,
And I'm still awake,
So I picked up a pen and a page,
And I started writing,
Just what I'd say,
If we were face to face,
I'd tell you just what you mean to me,
I'd tell you these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

Last time we spoke,
You said you were hurting,
And I felt your pain in my heart,
I want to tell you,
That I keep on praying,
Love will find you where you are,
I know cause I've already been there,
So please hear these simple truths,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
These are the words I would say,

From one simple life to another,
I will say,
Come find peace in the Father,

Be strong in the Lord and,
Never give up hope,
You're going to do great things,
I already know,
God's got His hand on you so,
Don't live life in fear,
Forgive and forget,
But don't forget why you're here,
Take your time and pray,
Thank God for each day,
His love will find a way,
These are the words I would say

Day #2 Thanks for Giving

Thanks for giving: Your Life... Today is a day of thankfulness. I am thankful for those who have given their lives in order for me to have the freedoms that I do. I look at my day and think of all the things that I am able to do all just because of the freedom that someone else has given me. Just the fact that I am a woman and I am able to do things that not all women across the world can do. Just take a moment to think of all the freedoms you have just because someone today, yesterday, or years ago gave their life for you and your family.

Thanks For Giving

Art work from a second grader

I have been away for a while, but with it being the month of November I wanted to share my Thanks for Giving. I will try to write a post each day that is with Giving Thanks! So many days I have to just leave stress at home and retreat to school to where my babies need me. I have to just dig into them and be their comfort and their peace of mind. As hard as it is to do when many of them come from so many unfornuate situations, but I have to be the safe place. So here is what we are thankful for in our class. Enjoy what my second grade babies have to say.
We are thankful for:
Mrs. McDonald: I am thankful to be their teacher!
Karishma: my family
Collin: for the food God gave us
Lille: for my family
Omar: for my friends
Nasir: all of the things that God gave me
Adam: for the food God gave us
Imari: my teacher
Torriona: my family
Charlie: my family and playing with cousins and my brother
Drasha: family and friends
Nathan: my dog
Doniyah: for what I have
Chris: the things that God gave us
Madison: my parents
Nilay: my family and family members
Reece: thank God for my food
Arturo: my food
Amari: for everything I have and got
Miguel: my sister
Kathryn: for the turkey
Helena: my teacher