November 30th

I have been sneezing since 4 o'clock this afternoon and still haven't stopped. My nose has a tickle waaaay up inside between my eyes that won't quit. I have a bright red nose from all the blowing, my eyes are glassy looking and constantly tearing, and I have about peed myself twice.
TMI?
Probably the two benadryl I have taken.

Why did I not just skip tonight's daily post? Because this is the last day of the month!
For that I am thankful.

November 29th

Thankful for a cutie patootie new haircut on my Jane Gracen. All three of my girls have patiently let me cut their hair.....but once they get in school, I pay a professional. If you knew my Brogan Tess at this age, you will smile at the similarities.

What happened to November 28th?

Lordy, what a Monday.
The day following any long holiday is torture at work.....people freak out when they aren't able to be in contact with us for four days.......it almost makes it not worth the time off.
Almost.
I worked my tail end off for 8 hours, then came home and melted. Seriously. Did not want to do anything but eat, and sit around, and look at my family.
Which is what I did.
Thankful for a night with nothing to do but to do nothing.
*smile*

November 27th

Tonight I am extremely thankful for some alone time. The in-laws gave me one of the best birthday gifts ever by calling this afternoon asking if ALL THREE girls could come over and help them decorate a Christmas tree.
HELLS YES, they can!
I made a super fast trip to Wal-mart to exchange a couple of things, then came home and got 5 loads of laundry done and wrapped about 50 presents... several of which were for the girls!(I usually have to wait until they go to bed, then drag everything up to my bedroom and wrap until the wee hours of the night...today was sooo much better)
After 5 hours they returned to the house with their bellies full and their energy tanks empty.
Perfect.
It doesn't happen often, so when it does, I am so thankful to have just a smidge of alone time.
It also reminds me how thankful I am when everyone comes home.

It's My Birthday!

Today I am thankful that this guy could not ignore the irresistable charm of this older woman. Happy Birthday to ME.

November 25th

Tonight I am thankful for another Black Friday survived. This year my mom and I left around 7:30am.....we had to wait until the child care got home from work!........and didn't get home until 7:30pm. Not bad for her first time!
I love shopping all day and then going back through my purchases when I get home and being surprised at what all is in the bags. It was so long ago that I stood in line, it is easy to forget!
This year I got a lot done and spent less than usual, probably because I have already done some shopping before today. I also had some birthday money to spend, so got some goodies for myself at Black Friday prices! Makes turning a year older a little more fun.......

My legs are tired, my feet are sore, my back is achy, my house was trashed(thank you child care...NOT) but I am feeling JOY.

Happy day after Thanksgiving to all, and to all, a good night!
(The child care DID get the Christmas tree up and decorated! Hooray!)
*so thankful*

November 24th

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I love ya, Tomorrow....

you're only a day away!!

BLACK FRIDAY!

CAN'T WAIT.

November 23rd

Amen.

November 22nd

So thankful to pull into the cul de sac and see this girl's car is safely home from college for the holiday. (I'm thankful Conrad made it safely home too.)

Now if we can just get our Bailey safely home from New York this weekend.......

(Bai will be marching/performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade! I am so thankful for the opportunity for her....she called last night and is having a crazy fun time. Turn to NBC on Thursday morning to see her in the FRONT ROW of her performance group, all the way over to the right. We are super proud. In above pic she is second from the left in the front row.)

So thankful for these girls and what a blessing they are to us.

November 21st

yep. thankful.

November 20th

Today I am thankful that I have officially caught the holiday spirit.
I love Christmas shopping. Love Love Love it!!
Every year the Adopt a Family list at our work gets longer and longer. Last year there were 28 families that met the criteria, this year there are 40. As of Friday last week, there were still 14 families that had not been adopted.
Makes my heart hurt.
I am so lucky to be a part of a Med Services team at work that picks the biggest family and goes above and beyond to make sure the kids, and adults, have a wonderful Christmas. My parents and our family also adopted a family. This year a former co-worker and his family have fallen on hard times and need a little help having a merry Christmas. And there will be a chance to adopt some of the teenagers from the Watkins Mill Youth Detention Facility here in Kearney thru our church. Did I mention there are still 14 families that need to be adopted at work?
Yep, I am planning to look thru the list one more time.........
Andy and I have a little joke that this time of year I am going to spend every extra penny we make on people we don't even know....
It just feels JOYful to spend money on one more person, rather than money to buy us one more thing that we don't even really need.
This holiday season I want to give until my giver is sore.
YOU SHOULD DO THIS TOO!
I am thankful that the Christmas Spirit is alive and well in this house.

November 19th

Typically going into a Wal-mart makes me want to gouge my eyes out....but the Excelsior Springs store is THE exception.
Tonight the two younger daughters and I went on a late evening Christmas shopping trip to pick out some toys for some little ones on our list. It was a Martens family field trip of sorts. An activity that got us out of the house combining work(getting some groceries) and fun(toy shopping!).
I love that the store is clean, well lit, the shelves are well
stocked, there is always a checkout lane open, rarely any drama, and it is open 24 hours.
I am thankful for the Excelsior Springs 24 hour Wal-mart.

November 18th

Tonight I am totally thankful for some really great praise music. I didn't really know much about Christian rock music until I started to get involved with our teenagers at church. Every Wednesday night we have Worship after Bible Study, led by a praise band. A few years ago I didn't know a single word, didn't enjoy it, preferred singing the "oldies but goodies" from the hymnal on Sunday morning.
I am a changed person.
Now I have a huge playlist of praise music and love to worship with music led by a praise band....I am especially smitten with "The Journey" praise band on Saturday nights at our church. Really talented group of musicians and they don't sing the typical I heart Jesus music, if you know what I mean.
If you don't, it's because you haven't been to the Journey service and you should go!
Anyway, tonight I was running(don't laugh) on the treadmill and I decided to switch it up and listen to my worship playlist.
These are the songs I think are the bomb-diggity....for a variety of reasons.
You are my Joy--DCB
Trouble Won't Go--Enter the Worship Circle
Wrap Me in Your Arms--Fifty Seven Seven
Beautiful, Beautiful--Francesca Battistelli
Please Be My Strength and Beautiful Things--Gungor
Always--Kristian Stanfill
So Long Self--MercyMe
Funky Jesus Music--TobyMac
Catchafire--TobyMac
Be Glorified--Tim Hughes
Hungry--Joy Williams
Oh, Happiness--DCB

All of these songs either have lyrics that totally speak to me, or they just have the ability to make me want to dance and move! I totally encourage you to check them out. Even though I didn't list this song above, hands down, my favorite music lyrics come from the David Crowder Band's "How He Loves".......it makes my heart sing and my brain cry when I think about the complete peace it makes me feel.
The songs opens with "He is jealous for me...."
makes me feel so WOW.
and then I love the lyric "If His grace is an ocean, we're all sinking"
Double WOW.

I so wish this kind of music had been a part of my teenage years........so thankful that it is a part of my adult years.

November 17th

To say I am thankful for my parents is an understatement. I am grateful, I am forever in debt to them for all the money they have saved us, and I am blessed to have them as the grandparents of my children.
My parents were teachers for 30 years and conveniently decided to retire when Tess was about 9 months old. For the last 10 years, through nursing school, job changes, two more kids, and going from part time to full time work schedules.....my parents have been there to offer their home, their food, their energy, their free time and their love to my children.
I hope they know how important they have been to the raising of my girls into the amazing kids they are today. Every day, I am thankful for my parents.

November 16th

Tonight I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the teenagers of our church. I have been blessed to be one of the youth leaders for almost 3 years now and I love it.
At first I was so intimidated by the thought of teaching something I know so little about. It has taken me the three years to realize that the kids don't care if I "know" everything, they want someone to help them become better Christians....and accidently learn the Word of God along the way! These kids are smart and funny and have waaaay more pressures as a teen than I ever remember having. I am blown away by the intelligence these kids have when it comes to understanding the scriptures and feel lucky when I actually get to teach them something they didn't already know.
I feel good knowing these youth are our future leaders and I am thankful He chose me to help make them into future Christian leaders.

November 15th

Today I am thankful for KU basketball.
Now that baseball season is officially over this family is hurting for some sports to watch! Not that football is bleh, but football is pretty bleh compared to the high energy of college basketball and the fun of America's favorite past time....Royals baseball!
The first clothing Tess wore was a Jayhawk tshirt and hat while having "Rooock...Chaaaalk.....Jaaaayhaaaawk.....K...U..." sung to her by her daddy the day she was born. Jane owned a NCAA championship t-shirt before she was even born. The family thought I might go into pre-mature labor from all the jumping around I did that championship night in 2008. Kate loves to make us crafts with hearts, and the words KU, Dad, and Kate on them.
To stave off the winter blahs we love to get the whole family together to watch a game, especially the Kansas vs Missouri game.....wonder who our new "must see" rival game will be with next year?
KU basketball brings the Martens family togther and for that I am thankful.

November 14th

Today I am thankful for playing games with Kate.
Normally I am NOT a game player. Ask any Martens family member, I am a total wet blanket when it comes to family game time.
Playing games with Kate is my exception, and we especially like to play Uno. Most nights before we read, we play a game or two of Uno. It is really fun seeing how Kate is thinking out her strategy and delivering her "draw" cards to really put the hammer down.....followed by her cute little evil smile.
Tonight I am thankful for game night with Kate.
But that doesn't change the fact that I hate playing games.
Mind games are cool though.

November 13th

Today I am thankful for finances.
I just finished paying some bills, and thankfully, there is a bit of money left over. When I say a bit, I really mean a smidge....
I am thankful that this holiday season I can buy for my family and teach my girls the JOY of buying for others.....especially people we don't even know.
Money saved is wise, money spent wisely is JOY.
I am on a never ending quest to become a wise woman.

November 12th

Today I am thankful for healthy, growing, daughters.
I bought Tess her first "unmentionables" today.
Big day for the Martens house..her father doesn't even know yet.
Sad part is she was afraid to tell me she wanted to
try wearing a bra.
Good part is that when she did tell me, I didn't freak out.
Funny part is that we both had been wanting her
to try wearing one for a few months now....
I am thankful for getting to be a mother to daughters.

11-11-11

Conversation between Jane and I yesterday evening....
Jane: "Mom where are you going"
Me: "On a date with my boyfriend!"
Jane: (gasp) "You have a boyfriend? Who's his name?"
Me: "His name is Andy"
Jane: (giggles) "Mom, that's not a boyfriend, that's my dad!"
pause pause pause
Jane: "Why do you want to date my dad?"
Me: "Because I think he's cute!"
Jane: total break down into girlie giggles....

Last night Andy and I, along with my BIL and SIL, went to see my brother's band play at a hole-in-the-wall Westport bar. We had a great time, stayed up too late, and really enjoyed the music.
Love date nights with my man, love a good babysitter(Courtney rocks!)love my BIL/SIL, love my brother.
Totally thankful for time with people I love.

November 10th

Today(and every day) I am thankful for my brother.....
For those of you that did not even know I had a brother, he looks like me, only as a dude.
After four years of being an only child, and the only grandchild, John was born and the sweet life was over for me.
We are better friends now than we ever were as kids, and most days he is way too busy to spend much time visiting suburbia, much to our parents chagrin. My girls love their Unkie John. He loves them too and loves to tease them mercilessly.....while they giggle.
John is a coffee snob barista by day and a singer/songwriter by night. He was a solo act for years and recently added a band of friends to the stage. Tomorrow night Andy and I will stay up past our bedtime to attend a "John Greiner and The Sawyers" show downtown. Finally a show that is not on a Tuesday night at 9:00! (yawn)
Did I mention it will be a coveted date night for us too?
hint.......guess what I will be thankful for tomorrow!

November 9th

Today I am thankful for exercise.
No. I am not joking.
Yes. I hate to exercise.
I am thankful for the ability to move, sweat, and suck wind in an attempt to be a healthier person.
I am also thankful for my co-worker Kendra and my hubs Andy for working out with me and holding me accountable when I sit on my rear instead of exercising.
So, to be clear...
Thankful for exercise....but greatly dislike it.
Next year I hope to be thankful for a flat(er) stomach and a smaller behind.

November 8th

I am so very thankful for family time. We were having such a wonderful Martens 5 evening last night that I totally blew off my daily post.
Rarely are we all home, all evening.....I know, it is just going to get worse as the girls get older.
During the week before Halloween I had been looking for some free movies on the television to entertain the girls.....that is where I stumbled on the 13 Days before Halloween movies on ABC Family Channel.
We watched The Addams Family(twice), Addams Family Values, Coraline, and Matilda. the girls loved these "old" movies and really thought they were hilarious.
I had forgotten how full of sexual innuendos The Addams Family movie is....most went over the girls' head.....I think.
Last night was the post Halloween viewing, it took that long to find a free family night, of Ghostbusters!
The girls loved it.
I loved seeing all of us, sitting in the dark, wrapped up in blankets, watching a family movie that wasn't animated.
So thankful for time with the fam

November 7th

Today I am thankful for awesome neighbors and cul-de-sac living!
We have the best street ever, full of kids with fun parents.
(okay, if you know us, you know we have a few odd balls on the street too)
We bought this house 10 years ago and there were only two young kids on the street...our Samantha and Bailey. Now there are 15 kids ranging in age from 18months to almost 18!

Most evenings there are kids riding bikes, playing ball, or just running around. And every kid knows the #1 rule for playing on our street: The first person to see a car shouts "CAR!" and everyone runs/rides for the closest piece of grass to get out of the way.

We have genuine worries about moving somewhere without the West family.
There is something really special about our friendship. We don't know near everything about each other, but we know enough, and we still like each other anyway.
I am so thankful for our neighbors across the street.......you know who you are.

November 6th

On the sixth day of November the good Lord gave to me......
The gift of a la-zy Suuundaaay.

I love Sundays. The older I get, the better the chance, that Sunday is going to replace Thursday as my favorite day of the week! Seriously.
Every Sunday morning at our house starts at 8am with the musical trumpets of CBS Sunday Morning. Andy and I love that show. It entertains, it educates, it gives me a reason to sit still in the morning and say "sshhh" to my kids.
Then the Martens 5 start the process of getting four girls and one boy ready for church. This time of year our biggest fashion dilemas come when trying to decide which shade of pink leggings (pronouced legguns at our house) to wear with the Sunday dress.
Church is just "aahhh" time. Time to relax, recharge my mind, and rejoice in worship.
We get home, eat lunch, throw the dishes in the dishwasher and then throw ourselves on the couch.
Delightful. Simply the best.
Today I spent the majority of my afternoon telling the girls to "sshhh" while I checked my eyelids for holes.
I am so thankful that God created this 7th day for resting.

November 5th

Tonight I am thankful for steak....
The steaks Andy grills at our home are without a doubt better than any steak from a resturaunt.

November 4th

Mother's Intuition. Either you have it, or you don't.....and chances are if you don't, it's because either you are not a mother(yet) or you are a boy.

Tonight I stopped at Kohls to pick up a quick gift. I was on my way to the check out when I saw this young mother, carrying a toddler, with "the look". I walked passed her and then turned around to see her quickly scanning between clothing racks walking quickly.
Yep, she was looking for her child.
Then I heard the familiar soft scream, "Maa-son!" said softly to not induce panic in others, or in the herself.
I know this scream because I HAVE BEEN THERE. Probably why I recognized "the look". Anyway,
I knew this lady needed help, and I just could not walk away.
Did I mention, I HAVE BEEN THERE.
So I turn around, set down my purchase, and fast walk to catch up with her.
Long story short, it took two MORE moms to surround, wrangle, and hold Mason while his mother caught up with us. She dropped to her knees, hugged the boy and did the sob-scold..."you scared me! Please don't ever do that again!"
She thanked us profusely as we offered to help her to the car.
Did I mention Mason thought running from mom was fun?
She called her friend who was shopping in a different area of the store while we each held onto Mason.
Friend came, mom thanked us again while wiping the tears from her eyes.
The other mother and I both said "Don't mention it..... WE HAVE BEEN THERE."
I am thankful for mother's intuition. I knew the expression on that mother's face was not "where is that rug I saw in the ad?"
It was "My child is gone. I cannot belive this is happening to me."
Been there, done that.

November 3rd

Really thankful for forgiveness.......
A few days ago I forgot about a mother that was sitting in our waiting room. She had come to the office over her lunch break to pick up a script for her son. Her really sick son. I was notified of her arrival by the front desk, finished a task I was doing, and then went to lunch.
When I got back from lunch, like a whole hour later, there was a voice message waiting on my phone from her saying she had waited as long as her job would allow and would I please mail the script because she can't leave work easily to come back up to the office.
*sigh*
After I realized what an ass I had been, I called her and had to leave a message for her.

I apologized. Totally owned my mistake. Said that I was so very sorry and asked for her forgiveness.

About an hour later I got a message from her. .......she has the thickest southern drawl.......saying "everyone makes mistakes Sarah. You have always been so good to my son, that this is just no big deal. I forgive you..apology accepted."
Forgiveness is a big deal.
I'm going to make an effort to try it more often.

November 2nd

I am thankful for nice co-workers. I love my job and I really love the people I work with. Easily the most fun place I have ever worked and it is largely due to my peers.
Today I received an award, the "Tag Team" award, given to an employee that has gone above and beyond (in the nominators opinion) and deserves special recognition. Multiple people are nominated, usually around 15, and the entire agency votes on the winner.
This month I won.
The cool thing is that this is the third time I have won this award in the whole year and a half I have worked at Tri-County. The super awesome part is that each time it has been for something that did not seem "above and beyond" to me at all, just me trying to be a good human.
Getting the award is humbling, and I really wish the person I had nominated had won. I personally thought she was an extra good human this month.
Instead, the people voted for me.
So I graciously accepted my certificate and my sweet parking spot for the month.
A fun work environment is really something to be thankful for.

Thanks and Giving...November 1st

I want to try something not that unique. For every day of November I am going to blog something I am thankful for. I also hope to throw in some blogs about giving, which I am thankful for the ability to do.
Some posts may be a sentence or two, and some a paragraph explaining why a particular item is worth mentioning. I hope to even put a picture or two, or twenty, with my thoughts.
If this isn't something you care to read, I will see you again in December.

I am so thankful for books.
Books, books, and more books, please.
--I am really looking forward to cold nights, warm blankets, and a hot drink.......and a BOOK.
--These days I pretty much only read non-fiction. It seems like I have read most fictional story plots anyway and I don't get excited by sci-fi or fantasy. The real world is thrilling enough for my suburbia brain.......
--When I go to the library it is a scheduled event, and Andy knows not to expect me home for an hour. I leave the library with at least 10 books, so if a book doesn't catch my interest, I have another to start reading right away......my time is too precious to waste on a dull book.
--What a JOY that my girls love to read as much as I do. I have to scold Tess to turn off the light at night and stop reading. Kate is working on a chapter book with few pictures(in Kindergarten!)
--I have decided not to read a book based on its poor taste in covers, whether it was offensive or simply boring, or weird.
--I read the entire Twilight Saga in a little over a week. It took over a week because I had to put the final book on hold at the library and wait for it.
*disclaimer* I was(and still am) not into the whole Twilight hysteria at all. Ask my teenagers. They had to MAKE me watch the first movie, about a year after it came out. After seeing that movie I was told the book was better and decided to give it a go. OMG....I was hooked on that lady's writing and became a reading zombie. Pretty sure I neglected the husband and kids that week, and I did read way into the wee morning hours a couple times.
--I have never read a Harry Potter book and don't plan to.
--I found the name of my first born in a book. I believe the name of the book was "Birthright"
--My special bedtime routine with Kate is lines from three of her favorite books. EVERY night I say "I love you my wonderful child"(I Love You Stinky Face) and "Good night Ladybug girl"(Adventures of Ladybug Girl) and "Bon Appetit"(Fancy Nancy) to her....in that order. If I forget any of them, she calls me out.
--Jane loves books about underwear. She has at least three.
--I can't read in the car for very long...I get motion sick.....totally is a great way to pass the time
--I belonged to a book club once...and it was more to get the free bag than to purchase books cheap. I cancelled as soon as I met my quota.
--I fantasize of a vacation where I am on a beach and get to read for MOST of the trip
--I don't think that guys that read are sexy.
--I prefer paperback over hard cover and I rarely purchase a book. THEY ARE FREE AT THE LIBRARY!
--I wish I could say I had read all the "classics" but I have not....that is on my bucket list for sure
--The movie is never as good as the book. period.
--I am on TEAM EDWARD