Hello November Monday!

 

Totally stole this from {someone's} blog. . .can't remember whom now. . .but so, so true.  Joyce did a link-up last week and gratitude was a prompt so it probably came from that.  Or Jenn, who does often does Gratitude Thursdays.  

For some reason I have LOTS of thoughts swirling around in my head this Monday morning so who knows where this post will go??  Linking up with Holly and Sarah to catch up with all of you this morning too :)

My sister and I were texting about an hour ago and she asked me why I was up so early. . .midlife is the only answer I have.  4:30 a.m. has become my 6:30 a.m. I guess - at least during the week.  Oh well, I really don't mind it.  It gives me time to blog and read blogs without other things pulling my attention away :)

I did reply back to her 

My water broke about 3:30 in the morning. . ."everyone said" the first baby would take "all day" so we didn't rush. . .didn't make many phone calls - only my sis - and made it to the hospital a little after 4 maybe.  Robert Thomas was born before breakfast!!!  

I'm thankful the kids' mammaw made these albums for them - there are details here I wouldn't necessarily remember.  I think my mom was in the delivery room with us also. . .when the staff saw how far along I was when I got to the hospital the phone chain started (remember those?!?).  Anyway. . ."who knew", that day in 1998, where we would be today???This was the day he got engaged this summer :). And now the wedding is just over two weeks away!!  Time is a funny thing, y'know?  Tom was actually a year younger than Robert is now the day he was born.

Speaking of time and people. . .I am listening to a book right now, The Husbands, that is really making me think about how different people make a difference in the life you lead.  At least from this author's point of view.  This weekend I have asked the question of myself, "If I was dropped into my life right now, what would I think?"

I think I would be astounded by my life, my home, my family, my job, my day-to-day. . .let's say 25-year-old "me" dropped in now. . .I think I would just look around in WONDER.  I would be overwhelmed by the family I've been given, the family I am still lucky enough to pick up the phone and call (or go down the street to see), the list of friends on the wedding invite list - always great to see names you've known for over 25 years! - and I would certainly be curious about what happened to my teaching career.  I would be happy to see a dog in the house, probably happy that one of our first furniture purchases, a rocking chair from Amish country, would still be in my living room as well as the dining set that I have always loved from my family.  I think I would be very happy with this life - when looking at life from this perspective I realize I'm not grateful enough day-to-day. . .it really is such a special privilege to live this life!!

As for this weekend - 3 days of tennis!!!  We played Friday night (it was COLD - started at 59 degrees and it was dark and 53 by the time we left the courts), Saturday after 7 a.m. pickleball I went over to our fitness club for a tennis clinic - I haven't been to one of those in MONTHS - and some of the curtains were open!!

(one of the very few pictures I took this weekend), and then Sunday I did the Pickleball ladder with my normal partner and then got to play in a USTA match last night!!  All that AND I took my lunch outside after church yesterday - the weather has been too good to not enjoy :)And, yes, you might spot another book I am reading - Harlan Coben and Reece Witherspoon have teamed up for Gone Before Goodbye.  This is the book Radar ate a couple weeks ago :/

Another thing my sister and I were texting about this morning are holiday gift lists.  I've run into some good ones!

Katie makes me wish I had more reasons to give hostess gifts!!

I found a TON of great ideas at Young House Love.  I like this one because nothing is sponsored (I don't mind when they are and try to use their links) but not being sponsored means they have ideas from everywhere and there are some really good gifts in this list.

I read Christina and Carolina Charm on-and-off - her Favorite Things guide is perfect for anyone who needs to buy for their mothers/sisters/girlfriends.  I have already put in an Amazon order for myself this morning from this list :)

The Big Boo Ladies have put together their gift guide here this year.  I don't know if I'll go through it or not - in the past they've always done an entire episode outlining the gifts and why they buy them - I'm much more apt to buy when they tell me why I should. . .who knows?  It's like with anything else - some days I'm in the mood to listen to a book or podcast, some days I'd rather read a book or blogs.  Something for everyone in this world!

If there are any other gift guides I should check out, please let me know - especially for the guys in my life who are all very picky and/or just buy what they need/want.

I have a bunch of ideas for my Foster Family Favorite this year. . .stay tuned ;)

Last memory from this weekend - two are currently Bells, one is about to become one!!  They were in Nashville together celebrating with her bridal party - it looks like they had a wonderful time :). I'm so happy that these girls all have each other - Ellie is doubling her siblings with this union - 2 sisters and 1 brother to go with the sisters and brother (and two BILs) that she already has!!  Good times ahead. . .

Hope it's a great week for all reading. . .time to switch over into "work mode" - it looks like it could be a productive week ahead for me.

Erin signed up for the Hallmark Channel a couple of weeks ago - what should I put on my watch list?

Love,

Jenni