Pillows and Blankets.

I have been so busy that I have not been able to blog the last two days. Ugh!! I am just going to pick up with today. What's in the past is in the past, so I am going to keep going forward with my challenge of being thankful.

Today, I am thankful for many things, but currently, I am thankful for my bed. I had a rough night last night, tossing and turning only to be awake at 4am! Unfortunately, I had to be up at 5 so I was cut short a very precious hour of sleep. So, as I write this, I am exhausted and am so thankful that in an hour or so, I will be fast asleep. I can't believe that some people don't have a warm, comfortable bed to sleep in. I am so blessed to live in this country with all of these riches. I am blessed, I could say it a hundred times over and still not be able to explain how blessed I am.

Thankful for... football?!?

Today, I am thankful for....football. I know I know, some of you will laugh, but it's true. I used to hate the thought of watching a 4 hour game. I mean I could find a million better things to do, but now I find it relaxing. This all started with my boyfriend, Roger. His family watches football every weekend and since I spend every other weekend with them, I thought I should learn about it. So what did I do? Read a book, Football for Dummies, if I remember correctly. Although I do not understand all of the calls I understand the majority of the game. I do not have all of the players memorized, but I know who is on Roger's fantasy team. It is probably the only way that I relax on the weekend. I can watch an hour, fall asleep in the middle of the game, wake up and finish out the game cuddling with Roger. It is relaxing. I love that I am forced to relax every Sunday. It is a good feeling. So yes, I am thankful for football, as silly as it may seem!

My Boyfriend

Today I am thankful for many things, the weekend, my job, my safetly and health but today I am especially thankful for my boyfriend, Roger. Take a walk with me down memory lane...

Even from the start of our relationship, Roger has always been very caring and attentive. He tries very hard to pay attention to the little details. He would bring me flowers ever time he saw me (for the couple of months...) He always takes me out on dates or runs to the store when I am craving something. He never sighs about it but looks at like as an act of love.

He is always a listening to me, close attention to the details of my story. Many times I have spent hours crying into his arms about the silliest things. He never laughs about them or offers advice, just holds me and prays with me. I never have to worry if he cares about me because he is always showing me that he does.

I am thankful that he is a Godly man, that he is learning how to lead like Christ would lead. He is involved in an awesome group that keeps him accountable for the things he does. He ALWAYS comes back with a new plan on how to make his walk with Christ better. He is striving to please God in all he does. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Starbucks

Today I am thankful for Starbucks! I am glad that those people get up in the early morning to make my Peppermint Mocha Drink. Where would I be without it? I love that little pick me up in the morning :-) Thank you, Starbucks!

My Brothers

Today I am thankful for my brothers...

Caleb has a warm, sweet soul. Every since he was little he has always had a soft spot for animals and for people who are hurting. He always knows when something is bothering me. He knew the instant one of my relationships ended and immediately informed me that he would no longer be speaking to him because he hurt his big sister. He is just a wonderful person. I pray from the bottom of my heart that he has trusted Jesus as his Savior. Either way, I am still thankful for him and would never stop loving him.

Nathan has always been the brother that pushed my buttons. We would get into tons of fights about what to get for dinner or how to finish our homework. He was always right there for me. He always checked in on me when I would be very stressed. Now, he is engaged. My baby brother is getting married! He also is serving our country. He is in the United Stats Air Force. He is stationed in California. I love him to death. I hope that he stays safe in all of his travels in the Air Force. I am confident that he is saved, It is such a great feeling to know that I will have eternity with him.

Both of my brothers are very special to me in many different ways. I love them so much. I am thankful for them.

Thankfulness

I worked under a WSI 3 summers ago and recently she posted on her facebook a challenge. The challenge is simple, every day from now until Thanksgiving, post about what you are thankful for. Instead of doing that on my facebook, I decided to do it here. I may not have access to a computer every day but I will try my best!

Day 1:

Today, I am thankful for my clean car!! I am OCD. I love things clean and organized. Today my 3:00pm lessons were cancelled so instead I cleaned my car. I washed it and scrubbed it! I have yet to vacuum the inside and hang a new air freshner but the outside is clean. Little things like that make my day!!!

Are you going to take the challenge?!?

The One and Only...

Everyone must have something physical that they cling to to bring comfort. It may be a good book, a comfortable couch, a great relationship, your church, a teddy bear, your cooking ablitilies, or in my case a blanket... :-)

The details on my blanket were made by my Aunt Donna. When I was a little girl about the age of 6, she gave me this blanket for a present. She was always spoling me. When she orginially gave it to me, it was a tweety blanket. The purple center is the orginial...

The flower pattern is the new part of my blanket. A couple of years ago, I asked her to change the tweety to this pattern fleece flower pattern because the tweety was literally falling apart when you touched it. However, since I have had this blanket since I was 6 and am now 20 the blanket was getting alittle small for me. So, last year I asked her to make it large enough for me so it would cover me from toe to head. She took it away from me for 3 weeks!!! I was so lost without it, but when I got it back. She had added her special details to the blanket...

On every corner are these hand made flowers!! She is so crafty with her work! I absolutely love it!!! So why have I clung onto this blanket for so long? Well, it's simple, it's been through everything with me. I use to hold onto my blanket while tears fell from my face after my aunt would leave. I remember it being there when I was sick and was cuddled up on the couch. I remmber using it when my we had to stay at my Aunt's house because we weren't sure if Mark was going to come find us. I remember using it after my parents got a divorce, it was my comfort. I remember going through my first break up and spending hours sobbing into it. I remember using it when I was unsure of my college plans. For some reason, I thought it brought comfort and answers. I used it for all of my trips, as it always brought me comfort. I used it when my mom divorced my step dad. I used it for everything!!! It was the one thing that I loved to have and couldn't ever give it up. I have to keep it forever because its been apart of my life for so long. I am curious to see what other people have as a comfort item? Am I the only one who has something like this?

All I know is that I love my blanket...I am not sure that I will ever be able to give it up...

**this is my first post with pictures...bear with me**

Ten Honest Truths...

As an avid follower of my friend Tiffany's blog, I thought I would also do Ten Honest Truths! Like her, I love reading these truths so I thought I would pass along some of my own...

1. I love, I mean love to organize!!
2. I am terrified of having children some day. I cannot imagine handling the responsibility.
3. I hate teaching. It makes me nervous, not confident, and unsure of myself.
4. I have had the same blanket in my bed since I was 6 years old. It goes everywhere with me! (Alaska, California, Florida, Camp, Roger's House...you name it, it's been there!)
5. I am easily consumed with other's opinions of myself.
6. I have cried over a grade of an A- in a class.
7. I demand perfection out of myself and normally everyone around me.
8. I am a die hart romantic.
9. The smallest things brighten up my day. A child's laughter, a hug, a text message from a friend, or even a good parking spot.
10. I love being at home although I am rarely there.

I hope you enjoyed reading my honest truths!! Feel free to name some of your honest truths in your blog... :-)

Tuesday's with Bethany

How do I ever have the strength to get through my days?!?! Today is Tuesday which means my alarm goes off at 4:48AM! I have to be at work by 5:20. I pretty much roll out of bed, brush my teeth, and go to work. I fight through the sick feeling that I get up every morning that I get up that early. I lifeguard from 5:30am-1:00pm. It seems like a long shift and it is, but there are always people to brigthen my day. This morning, my favorite, yankeey loving old guy Tom brought me breakfast!!! He does this every Tuesday :-) I also know all of the members by name and they know me. I enjoy catching up on their weekends and talking about the newest town news. It is really a blessing to be so connected to the members at the pool. After all of that lifeguarding, I have two hours of office hours. During this time, I make schedules, fix current lifeguard problems, clean and organize the pool (which is my favorite thing to do!), schedule classes for different members, put lifeguards through orientation, and eat lunch! After my busy office hours, I teach 4 classes/2 hours of swim lessons. I wish I could explain how much I dislike teaching but I cannot find the words. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy watching kids finally get the butterfly or freestyle, but the process is what kills me!! It is very tiring and I could spend a whole blog entry on lessons alone. After lessons, I come home eat a quick dinner, normally by myself then pack for Wednesday and Thursday. Tonight I should be studying for a test but I decided to clean my room and do laundry and sneak in some time to blog... :-)

How do I manage all of this? I have to no idea!! Everyone I know tells me I am crazy and I am burning myself out. My lifeguards have even asked me how I handle full time work and full time school and a long distance relationship! I wish I could share a secret formula about how to manage life. I would like to say that I am an expert in time management but I am not. The only answer I have for you is Christ. Somehow, even though I neglect Him somedays, He gets me up in the mornings. He is my driving force though I do not always give Him the time of day. I am so thankful that He takes care of me. I would be lost without Him. I know that my days could be worse if He wasn't in my life. So that is my answer. God. Christ. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. The God of all Creation. My Heavenly Father...