It is, indeed, the time of year when we count our blessings. It is true that we should count them every day- in a way, that's what my Notably Positive blogs are about- but this time of year we tend to try harder, think longer and take an extra moment for gratitude. I admit that I haven't always done a very good job. This week has been... Emotional and trying for me so it's time for me to count my blessings.
We have the Little Car That Could. I know I just posted about this but I'm still grateful that I have it. When Branden told me this past Monday that he'd taken his car to the shop and the transmission was gone, I admit that I cried. But we still have a car. How blessed am I to have the money to own two cars. How blessed am I to have a family who, without a second thought, GAVE me a little car that meets my needs. How lucky am I to have found a husband who does everything in his power and learns new things to keep that car running. The Little Car That Could is many, many blessings rolled into one.
I have a husband who loves me. First off, I LOVE having a husband. Second, all those bitter people I met who told me that marriage changes everything were both right and wrong. Oh, things changed. There's a new sense of security, a permanence that means we'll both try our best because walking away isn't an option. With that, there's a renewed effort to meet needs. I'm not always good at this. Branden asks for little and most of what he asks for is not to give but to let be... I'm not good at letting be. I'm much better at giving. I do try, Love. (Yep, he reads this, too. Which brings me to how lucky I am to have a husband who cares about the things I write and wants to know my thoughts.) I appreciate the efforts I see him making to meet my needs and do the things I ask. I can be incredibly impatient and he still loves me and hugs me. And I love him, too, which makes life just that much better. :)
I have a bed. I don't remember the exact circumstances- maybe Katie does- but Katie's friend once told her that she should be thankful that she has a bed. That has stuck with me and I have shared it with others. If you have a bed that is yours, that means you have a place to live, a place to lay your head at night. It may not be the most amazing mattress ever made and it may not be in the most beautiful house but you have something others dream of. No matter how bad things get, no matter how much you think your life sucks, just remember and be thankful that you have a bed. I have a bed that I share with my husband- see above paragraph if you missed that I'm thankful for him- and even though the *insert strings of swear words here* cat peed on it yesterday and is never again allowed in the bedroom, the bed has been cleaned and there are fresh sheets and blankets on it. I am thankful for those sheets and blankets, as well, and the technology that allows me to get them washed and dried in a matter of a few hours rather than an entire day.
I have sisters who love me. I will admit here and now that I am horrendously jealous of a couple of them right now and it's been an emotional week because I want what they are going to have so badly BUT I still love them and they are sweet enough to include me in what is going on with their lives. I feel so lucky to have been able to develop the relationship that Chantelle and I have now. There was a time that I would have said we are too different to ever be close, but I would have been wrong. And I am so incredibly blessed to have the relationship that I have with Katie. I don't know if I do anywhere near the amount of stuff for her that she does for me and I can never repay her for all the love and understanding she sends my way. She's an amazing woman and when I called her to cry, she let me and helped me feel better as only she can. I am thankful for Bekkie and the knowledge and wisdom she has to share. We don't talk as often as we should but I enjoy every conversation. I am thankful for Carrie and all the support she has given me. I am thankful for Christina and the sweetness and love she has in her heart. I miss her hugs. I should note that I am also thankful for my brothers and their wives and my sisters' husbands but this is really about my sisters. :)
I know this isn't quite like my other Notably Positive posts but these are some things I've been thinking about. These things have brought me feelings of gratitude and I needed to share.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Friday, November 12, 2010
The Little Car That Could
First, I admit that I've been procrastinating posting because I need to post wedding pictures and every time that I go to post I feel guilty that I haven't yet... But things are happening and the pictures will get up and I'm not going to stop posting just because I've been picture-lazy. Now for the post!
We have two cars. Branden's car is newer than mine by seven years, it has A/C, it's an automatic and we thought it was more reliable. Now that we can carpool to work- Huzzah for saving money!- we've been driving his car to prolong the life of my car. As it turns out, his car really isn't more reliable and now needs a new transmission. Since that will cost more than the car is worth, we are going to try to sell it as a parts car and buy an new-to-us car which won't be any newer but will hopefully run better.
Until such time as we purchase a vehicle, we are back to driving the Little Car That Could. I seriously can't believe how much this car has been through. Nobody thought it would last this long and we've been expecting it to die for a while now. Just as a reminder, this is a 1991 Nissan Stanza with something like 240,000 miles on it. It's been through multiple drivers, at least one car accident, a deericide, many trips from Northern to Southern UT and back again, at least once weekly from Kamas to Ogden and back for 6 months, 1300 miles out to St. Louis and a 40 mile round trip 5 days a week for more than a year. And somehow it's hanging in there, if only just. It so reminds me of the little engine who chugged up the hill saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
That said, eventually it's going to give up. Please, everyone send good energy our way in whatever form you practice. We just need it to keep going, well, technically forever but no less than 6 months. :)
We have two cars. Branden's car is newer than mine by seven years, it has A/C, it's an automatic and we thought it was more reliable. Now that we can carpool to work- Huzzah for saving money!- we've been driving his car to prolong the life of my car. As it turns out, his car really isn't more reliable and now needs a new transmission. Since that will cost more than the car is worth, we are going to try to sell it as a parts car and buy an new-to-us car which won't be any newer but will hopefully run better.
Until such time as we purchase a vehicle, we are back to driving the Little Car That Could. I seriously can't believe how much this car has been through. Nobody thought it would last this long and we've been expecting it to die for a while now. Just as a reminder, this is a 1991 Nissan Stanza with something like 240,000 miles on it. It's been through multiple drivers, at least one car accident, a deericide, many trips from Northern to Southern UT and back again, at least once weekly from Kamas to Ogden and back for 6 months, 1300 miles out to St. Louis and a 40 mile round trip 5 days a week for more than a year. And somehow it's hanging in there, if only just. It so reminds me of the little engine who chugged up the hill saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can."
That said, eventually it's going to give up. Please, everyone send good energy our way in whatever form you practice. We just need it to keep going, well, technically forever but no less than 6 months. :)
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