Thankful Mom of Five, Adoptive Mom of Two Ukrainian Beauties and Bereaved Mom

           Today I am thankful that I finished baking and making the cookie trays for my friends!  These are the last three!  I forgot to put in the chocolate pretzels so I had to gingerly open the wrap and put them in. I am also running my brava wet mop at the same time.  I love my cleaners working while I am busy doing something else!          I am also thankful that Olya helped clean this morning. Olya is a fabulous cleaner and organizer.  For some reason, Olivia and Olya moved the furniture around in the guest room.!!! I asked them why they moved it.  Olivia told me that I am not in charge of everything in the house!  LOL, Dan said, hello , her name is on the deed, so yes she is! I don't really care that they moved the furniture around, but it cracked me up that they bothered to do it. Olya has been cleaning out her closet.  She is very much like me in that she can't stand clutter!!   ...

         Today I am thankful that my sciatica is a bit better, I am trying to not expect it to stay like this because the second day after I get a shot is always better than before the shot.  Every other time, the pain came back the same by the third day.  I am hoping that it doesn't come back full force this time tomorrow!! The staff where I got the shot was so nice.  I am thankful that they were so kind.          Today was the first time that Olya got her eyebrows waxed!  She hardly has any stray hairs, she has perfect eyebrows!  But she wanted to try to get them done so I said sure, it's always good to try new things.  She said she doesn't think she'd do it again for quite awhile because it hurt!!          I am also thankful that I am eating the chocolate covered pretzels that my friend Leslie gave me the other day! I was too sleepy yesterday to eat some of them after having ane...

         Today I am thankful that I went to lunch with my childhood friend Leslie.  We met when we were about 10, we grew up on the same street!  There is something special about being with someone who you shared all of your childhood secrets with.  Leslie is an amazing person.  Despite adversity, she is still kind and thoughtful.  I love being with her.  Her dad died when she was about 11 and her mom died when she was about 19 so she raised her four younger siblings.  They have all turned out so well, thanks to her.  Leslie is a very giving person, she always shares her talents with others.  She did the calligraphy on Renee's wedding invitations and it was so beautifully done! Leslie gave me a box of chocolate covered pretzels, MY ABSOLUTE favorite snack!! I am thankful for our time together.         Last night I went to a bereaved parent meeting. I dropped off the cookie trays that Priscilla and...

          Oh No, a GIANT RAT in my HOUSE!!! Today I am thankful that my friend Priscilla came over last night.  She gave me the greatest Christmas present ever!! Here it is!!! It's a wooden rat!! I had always wrapped plastic rats for the kids at Christmas!! Last year, the girls threw away my rats.  This year I was going to paint them red and green before I wrapped them but they are gone!  I cracked up at Priscilla's gift!!! Priscilla  baked cookies and I baked brownies and we are assembled the packages last night.  I got a roll of the clear wrap paper, Hershey Kisses, and made bows to tie onto the packages.  We both collected Christmas plates over the last few months. The packages all look so festive!  It doesn't even matter what is inside of them!        I am also thankful that Frankie's mom sent me a tray of delicious homemade cookies and a beautiful Poinsettia plant!! My sister stopped over today a...

      Today I am thankful for the gifts that arrived in the mail from my good friend Debbie L.   Debbie is also a bereaved mom and we met the year that Amy and her son Pete died. Amy was 18 and just finished her freshman year at college,  Pete was 17 and a senior in high school.  Debbie and her husband were given his high school graduation diploma. We actually met in a chatroom online but we have also met several times in person. She has been at all the significant events in my life since I lost my daughter and I appreciate that so much.  Debbie is the best friend we both wish we never had  cause to ever meet! But I love her so much, she is an amazing and thoughtful, kind friend who has helped me so much since Amy died.  She even sent a stocking for the cats with a can of cat food inside. It is the cutest little stocking!!!! Her granddaughter Brielle always sends me crafts on the holidays.  I can't wait to open what she sent me! I cr...

         Today I am thankful that Dan and I went to my friend Joann's house.  She invited us over to hang out and have pizza.  Joann and I went to college together.  She also invited our friend Mary but Mary couldn't come this time, she had a family function. Mary is one of 13 kids so it is hard to get her sometimes.  I think she has about 56 nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews. The three of us met when we were 17 years old and we are still good friends. Together we have been through the positives and negatives in our lives including the births and adoptions of our children, high school and college graduations, deaths of our parents, divorces, loss of siblings and loss of my daughter Amy. I am so thankful to have long time supportive friends.          Joann's house is so beautifully decorated for Christmas!  Her house is decorated beautifully to begin with, but her Christmas decorations are amaz...

        Today I am thankful that Olya is home from college!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have all missed her!  Last night we met her at the play.  She had stayed overnight at her boyfriend's home and exchanged Christmas gifts with them on Thursday night.  She finished her classes on Wed.  Since Matt was going to the play, it made sense that she just stay at his parent's house. Matt got all of his grades already and he got an A in every course. I think he has a 4.0 GPA.  Olya did extremely well this semester, she is just waiting for her psychology teacher to post her exam and final grade in that class!  Olya works really hard in college, she always attends class, does her homework and does all of the extra credit. I know she will be successful because she has the work ethic down pat!