11-1-11... Thankful... Day One

11-1-11.

Seems like the date would dictate a profound blog post, doesn't it? Too bad I'm fresh out of profound right now!  Maybe by the time 11-11-11 rolls around I'll think of something.

There is something about the date, however, that immediately makes me think forward to Thanksgiving. And the planning. And the list making. (And, oh! my! goodness! Christmas is not far behind.)

It's easy to lose sight of what the day is about. Not to mention that we are called to be thankful every day... not just the one day set aside on our calendar.

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace.

And always be thankful.  (Colossians 3:15, NLT)

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.  (I Thessalonians 5:18, NLT)

So, I am committing to posting daily for the month of November. Just one thing a day for which I am thankful.

Here goes...

Day one...

I am thankful for Kat.

I am thankful that she loves Jesus and others. I am thankful that she can make me laugh like no other especially with her spot on imitations of others. I am thankful that she rarely gives in to peer pressure despite the loneliness of being different. I am thankful that she sings in the shower - and has ever since she was old enough to shower without assistance.  I am thankful for the little glimpses I get of the woman she is becoming. I am thankful that she will still let me comfort her.

I am very thankful that she passed her driving test with a 100% score and can drive herself to school now. Or to the store when I need something.



The new driver.

We got the green light!

Well, it’s official. We are a three-driver family. Burrito took the test for his driver’s permit today and passed with flying colors. Not that he will be doing any solo flights anytime soon!

So, guess what I did today? I rode in the passenger seat while Burrito took numerous drives around our neighborhood. Kat rode with us on one trip. From the backseat I kept hearing, “This is so weird!”

I just can’t figure out how I got to this stage of life so soon.

Ohio Memories (Part I)

One day while we were in Ohio, my Dad splurged on the kids and took them to a place called Swings-N-Things. By the way, there are no swings at this place. I don't know - maybe they are hoping to get some swings one day?

They cooled off riding the bumper boats. These are very much like bumper cars; only they are motorized inner tube-type boats with water jets that the rider can use to spray other riders. Or, moms with cameras who stand too close to the fence.

The main reason we went to Swings-N-Things was to allow them to spend the better part of the day driving in circles on go-karts.

Burrito was a courteous driver. He followed the rule of “no bumping.” (That’s my first born, by-the-books kid for ya!) Kat had the whistle blown at her several times and even bumped another driver hard enough to cause him to spin out - just like the cops do when they're trying to end a high-speed chase. Her excuse? “He cut me off so I had to hit him!” What? No brakes?

This was a foreshadowing of things to come. Burrito’s birthday this past Sunday marked an important milestone in his young life: the beginning of driver’s training. We are doing the parent-taught driver’s education allowed here in Texas. I’m the instructor. (You may stop laughing now.)

Texas drivers, fair warning, ya'll!