Thankful Thursday!

Well what an exciting week it has been!   I certainly hope that your week was as funky and happy as mine has been!   I have found so many things to be thankful for!

Water -  I really enjoy being clean and I thoroughly enjoy drinking water.  Turns out, as a planet, we really need it.  I remember when I was almost seven I was in the hospital and I was pretty flipping sick.  After a few days, I started to perk up and the nurses washed my hair. I remember being amazed by the way she washed it because I never got out of the bed while this was happening. At one point, I moved my arm (still attached to the IV) and I felt the water. It was the coolest feeling in the world.  It didn't stop flowing (down into a bucket I'm sure) which to a little girl stuck in a hospital bed, that unstoppable force was pretty cool.

That the Search is Over - This is going to be so flipping cheesy and I don't care.  Today, on the way home from work, some country song came on and the lyrics were something like this could be our last first kiss.  And I was like -heh, I think I've had my last first kiss- I am so freaking thrilled about that.  It took a crazy long  time to trick someone into being my boyfriend but I think I've really tricked him this time. I mean I know anything can happen but I think that we are in this for the long haul.  I am extraordinarily grateful that everything worked out the way it was meant to and I met Dann.  Way to go for taking our garbage out, Bug.

Bad Books - Strange, right? But when I read books that are written badly, I get excited.  I bet you're wondering why. I'll tell you.  When I read lousy books, I think "Dude!  I can write a book! If people are reading this trash, they'll read my trash!" So all of you authors of bad books out there, thanks!

Babies -  Each baby that is born is another chance for the world to become a better place.  I dig them.  You know how I feel about humans! The simple innocence and curiosity of the world that babies have make me smile.  I am happy they're constantly being made!

Amy Winehouse - I didn't really like her until I watched a documentary with my old roommate Tasha last year.  But when I did I actually learned about her and her life.  She wasn't always the Amy Winehouse who made a joke out of going to rehab.  Unfortunately, she got wrapped up with the wrong guy and then that was it.  But her music is delightful.  I think that you can hear her feelings in her voice, no matter what song it is (even if it is "Rehab").  I'm glad she came along. I just wish I appreciated her then.


What about you?  What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday!

So here we are almost done with July! Well, midway through.   What are you thankful for?

Here are my winners

Brandi Amato - is my friend from where I used to work.  I can honestly say that I'd be lost without her.  She tells me how she really feels and doesn't go talk to other people about her concerns for me.  She is honest and she tells me when I am being absolutely ridiculous, which isn't often. Obviously. She is also hysterically sarcastic and listens to me when I need someone to make sense of things.  I'm going to be sad when she leaves.

Flaws -  Yeah, even I have one. ;)  But when a person recognizes their flaws, it can be a sign to shape up!  The world is on its way to a better place.

Ball Bearings  - So Lola was a bit on the broken side. Her bearings were gone (as are mine) and she just didn't want to do what she was made for.  As it were, I made the phone call and got her fixed.

Wrenches -  The wheel had to come apart some how! And the wheel was put together!

Being Proactive - Not only was one wheel broken but the other wheel was on its way out! Could you imagine being in Liverpool with a broken wheel again!!?!?  Good thing I suggested to check the other one!

What are you thankful for?

For Ava

I'm not very good at dealing with sad things, but I am very okay at dealing with words. Unfortunately, Scranton and many other areas are on the brink of sadness as we wait for a little girl, Ava, to leave this world and start her next journey. I think that Ava was three when the doctors found an inoperable brain tumor. My mother was her preschool teacher for the last two years (this is why I'm almost certain it was when she was three) so Ava has a special place in my heart even though I have never met her. My mother has been praying for her since the day she heard of Ava and her story. We have all been hoping for a miracle for Ava, from people in itty bitty North Scranton to what seems like all over the country.

So like most people, I'm sure, I am glued to Facebook waiting for updates on Ava's condition. Ava's mother, Gianni, used Facebook to reach out to people for prayers and positive thoughts. As if Ava needs anymore than the strength of a mother's prayer, Ava also constantly has the prayers and positive thoughts from over 5,000 other people that she may have never even met. Ava has become a part so many lives and we are all just wishing her a painless journey from here on out. She has fought for a very long time and at this point is seems as though there is nothing else that could be done. Except hope that the rest of her time here is painless.

I am one to believe that death is a part of life. That without death, there would be no life. Like without darkness, there would be no light. But death of children. That is something that I just cannot grasp. Since I was a kid, I was surrounded by the death of children. The first one was my friend Martin, who was just ten years old. Kimmy was five when she lost her battle with leukemia. There are many in-between but the last one was my cousin, Christian, who died in his sleep when he just shy of four months old. Children dying just makes no sense to me. I imagine that the same is true for you. How can a life that has hardly been lived, be taken away?

But in Ava's case I can see some positive things coming from this tragedy. I can see a community that came together. The school community too. Fundraisers and support constantly pouring in for Miss Ava. I see children learning compassion early on in life. And I also see people taking a second out of their busy, first-world-problems filled days to think of other people. The amount of support that I see just on Facebook for Ava is overwhelming for me. I cannot imagine how her parents feel about it. I would just be drowning with gratitude for all the support and knowing that I wasn't alone, even if I felt that I was alone.

Something more must be said about Ava's mother. I have never met her but her hope and faith and resilience is outstanding and heartwarming. The things that a mother goes through for her children impress me on an everyday basis. But, I know firsthand what a mother must do to love a child with special needs. There are not enough things I can say about women like this. These sort of mothers are extraordinary and I am overwhelmed with pride and admiration when I think about mothers like Ava's mom or my mother. I just hope that Gianni knows that she has done a fantastic job in giving her daughter a beautiful and blessed life.

I would like to ask you to just keep Ava and her family in your thoughts and prayers. And also her little preschool friends who may not understand it now but one day might feel it. Ava's family appears to practice the catholic faith. So I ask for you, no matter what you believe, to send thought and a prayer that Ava makes her way to heaven as painless as possible. Let her be comforted by angels of family members gone by and help her to feel at home. Please say a prayer that her family finds peace in this time and can carry on to keep the Miracle of Ava going. In her five ridiculously short years, she has touched more people than you and I probably ever will (no offense). I hope that you can each take a moment for a prayer, thought, a good vibe- I don't care, just something positive to help Ava get to where she's going and her family ease their hurting.

http://www.miracleforava.info/



May Angels Lead You In

Thankful Thursday!

Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life. - Joel Osteen

This was quite a sad week.  Dann went back to England on Tuesday and I am sadder than I ever was when I left England. I know that I shouldn't be sad and I'm trying not to focus on it but it's just hard.  However, it's just six weeks away until I leave for England.  So I am excited about that. Everything in due time.  

So, anyway, I do have things to be grateful for. Naturally. 

Dann's Pilots -  I know. I did this one already. But I am very grateful that Dann made it to England safely.  I would like to thank those pilots for getting Bed Bug safely to his British bed. 

An End to a Materialist Hunt -  I am obsessed with bedding. The bedding options in England are very difficult to deal with.  Either you go cheap and get not so nice things or you spend a small fortune and get something nice.  And by nice I mean my style, not anything to do with quality.  So for pretty much the whole three weeks that Dann was here we hunted for a bed set for me.  I finally found two of them (and what deals I got!).  The search is over and I love them so very much I'll bring them back with me when I come home for good. 

That I Was a Sheltered Child - I love crime shows.  I don't really watch fiction crime shows but rather documentaries or shows like The First 48, American Justice, and City Confidential.  But almost every time I watch shows like that, there are children involved. I don't just mean murder cases (which are obviously extra terrible and I'm extra grateful I wasn't murdered when I was a kid). I'm talking about kids that are exposed to "street life" or sex and nonsense like that.  My mom did an excellent job taking care of my innocent look on life.  In fact, some terms and vocabulary etc I am still learning!  I just learned this week that there are different types of marijuana...  as if the word needed more than one.  Blew my mind when someone told me this.  There are kids who probably know all about things like that.  I am glad I didn't and I am glad that I am still quite naive  in regards to most things. Helps to keep my faith in humanity flowing.  

That I Live in Times Like These -  So as I was a blubbering idiot in the airport saying bye to Dann. He reminded me that we are lucky that we are doing this now instead of 20 years ago. We'd have to write letters back and forth. My handwriting is atrocious and so is his. Thank goodness that we are doing this in a day that knows Skype and Facebook. How empty I would feel right now. 

That I Have Manners -  Seems that not everyone does.  I feel bad for the parents of people who are rude or manner-less. They probably didn't raise their kids to be rude and would be sad if they saw their children acting that way.  I suppose that I try to mind my manners most times.  You're always representing your mama. Represent her well.  I'm grateful that I do. 

So, dudes and dudettes, what are you thankful for? 

Thankful Thursday!

You cannot be grateful and bitter.
You cannot be grateful and unhappy.
You cannot be grateful and without hope.
You cannot be grateful and unloving.
So just be grateful.
Author Unknown


I sure hope that you all have had a wonderful week and that you had a fantastic and safe holiday, if you do/did celebrate Independence Day. I hope that you have recognized more things to be grateful for and that you expressed some sort of gratitude for those things. :)

This week I've realize my gratitude for...

America - I love America! Sometimes I hate the ideas that some Americans have but I'm flipping thrilled that we are allowed to have them. I know that we make many mistakes and that many other parts of the world think that we have it all wrong but, compared to other countries, we are sort of brand spanking new! I think that we're sort of okay for only being 236 years old. I don't know, I'm happy to be here. And I get that we are just getting the gist of things.

Independence Day - The 4th of July is in my top five favorite holidays. I love fireworks and I love the summer and I love people gathering together to have a good time. I don't really look at the holiday as a day to celebrate our independence from England, obviously I have a hard time separating myself from England. I look at Independence Day as a reminder that we survived. And we all know how excited I get over survival!

My Sense of Adventure- If you know me personally, you know that I have no concept of time or distance. To me everything is just a five minute drive or a quick flight. I am so thrilled that I have the guts and the opportunity to go out and see things. I know sometimes my ideas are wacky and people may think that I'm a bit daft for what I do. But over the last few weeks people have thrown the word "brave" at me. I never looked at it that way. That might be because I have had the words "crazy" and "insane" thrown at me. Oh and let's not forget "stupid" either! But maybe brave is a term I could work with. I love to go out and see things. I love that I can say I've been here and there. I don't really think about it while I'm doing the adventuring, but in hindsight I'm kind of cool! :) I just know so many people who are afraid of flying or who do not want to take any unnecessary chances and just miss sooooo many things. I'm glad that I can say that have that going for me at least. But maybe I am this way because it was thought, once upon a time, that I wouldn't be doing anything. So, anyway, Universe, thanks for hooking me up with a Dora the Explorer attitude.

My Different Groups of Friends - I am lucky enough to have a few different groups of friends from different parts of my life (Marywood, England, Work etc). I never realized this was something to be grateful for until Kate and I were discussing if other people had other friends. I realized I did! Although most of my friends know about most of my friends, I rarely see all of those friends together. I'm grateful for this for many reasons but for today, well this last weekend actually, I found myself grateful for it because having different friends all over provides opportunities for visits all over! Dann and I left Saturday morning to meet my friends Jenn and Francesca in NYC (and they pretty much grew up there so they knew everything to do). After seeing Avenue Q (hysterical) he and I went up to Connecticut for the night and made our way to Boston where I met up with my cousin Jerusha for a meal and some laughs. I wish that the people who paid the chick who wrote "Eat, Pray, Love" would pay me to go on adventures to friends! I could make my way to Texas and Florida. Oh Russia, I'd see you too! :-D

Faith - It's a "terrible" thing that Dann and I found ourselves in by falling in love with each other when we clearly live on other sides of the world. We both trust that it will all fall together even though we aren't always sure how. I guess having faith is what it's all about in a situation like this. So even though my faith is different than your faith, I'm am certain that the Universe wouldn't blindside me, again. ;) Was it Tug McGraw who said "You just gotta believe?"

What are you thankful for?