Thankful catch up! ;)

• A well stocked Public Library that provided me with enough books and dvd's to last me through the big storm! 
• The sun, after the storm that warms and reminds me that the clouds are only temporary... And the rain for bringing life giving water to plants and animals, and us humans... 
• my Crockpot!! It seriously is one of my favorite modern inventions... and it makes my apartment smell delicious all the while cooking me my delicious meal!! And a crockpot meal can stretch reeeeally far!!!! 
• Church, my belief, my faith... and my friends big and small... though the small ones are particularly special and dear to me when they come and give me BIG hugs (and/or slobbery kisses)
• DRUGS - the legal kind that comes from Doctors' offices... lol... I'm finally getting some help with the Bronchitis, and am grateful for it!!!
• my super awesome friend and VT whom I'm just getting to know, but is so generous and concerned for me that I can only humbly thank the Lord for having put her in my life (she's also the one who brought me the antibiotics)
• a winter coat ensemble for snowy cold NYC winters (especially on a cold-rain, snowy day like yesterday), my "ensemble" includes scarves, hats and gloves... 
• the internet which connects me to friends and family far and wide, provides me with entertainment, and  is a source of knowledge!

urch sickness

I have been sick with Bronchitis the past three weeks, preceded by a week or so with a horrid cold, it's not been a super fun past month for me, but these past few I've just had so many blessings and moments of divine touches in my life, so I thought I'd join the "flock" and do the whole "thankful-game" (or whatever one calls it)... I debated doing it on Facebook, but then I felt that it would be more personal for me to do it on the blog, in addition to giving me something to blog, so.... I've decided to do a daily "snippet" of "I am thankful for [fill in the blank]"
The rules I'm setting for myself is: I can only miss one day per week, and I will do it until Thanksgiving or the Sunday following.
Today I will post one longer "catch up" but from tomorrow it'll be daily.. (I hope!)

It can't hurt to be a little more grateful, and to be open about my gratitude... of course all the honor and glory goes to my Father in Heaven, and it is to Him I direct my thoughts and feelings more than any others.

apple picking fun!!

believe it or not, it WAS a fun trip!!!

Apple pickin' fun!!

Last Friday I went Apple picking with some of the kiddles and their moms from church... We went to a fantastic orchard an hour north of the city (which I call upstate, but someone from the "real" upstate corrected me and told me it wasn't... ha ha ha)

I ate so many apples I thought for sure I was going to either throw up or end up with a runny tummy.. neither actually happened, but I did react to whatever they use to spray the fruit with, because my tongue swelled up and my mouth felt "fuzzy" for about two days. However I've been eating two to three apples a day until the apples all were gone, and loved it! I am totally ready for another trip!!! :)

The kids had more fun playing on the playground I think, but the adults sure seemed to enjoy being out of the city and all it's nitty gritty gunk. I got reaffirmed once more that I am totally and absolutely a country girl, and almost cried on the way back into the city... ha ha ha, as the saying goes "you can take the girl out of the...etc."

we tried to get a group shot of the kids, that proved to be difficult, but here are some snapshots.... :)

cold

it finally got cold and "fall'ish" here in NY... and I got the first cold of the season. I find I make a very whiny and sad (pathetic) "patient" when sick... don't think I've always been this way, but oh well.... it's day three, and I'm going stir crazy... :S no bueno! Fortunately I have a lot of cold medicine and stuff, so I have some remedies... I do have some really kind visiting teachers however who brought me soup and promised me cookies... yay... :)  (atchooo)

Kid tending blues

Yesterday I babysat for a family right after church, mom and dad both had meetings in regards to their callings, and I was happy and willing.... that being said, they offered me free reign to their snack closet which included a BIG pack of Coca Cola Cans... of which I consumed two... which wouldn't have been so bad had I not already had a 20oz bottle on the way to Church that morning (trying to chase away a threatening Migraine)!!!!! That, in an additional 20oz bottle pretty much every day this past weekend, and I was in serious need of detox and pre-addiction intervention today.. (yes I just made up that term)

Today again I had a babysitting gig, and though I was expecting only the baby, getting the last minute addition of the elder brother (5) who was home from school sick, didn't really faze me.... that is until I got home... 

and, MAN,

I've forgotten how inquisitive and attention DEMANDING 5yr olds are!!!

This one is also exceptionally smart and that just adds a whole 'nother level to the game!!

I survived the day, but boy was I tempted to cast my weakness under a cloud of Caffeine in the form of a Coca Cola!!! 

Give me a grumpy elderly person any day!!!

(okay, not really!!!)

Jon hunting SUCKS!!! I absolutely DETEST it! And it's making me grouchy, grumpy and depressed!!

That's all...
The end!