Thankful Thursday

Us and our marriage.

And these amazing children of ours.

What are you thankful for?

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful that even though seeing my brothers for only half the day yesterday, that we were able to see them at all. I am missing them terribly now and have held back many tears this morning. We canNOT wait to see them again. Hopefully the next trip they'll be able to stay for more than half the day.

Thankful Thursday

It's been a while... I find I get into these ruts of not wanting to write more often than not. I'm thankful that I get to be lazy a lot. 

I am ever so thankful that my brother Joshua is alive and well after his accident. He is definitely a lucky bastard. I am thankful that he was given a second chance to think about his life and hopefully take it into a new and better direction.

I am thankful that when there was not the slightest chance of the driver making it out alive, that he did. I hope that in the seriousness of it all he considers making a change in his life. Setting an example for his children and family. 

I am thankful that my parents were able to see their oldest son graduate high school and celebrate his 18th birthday. Never thought I'd see the day he'd be wearing a cap and gown. I am ever so proud of him! Next step a job and college! ;-)

I am thankful that my best friend was able to enjoy a healthy pregnancy and an amazing delivery of her third baby! Miss Neeley is beautiful! Congratulations Kloss family!

I am thankful for great friends, karaoke, designated drivers and chapstick guards! 

I am thankful that my children are amazing bundles of screaming fits, tantrums, and "Mom, you're a meanie!"'s Let's me know I'm doing something right. Lol

Cheers to being grateful and thankful

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

After an emotional discussion with a fellow student I see that I have so much more to be thankful for than I could ever possibly imagine.


I am thankful for life. To have been able to wake and take my children to school. For close friends and family, even if I want to strangle them most days. I am thankful for being able to pay my rent, utilities and have a new car.

I am thankful for knowing I can go to sleep and know that everything is going to be okay. I am thankful for knowledge and sanity (most days) and happiness. Thankful for being able to attend school and accomplish something and witness a greatness amongst others.

I am thankful for her. Thankful for her heart, her smile, her life... I'm going to make her days better!

Be thankful... You never know when you might not see them again...

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thrusday And Some Rambling.

I know it's been FOREVER since I have last written. I've been super busy (read: lazy) and something always seems to get in the way of things.

Last weekend I went to Atlanta for the Bronner Brothers Hair Show. Other than the fact that traffic was stupid fucking retarded, it was a great time! I was a little disappointed in the fact that it was more about showcasing, demos trying to sell their products and about being flashy than it was educational. They did have classes, but things didn't seem to be very organized. I had gone with a mission to buy some good quality shears since I've started hair cutting class and the shears the school gives are Pakistan pieces of shit... No, really. I had the hardest time! I didn't buy a single thing! I'm so damn picky about things and I honestly hate that about myself most days. Lol. So now I will have to buy full price... If I can decide on a pair. Anybody want to donate to the cause?

People were packed in there like sardines and I wanted to go postal! Trying to view products and get past people to see anything was a difficult task all it's own. Then there was the disappointment in products available for Caucasians, but I had expected that so I wasn't terribly disappointed and I probably wouldn't have purchased anything anyway since I'm content with the products I use now. I am super excited about the Premier Birmingham hair show that will be in September or October of this year! From word of mouth, I hear it is more organized and the product selection is indeed better. Want to donate to that cause too? ;-)

The past month or so Joseph has been quite the hellion. I really felt at a loss on what to do or how to fix things. He had trouble in school. He didn't want to go anymore, he even purposely missed the bus one morning. (The short story for that one: I wasn't dressed and I hadn't finished getting the girls ready so I sent him to the bus stop without me. He comes back 15 minutes later saying he missed the bus! I was livid! Needless to say he wished he'd got on the bus!) I don't think there was a day all last month where he had come home with a good report. He was so angry all the time and got to the point where he would hit, kick or throw things at me when he was upset. The only thing that ever seemed to calm him was me grabbing him and just holding him. The whole time he'd be shaking, kicking, screaming, fighting... I found myself go through a depression during all that. I felt as though I had failed as a parent somewhere. I tried and tried to talk to him to approach the situations differently and figure things out and never found the root of the problem. I'm not sure that he even knows what is causing his anger.

Wednesday He ran home with a huge smile on his face and was so excited to tell me that he had not pulled any keys (the schools behavior/disciplinary system)! I exaggerated my excitement and pride hoping that it would help him do better the following day. It worked! Or something did because he came home four days in a row with no disciplinary reports! He was rewarded with praise and time on the Wii as well as other small privileges. He was doing great. Yesterday he had a small issue, but just a small one. So hopefully things continue to go well the rest of the week. Wish us luck!

As far as school goes I have started the first hair cutting module and I'm loving it! I've been dying to cut the shit out of these mannequins. I can't wait to finish and give my first haircut outside of my kitchen. Haha.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for one, two, and hell, even three hour long phone calls with my sister Tiffany.

I am thankful for silence on long days and even more thankful for the screaming, fighting and laughter of our children that fills the house when they return from school.

I am thankful to have been able to attend Tressa's field trip to Petsmart this morning. The look on her face when I showed up was one I'll never forget. ♥

Loving this weather! You?

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

 On days like today, where I feel so depressed, my babies always put a smile on my face! I can't wait for school to be out so I can kiss them, hug them, and then yell at them for annoying me. :P

Two weekends ago, we made a trip to Target and got these pictures of them being silly.

On our way to lunch we spotted this... Why yes, matter of fact, we do.

Tressa is ALWAYS drawing or coloring something. She will spend HOURS just coloring and never say a word to anyone. She's very creative and I love that about her. Well, she asked if I could help her draw Tinkerbell because she didn't know how. "Sure." I said... This is what we got.

Tressa told me it was beautiful and then asked why she was pointing down... Hence the reason I am NOT an artist!

Then I took this picture randomly and am in awe of it... It's just so me!

P.S.
Joseph is wearing a size 3 shoe and he's only six!!! He is cursed with his daddy's clown feet and my OCD... Poor kid.

Happy Thursday. Hope someone or something makes you smile.

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I have had two whole weeks of TERRIBLE sleep! I have done nothing but toss and turn and cry because I just CAN'T FREAKING SLEEP! Well last night I slept amazingly! I am so freaking thankful for that! I even woke this morning feeling refreshed and happy and awake!

I thought I would be thankful for the kiddos being back in school, but honestly, I really miss them.

I am thankful for being able to smile!

Smile!

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Another Thursday to be thankful. Thankful for the many calories I have consumed through the mounds of chocolate that should never be allowed to go to waste.

Thankful for being able to make someone smile.

Thankful for hour long conversations with my sister that lead to talks of lesbian relationships via Sims 3.

Thankful for weekly/monthly planners that keep me organized and on track.

Thankful for Jonathan's job and the amazing people he works with/for.

What are you thankful for this Thursday?

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Another holiday approaches and thankfully it will be the end... for now until birthdays start coming up.

I can't say enough how thankful I am for so many things.

I am thankful that Rebecca's package came in the mail finally! Even if it took the post office two weeks to get it here.

I am thankful for Santa Claus. He's real, you know?

I am thankful for Joseph's love of learning and wanting to teach his sisters what he knows. He's teaching them subtraction right this very minute and the girls are picking it up rather quickly. He's so patient with them and is probably one of the best teachers they'll ever have.

I am thankful for being able to afford a good Christmas for our children.

I am thankful for their belief in Santa and the excitement his name brings to their faces.

I am thankful for Christmas parties that allow me to open others up without fear of feeling awkward.

I am thankful for the Cha Cha Slide and the Cupid Shuffle.

Wishing everyone a happy holiday

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I have been rather frustrated as of late. (I know, I think I said that last post too). So TT just might make me forget some of those frustrations... at least temporarily.

I am thankful for late night conversations with this girl that make me laugh nonstop.

I am thankful to finally have gotten word that our van is officially ready and fixed after being in the shop for two weeks.

I am thankful for being able to attend college.

I am thankful for music.

I am thankful for Trident gum, for without it, I would surely be lost!

Love and gum chewing

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

I'm am so glad it's "Thankful Thursday" because I feel like just bitching! I have been so unhappy, stressed, irritated, annoyed, all of those things that really get under your skin and I just feel like telling every last person what I really fucking think!

Now that's off my chest...

I am thankful for coming home every day of this week and finding Tressa sneaking into Amaya's bed, or Amaya sneaking into Tressa's. They fight all day long, but at the end of the night, they want to cuddle and be best friends. ☺

I am thankful for Joseph's excitement for his accomplishments. He has come home every day (minus Tuesday) with the biggest grin on his face exclaiming how well he did and how he hadn't pulled any keys (the school's discipline method) and he'd earned a 'bob cat buck' ('money' they earn for great behavior that they get to spend on toys, etc.). Then he always asks for a high five after telling me all about his great day!

I am thankful for thinking before I speak... Sometimes...

I am thankful for KitKat's.

I am thankful for my period. (Yes, it's true.) ☺

Be thankful and smile

          -Jaclyn-

Thankful Thursday

Thanksgiving has passed and it seems everyone has decided they are no longer thankful for anything. The dishes have been washed, leftovers have been eaten and fifteen pounds of turkey/stuffing/sweet potato/ pie weight has been gained. We are rushing to get back to our normal routines. Making it to to work on time, getting our children ready for school without missing the bus, we carry on about our days and almost never vocalize something we are thankful for.

What constitutes Thanksgiving as being the only day to voice that? Just one day a year and then nothing. It ceases. Or for the most part, we quiet our thanks. But for what reasons? Must we really have a holiday to remind us to be thankful, to appreciate our life or the people and things in it? 

So, I got a brilliant (no, really, it is. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.) idea. Every Thursday I am going to voice something I am thankful for. It might be a picture, a book... Anything that I may be thankful for. No more "forgetting" or getting lost in the hustle and bustle of everyday life to say I am thankful.

You should join me! :) It will be fun. I promise!

Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving. I am thankful that at least we are voicing our thanks on that day. One day a year is better than none.

I am thankful for the overabundance of food we were blessed with that day to fill our stomachs beyond what we needed.

I am thankful for the running water that I was able to use to clean the many dishes that filled our sink.

I am thankful for my in-laws for lending us their vehicle while ours is in the shop.

I am thankful to have seen another day.

I am thankful. Are you?

          -Jaclyn-