count your blessings child

So, It's nearly 3:00 in the morning and I can't seem to sleep.
I blame it on the steroid shot I got this afternoon due to my diagnosis of bronchitis OR walking pneumonia (we're just not super sure, so we're treating both).
Anyway. David and I went to bed about 1 and I tossed and turned while he was happily dreaming as soon as his head hit the pillow.
I decided after multiple pillow adjustments, roll overs and blanket fidgets that maybe I should count my blessings. I typically find this more fulfilling than counting sheep and in the search for my blessings and the words for why I'm thankful (because I like to give a description of exactly WHY I'm thankful)my eyes will get heavy and my heart will become full.(Anyone can be thankful for their large closet. But I'm thankful for my large closet because it holds all of my stuff-which I'm also thankful for-in such an organized way when I bother to hang things up. For example, I can always find that great purple shirt that I wore to Mobil and took those pictures of Mom in and I had really good hair and so did she and we were all wind blown and pretty. Yeah. I'm thankful for those things.)
I'd gone through the house, the cars, my wonderful husband, his family, my parents, sisters, niece, brother and sister in law, dogs, and was getting to my Grandma Sue when decided that I just really needed to commit to writing why I was so thankful for her.
I realize that she won't be around forever, but I pray that she'll at least be around long enough to hold my babies. And for them to know her, even if it's just in the way that children do.
My Grandmother and I have special bond. This is my mom's mom and the apron strings in this line of women are so twisted you couldn't cut them with a chainsaw. We are bonded to each other in a way that makes Steal Magnolias look like child's play.
The bond between Grandma and myself began when, as she says, I decided to eat her face as an infant the first time she held me.
We've lived with her a few times throughout my life. And I've always had a room at her place regardless of the miles between our hearts.
I've learned so many things from her. Things I'm thankful for. I've decided the share just a few-the highlights if you will:
I learned Southern Charm. I learned it by watching her, and imitating her, and saying the things that she said.-I'm probably the only 3 year old who had a doll named "I'll Be"
Along those lines, I learned how to say SHIT. And not just to say it, but to say it in a way that oozes passion and a southern drawl that almost makes it sound innocent.
I learned that while you can love many men, when you're 72, you might just contemplate on the fact that you "never took a black man as a lover"
I learned nursery rhymes. And that while I might be a monkey, you look like one.
I learned that auto tech is good for girls to take...you never want a mechanic pulling the wool over your eyes. It's also a good way to meet young men.
I've learned that a little lipstick will go a long way, as will sucking your stomach in.
I've learned that decisions you make in your life, are yours, and yours alone.
I've learned that because I am me. And because God created me. I should ALWAYS hold my head high.
I learned that dignity comes from facing hardship. Facing it with courage, with grace, and yes, sometimes and little anger.
I've learned that a shipment from QVC will make your day a little brighter.
I've learned that doing something for someone, even if it seems silly like watching your granddaughter walk the 25 yards between your house and hers in the dark, will go a long way in showing your love.
You're never too old for kiss.
Or a spanking with the wooden spoon.
I learned how to make chicken n' dumplins
And that strawberries are great. So is that cream cheese and marshmallow dip.
And I've learned, that laughter, especially with the ones you love, will take you back 20 years.

I've learned from the best.

Twice in one week! kinda...

Wow! I haven't blogged twice in a 7 day period in a long time. I'm enjoying this "having downtime" concept this weekend.
I've been spending a lot of my time recently avoiding studying. Honestly. I would love to say that I've been spending a lot of time studying, but mostly I try to avoid it. I cook dinner. I clean the kitchen. I do laundry with our fancy new washer and dryer. I stare blankly at the computer screen, fingers on the home keys.
Filling up my time in this way typically leaves me scrambling before something is due, which in turn leads to tears. I find that I can go about two weeks before the tears come, but then I remind myself I only have about 2 1/2 months left of the whole school thing. (Hey! That's only 3 more breakdowns where I cry and David is left feeling helpless!)
I like to imagine what life will be like once I'm not subject to reading articles at the stove while I'm cooking (just like the movie Mona Lesa Smile-you know, where she writes that article about being a married student). I wonder what new hobbies I'll take up in the evenings? Maybe I'll start back on some old ones...
I used to knit. I made this really great bag one time. And hats, buddy, I could make a hat in all of about an hour and a half. And scarves! I made about 12 for Christmas one year. My dad has already requested a sweater for his new puppy in time for their living history event in Feb.
I bet, with no homework I could finish that sweater and the hat I started for him a year ago in about a week. Yeah, that would be nice...
Or maybe I'll take up something else, like painting, or woodwork, or something really random, like decoupage. I think that would make Martha Stewart proud...

I was just sitting here thinking of how I haven't blogged in a zillion years.
Here are a few updates:
1. David and I moved to Hoover a few weeks ago. We love it. We're in a two bedroom apartment in the middle of everything, yet it is still strangely quiet.
2. I started my fall off-campus clinic. I'm at Hand-in-Hand working with the Early Intervention. HIH is the children's program of the United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham. The Greater Birmingham area's EI program is also housed there. I travel around the Birmingham area on Monday and Wednesday with my supervisor visiting children under 3 with communication delays/disorders in their homes or preschools. It is absolutely amazing and would love nothing more than to do just that for 40 hours a week!
3. David is loving the job! It is such a blessing for me to hear him say that! There are times that he gets stressed out, but overall, he enjoys it!
4. My graduate school Comprehensive Exams (comps) are just a few weeks away. These exams cover everything I've learned in grad school from day one. There are two tests, a 200 question multiple choice test and an essay test covering 3 essays. We have 4 hours for the multiple choice test and 6 for the essay test. Please keep that in your prayer, especially the second week of November.
5. We made our first, really grown-up purchase! We bought a washer and dryer! It's so nice to actually do our laundry in our own house now!

And what I think is one of the most amazing updates.....
I BOUGHT THE RED BOOTS!!!! They are everything I was looking for and worth every penny I saved up to buy them with. The are knee length, deep red, flat heeled, riding boots. And they make me feel the say way those original red ropers did. Which is exactly what I need during this stressful time of year.

I think that basically covers things up to this point. Little things have happened along the way, but all in all, this pretty much sums things up!

Thanks for reading...