Giving Thanks - Part 2

I have been thinking for days about who to thank or what I am thankful for. Here is what I have come up with:

I have to be one of the most blessed girls in the world - I have so, so many people in my life that I am thankful for - that I couldn't narrow it down to just one or two for this blog. I feel so lucky to be able to say that, I truly do. God has placed such wonderful people on my path of life.

I feel like thanking just one or two of them would be slighting the others and that is not what I want to do because every one of them are a strong link in my "circle of life".

So to all of my friends and family I say this - My life would not be complete without all of you and I appreciate all of the love and support I get from everyone of you, all year long. Thank you for blessing my life with your presence!!!

Giving Thanks

I first want to say I had an AWESOME Thanksgiving!!! If you had asked me leading up to the Holiday I would have told you I was stressed about having it at my house just after my surgery or that I wished me, Joe and the kids were just spending the day alone eating Chinese Food!!! Again, because of my surgery. Those that know me, know that I can not just do something - it is not in me - I want it to be special, I want my guests to know how much I love having them etc....

This year was different, I honestly did the best I could and then hoped everyone would be understanding. Before out bell rang with the first guest I said to Joe - I am going to have a good day - it may not be all I wanted to do, but I did what I could and I am going to enjoy myself. Then the bell rang - it was my brother - arms full of stuff!!! He was supposed to be taking care of dessert - but like me, my brother loves to cook and wants to introduce people to new and interesting foods. So outside of enough dessert to feed an Army he brought appetizers and some seafood -he whipped up homemade brushetta and a tray of individual fresh mozzarella and tomato appetizers. As dinner was just about to be served he fired up our grill and cooked up some coconut curry shrimp and sea scallops wrapped in bacon that I promise you were the size of half dollars!!! When he came in from doing that he pan seared some Tuna that was encrusted in pecans, sesame seeds and poppy seeds - he did have a special sauce that he seared it in (that he made) but not being a seafood eater I can not tell you what it was.

My sister Colleen and Robert and Robert's Family came arms full as well. Deviled Eggs, Spinach Dip and two different types of sweet and sour meatballs.

All of this before the main meal!!! We are Italian....

This was the first time we all met Robert't Parents and they are really nice people. We sat and talked around the table and everyone blended so well. It was a nice, relaxing day.

At the dinner table we had each of the kids say something they were thankful for and as you can imagine - it was very cute.

So outside of all the food that everyone brought - I want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone for all the help. They made sure I didn't do too much, they went out of their way to help me and help our family have a nice holiday - and in doing so we all got to spend good, quality time together.

Mom, Danielle and Joseph Give Thanks.....

I have been home for about a week now recovering from my surgery. Things went well, but I really need to take it easy and let my body heal. We have a very busy life - between work, kids activities and the huge/awesome family we have here in Charlotte we are usually on the go. The surgery has forced us to be still at home and spend lots and lots of quality time - just the 4 of us. Dad just left for work but we are hoping he gets out early.

Each night we have been talking about things we are thankful for - to go along with Pastor Steven's request that you express your thanks, here we go:

JOSEPH - Having a house to live in, clothing and family and friends.

DANIELLE - I don't have an illness (we give to Children's Miracle Network monthly so Danielle is very aware of how other children suffer from illness), for God, Church and Religion and that my parents can still afford to pay for me to go to dance during these times.

MOM - I am most thankful that both of my children walk with God. They have kindness in their hearts that shines through to all those who meet them. And that they love each other as much as me and my brother did as kids and still do!!!

I will be giving more thanks later..... Stay tuned.....

Prayer Request

I am having surgery on my ear tomorrow. I have been having chronic infections that have now caused some hearing loss and bone deterioration as well as damage to my middle ear and ear drum.

Honestly the complications are not terrible and the biggest ones have less than a 1% chance of happening, but the surgery will take 2 1/2 - 3 hours and I my biggest concern is being under for that long.

Say a prayer for me tomorrow that all goes well - and as soon as I feel up to it I will let you know how I am doing.

Is service still PG-13???

I hope I am not all over the place with this post - I will try to give you background before I get to the "story".

My husband and I were both raised Catholic and we are members of St. Mark's Church in Huntersville. My sister Colleen now attends Elevation Church in South Charlotte. Me, Joe and the kids love attending services at Elevation. Being Catholic we did not have Sunday School or E-Kidz we just attended services with our parents so that is what our kids are used to doing. Danielle and Joseph love to hear Pastor Steven speak - and I promise you at 6 years old Joseph can give you the "message" of the sermon he hears from Pastor Steven.

All of that to say we attended as much of the Visionary Love, Dream Sex series as we could - I felt it was such an important topic and with out meaning any disrespect one that Pastor Steven could relate to more than the Priest at our Church. So during that time Danielle and Joseph went to E-Kidz. Joseph really would much rather remain in his comfort zone but after his first E-Kidz experience he love it and couldn't wait to get back.

Fast Forward to this weekend. We have my sister Colleen's kids for the weekend so on Thursday night I said to Joseph "Do you want to go to E-Kidz on Sunday when we bring Aunt Colleen's kids home?"

Here is how it went from there:

Joseph: Fist pumping action (think Tiger Woods) Yes, I am going

Me: Great

Joseph: Well actually mom I would really love to come to service

Me: Ok I think that would be fine

Joseph: So mom do they do the PG-13 service just once a year so I can come to service every time now

Me: Well Joe it actually depends on the what they are talking about - then they decide if it should be PG-13

Joseph: Oh like if they are going to say cuss words

Me & Big Joe: Well no they don't really say cuss words in Church Joe

Me: (trying to educate him) Well actually the only "bad word" you might hear in Church is Hell

Joseph: Oh yeah right - well sometimes when you pray you say the word H E L L (he spelt it out)

Me: (to freak my husband out) Oh really like "God please don't make me do anything that will cause me to go to Hell"

Big Joe: MARIE

Joseph: Well not exactly but in other prayers

Big Joe: (very seriously) NO you don't use that word when you pray

Joseph: (Just as serious) Ugh Hello "The HELL MARY"

Needless to say I fell out - hysterical. He was sitting on Big Joe's lap while this whole conversation was going on and I thought he was going to drop him because we were so tickled.

So then Big Joe reviewed it is Hail not Hell. And again to laugh as grown-ups Big Joe says to me - That's my son, on the football field saying "Throw the Hell Mary".

Let's Unite

The election is over and Barack Obama will be our next President. Whether you voted for him or not, the majority of our country did and whether you agree with all his views or not, he is our President. He deserves everyone's respect as John McCain would have, had he won.

Moving on............

As a nation we have made history with this election. It gives me great joy that my young children (9&6) see an African-American as President. Growing up I never, ever looked at people based on the color of their skin, our parents would not have that. Their friends were of every race and that is all me and my siblings have ever known. Thankfully my husband is the same way, but then again I guess I wouldn't have picked him if he wasn't!!! When Joe and I have a gathering at our house with all of our friends it is like a meeting of the United Nations, so that is all our kids know and they also never see color as an issue. I was very sad when my daughter came home from school one day and said to me "Mom, do you know there are people who will not vote for Barack Obama because he is African-American?" so I thought it was part of her history lesson that day - imagine my shock and dismay when she told me she had heard that from another kid at school. At that moment I sat both of my kids down and told them anyone could be President, white, black, spanish, chinese..... And I also told them we are all free to have our opinions and to vote for who we want, but I did use this comment as a way to teach them that as they move forward in life they will see that all people do not have the same views and they need to listen to what others say and pick and chose wisely who the chose to spend time with.

Wouldn't it be great if none of us saw color. Let's work on that and teach our children so their generation will be better at it and they will teach their children and they will be even better at it.... and so on.

UNITE - my word of the day!!!

Rock The Vote......

I am encouraging everyone who reads this to get out and vote today!!! And if you have already voted - kudos to you.

I respect everyone's right to vote for "their candidate" so therefore I will not get into all the issue's here but I will ask that you all vote based on who you think the best candidate for the positions are. PLEASE do not vote based on Race, Gender, Age or Religious Affiliation.

As I stood in line this morning I prayed 3 seperate times while waiting that God would help everyone cast their votes for the right reasons and that our new President would be able to guide our Country in the direction needed to get us back on course.