So much to be Thankful for

The last post was right before Thanksgiving and though I've written a bunch of blog posts as I've gone through the days, they haven't made it here for you to read.  Better late than never, though.  So many things have gone through my mind to share with you.

I even wanted to share with you my neat little idea for a simple/easy and elegant table display/centerpiece.  This idea can be used again at Christmas.  We were given these beautiful glass votive holders for a bridal shower gift and change them up all the time.  For Thanksgiving we placed some of the red glass stones (from our wedding centerpieces) in the base of each one.  Filled them with water.  Placed a floating candle on top and a handful of fresh cranberries (they float) then scattered a few small pumpkins at the base.  Light and "voila"!  Beautiful. 

You can vary the designs and containers to suit your needs.  Moments like these make me feel a bit like Martha Stewart! "It's a good thing!"

In the Fullen home we celebrated Thanksgiving here as a new family and enjoyed the company of

my Mom

and Shaun's Father. 

We looked forward to the day and since in years past I've had trouble getting everything done in time for one reason or another, I planned everything ahead of time, spent time prepping everything and cleaning (Mom helped and so did Miss Ava who was strapped to me most of the time) and knowing that Shaun's Dad doesn't really enjoy driving at night too much, planned on waking early to get the turkey in the oven before morning Mass.  All was going well and was set to be "on track" this year.

Then the morning of our first Thanksgiving as husband and wife.  The realization hit me.  All those "cooking shows"??? ...they're all a bunch of liars!

Really... they ARE! 

I mean... think about it!  Nobody ever forgets anything at the grocery store (which is closed on holidays)  Nobody ever misplaces important utensils and can't find them.  Nobody ever burns anything.   NO WAY ...Nobody ever sets off the smoke detector ...especially not multiple times ...without cause.  Nobody ever argues with their husband while trying to find out what the heck is setting off the smoke detector again (especially if the oven was used a day or two before without problems).  Nobody ever has to turn the oven off and let it cool down to clean it (TWICE!) to see if that helps the problem.  Nobody ever has an oven liner that is supposed to catch spills but somehow melts to the bottom of the oven and starts smoking.  Nobody ever solves this problem by throwing said oven liner (useless) in the backyard.  Nobody ever has a two month old who is trying to figure out what's happening in the midst of this.  Nobody ever is trying to make it to Mass to thank God for all their blessings while all of this is occuring.  Nobody ever has to deal with the embarrasment of serving a meal that had initially been timed to easily come out an hour early and somehow is being served 2 1/2 hours late!  Cooking shows... liars.

*sigh* Well, as you can imagine, we had our share of adventures that day and Shaun & I worked our way through them and tried to remember to be thankful for our oven.  Thankful this wasn't a real fire.  Thankful for a very very very easygoing baby.  Thankful to have been blessed with food and family.  ...and Thankful for each other!

We have found over our married life together many things to be thankful for, that's for sure!  Over the past few months since Ava's birth we've been incredibly blessed with SO much.  Especially this absolutely beautiful little girl who has changed our lives forever. 

Before we hit the week before Christmas I wanted to remember some of our blessings.  Thank you for being a part of our lives.  Please know that we are thankful for YOU!

P.S.  As Christmas dinner is approaching... lets hope things go a BIT more smoothly.  (we wouldn't mind at all if you'd say a little prayer)

A Time to give Thanks...

This week in school we've been learning about Thanksgiving and I had a million laughs courtesy of the kids, but this one made me laugh again tonight, so I thought I'd share a little "Quip" from one of my boys.

What is a Cornacopia also called, boys and girls?

A Horn of TW-enty (instead of PL-enty)

And what does PL-enty mean?

It means it has TW-enty somethings in it.

So, tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm sitting here realizing it's been a while since I've put up a new post.  Things have been a little "busy" but I needed to take the time and list a few things that have happened recently and some of the many things that I have to be thankful for.

Since I last posted, the night of the 10th I mentioned I was feeling a little "under the weather".  Well, all that day I was thinking about this "big meeting" I had that night at my principal's house.  I finished up my paperwork and dragged myself over in slippers and jeans.  Everyone had known I wasn't feeling too well and just simply wouldn't let me off the hook to just stay home for the night.  I was on my way there and remembered that I was supposed to pick up soda, so stopped off on the way dreading being late.  Well... as I drove up I thought there seemed like a lot of cars, but I was a bit out of it, so didn't really think much of it.  As I walked in (decked out in my comfy slippers) I saw a table FULL of great food and thought, "Well, that's just like Celia.  She always outdoes herself with a great spread" 

Then I saw a cake that looked something like this...

...I was a little suspicious.  One of the ladies yelled "Surprise" and astounded, I realized this was NO curriculum mapping meeting (thank GOD), but way better!!!  My friend Sue leaned over and whispered, "In case you didn't put it together, yet, this is your Surprise Bridal Shower"

A party for ME???? YAY!!! 

I had a great time and thinking about it I am thankful for all my thoughtful co-workers who were so INCREDIBLY generous to Shaun and I as we prepare to begin our new life together.  I thank God for you.

After that I was blessed in finding out that a friend of ours is a florist and volunteered to do all of our flowers as a gift to us.  I mentioned hesitantly the size of our wedding party, not including parents, etc...  She didn't flinch, but just said, "Whatever you want".  What a blessing!!! 

My dear friend, I am thankful for you!!!

I also found out that a friend of the school is going to generously let us use their chateau in New Hampshire as a Wedding gift to us. 

WOW!!!  See what happens when you put the wedding planning into the hands of Our Lady???

After that, Shaun and I headed out on our first really long road trip. 

We were going to our Engaged Encounter Retreat (since the one in our area got cancelled, we were encouraged to head out to a different one).  We did get to spend quite a bit of time together as a 6 hour drive was enhanced with traffic enough to turn into a 10 hour drive.  We didn't really notice how long it became because time seems to fly by when we're together, but the weekend left much to be desired. 

I am thankful that we both love and understand our faith enough to realize how much of what was being taught (or not taught) was not in support of church teaching.  This was unfortunately discouraging, because we felt like the other couples were sort of "jipped" BUT I was thankful to be the only woman there who found her fiance in prayer in the chapel every morning and throughout the day.   I was thankful and proud when he (who barely talked at all) spoke up and defended the faith when it was being clouded by ambiguous teaching or suggestions to the couples that the church allows "choices" towards immoral actions.  I was thankful as we walked the parking lot praying our rosary that I had a man who would lead me to heaven.  I was thankful that he did not hide his love for me from anyone and was proud of me too. 

On the ride home, to make matters even better, we got into a minor.... what's the difference between a minor and major car accident?  A medium car accident.  Maybe it was like a medium.  Anyhow... this "pleasant" (not) man who was in a little too much of a hurry decided to cut me off (on my right) and take a sharp left hand turn... into the front of my car.  Then he lied to the State Trooper and said I drove into his car!!!  I still can't figure out how I'd rip my bumper off driving into him?  It's sort of like saying at the event of this accident: 

"But officer!!!  She backed up into ME!!!"

 ...but anyhow.  I was thankful that I wasn't married to THAT guy!!!  And I was thankful for how calm Shaun was through it all.  I was thankful no one was hurt.  I was thankful I could still drive home.  I was thankful that our police officer's name was "Santa Maria" (so we gave him a miraculous medal and prayed for him). 

We stopped at an old Carmelite Monastery along the way that I used to pray in many years ago when I lived in New Jersey while working at a home for unwed mothers. 

Upon arriving we instantly met this beautiful irish woman named Anna who was miraculously cured from cancer after spending many many many hours before the blessed sacrament.  Even her Jewish doctor declared it a miracle and cannot explain her healing.  She said something that moved me, "I felt Jesus was calling me to the chapel in my sickness to console HIM ...I realized over time that it was really so that HE could console ME!"  He told me it was the power of the holy hour.  All those holy hours.  She was absolutely lovely.  I was thankful for meeting her.  I was thankful for her healing.  I was thankful for her sincere prayers.  I was thankful to be able to do a holy hour and hear the sisters praying beautifully in the background. 

I was thankful it was one of their "Eucharistic Adoration" days and we arrived at JUST the right time.  I was thankful for the opportunity to re-live so many memories of being in that chapel and praying for God's will for me... now I was sitting next to "him" (Shaun) beneath a beautifully carved wooden statue of St. Joseph on the Feast of Christ the King, thanking Jesus for being King over my life and all that is in it.  Through Anna, he showed me once again that He deeply loves us and has a plan for us. 

Thank God for that silly accident or we would have never met Anna ...or come in time for Adoration!!!  See how God works in mysterious ways???

I was thankful for the nice long ride home (but not quite as long as the one down) to spend with Shaun.  I was thankful we all made it home safely.  And I was really thankful when I saw our familiar "Paul Revere sign" hailing our arrival to New Bedford:

...because I was REALLY tired and this sign meant we were really close to home.

This week I was thankful for my little children that greet me each day with exhuberant hugs and kisses.  I really just love them and love spending my days with some of my favorite people in the whole world.  I am thankful that they were SO good this week for me.  I am thankful to teach in a Catholic School where I can teach about the faith and talk about Jesus openly.  These kids are my joy!!!

I am thankful for the best co-workers ever.  Thank God he sent them to help me through each day.  I am thankful that among the million other things, Mrs. Cardoza finds my coffee cup all day wherever I happen to leave it and refills it regularly for me throughout the day.  I am thankful that Mrs Beaudry is so good at figuring out things before they happen and seems to be able to anticipate my every need, so I can teach the kids.  I am thankful for Jennie and Monica who are SO awesome with the kids and whose helping hand makes everyday SO much easier.  I am thankful thankful thankful for all my children. 

Well... There are a million more things to be thankful for, but that's it for tonight!  Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving everyone!!!!