Days 8, 9, and 10

November 8
I'm thankful for my church family.  I used to go to church every week as a child, but stopped going in high school.  I hadn't been to church in years when Brad asked me to go to church with him.  We had been dating for six or seven months and this was a big deal for him.  I went to Easter services in 2010 and never stopped going.  I now help with the high school Sunday School class, help out as a liturgist when needed, and participate in fun evening stuff with some of the ladies.  I found a church where I'm free to question and grow within my faith and we love everybody, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, whatever.  It's a pretty good feeling.  Well, that and we go to Wendy's after church on Sunday with Brad's parents.   I like Wendy's.

November 9
I'm thankful for my Momma.  I have had a hellacious week at work and she made me head out to meet her at Curves for some Zumba.  What fun!  The workout felt so good (probably since I haven't worked out since the wedding.  Oops!) and my mom and I have the same (very lacking) sense of rhythm.  We laughed and sweated and felt better at the end.  It made the week seem bearable and I actually felt like I had some me-time.  My mom is pretty awesome for making sure I got my butt kicked at least once this week.  :)

November 10
Today I'm thankful for microwaves and oatmeal.  It is a very chilly morning and a hot bowl of oatmeal is both healthy and warming.  Bring on the day!

Days 5, 6, and 7

November 5
I'm thankful for the little people in our lives and how much joy they bring us.  Brad and I babysat his sister's kids tonight and had a blast.  We wore those kiddos out! Well, us and two of their other aunts who took them for a photo shoot.

November 6
I'm thankful for Daylight Savings Time.  With adequate sleep, I bickered less with Brad.  I also was just generally happier.  Yay, sleep!

November 7
Today I'm thankful for food in our bellies.  Brad and I have food in our cupboards and and stocking the fridge.  We are blessed to eat as well as we do.

--Melanie

Day 3 and 4

November 3
I am super thankful for lunch meetings.  I got to touch base with the other school psych that I work with (we're at two different high schools) and talk about what's going on and do some problem solving.  Also, we caught up with each other and enjoyed some delicious food.

(I'm also doing a 10 by Christmas weight-loss challenge and I just wanted to give thanks that even after devouring almost all of my Chipotle lunch I'm still down from last week.  Not by much, but still down.)

Why do the delicious foods have to be so bad for you?

November 4

I'm thankful to have Brad as my husband.  I know that he's going to be there no matter what's going on and he's going to support me.  We've been talking about our future and babies and my doctor wants to send me to see a high-risk pregnancy specialist.  I've had some abnormal paps and had a LEEP procedure shortly after turning 22.  I also have been diagnosed with Protein S deficiency, which has been explained to me that I'm a higher risk for throwing clots.  I'm just a little nervous about what will happen when we do move forward with having babes, but I love that Brad is right there with me.  He keeps telling me that we'll be fine and throwing out suggestions for who could help me with daily shots that my Dr. is suggesting.  He's an excellent partner through the heavy stuff and the light stuff.

I'm also just thankful for the time I get with him.  Our time here isn't guaranteed, it doesn't care what's "fair," and it doesn't play by the rules.  I heard today that a woman lost her battle with cancer last night.  She was 31.  She left behind her husband of two years and a one-year-old little girl.  She was diagnosed with cancer only six months ago.  I never met her, but I feel like I have known her forever from the photographs and stories her sister shares.  I am so sad for their loss and am sending prayers their way.

Hold your loved ones a little longer during your hugs today and be thankful that they're available for hugs.

Read more about Ali here and here.

Rocking the benefit shirt for Ali today.

The shirt represents love for Ali radiating from our hearts.



--Melanie

Being Thankful

I've noticed that a trend in November is to post one thing you're thankful for each day and I'd like to do this.  So, if I keep organized, you should see at least one short post from me each day this month.  Here we go:

November 1
I'm thankful that I have wonderful friends who will cook dinner and share beer with Brad and me so that we can talk and laugh for an evening.

November 2
I'm thankful that I have a job.  My job may be slower one day and 500 things at once the next, but I have a job.  I have a career that I worked hard to get to.  I am in a great school district and in a high school (yay!). 

What are you thankful for? 

--Melanie

Instagram Weekend

Happy Halloween!!  Do you pass out candy?  Brad and I live in an apartment, so I'll be heading to my sister's tonight to pass out candy and see my nieces.  My mom heads over there, too, so it'll be nice to hang out with her.

Pictures from the weekend:

Technically, these were made for food day on Thursday,

but they're so cute that I had to share.

On Friday, Brad and I had date night! 

We went to eat yummy Mexican food and

checked out Art After Dark at the local art museum.

Total cost: $26  Bam!

This lovely little card arrived in the mail Friday,

notifying me that I am officially a Sorrell.  Eek!

I spent Saturday waiting for the cable guy and baking. 

Look at Pepper in action! 

That's right--my mixer's name is Pepper.

The great thing about baking?  You get to lick the spoon.

Also, Brad was off golfing, so I didn't have to share.

End result: tons* of yummy cookies! 

Chocolate chip and sugar cookie pumpkins.

*"Tons" before the cookies were enjoyed at a Halloween Party.

This pictures was clearly taken at the end of the evening. :)

My costume for the party was a Housewife.   

On Sunday, Brad and I went to church (as usual). 

I snuck in a mini photo sesh with our church sheep, Edmund and Edna. 

Rumor has it that they're going to start tweeting soon about happenings at church.

How was your weekend?

--Melanie

Fun

Fun is waking up at 5:45 AM with a more inflamed throat than yesterday and getting up anyway for work.  Fun is pretending that you didn't just have the worst sleep of your life resulting in the most sore neck/shoulders.

All so you could bring your coffin brownies for food day at work and see your kids that you're scheduled to see.

Boo to growing up.

When in Rome,

do as the Romans do.

And when you're a newlywed, do as newlyweds do.

Cut your hair.

 Before. 

(What did we do before mirror pictures? How did we survive?)

During.

(Technically, after.  It is hard to photograph the hair as you're getting a haircut.)

After!

(I cleaned the mirror directly after taking this picture.)

Isn't it fun?

I love having short hair. Absolutely love it.  I've recently added a few pictures of Emma Watson to my Pinterest and this is why.  I used the wedding as an excuse to grow out my hair.  I wanted fancier hair than I usually have and I wanted it up, which needs length.  Plus, I used to have long hair and I remember liking it. Now, though,  I was so sick of my hair.  It wanted to frizz out some at the bottom (beginnings of waves?) and so I'd not only dry it every morning, but I'd quickly run the straightener through it.  It seemed like it took forever and it seemed like an awful lot of work to do when I had boring hair afterwards.  Putting it up wasn't really a feasible option, either, because I never learned how to do my hair and now my frustration point is low.

So, bam, I cut my hair off and it takes me 5 minutes in the morning.  I can snuggle with Brad again because my hair isn't all up in his face driving him crazy. I can look forward to riding with the top off the Jeep or the windows down and not think about the knotted mess my hair would be. Of course, with winter, this dream may take a little time, but whatever.  Cute winter hats and all that.

--Melanie