Gratitude

Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.

Margaret Cousins

Thank you for all the kind comments on my last post. It is one of my favorite posts because I can clearly see how far God has brought Will. I do want to tell y'all a little more...

That year was one of the hardest years for us as a couple... Dave's Mom was diagnosed with cancer the week (actually the day) Will was born. She died when Will was 8 weeks old and about the time we were finding out about his surgery. I had been a professor and was on leave but had to decide if/when to return to my career. Dave needed back surgery and had it 2 weeks after Will's head surgery. We were newlyweds as we had only been married about 2 years. And in hindsight, I probably had a case of the baby blues that year. I did not see a doctor but I know I was in a sad sort of funk. I was losing myself. You know what got us through all of that?

Certainly a lot of prayer but also, A Gratitude Journal. I had just seen it on Oprah one day and I immediately found a steno book and started writing down 5 things every day that I was grateful for. I asked Dave to do the same. Reading each other's lists opened up some topics of communication for us. And I got to see how grateful Dave was for me and vice versa. In a year filled with death, serious illness, surgeries and depression, we made efforts to focus on all the good things in our lives. Our marriage was so close during that time. I attribute a lot of that to our journal. I still have it.

There were days when there was little to write. For example, I am grateful I got the laundry done today. But by focusing on our blessings, we got through a tough time. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is in a rough patch. You will be amazed at how simply yet powerful it can be. And you must write it down....just thinking about it is not quite as effective.

And this story becomes more amazing. Will was NOT pleased that I posted about his struggles. he is a middle schooler and was feeling a little exposed. I get it. However, I relayed to him how many people it helped. Several people e-mailed me saying it was exactly what they needed to hear this week as they were struggling with something similar in their own lives. AND.....

This morning my dear friend, Diana e-mailed me asking our family to sponsor Baby Ciera. We have been sponsoring a child through Pearl River Outreach but thankfully our girls keep getting adopted:) So, it was time to choose a new one. I saw the list last week but could not decide. Today, Diana tells me that Baby Ciera was born on June 22nd (Will's birthday) and her special need is a protruding head on the back right side! Will's head protruded on the left but still the similarities astounded me. I about fell off my chair. Diana had not read my post about Will and she does not know his birthday. I am sure that God sent little Ciera's file right to our family to sponsor. So, meet our adorable little Bamboo Baby Ciera....

Sweet Little Ciera still needs 2 more sponsors. Go to Pearl River Outreach or email Diana at Diana@pearlriveroutreach.org to sponsor her or another child.

I am so excited to go see The Blindside tonight with a friend. Harry has strep throat so I didn't think I was going to be able to go but Dave is going to takeover so I can go. And I am trying really hard to stick to our healthy menus each week. I did not cook for the 2 weeks I was sick so I am trying to get back on track. If I post our menu, I am so much more accountable to not only buy the ingredients but to actually cook the meals as well. So, here is our menu for the week.

Grilled rib eyes (grilled portobello for me), baked sweet potatoes, grilled asparagus.

Gluten Free Pasta Fagioli Soup (crockpot)

Chicken Stir Fry over rice

Lemon, Garlic & Pepper Shrimp over gluten free pasta (recipe follows)

That should get us to Thanksgiving:)

Lemon , Garlic & Pepper Shrimp

1 pound of shrimp , peeled and deveined

2 tablespoons Lemon, garlic and Pepper Seasoning

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 Leek, finely sliced, Discard upper greens (I often used green onions instead)

2 cups uncooked spinach, sliced into strips

4 Italian plum tomatoes

1/4 cup dry white wine (or whatever white you have on hand)

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Angel hair pasta (we use gluten free pasta)

Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the seasoning. Preheat a 2 quart saute pan on medium heat. When rim is hot to the touch, add olive oil and heat an additional minute. Saute' leeks about 1 minute, add spinach and continue to saute' for 1 minute. Add shrimp and tomatoes and saute until the shrimp just begin to turn pink. Add remaining seasoning, white wine and lemon juice and cook for 2-3 more minutes (until shrimp are pink throughout). Serve over angel hair pasta.

I have been making this recipe since Dave and I were first married and we all LOVE it. So easy, healthy and delicious!

I am working on my favorite things to post this week too:)