Thankful Thursday

I am going to spend my day being as thankful as possible for all of the wonderful things in my life.

Right now, our awesome nanny is helping me get through some laundry while I'm at work.  Our toilet broke the other night, spraying water everywhere (clean, tank water, thank goodness) and soaking the bathroom.  This means that I have some sopping wet beach towels and a bathroom rug that need serious laundering.  By the time I get home, they will be clean, dry, and folded.  Thank you!

Definitely thankful for the plumber who came yesterday, even though it didn't happen until 4pm, thankful that the repair happened!

Also right now, on the other side of the country, a wonderful friend is in labor with her second kiddo.  While I wish so much to be there to meet the new little mister, I'm focusing on being grateful that he decided to stay put long enough for his daddy to get there (from Africa) for his arrival!

I have some girl time scheduled with a friend tonight.  We live so close, yet see each other so rarely due to life getting in the way (me: kid and work, her: serious grad school).  So excited to spend some quality time with her - and, I can't lie, I'm excited about some sweet food, too.

Frank and I are blessed to be a part of Young Life in our area, and while it is a lot of work, prayer, and effort, just getting to be a part of something so important, so eternal, and so exciting is a gift.

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Awful Day

So far, I've not written about my little brother here.  Honestly, I'm uncomfortable with the sudden out pouring of affection that follows these kinds of emotional dumps, so I generally avoid them all together.  I don't dislike affection, I just hate asking for it - and in a way, that is what this does.  So please forgive me for not responding to any comments.

A little over 6 months ago, my little brother Patrick passed away.  His story is full of ups and downs, laughter and tears, but for 25 and 1/2 years I was his big sister and that is what really matters.  I mothered him too much, he annoyed me too much, but we also had some fantastic and embarrassing inside jokes that I would never dare to share with anyone else.

Today would have been is 26th birthday.

I don't really have anything else to say about that.  I just miss him.  There is a big hole in my heart and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.  For those of you who know me best, not being able to do anything is when I'm at my worst.

I love you, Ping.