More Off Center small and strange things #s 41-60. Including some blogging friends.!

41. I am really thankful for Holly at 504 Main for not ONE but TWO awards this week!  I feel really honored to be recognized by someone as talented as that hot mama!  I love the creative edge on her blog! She's really got style!

There are conditions to accepting this award and they are as follows:
- put the lemonade logo on your blog or within your post.
- nominate at least 10 blogs with great attitude or gratitude.
- link the nominees within your post.
- let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
- share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award

So, I would like to pass this along, with my thanks, to:
42. Caryn at Team Kyte, because she has some great ideas and is one great mommy! She's been blogging for awhile but with 5 kids... (the youngest 2 are 2 year old twins!) she doesn't have much time to get her blog out there! Go visit her! :)
43. Summur at Braley Mama, because she is a faithful blogger and has a beautiful calling from the Lord.  She always posts the best pictures!
44. Elle Bee from Kitchen with Kids, because she is one of the first bloggers I read that helped me understand what this was all about!  Great pictures, great posts!  She's a mommy of twins and her blogs make me smile.
45. Heidi at Blue Eyed Blessings , because she's another blog I read regularly and she is always posting something worth reading! :)
46. Tracey at Grace Comes by Hearing, because she now responds to my comments... lol!
47. JJ Heller at Lovely Little Things, because she's famous, but still blogs about the same stuff we all do. She's still JUST a mommy. :)
48. Jenni at PBwithJ, because she blogs everyday, and hardly anyone comments, and yet she still reviews children's books.  You should go look at her blog.  It's amazing!
49. Katie from A List Maker's Life, because I love to read her reviews and great ideas for organizing, crafts and all sorts of other cool stuff!
50. Tracey from Just Another Mommy Blog, because she's upbeat and has great things to share!
51. Pastor Dave from Holy Heteroclite, because he helped perform my wedding, and because he has some really interesting, in a different sort of way, things to say! If you can keep up with his flow.

I got this one from Holly too!
The Scribbler award comes with some rules:
1. Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy friends.
2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog.
4. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
So, drum roll please, the 5 people I want to pass this along to, along with my thanks, in no particular order are:

52.Sara spelled without an H, she is fun to read, especially when she is procrastinating.  AND she turned off word verification on her comments.
53. Kelly from Speaking from the Crib, because she makes me laugh so hard I have to change my underwear everytime I read her. AND she turned off word verification on her comments.
54. Kys from Stir Fry Awesomeness, because she rocks, makes me laugh AND she turned off word verification on her comments.
55. Polly from 5th Sister, because she is a bloggy good at blogging. She is a great commenter and responds to comments! AND she turned off word verification on her comments.
56. Jessica from Muthering Heights, because she blogs what I think.  :) I love to read her stories and her perspective... AND she turned off word verification on her comments.

57.  I am thankful for Google.  It makes me feel so smart.  I can find out anything I wanted to know, and can learn how to do almost ANYTHING by just typing a couple words.  This has saved me a LOT of time and money... because I don't have to read whole books to find the one little bit of information I am looking for.  YAY GOOGLE!

58.  Blogger.  What else could I be doing with my time besides sitting here and typing and reading and writing and trying to be clever for a bunch of people who I may or may not know.  What a blessing.  Really.  In a time-sucking way.  It verifies that I am alive.  This is good.  If I suddenly stopped blogging, maybe someone would wonder whatever happened to me.  That's nice.  People will miss me for like... um... 2 days.  AND then they will forget about me.  It's special that way.

59. E-mail and the internet.  What did we do before this invention?  Thank God for Al Gore.  That's all I have to say. (There are people who suddenly decided to not follow me now.) I am being funny.  Really.  Al Gore is funny.  In a tall wooden enviromentalist freak sorta way.  Funny I say. Funny.

60. Checking the weather online.  This way the latest weather updates are available to me right here, on my computer.  Thank goodness I don't actually have to get up and walk the 5 feet to look out the window and see what the weather is like.  What a relief.  Now I can have incorrect... BUTT FREAKIN' WRONG weather updates more often... really.  What a relief.

WOW! I am such a cheater, but I now have 60 things on my list AND I gave out some awards.  What a life.  40 more to go... what will I do?!  I can NOT wait until Thursday.  I will be at my parents beach house in the Pismo Beach area in CALI.  It will be in the 70s and sunny.  I CAN NOT WAIT!  YAY!

Sunday Soaking... off centered thanksgiving

Still keeping in the same theme, I'm focusing on the more serious side of my small things that I am thankful for.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7

36. Creation. I really abide in God through His creation. I love everything about it. From the stars at night which remind me of how small I am to the intricate details of an eyeball. I am amazed by the Creator God.

37. My 1600 sq ft. home. To some, my house would seem small. It is certainly not a giant home. I love it, it's not too big to clean, it meets all of my needs, and I feel rich in the space we've created. It's my home. I am humbled when I remember that in some parts of the world, entire families live in homes built of cardboard that are smaller than my son's bedroom.

38. My wealth. If I compare myself to other people, I can feel poor. In fact, recently I discovered that my family is just a little under middle class . But I can stay home (mostly) and my husband is home evenings and weekends. All of my needs are met. I have a computer and a car. I am blessed richly. God gives all gifts. I praise His name.

39. My struggles. At this point, life is pretty smooth sailing. No major transitions, no major health concerns. I am thankful for the times that we have struggled, it helps me remember to not take for granted times of peace and prosperity. It makes me realize that God is still God and He is still in control!

40. My husband. He makes me laugh, everyday. He is brilliant, a man of integrity, someone who I am proud of. He is a great handy-man, a plumber and electrician for our home. He works hard, loves me well, and is really good looking. ;)

This is all for today... I will be ramping up the rest of the week! I have 3 days and 60 more things! YIKES!

Being a grown-up. My in-laws. My refrigerator. Broccoli. Cranberries. and more!

31. My refrigerator. We take this appliance for granted. There's no doubt. Without it, there would be so much food poisoning.

32. I am glad I am no longer a child. Think about it. You can go where you want. You can eat what you want. (Like my hubby, eats Chocolate cake for breakfast). You don't have to go to school anymore (unless you pay for it.) I know there is a lot about being a grown-up that sucks. Like bills and responsibilities, and having kids, but I like being a grown-up.

33. My in-laws. So many people complain wildly about their in-laws. Horror stories abound about MIL and their nightmarish ways. I like love my in-laws.  They are both funny people, and are helpful and kind.  My MIL never does crazy stuff.  My FIL babysits my kids.

34. Broccoli.  I am amazed that it took me this long to start listing food.  I mean, you don't look like me if you aren't thankful for food!   I like broccoli because it fills me up.  It is a bummer that it gives me gas that smells like toxic waste, or the smell of it makes my husband gag, but knowing it's so good for me... I tell you, it's worth it.

35. Cranberries.  Especially with Dark chocolate.  They are so good for you!  Full of antioxidants flowing into my body, capturing those free radicals, so I can drink Diet Drinks with cancer-causing chemicals, it all balances out.

That's it for today!  I am going to a "show" at the Gallo Center, here in Mo-town.  I am so excited!  My husband bought tickets to a Glenn Miller and Andrews Sister tribute.  I am peeing my pants I am so excited!

More Off Center small and strange things. Keep reading... I would love to hear your thoughts!

21. Traffic laws. Could you imagine what it would be like without traffic laws? Geez. People are really stupid. I don't mean that in a nice way. I am thankful that somebody stepped in to protect us from ourselves.

22. Leaves. My daughter keeps saying this for what she's thankful for. I am not sure what the attraction is. I like leaves too. I like the crunching sound they make under my shoes when I am walking.

23. Marriage. So I don't feel guilty about having sex. And somebody is legally required to live with me and take care of me. Not sure I'd have this opportunity otherwise.

24. Capitalism. This give me hope that I can someday swindle a bunch of idiots customers out of their money. What other economic system is balanced on the idea that people are stupid and can be manipulated into buying stuff they don't need from rich people who take their money and buy stuff they don't need.  It's brilliant!

25. The color black.  I think that being a "large boned" individual has made me appreciate this color for it's ability to camouflage the fact that I have a ginormous butt.  It's probably the best color of all... a non-color.

26. Pets.  In my case, my cat.  He waits all day long for me to pet him for 5 minutes.  He loves me unconditionally.  He eats dry cereal.  He goes to the bathroom outside and doesn't use toilet paper, which means he never clogs the toilet.  He looks at me adoringly... all the time. Oh, and he doesn't talk... he only meows, and I can make him sleep in the garage if he gets annoying.

27. My opposable thumbs.  We take for granted that we can do SO much with our hands.  Like opening jars, doorknobs, and eating with utensils.  I'm just saying... we should all be thankful for opposable thumbs.  Aren't you?

28. Idiots.  I'm not saying just the really obvious idiots, but pretty much anybody who is stupid enough to make me look good.   Which could be a lot of people, or a few.  Every once in awhile I look really good because I am standing next to a big idiot.  This works well for me.  If I make a mistake I can say... I may have made a mistake, but at least I am not a big idiot like so and so over there.  MAN is that guy really dumb.

29.  My computer.  Without it I would feel so much more pressure to be productive.  This way, I can just sit around on my ginormous butt and keep busy with really important things.  Like this blog.  Facebook.  Farmtown.  You know, really important stuff.

30. Mascara.  Without it I would look like I lost my eyelashes in a fire.  I have these really deep set eyes... with really BIG dark circles under them.  My eyelids are getting more and more saggy... one of these days I will have to start using toothpicks to keep my eyes open.  I will eventually look like a freakin' Chow or Charpe... it will not be attractive.  Without make up people will worry about my health.  It's true. So sad.

What about you?  Come up with any really good small and strange things to be thankful for?

No projectile vomiting, to be a controlling mom, hand soap and a few more. So many things to be thankful for! 11-20

11. Self-Deception/Denial. What's not to love about these things?! They make life more comfortable. For example: If you think you are a really "laid-back" mom (because who really wants to be seen as a controlling, uptight mom?), but you have your kids on a strict schedule, you control where they can play, and when, you don't allow them to ask "why", spank them for even a hint of disobedience... etc... it's more comfortable to be "self deceived" than to admit that you are a controlling uptight mom. (Goes both ways). Thank you for that.

12. That I can be a controlling, uptight mom. Now, I am not deceived when I say this. My kids are not perfect, but I have had them on a schedule since they were very young. My kids are a little afraid of me. I like that. I promise I hardly ever beat them.

13. That neither one of my kids have projectile vomited in the last few months. I think all mothers should praise God for this (if it is true) every day. A little story: We were coming home from a family vacation to Disneyland... 6.5 hours in the car, finally get home and start a load of clothes. It's late. I have a 2 year old and a 6 month old. I'm tired. Then sewage starts to back up in our shower. Not just a little splash but a ohmygawdthereisdiarrheainmyshower... as I dry heave. Then I hear that familiar sound, my 2 year old starts to cry I head into his room just in time to see him throw up ALL OVER his bed, the floor, himself...

There is sewage backing up in my shower... the kid's bath... there is vomit all over my son's room. I don't know what to do. I am dry heaving and trying to help him. In the end, I clear his bed, give him a sponge bath, and drop all of the soiled clothing etc. in the garage by the non-functioning washer. I then sleep on the floor in his room, holding a bucket and yelling "IN THE BUCKET, IN THE BUCKET" all night.. I hate vomit. Especially when there is no drainage from my house. (It was a tree root issue in the main line... it was fixed by the next day)

14. Hand soap.  There is nothing better than warm water and good smelling hand soap.  mmmm

15. That I can correctly use the words there, their, and they're and your and you're. It might be an underrated skill, but at least I don't annoy other people like me.  You know... obnoxious know-it-alls.

16. Patrick Dempsey - I know.  I'm married.  I can't help it.  I have thought he was hotness since the days I had Fred Savage on the wall in my bedroom.  Yes. You read right.  Fred Savage.  You know... Patrick's "Can't buy me Love days". SO CUTE!  I almost peed my pants when I saw "Enchanted" for the first time.

17. The ability to rationalize/justify just about anything. This is a skill that only gets better with use.  How else can I eat my kid's Halloween candy or buy another pair of black flip flops, I ask you?  I aim to be, GUILT FREE!

18. Friends who will not judge me for watching "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers and Sisters", while drinking a margarita.  I mean really!  I am a Christian gal with morals!  I can't deal when someone responds to this confession with "WHAT?! That seems so inconsistent with your character!"  hmmm.  Thank you.  I think.

19. My Vagina. I am glad I'm a girl.  I am.  I get to have babies and get to hide behind the whole "weaker sex" excuse.  I think it's grand.  Hope that doesn't offend.  Just sayin'.

20. Movie Popcorn.  You might think... why would she jump from her vagina to movie popcorn?  I have no answer... it's the next thing that jumped into my mind.  I love it.  It's salty and buttery and in a really big container.  I don't even mind the fact that it costs half of my husband's paycheck!   I just love popcorn... especially with free refills!

More to follow!  I would love to hear some of your small and strange things that you are thankful for! Post in comments, or write your own post.  :)