MIA, thankfulness and prayer

Wow I have been missing in action for awhile, and I need to thank Jenn for picking up the slack, she has been super busy and still managed to throw some valuable information our way. thank you Jenn for talking about the value of menu planning, gratitude and dealing with less then ideal people situations.

I have been sick my kids have been sick and now my hubby is fighting off the illness. The kids seem to have kicked it, but I still have a nagging cough, you know the kind, the tickle your throat dry hacking cough that gives you a headache and every once in awhile takes away your breath and makes you almost throw up. Yes. That kind of cough. I am on some puffers that are helping deal with the cough but it has still not gone away. My doctor assures me this is just the way it is. Everyone is having a hard time bouncing back.

Our house is still a disaster, we are digging out from under the piles of laundry that I am just to exhausted to deal with after work. Work which has been difficult because we are experiencing such a stressful time right now and it likely won't get any better until well into the new year. Work that just doesn't seem to go away so the longer I am off sick the more work I have to come back to. Work where everyone is under stress to preform above and beyond. Yes its fun.

Plus trying to get my act together so that I can plan and excute some kind of Christmas this year, since a couple of people I know so "gently" remind me EVERYDAY on their facebook updates HOW MANY DAYS THERE ARE LEFT UNTIL CHRISTMAS! No pressure!

However I do try to stop at some point in the day and say a quick thank you for all I do have and to say a quick prayer for those having a harder time then me.

I am sick, but I am not hospitalized and neither were my children - thank you
I pray for those that are at a loved ones bedside as they watch and wait
I am thankful that I am working and will be able to provide food and a special gift for my family
I pray for those who have been laid off or lost their jobs and don't know what they will do this holiday season
I am thankful that I have friends and family that have been there to support and help me through this
I pray for people who feel alone or who are alone, I pray they will find someone to count on

We are so thankful that we have no "obligations" this weekend, we have been able to relax, recouperate and have alot of family time this weekend and it has been good for us.

Here's hoping that you will be able to take some time this Sunday to be thankful and say a prayer or make a thoughtful gesture to someone in need.

Some tips for keeping this illness at bay.

Hand Washing
drinking warm liquids everyday
gargling with salt water
take a q-tip and dip it in the salt water and gently swab your nostrils

All these tips will help kill bacteria.

If you can, get vaccinated.

Take care all!
Shann