Days of Thanksgiving: Day 16 - The Sweetest Reunion

I have many sweet hearted students. I have one in particular that I just love and adore. From the first day I've really just enjoyed being around him.

Yesterday he tells me that he will not be at school today because his dad is coming home from Korea. I believe he said that he has been there for 15 or so months. Long time. This dad serves us in our US Army.

So today we are walking down the hall and I ask him why he was at school because of his dad. He goes onto telling me that his dad's flight has been delayed from Washington, DC and he won't fly into Greenville until late tonight. He tried to convince his mom to stay home today but she wouldn't budge. Those were his words.

I am on lunch duty this week so I am one of the first ones in the cafeteria. I notice many teachers standing, some with a camera, in there and man in a tshirt right around the corner from where the kids come in. It took me only seconds to figure out what was happening. I started crying before this child was even in the cafeteria. It seems like we waited for ages for him to get in there. He finally came in not paying attention at all. Out of the corner of his eye he looks over. I hope the face he made was captured because I don't know if I will ever see such a pure sweet face light up again. He literally ran into his dad's arms and buried his face. The tears at this point was unstoppable. He hugged his dad and did not want to let go. It was the sweetest experiences I think I've ever seen. They were off to surprise his little sister at the school next door. I wish I could have seen her face!

I have watched the homecoming shows on TLC and seen different video clips of kids seeing their parents for the first time after returning home and I always shed a tear. To see it in person was even better! I am so glad I was able to experience this! I am so thankful for the those who serve and come back to be with their families! Thank you God for keeping this man safe!

Today, I am thankful for sweet reunions.

Days of Thanksgiving: Days 10-15

Here we go... Day 10-15

Day 10- Thankful for my In-Laws - I seriously have a wonderful mother-in-law. I was never fortunate enough to meet my father-in-law but I know he was one wonderful man! I also love my brother in law and his wife so much! They are such great friends and family!

Day 11- For the 13 years with my Papa. If you've ever talked with me any amount of time you know the impact my Papa Fleming had on me. That man was my world. He was the strongest Christian man I've ever met. He went home to be with the Lord in April of 2003. My life hasn't been the same and I learned a lot from his death. I've never had to experience the death of someone and for my best friend to be the one to experience, I had a really hard time. But thankful for making it through those dark days and to the point I am now where I know one sweet day I will be with him. And I will NEVER lose him again!

Day 12- My brother! I love him so much! He is four years younger and we still fight like cats and dogs. However, he is one of my best friends. We've grown so close since I got married, it really helped our relationship. I love you, Reed!

Day 13- Monday mornings. I might not always seem thankful for this. However, when Monday morning comes I know that I have a job to go to. I love my job! I do complain about Mondays and I don't enjoy always going back after two short days off, but it is so nice to have a job to go to when so many in America don't have a place to go.

Day 14- My church! I love my church! I have been a member at Poplar Springs since I was four years old. I was baptized there, raised there, married there, and still a member. Since we've been so busy lately and gone almost every weekend I've missed so much and I feel so empty! I am so thankful I have a church where I love to be to worship!

Day 15- Bible Study girls! Melinda and I met during my student teaching and now we teach together. She is such a wonderful friend! This summer she invited me to start coming to her Bible Study with her. This has been a blessing on my heart! I enjoy this group of girls! Tuesday night fellowship is one of the highlights of my week now!

Days of Thanksgiving: Day 6, 7, 8, and 9

As always- life happens and I am almost a week behind. But here we go, all at the same time :)

Day 6 (Sunday) - Military

My brother is just four years younger than me. One of his best friends growing up left Sunday morning for the Marines. On Friday we are also celebrating Veterans Day. I am so thankful for our military! I am the one proud American in the morning to say the pledge with my students. It is such a privilege! So, thank you veterans and those still fighting for my freedom. I'm so thankful for you and your selflessness.

Zach is on the left in the Byrnes shirt and my brother is on the right side. Zach- Thank you for going to fight for our freedom. Make us proud- I love you bud!

Day 7 (Monday) - Transportation

This is something that I take for granted each day. I am so thankful to have a nice, reliable running car. I was so forunate that when I graduate from high school my parents bought me the car that I wanted. I LOVE my 4Runner and if you've ever talked to me about cars you will hear that I am driving it until it falls apart. But even if it wasn't the car of my choice, I would still be thankful to have something that takes me from Point A to B. Another lesson learned from teaching- not everyone is fortunate enough to have a car.

Day 8 (Tuesday) - Megan

I can not begin to be thankful enough for my cousin's sweet wife, Megan. I don't even feel like she is that far down the family line. Megan and I talk almost daily now- I would consider her one of my best friends. I can talk talk talk to her and she is always willing to listen :) I am so thankful that Justin (who is my actual cousin) was smart enough to marry someone that I would love and get along with! I am the only girl in my family, including cousins, so it was such a relief to have another girl that I got along with! I am so thankful for her friendship! In September, Megan was blessed with the most beautiful baby girl! She is such a sweet mommy.

Thanks for everything Megan, I love you!!

Here we are in Spring of this year waiting to board our flight to NYC! So much fun together!

Day 9 (Wednesday) - Nature

I am a total beach person. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the beach! I spend almost two weeks at the beach during the summer! Even in the fall and winter I love being down at the beach. The past few years though I have really grown to love the mountains. This past weekend we went to the mountains for the weekend. The trees were beautiful! John Thomas and I sat, looking out our hotel window, in awe of God's work. We talked about how could people not believe in God when they just simply looked at nature. It is a masterpiece. This weekend we are heading to Charleston to his Citadel reunion. We are one street over from the ocean. I can not wait to wake up and see the ocean for a few mornings. Thank you awesome God for creating such beautiful masterpieces! I can't even begin to fathom Heaven if you make Earth so beautiful!

This was looking out of our hotel this past weekend. Tell me, how do you not believe??

love-

Days of Thanksgiving : Day 5

My labradoodle, Wally!

This is my first baby. John Thomas and I got Wally before we were even engaged and he has been our baby since. He is such a wonderful dog that is too funny. We give him voices and talk back and forth to each other (JT and myself) as if it is Wally carrying on the conversation. Strange you ask? Yes, we know. I just love how when we get home he wants to play play play and we do. But even when we have had bad days he knows and will just be the most calm dog ever. He loves to be lazy with me and wrestle with John Thomas. My kids at school have asked before if I love Wally more than John Thomas? haha, I tell them some days. :) Just Kidding. But I am truly thankful for a wonderful dog. I know he will be great with a human brother or sister, one day!

love-

Days of Thanksgiving: Day 4

Weekends!!!

Yes, I know this may sound silly but I am SO thankful for my weekend ahead! It has been a really long two weeks! School has been beyond busy and our life has been wide-open lately. It seems we are constantly on the go headed to the next adventure. I am not complaining because I am so thankful that we are able to travel and do all of the fun things we are getting to do. BUT...on Friday afternoons I am thankful to have two days off! This weekend is sure to be very relaxing. I've mentioned before about the wonderful trips that John Thomas wins through his company. In about one hour we will be off to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville (LOVE the mountains!) for a relaxing spa getaway! I was so excited to see the spa was included when we were looking over the weekend schedule! 

I hope that you all have a wonderful weekend and take time to think of one thing you could be thankful for today. :)

love-

Days of Thanksgiving: Day 3

My Salvation! How sweet it is to be loved by a wonderful Savior! This is probably one of my new favorite

song obsessions! I love music- it speaks to me so much!

This is probably my favorite part of the song...

"See now, I am the man that called out from the crowd
For Your blood to be spilled on this earth shaking ground
Yes then, I turned away with this smile on my face
With this sin in my heart tried to bury Your grace
And then alone in the night, I still called out for You
So ashamed of my life, my life, my life

But You love me anyway
Oh, God… how you love me"

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8BBCYFAYRI&ob=av2e

Days of Thanksgiving...Days 1&2

I was planning on posting each day of November, even after Thanksgiving, of something that I am thankful for. Becoming a teacher and talking with my students Monday-Friday, I have quickly learned how blessed I am and how I take so many things for granted!

Tuesday, the 1st, was a super busy day- Left home at normal time- 6:45AM- Taught all day, Homebound for a sweet brother and sister for two hours, quick trip to McDonalds for supper, and then to Bible Study. I walked back in my door to the house about 10 PM. I went straight to the bed and slept like a baby. :) That is my excuse for not blogging yesterday.

That is the reason I will be combining Days 1 and 2 together :)

Day 1: Thankful for John Thomas

This one is a no brainer! I am SO thankful that the God sent him to be in my life! I love my husband so very much! I never knew this kind of love and I am so thankful I didn't until I met him. He is a great provider for us. He has so much patience (majority of the time ;) ) with me! When we first were married I had just graduated college, worked a part time retail job, and was studying to take the PRAXIS to get my teaching certificate. He was so wonderful for not making me work a full time job so I could study. August came and no teaching job was in sight. However, we discussed and prayed about what to do. I was able to only work my retail job about two days a week and subbed the rest of the week. It was so important that I kept my name in at schools, I might not have the job I have now if it weren't for subbing so much! I will never be able to repay John Thomas for that. I could go on and on about what all he does for us but I won't.

I am just glad we are so in love with each other!

Thank you for blessing my life babe, I love you!

This is my most favorite picture from our wedding!

Day 2: Thankful for Parents

Where do I start? I love, adore, admire, and on and on my parents! They gave me the best life growing up, and still! My momma and daddy are my rock! There has not been a day that has gone by where I have not talked to at least one of them. They sacrifaced for my brother and myself and made sure we had everything we needed and majority of what we wanted growing up. They are two of the most unselfish people I know. I am eternally thankful for them! I can not imagine life without either of them. I pray daily that when John Thomas and I are blessed to be parents that I can be half the parent that my parents have been to me.

Mom and Dad, I love you bunches! Thank you for everything- you are my world!

This, of course, was at my wedding last May. They made every dream of mine about that day come true. I'm forever thankful!