Gratituesday

I have been reading PBJdreamer for about a month now and even though she is living her own special brand of Hell, she has dedicated Tuesdays at her place to finding happiness in the details. If anyone needs a Gratituesday tonight, it's me. My heart is still so heavy from reading Katie's blog...as I work my way back, I find I have to pause, take a breath, say a prayer, remember that as we say in the 352, she's GOT THIS! And know that God has her and Chad's entire family in His hands and the only thing I can do is check in, read their words, let the feelings come, and give the best support I can. I want to drive to Katie. I want to give her a hug and slip her sweet lil' 20-year old self something with tequila in it, and then stay up all night swapping stories about life in the military. But I'll stay put for now and let her know that I'm reading...as are you all. So...my first Gratituesday, with a nod to PBJdreamer goes something like this (she lists 10, so I'll do the same):

10. I spent the day fighting back the tears for Katie and her family. It felt like if you just scratched my surface, the floodgates would open. I took a moment to pop over to Katie's blog and check her comments section and found YOU ALL were leaving her love, support, and encouragement.

Being able to use my blog for good and not evil?
FABULOUS!
*by the way, you all ROCK and I want to thank each and every one of you for the words you left here, the ones you left for Katie, and the prayers that have been sent up. Just in the past 24 hours, I've had 240 page views of last night's post!!! You all are reading and you're telling your friends and you're spreading Katie's story. My cup overflows. Thank you for getting it out there.

9. Last night as I was shutting down the laptop, I knocked over my wine glass, spilling red wine all the way down my legs and all over the desk. I had barely drank any of it so it was everywhere.

Having reflexes that are faster than a puddle of wine inching toward my computer and the huge stack of D&E letterhead that has to be printed at FedEx?
FABULOUS!

8. Neal asked me this morning to look for his European adapter in the boxes he shipped back from Kuwait last time. His mini-Keurig finally arrived in country and he couldn't plug it directly into the wall. Of course, it was in the bottom tough box underneath 3 other tough boxes and I had to sit on it to get the lock to release. And then dig through uniforms, boots, and gear to find it.

Discovering that he kept every single letter, card, and note from me while he was in Kuwait?
FABULOUS!

7. My restlessness today could have resulted in hours upon hours of television viewing, probably in the form of "The Notebook" and "PS I Love You." Instead, I rearranged furniture and re-purposed baskets that I found in the shed while digging for the adapter.

Loving the new look that comes with redecorating?
FABULOUS!

6. I gave up all alcohol except red wine for Lent. This means that I've been sipping on a lot of Cabernet, Shiraz, and Pinot Noir. Tonight at Publix, I discovered Pomegranate Wine.

Exploring the seemingly endless array of red wines while still adhering to Lent?
FABULOUS!

5. Yesterday, I had to take the Pathfinder to address yet another maintenance issue. Apparently, 8 years of Kentucky winters is hard on a car. Specifically, the salt that they lay down with wild abandon. I took it to a place in town where 5 guys about my age all work doing something different...one guy does exhaust, one guy does kitchen renovations, one guy does auto body repair...you get the idea. At first I was a little skeeved out about the quality of work, but quickly saw it for what it was...5 guys doing what they love with the lowest overhead possible.

Checking my judgmental attitude at the door?
FABULOUS!

4. I picked up a couple of new followers after last night's post. One of them is Chad's mom. I started following her blog, Boyette Babble Time.

Adding a Fallen Marine's Mom into my network and reading the stories from a mom's perspective?
FABULOUS!

3. This afternoon, I got an email from UPS*. It was notifying me that my package would be delivered in 3-5 business days and had a tracking number attached. I opened the attachment because with our anniversary coming up in a couple of days, we have shipped packages to one another. I wanted that tracking number so I could stealthily follow it across the U.S. Suddenly, my computer crashed and a virus showed it's ugly, horned face. I slammed the laptop shut, packed it up, and rushed it all 911-like to the Geek Squad at Best Buy. Who told me it would be $200.

Being able to really belly-laugh for the first time in 2 days?
FABULOUS!
*Clearly, it was not really UPS. I hate hackers and my momma told me I should never "hate" anything.

2. I had passed a tiny, locally owned computer repair store on the way to Best Buy. I waltzed right out of that blue and yellow madness and drove my little space car to the one-man show down the street. A kind man with gentle eyes told me he would be happy to help (and did not at all make me feel like shiz for not installing any sort of anti-virus software). And it would not be $200.

Giving Neal's hard-earned money to the Mom n' Pop shops?
FABULOUS!

1. I am shoving food processors under the passenger seat and spatulas into the tire well. It all has to fit and get me through 3 months in Kentucky. The last boxes to be packed contain all of my beads, wire, and tools. It takes up a lot of space in the Prius.

Having a business (and a husband) that will let me work wherever and whenever I want to?
TOTALLY FABULOUS!

All of my love to each one of you for the comments, emails and texts over the past 24 hours. Please keep reading Katie's blog, give Tami a read, too, and continue to share the story of a Fallen Marine and the loved ones he leaves behind. These wars need a face and a name and Chad's is simply perfect. Our freedom is not free...truer words have never been spoken.