Days 15 - 21

School has been crazy hectic recently, and likely will continue to be as the semester winds down. Hopefully I can get into a better routine, and start posting here more frequently. 

Thirty Days of Thanksgiving: Days 15 - 21

Day 15

Today I am thankful for Pinterest. I love finding new recipes on Pinterest. My family has been eating some AMAZING meals (and one or two not so great ones) this past month and a half, mostly thanks to Pinterest.

In addition to the fabulous meals, I have also found tons of time-saving tips, some helpful ideas for remodeling that we have already put into practice, craft ideas that I just need some spare time to actually try. I have found curriculum ideas for the kids, and a lot of projects and experiments to do with them as well. I've also found lots of advice on how to become a minimalist (which is one of my resolutions for the next year) and how to become much more self sufficient (another one of my resolutions for the next year). Pinterest, while I resisted at first, really is an amazing site, and I am so glad that I joined.

Day 16

Today I am thankful for my house. It's old, it needs a ton of work, and we get a ton of bats every spring, but it's mine, and I am very thankful for it!

Just so there is no question.... bats are clearly the spawn of Satan. I despise bats. There are very few creatures that I kill immediately. Bats are one of those creatures. I don't care that they eat bugs or any of the 'great' things about them. They are disgusting, creepy, evil little winged spawn of Satan. If they come in my house, they die. lol

In all seriousness though, in a day and age when so many are having their homes foreclosed on, it is really nice to know that my home is MINE and that no one can take it away from me. Even with all it's faults, it really is a great little house. 

Day 17

Today I am thankful that I have had some great instructors since going back to school. I am so lucky that I have had the opportunity to take multiple classes with two of the best! Does this earn me any extra credit?!? 

The original post was on Facebook and I tagged two of my instructors, Sandye Kelso who is a math instructor I have now taken 4 classes with and Kristian Lehmkuhl who teaches law classes. I've taken two classes with him so far(Business Law 1 & 2), and will have my third one (Constitutional Law) next semester. They really are amazing instructors, and I am extremely thankful to have been able to learn from them. 

Kris has touched my life in more ways in the past year than any other instructor. First, he just isn't the typical college instructor. To be honest, the first day of class I actually thought he was another student when he first walked in the class. Whether it is intentional or not, because he doesn't seem to be your typical instructor, it makes him seem much more approachable than any other instructor at the school. This also makes his class much more interesting than any other class. I can honestly say that his is the only class I have taken where everyone in the class is truly engaged and paying attention to class instead of doing half-a-dozen other things while the instructor lectures. 

By the end of the first semester, his excitement for politics had ignited a flame in me. I became very involved in politics because of this class. (And I will be sending him the bill for the still un-diagnosed high-blood pressure that this election cycle caused!) By the end of the second semester, he had reignited a passion for law and encouraged me to chase my dream of being a lawyer. Now if only the economy would turn around again, I will actually pursue that dream. I have the information on the LSAT (law school admission test) and on the law program at Drake University. I just have to find a way to pay the tuition and my living expenses while I am in school.

I can also say that Kris has become not only an instructor, but also a friend during the past year. I look forward to having him as a mentor when I do begin to pursue my law degree in a few years.

Day 18
Today I am thankful for our vehicles. They aren't the newest, and they might not look the best, but they get me from A to B and they don't give me too much of a headache. The truck is completely paid for and the car will be in February!

Day 19

Today I am thankful for my furbabies! I may own a small zoo, but I love each of them! They always know when I need a cuddle, and they know how to be just silly enough to make me laugh when I am in a bad mood! :)

I know that many people think this is crazy, but my pets really are like furry little kids to me. I really can't imagine life without them.

Day 20

Today I am thankful for music. Music touches me and moves me in a way that I just can not explain. It can make a bad day just a little better, calm me down when I am too worked up, or get me pumped up when I need a little extra energy. I can't even fathom a life, or even a day, without music in it.

There isn't much more to say about this one. To me, music is about feeling. I can't explain it. I can't put it into words. You either feel it, or you don't.

Day 21 

Today I am thankful for the creative minds behind the books we read, the movies, television shows and plays that we watch and the songs that we listen to and sing.

I wish I could be one of those creative people. I would love to write a book or a collection of short stories, and actually have it published. I know just enough about writing to know that I don't know nearly enough to do that though. I have no music abilities, so that isn't going to happen, and a screenplay seems even more complex than writing a book, so I will continue to dabble during my free time for my own entertainment and leave the real work to the creative geniuses!