New title, same ol' me.

Thankful.

Silver-white puff clouds in a Northern-blue, clear blue, fall-blue, sky-blue, blue-blue sky.
A peerless, crazy daughter who is thriving at Grove City College, a college I wholeheartedly admire.
Three sons who are running their hearts (and sneakers) out in Cross Country this fall.
A husband who loves God and his family and works hard to provide for us.
A part-time job that allows me great flexibility.
A smooth transition for a Korean boy who will call us family for the next 9 months.
Libraries. The smell of the books. The ideas. The cool interior on hot days.
Tough economic times that by default teach us to be thankful for good economic times.
Droopy Dahlias against red clay brick walls.

Thrifty (It's just a part of me...)

This morning I drank my generic Wal-Mart coffee with free-after-double coupon Bailey's Coffee Creamer. After spending a good hour in the good book--doused by occasionally interrupted prayer--I donned my bought-at-yard sales running clothes/shoes and walked to the library where I picked up Jeff Yeager's new book, "The Cheapskate Next Door." (According to the book, cheapskates next door borrow their books from the library, they don't buy them. Sales haven't been so great.) I hung a load of sheets washed in cold water with $1.99-after-coupon detergent and free from http://www.vocalpoint.com/ (sign up if you haven't) Downy Unstoppables. (I'll just add here that this product works great and I love the smell, but I would never pay full price for it.) I entered some Staples rebate information into the computer, looked over the mail which came with 2 free magazines, Splenda samples and a coupon for a free can of cat food. Then I made a frozen Palermo's goat cheese and spinach pizza, purchased with...do I even need to tell you? It was cheap. And also the best frozen pizza I have ever had, but again, I would never pay full price, because, well...that's not who I am. This is my day so far. I am going to return a few items I decided I didn't need, make chicken and rice for supper, clean the downstairs bedrooms and pick up my kids after cross country practice. Tonight--maybe--I'll watch a DVD from my collection that I've seen a dozen times before because I know I'll like it and I don't feel like wandering aimlessly at Family Video. Then I'll go to sleep in my line-dried, Downy-smelling, April fresh sheets and get up at 6:10 am to repeat, with the exception of a night shift at the hospital at the end of the day.

This is my happier-than-I deserve-to-be life! Follow me on my journey!