Especially when we are doing something fun.  Remember this post? The one where I mentioned I was asked to be the responsible adult?  Well that event I had to be said responsible adult was last night.  My 17 year old niece, her friend and I went to see the Plain White T's.   Awesome time!  Whoa, totally not expected.  

This event was at the Metro in Chicago, a place that is usually a punk, punk alternative, alternative music venue.  So I was a bit surprised they hosted an all ages show.  The staff at the Metro are usually dark, gothic and like their tattoos.  I cant imagine what they were thinking when they opened their doors to tweens, teens and any one else under the age of 21.  I have do give them credit, they seemed okay with it. 

It was a great show from the 'parents' section.  I met another cool aunt there with her 16 year old niece.  Like this other cool aunt, I sat back while the young ones stood close to the stage.  She, Nancy, and I both agreed that we thought we were going to be the oldest people there...much to our surprise there were older.  And they were hanging with us in the 'parents' section.  I like the 'parents' section, there is room, it doesnt seem to be as loud and there is always an open spot at the bar.  ;o)  (was wondering when you people were going to catch on...said parents section was the bar! Of course there would be room at the bar at an all ages show!)

And the Plain White T's do put on an awesome live show.  They sound great live, and they interact with the kids.   I can put this concert in the top ten I've been to.

I am very thankful Sara asked me to do this with/for her.  I am glad I was there for her.  This will be a memory she has forever.  This is a memory I will have forever.  Thank you Sara! 

Lots of things were done this past weekend, and today.  Things that I am very thankful for. 

1.  Coffee with a group of women who are single and professional on Saturday morning.  It was nice to meet new people.  It was especially nice to know what they feel and they know how I feel. 
2.  Scrapbooking Melissa's baby shower.  Again it was nice to get out and meet new people and see a few I havent seen in a few months.  Good times.
3.  Babysitting the boys on Saturday night.  I love them.  I think they love me (or atleast they dont know yet that they love me).  We always have a good time.  We went for a walk, we played on the mat, we watched Baby Einstein like 4 times to keep you-know-who from crying.  It was good QT with my sister Laura too. 
4.  Brunch and shopping with Kimmy on Sunday afternoon.
5.  My new fence in the yard.
6.  Ebay - sold all my items this week.  YAY!

I like this feeling of thankfulness, it leaves a sense of positivity in my life.  I like it when I feel positive. 

Cant have a blog post without a picture??!!!  Especially when its this picture, taken on Saturday night.  My sister Laura and Charlie.  Good times.

or this one.

Not physically missing my camera, but emotionally.  I had left it at my brother's house last Saturday when I was over there to see the boys.  I wasnt able to take any photos from dinner with the girls.  Well, any decent photos, I should say.  My camera phone was able to capture the moment, and that is what the camera is for, right? 

Today, I finally got my camera back.  And I forgot I had taken these.
 
*grandma + charlie

 
*their parents were leaving, tyler is waving 'bye-bye!'

 
*charlie in the bouncing swing-thing.

 
*new teething ring

 
*ginga + tyler

 
*getting some grub

I could seriously post a thousand pictures of these two.  They melt my heart.  Thank you Charlie + Tyler for spending time together last Saturday!  (and think, in just thirty-six short hours, I'll get to see you again!)

I have said before that my faith needs a little assistance.  Its not the greatest.  Last week I stumbled upon a woman's blog, who for the life of me cannot remember!, who is a Christian.  Not sure if its reformed, born-again, etc...please forgive me, I am catholic.  All we know is catholic.  ;o)

In reading this woman's blog, she closed out every post with what she was thankful for.  Thankful for her husband, her daughter, her parents, family, friends, events (children coming over to play, holidays,etc).  I was very intrigued.  I learned it was part of the religion, this thankfulness and how everything is a blessing. 

I did a little soul searching over the weekend about my faith.  I started at the bare bottom.  What do I believe in?  Do I believe in God?  Yes. 
Do I believe God is the creator of all things?  Mostly, yes.  Modern day medicine, no, not directly.  However, he did create the avenue for people to become doctors to learn medicine and make strides for curing and preventing diseases. 
Do I believe there is a heaven?  Yes.

With those three basic questions answered, I realized my faith is stronger than I claimed or believed it to be.  As I raked the yard yesterday, I thought He made this...grass.  He made trees, and their dead leaves.  He made flowers.  Worms. Ants. I could go on.  I found myself starting to say 'thank you'.  Thank you for everything in my yard.  It was a weird feeling for me because since I lack faith, I felt funny talking about it, recognizing it. 

I wont become one of those people who talk/brag/recruit religion all the time, as I believe that is disrespectful to the other person and their beliefs.  However, I will talk about it amongst myself and here, but I believe it will be in forms of being thankful, recognizing God and his work in my life. 

Perfect example. I came home today from work, walked in the house, put away my luch bag and I looked out the window over the sink and saw that my backyard grass was cut.  I didnt do it.  I know no one in my family did it.  Someone who cut the neighbors yard made a mistake and cut mine.  But maybe it wasnt a mistake?  Maybe this was God's plan to give me a break this week in the lawn maintenance.  (since I probably wouldnt have cut the grass until Friday when its suppose to stop raining and by then it'll be as tall as my house!)

Thank you for cutting my grass. 

Many years ago Oprah promoted a gratitude journal, where you document 5 things you are grateful for from the day.  Like the millions of others who follow Oprah, I did the same.  I started my gratitude journal. 

Unfortunately, I lost interest after a while and stopped writing down the good things.  I am a bit sad about that because I think if I had continued, I could look back today on any day in the last years and see what made me grateful.  I am always grateful for things in my life.  Every day there is something that makes me think to myself, 'Thank you".  I think its time I start this up again. 

Saturday April 25th.
-spending time with my parents and nephews.  My step-father and I trading walking Tyler duty; Al telling Tyler about the 'rule of twosies' (we only say things twice!). 
-spending time with my friends, Lisa, Kim, Heather, Ria and Amy.  Heather sharing her feelings about her late mother and I relating with my grandmother. 
-chocolate chip cookies.
-believe it or not, rain.  Mother Earth needs the rain in order to bring me my sunny days!
-the Romeoville Rec Dept t-ball parade.  Celebrating the kids. 

So far for today, April 26th, I am grateful for waking up.  For being given another day in this life...somedays I never stop and think about this, that I have one more day of making it the best day.  I am thankful for this opportunity. 

What makes you grateful?

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Edit...a couple of mobile uploads from dinner on Saturday night. 
 
*heather, kim, me

 
*lisa, ria, amy

It's official.  T-ball season has started in Romeoville. 

Each year the village and the rec department has a parade to kick off the T-ball season.  The parade, that is all of 10 trucks (10 teams), a firetruck and two police cars, lasts all of 15 minutes.  Its cute, though, to see the little ones all excited about their team and the game and throwing candy out of the truck bed to people standing by. 

We had the Orioles, Rattlers, Rapturs, Rampage, reds, Yankees (blech) and others...

Today is Earth Day.  What are you doing to help the Earth?  There are many things to do...leave the lights off, recycle the cereal box, borrow a book from the library.  No matter what you do, make sure you do one little thing for Mother Earth.  She sure does give us a lot. 

Today, I recycled paper at work.  I also elected not to print many emails.  I have unplugged my cell phone charger and I ran all my errands after work before coming home (vs. coming home and then going out again). 

I do have to get back in the habit of borrowing books.  I've been buying too many books lately.  I was kindly reminded of this today when I was downtown Naperville and I see the Cat in the Hat sculpture outside the Nicholas Library. 
 

On another note.  After my last post, my old-age post, I thought retail therapy was the end-all, be-all of mood lifters.  And it was.  A new shirt, some new Mary Kay make-up, shorts from the Gap, and a new necklace.  Amazing.  I feel so much better!  (plus, i will look totally HOT! at the concert.  If I am going to be the age of other parents there, I want to be the 'Hot Mom'.)