Tag: life

Thankful Thursday (episode 5)

Well, another week is coming to a close…and I have a lot to be thankful for. 🙂 After the past several weeks of not doing so well with recording my blessings, I found that I was able to keep track of them better this week. I think God is answering my prayers by helping me to focus on the positives and on the blessings that He bestows on me.

So here is my list of things that I am grateful for!

  • Getting me through the work week
  • A nice visit with the Hubby on his break at Target
  • An engrossing new book to read, called “Hush, Hush” by Becca Fitzpatrick
  • The opportunity to sleep in
  • Yummy breakfast sandwiches from Dunkin’ Donuts
  • A nice time with family at our nephew’s birthday party
  • Strength to clean up the house when I didn’t feel like it
  • An iced mocha latte from Dunkin’
  • Visiting a new park with the Hubby
  • My eyesight! I take it for granted so often.
  • A delicious taco dinner with all the fix-in’s
  • That I was able to take Daisy on a walk to my in-law’s house and then sit and talk with them for a bit
  • Being told that I am my boss’ most reliable worker 😀
  • For a tasty stromboli dinner, especially since someone else made it and all we had to do was heat it up!
  • The Hubby and I got to watch several good episodes of NCIS together
  • My boss told me that my job will continue until the end of May or the beginning of June, when I thought it was going to end sooner
  • A productive day at work
  • A beautiful sunset

Thanks for reading! I hope that my list has been encouraging, and that maybe it sparks in you the desire to keep track of your blessings – if you’re not already. 😉 Doing so has really helped to change my perspective on life…for the better! ❤

P.S. Here are links to my previous Thankful Thursdays! Thankful Thursday (episode 1), Thankful Thursday (episode 2), Thankful Thursday (episode 3), and Thankful Thursday (episode 4).

All About Me (Part 1)

If you’ve been following my blog for a while, you may have gleaned a few tidbits of info about who I am and what my life is like. I hope so, as I try to be open and honest in my posts. 🙂 But there are some things that you may not know yet. And if you just recently started following “Out of the Mud and Mire,” you may have a few questions about me as the author.

So here is a list of “All About Me” questions, along with my answers, to help you get to know me a little better. If you have a question that isn’t listed here, please feel free to leave it in the comments! ❤

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My Mom named me after the singer Crystal Gayle. 🙂

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
A week or two ago when my friend posted an article that was heart-wrenching.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
It’s okay, I think it can be pretty when I really try hard.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
Hmmm, I’d never really thought about it! I like turkey the best I think, but it has to be paired with provolone cheese. 😉

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
Not yet!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
It depends on what this other person is like. If they wanted a friend who is out-going and who loves going to different places, I might not want to be my friend. But if the other person is looking for someone who is quiet but sweet and who can at times be silly, then I’d be friends with me.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT?
Naaaaa, only when I’m mad, and then I feel really bad about it, lol.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?
Yes I do!

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
Probably not…but if my Hubby or a friend wanted me to jump with them, I might scrounge up the courage to do it.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
I don’t really eat a lot of cereal – but I do put granola with almonds into my Vanilla Bean flavored yogurt.

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
Yes, it’s easier to get them off that way, and easier to put them back on!

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
I don’t see myself as being a very strong person, but my husband and my family tell me that I am. I just know that I have only gotten this far because of God’s strength…and it will be His strength that continues to get me through each day. So I guess I am strong in God’s strength. 🙂

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Okay, have you ever tried those Ben and Jerry’s “Core” ice creams, where in the center there’s a huge dollop of some kind of goodness? I am in love with the Salted Caramel Core flavor.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
If they look friendly and approachable or not.

15. RED OR PINK?
I would say pink, but it has to be a pale, understated pink instead of a dark pink.

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
Right now it’s my body – I would feel much better if I could lose a few pounds and get in shape. But I’m trying!

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
I miss my mom and dad and brother and grand-mom, who I moved an hour away from when I got married. I know it’s not very far, but it’s still difficult to get down to see them. We do talk on the phone often, for which I am grateful. And I’m grateful for my family-in-law who live close to me (my mom-and dad-in-law live only four blocks from us).

18. WHAT IS THE SPARK FEATURE THAT HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST?
Okay, I’m not sure what this question is asking for. I got this list from sparkpeople.com, so maybe that’s what it’s referring to with the “spark feature.” But I’m not a part of that forum so I can’t answer the question. 🙂

19. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
I’m wearing slippers right now, and they are pink (a pale, understated pink) and white.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Well, I don’t know if this counts because it’s a drink, but I was just sipping on a Starbucks iced caramel latte. Yum!

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
I don’t have any music on right now. I know many people find music helpful when they’re working on a project, but when I work on something – like this blog post – I find quietness to be more conducive to quality writing. 🙂

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
I would be a light teal or a sea-foam green…or maybe even a pretty coral

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?
I like the smell in the air after it rains, the smell of coffee, and the smell of dinner that’s been cooking in the crock-pot all day.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
My Hubby! He called to let me know he was on his way home from work.

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?
Mountain hideaway – there’s just something about the mountains that are so majestic and peaceful. I’d like there to be some kind of pond or lake, as well. 🙂

Thanks so much for reading! And as I mentioned, you can leave any questions that you might have for me in the comments section. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Thankful Thursday (episode 4)

I didn’t do very well with keeping my gratitude list this week. Maybe this is the reason that I have been feeling so down…? And while I could beat myself up and focus on my shortcoming (and this would be my tendency), I’m going to choose to be grateful for God’s amazing grace and understanding. He knows that I struggled this week, but He loves me the same. And a new week is ahead of me – a new chance to focus on things to be thankful for. 🙂

Here are just a few things that I recorded, for which I am grateful:

  1. Getting me through work even though I was really tired. God did that just about every day this week – for some reason the sleep I got and the coffee I drank were not enough…but God helped me.
  2. That our dog, Daisy, is okay. She has had an upset stomach, so we took her to the vet. They gave us some medicine for her and told us to put her on a bland diet for a week or so. But they couldn’t find anything major wrong with her during her examination. We’re praying she feels better soon!
  3. The opportunity to write. I am SO blessed to be able to share my heart and to know that there are people out there who read and understand…and care.
  4. Safety. I take it for granted so often. Every time I get in the car and drive somewhere, there is the possibility of an accident. But God has chosen to keep me safe, and I praise Him.
  5. That nothing terribly bad happened this week. Okay, so maybe I didn’t do a good job at keeping my gratitude list…but one thing I can be grateful for is that God didn’t allow anything horrible to happen over the past few days. Now if it did, He would still be God and He would still be good – and I would have to respond in a way that pleases Him. But He was gracious and gave us a fairly good week, and for this I am thankful.

That’s it for this week! Thanks so much for reading, and I would appreciate prayers for increased consistency in recording the many blessings He sends, as well as keeping a positive perspective. ❤

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Photos by: Crystal Knauss