Why I avoid the whole "Black Friday" thing...and writing woes, and blessings, always blessings

I love good deals, honest I do. But I'm not one for crowds, or chaos, or mom's duking it out for the latest tickle-me-Elmo toy. I don't think I've ever shopped on Black Friday. Nope. never.

Here's a secret for you: if you don't look at the ads you won't know what you're missing.

I opened the Blain's Farm Fleet ad and looked at a few pages and started making a mental list of all of the things I could get for a great deal for ME. None of which I needed or even realized I wanted. I threw the ad and the rest of the specials in the recycle bin.

For me, it's too easy to get caught up in the thrill of the deal. 

All of the snow has melted here at Thee Farm. That makes me happy happy happy.

Thee Farmer and his eldest daughter are out cleaning pens and doing projects. They went shopping yesterday - to the farm store. She was so excited to get new coveralls and gloves. They also bought some Dewalt stuff that was on sale. She named her impact drill. Seriously. That girl is crazy about farming and fixing things.

I have to admit that I have felt totally uninspired in my writing the past few weeks. I know WHAT I want to write.  

And then...I look over and there is salt sprinkled from one end of the house to the other. Dinosaurs look like they have risen from extinction. (When did I buy him that many?!) Marker all over the windows. And a sweet little voice that says, "Mama, I touch Christmas!" 

That's just the two-year-old. 

Then there is Thee Little Farmer, AJ. He's four and he loves to ask questions on top of questions. And he hasn't quite gotten the hang of pointing directly at things. So, he will ask us about "that thing over there" and we have no idea what he is talking about. His teacher made a Thanksgiving video of his class and he told her he was "Thankful for tractors."

Me, on Thanksgiving, totally oblivious to anyone or anything, except the pickle tray!

Sometimes, I am at a total loss for words. With four children bickering over tater tots and the TV blaring Bubble Guppies and Thee Farmer outside cleaning pens all day...I take a deep breath. And another. And I count my blessings:

• Five amazing and unique children, plus a future daughter-in-love.
• We are all healthy.
• We have a beautiful home full of love and laughter and trust and hope.
• We have a church family that is beyond words.
• Cows. Lots of cows.
• Pepsi
• Thee Farmer. Always, Thee Farmer.

Blessings to you, my friend. Which ones are you counting?