30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 30

I can not think of a better way to end this series, "30 Days of Thankfulness", than to honor my dear mom, Marcie Roman Holt.  Today is her birthday and, I want to shout it from the roof tops:  I HAVE THE MOST AMAZING MOM IN THE WORLD!!!!!

My mom is my hero!  She is:  classy, kind, a servant, wonderful, a devoted wife, a precious "Nana" to her grandkids, funny, easy to be with...and, I could go on and on!  My mom is someone whom I desire to be more like.  She is so positive and always has a smile on her face.  My mom is truly a mentor to me as a mom and a wife and a grandmother.   I love you mom!!!!

Thank you to Amanda Brown, for asking me to join her this month with: 30 Days of Thankfulness.  I have really enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on the   many blessings in my life.  

I appreciate you for taking the time to read my blog.  Ya'll are awesome!!!!

With Love & Flair,

Beth

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 27

I am so thankful for family time spent at home.  We arrived home from Kentucky,  unpacked the car, and we all had a pajama day .  Today, was a rainy day in Memphis, with temperatures hovering in the low 40's.  The children enjoyed playing upstairs and, John and I took to cleaning out a few drawers and closets.  We really had a productive day!  A great feeling!  Our dear friends recently gave us a gift card to a favorite steak house.  John picked up "Surf and Turf" for dinner...that is, steak and shrimp, for some of you who may not be familiar with that term....another term for it is "YUM YUM YUM".  

A great day at home, the children content, and, all of us at home together...awesome!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011: Days 24, 25 And 26

Hello Sweet Readers!


Did you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones?  I sure hope so!  I 
am doing three-days-in-one for this "30 Days of Thankfulness" today...I had internet connectivity problems while away on our trip.


I am so thankful for the Thanksgiving holiday we just had.  We enjoyed great food and fellowship with John's family.  I am thankful for safe travels as we drove a total of 15 hours the past few days.  Thanks be to the Lord for allowing us to arrive home safely this evening. 


This Thanksgiving holiday has truly been special.  I hope you have enjoyed a great one as well.  




A pretty table at my Mother-in-Law's House:

A fun and festive "Thankful" turkey.  My Mom-in-Law had this sitting out for all of us to write down what we are thankful for.  Cute!

I am blessed to have great in-laws!  Patricia and Jerry Bryson.

Here is the "Thankful Turkey" again...I just love this idea! 

Here we are ....half of the table...a great day....surrounded by loved ones.
Sweet Blair was sitting on my lap...being such a good girl.  =)

John and Bo, right after our yummy meal. 

My wonderful nieces and nephew (Tate, Chelsea and Tess) ...with my sons, Beck and Bo.  

Sweet niece and nephew, Lucy and Tate....with baby girl, Blair.  My nieces and nephews in Harlan, KY, are SO sweet to my children!  ... Just warms my heart! 

Happily Linking To:


Serenity Now

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 23

I am SO thankful today for time away from our normal day-to-day schedule and, holidays!  We are leaving to drive to Harlan, Kentucky today.  We will drive to John's parent's home.  His mom, Patricia Bryson, is a lovely hostess.  Her house is one of my favorite places to sit and relax.  Their home was built in the 1940's and, it sits on a gorgeous mountain, in the Appalachian Mountains.  I am talking, breath-taking ya'll!  


Happy, happy Thanksgiving!


Feel free to jump in to "30 Days of Thankfulness" today, with Amanda
and I.  We are really enjoying this series.  Join in!  

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 22

I am very thankful to be living in The United States of America.  THANKFUL!  God Bless America!  I am thankful for the many freedoms that we enjoy each and every day:  the freedom of speech, the freedom of religion...FREEDOM!  I praise God for our forefathers who went to war to help give us such freedoms.  

We are a blessed nation.  I am so thankful to be living in America!!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 21

Today, I am truly thankful for the way my dear mom, Marcie Roman Holt, taught me how to host others and, open my home for luncheons, dinners with friends or having a friend over for coffee.  Thank you Mom!

We hosted a dinner party this past Saturday night.  So much fun!

Growing up, my mom always created wonderful flower arrangements and centerpieces.  She was always really good about teaching me how to make them.  


I had a great time creating this centerpiece on Saturday:

Thank you Mom! 

With Thanks and Flair,

Beth

Linking To:


Centsational Girl

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 20

I am truly thankful for the church I attended in college and, as a young married lady.  Denton Bible in Denton, Texas was a huge difference maker in my life.  I am grateful for the life and the ministry of Senior Pastor, Tom Nelson.  Tommy's teaching radically shaped my faith and, I am truly grateful for this dear man.

Pastor Tom Nelson

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 17

Day 17:

I am so thankful for teachers and, those that have dedicated their lives to educating children.  My daughter is currently in first grade.   My two 3-year old sons are in Pre-K.  They all three have AMAZING teachers!  My mother was a teacher for 20 years.  My mother-in-law has taught pre-school for 25 years.  My sister-in-law, Emily, has taught school and, is currently a principal, for 18+ years.  Individuals who dedicate their lives to educating children are such a blessing!  I am so thankful!   Thank you:  Miss McMahon, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. McClintock, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Snider, Mrs. Brown, Mrs. Trimm, Mrs. Arnold, Mrs. Scott, Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Stewart.   THANK YOU for all you have done to teach my children!!!

"Fiesta With Fathers" Day 2011...John and Beck

Traci Stewart and Meredeth Arnold.  Bo's teachers.    Awesome women!!!! Pre-K. 

Mrs. Bell and Mrs. Scott.  Beck's teachers.  Precious!!!

Brooke as a flower girl, with her senior, Katie Danahey.  Last year, SK.  

Wonderful Senior Kindergarten teacher, Barbara Snider.  LOVE  her!!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Days 15 And 16

I am so very thankful for my parents, Marcie and Gerald Holt.  They have been married 43 years and, they are amazing!  I truly love spending time with them, every chance I get.  They are funny, classy and, easy to be with.  They are the most amazing grandparents! They love my children and, my children love them.  They raised four children, of which I am the third.  They love all of us equally and, they are a huge role model to me on how to raise children.  

My parents are amazing!  I am very thankful!!!!!

My Dad...earlier this year, at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

My dear parents, Marcie and Gerald Holt.  They were in Memphis for "Grandparent's Day" at Brooke's school.  Love them!!!!

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 11 & 12

I am truly grateful for people who give generously.  I am overwhelmed by how our friends came together tonight in our home.  We hosted a silent auction this evening, for the benefit of our dear friends.  They are adopting a 2-year old little girl from Ethiopia, named Naomi.  Brian and Erin Crenshaw are precious friends of ours.  

We had a house full of wonderful people tonight and, they all gave with generous hearts.

My heart is truly thankful for everyone who came out tonight.  Thank you for giving toward this wonderful cause!!!!  Sweet Naomi will be in Memphis, TN before we know it!  

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 9

I am so thankful for music.  Music is such a part of our lives.  Each morning, I turn  on "Kid's Praise" as I drive my children to school and, we all sing along.  We live in a home that has an older intercom system, with a built-in radio in 5 rooms.  I constantly play the local Christian radio station throughout our home and, it makes such a difference in our day-to-day.

The old hymns are a part of the fabric of my life.  I often think of the lyrics to "Holy, Holy, Holy",  "Amazing Grace" and, "The Old Rugged Cross", and, I find great comfort in the blessed words. 

My husband and I have been watching the Country Music Awards tonight and, since I was born and raised in Texas, well...I can not ever miss this show!  I love country music!!!

I truly hope you will select your favorite type of music and, play it and play it.  Music truly is a game changer in our daily lives.  

Please make the effort to surround yourself with music.  You will be glad you did.

Amanda Brown  and I are taking this month to give thanks in our "30 Days of Thankfulness" series.  Please feel free to jump in at any time.  You are welcome to use my button or copy/paste it to your Facebook page or your blog.   

Giving Thanks With Flair,

Beth

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011: Day 7

Welcome to 30 Days of Thankfulness, Day 7.  Please feel free to join Amanda Brown and I this month, as we partner together to give thanks.

Today, I am so thankful for my home and, for the comforts of home...my dishwasher and, my washer and dryer.  Oh my!  Where would I be if I could not put dishes into my dishwasher or clothes in to my washing machine?

I think of all the people across the world who do not have these comforts.  My heart truly goes out to each and every one of them.

The next time you are loading your dishwasher or, placing dirty clothes in your washing machine...take the time to be thankful for these items.   

We could be washing our clothes in a river, on a rock...many people in Africa and, other third world countries wash clothes by this method.

I am thankful for my appliances!  So thankful!

30 Days of Thankfulness 2011: Days 4 and 5

Welcome to 30 Days of Thankfulness.  Today, I am combining Days 4 & 5, which will bring me up to speed.  This is truly the season of giving thanks and, isn't God good to give us so many blessings?

Today, I am especially thankful for girlfriends.  I really do not know what I would do without sweet friends to live life with.  

There are long-distance friends that I do not see nearly as often as I would like, but, any time we have a chance to talk, we instantly can catch up.

There are my sweet and dear, daily friends.  Oh!  What a gift!  Those rare and treasured friends who are precious to live life with me, on a day-to-day basis.  I can call and say, "I am headed to Target" or, "Please pray for my daughter, she has an ear infection"  or, even, "Can you believe this gorgeous sunny day?".  Life with "daily friends" is a gift!  

Lastly, there are old friends, those women (or men) who you have grown-up with and have known for so many years.   I think immediately of my friend Amanda Mays Childress.  She and I were born two weeks apart and, both share a May birthday.  We have been dear friends (mostly, across the miles) for 41 years!  I love her so much and, any time we have a chance to visit, I just love it! 


Proverbs 17:17 says:  A friend loveth at all times.


Which friends are you thankful for today?  Friends are a blessing for sure!  

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 2

Day 2:  

I am so thankful and, so overwhelmed by the cross!  I am thankful to be a Christian, saved by grace!  I am blessed beyond measure to have amazing and Godly parents, Marcie & Gerald Holt.  My dear older sister, Patti Holt Weaver, shared the gospel with me when I was five years old.  I remember this moment, even to this day.  I am thankful that I married in to an amazing and wonderful family.  Patricia & Jerry Bryson are two of the neatest most God fearing people that I have ever known.  Their lives, of extreme faith, have had a big impact on me, over the years.  

30 Days Of Thankfulness Starts Today!

I am really excited to kick-off 30 Days of Thankfulness today!  My good friend, Amanda Brown, over at My Heart's Desire, invited me to join her this month.  Please look at her blog, I absolutely adore it!  Amanda and I met through a mutual friend several months ago.  She has been super encouraging as I have been learning about "blog world" the past few months.  

Please feel free to join in this month.  Grab my button (or cut/paste it) and feel free to use it on your own blog post.  God honors a thankful heart!  Not a blogger?  No problem! I would love to know what you are thankful for...so, please leave a comment any time you feel led.

Last night, about to go trick-or-treating.  Hubby John, Boss (2), Bo (3), Brooke (6) and Beck (3).

Miss Blair Emily, 6 months old.  Wearing Brooke's butterfly costume from 5 years ago....so glad I saved it!  =)

Day 1: 

I am so thankful for my husband, John Bryson, and our children, I can hardly see straight!  John and I struggled with infertility for 11 years.  I had three invetro fertilization (IVF) procedures and, over 15 other, less complicated procedures over the years.  I was treated by 4 different specialists in Dallas, Denver, Little Rock and Memphis.  No pregnancy.  One day, in 2004, the Lord allowed us to be "matched" with our daughter, Brooke, through the gift of adoption (she was born in Los Angeles).  The entire 11 years, the Lord kept bringing to mind, Psalm 84:11, "No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."---I claimed this scripture and, continue to claim it.   This month is National Adoption Month.  Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you, about how amazing adoption is!  We now have 5 precious children.  Each of them are special and doing well.  THANKFUL! Oh yes!!   

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Psalm 150:6