30 Days of Thankfulness: November and Unanswered Prayers

Today I begin the 30 Days of Thankful link-up with the beautiful Crystal Michelle Mess. 

Day 1's topic is "November." 

And let me go ahead and get on my soapbox about November. 

November is not my favorite month, but it is up there. I tend to like summer months that are themed around beers around the pool and warm weather. And November tends to be the beginning of cold weather and cold makes me cranky. 

However, November gets in my top 4 months because  the theme is thankfulness. 

Here is my shout out to the haters that say, "We should be thankful year-round." 

These are the same people who say, "I don't need a certain date of the year to dictate when I'm going to try to make myself a better person." 

Sure. You're right. But we aren't typically thankful year-round and this is a month focused on thanks. Just like we should be interested in Black History year-round, as it turns out, we aren't and February is a great time to learn because we are surrounded by it. 

So shut up and be thankful. :-) Or just shut up and let the rest of us. 

Basically the reason I love November is simple: Thankfulness. 

No matter what we are going through, we have a lot to be thankful for. Even if the world is crashing down around you, we still have toilet paper, right? We live in a world where deoderant is prevalent, don't we? Anybody want to send a shout out to lice shampoo?! 

Think about it. What oddities are you super thankful for? Here are a few of mine: 

Funny bandaids
Sarcasm
Email
Online banking
Bacon
Easy access to bacon
Benadryl
Mirena
Electric dryers
Memory foam
Bras!

I could go on and on. Thank you, November, for making me think about the things I should be thankful for! 

Day 2: Un-answered Prayers

This one is tough for me because I don't remember many prayers that have gone unanswered. I've never been a pray-er for specific things. I tend to pray for understanding, peace, and "God's will  be done." 

I think a big reason for this outlook on my part is that I don't subscribe to the prevalent Christian thought that God is in control of everything, including bringing people to cancer and death. 

Do I understand why Justin has lost both of his parents to cancer and he is just 31? 

No. Absolutely not. 

Do I believe God did that to them? 

No. Absolutely not. 

So my prayers tend to be, "Make the best of this situation. Prepare our hearts to use this for your glory. Provide a way for this situation to show love to other people who need it."

Going back to the issue of Justin's mother. She had three rounds of cancer and it finally took her at the age of 60. 

That was not of God. And you won't convince me that it was. 

But do you know what was God? 

The awareness that came from it. Several people donated the gift of life by registering to be Bone Marrow Donors on behalf of her. People put themselves aside and took time out to show her love and love for others. She started a movement. That was powerful and that was an answered prayer. 

A good friend of mine was selected as a bone marrow match for someone going through blood cancer. He has answered the call. 

That is an answered prayer. 

I do believe that God has his timing and it is more wise than my own. I am aware that I want things either now or yesterday and I do not exercise patience like I should. But instead of focusing on unanswered prayers and trying to figure out what they are and how they have blessed me, I tend to focus on the answered ones... 

• Medicine for my mom that keeps her leukemia in remission... 
• Other blood cancer patients lives saved because Pat's disease raised awareness for others to become heros... 
• The fact that I can call so many of my friends heros... 

Which prayers of yours are you thankful for? Both answered and unanswered? 


Do you want to join the thankfulness movement? Below are the days and the themes for each. Link up with Crystal Michelle and share the thanks! 

November 1st – Intro – November

2. Crystal Michelle - www.crystalmichellesmess.com - Un Answered Prayers

3. Music

4. Karen - http://www.apeekatkarensworld.com/  -  Friendship

5. Memories

6. Belly Laughs

7. Rikki - http://www.mommasgotadudesname.com/ – Simple Pleasures

8. Humor

9. A defeat that made you stronger

10. Erin-  http://www.shesabigstar.com/ – Being a Mom

11. The one thing you love most about YOU

12. Duckie - http://www.frikkenduckie.com/ - Beach Days

13. Laura - http://lauraakalolo.blogspot.com/  - Mans Best Friend

14. Strength

15. Love

16. Erin & Andy - http://www.homemadehappenings-erin.blogspot.com – Family

17. Tradition

18. Mom & Dad

19. Candra - http://camoandlipstick.blogspot.com – Spouse ( husband or wife )

20. Thankful through pictures

21. Health

22. Angela – ( need your info sweets )

23. Insert your own here

24. Social Media

25. Ganeeban –  http://girlytomboymusings.blogspot.com - Time

26. Booze

27. Thanksgiving!!

28. Blog Friends

29. Your State

30.  The End of This 30 Day Blog!

Track the Tank Lands in Arkansas!

That's right it did!

I've been looking forward to this for quite. some. time.

Turns out when a tank top is roaming around the country... it takes some time. Go figure.








Now I'm supposed to say what motivates me...

This seems like a loaded question. Am I supposed to say something about fitness? Life? Requote Maya Angelou?

Also, I have the ADDs and get all flustered. So here are my thoughts, take it or leave it.

1) Bitches get stuff done.

I swear I'm getting this tattooed on me somewhere.

But the fact of the matter is, if you want something, then work for it and get it. Period.

Excuses are like assholes and I don't want to touch them.

Whining is for sissies.

Make a plan. What are your goals? When you have your goals, start working toward them. Set an action plan. Then do it.

It is simple, yes. For some overly simple, but that's just how I see it. If I have goals that I haven't achieved, I'm the problem.

2) This kid.

This kid would. not. smile. So I mocked him. #mommywin

A few years ago I was told at the ripe, bold age of 28 that I had high cholesterol.

Well shit.

And I was told that I'd have to take medicine for it.

Bull shit.

So I took my doctor's challenge of cutting out carbs (mainly processed carbs but limiting everything) and bam! It worked. 

Let me break it down for you non-believers: 

I call it the reverse-racism diet. 

No whites. 

• flour
• sugar
• rice
• potatos

That's it. 

Eat all the meat you can stand. No really. 

Bring on the cheese. Bring on the eggs and meat. Load up the veggies. 

Limit the fruit. 

I dropped 20 lbs something quick (from around 150lbs to 130lbs) and I've kept it off. And my cholesterol dropped 50 pts ya'll! 

My kid deserves to have his momma around for as long as I can make it. I don't want him to find me in heart-attack mode because I didn't have the self-control to put down the chocolate covered donut. 

Final thoughts: 

Everyone was so serious with their quotes on the shirt. So I wrote "err'body love some side boob."

Because, really, they do. :-) 

And yes I still use my super cool treadmill to stay awake while reading for class.

Promote the Love Link-Up: Aunt B's Dirty Little Secret

My girl, Tia and Hands On Pants Off, shows her awesomeness once again by starting this wicked cool link-up to promote the love and drown out the hate for bloggers.

The blogging world can be amaze-balls once minute and then full of hatred the next. (If you want proof just look at my "Rearing Children" post)

This was great timing for me since I had the opportunity to help my sister create a blog a few weeks ago!

Her name is Brandi, and even though we are polar opposites on EVERYTHING except the Braves, she has found a passion and I'm all for her pursuing it!

Turns out her passion was ignited by Christian Grey (ew! hatred! demon!). But we all have to be doing something right?

She read 50 Shades of Grey and began to love reading.

And now she keeps herself up late at night reading copious amounts of mommy porn.

What's in it for you?

Well if you also love mommy porn (or reading in general), her blog is a constant book review. It is mainly for women and mainly about romances and love stories, but it isn't just that and to be honest, she is pretty damn good.

Go check out Aunt B's Dirty Little Secret and give her a follow. Recommend books for her to review and comment on the books she has read as well.

Help me tell the world about Aunt B's Dirty Little Secret... pretty soon, it shouldn't be much of a secret!

My Son's Alter Ego is Donkey

I don't get to blog often. I realize that. And I'm doing it today against my better judgment as I have lots of homework and a ten page paper to write. 

However, I just returned from Walmart with my son for a "quick" trip. 

He didn't shut up the whole time. Not once. 

Not even once!

Want proof?

Here is a list of stuff that "is what he always wanted": 

Spongebob Bandaids
A Lady Chic Razor
Two Spiderman Web Shooters
3 Bicycles (one was unsuitable b/c the training wheels weren't "real")
Watermelon Juice
Perry the Platypus Hot Chocolate
Nesquick Crazy Straw Glasses
Go-Gurt (the kind with milk in it that he can't eat)
The Cereal with a Toy in It (who knows which one)
A Mario Kart T-Shirt

That's what I can remember. 

List of songs he sang randomly but certainly with an audience: 

Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
Girl in a Country Song - Maddie and Tae
Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO
Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke

Total number of people that giggled as we passed them by: 

8

Total number of people who patted me on the back while giggling:

2

Total number of people who commented on his "vibrant personality": 

3

Total number of people who took me up on my offer to take him home: 

0

I can feel it. You still don't grasp how chattery he was. Here is video proof: 



Wait there is more! 

I took a note out of my sister's book and gave him something to hold between his lips. If he didn't let it fall (i.e. shut the hell up), he would get a piece of candy when we got home. 

What did he do? 

He hummed. He mother-puppy hummed. 

So. Much. Noise. 

That's how I concluded his alter ego is Donkey. 

Not because he is an ass (he is though). Remember this clip? (start at 1:05)



Bless my heart. 

See funny things like this and more by following me on Instagram and Twitter (@rikkidale on both). I don't get to blog nearly as much as I used too, but those take very little time :-) 

WTF Wednesday: What's that on my butt?

It's been a while and I woke up this morning and thought, "I should blog today." 

Then, I immediately felt something on my butt. And I thought, "Hey there thing on my butt. What are you?"

It was quite early. I wasn't alarmed for my health or anything. But I was certainly curious what was on my butt. 

(my husband is looking over my shoulder right now thinking, "WTF was on her butt?!" Don't worry, he'll find out along with you all.)

Anyway, back to my butt. 

There was something on it. 

I reached around and touched it... (it wasn't my butthole or anything... don't get carried away... it was on the broad side of my right cheekers where all good things in life are). 

It was a mother puppy M&M. 

You would think this is the part where it would end and say, "that was my WTF moment."

It wasn't. My thought process after discovering the ass candy was WTF worthy. 

Thought 1:

Those little candy shells aren't playing. 

Seriously. They are magical. I don't have a slight ass. I don't typically move a lot in my sleep. There was no chocolate melted on my ass nor the sheets. They should make planes out of that shit! 

Melts in your mouth, not in your hand? 

Also, not on your butt! 

Thought 2: 

DAMN IT! I WANTED TO EAT THAT. 

I realize it would have ended up on my ass anyway, but I would have liked to have tasted it first, you know?!

Thought 3: 

Seriously... WTF is that candy shell made of?! I ingest that quite often. Is it digestible? 

What should have been thought 4 (but didn't occur to me right now):

How did the damn M&M get on my ass in the first place!? 

1) I aim for my mouth every time. Not my ass. 

2) I am the cheapest person on the planet. Wasting even one M&M pisses me off. 

3) I have a deep love and admiration for peanut butter M&Ms... I keep an eye on them. 

How in the hell did that happen? 

And how in the hell did I not notice ALL NIGHT?! 

Folks is tired round these parts. Real. Damn. Tired. 

Have you ever found an M&M on your butt?