in a thanksgiving weekend

this week i've been thinking about what i'm thankful for ... i think my list goes on forever. here are a few from the top ...

i'm thankful for a supportive & loving family. they're the best i could ask for.

i'm thankful for friends who are there for me in good times and bad ... even when i "drop" them.

i'm thankful for happiness ... and reluctantly thankful for sadness, which helps me recognize the happiness.

i'm thankful for the gospel of jesus christ. for the branch that i attend. for the leaders who guide me.

i'm thankful for goals. and thankful that i chose mostly attainable goals this year. this year i think i'll share my goals, so you can all keep me honest.

i'm thankful for water (last year i think it was diet coke, but i gave that up, so it's a good thing there's water around!)

i'm thankful for these kids (and the two who weren't here last night) ... and for their unconditional love.

do you wonder what i do?

these last 2 weeks i've been in macon, georgia for work. last wednesday when i arrived, the place looked like it was still weeks and weeks away from being complete. (no before picture, sorry!) but, today when i left the center, it looked like this:

and it may not look like much to you ... but it looks like a center that's up & running to me. goal accomplished.

for two days last week i sat in the car outside the center to "babysit" our contractors. apparently some people think they don't have to work unless they're being watched? so i watched them cut a hole in the wall for a door, install the ceiling grid, paint, carpet, install fixtures in the bathroom, and take a lot of smoke breaks. but it obviously worked, because today, when i left, all of the construction was completed and we now have a certificate of occupancy and business license (10 stops later ... and one of them was at the jail, whoops!), and we're ready for the kids to start on friday. yahoo.