Nov.22-30

Day 22: I am thankful that I am not a picky eater. Sure there are several things that I don't want to ever eat and some things that I have given up over the years (mostly pork). I will eat most things  and really I just like to eat food that someone else cooks for me.

Day 23: Leah Blake - Lots of amazing things that I could say about 1 of my best friends. Lately I just am thankful that we have kept in great communication even though we are living in different countries and time zones. I love how she randomly tells me that I am great or she loves me. I think she is a great friend, an amazing mother to her children, a great wife to her fun husband...for sure a woman that I am very thankful that the L-rd allowed our paths to connect.

Day 24: FaceTime - with a few of my closest friends living in other locations I am super thankful for this. It allows my quality time bucket to be filled up!

Day 25: Maya - I love having a biological niece. It is so great to watch her grow up and be involved in her life. Grateful that she lives close to me so I can do random drop-in visits.

Day 26: All the kids in my life - I have several nieces and nephews in my life (non-biological - but pretty much family anyways). Most of my friends have kids and I am thankful they allow me to be part of their children's lives. From playing dress up, taking them to movies, going sledding, ice cream dates, watching them play sports, etc. I am just glad that my friends with kids let me (the single girl) be a small part of their family!

Day 27: Living in a place that has all the four season. I really enjoy nature.

Day 28: Snow Days! I enjoy them - even though my district usually has us make them up. However, a spontaneous day off out of nowhere is a fun thing. Movies, sleeping in, drinking tea in my sweats = a great time.

Day 29: Traveling - I enjoy taking trips on the days I am not at work. I have seen some pretty amazing places!


Day 30: Debt Free! I have been debt free for a few years now and I just love having a little extra cash to spend on others or to save for trips!

Nov. 8-21

Day 8: My grandparents. I was blessed with pretty amazing grandparents. We did fun things together growing up: spending the night, gardening, eating at fritzs, playing in the yard. They all did a great job of being involved in my life whether it was phone calls, fun mail, or just coming to watch me in my sporting events. My Grandma Marlin is still here on earth - almost 89 - I still get to see her and talk to her on a somewhat regular basis. There are lots of days where I miss my Grandma Maasen - she was funny and had some pretty great stories about my dad as a kid!

Day 9: My 4Runner - I am just thankful I was able to buy a car that I have wanted for a long time. It is more reliable than my old car that was barely hanging on. I ma just glad I have a car that I can count on to get me from point A to point B - which is mostly to work, but sometimes on road trips to Ohio!

Day 10: Coca-Cola Classic! It is tasty and it makes my day a little brighter when I guzzle down the fizz! YUM

Day 11: My dad - 1. he is a veteran, and I am thankful that he helped in the Vietnam War. 2. He loves me a lot and shows me on a regular basis - mostly through random acts of service or gifts. 3. He is a softie, he acts tough but really he cries at most of my coaching or teaching stories - he has a big heart.

Day 12: Pets. I currently do not have a pet and that is okay because I live in an apartment and I coach long hours so that would not be fair. I loved having pets as I was growing up, just fun to play with them or when I was having a bad day they would just make it better. I do miss my Harley Dog pretty often because she was fun, softest fur ever, and a great dog. So until I get another dog, I will continue to dog/house sit for friends and get my dog fix that way.

Day 13: College - I went to Northwest Missouri State university, home of the Bearcats. I fell in love with that school when I went to visit there. The main pull was that they had an elementary school on campus - so I could get lots of my teaching credit and observation hours right on campus. I loved my professors/mentors that I had in the P.E. Department. I made several friends through my degree and my sorority, many of them I still actually see and talk to on a somewhat regular basis. Seriously one of the best decisions I have made  in my life!

Day 14: My Former Athletes - I enjoy keeping in contact with my former athletes. I love to see what is going on in their lives and not just what is on Facebook. I love when the out of town girls text me or ask to meet up when they are home for breaks or vacations. Sometimes they even contact me when something difficult has happened to them or their family - this is usually really hard on me, but I am still thankful that they care about our relationship to let me know about it. I am glad that they do not just look at me as a person that coached them for a year or so and then move on, I love staying connected to them.

Day 15: Bible Study Girls - I meet with 12 high school girls on a monthly basis to discuss life, the Bible, and how to continue to make great Godly decisions. They were all my students and/or athletes in middle school. They are all terrific young ladies and it has been really fun getting to know them on a deeper level. They are already amazing women working for HIS kingdom I am excited to see what else HE has planned for them.

Day 16: Raining days on the weekends - I am not a huge fan of rain, however I do love some cloudy, raining, lazy couch days on the weekend, it is almost as great as a snow day!

Day 17: Torah study with Emma - It is just fun to read the Torah portion out loud. Look up cross references, look at maps, and read the scripture in other versions. Just pure fun!

Day 18: College Football - I like to watch college football games on TV or in person. I like the pace of the game better than the NFL.

Day 19: Kingdom Living - This is my church/community. I love it. I enjoy the people that come to the community, I love our closeness we have built over the years. I just enjoy being part of a group that is trying hard every day to do what God wants us to do.

Day 20: Boot Camp - Yes it is at 5:00AM 2 days a week - however once I get there it is usually a grand old time. Great fun ladies!

Day 21: My Health - I am thankful that I do not have any real health problems and that I rarely get sick. It is just great to be able to do what I do and not have too many aches and pains to hold me back!

Nov. 5th-7th

Day 5:  I am thankful for Mark Patrick Maasen! He is amazing brother, man, father, son! I could talk about all the ways he is great for hours. I am just so blessed that God gave me a brother that loves me and wants to hang out with me on a regular basis. I love that he is funny, sweet, caring, and giving. He is a treasure!

Day 6: I am thankful that I am able to be a coach. I have coached for several years. I love it, true it does take up a big chunk of the time in my life (especially during softball season) but I really think it is what I am suppose to be doing. I love listening to kids, talking to them, and coaching them. It is just plain fun. I enjoy being called coach! It is just a great job!

Day 7: I am thankful Harmony Middle School. I have a great job, a great building filled with really great people. The people in my building care about the kids and the adults. It does help that the administrators are fantastic as well! I have been here for 13 years and I cannot imagine leaving. LOVE IT HERE!

Nov. 1-4th

So lots of people are posting things that they are thankful for since it is November. I try very hard to be thankful for all things (even the hard, difficult things), sometimes I stink at it but I still try. So I decided since I am not so great at blogging anymore - mostly I am lazy and not really sure what to write about - that I would post my days of thankfulness for all to read.
Day 1: I am thankful for Jesus and that He died for me. I honestly do not know where I would be, who I would be friends with, and lots of other things if I would not have started walking a life that is about trying to walk out my faith each and every day. He has given me so much!

Day 2:  I am thankful for my mom. She is great! I love all the silly things that she has done in my life (notes, voice mails, etc.). She has always been my #1 fan since December 9, 1977. I love that she stayed home with my brother and I as we were growing up - a huge blessing.

Day 3: I am thankful for Melissa Yoh. She is my best friend on the planet. I love that she can tell me exactly what I need to hear at even given moment. I love how she can still surprise me after being friends for this long. Even though sometimes it is hard to be so far away from her - I know that our relationship will continue to grow and withstand the distance.

Day 4: I am thankful for Wyatt William Blake. Though his life here on earth was short I am so thankful I got to be part of his life. I often have memories of him being a cheetah or a lion. The days when he would change superhero outfits numerous times a day. When he learned how to wink and we practiced together. Playing soccer in the front yard, Legos. Him and Cassidy playing games in my closet when he was my roommate. I miss his voice, his laugh, his sensitive hear, his hugs and just the way he yelled my name when I came home!