Monday, November 30, 2015

Day 30: Good Citizens

Today I am grateful for the people who are in the world that are good citizens.  We saw a car break down today, right in the middle of traffic.  Two separate cars full of good citizens pulled over, got out, and helped push a total strangers car out of the way.  The coolest part, they just jumped back into their car like nothing happened, took off and right back into their day.  I am so pleased to know that this kind of respect and chilvary is still alive and well.

Day 29: Massage and Chiropractors

I've had a little trouble with my lower back lately,  nothing big just a sign of my age and profession, and have started going back to a chiroprator.  I also found a gift certificate that was given to me by my wonderful in laws, and went and had a massage today.  Wow!  It is amazing to be pampered.  I think one of the coolest things is that we didn't speak for the entire time.  Udder silence.   I am grateful for the opportunities with these modalities to really do some healing and hopefully prevent any future problems.

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Day 28: Myself

Today I am grateful for myself.  I am finally at a age that I feel very comfortable being me and appreciate things about myself.  Of course I have a laundry list of traits I would like to change or work on but overall I am grateful for the person I am.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Day 26: House Guests

I don't often have house guests and I am grateful for that.   It is very hard having people in your space for any extended length of time.  It is really fun for me though to have my house feel so full.  It is so fun to have one of my daughters favorite playmates just down the hall. It was glorious this morning to get out of bed, have my children up and fed, the coffee made and my breakfast there waiting for me.  I couldn't ask for better, more considerate people to be in my space with me.

Day 25: Extended Family

Today I am grateful for my extended family! When we all get together in a big group and outsider would never be able to tell who is blood and who is related by marriage.  I have the greatest of people that all have so much to offer and so much love to give.  My mother and father in law are two of the most amazing kind harted, genuine people I have ever had the honor of knowing.  My brother in laws are the brothers that I could have never dreamed better.  I love being part of this amazing journey with these people.

Day 27: Nice Patients

Today I am grateful for kind patients!  I have several of the nicest,  involved patients tonight and when I have those it somehow makes everything we do so worthwhile.  It breaks up the nights that are extremely rough and challenging. It makes me have faith in humanity.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Day 24: Family

I have the best family!   My sister and brother in law were expected in today to celebrate Thanksgiving here in Colorado and I was so excited all day.  I be bopped around,  talked to everyone at the grocery store, played with my kids,  teased people I didn't know.  I am so grateful for my family who are kind and thoughtful,  just like me in so many ways, and not dysfunctional in a negative way.  In my line if work I see so many horrible families that are intentionally hurtful and cruel and I am just so grateful that I am blessed to be with these amazing people for the holidays.

Day 23: Yoga

Today I am thankful for yoga.  Yoga has played a very important role in my everyday life these past couple of years. Yoga is how I start almost every morning.   I get out of bed and complete a series of stretches. It is the first thing I like to do most days.   The days I don't get it done is the days that I notice it in every movement for the entirety of my being awake.  I am inspired by my practice and am inspired by how little in know about the art itself.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Day 22: My Dad

Today I am grateful for my dad.  He is a  wonderful man who loves me and my loved ones very deeply.  He taught my sister and I how to be stronge women, and not have to be dependent on a man.  Because of his lessons I am very much my husbands equal.
Today I bought new shower head for one of our bathrooms.  Heath was kind of busy with another project as I took it out of its packaging,  I looked at it and thought "I can do this".  Because of his lessons and his attitude about having two girls I was able to march right down the hall and install a shower head!

Day 21: Logan

Today I am thankful for Logan.  Logan is a very spirited young man who is full of love and vigor.  He keeps Heath and I on our toes and keeps our home alive!  I am so excited to help him channel this energy to become an amazing force in this world.  I am so blessed to have been chosen to be his mom!

Day 20: Pedicures

Today I am grateful for pedicures.  Pedicures are one of my single favorite things in this world.  Especially after a lot of miles on my old dogs after a 12 hour shift,  a pedicure is just what the Dr ordered.  A warm bath, massage, and pretty toes to walk out with and greet me for the rest of the month.  Quiet time for me...win-win!

Day 19: Compliments

Today I am grateful for compliments.  I got a very nice compliment from a person I don't know very well at all last night and I was surprised how good it made me feel.  She kept asking me what smelled so good and then got close to me and said it was me.  She said I smelled like a yoga studio.  It sounds like a strange compliment but for me and what it going on in my life right now it is a sentence that she could have had no idea what kind of impact it had on me. 
This gratefulness inspired to choose this one as a post because we don't know what kind of impact our words may have on someone else.  It may sound weird in our head or we may be to embarrassed to say but please go ahead and say it because you may not know how great of an impact it will have on another person. 

Day 18: My House

We have been so blessed since we have been in our house.  Almost eight years now.  It isn't anything special but fits all of needs perfectly.  It has been so fun in the past few months to shine it up.  We ripped out our kitchen in August and have been putting some of the finishing touches up on it the past week.  Reveal pictures soon.  The downstairs bedroom got a total remodel, and is more beautiful than I could have ever imagined.  The den is so pretty and restful.   Can't wait to show it off this next week. Looking forward to some new bathrooms and some less glamorous projects like spray in insulation!  Thank you house for being steadfast and such an incredible gift to our lives. 

Day 17: Sweet Annabelle

Today I am grateful for my daughter Annabelle.  She is such a sweet, kind, loving child. She makes me laugh everyday and constantly surprises me with her level of empathy.   I love to watch her grasp language and learn how to spell and read.  She loves to "learn" and explore her world.  I hope to be the kind of mom who continues to allow her to grow into a beautiful young woman astonished that God in trusted me with her life.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Day 16: Being a Mom

Today I am grateful that I am a mom. It is the hardest job I have ever had the privilege of having.  I am amazed by these little people everyday.  They surprise me, challenge me and make me proud everyday. I have many feelings around being a mom, but mostly I am grateful that I am blessed to be in this position.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Day 15: Ikea

I know I know...but I am really grateful that Ikea built a store in Denver and I have been able to discover all the wonderful things it has to offer.  With all the home remodeling we have been doing we don't always want to fork out so much money on some of the more decorative pieces or some of the pieces that are functional but need to be tough.  Ikea has filled this gap wonderfully for us.  It's such a fun store to shop at and I love the way my voice hits that weird octave of "it's only how much"? 

Day 14: My Car

It may sound strange but today I am thankful for my car.  My car was a gift from my wonderful parents 16 years ago.  I have put all its miles on it, know every dent and scratch and am blessed by its gift of longevity.  Today the odometer  turned 280,000 miles.  It has some quirks, but is always faithful.  I am so thankful that we have always had the option to replace her and not the requirement.  I am tempted now to see how long we can go...just how many miles can I put on a 1999 Honda Civic?

Friday, November 13, 2015

Day 13: Good Sleep

Today I am grateful for the days that you sleep well.  I never realized how grateful you could be for sleep until I started working nights and had kids.  I used to have a hard time sleeping during the day in between night shifts.   I don't know what shifted this year but I sleep really well now, and very hard.  I am so grateful for those times.  I wake up and feel pretty good, I remember the weeks on end where you just feel like a zombie.  I am grateful that I have been able to adjust to this schedule and that my body no longer fights it. 

Thursday, November 12, 2015

Day 12: Terri

Today I am thankful for my dear friend Terri.  We have been friends for almost 15 years and she is such a joy in my life.  Her endless smiles and whitty personality makes her so much fun to be around. She reminds me to take pleasure in the simple things and treasure that which is close!

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Day 11: Freedom

Today I am thankful for my freedom.  Today is Veteran's day and I got me thinking about exactly what we are observing.  I am thankful to those who have chosen to, or haven't argued with,  defending our country and our way of life.  Some have payed the ultimate price, or sacrificed damn near, to preserve the America that we know. I am grateful that I can choose to spend my life doing whatever I want to.  I can own whatever I want to, I can believe whatever I want to and be free to be who I am.  These choices aren't always the most popular in society but they are our right as Americans to seek our own path.  I am grateful for that!

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Day 10: Lisa

Today I am thankful for a wonderful woman in my life. Lisa came into our lives about two and a half years ago and has made it better ever since. I found her name and number on a bulletin board at work when I was looking for some help with my domestic duties. I called her and instantly connected with her, invited her over to my home for an estimate and immediately felt at ease and her presence. Lisa cleans my house every week, loves on my kids, showers them with gifts, loves their homemade cards and pictures, buys my dog special treats and genuinely wishes well for my family. She has taken so much stress and disagreements out of Heath and my marriage, and has made me be able to be a lot more intentional about my time. I am thankful for every Tuesday, and look forward to when I hear her pull up and my dog starts going wild. She is a wonderful woman and has been a blessing to our lives.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Day 9: My Mom

Today (as with everyday) I am grateful for my mom. She gave me life!  She loved me and put my needs ahead of her own every time (something I am still struggling with as a mom).  She continues to prioritize my needs and above all we have a great relationship!   Today she helped me paint our new bedroom, she fed my kids, took Annabelle to school and picked her up, and gave me the time and space that was needed to get the job done.  Her acts of love are endless and her admirable qualities are plentiful. I only hope my children can say one day that I am half the woman their Grammie is!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Day 8: My Job

I am thankful for my job, not the work itself  (that's reserved for another post) but today made me very thankful for my location of my work. I love how close it is to my house, the facility itself is beautiful, and the people I work with are amazing! I have so many friends there that are truly amazing people.   What makes me grateful today was coming out to my car after a 12 night shift and finding my windows scraped and "Have a great day etched into one window".  What wonderful people!

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Day 7: Friends

Today I am grateful for friends.   I have all kinds of friends. ..close friends, periphery friends,  work friends,  Facebook friends and family friends.  I am blessed to have each one of these people in my life because each one brings me something new or adds a different gift to my life. I am grateful to have such a wide array of people who make the rainbow of my life so beautiful! 

Friday, November 6, 2015

Day 6: Husband

Today I am very grateful for my husband.  He is an amazing man.  He works so hard,  studies his butt off, never complains about me working or taking time for myself, is a weekend warrior and represents all of us at family events held on the weekends.  Annabelle is sick this weekend and I did not worry leaving her with Heath for one second.  He is an amazing father, friend and husband.  I love you Heath.  Thank you for choosing me...over and over and over again!

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Day 5: Healthy Kids

Today I am gratefulI for healthy children.   Usually my children are very healthy and even when we do get a bug, it passes through quickly.   I am very thankful that I do not have children that are constantly sick or have a chronic illness. I would really struggle with that. I am very grateful for those  blessings.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Day 4: Evolving Faith

Today I am grateful for my evolving faith.   The spiritual spoke on my wheel of life hasn't always been the strongest, but I am so grateful for the path I am currently on,  the people who have been placed in my life, and for the peace I feel when I pray.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Day 3: My City, Longmont

Today I am grateful for my town. Longmont is a great family city with the friendliest people as a whole I have ever met. It has wonderful facilities, schools, neighborhoods, people, resources, shopping, and the view's are the best in the entire front range in my opinion. We are close commute to Denver, close to Loveland and Fort Collins.  I am continually impressed everytime I go out shopping, go to an event, or sign my kids up for classes. Everyone is always so friendly and nice and down to earth. I foresee a long future in this town and feel like it is a wonderful place to raise my children. I am so grateful that God led us here, provided a wonderful house, and has given me the strongest sense of community that I have ever felt.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Day 2: My Health

Today I am grateful for my health.  There are tons of people who are stricken with poor health, either from their own choices or from opportunities given to them.  I  by no means the healthiest person I know, but I am so grateful for my level of health.  I have no chronic pain, no debilitating diseases, no reason why I cannot choose to be healthy.  I have my struggles and my deck that I was dealt but I am grateful I have choices and there are many options.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Day 1: My Life

Today I am Thankful for my life.  I am grateful for being able to get up everyday, in a warm house, with indoor plumbing, able to walk up and down my stairs, go to our fridge with food in it, have power of choice, opportunities and choices of how to carry out my day.  I am grateful for the ability to work, make enough money to support our life, and live well.  I am grateful God has given me a amazing husband, wonderful kids, a close nit family and tremendous friends.  I am grateful to be blessed to live in this wonderful state, and in this fabulous city.  I am grateful to be alive!