Birthday Eve

Tomorrow I turn 34.  Strange. I have finally arrived at the age I never pictured myself being. I'm not young. I'm not old. I'm in the middle. We are settled. We have established our lives. We have a community, a house, a strong marriage, two kids, a dog, careers (almost), cars and lots of responsibilities. It feels strange to scroll through my Facebook page and see all my "friends" who are also in the middle.
I was planting some flower bulbs today and became in deep mediation about nature and our place as humans in this natural cycle. With our higher intelligence we try to avoid the natural rhythm of the season but we are just as rhythmic as anything around us. There's a time to be born, a time to die, a time to bloom, a time to lay fallow, and a time to nuture.
I started this blog two whole years ago. It has been such a fun experiment with my interests and voice, thoughts and feelings. I will someday print it out in one of those nice bound books and it will be such a powerful reflection on an amazing few years. I feel like I have grown and changed more in the past two years then in any other time of my life.
I had very lofty goals two years ago and really accomplished quite a few huge BHAGs that year. Last year was a lay fallow year. I did a couple of things but didn't have a stellar year. This year I really want to find grace and a balance. A balance in between getting it all done and living a good life. I want to be present and experience all that this crazy life has to offer, focus on  rest and feeding myself. I need to strike a balance in between being fit and having a good exercise regimin and living my life. I pray to God for him to deliver me from my desire for excess. Excess food, excess material things, excess desires.  I want to have a mindset of gratefulness and Gratitude. I look forward to a beautiful spring to witness the blossoming that is my life.

Gratitude Post Day # 30 This Assignment

November 30th, 2014
Today I am grateful for this assignment. It is such a grate focus every November and helps me in my journey for mindfulness. I love that several friends do the same assignment as it really helps me see how much there is to be grateful for in this world. I hope that this assignment carries it's momentum throughout the year and helps keep me focused on what we have to be grateful for.

Gratitude Post Day # 29 Husbands Family

November 29th, 2014
I haven't seen my husbands family for almost a month but I am so grateful for them and our relationship. I'm so grateful to have a family who accepts me fully, as I am, and sometimes even likes me better than  their own 😄
There is no family tension, no family guilt trips and no resentment.  They are truly wonderful people and so grateful to have them be my children's aunts and uncles and grandparents. I am under no disillusions how rare this is.

Gratitude Post Day # 28 Colorado

November 28th, 2014
Today I am grateful for the beautiful state that we live in. I feel so blessed to be a Colorado native. We were able to go for a drive today in the mountains, a place I feel so at peace in, and am amazed at the grateness of nature. We have wonderful weather, no real bugs, minimal natural disasters and a constantly changing landscape. So beautiful to see everyday.

Gratitude Post Day # 27 Thanksgiving

November 27th, 2014
Today I am thankful for THANKSGIVING! It is my single favorite holiday. Filled with the spirit of being grateful for the blessings in your life! There is no pressure to do anything other than be with loved ones and EAT! So thankful to have such a fabulous family and be able to spend the day with them!

Gratitude Post Day # 26 House Full

November 26th, 2014
Today I'm grateful for a full house. We have every bed filled and the feeling of love is pouring out the windows. We have never had this house this full and it is such an amazing feeling. So blessed!

Gratitude Post Day # 25 Essential Oils

November 25th, 2014
Today I am grateful for essential oils. I have gotten turned onto them in the past year and find so many uses for them. My new favorite use I found was to block the smell of some vomit and help with the resulting nausea while cleaning it up. Love the 1001 uses for essential oils.