30 Days of Gratitude - Day 30

It's finally over.  When I started 30 days of Gratitude I thought it would be easy.  How hard can it be to write about something you are grateful about during the day?  But it was hard, much harder than I thought.

I always had something I was grateful for, but how to translate that into a blog post that didn't sound obnoxious or cocky was difficult.  No one wants to hear that I was grateful I got to sleep in until 9 am on a random Tuesday or that I watched Ellen while I worked out.  It would imply my life is easy and that I don't work.  Though I know that's not true, I wonder what others think.  Perhaps I shouldn't worry about others because this is my blog not theirs.  But I do think about those things.  I do care what others think and how they feel.  Whether it's right or wrong, it's how it is.

As I look through my posts during this challenge I see that much of what I was grateful for are things, tangible things.  When did that happen?  When did I begin to place such esteemed value on the object/things in my life, that I felt the need to write about them?  Life is about people, emotions and events not things.  It makes me feel so shallow.  Something I will definitely need to think about and work on.

I have a great family.  My grandmother is still alive and lives nearby.  We get along well and I see her fairly often.  Though I am struggling with some of her neediness and wish my mom lived closer to help more.  I get along well with my parents and see them several times a year.   I love my husband and children.  My oldest daughter and I struggle with many issues and I hope and pray that one day we will have a close relationship.  But she is 21 1/2 and so sometimes I wonder if that opportunity has passed.  I hope not.  I adore my sister and her family.  We see each other often and I love spending time her.  I have good friends.  And great relatives on my husbands side of the family.   Family and friends - that is what I should be grateful for, because those are things that matter.

And good health.  You get to a certain age and you have friends that become ill or pass away.  It's hard and makes you think about you own mortality.  But today, right now, I am in good health.  And the people I care about are in good health, relatively speaking given age etc.

I am grateful that I am living and breathing.  I am grateful that I am loving and kind.  I am grateful to have a great family and friends and that I am in good health.  There is nothing else I need.  I am blessed.

What are you thankful?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 29

Today I am grateful for many things:

My husband's not-routine endoscopy and colonoscopy went well.

The policeman who pulled me over only gave me a warning.

The new medication is keeping my hiatal hernia from being problematic.

I had a chance to lay low with my husband all day after his procedure.

I got a text from my son saying saying "I love you".

I made an excellent batch of vegetable soup to last the week.

I've done well the past month to continue my quest to get healthier.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 28

I am so grateful that I had the time to get the house decorated for Christmas including the tree today.  I love the stockings hanging on the mantle, the tree and all my snowmen and Santa Claus decorations.  It's very festive.  I really pared down and was selective in what I put out this year.  And I am pleased.  I think this is the first time I have ever got it all together before December!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 27

I am very grateful for all the hugs I got when leaving my sister's house today.  I LOVE hugs.  They exude warmth and love.  My daughters got up long enough to say goodbye, then they headed back to bed for a few more hours before going back to college.  I got a hug from each of them and an "I love you, Mom" from Sarah.  Then I got a hug from my sister, her husband and my two nephews.  I left this morning knowing and feeling that they were glad we/I was there for Thanksgiving and that they love me.  And I love that feeling.  Then after a long car ride, hugged my grandmother when we dropped her off at her place.  And another hug from my son as we dropped him off at his fraternity.  All in all, a very huggy day.  Yay!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 26

I am grateful for family games.  We had the most rousing game of Bezzerwizzer tonight and oh what fun it was.   It's a trivia type game where you can answer questions about a variety of topics.  You have the option of challenging, called Bezzerwizzer, and switching categories, called Zwap.  It's easy to learn, easy to play and a blast for all ages.  We got the game this summer and played it numerous times at the lake.  With our kids in college, it has since sat in the cabinet collecting dust.  My sister reminded me to bring it for Thanksgiving.  So glad I did!  If you don't already own Bezzerwizzer, I suggest you go buy it.  Your family (of all ages) will thank you.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 25

I am very grateful that I had a chance to take an hour long walk with my sister and husband today.  It was chilly and cloudy and felt so invigorating.   Walking is great exercise but even more so, it's stress relieving.  The fresh air clears my head and gives me energy to focus on the myriad of things in my life.  The past month has been a difficult one for me and I have so much on my mind.  Between the calorie burning and stress relief, walking is win:win in my book.  I am hopeful I'll get a chance tomorrow for another nice walk.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 24

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.  To me it represents family and a time to reflect on what's important in my life.  I have always enjoyed being around my family; my parents, my grandmother, my children and extended relatives.  I have a close relationship with my parents and really missed them this year.  They live in Nevada and for a variety of reasons they aren't big travelers on the holidays.  Though my 95 year old grandmother was with us today and it was very special.

We spent today with my sister's family and her in laws and her brother-in-law's family.  To me it was a magical day.  Usually I host a dinner for 18-22 people from my husbands side of the family.  It's always fun, everybody pitches in, but it's work - the cleaning, prep and cooking - it takes some serious organization.  But today our family were guests.  I did make the cranberry sauce, contributed some wine and other ingredients but nothing compared to what's involved when it's at my house.

I was able to visit, observe and relax.  I not only enjoyed the food but all the people today.  From the three year old to the 95 year old there was a story to be told or something to be learned.  Some people view family gatherings as a curse, I think of them as a blessing.  I am not always happy with the neurosis that my family exhibits, the rudeness, the attitude.  But I love my family and I tell them.  Often.  My nephew said that as much as he enjoys his friends, spending today with them and not family would be weird.  And I totally agree.  I love my family and if I didn't have these wonderful people in life I'd be lonely and sad. I am so grateful for my family and the bounty of Thanksgiving.

What are you grateful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 23

Our 300 mile journey today was uneventful.  Lots of rain in the pass and on the west side but no snow on the roads.  Hallelujah.  So grateful.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 22

I am so thankful for my hair dresser, Heather.  She worked her magic today and I feel like a new woman.  Last haircut was done by someone else and what a horrible decision that was.  It was as though each side of my head was a different haircut.  It was awful.  Heather adjusted the layers, trimmed it up and made me look 5 years younger.  Just the pick-me up I needed today.  Thank you, Heather!

What are you grateful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 21

Fall is my favorite season, I love the rain, the falling leaves and the brisk chill in the air.  Today as I work at my desk I am cozy and warm.  The wind blown trees divert my attention outside and it makes me smile.  Fall signals the approaching end of the year and with that brings change.  I think of it like a flower bulb, we are heading into a dormant time and will emerge with new energy and vigor.  Fall is the winding down and a time to reminisce and reflect on all the year has brought.  Time to think about what lies ahead and how to affect the change we want to see in our lives.  I am grateful for this tumultuous fall day and how it forces me to sit back and reflect.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 20

Eight years ago we bought a Tempur-Pedic mattress and it's still the best bed I've ever slept on.  The prior mattress was plush pillow top type and was only seven years old.  The last few years of its life it had become horribly uncomfortable.  Not sure if the springs were worn or if it was just a defective mattress but we had to get rid of it as neither of us were sleeping well.  We really debated about the additional cost of a Tempur-Pedic and if it was truly worth it.  There is no doubt in my mind, it's one of the best investments we've ever made.  The bed is just absolutely perfect.  Even eight years later it's still as comfortable as the day we got it.

And being gone last week and a busy weekend I am looking forward to my super comfy bed. So grateful I have this wonderful bed to sleep on!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 19

Today I had a very nice phone conversation with Kristin.  She had just gotten her haircut and was walking home.  We chatted about her day, her evening the night before, her grad school applications, her haircut, Thanksgiving and whatnot.  It was a very nice 15 minute phone call.  Sometimes our conversations are tense and leave me feeling frustrated.  But this one was different and it was a very welcome spot in my day.  She seemed happy and it made me smile.  Because isn't that what we ultimately want for our kids, to be happy? I am thankful she called just to chat.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 18

I am very grateful that my mom's shoulder is healing well.  She fell and broke it last month and thankfully does not need surgery.  She has been very good about wearing her sling and limiting her activity.  When I talked to her about it she really seemed relieved that it was healing just the way the doctors wanted.  She got the OK to not wear the sling around the house and I know she is happy about that!  Glad she has strong bones!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 17

Today is my sisters birthday and I was grateful to be able to spend it with her.  She is 3 years and 4 months younger than me so I've known her all of her life.  She is an amazing person and my best friend.  Don't get all weird thinking, what about your husband?  He is a dear too but the sister/sister relationship is different from the husband/wife relationship.  I can tell her anything and she always seems to know just what to say or not say, she is wise, humble, gracious, loving, empathetic.  She is beautiful both inside and out.  She has a positive attitude and almost always has a smile on her face.  She is an awesome mother to two wonderful boys.  She is so nurturing and always makes me feel welcome and loved.  I adore her and sometimes I secretly wish I could be just like her - she is beautiful, funny, skilled at putting on makeup, classy...many of things I sometimes feel I am not.  She is family.  My blood.  Someone who has known me almost all my life. 

I am blessed to be her older sister.  We choose to spend a lot of time together, well, as much as we can with families and living 300 miles apart.  Our families spend time together and I love that the kids are close with their cousins.  We have gone on vacations together, we spend holidays together, we make time to be together as sisters and as families.

We got along as kids and only a few times do I remember distinct fights.  I remember friends having horrible fights with their siblings and I didn't get it.  Maybe we were lucky?  It was when I went to college that we became even closer.  Campus was about a 15 minute drive from home and she visited me often in the sorority.  She joined the same sorority I was in and that further strengthened our bond.  She was a senior in college when my twins were born and though she was about a month away from graduation, she drove three hours south four weekends in a row to visit and help.  My husband and I were busy and overwhelmed with twins and she was a godsend.  We moved to another state when the twins were five weeks old and of course being poor and foolish young we decided to do it ourselves.  I drove the car with the twins, my husband the behemoth (uhaul) and she drove the pickup truck with the cat.  We trekked 400 miles in one very long day.  She never complained even when the cat was screeching.

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life." ~ Isadora James

Here are some pictures that I like.  I have a lot more at home, but since I am at her house and not mine I am relying on facebook for these photos.  But from the smiles on our faces, I am sure you can see just how close we are and how special our sister bond is.

At a young age c. 1968

In Mexico

At a Mariners game

A fun night out

The beauty of our friendship is that we are there for each other. I truly believe we would be friends even if we weren't related. And that is a wonderful feeling.  We are friends by choice and I love her dearly.  I wish my sister a very happy birthday and all the best today and always.  I am so grateful to be her sister, her friend and glad we could spend the day celebrating HER!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 16

Today I am thankful for Shnoo frozen yogurt.  The original flavor with strawberries and mini chocolate chips is heaven.  At 130 calories for 5 ounces of frozen deliciousness, it's a great non-fat, healthy treat with lots of calcium.  The sprinkle of chocolate chips gives me my chocolate fix and combined with the strawberries is a win-win combination.  It was a long, wet, complicated day and dish of frozen yogurt added the perfect amount of sweetness to end the day on a high note.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 15

I have this nifty app on my iPhone called Nike+GPS which keeps track of my walks and tracks my progress.  It tells me how many calories I'm burning, my pace, maps my route and even encourages me when I am finished.  I'm not kidding, this voice who calls himself Dirk Lewinsky (very silly name) shouts at the end of my workout various motivators.  "Good job, you ran more miles this week than last", "Good job, you ran the fastest pace yet", "Good job, you ran 3 days in a row".  When I hear his voice, it makes me laugh because I have an image of this guy in my head and then wonder what he looks like but then I realize it's just a computer voice which makes me laugh some more!

This app has different options -  to listen to music, run against the clock or run for miles or a basic run, which is what I select.  I turn it on and head out the door and after each mile it gives me a recap of pace, time and distance.  When I am finished, it takes me back to the main screen and recalculates my total distance.  This is a snap shot of where I am at as of this morning.  130.4 miles in 45 runs walks.  I can look at the history and see all the different routes and details of each one.  I love knowing that I have burned 16739 calories and walked for 37 hours 17 minutes and 35 seconds in these 45 difference walks.  Pretty nifty, huh?  I am grateful for this app, it's motivating and a fun way to log my workouts.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 14

For the past two weeks I have been thinking a lot about gratitude.  I find things all throughout the day that I am grateful for.  Much of which I normally take for granted.  Blogging 30 Days of Gratitude has made me slow down and notice what's around me.  I feel more aware of things, like the fall leaves on the ground and how they crinkle and crunch when I step on them.  Or the courtesy clerks at the grocery store as they smile and ring up my purchases.  It's amazing how a smile can affect others.  When someone genuinely smiles you can't help but smile back.  I noticed a lot of smiles today.  In particular, Sarah's smiles.

I love her smiles.  She can light up a room with her infectious grin.  Her eyes even sparkle when she smiles and it melts my heart!  Tonight we were watching a movie and about 15 minutes into it, they started speaking German and there were no subtitles so it made it very hard to follow.  The movie was set in German so I wasn't surprised at the German language, but subtitles would have been quite appreciative, especially for a moving that relies on dialogue!  After a couple more minutes, she smiles real big and says "I think there are supposed to be subtitles" and then she chuckled.  We turned off the movie and talked about her afternoon and class.  And she smiled. She seemed happy tonight.  And that made me smile.  Oh how I love my Sarah and I am very grateful for her smiles and the happiness she exudes when she does smile.

Sarah age 5 (and ridiculously adorable)

Sarah (age 10) and Kristin (age 12) with their Beany Boppers

Senior Portrait

Sarah is such a love bug with the warmest smile!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

I love coffee. Starbucks Komodo Dragon is my preferred blend.  To me, the perfect cup is black and strong.  I love everything about coffee - the smell, the taste and without it, I'm not a happy person.  I started drinking coffee in college.  Those late night all night study sessions required copious amounts of coffee.  It's a habit I still enjoy, every morning. When I travel I bring Starbucks Via as the hotel coffee is usually terrible.  I am not a big fan of mocha latte's or fancy fru fru drinks...but a traditional cup of  joe...I'm a happy gal.   I could give up wine, but never, ever in a million years coffee.  I am so thankful for coffee!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

Getting comfortable while sleeping has been somewhat challenging since my neck surgery in February.  And boy do I miss sleeping on my stomach but it's not good for my neck, nor could I even turn my head enough to sleep that way again. To get comfortable I have tried various pillows: thick, thin, down, foam, temperpedic and what I found works best is the simple curved neck pillow you buy at the airport.  They sell for $14.99 and are filled with soft little beads, or something similar, which allows for perfect molding against my neck.  I even made pillow cases for it.  It's size makes it super convenient for travel and when I sleep it cradles my neck perfectly.  I am so grateful for this lovely little pillow.  Nothing is better than waking up in the morning feeling rested from a good nights sleep.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 11

Today is Friday, November 11, 2011.  Veterans Day.  A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. To all Veterans that have served and are to those that are serving our great country now, and to all their families, thank you!  Thank for your sacrifice and service so that we can have the privileges that we do.  I am very proud to be an American and I am very grateful for all the veterans!

"On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free." ~ Dan Lipinski