30 Days of Gratitude - Day 5

Today was a particularly hard day.  A phone call with a loved one was very emotional and just threw me for a loop.  I am still digesting the words spoken and my stomach is in a knot.  It is the most unpleasant feeling and the ache still very real and at times unmanageable.  Why is it the people we care about the most have the deepest pull at our hearts?

We had tickets for "Viva Italia!" by the Washington Idaho Symphony tonight and I wasn't in the mood after the phone call.  On the drive to the venue, my loving husband said "Try and relax and let the concert take your mind of things".  The first part of the program was "Summer" and "Winter" from Four Seasons by Vivaldi.  It was magical.  He held my hand throughout the concert and squeezed it a bit tighter when he sensed I was tearing up. I did my best to relax and when I closed my eyes and felt the music, it filled me with joy and gratitude.  And for brief moments I was transported to another place, free of pain and heart ache and for that, I am grateful. Grateful for the Washington Idaho Symphony and the beautiful music they play.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 4

I am very grateful for our fireplace.  The one in our living room is a gas fireplace, which is nice, but I don't go in there very often so it's not used with any regularity.  Which is unfortunate because it's my favorite room in our house.  I love sitting on the sofa in the living room in the afternoon, the lighting perfect making the room peaceful and tranquil.  I just don't do it very often, but that will be a blog post for another day.

Our other fireplace is in the family room and it's a traditional wood burning fireplace flanked by granite tiles and gold trim.  I'm not a fan of the gold trim, in fact, I don't care for gold at all, but the fireplace is so awesome I hardly notice the gold trim. There is a definite chill in the air this time of year and we make a fire almost every night.  Sometimes we use real wood, other times duraflame logs.  It provides a warmth that I can't get from turning the furnace up a notch.  It's such a cozy wonderful feeling to sit by a fire.  I prefer the real fireplace to the gas one as the flames are much bigger and seem to dance.  It's very mesmerizing.  I'm grateful for the fireplace and the sense of calm and warmth it brings.


This photo is from tonight's fire.  Doesn't it look inviting?

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 3

I am grateful that I like to read.  It's relaxing and soothing and it distracts me from what's going on around me.  I didn't always like to read.  When I was in middle school I was in a development reading class, apparently I didn't read at the level of all my other 7th grade peers.  I felt like I was stupid and of course, it was embarrassing as all my friends were in the regular class.  By 8th grade I was moved up with my friends, but the notion that I didn't read well still resonated with me.  It wasn't until college, that I started enjoying reading.  When I had down time or if I was stressed, I would pick up a book and escape from reality.  The JA Jance detective series were one of my favorites at the time.  I still love novels, historical fiction in particular.  I also enjoy reading newspapers and National Geographic magazine. I like to learn about other cultures, customs and peoples opinions.

Ideally I would love an hour every day to read.  But mostly I just settle on the 10 minutes before bed.  After I've read the same page 3 times and I can barely keep my eyes open, it's time to turn out the light.  I am currently reading The Accidental Bestseller by Wendy Wax.  I have a big stack of books on my bed side table, another stack on the floor and about 100 on my kindle.

I just finished reading Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan while we were in Maui.  I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had the luxury of sitting for about two hours on this beach to do nothing but relax and read, along with a few dips in the warm ocean.

Reading opens your eyes to the world, helps with vocabulary, improves memory and analytical thinking.  And it makes us smarter. I am very grateful that I like to read.

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 2

I am thankful for my husband.  He works very hard in a profession that he loves. And he takes good care of me.  And for that I'm forever grateful.  Our 25 years of marriage hasn't always been easy.  In fact, a few years back I was ready to throw in the towel.  But we persevered and things are better than before.

We recently went to Maui to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.   I am grateful for his smile, his work ethic, his foot rubs and most of all his love.  He is a GREAT GUY!  xoxo

 

Cruising along the Kanaio Coastline on the southern coast of Maui

 Playing golf at the Wailea Emerald Course (Maui)

Looking north from Honolua Bay (Maui)

 A wonderful dinner at Mama's Fish House (Maui)

And he made me this pie for our 25th Anniversary.  It was delicious.  I've definitely got a keeper!

What are you thankful for?

30 Days of Gratitude - Day 1

Fall is my favorite time of year and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I love the cool crisp air, the wet damp leaves, the rain and the clouds.  And of course Thanksgiving is a time of gathering.  Friends and family gather in celebration of each other.  It's a joyful time.  A thankful time.  November is the perfect month to acknowledging our blessings and taking a moment to express gratitude.  It may not change our circumstances but it can change our outlook and attitude.  Expressing gratitude creates ripples and those ripples effect everyone around you.

Today is November 1, 2011 and Day 1 in my 30 Days of Gratitude challenge.

Today I am grateful for my son.  He offered to go to the store for me today.  I needed more Duraflame logs (it's chilly out) and some grocery items.  He even called me from the store to make sure he was buying the right things.  Then when he got home he said "Mom, would you like me to start you a fire?"  And he did.  He is loving, he is sweet and he is kind.  I am grateful for my son, today and always.

Looking mighty handsome

Having fun in Portland

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."  Unknown

What are you thankful for? 

what's in your cup?

I love coffee; the smell, the taste and I can't start my day without it.  It's become a ritual that I crave.  I drink it black and I like it strong.  Two cups will satisfy me, but three is preferred.  I'm on cup two now and thoroughly enjoying it.  My favorite blend is Starbucks Komodo Dragon but it's rather pricey and lately I've been drinking Safeway's French Roast Blend.  As long as it's not weak and wimpy, I will drink it.  You can always add more water to coffee that's too strong but you can not resurrect weak coffee. 

This is one of my favorite mugs.  It was a gift from my daughters many years ago.  

It makes me thinking of them whenever I use it.  

The coffee has given me a needed boost this morning and now it's time to get moving. I've got a full day ahead topped off by a late afternoon matinee with a friend.  We are going to see The Help.  I thought the book was super and from what I've heard, the movie is pretty darn good.  If my morning is any indication of the rest of my day, I'm sure it's going to be great!

Iceland

Iceland in February is beautiful.  Here is a quick mosiac of some of my favorite photos.  

top left photo: Strokkur Geysir

top middle photo:  Icelandic Horses

far right: Hallgrims Church

bottom right photo:  Thingvellir National Park

bottom middle photo:  Leiðarendi Cave (lava cave)

bottom left: Gullfoss Waterfall