Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Thirteen

Today I am thankful for my "Brown Girls".  The laughter, the tears, the memories that have made us who we are . . .  I'd love it if we could spend more time together, but geography dictates differently.  I love you, my friends and miss you so much.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Twelve

Day Twelve  - November 29

Today I am thankful for perspective. It is truly a gift to know that grass is NOT greener on the other side. Even on the days when it seems like it has to be!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Eleven

Day Eleven - November 28

Today I am thankful for sweet kids who still believe in magic. We saw Santa after church and my very grown up, mostly serious 8 year old son says to me "I'm probably too old to be this excited, but I just can't help it!!". L<3VE it!!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Ten

Day Ten - November 27

Today I am thankful for the Seminoles! I've been a long way from Doak Campbell Stadium for a long time, but I still love FSU football. Let's go 'Noles!!

WOO HOO!!  My 'Noles scalped the Gators after this post.  Way to go Seminoles!!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Nine

Day Nine - November 26

Today I am thankful for home. With the scratched wood floors, closets that could be bigger and garage that desperately needs to be cleaned - it's home. It's where Santa and the Tooth Fairy know where to find my children and where all of our best memories are made. There really is no place like home.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Eight

Day Eight - November 24

Today I am thankful for my in-laws. They are fun loving and easy to be with and the very best Grandparents around. I feel so lucky to have married into a family that I can love just as much as my own.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Seven

Day Seven - November 23

Today I am thankful for memories. We returned today to a snorkel spot that we haven't been to in 10 years. The day before E and I were married we went there with our bridal party and had a wonderful time.  There's no sand.  Just black lava that flows directly into the ocean and an unbelievable coral reef.

I loved remembering our time there with our friends and making new memories with our kiddos.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Six

Day Six - November 22

Today I am thankful for my parents. I am so blessed by their love and generosity even as an adult. It doesn't matter how far away I am or how long I have been gone, they love me unconditionally and completely.  It's absolutely true that parenthood never ends and I am so thankful for that gift.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Five

Day Five - November 21

Today I am thankful for Sunday service in the magical little church where we were married. Sitting in in the pew w/ E and our kids is an opportunity I can't possibly take for granted.

I have to add a footnote to this.  The church where we were married makes me endlessly happy.  It was built in 1845 and is made entirely from indigenous materials to the islands of Hawaii.  Shoes are not permitted on the koa wood alter and the building sits about 100 feet from the ocean. 

M.A.G.I.C.

The building and location are definitely magical, there's no question about it.  But a lot of the magic comes from their pastor, Reverend Kealahou Alika.  He is native to the Hawaiian islands and holds a very, very special place in my heart.  He is kind and warm and witty and was my favorite part of our wedding celebration (besides my husband!!!).  Ten years later and I still feel the same way.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Four

Day Four - November 19

Today I am thankful for my healthy, energetic family. I love them for their curiosity, passion for life and physical ability to do it all. Good health is truly a blessing.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Three

Day Three - November 18

 Today I am thankful for my wedding anniversary. I can't believe it's been 10 years since that sweet afternoon with our family & friends in Maui, but am grateful for every minute of it. Happy Anniversary to my E.  You truly are my better half ♥

Catching Up from Island Time

I am a blog hypocrite, I know.  I made a proclamation to share my thirty days of thankfulness and stopped with Day Two.  I didn't actually stop, but while I was in Maui (!!!!) the wireless reception was spotty.  The last thing I wanted to do was spend my island vacation chasing a wireless signal so I chose not to.  I did keep up with my thirty days of thankfulness.  Here comes the countdown . . .

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Two

Today I am thankful for the blonde haired, blue eyed spitfire that is my 6 year old daughter.  She is a book loving, rule breaking, limit pushing, swimsuit wearing, kindergarten dynamo.  She reminds me daily of what it's like to feel invincible and keeps me on my toes with her antics.  My Sassy Girl is such a treasure.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day One

Somewhere at the beginning of November I missed the bandwagon on thirty days of thankfulness.  There might be a video and some details that go along with the concept, but I'm not sure.  The idea has stuck with me though and I see nothing wrong with being thankful for the last half of November right through Thanksgiving and into Advent.  It's perfect, really.  Thirty days could never be enough to truly give thanks for all that I have and love.  There is not one bedtime story, trip to the grocery store or call to my parents that I am not grateful for.  Not one.  I am far too aware of how quickly it can disappear and I constantly am aware of how good it is.  Thankfulness is in my heart.

Today I am thankful for my amazing 8 year old son. He was honored at school this week for being selected to the John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. He IS academically talented, as well as warm, generous and hilarious. He is a precious blessing to our family that I am thankful for every single day.

What I Should Have Said

Last week I hosted a small birthday soiree for my girlfriend. I also spent three of the five day week at home because I wasn't well enough to leave the house. Fever, sore throat, pounding headache - not a great combo when you have 15 women showing up to celebrate. Working in my favor was that I had sent invites for a "Cozy Night In". Definitely better than a dance party, but still some work for my temporarily limited entertaining abilities. There was no way I would back out so I got all souped up on Dayquil and had a couple of glasses of sangria. Let me just say - not my finest work.

After cleaning the popcorn maker for about three hours on Sunday I realized that the reason it was smoking and dripping butter from the doors was because I never bothered to put the lid back on it. That would have certainly helped. Around the same time I was cleaning the popcorn maker I found the appetizers and ingredients for the creme brulee shots that I never served. Maybe next time.

My girlfriend and her girlfriends insist it was fun and that it was really gracious of me to host. I said multiple times that it was my pleasure. And truly, it was. The guest of honor is "That Friend" to me. That Friend is the one you would call in the middle of the night when you've made a bad choice and need to discuss it with someone immediately. The one that could see you in all your naked UNglory and choose to compliment you on your new eye shadow. The one that holds your hand through the very darkest moments when no one else dares approach. Yep, That Friend. And if I'd had all my wits about me I would have made a toast to That Friend to celebrate her birthday in this year of her life. I really meant to, but the sentiment got lost somewhere in the custom playlist, forgotten shots and failed game plan.

To you, my friend. "That Friend". A toast in honor of your birthday

Ten years ago we had been working together for about 6 minutes and she was invited to a bridal shower that the office was hosting for me. She didn't know me and I didn't know her, and all we had in common that we were the well dressed twenty somethings in the office. And she came to the shower for me (who she didn't know) with a generous, lovely gift that was both from my bridal registry and perfectly themed for my upcoming destination weekend. And I thought "that is the most thoughtful girl I've ever met".

In the last ten years we have laughed so hard that we've peed our pants, we have cried so much we could fill a swimming pool and have seen the very best and the very worst in each other. Together we've been on prime time television, run a small business and drank too many cocktails. We've shared clothes, recipes, luggage and life. She was there on the day that both of my children were born and again when they were baptized. She was there more than once when I would have cried alone because I feared for the life of my unborn child and we have mourned together for the lives of her tiny unborn babies. She is a role model to me sometimes and others the most humbling reminder of imperfection and weakness. And I still think all the time "that is the most thoughtful girl I've ever met".

There's not one thing in the world that I wouldn't do for my friend. Not one. And to host a party for her is the smallest act of kindness I could possibly grant. The burnt popcorn and missing appetizers were just a bonus.

Ten Things

There were so many beautiful reasons to smile in October. 

Ten of my favorites

Cozy fall accessories and toasty warm smells in my home

The Princess having a great month at school, in soccer and Girl Scouts!

Getting the opportunity to plan a birthday party for my BFF

Receiving multiple compliments on the wonderful gentleman that is my son

Celebrating 9 years with sweet Isabella

Having something to look forward to



Fairmont Kea Lani ~ Wailea, Maui



 

Making some time to read again

Taking my first business trip since June - and surviving it (barely!)

My hard-working husband being everything I need and still making the time to be what they need, too.

The very precious blessing of kids just being kids