The Best Thing About 2010

I've seen several tweets today regarding "the best thing that happened to me in 2010. There is no one thing. My blessings and happiness abound.

The best thing{s} that happened to ME in 2010

I woke up 365 times.

I cooked approximately 192 meals for my family in the home that we own.

I kissed my two healthy children at least 1,673 times. Each.

I collected 26 paychecks and one annual bonus.

I flew to Texas, Florida, Arizona, Colorado, Washington DC, Hawaii and Canada and landed safely every single time.

I told my husband how much I love him. And meant it.

I did NOT visit anyone in the hospital or have to say a final goodbye to anyone I love deeply.

I smiled, laughed, sang, danced and swam.

I lived another year and loved every minute of it. Thank you Lord for the opportunity.

Happy New Year!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Thirty Days of Thankfulness

Today I am thankful that this is my blog and I can accelerate my list.  My patience has worn thin and I want to move on and talk about how great my kids are and what a blessing the holidays are in our home and our community.  In no particular order - here are the things I am most thankful for.  It will cover the rest of my thirty days and THEN SOME.  The one thing that I can claim over and over again is that I am thankful.  I do not take one minute, of one day of our precious, crazy life for granted.  Not one.

My family. The three that live with me, of course.  I am also deeply thankful for our extended family.  Both sets of parents, our aunts & uncles, cousins, one living Grandma . . . Especially at the holidays I am so grateful to be surrounded by people that I love deeply and that love me in return.

My friends. Near and far I have been deeply blessed with wonderful friends. I am a quality, not quantity girl and think my friends are absolutely top quality.

Our Church. The holidays are the most spectacular reminder to me that our church is the House of the Lord.  It represents so much happiness for me and my family and I am thankful that we have a church that we love.

Food, shelter and warmth.  My family does not know what it means to be hungry or cold.  I am truly, deeply grateful.

My marriage.  As another year comes to a close I am so appreciative and prideful of my marriage.  E and I are creating a foundation for our children and their children that we treasure so much.  Our union has not always been perfect, but for that reason we know how much work we have to put into it and the rewards are immeasurable.  I have not ever in my life been so happy and felt so deeply loved.  I am so thankful for a peaceful, true relationship.

Every time we remember to say "thank you", we experience nothing less than heaven on earth. -- Sarah Ban Breathnach

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 23

Today I am thankful for the holidays.  I really love the extra little sparkle on everything.  Store fronts, otherwise average neighborhoods and Starbucks cups.  I love sending and receiving holiday cards and saying Advent prayers over our wreath on the kitchen counter.  And sometimes I wish that everyone would be so festive all year long.  And then I remember that this much sparkle and special is only appropriate for one reason.  And I am even more thankful for our season of joyful anticipation.  This is my favorite birthday ever.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 22

Today I am thankful for all the teachers, coaches and adults that are role models to my children.  For everyone of them that recognizes what an impact they have on our kids, there are three more that don't.  THANK YOU to the ones that "get it" and do it so well.  I am so thankful for what you do.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day 21

Today I am thankful for the stack of books in the Princess' bed every night after she's asleep.  I do wish she would close her eyes a wee bit sooner, but love, love, love that she is so enamored with reading.  Bookworms are cool!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness

Day 20 ~ December 7


Today I am thankful for paid sick leave, wireless networks and PDAs. Being freaked out by deadlines is one thing, but being freaked out because I think my family won't have grocery money is entirely different. I truly can't imagine how stressful it would to be manage any sort of recurring absence and have to worry about not getting a full paycheck. I really can't imagine and so truly thankful that I don't have to.

Day 19 ~ December 6

Today I am thankful for prescription narcotics.  Perhaps inappropriate, but so true.  I don't write about my back injury because it's not very glamorous or interesting. Sadly, being in bed AGAIN makes me realize that it has defined me for most of this year.  That sucks.  I've had xrays, MRIs, epidural injections and neurosurgeon consultations and the biggest problem with all of that for me is that I am way too young and fantastic to be disabled for even one day of my life.  I am going to pursue acupuncture and maybe a second opinion.  After Christmas.

For now . . . I have Darvocet, Flexorall and Soma to get me through.  And I am very thankful.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Eighteen

December 5

Today I am thankful for my Nanny.  If she were still here it would be her 91st birthday.  She took a tiny piece of me with her when she left here, but what she left behind was so much bigger.  Her legacy of love and compassion is broad and warm.  She left behind small children who remember her gentle way and easy smile.  She left behind adults who miss her hands and the smell of her powder.  I am so thankful that she was mine for the first 33 years of my life.  So thankful she was mine for even a minute.  So thankful for my Nanny.

Happy Birthday, little bird.  I miss you every day.

Thirty Days of Thankfulness ~ Day Seventeen

Today I am thankful for imaginarygreetings.com.  My kiddos opened their letters from Santa this morning and you would think that the jolly old soul was standing in our kitchen himself.  Happy Holidays are well underway!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness

Day Sixteen ~ December 3

Today I am thankful for Friday.  I could not possibly handle one more of THOSE days this week.

Day Fifteen ~ December 2

Today I am thankful for my sense of humor. If I weren't able to laugh at the nonsense that makes up the majority of my day I would surely be a manic, chain-smoking alcoholic!!

Day Fourteen ~ December 1

Today I am thankful for elementary school bedtime and the glass(es) of wine with my name on it.  This tired Mama needs the nighttime wind down in a very big way.

photo courtesy of flickriver.com

Ten Things - November 2010

It's a new month {AGAIN!} and time to share the ten things this month that made me smile.  I am sure that I had more than reasons than usual to smile this month, but here are ten of my favorites.  You should see Emmy's Ten Things, too.  There's a photo of her kids that should be in a magazine and SHE'S the photographer.  Way to go, Emmy!

Seeing Colbie Caillat in concert in San Diego

The fun and fellowship of a family get together and wacky kids who have taken up arm wrestling!!!

Finally getting to the bottom of the giant stack of medical correspondence and billing from my back injury this summer. Good insurance is a great reason to smile!

Celebrating my tenth wedding anniversary.  Right behind motherhood, marriage is hard work!  I am so truly grateful to be married to someone that I love even more now than I did when we got married.

Celebrating our anniversary and the Thanksgiving holiday in Hawaii.  We did not one serving of pumpkin pie, but I more than made up for it with pineapple mojitos!!

Volcanoes, rainbows and stunning sunsets all make me smile

Coming home to a clean house, dogs that were well cared for and homemade cupcakes.  Love you, Megan!

Fawning over a simple holiday wreath in a shop window and successfully making it myself.  SERIOUSLY! 

I am NOT a crafter so just you can't even imagine my delight

My kids.  I could not possibly love these people any more. Could not.

Getting into the holiday spirit