Thirty Days of Thankful: Part Three

The month is over and my heart continues to be full of thanks for all of the little, and not so little, things that fill our world.  November is always a special blessing to me.

11.21.13 - Day 21

Today I am thankful for my girls.  These women know all of my deepest secrets and love me anyway. They've been there for the highest of highs and the lowest of lows and are each such treasures to me.  I am deeply thankful for them and blessed to call them my dearest friends.

11.22.13 - Day 22

I am thankful for the gift of time.  The kind of time you need to take a deep breath and the time to enjoy cheap wine and pizza with friends simply because you have no other commitments.  This is a gift that should never be taken for granted.  You'll never know how special it is until you don't have it.  I'm so thankful!

11.23.13 - Day 23

Today I am wholeheartedly and deeply thankful for this wonderful little creature.  She is equal parts sassy and sweet, but most importantly she is healthy and thriving in the world.  This girl never makes parenting easy, but she always makes it worth it.  Bob for President!!!!

11.24.13 - Day 24

I am thankful for forgiveness.  I have tons of experience with saying "I'm sorry" and tomorrow will be no exception.  I am cranky and entirely unreasonable today, but I am thankful that they'll still love me when the sun rises again.  Everyone has THOSE days and today is mine.

11.25.13 - Day 25

I am thankful for a day with no lunchboxes, no homework and no pouting about bedtime.  'Tis the season for family!!

11.26.13 - Day 26

My heart is abundantly grateful for my amazing son.  He is a great student, a talented athlete and an exceptional human being.  I didn't think I was ready to be a Mom when he came along, but God knew better.  Every day of my life has been richer since this precious child entered the world.

11.27.13 - Day 27

I am thankful that today is my Friday and it's almost over.

11.28.13 - Day 28

Today I am thankful for the whole dang thing.  The beautiful Thanksgiving mass this morning, my sweet little helpers in the kitchen, a bountiful meal and a family walk to the beach for playtime.  We are deeply and beautifully blessed.  Happy Thanksgiving friends!

11.29.13 - Day 29

I am thankful that there's not one thing on our list that required me to go shopping in the middle of the night, trample anyone or curse my way through a parking lot.

11.30.13 - Day 30

I am thankful for this month that draws to mind our need to give Thanks in all that we do.  Our little Thankful Tree was overflowing when we took off the tags to make way for another tree today.  We have so, so much to be grateful for all year long and my family's hearts are well prepared for the beauty of Advent tomorrow.  I have been abundantly blessed and am deeply thankful all year long.

Ten things to smile about: August 2013

Part of playing catch up on the blog is being sure that I am adequately documenting the goodness of our every day and my gratitude for every moment.  Every month this year has a draft version of "Ten Things" but first things first.

Ten Things to Smile About: August 2013

My dear friend finding her happily ever after.

And it doesn't hurt that these kids are the cutest things ever.  God Bless this sweet family.

A special sleepover for my darling niece in honor of her 4th birthday.  Sunday morning brought breakfast, some dress up and a dance party.  Love you little B!!

Absolutely everything about our 5th annual family vacay to Yosemite National Park.  E's parents came this year, as well as some dear family friends.  It was truly the best ever.

 

 

 

Riding bicycles through a meadow in the rain with my little girl. 

Learning how to play Spoons for the first time.  Seriously the most fun!

Celebrating my E's birthday

Bob being invited to play on an Elite soccer team with girls from her 5 on 5 winter team.  We are very excited and proud for her.


A day of spa treatments, pool time and a dinner date with E.  It was an absolute luxury that I don't take for granted for even a minute.

The first week of school being filled with enthusiasm for what's to come in 3rd grade and 6th grade. 

 

Ending the month knowing that God has big, wonderful things in store for my precious family.  Having so many reasons to thank Him at the end of the month is a wonderful blessing.

 

This month I am linked to Emmy Mom again and am grateful for her always gracious and gentle reminders that another month is over.  Cheers to a great September!

 

10 Things to Smile About: Emmy Mom

 

 

Ten Things to Smile About: March 2012

Enjoying a Saturday afternoon - just me and my guy

Watching the Princess sleep with a PILE of animals and pillows to comfort her.  It looks like asthma is part of our past and I am so grateful for my healthy, feisty little Miss.

Girlfriends who are funny, love their families and mine and have great big hearts. 

The happy dogs who live here

Spring Flowers

A spur of the moment evening with our family and, of course, a performance

 

Indoor soccer starting and the Princess finding her place in the spotlight again

The Athlete and his sweet little dance partner winning the "game" at Cotillion

Amber's suggestion for the Thank You project

Having conversations about God's love with my children, their teachers and my friends

Linking with Emmy before it's too late - yay!!

IF YOUR FRIENDS AREN'T FRIENDS, MAKE NEW FRIENDS

The topic of toxic friendships has come up in my conversations at many different levels lately.  I've struggled in the past with friendships that I feel like aren't providing any value to my life and I worry sometimes that my loyalty overshadows relationships that have become lifeless. 

At a gorgeous sunset dinner to celebrate a friend's birthday last night the topic came up again about the amount of work that goes into a friendship and when it's time to cut your losses.

And of course there's the ever prevalant struggle of building professional success without allowing it to overshadow the significance of my personal life and the gift of family.

How poignant that today I would receive a note from a very esteemed colleague that touches on the very same thing.  I am inserting the text exactly as I received it so I won't take any credit (or not) for the writing.  The grammar and formatting are much less important to me than the message itself.

"If the people close to you are dragging you down, then it may be time to make some changes."

Speaker Joe Larson remarked, "My friends didn't believe that I could become a successful speaker. So I did something about it. I went out and found me some new friends!"

When you really think about it, the things that matter most in life are the relationships we develop.

REMEMBER:

You may build a beautiful home, but eventually it will crumble.


You may develop a fine career, but one day it will be over.


You may save a great sum of money, but you can't take it with you.


You may be in superb health today, but in time it will decline.


You may take pride in your accomplishments, but someone will surpass you.

Discouraged? Don't be, for the one thing that really matters, lasts  forever - your friendships.

Life is too long to spend it with people who pull you in the wrong direction. And it's too short not to invest in others. Your relationships will define you. And they will influence your talent - one way or the other. Choose wisely.

"IF THE PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU AREN'T ADDING VALUE TO YOUR LIFE, CONSIDER MAKING SOME NEW FRIENDS." - John Maxwell

Summer in Snapshots: Week Three {for me}

Another week.  Another seven days of goodness to be grateful for. 

Finishing one camp

Starting another

friends



family

FUN

We heart summer.

And we heart our friend Amber at Starfish. 

She makes beautiful jewelry.  And is a Mom to darling little boys.  And lives in a groovy San Diego neighborhood.  And has amazing design sense.  Go see her snapshots and all of the things she's checking off of her summer list.

xoxo, Mrs M

Ten Things

I am a little tardy to the party. Please forgive me. At the end of the month I was lying on the sand in Maui without a second thought for my computer and my blog. June, however, was another fantastic month for me and my sweet little family.

So better late than never, I am linking with Emmy for Ten Things to smile about in June

(1) A weekend getaway and good times with good friends

(2) Perfecting my home recipe for pineapple mojitos

(3) A great ending to a great school year 

(4) Little boys that don't care they didn't get a trophy.  They just like playing together.

(5) Spending an afternoon at home with my sweet nieces and relishing in kids enjoying time together

(6) Date Night at a U2 concert

(7) Taking my two favorite people to Disneyland to celebrate the beginning of summer

(8) My mom being able to spend a week in town and being a great head counselor of "Camp Nana"

(9) Lying on a beach in Hawaii with my one and only and having NO WHERE to be and NO ONE waiting for us.  Even one day was heaven

(10) The blessing of our Princess and celebrating her 7th birthday with a family that loves so completely.  Happy, Happy Birthday my little love.

Ten Things: April 2011

I can't even say what i think about another month being gone. That would make me a broken record. All I can do is take a deep breath and count my blessings. There are many.

Ten Reasons to Smile

Warm spring afternoons, the deep blue sea and the sun finally shining in our little corner of the world

Spending time with my sweet nieces









My roses blooming abundantly and making beautiful bouquets for home and to share.

Enjoying time with family and friends and there being no difference in the two






















Almost managing to master business and pleasure. Almost.

COSTCO
Where else in the world could I fawn over a pair of diamond earrings and buy a gallon of margarita mix, shrimp cocktail, laundry detergent and a $6 dress for a little girl?!?!!?

Celebrating the abundant beauty of Easter








Friday night baseball games where the adults are having as much fun as the kids!

An impromptu getaway that included the Presidential suite in our favorite city. His and hers bathrooms, views EVERYWHERE, and milk & cookies, a jacuzzi and some very necessary downtime for our babies who are just not babies anymore.























Watching live coverage of the Royal Wedding with my own Princess. I do love love and I happen to think William and Kate are adorable. God Bless them and their modern fairy tale.




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