Music

Today, I want to express my gratitude for music. I got an Ipod touch in the summer. I use mine more then my husband uses his. I love to read books on it and I will have it going in the car and the office too. I got an alarm clock for Christmas that it docks in and I wake to it too now. Last night, I hooked it up to the stereo in our family room and did some tidying and dishes to it. The best thing that I did was last week I made up some playlists to suit my mood and the one called "Inspire" was what I played while I tidied (even though I had made one called cleaning that is mostly fast music), I just felt more mellow. I even had a candle on the island, a "cake" candle - mmmmmmm! Anyway it made the time just melt away as well as the tasks. And then this morning the song it had me wake up to was a great way to start the day! There is no way with this alarm clock to specify which song and it had woken me up in early January to "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch!" but Ihome emailed me and said it will wake you to the last song it played (not always accurate but sometimes is). My husband came in and said "Your alarm is going off" and I smiled and said "yes, and I am listening to it".

A New Year = New Gratitude

So should we all be more grateful in the new year? are there more reasons to be thankful once that clock hits midnight on New Year's Eve?

I mean really I can say with complete honesty that I am thankful for my family, my reasonably good health, my marriage, my job etc. but can I dig deeper?

Or is it in the little moments and little things that I should reflect on?

Well, right at this moment, I am thankful for JH. She has helped in so many ways to make a dream come true. On February 20th, when that dream becomes a reality, I want so badly to also celebrate her and have everyone applaud her work and organization to make this dream, our dream a reality. Yet I believe I have to quietly celebrate. She is not a fan of being the center of attention.

So I shall toast her here on My Gratitude Blog and also try to get here on a regular basis to toast this that and the other thing. :)

• for my daughter's compassionate heart... her friends really needed her last night and she overcame her own fears to be there for them... all without my prompting...
• for my other daughter's natural exuberance of life... she came home today... absolutely filthy and looked like she had a marvelous day
• for the chalk all over the driveway... I drove in and thought... I wish I had been here drawing with them... looks like they had a super time ... oh to be a kid again
• for my cousin's talent... went to my cousin's play tonight... he is very talented and gifted... I admire him very much
• for my mom... who called today from somewhere on the water in Europe... to send congratulations to my hubby... her remembering something special when she is far away is a wonderful example of her love and dedication to us
• for the lovely brunch my mom in law treated my hubby and I to
• for my niece, who I am very proud of, she got wonderful marks this year and she is growing up to be a lovely woman... she is independent and intelligent and her head is in the right place more often then a lot of us.
• for my husband being finished his master's degree... he received it today... a lot of work completed and now he can enjoy the fruits of the labour and we get to have him home more evenings then last year!
• for my cat... she loves me unconditionally... I have to remember to appreciate that... unconditional love is quite the gift

• for the lovely gifts my girls made me for mother's day
• for the exquisite breakfast my hubby and children brought to me in bed
• for the spectacular supper my hubby made me
• for an awesome season of Survivor
• for finding Guitar Hero for Wii after looking for months
• for my youngest not needing to have her tonsils removed at this time
• for our haircuts today... my girls looked adorable with the curls she gave them after the cut
• for the original candy apple at RMCF
• for the restaurant the kids opened for us and served us at tonight... LOL

what about today?

today was my day off

I spent the majority of the day working on these two reports that have been haunting me for weeks.... and then I had a meeting late afternoon and then I realized that I had not finished an application I had to send off....

SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHH

so I need to express some gratitude and positivity:

• my hubby's delish chicken waiting for me when I came home! yummmmmm!
• creamy chocolate fudge melting in your mouth
• my daughter's sleepy disheveled look as she staggered over to me this morning when she came downstairs and snuggled into my arms hugging me
• big gi-normous staples
• the looks of the faces of the ladies I handed paper surprises to today
• fabric headbands that one thinks hides a bad hair day
• my freshly laundered massive snuggly tink hoodie that I snuggled into while watching t.v.

• for my parents, for being there for me and my hubby and my kids, for loving us and blessing us in so many ways
• for a husband who really does co-parent (well often anyway... LOL)
• for good friends
• for my health
• for sunshine
• for safe travels

recent flashes of gratitude:

-I think for the chat with HM and the blog info... although now that I am utilizing analytics... as she encouraged.... she is right... might be exciting or scary (that is why I say I think)
-for everyone's face and excitement when they saw my laptop skin I created! they said it was gorgeous! (has my kids on it of course) (check it out... cuz here is where I did it!)
-for HM (different)'s efficiency... holy smokes... she was a goin' guns blazin'... I was coughing in the dust behind her all day
-yes, CG, I am thankful for time with you today... you taught me several things on Excel!!! I am still in shock! and I liked teaching you and any time with you is always a revelation.
-for EW's excitement, enthusiasm and validation
-for MM's excitement and potty mouth
-for my kids hugs and kisses
-oh and for HM#1 calling me at 5:30 a.m. to exercise today... yay! too bad the freezing rain's coat of ice kept us from getting together.