Gratitude

I was talking to a dear friend last night, over a few too many glasses of wine, and I was again reminded how blessed I am. First of all, I am just blessed to have such good friends. The kind of friends that even if you haven't talked to them in a while when you do finally catch up it's like putting on an old comfortable bathrobe.

I was reminded again that we all have struggles. You never really know what other people are going through but you remember no one's life is easy. As woman, we are constantly faced with difficult decisions. Our lives seem to consist of trying to make sure we are the best parents we can be while dealing with economic struggles and relationship problems that seem to come to all of us as we try maintaining a career, children, a home, a relationship and the perceived perception of the perfect suburbia life. Life can be so hard and it can definitely deal all of us some pretty dreadful blows but I am grateful I have my family and friends to take this journey with me. I hope I can bring some sort of comfort to my friends faced with life changing struggles as we try to navigate through these years, by far the toughest years of my life.

Today, I am grateful for my support system.

Sometimes the Universe Gets it Right.

I have the type of job where you go to work, mindlessly do your the same job as the 300 people sitting around you and independent thought isn't encouraged.  However, it is a good job.  I can support my children on my own. I am treated with respect and even occasionally appreciated.  My job isn't mentally or physically taxing which is nice since being a single parent of three boys can be both mentally and physically taxing.  I definitely don't dread coming to work.  I was once employed at a place where hitting a tree on my to work seemed more appealing then actually going to that place of employment. 

Do you ever have that feeling that the universe gives you exactly what you need at times?  Well, that is how I feel about my job.  I make decent money and have the ability to work overtime but more importantly I have made some incredible friends.  I have partaken in more female bonding in the past three years then I have done since high school.  My new friends have helped me get through situations I didn't even see coming.  We get so caught up and busy in our lives once we have partners and children that we forget how important it is to have time to talk to other woman.  At this job I have made friends with woman of all ages and I am incredibly grateful for their wisdom.  

Fall in Two Countries

"In the entire circle of the year there are no days so delightful as those of a fine October, when the trees are bare to the mild heavens, and the red leaves bestrew the road, and you can feel the breath of winter, morning and evening -- no days so calm, so tenderly solemn, and with such a reverent meekness in the air."

-Alexander Smith

Wholehearted Parenting

I come across this today on Brene Brown's blog Ordinary Courage and it is just what I needed today.  As my children age I am finding it harder to communicate with them and it is making my days a lot harder then they need to be.

House Warming Gift

My Sister just moved into a new place and I am so proud of her because I know it wasn't an easy decision.  She didn't get to move into her idea place, well not even close, but it is her own space.   So I thought I would make the transition a little easier by giving her a basket full of presents, one to open each day for 20 days.  I had so much fun looking for reasonable, unique gifts.  Instagram is so addicting and these magnets from StickyGram, a place that takes your Instagram photos and puts them on magnets, came out to perfect.

Gratitude

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity... It turns problems into gifs, failures into success, the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." - Melodie Beattie.

Ryan

My Ryan, my youngest by 10 minutes, is 10 years old also. Ryan is this child who not only challenges me the most but he also surprises me the most. He is very artistic and creative. He can dance, sing, write and make incredibly elaborate Lego creations. Ryan has this very unique personality and he not afraid to be himself, which I admire.

Ethan

Ethan, technically my second born but only by 10 minutes, is 10. I am so incredibly grateful for Ethan, besides being very smart, he is a charmer. He is extremely good looking and athletic (only a mother's modest opinion). He will be the one I will have to protect from all girls. People are naturally attracted to Ethan because he is quiet and sensitive and good. He just has this innate kindness about him.

Clayton

I am so grateful for my son Clayton, my oldest, 13, yikes. He is so intelligent. It's like he this old, wise soul who really just seems to have the ability to understand people and complex situations. Plus he loves to cook with me!

Gratitude

It's November which to me means time to remember to be thankful for all the blessings in my life.

I am going to try to post a picture everyday of all the wonderful blessings in my life.