An Attitude of Gratitude Day 5

As a parent we all know that the love we feel for our kids is beyond words.  We would do anything for them.  We would go to the edges of the earth to ensure their health and happiness...and I'm just like every parent when it comes to my kids.  So today, on day 5 of my Attitude of Gratitude, I'm thankful for my kids. 

The argue with me, fight with each other, wear me down to total exhaustion and yet they make me happier than a pig in slop :)  I thank my lucky stars everynight for each one and whenever I see a shooting star or make a birthday wish it is always for the same thing, "That my kids are happy."  Because that is what they bring to me....total happiness.

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 4

In this season of Thanksgiving I wanted to share those things I'm most grateful to have in my life.  Today I'm most grateful for this person...



Mr Busy Bryant (Mark)



Yea from this picture you can't tell a lot about the man...but I can fill you in on why I'm so grateful for him.  For starters in our first year of marriage Mark went from living his life as a bachelor to having a new wife, a new baby and being a step dad to two pre-teenagers.  Talk about baptism by fire!  His days of staying up late and getting up even later were OVER.  He gladly shared his home with us only for me to come in and change....just about everything in the place :) And he never complained.  He traded in his sporty mustang for a more "family" oriented car...and now he drives what we call "The bus".  Again....without complaint.  All of those things alone would seem trying for most people...but add in the fact he married ME and it's an entirely different ball game.  I didn't come with instructions and I'm still figuring things out myself...and yet he just grins and nods and goes with the flow.  Now lets throw in the mix that he when he married me he married in to one CRAZY family....but he still just grins and nods and goes with the flow.  I tell him "Hey were going to stay in a cabin, camp in a hot tent, drive 10 hours to Florida, stay with a bazillion kids in a far off place" and he just grins and nods and goes with the flow...he does help pack a lot of wine so maybe that is why he grins so much???  Today on one of his days off the got up early, helped rake the yard and did a dozen little things around the house to help me out...without one complaint...and for that I am grateful.  Tomorrow I may want to clobber him...but today I'm grateful! 

And the picture above....was after a long day of running around, cleaning house, party prepping and playing with Emma.  I'm amazed he wasn't in a coma!  He really is awesome :) 

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 3

I know, I know....I'm slow today.  But it's been a BUSY day! 

Day 3 of an attitude of gratitude:  I'm grateful....for messes.  Yes you heard me right.  I'm grateful for messes like this one.....

I know you are scratching your head and thinking I've lost my marbles....but give me a minute.  Life is about taking the crap that gets thrown at you and turning it around.  And an attitude of gratitude is about looking for the good.  In this I found...I am lucky that I can feed my family breakfast on a cold morning.  I have power (which because of Hurricane Sandy many people are without right now), I have an income to afford a home/kitchen to cook in, I can buy the food to make breakfast, I have a wonderful family to share it with...and I have a wonderful hubby that will help me clean the mess :)  With all that in perspective....how can I be grumpy?  So this morning when my waffles (yes I make orange waffles) overflowed I did crinkle my nose for a few seconds.  Then I shrugged my shoulders, sipped my hot coffee and said "oh well the counters need cleaning anyway."  And when Christy shouted "We're having waffles, I love waffles" I knew the mess didn't matter one bit.  Hope you find a great mess this week....I'll be back tomorrow :)

I'll explain about the orange waffles sometime....just remind me. 

An Attitude of Gratitude Day 2

In keeping with a theme of thankfulness leading up to Thanksgiving and with an Attitude of Gratitude I bring you...

Day #2....Today I'm grateful for my left over Halloween Candy!!!!

I'm a bit of a chocolate lover and boy does it hit the spot when I'm in need of a good fix!  It's the perfect size to just stash a piece or two in my pocket and then munch on when the urge hits.  This year I bought 4 bags of candy and I was generous to each person that stopped by so there isn't too much of left.  Speaking of trick-or-treaters we had 20 this year (more than ever) and a couple even wanted to have their pictures taken in front of the house.  I was thrilled of course! 



Before dark



Closer to dark

 
Maybe next year we'll even get a fog machine :)  I am a kid at heart and love Halloween.  And for today I'm a chocolate loving nurse that has to get my booty to work.  Take care until tomorrow. 

An Attitude of Gratitude

Several years ago I was going through a bit of a funk....ok it was a lot more than a bit....it was a big funk.  With a capital "F".  I had a lot on my plate and couldn't really shake the feeling I was sinking faster than the Titanic.  I was desperate to find my way out of that feeling but felt that I had very little resources to help in that department...So I turned to the Internet.  I actually Googled "How to be happy?"  And I started reading.  I read lots and lots of articles, blogs, opinions and I took some notes along the way.  Let me tell you there was some CRAZY stuff out there too buddy.  But what a lot of the information kept leading back to was that happy people are grateful people.  That the happiest people have something in common and that is that they thank their lucky stars for what they have.  And so I started giving it a shot.  And I have to admit that today I am one HAPPY lady!!!  Now is being grateful why I'm happy today?  Is that what changed my funk into a fiesta?  I can't really say.  But I do think that it made a difference.  I started looking for the good in life.  What about this day can I find to be thankful for?  I started finding so much to appreciate that I started to loose sight of the mess in my life.  And slowly the mess....just went away.  Now don't get me wrong.  Crap still happens.  But now I just look at the crap and think....I'll get past it, my family will grow stronger and we will be better people because of it.  So with all that blabbing out of the way I wanted to spend the days before Thanksgiving expressing my "Attitude of Gratitude!"  I've noticed lots of other people doing the same and I couldn't be happier.  Maybe they read the same articles!!!

So Day #1....today I'm greatful for this beautiful season

Watching the leaves change from their gentle greens to burning reds and oranges is just like watching an artist work magic with watercolors.  I'm thankful to live in a place with seasons and also that I can watch it all unfold right around me.  There have been times we've visited forests during leaf changing season and it has taken my breath away.  Ever notice that autumn just smells different?  I love that smell :) 

Join me by leaving a comment about what your greatful for today.  I can't wait to hear what it is.