Introspection

Day 30 is here - my goal was almost fulfilled - I did complete it - for that I am thankful.

 Here's what this little lesson has taught me...

• I'm thankful for the little things like - I can move today after the Zumba! class I attended last night. I enjoy it don't get me wrong, I'm still not sure a woman like me is supposed to move that way but I'm trying!
• I'm thankful for the focus - it's so easy to get caught up in all of the unnecessary events that encompass November & December. It's easy to look on the negative side of things, especially after a major election that most of the country didn't even participate in, or the child that is too stubborn for his or her own good or that weight doesn't just fall off because you'd like for it too (hence the Zumba! class). 
• I'm thankful I have friends & family that are more amazing than words can truly describe. They take me with all my flaws and love me anyway.
• I'm thankful this type of avenue exists. This is an easier form of communication for some and no one has to feel obligated to read it. If nothing else it is a therapy for the writer, if you the reader glean something from it - that's gravy.
• I'm thankful for this time of year which allows you to move the focus to others so easily. There are so many ways to serve and help out your fellow man - that includes letting someone cut in front of you on the highway! When you get lost in service you tend to lose yourself and then your issues don't seem as daunting.
• I'm thankful that this is my little slice of heaven!

Here's hoping you don't make your December too busy but that you have time to enjoy it!

Friends

Today I am so thankful for all of my friends. I don't take photos when I'm with my friends as much as I'd like. Not sure why - it just doesn't seem to happen. Silly really when you think that we all have decently sized cameras on our phones...oh well - I'll just use the photo from last year. I know we haven't aged so it will work just fine.

While this photo was taken at a sad point in my life - it just reaffirms what friendship really is. It's when you connect on a much deeper level. It's when you can tell someone how you are with a simple look regardless of the words coming out of your mouth. It's being able to read between the lines in the picture perfect idealic reality that is painted in the status updates on Facebook. It's having inside jokes and laughing at them 20 years later. It's knowing that while mileage seperates you - it doesn't dimish the connection you share. It's the friends that you make in all stages of life and while you may not have as long of a history you have respect for one another. You don't judge one another. It's helping each other out without keeping score.

I just want to say thanks & I love each and every one of you!

Family

Family is so important and today that is what I'm thankful for...

We are so grateful that both sides of the family get along so well. No real horrible in-law stories. Able to spend holidays and birthdays together is priceless for the kids. We're grateful that we live within a short driving distance of one another.

thankful for talents

What a day! I do it to myself - but I really hate to disappoint my kiddos.

Today I ran errands to get ready for a birthday party we're hosting tomorrow. See this brown-eyed beauty? On Monday she'll be 4. And she wanted a Dora the Explorer party...what was I to do?

So being the overachiever I think I'm supposed to be I ran around Norman today to get the finishing touches that I hope the 5 giddy little girls will enjoy.

Now you're probably wondering why I titled this "thankful for talents". When the theme was picked I did what any overachieving mother would do...I went to Pinterest to see if I could replicate anything. Lo and behold...I found the perfect treat bag. Then I remembered that I don't sew...fortunately though I have a friend that does.

These turned out so cute!!! So this is why I am so grateful for all the many talents of which I am surrounded. I could not have had such a cute take-away gift and I think the girls will love them!

So I thank all of you for the talents you share daily - the ones that are obvious and the not-so-obvious ones. They are gifts from Heavenly Father and I truly appreciate you.