I never finished blogging my Gratitude Challege...opps

That doesnt' mean I am not grateful. I am so happy to have the life I do. I appreciate coming home to a messy, chaotic house because I would hate to come home to nothing. If the mess and the stress is what is payment for a wonderful healthy family, I will gladly pay that.

This the Big Holidays over and the New Years just days away I am excited for the new adventures 2012 will bring. The house is slowly getting back to it's pre-Holiday state, I am finally getting over being sick for 2 months...darn cold season gave me Whooping Cough, at least that is what the Doctor said, and I am ready to start my Resolutions.

Day 9- Gratitude Challenge

"Enjoy the people around you. Take a moment to appreciate their unique talents, abilities and personalities"

I spend much of my time at work and mostly in the company of 3 amazing women. The all are very unique.

Tara, you have a no nonsense attitude at work, (and that is good because someone has got to!) Outside of work you are the life of the party. You love your social life out of the office and in the office. If you take charge of a social event I KNOW it is going to be a great time!

Misty, you and I are always laughing at something, good or bad, we are laughing. Some of the time in tears we are laughing so hard. If I need help with something at work, I go to you.

Lori, you are fun and bubbly. Your compassion for people is sincere and heart warming. You are a doer, a goer, and I love it!!!

Day 8 Gratitude Challenge.

*opps I didnt post it Monday-it went to draft- opps*

I haven't been great about doing this daily. Most weekends are spent away from the computer and home, and well....I am also forgetful with computer stuff.
I am getting them all done, although not daily. The 21 days of gratitude will take me 42 days.

Today's challenge is to "send thank you notes to five people who deserve a little recognition"

I have so many people that I could thank in my life, but here are just a few that come to mind when I think of my day today.
Warning: one of these could be you and you are going to ruin your card surprise if you read any further.


1.)Julie, you are an incredible friend. You always seem to show up when I need you. I don't even have to ask. I love you and I am so happy that you have come back into my life from childhood friendship. You know who I was, who I am, and believe in who I can be. I can't ask for a better friend.

2.) Brent, You are a great friend and I know that I can count on you if I need you. I know that I could call you if needed and you would be there. You aren't only Gary's friend you are my friend too. Thank you for being such a great and dependable friend.

3.)Colleen, You are an amazing caring woman. You are a great friend and I am so happy that I get to work with you. I love to chat with you whenever we can and catch up on life. I feel that you truly care about me and other people. Thank you for being a calm in the middle of the storm.

4.) Mom and dad, I could never say thank you enough for being great parents. You taught me to have high ideals, and gave me good self esteem. I always felt loved by you and that I was important. One of the best compliments someone can give me is "you are just like your mother." You are also awesome grandparents to all your grand kids, I know that Jonah feel like he is a special kid to you and that you love him. Love you mom!

5.) Doctor Cabellaro, thank you for removing my port today. You were fantastic. I was nervous and your bedside manner was fantastic. You talked with me during the procedure and even let me get my picture taken with the Port once it was removed and I was stitched up. Thank you.

Gratitude Challenge Day 7

"Take a picture of one thing, person, place or specific moment that makes you fell grateful. Share it"



This is one of my favorite pictures of Gary. Our Wedding, outside at Snowy Leavenworth, WA. I am so happy that I was lucky enough to stumble across this guy and that he was excited about me and loves me.

Gary and I have had so many adventures together, both good and bad. I love this guy and I feel fortunate to have him as part of my life. Sharing your life with someone you love makes everyday better.

Gratitude Challenge Day 6

"Take a few minutes to call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Tell them how much you appreciate them"

Called my sister. I love my sister and her kids are my kids best friends.

Gratitude Challenge, Day 5

"Take five minutes to write about how grateful you are for all the wonderful things that you currently have in your life. Don't long for what you don't posess-instead, take stock of all the blessings you already enjoy."

I am thankful that I have a house and and family and enough money to vacation and do fun things that enhance our lifes.

I am thankful that both Gary and I have jobs that work well with having a family.

I am thankful that Gary and I have "us" time at least two weekends a month.

I am thankful our kids are healthy and intelligent and that they all get along so well together.

I am thankful we live in the area we do. We are a 20 minute drive from the city, and major sports teams, zoos, museums, and aquariums, theater, ballet and resturants -we have farmers markets near us and great selections in our grocery stores. We are a few minutes drive from beaches and tide pools and couple hours drive to good surf. I am so thankful to live where I do.

I am thankful that I have a son that is witty. He cracks me up.

I am thankful to be married to a man that I enjoy being with and is my friend.

I am thankful that my parents are so awesome. :) I am thankful my baby sister and I are good friends and that we talk so often.

I am thankful for my friends. They are wonderful, all very different from eachother, but they are all very important to me.

Gratitude Challenge Day 4

I am two days behind on my gratitude challenge. Been having too much fun with my husband this weekend.

So Day 3 "Write a short message of thanks for some of the negative things in your life."

Holy smokes- really?

Thank you cancer(with a little c) I kicked your ass.

Really the two years when I was fighting cancer or having surgery was tough. It was the most difficult time in my life. My cancer was caused by a Molar Pregnancy, Gary and I were trying to have a baby together. Opps- the mole turned to cancer -10% of the time it does. The treatments I started with worked 90% of the time..but not on me. I did get it in the end. After it returned and I did chemo again and decided to have my uterus and an ovary removed. That sucked and accepting that I could no longer have a child with my husband and give my son a blood related sibling was harder than I thought it would be.

Thank you for teaching me to "let go" of things I can not change. And to let go in general. I had some control over my treatment, I have control over my attitude, but I did not have control over that.


Thank you for making me aware of my strength and my will power. The cancer treatment itself made me realize how strong I actually was and I that all my clean living paid off in the end. It encouraged me to be even more aware of what I put in my body.

I also appreciate the energy and strength I am finally getting back. Yay!

Thank you for showing me who I can rely on in my life. All my friends and family had two years to show me that. Those that ignored my condition for whatever reason, I knew that I no longer wished to waste my time on those "friendships". I don't say that with any bitterness or anomosity. It just is and that is okay. Energy and time are priceless to me and I want to spend it on people and things that I matter to and that matter to me.

Thank you for all of the ways I have grown and changed because of the experience.

There are other negative things I could write and write a thanks to, but this is the biggie, so we will leave it at that.

Day 3- Gratitude Challenge

I am suppose to write about something I feel grateful about in my life today. Am I suppose to only pick one thing....
..........okay then, in this moment I am grateful for a quite house and some "me" time. That is not something that happens often. I love being a wife and a mother and having friends to do things with, but I love having quite alone time. Time to gather my thoughts, or work on a project that I have been wanting to.
I have the day to myself today, the house is cleaned and laundry caught up, so I will spend most of my day in the yard, playing in the dirt, not feeling hurried to get anything done, but enjoying the time I have to tend to the earth.

Day 2 Gratitude Challenge - A to Z of Gratitude

Day 2 - A to Z of Gratitude


Art- Art museums, my kids fridge art, music, the ballet. Art is awesome

Books- want to know about something, it is easy, read. I have books on tons of different things…too many books that now I try to just check them out from the library.

Coconuts. Coconut milk, coconut sorbet, coconut meat, coconut martinis, coconut candles and lotion….I love me some coconut.

Dogs, a (wo)mans best friend. River (my dog) is always happy to see me. He is thankful for everything, loves everyone, living in the moment at all times. I can learn much from him.


Emergency services and all those that chose to help others as a profession. Firemen, Policemen, Lifeguards, EMT’s, and ER doctors, etc…

Friends, they make everything a little better, a little funnier, a bit more meaningful. I have a couple great ones in my life.

Gardening. It gets me back to the earth. Digging in the soil, cultivating, and I always have something to show for it, a weed free bed, a flower patch, or fresh vegetables ready to be harvested. It is also a good form of mediation for me..

Hawaii- How could I not feel grateful that such a place exists and I don’t need a passport to go there.

Ice skating at Seattle Center every winter. I love that family tradition.

Jonah- he is the best little guy. I feel lucky to have him.



Kisses.


Library- where else can you borrow a book and the fifth season of Weeds. I can request what I want online and the library sends me an email when it is ready to be picked up. Thank you King County Library!

Marriage. I love coming home to my husband. I love having someone to share my life and my experiences with. Gary is a great husband for me!


New Stuff. Trying it. Being a little frightened at first about making a fool out of myself or not being able to do it at all….and feeling so awesome that I took a chance and had an experience


Ocean, the sea, the salt water, the surf, the smell of the air, the amazing creatures that live there. Where would we be without the ocean.

Parents- I have the best. I didn’t realize how great they were until I grew up and heard stories of others upbringing.

Quilts, or any snuggly blanket really. I get cold and I like the read or watch a movie under a nice warm blanket.

Romance. Not the trashy novel, but real life romance.

Siblings- What would I have done without my sisters growing up.

Tulip festival, it is a tradition for Gary and I, I love it and look forward to it every year.


Uncles and Aunts – and extended family in general. You may not see them very often, but you know they are always there if you need them.

Vacations! Showing the kids there is something besides Disneyland and video games.


Work. I like my work and I feel very fortunate to work with the people I do, doing what I love. Really who doesn’t like a great smile!

Xrays- they have saved my life more than once…

Yoga- it makes me feel better, it is exercise for my body and calms my spirit. I don’t practice nearly as often as I would like, but when I do, my world is better.

Zoo- One of my favorite places.

21 day Gratitude Challenge.

My cousin is doing a gratitude challenge and has challenged others to do it also. I accept. Day one- sign the gratitude pledge. DONE.
Looking forward to looking on the bright side more often.