Blah Day Gratitude's~ Day 13

   I wasn't going to write my blog this morning. Negativity crept into my spirits and left me feeling quite blah. It has been foggy outside for three days now. To be overcast is one thing, but to not be able to see across the street leaves me feeling just a bit icky. Yes... I said icky. I do have three kids.

Now having this feeling of blahness makes me think that today it is even more important to look for my gratitude's. So here I go...

                                  Gratitude's ~ Day 13



1. Blah days~ Yes, there is even something to be grateful for on a blah day. I will be able to appreciate seeing clouds again. Not the clouds that cover our area in fog, but the ones high the sky that sometimes cover the sun. Days that look bleak and forlorn often lead to days of cheerfulness and happiness. So...for that, I am grateful for blah days too.


2. Clouds~ Fog can be mysterious and lead your imagination into all sort of tales. Fog is just clouds that have fallen down for a moment. Hopefully the clouds will go back up the sky and paint imaginary creatures and pictures. Guessing the shapes of the clouds is one of my families favorite things to do. We like to look up and see dinosaurs, flowers, and sometimes even two headed monsters. We often let our imaginations get carried away. I am grateful for clouds. They can be fun.


3. Soup~ I think I may have had soup every day for about two weeks now. I love soup. It has many different flavors to match many different moods. Today I had Mexican Style Chicken Tortilla with melted Pepper Havarti cheese on top. It was delicious. Another reason I love soup is that I can eat the entire can. Sure, It says two servings per can, but today serving only had 110 calories. So I ate the entire contents of the can of soup. I am grateful for soup.


4. New York City~ Yep, I have seen where the Soup Nazi, from the sitcom Seinfeld,serves his soup. Sadly, I did not get to eat his soup. The tour guide said he was out of the country looking for new soup recipes. I got to take this trip my mother and sister. Watching Broadway shows and racing to catch taxi's is fun. I am grateful for the trips to New York City.


5. Trips~ I have a draft started of all the places I have been. I found that I need help writing this blog. I was a child for many of the trips. I would days, years and exact places to put in my memory trip blog. One day, I hope to be able to publish the places I have been. I am grateful to be able to take trips.


6. Family~ I am grateful to my family and all the meaning they hold. I love you all. I am grateful to you.


7. Music~ A happy tune can uplift one's spirits. I am grateful for music.


8. Cars~ We can do so much that would be impossible without a car. I don't think I would like having to use a horse and buggy. Although, I do think it would be to take a horse and buggy excursions through a park or city. I am grateful for cars.


9. Toothpaste~ Can you imagine life without toothpaste? I don't want too. I don't like bad smells. I am grateful for toothpaste.


10. As always, Life~ Today is a gift filled with fog. The fog will lift as will my mood. I am grateful for the gift of life.


   I am still a bit blah, but that is normal for life. We cannot be happy every moment of every day. However, we can find many things to be grateful for. Have a good day in gratitude's everyone.

Life~ Gratitude's Day 12

   Good morning friends.  I missed a day of writing yesterday.  Taking a break is always a good thing for me to do.  It gives my mind energy to recharge.  It also gave me some time to take care of some much needed tasks.  Yesterday was a good day, as will be today.


                                                   Gratitude's~ Day 12



1. Humor~  Yesterday morning was spent at the optometrists office.  All three of my children and myself had our eyes examined.  Only one of us needs glasses, but it is good to have the annual eye exams for health sake.  Davy, my youngest, was asked if he thought he needed glasses.  His reply was,"Yes!"  The doctor asked him why he thought he needed glasses.  Davy stated, "Because, I will look even more handsome with glasses on."  Oh, I nearly fell out of my chair with laughter when I heard Davy say that. Davy did not get glasses yesterday.


2. Eye exams~  I am what is called a glaucoma suspect.  I have a cupping of the right optic nerve.  Next week I have to go in and do what I call the dot test.  Basically every time I see a dot, I will press a button.  I am not sure how I will do on the test, but I am not worried.  My pressure is normal.  These test should help me from ever having a problem.  I am grateful for follow ups and preventative medicine.


3. Spelling~ I cannot spell.  Anyone who has seen my words without the aid of a spell check knows of my inability to spell.  My oldest son, however, can spell.  He never studies for his spelling tests.  He almost always gets A's.  He is a great speller.  This week, he got to participate in his 1st ever spelling bee.  He made it to the third round.  I am grateful for spelling.  My son can spell.


4. Snow~ I love the snow.  I do not love the cold or bad roads that goes a long with it.  I do love the snow.  Snow is beautiful.  I am not a skier, a sledder, or a snow man builder because that would mean I would be outside in the cold.  I do not love the cold.  However, I love how the snow hangs in the trees, how it sparkles like glitter in the air.  I love how peaceful it feels outside after a fresh snow fall.  I am grateful for the snow.


5. Spring~ I love the spring even more.  New life sprouts from the ground.  Rays of sun peak thought the clouds.  Winter coats are put away.  Flowers are born.  Spring brings about movement as people emerge from their houses and explore the world again.  Spring is the start of everything good.  I am grateful for spring.


6. Children~ My kids are really neat.  Each of them brings a special attribute of happiness to this house.  Each behaves, acts and reacts differently from the other.  Sometimes it is quite comical having children.  I am grateful for children.


7. Caring people~ There are those people who just seem to be a step above other people.  Their hearts are able to reach many.  They have a special gift, one that goes beyond normal friendships and families. They reach out to help as many people as they can with no matter of who the other people are....many volunteers are like that.  They give of themselves to help others with no expectations in return.  I am grateful to caring people.


8. Photo's of loved ones long since passed~ Everyday while sit here and type, I look up and see a family photo with my grandmother is it.  She is one of my greatest inspirations.  She was an amazing women. She gave of herself when others would have stopped to sit down and rest.  She often would visit people who were to sick to go out when she, herself,  was ill with heart and lung disease. She was the glue of my family up north. She brought joy and goodness with her everywhere she went. She loved to travel and try new things.  She loved the dolphins, flowers and me.  I love you Grandmother.  I am grateful to have had you in my life.


9. Microfiber clothes~ It is not really to much of a stretch to go from my grandmother to chemical free cleaning.  Cleaners hurt your lungs.  My grandmother died of pneumonia.  I love being able to grab my cloths and clean without polluting the air.  I am grateful for microfiber.


10. As always, life~ God gave us one life to live.  I sometimes wish we could have a thousand lives, but I only have one.  I am grateful for every second I am on this planet.  I am grateful for life.


    I was eager to sit down and write my blog this morning. I never really know what I am going to write until I sit down and think about my gratitude's. Everyday has something to be grateful for if we take the time to look for it.  This morning was easy.  I am grateful for life.

God doesn't make Junk Gratitude's ~ Day 11

   This morning I woke with the gratitude of being myself.  I know a person who used to try to change me into being someone I am not.  Now, I do not call this person friend.  However, I am grateful for that action because I know I stayed true to myself.   An old friend(Erica Thomas Buchanen~sorry if I mangle the spelling of your name) posted, "Do not change yourselves to be like the people of this world, but be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect." ~Romans 12:2

                                         Gratitude's ~ Day 11


1. Me ~   "God doesn't make junk."   While I do not remember who said that, the words have left a lasting positive impact on me.  I am grateful to wake up and be me.  Who else in this world who I rather be?  Sure, I would like to be rich, have a chauffeur, and chef, but I would like to do it as myself.  I would like to see the world with my eyes.  I am grateful to be me.

2. Walking~  Lately, I have sat down and started to think about the constants in my life.  When I look back, I can see one thing that has always been the same.  Since I was little girl, I loved to take walks.  Years ago,  we Volks Marched through Europe as a family.  I think this may be the start of what shaped my love of walking.  In High School, I used to take walks after school with many different friends at places such as Point of Rocks Park in Virginia.  The memories at that park are many.  The smiles are great.  This journey of walking with friends continues into my adult years and continues today.  These friends hold a special spot in my memories.  Most have continued on as life long friends.  Thank You my friends for taking this journey with me.  I am grateful to you.


3. Gardening~  I am sure I will write this as a gratitude many many time over.  I love gardening.  Greta and I used to walk around our flower beds looking  for the seedlings that the birds may have left behind.  We often had little surprises popping up here and there.  One year, she had planted purple cone flowers in her yard. She did not get one single beautiful purple cone flower.  Instead,  the bird transferred the seeds.  I had  a bunch of cone flowers pop up along my fence line.  Gardening brings surprises and joy.  Gardening brought me friendship with one of the best friends I have ever had.  Thank You Greta for being a great friend.


4. Changes with-in~  One neat thing about writing a gratitude journal is that it makes me really stop and look at the things I am grateful for.  Sure, it is easy to say I am grateful for something, but to stop and really think about the why it brings so much gratitude changes how I feel.  I used to randomly list everything or everyone that made me happy in my thoughts.  I never really gave each gratitude its own thought.  To stop and write down each gratitude, whether it be a person, place or thing, leaves me with joy all day long.


5. My husband~  I am grateful for Mark.  He loves me.  He makes me feel secure.  He is quite a handsome man.  He is funny too.  Lately he has followed his dreams and that has shown to be an inspiration for me to follow my own.  I am grateful for my husband, my best friend.


6. Best friends~ Over the years, I have been blessed with best friends.  I do not have just one best friend. Instead I have a handful of great friends.  I bet, without typing a word, each of you knows who you are. Sadly, all of you are scattered all over the place.  I guess this is a good thing because whenever I see one of you(or talk to or type to), I can concentrate on you.  I am grateful for these friends.


7. Yogurt~ How did I go from friends to yogurt?  I don't know actually, but I do love yogurt.  Here in Germany, there is a yogurt that I have fallen in love with.  It is delicious!!  Actually, that may be even  an understatement because I eat one or two every single day.  I am grateful for yogurt.


8.Children's toys~ Yesterday, Julia and I sat down and played with her potters wheel.  Our hands got dirty from the clay.  We created art and spent treasured time with each other.  It was a special special day.  I am grateful for an activity that will remain with both of us in our memories for the rest of our lives.

9. Art~ Art can be many things to many people.  For me, art is anything that you use your own self to create. This includes gardening, painting, music, crafts, pottery, quilting and so much more.  Art is beautiful.  Sometimes it can be quite odd, but it has it's own uniqueness that speaks about the artist who creates it.  I am grateful for art.

10. As always, life~ I think I may use this as my signature ending.  Everyday that I wake up is something to be grateful for.


   Today has already had a good start. I will concentrate on today. I do want to wish two of my friends good health this morning. I hope you wake feeling well and energized.