Counting my blessings 8, 9, and 10

I'm back.  Perhaps it was thought that I had a couple days go by where I had no blessings to count or things to be thankful for, but that's certainly not true.  I have multiple things that are such each day and moment of life, it's the taking the time to acknowledge that sometimes gets left behind.  From work to sick kids and homework and basketball, etc., lets just say time wasn't on my side.

So, I went missing for a couple days with my count because it's just been a crazy week.  My car was making noises and oil lights were lit up (as well as the service engine soon light that had been lit for quite some time now) and I just wasn't looking forward to having to do car fixes. We were considering selling the truck for a bit and so I posted it on Facebook.  The next day I went into my local Firestone Complete Auto Care and had an oil change and received the bad news about the noise.  It was going to be quite an expensive job...and we still owe on it and it has 160+K miles on it. I spent a hundred bucks to see how bad or soon and it wasn't good news.  We decided that it wouldn't do anyone a favor to sell it to a friend so we took it down and started looking for cars online. I test drove Tuesday and Wednesday nights in subzero temps and after hours of that had homework to do each night and work the next morning.  Busy.  Then what happened was that I fell in love with a Ford Edge.  Used, but clean and low miles.  Counting my blessings 8, I am thankful for a new, reliable, warrantied vehicle,

So in the middle of all this I had an amazing dream, absolutely lovely.  My Mom came to visit in dreamland.  We were at home and we were moving out.  I had some onions for cooking...not sure what that was about and people were lined up for a sale of the things that we no longer wanted to keep.  I was at first irritated until Inrealized that the people who were there were good friends, I especially remember Jim Remer being there.  So details later, in the back seat of the vehicle that I just purchased (but hadn't purchased it yet in real life) sat me, behind the driver, Dad in the middle, and Mom on the other side.  We knew she was gone in the dream, but she was also really real in the dream.  She and Dad held hands and she smiled at him with such a big smile and she confirmed that the house is just a house, not a place where she is or that defines her and she wasn't staying behind, Mom will go with Dad wherever he finds himself.  Counting my blessings 9, I am blessed to have had my Mom visit in my dreams, I am grateful that she sends us these messages as we continue to adapt to the changes that we find without her physical presence.

And as we are on the discussion of the house, as it turns out, my dream meant more than what we knew...an offer was accepted and the house has sold.  While it has been difficult leaving after every visit and soaking in the memeories of the place I've called home for 20 years, I count my blessing 10 that I have those memeories, that we (family and friends) had the many experiences, it wasn't just a house in the past, it was a home that happened to house the best cook ever.  I am grateful that I can share my message with my Dad as he prepares to leave forever.  Such a great place and so many great times we had plus lots of hard work building it.  My Grandpa Wally helped with the ceiling, a wonderful memory for Dad to have (I was there too).  I helped my Dad with almost every room and specifically I remember building the fireplace, putting down the flooring, and building the bathroom.  While it hurts to say goodbye, I count my blessings and I am grateful.

Counting my blessings 7

I've got a sense of humor.  This I am thankful for and am blessed - because without it (even a little) I think this world would be difficult.

Counting my blessings 6 (having fun with this one)

Because the old ways of discipline are way too harsh, the aftermath is ugly, oh and it's illegal, I am grateful that I parent in the time of, "The Timeout Chair."  This idea allows the child to realize the he did something wrong and after being upset he magically stays in the chair making the FUNNIEST faces (oh and hopefully learning a lesson).  One cannot laugh while the child is in the TO Chair, but we can record and laugh later...for this, I am grateful and that my son loves me and says sorry when it's done, I am blessed.

Rory is in timeout 

He spits to communicate his disagreement with our choice to put him there.

Pouting in hopes that it won't last the full 2 minutes.

Checking to see if I'm watching.

Realized that I'm not and wondering, "How did I get here?!"

Feeling guilty, ashamed, and knowing that he can't get away with hitting his sister or throwing things.

Starting to cry again because of the previous realization. 

Wishing he was done, thinking it's been FOREVER, that he could play, and that he could have his baba (aka paci).

Timeout ended shortly after this.  I reiterated why he went to timeout, explained that he should never do it again, then he apologized to me plus a hug and kiss then apologized to his Dee Dee (aka Gwenyth).

Me, I laughed inside, didn't break in front of him.  Man, I love that Timeout Chair.

Counting my blessings 5

Having a husband.  Having Justin as my husband.  They guy who will cook, do the dishes, and the laundry when he gets home from work so I can rest or do homework or even just get in the shower.  Not to mention a great Daddy too.  What a man!  I am blessed, I am grateful.

Counting my blessings 4

So I went and decided to go back to school for my 4 year degree in business management.  Because of this, since April, life is pretty much work, kids, eat poorly, homework, sleep, work, kids, eat poorly, homework, sleep, and again and again and again plus weekends are consumed.  There isn't much time to do something fun with the kids, to plan out healthy meals, or to just kick back and relax.  Well, today, because I have a 7-day break (1 day left) I was able to do all three!  Today, I am counting 3 blessings that I am grateful for.

1) Enjoying fun time with the kids in the new reclining seats theater! 

2) I cooked and ate a healthy dinner.

3) I kicked back and watched "Grown Ups 2" with Justin and enjoyed a cold drink too.

It's the little things.  I'm so glad that I get one more day off before the madness begins again.  I'll probably use my time to clean and organize.

Counting my blessings 3

He means so much to me and he'd do anything for the three that he's got.  I am grateful and so blessed that Michael Steele is my Father. My Daddy. My Pa.

Counting my blessings 2

Cuddle, snuggle, which ever you choose to describe it, I love it, I am blessed to have such good snugglers and I am truly grateful.

Welcome 2014

As we begin the year, 2014, it is beautiful to see that so many are choosing to focus on what there is to be grateful for.  I hope that this shift in attitude becomes contagious as we could use more love and positivity nowadays.

In life there is always a moment or many moments where something is wrong at work, a friend is being a nerd, a health issue is consuming, a kid is going through a change, a husband makes the wrong choice, a dinner tastes bad, a drink is spilled, and so many other frustrations that can, at times, be overwhelming.

I cannot take credit, but I really like the idea of documenting what I have to be grateful for, to literally count and take note of my blessings so that even as I have my days, my bad and annoyed-at-the-world (who hates me) days, I will remember and realize and reflect on the many parts of life that I am blessed with.  I will document and reflect daily, my blessings.  This is a simple way to remember to be happy and that's good because there really are moments where being happy can be tough.

Today is an easy one, I can't put into words how grateful and blessed I am to have Gwenyth and Rory, I love these two so much.