An Attitude of Gratitude

June 6, 2010

2010-06-06T21:58:00.000-07:00

1. My daughter Katelyn who is learning and growing and becoming her own individual every day.
2. My husband
3. My home and all the things in it
4. Food to eat and the ability to always get more clean, healthy food affordably
5. Technology and the ability to own it

Strength

2009-04-18T19:56:00.000-07:00

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/strength.html

2008-10-15T11:11:00.001-07:00

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, ^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

October 3, 2008

2008-10-03T14:24:00.001-07:00

I am grateful to be employed. It is a tough time in roday's economy, and although I may not enjoy my job, I am grateful to have it and to have a paycheck coming in. Many, many people are losing their jobs right now in this same industry as their employers are closing the doors of their businesses entirely. For the time being, I have to be thankful that my company is still in business.

I am grateful for my mother-in-law DeAnn who provides amazing care for my baby girl while I go to said job every day. It is hard to be spending so much time away from Katelyn, but knowing that she is in such good hands is a blessing to me.

I am grateful for my new friends in the South Bay Church. I am excited about the beautiful vision they have and that I have been invited to be a part of this growing season. I am thankful for the good people that have come into my life recently and look forward to getting to know them even better in the near future.

I am grateful for a cloudy day. Sometimes you have to work through the clouds of life in order to really be appreciative of the sun.

I am grateful for modern technology. I confess that I am a gadget junkie... but oh how gadgets make me happy!

2008-09-07T17:04:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for my family. For my husband who endured a whole day in Hollowter at my parents', even though it was boiling hot and they have no air conditioning. For my baby girl because she is just so darn cute and her beautiful smile can light up any room. For my amazing mother who prepared a fantastic brunch today and who I am fortunate enough to have as one of my very best friends. For my father who just makes me happy because today he was truly happy. And for my awesome mother-in-law who has completely changed in a very positive way in the past month and who takes such great care of my baby girl.

I am also grateful for new friends.

2008-08-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Abigail is 11 months old today!

2008-08-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

It's so amazing to see the new things my daughter is learning every day! She has grown so quickly and though I have been home with her, I am already starting to forget what it was like before she could walk - before she could sit - before she could hold her head up! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband and beautiful daughter...
Sarah

2008-08-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

It is Saturday. Katelyn and I got up early and went for a walk. The weather is good. The sun is shining. We are sharing a croissant at Starbucks and I am having a delicious decaf with a touch of cocoa. I am able to relax and enjoy this weekend and do some things that are good for my soul. It is a new day. I am always blessed.

2008-08-04T22:18:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my mother-in-laws safe travel today from Minnesota to California.

I am thankful that Katelyn was in such a great mood most of the day today.

I am thankful for today - Katelyn's 8 month birthday!

I am thankful for family and for friends.

I am thankful for nice weather.

Quote about gratitude....

2008-08-03T18:12:00.000-07:00

“What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it - would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way. In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer, you must truly appreciate what you already have.” Ralph Marston

2008-08-02T22:08:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for the opportunity to spend the morning and some of the afternoon with my best friend and my daughter. I had a great time shopping and just hanging out. I am grateful for her help today...

I am thankful that I found a dress to wear to my friends' wedding tomorrow. It was not even as difficult a task as I thought it might be! I am also grateful to have found several other items to add to my wardrobe.

I am thankful for the warm sun.

I am thankful for my husband, who, in trying to protect me from becoming upset, didn't tell me that his bike had been stolen a week earlier... adn hid his own anger and frustration from me, knowing that I had enough struggles of my own.

I am thankful for today because....

2008-07-30T06:14:00.001-07:00

38 years ago the world was blessed with a kind hearted, sweet, amazing, funny, creative, witty, passionate, loving soul named Mike.....

I am so grateful to have him in my life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETHEART!

2008-07-29T08:28:00.000-07:00

I am SO thankful for this smile!!!

2008-07-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for the groundskeepers who keep the grounds of my apartment complex looking nice... so that I have a beautiful place to walk.

I am thankful that Katelyn slept all the way through the night so that I was able to get a good night's sleep AND get up and walk this morning before starting in on today.

I am thankful for a nice dinner with my best friends and my family last night.

I am thankful for a smiley baby girl.

I am thankful that my work week has started out in a calm, manageable manner.

I am thankful for today.

Little Moments...

2008-07-29T06:56:00.001-07:00

I am grateful for the little moments in my life....

I am grateful for a big family

2008-07-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

It's hard to get a big family together but I love having a big family.
This past weekend, we went on a "family camping trip" and though I am not really the "roughing it" type. It was wonderful. Ryan, Abigail and I got to spend time with my aunt, Lynette, and her husband, Fred, and daughter, Emily as well as my sister, Alyssa, and Jarrod and their daughter, Alexis. Here are a couple photos I am thankful for...

YAY!

2008-07-27T18:35:00.000-07:00

I am thankful that Jen looked in her spam folder and found my plea to let me in this blog!! lol!

I am thankful for my girl Destiny, who is sleeping on the floor next to me, tuckered out from the wonderful day she had swimming, running and playing - like any doggy should..

I am grateful for the good day with my parents

And I am so grateful I met a man who loves me for who I am, who I want to be, and who I've been.

2008-07-25T22:41:00.000-07:00

I am thankful that I made it through this work week.

I am thankful for a nice evening with my husband and my daughter.

I am thankful that I had a chance to talk to my boss this week and that he seems to understand where I am coming from.

I am thankful that my daughter is a happy baby.

I am thankful that my dad came to help me out yesterday.

I am thankful that it is the weekend.

Turning the Tide

2008-07-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

I am grateful that I have a job that I like.
I am grateful that I experience contrast so that I get clearer about what it is that I do want.
I am grateful that I got a $2000 dollar a year raise.
I am grateful that I have wonderful friends.
I am grateful for making new friends.
I am grateful for yoga.
I am grateful for becoming more and more open each day.
I am grateful to be learning more about music.
I am grateful for my new amazing room mates.
I am grateful that my Mom and I are talking again.
I am grateful for this blog, for before I started writing what I am grateful for, I was feeling quite bummed out and am beginning to feel WAY BETTER.
I am grateful for my trip to Italy with my family :)
I am grateful that I have friends from different countries.
I am grateful that I love myself.

Thankfulness

2008-07-21T22:04:00.000-07:00

I am thankful that I have a job that makes me happy and that I enjoy.

I am thankful to have such an understanding, sweet, and loveable boyfriend who is always up for adventure weather he wants it or not.

I am thankful to have a best friend to listen when I need to talk.

I am thankful that even though I live with my parents that I actually have a lot of time alone. I am thankful that they give me a roof over my head and food in the refrigerator.

I am thankful that I have gas in my car to get me to and from work.

I am thankful that I am only working 3 days this week.

I am thankful that starting wednesday, Joe will be with me until I start school on August 11.

5 things that are great

2008-07-21T14:35:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for Jenn and here are 5 things that are great about Jenn right now....

She is a wonderful mother. That little girl smiles and laughs, she engages you with a different learned sense everyday. She knows how lucky she is to have Jenn as her mom.

She is a hell of a writer. She really has a great sense for deepening character development and engaging an audience with words.

She is a great Guitar Hero. She has a passion for this sillyness and though I have only known her for a short time, I know when she is truly in bliss and it's one of those rare times when she completely lights up and you see why so many people love her and care about her.

She is an open and honest person who has a great compassion for listening and being there even amongst the chaos of her life.

She is passionate. She puts her midn to something, I don't think you can change it. Yeah that leads to stubbornness too but it is how all the great thinkers and inventors got things done.

2008-07-20T21:43:00.001-07:00

I am thankful for my daughter.

I am thankful for friends new and old.

I am thankful for my loving husband.

....

2008-07-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Today I am grateful to have friends that listen to me when I need them to, who give me words of advice when I need it (whether I want it or not)and who encourage me to be true to myself.

I am grateful to have a forgiving boss who addresses my mistakes with calm understanding and encouragement to improve, rather than yelling, criticizing, and belittling.

I am grateful for my beautiful baby girl and for her knowing that I needed her smiles, her coos, and her happy babbles today... especially when she has held them for ransom throughout several other days this week!

I am grateful for my husband who seeks to do whatever it takes to put a smile on my face.

I am grateful that my mother-in-law is willing and eager to come here to try to help out wherever she can.

I am grateful for my brother, who was there for me and speaking words of truth and hope... even from Iraq.

I am grateful that it is Friday and I have two full days ahead of me with my family.

I am grateful that we own a good car that runs and is clean and safe.

I am grateful to have had a good lunch with my best friend... sharing the perfect foods, because we always can.

I am grateful for love, for forgiveness, and for hope.

In This Moment

2008-07-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Today alone has been a roller coaster but in the end it is the little things that I am thankful for that have helped me get through the day

I am thankful that I have the best boyfriend in the world. He is such a rockstar and I love him so much.

I am thankful to have such a wonderful best friend. She knew just what I needed today. Lunch was fabulous.

I am thankul for sleepovers as chessy as that sounds, that is what Joe and I have.

I am thankful for happy babies that share their gummy smiles with me. The purest form of unconditional love.

I am thankful to have such a great family and thankful for my parents who afforded me so many opportunities.

July 18, 2008

2008-07-18T01:44:00.000-07:00

Today, I am thankful that...

-one year from today I will marry a fabulous, fabulous man
-one month from today, I will be settled in a new home, in a new land, in a new job, embarking on a whole new adventure
-one week from today, I will graduate with my masters degree!
-one day from today, I get to sleep in!

It's a good day today. :)

Mara

July 17, 2008

2008-07-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my daughter. She is the light of my day, of my life. If I stop what I am doing, the angry thoughts in my head, and I just sit with her, smile with her, everything in life gets lighter and more at peace.

I am thankful for my husband. My rock. My foundation. He listens even when I know it kills him to hold his tongue. He loves even when he is frustrated with me beyond belief. He is a wonderful father. He is loving, caring, giving...

I am thankful to have a job.

I am thankful to have a nice place to live.

I am thankful for good friends.

I am thankful for clean water.

I am thankful for the elevator in our building.

I am thankful for family.