Day 30 (Love) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 30 - I'm grateful for love...

Love of Family... Love of Country... Love for science, technology, medicine, teaching, etc... Love of Animals... Love of Nature... Without love, would we truly have a reason to live or dream the impossible??

I can't imagine a world without love - the love of my husband, my parents, sister, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew, cousins, friends, pets... most importantly the love of a God that has provided me with all this and so much more...

Day 29 (Relax Days) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 29 - I'm grateful for relaxing days... days were I get to do whatever I want whether it's reading, napping, shopping or going for a massage... Grateful for massages too, since they help keep my migraines at bay usually! Days like today where I have no obligations, nothing that requires my attention, nothing that needs to be done right now... no dishes to do, no work, just chill... love these days!!

Day 28 (Communication) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 28 - I'm grateful for communication technology that enables me to hear from all my family and friends on this day of Thanksgiving... whether its a post on Facebook/Twitter or text/calls, hearing from everyone is a blessing when I'm so far away!

Day 27 (New Day) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 27 - I'm grateful to have woke up this morning and grateful for a easy day at work...

Day 26 (The Little Things) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 26 - I'm grateful for the little things in life... I've already mentioned some, but truly the little things are what make each day special!
Recently for me it's been the sunny days where you can see Mt. Rainer, holding my husband's hand while we drive to the coast, chatting with a friend who I haven't gotten a lot of chances to keep up with and it being like we'd seen each other just yesterday, the fresh-out-the-oven cinnamon muffins at the bakery, watching the sunset and all the lights out the windows of my office, the feel of kicking off your shoes at the end of a long day, having dinner prepared for you, my dog cuddling up to me at night... but there are so many other little things that I have flood back into my memory on occasion - sometimes it's a silly something that makes me giggle/laugh uncontrollably (usually making my husband think I've gone off the deep end) or sparks a memory that brings a tear to my eyes... I'm just grateful that on occasion I recognize those small things that make my day so much better...

Day 25 (Memories) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 25 - I'm grateful for Memories!! I love looking back through photos, reminiscing with friends or family, or just hearing the stories of experiences of others... I love planning trips that I know will be a fond memory down the road... I love being there when a big event for others occur so I can help make that memory better if at all possible... Memories are treasures that you can't assign any monetary value to, even the bad memories sometimes we learn later to treasure...

With that in mind... What is your favorite Memory??

Day 24 (Nature) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 24: I'm grateful for the beauty of nature and grateful to be able to spend time in it... I'm grateful that I can enjoy it with my husband as well as he hunts for dinner! 

Day 23 (Music) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 23: I'm grateful for music... I'm very eclectic in the styles of music I listen to, everything from Country to HipHop/Alternative to Classical to Techno, however, I'm not just referencing the music that plays on your radio - I'm grateful for that type of music too since it has provided a backdrop to some very special moments in my life and a lot of music has special meaning to me. BUT - I'm also referencing the music that you hear when you step outside on a clear day with the birds singing and the wind whistling through the trees.. I'm referencing the music of life that you hear in a heartbeat or in a newborn babies cry... I'm referencing the sound of friend's and family's voices through the phone - If you think about it, music is nothing but sounds that are pleasing (usually) to the ear... and I'm truly grateful for all the music in my life! 

Day 22 (Dreams) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 22: I'm grateful for dreams...

Dreams in the making... Are on a mission? Are you making conscious choices and living the life you want to live? Are you on your way to dream come true? Be grateful for the path you’re on, the joy it gives you and the hope you’re experiencing.

Dreams coming true... Even better! Make a list of all the dreams you’ve had that you made come true! This list will be the ultimate inspiration list to achieve even more and bigger goals.

I’ll tell you a little secret, except it’s not secret at all: There are no limitations on how you can live your life. EVERYTHING. IS. POSSIBLE. Now, if that’s not something to be grateful for (every day!), then we need to have a serious talk.

Day 21 (Kindness of Strangers) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 21: I'm grateful for the kindness of strangers... it doesn't matter if its a smile as you walk past on the street, an offer of change when you are missing those last few cents for a purchase (so you don't have to break a larger bill or pull out the credit/debit card), letting you merge on the highway when no one else has let you in, person in front of you in a drive-thru that purchases your order, or someone that stops to help with vehicle trouble - the kindness of a stranger refreshes the belief that there are still good people in the world that do something without any gain...

Day 20 (Negative Feelings) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 20: I'm grateful for disappointment, fears, pain and tears... 

• Disappointment – So you know the things that matter to you most
• Fears – So you know your opportunities for growth
• Pain – For you to become a stronger person
• Tears – For helping you express your deepest emotions

Without these 4 feelings you wouldn't understand what a blessing it is to be happy, content or carefree in the moments when those feelings are with you. There are times looking back on my life that I can see where my fears hindered my progress, where pain made me want to stop, and where disappointments seemed to be never ending... but with each time that I overcame the fears, pushed past the pain and overcame the disappointments my life changed in some way, regardless of if it was a small change or big - it was a change and I'm better for that change. I've learned that not everything has a discernible reason behind it, although most does if you look hard enough... and while I hate to cry, I know that when I do that it's real emotion and passion behind it. I know I'll have more of it all to deal with, but I hope that I can continue to learn from the experiences and continue to be a better person for them.

Day 19 (Senses) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 19: I'm grateful for my senses - sense of taste, smell, sight, touch, speech, hearing... can you imagine not having those?? It's so frustrating when I have a cold or allergies and can't smell anything (although I'll be honest and say I'm grateful for that too sometimes!)... but it also affects my taste too - and that really frustrates me since then everything tastes odd or off. 

Day 18 (Books) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 18: I'm grateful for books... Books have always been one of my favorite way to escape the everyday, travel to somewhere that only lives in imagination, in the past, or just too far away... I've learned from them (not just school text books) and they've had some of my treasured friends within the pages... 

Even though I rarely read a paperback book anymore (I love my Kindle Paperwhite), I still own and collect books... I love my books!!!

Price for a Great Weekend

What is the price for a great weekend?? Apparently the price for my weekend is a slight cold - not the kind that makes you feel bad.. maybe just a little run down, a little congestion and throw in a cough with a few sneezes for accent... that's the type of cold I have - I admit it, I'm a little sick! Grr.. But it was worth it..

J wanted to go fishing Saturday morning so he woke me up way too early and I didn't exactly have a good time out on the river, but it was pretty and I did enjoy spending time with him even if I wasn't exactly showing it very well... then Sunday we got up and drove to Westport, WA. I must say that the drive is very pretty and the little town of Westport is very sleepy in the winter time... I could see where it would be hopping during the summer with charter fishing trips and all the touristy beach type things going on! We walked along the boardwalk (very small boardwalk) and checked out the maritime museum... I must say that the museum was pretty cool - it had all types of rocks from the area and whaling information from the past, it even had whale skeletons, but that wasn't the best part of the museum - that honor belongs to the lighthouse lens from Destruction Island Lighthouse that they have available for viewing... btw it's functional and OMG so pretty!! After we finished with the museum, we had lunch at this little cafe down the boardwalk called Bennetts.. amazing lunch, we had the Halibut Combo which was two large pieces of fried halibut, some fried clam strips and fries... Yum!!! We then found our way to the lighthouse and toured it.. I "re-proposed" to J using his watch that I'd just gotten repaired (it was the first anniversary gift I'd given him)... I don't know really what he thought but it took it in stride and we joked and smiled and kissed walking back to the truck. Then it was off to the beach to try our hand at digging clams... which we sucked at... found a lot of pretty sand dollars and had a good time... 

Anyways... all that time in the weather that was a combination of wind, rain and cold sure did a number on my system, but I'll take it for the experience (even the miserable fishing part)!

Day 17 (Weather) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 17: I'm grateful for days of sunshine and rain... for the cold days, the hot and humid days, and even windy days... Every season has a purpose and so must every type of weather...

Not that I always like the weather, I know I dislike that it gets cold specially if it's raining too.. I hate tornadoes and hurricanes for their destruction!! However, I love a beautiful spring day or a summer thunderstorm.. I love to watch the snow and rain... and I love the rainbows that show up when the sun breaks through a rainstorm.. I love that the rain and sun allow the crops, trees, grass and other vegetation to grow.. I love that the cold kills all the nasty bugs..

So yeah.. all the different types of weather have a reason behind them.. regardless of if I like it or not, grateful for it!!

Day 16 (Time) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 16: I'm grateful for time...
Time spent with friends enjoying a dinner, shopping trip or just sitting around a firepit...
Time spent with family just hanging out reminiscing...
Time spent with my husband doing anything... including sitting out in the middle of no where freezing while he fishes...

Time is precious and seems to go by in the blink of an eye, cherish every moment with your loved ones!

Day 15 (Good News) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 15: I'm grateful for good news...

Good news that a procedure went well and is successful, Good news about a decision that someone has struggled with and has worked out well, Good news about a new job or raise, Good news about a trouble in your life that has been resolved, etc... Whatever the good news is, I'm always glad to hear it - it brightens my day when someone I know has heard good news!!

(of course, if I have good news for myself it's just that much better..)

Day 14 (Medicine) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 14: I'm grateful for Modern Medicine and Medical practices (regardless Western or Eastern).. 

Yes, I complain day in and day out about medicine and doctors and everything that has to do with that - but I know that a lot of that is frustration and stress.  Transplant surgeries, knee/hip replacement or repair, internal injuries that once were a death sentence now can be repaired, women who have problems conceiving have options for assistance, cancer treatments, pain management... allergy treatment and OTC treatments for more common ailments... all of these and more are a miracle in some ways and while I might complain I am always so glad for the relief of medication for migraines, allergies or sore throat - hopefully I'll have another reason to be grateful for modern medicine one day, but I think have a lot of reasons already without that... now to just remember that when I see a doctor - LOL

Day 13 (Opportunities) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 13: I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had (and sorta regret not taking the advantages of some of those opportunities to the fullest). I was born and raised in a small town in Texas that allowed me to have a wonderful educational experience for Grade/High School, I know too many that didn't have the 1 on 1 experience with the teachers that I received. That small town also allowed me to grow up being able to do things that are very restricted by fear/worry or government regulation now such as riding bikes/horses all over town and even to the next town over on occasion, playing every sport available, driving daddy's truck around or helping pull/haul trailers/tractors, etc. I've had a college education (even if it was start and stop and took forever)... lived in Hawaii, Maryland (worked in DC) and now in Washington State... I've gotten to hunt exotics even if it was on a fenced ranch in Texas, fish for all sorts of big game fish (Yellow-fin Tuna, Marlin, Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, Salmon, etc)... I've had some pretty awesome opportunities!

Day 12 (Health) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 12: I'm grateful that I have good health (even if I do have issues with hormones, occasional migraines and high blood pressure at doc appts)...
I'm also grateful that overall (relatively) my husband and parents are in good health... I know that there are so many diseases and ailments that plague others and am so glad that the few problems we have are relatively minor in comparison...

Day 11 (Veterans Day) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 11: I'm grateful to those that have stood in defense for me, for our nation... I know that we would not have the things (material, spiritual, etc) that we are allowed to have if it wasn't for these brave men and women who have given their time, service and in many cases life and/or limb in devotion to preserving the freedoms that we are so privileged as Americans to have, Freedoms that we are so often mistreating/abusing and forgetting have been won at a very dear cost by some. I know that today is Veterans day, so the timing of this thanks is intentional, but I also know that every day I live with the reminders of what sacrifices some have made so that I can have the choices that I make daily and every day I am grateful that there are so many of my family and friends that have been spared the sacrifice of their life for those freedoms that I enjoy. 

So today if you do nothing else, buy a cup of coffee for the WWII or Vietnam vet in your neighborhood or even a soldier in uniform going to work... give to a wounded warrior charity... thank a stranger in uniform - They will remember your kindness and know that what they do is not ignored or forgotten!

Day 10 (1st World Conveniences) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 10: I'm grateful to have had a roof over my head, plenty to eat and drink, fresh water to bathe in, abundant clean clothes to wear... and of course electricity to keep the house comfortable and well lit, entertainment such as TV/Cell Phones and other electronics charged, food hot/cooked or cold, water pumped and heated to showers/baths/sinks, etc...

Yes, I know... 1st world problems/conveniences... but we as a society have such a bad tendency to forget that we are lucky to have these things - to have the ability to contact friends/family at any time of day no matter the distance or location, to have the access to the world tucked into your back pocket including ways to keep us entertained... have the comfort of warm clothing when it's cold out, to have the ability to pick and choose what food we want to eat that day whenever we feel like eating. All of these things and so many, many more we use and abuse day in day out expecting it to work, to be available, to never be without... 

Day 9 (Job) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 9: In keeping with the idea from Day 8... I'm grateful that I have a job, and one that I usually enjoy... I'm also grateful that a majority of the companies that I've been employed by have included a supervisor/boss who was understanding that we each have a life outside of the office and sometimes that requires our absence or in some cases just mental absences... 

Day 8 (Co-Workers) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 8: I'm grateful for the co-workers I've had (and currently have)... most of which became friends along the way, but still - I've had some pretty amazing co-workers!!! 

You spend 40+ hours a week, 52 weeks a year with these individuals and Co-workers become your family away from home to some extent... so how could I not be grateful for these people - they can make your day or they can make it horrible, and that means that my attitude can affect their day as well... and it helps keeping in mind that I wouldn't have a job if they didn't have theirs!!

Day 7 (Pets/Animals) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 7: Trivial as this seems, I'm grateful for all the pets/animals I have had/still have... My horses, my dogs, cats, pigs, sheep, goats, calves, chinchilla, rabbits... chickens (and the one snake) not so much, but I guess that there is something I'm missing in the depths of my memory even for them... And although I could go on ad-nauseam, I'll just focus on the two that have brought me the most pleasure...
My dogs... loyal and 100% unconditional love... or at least for all the ones I've had the pleasure of having as pets. They've protected me, comforted me and provided endless amusement... always eager for a new adventure, always ready to welcome me no matter how long I've been gone... they are what I believe we all want from everyone around us...
Horses are obvious to those that knew me growing up... I was always riding here and there and everywhere, they were a huge part of my life and I wish that they still were... riding is something that is hard to take for granted since there is something utterly poetic about the movements and grace of the horse, and for something so beautiful to allow itself to be tamed/trained enough to be ridden is a wonderful experience even without the competition aspect that was commonly thrown in - everything from barrels and poles to roping and cutting to dressage and jumping competition was attempted, but my favorite thing was always finding a long stretch of even ground and just letting go... wind rushing by, the feel of the muscles bunching and releasing beneath you, knowing at any time that this animal could decide to veer or buck or just not stop when asked (or stop before being asked)... btw greatest work out in the world too! HAHA

Day 6 (Friends) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 6: I'm grateful for the friends (some are more family than just friends) I've made throughout the years... some more than others but you've all made an impact and continue to do so still. You've taught me to moderate my perception of everything from friendships/relationships to skills and habits to what actually is success... I've been humbled by my school companions - your opinions and actions, your recollection of years past... these have shown me that nothing is as it seemed, shows what was important and memory only blurs what remains. I've been taught to go beyond what comfort zones I have by friends I've made moving around the country... I've learned that not everyone can be trusted with everything, while others I know I could trust with my life and that each of those types of friendships provide different aspects but both are needed in some way... And while I miss the friends (and in some cases lose touch) I leave behind when the military says "Move", the memories that I've made stay with me...

Day 5 (Family) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 5: I'm grateful for Family - my nieces and nephew, aunts and uncles, cousins, even "family" that isn't blood... each and every one of you have in some way shaped the way I view the world - with such a large family, and being so close-knit (mostly) with so many it's hard to imagine anything different... and that opened a door to places I've never been or experiences I've never lived through - you each have shared through stories or more recently FB posts allowing me to see things from your prospective... You each are amazing/unique individuals and I wish I could give you each a day, but I'd be writing for months :) plus ultimately I know I'd leave someone out, just too many!!
Sadly, I've lost some recently just as I was really getting to know them - I hope that they knew that I loved them and was grateful for the time I was able to have with them... Others I have begun to see and appreciate in a way as an adult that I would never have understood as a child, I will always try to do my best to make sure that they know that they are appreciated and loved as treasured members of my family - Even from halfway across the country!! Love you all!

Day 4 (Grandmothers) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 4: I'm grateful for the time I did have with my Grandmothers... (even my "adopted" grandmother, Mom-Mom) - If there was ever something that I wished I could go back in time for, it would be to relive the times with each one of these amazing and strong women. I would listen closer to the guidance they offered, memorize/record the stories they told of their lives, and show them every day that they were loved fiercely... just thinking of each of these dear women brings both a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. They were gifts that I too often took for granted...

Day 3 (Sister) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 3: I'm grateful for my sister... even though she annoys me to no end (I think that has to be a universal rule somewhere) and I know for a fact that I frustrate and annoy her... however, she has a beautiful soul/heart when she chooses to let it out, and has good intentions regardless of how she executes the plans she has and to what end result. She's carefree and careless to a large degree but that has made her fun as often as it has been otherwise, and although she does get turned around backwards she always finds the right answer eventually. She's offered friendship and support, forgiveness and love throughout my entire life... and although I'm more than sure that we have different ideas of how each of us were raised and how our parents treated us - we at least have that bond of being the children of Nancy and Albert Lindsey... I love her unconditionally even when she doesn't believe it and I will always do what I can to support her even when she thinks I'm not...

I love you sis... always have and always will..

Day 2 (Husband) - 30 Days of Thanks

Day 2: I'm grateful for my husband - through ups and downs, through 4 military moves, through times of grief and happiness/success... he's been the one standing beside me for 10+ years! As difficult as I've occasionally made life for him, and vise versa, I wouldn't trade a minute of it... I'm proud of his accomplishments and he's been proud of mine, we've have our fights and made up, struggled through the grief of loss for family members and pregnancies yet we've survived, been separated due to deployments/training schedules and been blissfully aware that it's our good fortune it hasn't occurred more frequently, worked through financial issues and came out on top, stressed over family visits but managed to survive those as well... Honestly looking back, I sometimes wonder how it was that we've made it to this point and remained married, nevermind remaining best friends (usually - LOL)! I know that if it wasn't for his honor, integrity, morals and love for me that things would not be what they are...

Day 1 (Parents) - 30 Days of Thanks

This November... Give thanks for something or someone in your life that you maybe forget about or take for granted every day - whether it's family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, the mailman, your home/vehicle, pets, electricity and hot showers, etc... I could go on and on... I know that this challenge goes around every year at this time, but we all could use a reminder to be grateful for what we have and the lives that we live...

Day 1: I'm grateful to my parents - without their love, guidance and support growing up (and still to this day) I can honestly say I wouldn't have the understanding of life, humanity, faith, or myself that I can currently claim. They've taught me more by being themselves, sharing their struggles and triumphs, than any book or classroom setting combined. Love you both...