A Month of Being Thankful "N" is for Nature

Nature, pure unadulterated nature, it clears my mind, frees my spirit and grounds me. Our family loves to be out in it, breath it in and enjoy it's smells and colors. Though I love nature and need it, I find it's something that I take for granted during the business of the week when I rushing from here to there racing the ever present clock.

These days with work and other responsibilities I find that I'm getting out in nature less than my body needs and I can feel it in my soul. My goal for myself for the rest of this year and next, to start building a pattern, is to get out in it again, revel in it, soak it up, get dirty, feed my spirit and feel it in my core. I feel so blessed to live in San Diego, a 10 minute run to the beach and a 1 hour drive to the mountains, it's time to get out and get going.

A Month of Being Thankful "M" is for Mia

There isn't a day or even a minute that goes by that I'm not thankful for having been blessed with Mia. Mia is the embodiment of love, joy, kindness, curiosity, adventure, and energy all rolled up into one exuberant little girl who has a verve for life like no other. She is a tom boy one day digging in the mud and a very girlie girl the next dressed in one of her many princess dresses. She is always asking questions and desires to know and learn all she can. Mia is a great big sister that thrives in teaching Wyatt how to do something. Mia is just Mia and we love her so much.

Now, don't get me wrong, we have our rough moments for sure, times when she hears you but doesn't move a muscle, times when she's just not going to budge when all you really want is an inch but the sweet moments wash all bad ones aside like a wave washes the beach clean everyday. There were footprints or anger there one moment and with one wave of water or emotion, they are gone and the moment is new again.

Mia is amazing in every sense of the word and Cary and I can't really remember life in such bright color before August 1, 2005.

I love you Mia!!

A Month of Being Thankful "L" is for Lollypop

There is just something magical about a lollypop. They are sweet, they last forever and they usually appear after you do something good. Wyatt and Mia love lollypops. The mere mention of one will make the books that have been pulled off the shelf get put back almost as quickly as they were pulled down. Wyatt got this cherry lollypop after being a champ getting his haircut.

Have you had a lollypop lately? If not, what are you waiting for?

Yummmmmmmm.

A Month of Being Thankful "K" is for Kindness

Nothing makes our home warmer than when our two darlings show kindness towards one another. It's pure, it's sweet and it melts my heart. Kids are honest and you know just where you stand with them every minute of the day. When Mia and Wyatt are being kind toward one another, towards their friends and to Cary and me, I have to pause and soak it up...it's those moments that remind me how truly blessed I am be able to share my life with them. The moments of true kindness make the rough moments that much more tolerable and remind me what kind of an example I need to be to them not just when I feel like being kind, but all the time.

A Month of Being Thankful "J" is for Jumping for Joy

My friend Melissa came to visit and we were being goofy (what's new?). Cary was taking pictures of us on one of her last days here and he said to do something fun...and we both jumped. Unplanned...natural. Jumping is a release of a lot of energy and it just feels good. Hard to explain why, but try it, it does. Everyday when I'm watching the kids be, well, kids, they are almost always running and jumping....it's a natural expression of joy. Jumping is how our bodies says "yes!!".

We should all be kids again, at least once in a while, and try it jumping.

A Month of Being Thankful "I" is for I Love You

"I love you" are 3 little words that make me smile. Last week Cary was away for a night on business and as I got into to bed after a long day I pulled the covers back to find an "I love you" note...unexpected. Oh I was so happy. What a perfect way to end my day.

I love when my kids say I love you...my heart melts....instantly. I can remember the 1st time I heard those 3 little words from each of them...so sweet and so pure.

Cary, Mia and Wyatt....I love you!!

A Month of Being Thankful "H" is for Health

When it comes to my health I find I take it for granted until the second I don't have it. When I'm healthy, which thankfully is most of the time, it's not top of mind. But, the second my throat starts to tickle or I get an ache somewhere it's all I can think about.

Now, when it comes to my kids, it's a completely different story. For Mia and Wyatt, I think of their health night and day, getting them their vaccines on time (when I heard the medical office had the H1N1 vaccine in stock I dropped everything and took them, sooooo thankful for that), taking them to their well-checks like clockwork, and when there is a child with a runny nose in the room I have to admit I do keep them a bit closer to me. We are so lucky in the US to have such a great healthcare system I am reminded of that very often because as a Mom of 2 young kiddos I unfortunately visit the doctor more than I care to admit.

I need to make a conscious effort to be thankful for my health daily. I'll start today!