Daily: Reflect on 5 things for which I'm grateful.

1. I am grateful for communication, and the efforts that are being made to salvage what’s left of my sanity.

2. I am grateful for a hubby who’s at least willing to try to fix our marriage. I am further grateful for the calm after the (emotional) storm, and the (one and only) fish that he caught when we went on a mini-trip to step outside of our situation and have that open-and-honest talk that we so desperately needed.

3. I am grateful for my children, especially my son, whom I refuse to allow to internalize his mother’s pain. I am further grateful for my daughter, who’s on Artsonia.com, and had some of her artwork on exhibit at the cultural center here in town. Man, do those kids have talent!

4. I am grateful for my dogs, especially Ace, who’s barely left my side all weekend.

5. I am grateful for the beautiful Georgia countrysides. It had been a while since we had taken one of those long drives. We took one on Sunday, not saying much,just appreciating God’s artistry.

1. I am grateful that today is a new day. I woke up this morning feeling just a little bit stronger than I did yesterday morning. I also have this feeling that whatever happens, life for me is going to be much different than it has been, and for some reason, I look forawrd to it.

2. I am grateful that my children are happy and healthy this morning. I’m even grateful that Tony (he doesn’t feel like my “hubby” right now) is feeling better,although I really could use $50,000.00 right now. At least that would make him good for SOMETHING. I know that’s mean, but I dont want to be nice right now.

3. I am grateful for the morning solitude. I am grateful for time to actively and reflectively THINK to analyze ME,how I’ve changed, and further, how I don’t really like the person I had started to become.

4. I am grateful for friends that can make me laugh when I want to cry, but will cry with me if I just can’t help it; then turn around and help me plot revenge, making me ultimately laugh again.

5. I am grateful for music, in particularly the untitled track “This to shall pass” by India.Arie.

1. I am grateful for the emergence of ME, who apparently intends to manifest in the fullest degree, despite whomever may have any issues with it.

2. I am grateful for my mother, who promises to provide a much needed retreat which will allow me to backpedal for a while.

3. I am grateful for my boss, who, regardless of how much I scream and yell, sits there and looks at me as if I’ve got two heads until I calm down. Then reminds me that all of the “eight balls [i’m] juggling are made of rubber and will bounce back when or if I drop one of them.

4. I am grateful for the ability to recognize the need for a change, and further grateful for that strength, courage and wisdom, to properly execute it. In other words, the serenity prayer.

5. I am grateful for music, and its universal ability to make anyone (or at least me!) feel better at any time.

1. I am grateful for a potential new opportunity that may open some doors and end this “end of my rope” feeling that I have been feeling lately. I am further grateful for my hubby for understanding that I’ve GOT to do something different, as I am hoping for a different result.

2. I am grateful for my Hubby’s gracious acceptance of my inference that he must learn how to cook and ease some of the burden I’ve been feeling lately. Even if he doesn’t actually do it, at least saying it makes me feel a LITTLE bit better this morning.

3. I am grateful for the sense of accomplishment that goes hand in hand with moving my firm into the 20th (yes, 20th) century! Gotta take baby steps here!

4. I am grateful to have something to look forward to, i.e., my daughter’s school carnival.

5. I am grateful for my hubby’s being soooooo transparent, and his CLEAR intentions to stick around a while, AND to keep me around for a little while longer!

1. I am grateful this morning for what feels like a new beginning. For the first time in a long time, I can appreciate that today is Monday, and the beginning of a new work week.

2. I am grateful for my husband, who loves me enough to cater to my tantrums, and further, loves me enough to understand (or at least pretend to understand) some of my frustrations. I am further grateful for his twisted sense of humor that causes him to sometimes go overboard, making sure that my “complaints” and “issues” are properly addressed. Silly Hubby.

3. I am grateful that each of my kids woke up this morning with the wherewithall to “get up and go”, leaving me a little bit of extra “me time” this morning.

4. I am grateful for the impromptu “family movie night” that we had last night. I am further grateful that my chicken (new recipe) was a hit.

5. I am grateful that my workday is almost over, even though my first cup of coffe is now cold and I just sat down for the first time, to eat at my desk and prepare for a 1:30 and then a 2:30 meeting. Gotta love keeping busy, though!

BONUS: I am grateful for my mommy, who sends “care packages” for me and the kids, although this one was solely for the kids, consisting of TWO WHOLE BOXES of fruit cups, chips, cookies, cracker, and snack cakes…..WHO DOES THAT???? My mother…gotta love her! LOL

1. I am grateful for hubby, and the fact that he’s looking forward to tomorrow almost as much as I am. Only, if I told anyone how romantic he REALLY is, he’s freak so keep it a secret, shhhh…

2. I am grateful for this general feeling of contentment I have, and the level of “okayness” that I feel with my home, work, and social life…maybe its the running, or the wine, or the combination of the two….

3. I am grateful for my boss, and the team that we make.

4. I am grateful that my kids are happy, especially my daughter, who actually wore a dress to school today! Okay, so it was denim, but she still wore it!

5. I am grateful for Thelma and Louise, two puppies from Ace, that were dropped off on my porch. Now to find them homes.

It’s been a while since I sat down at my home computer! I usually don’t do these on the weekends, but I’ve got a lot of time to make up for on 43things, so here goes…

1. I am grateful for some Sunday Solitude. Hubby’s out doing the “guy thing” under the hood of a new but really old car (1974 oldsmobile) he just got, and I am appreciating the groove of comfort our relationship has slipped into.

2. I am grateful for some shopping yesterday. I bought some really cute white boots, and I can’t wait to wear them.

3. I am grateful for my hubby, and the things he does to take care of me. The other night, I was bawled up with REALLY bad cramps, and he pulled out my Valentine’s Day present, which is one of those bath spa mats, that I had said I wanted, and he filled me a hot bath, and I soaked for about 1/2 an hour, both enjoying the hot water, and the fact that my hubby got me what I wanted for Valentine’s day, even if it WAS a bit early.

4. I am grateful for the fact that I am feeling better. I was in a LOT OF PAIN!

5. I am grateful that my hubby’s a “car guy” with “car guy” friends, and that they made my car their “project” this morning, checking the timing, and fixing the brakes, and making sure it’s “healthy” I am further grateful for the fact that my hubby re-wired the speaker I blew, and put new accessories in my car, and washed & waxed it. It’s all shiny and pretty now.

1. I am grateful for my hubby, who continues to love me, in spite of my many “mini” temper tantrums. He’s finally figured out a way to “stop me in my tracks” so to speak, when I feel one coming on.

2. I am grateful for the power of prayer, and devotions that remind me of what’s really important in this lifetime.

3. I am grateful, this morning, for coffee, and for Southern Butter Pecan flavored creamer.

4. I am grateful for these wonderfully misguided folks who keep trying to convince me that I don’t need to lose any weight.

5. I am grateful for the sound of music, literally; especially jazz.

I haven’t done this in a while, so it’ll be hard to stop at 5 this time….

1. I am grateful that my Grandfather survived his stroke, and is out of ICU. I am further grateful that my mother’s work is flexible enough that they could get to New Jersey to “sit there” for his surgeries and ensuing initial recovery. I am further grateful for my partent’s safe trip(s).

2. I am grateful for my husband, for soooo many different reasons, the main one being his “drop everything” support of whatever I feel is necessary, and his having my back in the world. I am also grateful for the fact that, on several occasions these past couple of weeks, as I walk in the door, the first thing he says to me is “don’t cook”, giving me some much needed downtime.

3. I am grateful for my job and my boss; and the stability of it all. I am further grateful that today, for the first time in a few weeks, I can breathe a little easier.

4. I am grateful that my kids are all happy and healthy, and our family’s “togetherness” is readily evident.

5. I am grateful for jazz music, reading, seafood, wine, bubble baths, and all of the simple pleasures that make it possible to have something to look forward to in the middle of a rough day.

1. I am grateful this morning, for my hubby, even with his warped sense of humor!

2. I am grateful this morning for 1/2 a night’s sleep, as hubby and I stayed up late watching “First 48” and thanking God we moved out of Miami.

3. I am grateful for finding a little bit of balance this morning, in that I spent a little bit of extra time with hubby instead of jumping in front of the TV to work out. I could see he appreciated the extra attention this morning.

4. I am grateful for extra time this morning to reflect on what’s important to me.

5. I am grateful for coffee and cinnamon rasin bagels!