Gratitude

12:33 PM

I have a lot of catching up to do in regards to blogging, but I find myself not wanting to talk about Thanksgiving, Christmas or the fact that we moved.  

When I was a beehive I had a sweet teacher, Sister Quimby.  I thought she was inspiring.  She came every week prepared with a thoughtful lesson and gave each of us girls a beautiful journal that was our very own.  At the end of each lesson we would write in them.

  They were our gratitude journals.  

We could really write whatever we wanted, but we had to at least write 5 things we were grateful for that week.  I still have that journal.  And I blame Sister Quimby for my addiction to buying beautiful journals, even when the one I am currently writing in isn't even full.  I have journals all over the house.  And actually I have 4 on my nightstand.  Two of which are still empty.  

I have a problem, I know.

But lately I've had a grey cloud over my head.  Nothing major, just feeling a little blue.  So I guess it is more of a blue cloud...anyway...it is probably because I am not running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the first time in a long time.  I really don't know how to relax.  So I find myself contemplating many things with my free time and gratitude was one of them.  Here is what I've been thinking of lately:


I don't have a dishwasher in our new place.  I know...I have granite countertops but no dishwasher?!  But I am grateful I have two able hands that can stand the heat of the scalding water and wash the beautiful dishes Ryan and I have accumulated over the course of our marriage.

I have been doing laundry for weeks trying to wash all of the towels, blankets and quilts that we wrapped our life in to move.  It is a daunting task, but I was thinking how lucky we were to have things to keep us warm and that I have a washer and dryer in our place to keep us clean and our clothes dry.

Ryan and I have been doing and re-doing our budget to see where we stand financially.  After careful calculations we still aren't where we would like to be.  (Is anyone in this economy?!)  I am still waiting for the money tree to grow in our backyard because I'm pretty sure that is what is suppose to grow after we get out of college and get a real job right?!  But since there is no money tree, I am learning to be a penny pincher and have been trying so hard lately so save money, i.e. not step foot in Target, and yet I feel our financial goals are still miles ahead.  Yet every night we eat delicious food, enjoy dates that are cheap but emotionally fulfilling and have yet to want for anything.

I live half a block away from the beach.  Enough said.

We watched Downton Abbey and ate dinner last night with my parents.  Saturday we went to dinner with Ryan's parents and watched a movie.  We can do this any time we want.  Knowing we are so close to our parents is a huge blessing and always makes me very happy to think about.

I have been avoiding hanging pictures and decorating our place out of sheer laziness.  But when I look at the pictures and things friends have given us I don't see more "crap" or one more thing to dust/hang, I see friends, family and all of the people we cherish and it makes me feel loved and so grateful for the time we have spent with them.

Instead of paying our mechanic $800 to fix my car, Ryan bought the part online for hundreds cheaper and had him install the part we bought.  Saved us tons of money and I was never more proud or grateful for a patient and cheap man.


These are just a few of my thoughts today when my hands were in the dirty dishwater and I had to get these thoughts down somewhere before they slipped my mind and I was ungrateful again.  You know that quote, "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?".  Well, I didn't want God, or anyone else to forget that I am grateful.  I'm grateful for every aspect of my life and wouldn't change a thing.

Though the Florida sun is shining outside, it is the sunshine in my soul I am feeling today.



Practicing Being Better

6:14 AM


With every new year comes New Year’s resolutions.  I always love this time of year.  It’s nice to feel as though you have had a fresh start, a new beginning every once and a while, and this time of the year provides just that.  No matter how crappy your last year was, most people are excited and look forward to the new year for bigger and better things for themselves. 

I am no exception to this generality. 

Thinking about my resolutions though, I feel as though I want to hang myself I have a lot of things to work on.  I want to be better, but somehow I slip back into my old ways and I’m back at square one making the same resolutions I have been for the last 5 years. 

So what makes me think I can change now? 

Most people, when they write their resolutions, want to change.  Why would they go to all this trouble to think about them if they weren’t going to do it, right?!  Well, I know I have every intention of trying to keep my resolutions right NOW, but tonight when I want to watch an episode of Castle instead of studying my scriptures, we will see how badly I want to change. 

I think we all have good intentions, but it is a challenge to change our ways and be better.  It is a process and one that takes time and patience.  I have decided to give myself a break and be realistic about by resolutions.  I know I won't be perfect at all of them, but instead I will practice them.  Try to practice everyday at one or a few of them and not be so hard on myself about whether or not I have perfected them by next December.   

Below is my list of resolutions and I am keeping them where I can see them everyday.  My planner, my car, sticky notes on my computer…anywhere I am frequenting I will place friendly reminders of my good intentions.   And when I forget or am slacking, as I inevitably will, I will try to be better and just keep going.  Practice makes perfect and I will be practicing my resolutions all year long.

Here goes… 

    1.  Really study and ponder the scriptures.  Not just read them.  Set aside time to study and not make excuses.  

   2. Simplify, de-clutter and organize our lives.

    3. Read more good and wholesome books.  Not LDS romance books.  Those are fine and good, but I want to read more medical books and especially start reading the biographies of the prophets of the church.  Things that will inspire, uplift and challenge me.

    4. Be present.  I don’t want to be in the moment and be thinking of the 17 other things I have to do today.  I want to enjoy what is happening as it happens!

    5. Start dancing again.  Ballet especially.  That is my passion and I have put it off for too long.

    6. Make more memories.  Instead of watching a movie with friends or family I want to play games, eat yummy dinners and do things outside of the box.  I have so many more memories of friends when we are doing something, not just glued in front of the TV.  An occasional movie or show is of course welcome, I just want to mix it up a little more.

    7. Put my phone/laptop/kindle away when I am around anything with more than 3 brain cells.

    8. Try more things that scare me.  I don’t mean bungee jumping or climbing a mountain, I mean things I know I should do, but instead I choose to stay home because that is the safe option.  Like going alone to that new gym class even though I am sure I will make a fool of myself, sing in front of people, or finally go back to school.  Things I know I should do for myself, but I am just too scared.

    9. Continue to challenge myself in the kitchen.  I love to cook and I want to try new things and perfect my craft.

    10.  Learn how to sew.   And by sew, I mean learn how to work a sewing machine.  I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I have every intention of sewing drapes, pillows and maybe even a skirt or two.  I never took Home Economics in high school so I’m sure I am going to loose a finger this will be challenging.

    11. Save money.  That means less impulse buys and more penny pinching.

    12. Be a more attentive, kind and loving wife.  Ryan deserves that…everyone knows it J



Feeling pumped and excited for the new year and ready to practice being a better, well-rounded woman.  Bring it 2013.

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