Texas Lou

Good morning! I lent “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown to a friend a long time ago and she returned it this weekend. Seeing the book reminded me how great it was and that I needed a refresher in embracing my own human imperfection and vulnerability and that one way to do that is through practicing gratitude. So here are a few things I’m grateful for today:

1. I’m grateful that my mom is finally retired and enjoying her retirement so much. It makes me so happy that she gets to spend time with her brothers and grandchildren and grand niece and nephews and that she enjoys working in the garden and spends lots of time at her happy place. She deserves it after her many years of hard work.
2. I’m thankful my nephew is feeling better after being sick for a few days.
3. I’m thankful my uncle is feeling better after being sick for a few weeks.
4. I’m so grateful for a nice dinner and kid-free evening with my husband. It is rare but becoming obvious that it is necessary to maintain a healthy relationship.
5. I’m thankful for many normal things returning like field trips, and I’m extra thankful for a beautiful day at Carter Mountain with Ben, Auggie, and his classmates, their parents, and their teacher.

Have a wonderful day and remember with me that to be human is to be imperfect but if we focus on what we have and what is wonderful in our lives, the focus on imperfection is less likely to guide us.

It’s been a while since I’ve written but I am still finding ways to practice gratitude in my everyday life. Most evenings at dinner, I ask every one at the dinner table what they are grateful for that day. Here’s what I’m grateful for today:

1. I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow and be challenged in a whole new way that I never even knew I was interested in.
2. I’m thankful for good, close friends who don’t judge and love you the way you are.
3. I’m grateful for parents who are wise and always willing and able to share their advice and knowledge with me.
4. I’m thankful that my kids are all healthy.
5. I’m grateful for wonderful coworkers and getting to work with people I love!

Have a wonderful day!

Happy spring and thankful Thursday!

1. I am thankful for my company, amazing coworkers who feel like family, awesome managers, and the opportunity to take on new challenges recently. I truly love my job and consider myself so lucky to have landed a job where I did.
2. I am thankful for the few very close people I have in my life. They help me get through a lot of life that is just plain hard and I’m grateful for their help, love, and support.
3. I am grateful for growth and change. I work very hard to grow as a person every day and I’m thankful for the people who have helped me along the way.
4. I’m thankful for bright things ahead. After a long, sad, hard year, I am thankful for all of the many celebrations we have to look forward to.
5. I’m grateful for life. I found out today that an acquaintance died and it made me dig deeper for gratitude for my life and the lives of my family and our health.

Happy day friends!

Hi friends! I’ve got a lot to be thankful for today!

1. I’m grateful that a good friend has found happiness with a wonderful partner and is getting married!
2. I’m thankful all of my family in Texas has power back and temperatures are back to normal after last week’s blackouts and frigid weather.
3. I’m grateful for this sunny warmer weather we are having!
4. I’m thankful we are almost done with winter and on our way to spring!
5. I’m thankful my boys were playing nicely this morning.

Have a wonderful day!

Good morning! Here are just a few things I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful we didn’t lose power during the the winter storm.
2. I’m thankful we got enough snow for my kids to enjoy and play in but not too much to be overwhelming.
3. I’m grateful that we have a nice house to stay warm in during winter weather and plenty of backup heating options just in case.
4. I’m thankful for the happiness of a couple of good friends who have recently had some really good things happen in their lives.
5. I’m thankful for my health.

Have a wonderful week!

Good morning and happy Friday! Today I am thankful for the following:

1. I am so very thankful for the agile training we have been going through at work and for my job for investing in us to learn something new. We are going to do amazing things with this new way of working and I’m so excited to be a part of it!
2. I am so thankful for new traditions with my family. For a few months now, we have been having movie night at home with our boys. It involves the whole family eating popcorn and a special treat while watching a new movie together on Friday evenings. We’ve all grown to love and look forward to it!
3. I am so grateful for *hopefully* finding a great babysitter who lives nearby and can help us out this summer!
4. I am thankful for sunshine on cold days.
5. I’m thankful for my family who were sick with Covid feeling better and my uncle getting good news about his health recently.

Have a wonderful weekend!

1. Today I am thankful that Ben has off work so he can help with the kids while they are off of school and I have to work.
2. I am thankful that some friends and family who had Covid have recovered and are feeling better.
3. I am thankful for a clean bill have of health from my Endocrinologist.
4. I’m grateful for the training my work provides me.
5. I am grateful that people are beginning to get vaccinated and hopefully there is a return to normal in our foreseeable future.

Have a wonderful day!

Hi friends! Today, I’m thankful for the following:

1. I’m thankful that my husband works so hard to fix things around the house. He saves us so much money and it helps not having to wait for repairs. He’s fixed our disintegrated kitchen sink pipes, kitchen sink drain, car battery, surge protector, dishwasher, and various other things over the past few months and I’m so grateful!
2. I’m thankful that vaccines are starting to become available so we can get to the end of this pandemic!
3. I’m grateful for a loyal and loving family!
4. I’m thankful for my boys’ school and amazing teachers and that they’ve been able to remain open during the pandemic.
5. I’m thankful that I’ve been able to help friends and family suffering from Covid since my family and I already had it and recovered.

Wishing you all a wonderful day!

Happy New Year Friends! I really have so much to be thankful for lately!

1. I am sooooo very thankful that we got to spend a long 2 weeks with my mom and extended family for Christmas! We had the most wonderful time and I’ll always remember this trip!
2. I’m grateful that some of my family members who were very sick in the hospital with Covid are all home now and seem to be doing better.
3. I’m grateful for a safe trip to and from Texas. We drove for the first time and I’m glad we made it safely without any incidents. I’m also thankful for my husband who quickly and gracefully handled the minor car trouble we had on the way home as well as for the Honda service center, especially their employee, Carlos, who were able to quickly get our car checked out and ensure it was safe to continue driving (all with a fun kids waiting area too)!
4. I’m thankful for my boys’ school and that they are able to continue to attend in person and learn with their friends and teachers.
5. I’m thankful for the vaccines for Covid that are now becoming available and for all the people who have put their hard work, time, and expertise into developing and testing them.
6. I’m grateful that Ben, the boys, and I already had Covid and recovered without any issues. It is because of that, that we have been able to have some sense of normal back in our lives including getting to visit my family and meet my new nephew, traveling for Christmas and getting to see family we have missed so much, and having less interruptions or worry when it comes to school and protentional exposures.
7. I am thankful for hope for the future. I am very hopeful that this spring and summer, most of us can hopefully try to get back to somewhat of a normal life.
8. I’m grateful for my husband for agreeing to drive to Texas with 3 young children with me. He surely knows the way to my heart.
9. I’m thankful for my best friend Lindsey who checked on our house and kitties while we were gone and has never judged me or been scared to be around me throughout the Covid crisis. I may not have made it through the past few months as gracefully without her!
10. Lastly, I am grateful for life and love. I love life and I love all the people in my life whether I see them every day or once a year. I’m so blessed to know so many wonderful and kind people.

Sending wishes of love, happiness, and health to you all!

Although I haven’t been keeping up with these posts regularly, I do practice gratitude and gratitude journaling daily and have even incorporated it into my parenting so I can teach my boys the value of it. I am extra thankful that I started writing these posts several years ago because it was one of the first things that introduced me to how being grateful can help me live a happier life.

Here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful for having tomorrow and Friday off of work to spend with my family for Thanksgiving.
2. I’m thankful for fun plans over the long holiday weekend with family and friends.
3. I’m thankful that our internet seems to be back up and running smoothly.
4. I’m grateful for my husband who does so much to help our family and save us money. He seems to have become a very talented Mr. Fix-it over the past few years.
5. I’m thankful for my family’s health.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Remember what it truly is all about!