Day 4: Quiet Time

Quiet: (adjective) To make no noise or sound.
(verb) To make tranqil or peaceful, pacify.

What a treat I had today to get to have some quiet time. It was one of those moments where there was too little time to do something and too much time before having to be at your destination. I had one of those moments today and it happened after lunch and before having to pick up the kids from school. I had about 40 minutes to spare so I decided to just park in the parking lot and read my book. It was a beautiful day outside with a nice cool breeze and a warm sun. I rolled my windows down and opened my book. Even though I was enveloped in my reading, looking back on my day I have to appreciate the fact that there are such rare moments in time where people take time out for themselves. It's amazing what a little quiet time can do for your mental sanity!

Some people take quiet time every day to pray. I admit that I try to be one of those people, but once that alarm clock rings I am up and away! Evenings are also good for quiet time, but I can't seem to quiet my head to even have quality quiet time. So today I am thankful that I got to have some quiet time. It was refreshing and I think I need to start making time for it everyday!

"We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly... spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order."
-Susan Taylor-

Day 3: HOPE!

Hope: (noun) The feeling that what is wanted can be had or the events will turn out for the best.
(verb) To look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence.

Today I am thankful for hope. Truthfully, I have had a lot on my mind and I am HOPEFUL that everything will turn out just fine. I have a long list of things that need to get done and I have been quite stressed about doing them. Just getting the dishes done stresses me out because they've been stacked up from being so busy! So why am I at the computer?? Hee, hee!

Everything will get done. I am positive. It will be done right and it will be done on time! Hope gives me the extra nudge to get started because I know that the end result will be fantastic. Hope puts a positive spin on the things that need to get done, even though I dread doing them. Hope also puts to rest bad feelings and negative thoughts. Hope means that the world isn't going to end!

On that note, it's time to knock out a few things on my To Do List...

"There's always hope... When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope."
-Henri from the book I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore-

Day 2: Family

Family: (noun) A basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group; whether dwelling together or not.

Today I am thankful for my family. Specifically, my mom, my dad (rest in peace), my 2 sisters, my husband and my 2 kids. Sure you could throw in the in-laws, cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. But today I am thankful for what I consider my "immediate" family. Without my family, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I have been blessed with a wonderful childhood, a loving husband and children of my own.

My parents are my foundation. They raised me in a strict atmosphere, but made exceptions when I deserved it. Being as strict as they were gave me the self control I would need growing up and the confidence to get though the tough times. My dad taught me about working hard and my mom taught me about faith. Together, they taught me to be an optimistic person.

My own sisters are my anchors. I love that even though we all live far away from each other, we still manage to keep up with the daily ins and outs. It's amazing what social media, text messages and email can do!

My husband, who I have known since high school is my daily reminder of thanks. We are a team and best friends. He loves me completely and that's all I can ask for...

My kids... What to say about my kids! I am so thankful for them because without them I don't know where I would be. They are my reason for waking up in the morning and my excuse to watch cartoons. They remind me to forgive and to be patient. I want to raise my children to be good and honest people and in order for that to happen, I have to be a good and honest person too.

Where would we be without our families? There will always be tough times, but somehow we get through them with the help from our family.


"Family is just accident... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be family, they just are."
-Marsha Norman-

November is the Beginning of the Holiday Shuffle!

I'm not exactly sure if I'm ready, but I suppose since time doesn't stop for anyone I'd better just hang on and enjoy the ride. It's November and that means that time will be moving at an accelerated pace until maybe March!

October was a wonderful month! Lily's birthday, Halloween festivities and cooler weather brought with it somewhat of a slower, more laid back approach to life. Although it seemed that way for about a week! Honestly, I'm not sure what I'd do without always having something to do. As a stay at home mom (always), fitness instructor (partially), novice crafter (almost entirely) and wannabe Super Hero (overall) time is never on your side. I think as long as you're having fun with what you're doing, even if it entails just a little bit of stress, it's always worth doing!

Everything I do is for these crazy kids... I wouldn't change a thing about it!

So I suppose in honor of the lovely month of November, everyday I will post something I am thankful for. This small but significant task to do everyday will keep me focused on the good things in life. Much like prayer, I think that if we can think of just one little tiny thing to be thankful for we can learn to be more compassionate, patient and most importantly, happy.

So this being the first of November, what I am thankful for today is life. The miracle of it and the path of it. How should we live our lives? How do we affect other people's lives? In the daily commotion of it, how do we make life worth living? Food for thought...


"It isn't what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful. It's what you have in your heart."
-Anonymous-