Technology

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #10

Jan. 19th - I am thankful for all of the wonderful TECHNOLOGY that I can choose to use or not each and every day. What did we do before computers, cell phones, tablets, video games, copy machines, etc? Big picture, they really do make our daily life easier, more efficient and for the most part, more enjoyable. Yes, there are downsides to all of this techy dependency/bliss but I have to believe that the benefits we enjoy far outweigh the negatives. Balance is the key but not always achieved, even for me!I truly enjoy waking up each morning, coffee in hand, perusing the web, checking my e-mail, and my new fav, pinning on Pinterest. Have you checked out this site yet? If not, you must! It is fun, interesting, and inspiring. In fact, maybe you will become a little addicted like me. The best part of Pinterest is discovering all of these wonderful blogs and other places on the internet that you would not easily stumble upon. From yummy foods to raising kids to DIY crafts to inspiring words and beautiful pictures, it's pretty amazing all of the "pinning" you will do and great ideas you will discover!!

For example, today...I'm here, in Maldives sipping a pretty drink and enjoying the spectacular view from my own amazing villa...okay, not really, but because of technology I can picture myself here and that's good enough for me!! It's pinned on my Travel Destination board at Pinterest. Maybe someday, just someday I will go here. For now, I'm good with the beautiful picture...

Healthcare Providers

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #9

Jan. 16th - Today I had to take Grace to the doctor and as I was driving, and thinking of what I might find today to be grateful for, it occurred to me that we are very lucky to have some of the best healthcare providers just a phone call away. And, not just one or two, but literally hundreds of them. How easy it is for us to take these types of things for granted because we only go to them when we absolutely  have to and then we complain about having to go. I began to think about all of the other places in the world where that is not the case at all and, in fact, the exact opposite. How grateful they would be for even a portion of what we have at our disposal is beyond measure. So, today I am thankful for the knowledgable and caring HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS available to me and my family when we need them.

Coaches

2012 Gratitude-Not Attidue #8

Jan. 14th - Today Grace has her first "offical" basketball game with the Upwards Basketball program. I am extremely grateful for COACHES who dedicate their time and talents to our children and who help our children believe in themselves. She seems excited...but not as excited as her daddy who is the assistant coach and who has high hopes for her basketball career! When you ask her what her favorite sport is, she says volleyball, so we shall see. Daddy says she doesn't know what she likes yet:) She's got mad skills in both so who knows, maybe she will end up loving both! She just finished a basketball skills camp series at her school. She was pulled out of the group to demonstrate on more than one occasion. By the end, she finally realized that this was a good thing and came home beaming about it, together with proud papa. Thatta girl!! I'll post some game pics soon.

Snow....Yes, Snow

2012 Gratitue-Not Attitude #7

Jan. 12th - Yesterday it snowed, it finally snowed! The first measurable snowfall in Wisconsin on January 12. I knew that Grace was going to be chomping at the bit to go directly outside when I picked her up after school so I even went and bought myself some snow pants during my lunch break (on clearance for $15.00!! I might add). I wish I could have taken a snapshot of Grace's face when I picked her up from the neighbor's house after school. She was sooo happy and excited to finally be able to play in the snow-- to make snowballs, design a snow angel, and give her new sled a whirl. She normally sleds down our driveway because it is so long and sloped (and much easier to walk up than our local "killer hill"). But, daddy came home and burst her bubble right out of the gate because he was going to snowblow the driveway as soon as he got home. She was able to make the best of the front hill and side yard and we had a hard time getting her to come in. I forgot how cute she looks with cold rosy cheeks! So, yes, because of the joy it brings my kids/all kids and for the innate simplistic beauty of a bazillion snowflakes falling from the sky, I am thankful for the SNOW.

A Good Book

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #6

Jan. 11th - I enjoy reading but I do it in spurts and it usually takes me a while to finish a book. When I do finally pick up my book to start reading I more often than not get drowsy and end up going to sleep. The current book I am reading is called The Help. It is a really good book..caught my interest from the beginning and even has me chuckling out loud at times. I enjoy reading A Good Book whether it be fiction, non-fiction, reference, or self-help. It is a way for me to relax, learn something new and interesting, or simply lose myself for a little while. I am actually reading The Help on my Xoom and to my surprise I have enjoyed it. However, I have not been able to pull the trigger on buying a Kindle or Nook mainly because we already have the Xoom and I think it would be a waste and duplicative of what we already  have. I also feel like I would have a hard time buying all of my books. I use our local libraries quite a bit and enjoy going there so I am not ready to go completely electronic yet. Time will tell as the technology advances and they make an effort to support and work with our local libraries-- or if I get tired of carring the heavyweight Xoom around. My current and upcoming reads...

Mind, Body & Spirit

2012 Gratitude-Not Attidue #5

Jan. 10th - I am thankful for my ability to have a sound MIND, BODY & SPIRIT. Without one of these, my life would be so completely different and not near the quality that I am able to enjoy each and every day presently. I will continue to try to nurture each one of these on a daily basis - striving for balance and that feeling of "life is good". Some days are better than others so I push through those unbalanced days and try to make the next day better. I will move forward in my present and be thankful for all of the yesterdays I have been afforded. Life can be cut short in an instant, I know this much is true, so we all need to focus on making TODAY a great day and being our happiest selves!

Safe Schools & Great Teachers

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #4

Jan. 9th - I am thankful for the SAFE SCHOOLS AND GREAT TEACHERS that I entrust my kids to each day.  I believe a lot of their work and efforts go unrecognized. They really have a lot on their plate and when I go to parent-teacher conferences or go through my daughter's Friday Folder, I am in awe of all that they do with 20-some kids under their wings each day. Whew! Definitely some unsung heroes in my book.

Hotels & Dependable Vehicles

2012 Gratitude-Not Attidue #3

Jan. 8th - I woke up yesterday at a hotel in Gurnee, Illinois following the Nommensen christmas. I wake up the earliest, of course, and spend some quiet time in the lobby reading my book. All are sleeping and I am enjoying the moment of peace and quiet feeling very thankful that we have the means to stay at NICE HOTELS with all of our kids. I knew that Grace was going to wake up and want to swim and it makes me happy that we can give that to her. It also makes me happy that all of our kids are here with us, rooming with one another, spending time with another, and having a good time. We then load up the car and begin our drive home. We had the entire gang in the Pilot, all 7 of us and a lot of stuff, and as I looked back to see most of them sleeping the ride away, I felt thankful for our DEPENDABLE VEHICLE that fits our family and allows us to travel together safely and comfortably.

A Wonderful Family

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #2

Jan. 7th - Today we celebrate Christmas with the wonderful Nommensen clan. All of our kids and their significant others/friend are going so we are able to spend time not only with our kids but the entire extended Nommensen family as well. Looking forward to a great weekend filled with a lot of fun and laughter as a very competitive clan partakes in laser tag. I am thankful today for having such A WONDERFUL FAMILY to share my life and world with. Being able to spend time with them makes me very happy! My life is so much richer because of all of them. Are they not just wonderful and beautiful?

Let's Try This Again...

Out with the old and in with the new...new goals, new dreams, new hopes and aspirations, new experiences and possibilities...the New Year can be such an invigorating moment! I am beginning 2012 with some serious soul housekeeping so that I can better focus  on living a purposeful life with a thankful grateful heart. I cannot even begin to count the blessings that surround me each day yet it seems so easy to become moody, overwhelmed, and simply too busy to enjoy even the simplest of blessings. Rather than new year's resolutions for 2012, I am going to try to begin and end each day feeling thankful...thankful for SOMETHING, no matter how little or insignificant it may be. In fact, I might even make it a family project. Why is it so easy for everyday life to get filled up with racing thoughts, time crunches, work and family obligations, to-do lists, and energy-zapping moods that lead us in the exact opposite direction of feeling grateful and able to show gratitude--for anything or to anyone? Even when we have bad days, we all have at least one thing we can be grateful for...we just need to stop, be still, and feel thankful. I am as guilty of this as anyone and it is definitely something that me and my Type-A persona need to work on...and we will! It's a New Year, anything is possible right!?!

2012 Gratitude-Not Attitude #1

Jan. 6th - Today I am thankful for THE BEAUTIFUL WINTER DAY that will make my drive to work easier, my walk with Sammy more enjoyable, my transporting of Grace to/from school less messy, and my husband a little more happy. The abundant sunshine and warmer temperatures are simply invigorating. The days even seem to be getting a little longer. Today's expected high...50 degrees!!