Day 10 & 11 of the 21 day gratitude challenge – yes, I skipped a day.  I guess I was just completely present and lost track of a day…or I was too tired last night to write   Either way, I was grateful for my busy day!

Okay so day 10’s assignment was to pick one of my five senses to focus on and take note of how many gifts come to me via that single port.  I chose (drum roll) my sense of taste because I, of course, love to eat!  I could have gone the route of tasting processed chemical laden food, but instead I chose to focus on real food.  Food that comes from a plant or an animal.

Real food is so incredibly good.  I’m so grateful to be able to taste, and to be able to differentiate between foods.  I made a pineapple salsa yesterday and OMG…so good.  All that was in it was pineapple, cilantro & red pepper flakes, but the combination of the sweet and spicy was so delicious.  I put it over shrimp.  Wow, I’m so thankful that I am able to put food in my mouth (can use my arms and hands and can chew, rather than being fed through a tube) and can taste it.  There are so many great foods that are natural.  I’m not only grateful that I can taste it, but that the universe provides it!  We can live a wonderful, healthy life by what nature provides us.  We don’t need processed food to live, and for that I feel a great sense of appreciation.

I’m so thankful that I can taste things and decide whether I like it or not.  I have a choice.  If I decide that I like the way something tastes, I can have more, and I can completely enjoy it.

I love that I have choices and can taste different flavors, that mother nature provides us with everything we need, and that I can enjoy it.  Our sense of taste is so awesome, and I’m so grateful for it!

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Day 11 is to see the world through the eyes of a child, and to think about the things I take for granted on a daily basis.  Then, to express gratitude for everything down to the basic necessities that sustain my current life.  This one is easy because I have 2 kids under 4 and I think about this a lot.  I think about being brought into this world knowing nothing.  Now, let me back peddle a little…I believe babies know a lot.  I think they are way more connected to their sense of Self then we will ever be.  But, I’m talking about not knowing what things are, not knowing how to speak, and experiencing life for the first time.

This really goes back to the 5 senses.  It’s incredible to see a child’s face the first time he tastes a banana, strawberry yogurt, or a piece of candy.  I love to watch the excitement in my children when they see something for the first time.  This past Christmas when Max, my 4 year old, started to understand Santa…just priceless the look on his face when he saw what Santa had brought him.  I’m so thankful to have been able to experience that through his eyes!  I’m also so thankful to have been able to provide as many toys as we did.

Miles, my 2 year old, got a little plastic harmonica for his birthday.  When he heard the sound it made, he completely fell in love with it.  I’m grateful to be able to hear beautiful music, the croak of a frog, the ocean waves crashing in, my children’s laughter, and Miles trying to play that harmonica.

It’s really cute.  Max has just now began to notice that some things stink.  It used to never bother him.  I’d ask “doesn’t that stink?” and I don’t think he really knew what I was talking about.  Now, if he even thinks Miles has a dirty diaper he covers his nose.  I even had him tell me that I smelled good after spraying on perfume.  Our sense of smell is really cool.  I’m thankful that I can smell good food cooking, that I can smell a great candle, and that I can smell something to know if it’s still good or not.

I remember going to my Dad’s house every other weekend as a child and when I’d get there I would notice that my clothes smelled like my mom.  That was so comforting to me.  And when I’d get back home (to my mom’s house) and smell that same smell, I knew I was home!  I just love that smells can remind us of things.  The ability to smell is typically a sense that I take for granted, but really it’s such a blessing.  Thank you, Nose!

I’m thankful for textures and that I can feel.  There are lots of touch and feel baby books, and it’s really neat to watch those little fingers feel.  Since I have 2 little ones in my lap when we read books they both want to feel it.  And now it’s a matter of who goes first.  It’s so funny.  They make me want to feel it and to experience the bumpiness, roughness, or smoothness like it’s my first time.

I love and appreciate that our bodies have the capability to feel.  I’m thankful that I know when I feel good and when I don’t.  I love it that I can feel my emotions and that feeling is a guide.  I’m so grateful for this guide because I know that all I have to do is feel good and everything else will fall into place.  Thank you, thank you for this guidance system.

In summary – I’m thankful for pineapple salsa, Santa Claus, harmonicas, my nose, and touch & feel baby books!!

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Today I’m grateful that my youngest son turned 2 years old.  I’m grateful that we had an “intimate” party for him that was SO much fun.  I’m grateful that we were able to buy him lots of gifts, had a fabulous dinner (I made chicken with spinach, pears & feta – yum!), that my mom-in-law joined us, and that we were all together.  I’m grateful that we’re all healthy, happy & enjoying each other.

I’m so grateful to have my children in my life.  They have brought me so much joy.  They mean the world to me, and I’m so grateful that I’m responsible for them.  They have taught me patience, compassion, how to let go and how to be more present.  They show me what’s truly important.  And, they have taught me that love is infinite!!

I can’t thank you enough!  I love you, Max & Miles

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So I didn’t skip out on day 6 of this 21 day gratitude challenge.  The assignment was to call someone and tell them how much you appreciate them.  I did.  I called my mom.  Made me feel good and I know I made her day!  Thanks again, Mom.  I truly appreciate you.

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I was recently approached, via email, by a girl named Apryle.  She has some friends (Tiffany & Zach Pifer) that have been trying to conceive for 3 years now.  Still not pregnant, they have decided to visit a fertility clinic.  According to the Pifer’s blog, “Fertility clinics are not cheap and unfortunately my insurance doesn’t cover a dime for infertility treatments.”  However, they are fortunate enough to have 2 great friends, Apryle & Ashley.

What Apryle & Ashley have decided to do for the Pifer’s is to set up a fundraiser to help them get the funds they need for infertility treatment.  How awesome is this?  So what they’re doing is selling bracelets and key chains that say “Growing in Faith”.  Everyone that buys a bracelet &/or keychain is entered to win fabulous gifts that have been donated by different people.

Here’s where I step in!  I have donated a pair of pearl & turquoise earrings.  I get approached like this quite often and I rarely say no (maybe not a good thing to tell everyone )!  But the reason I said yes to Apryle and the “Pifer Bean Fund” is because I have been blessed with 2 beautiful children and they have enriched my life so much.  I want to give what I can to help another family experience the pure joy of a child (or possibly 2 or 3 with treatment…haha).

So, if you’d like to help the Pifer family as well please click on this link!

You can click here for the Pifer’s actual blog!

You never know, you may win these earrings!

Thank you so much to Apryle & Ashley.  You guys are such beautiful people!

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My little Miles Everett (19 months) and big boy Maximus Henry (3 1/2 years) are the loves of my life.  I’m so fortunate to have great kids, and an amazing husband.  Here’s my top 10 reasons why I absolutely love being their mom (in no particular order)!

10.  That feeling when my children only want their Mommy.

9.  That relief when my children only want their Daddy!

8.  When I see their smiling faces the first thing in the morning, I know it’s going to be a great day!

7.  I’m completely, hysterically funny.

6.  I get to explain things like who I’m talking to on the phone and what they said…because Max just needs to know!

5.  Being around the pure, joyful, light energy that small children radiate.

4.  Because it’s the most important job I’ll ever have.

3.  Because they help to keep me grounded, and I know that nothing else matters besides the well-being of my family.

2.  Kids are so genuine, honest, and true to themselves; and I have the opportunity to teach them to stay that way.

1.  It’s a love like no other, and to have that kind of love in my heart is just priceless.

Thank you, Boys!  I love you~

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I love it because little kids are absolutely living in the present moment, you can learn so much from them, and them from you (be careful of this one!!).

Since little ones don’t understand time, they have no stress and are always happy (as long as all their needs are met!).  They are totally playing in the moment – living in the moment.  My kids play well by themselves (fortunately!), but I’ve noticed that if they need my attention I can either completely give it to them or I can be there but have my mind elsewhere.  If my mind is on something else I’ve noticed that they need me longer.  If I am there for them completely, in the present moment with them, then the amount of time they “need” me is less.  If I’ve got things to do around the house, jewelry to make, or a blog to write I am able to get those things done if I just spend a little quality time with them.  It makes them happy, I feel great, and in turn I’m more productive.  It’s such a relief for me too because in that moment there’s absolutely nothing lacking…I have no stress and life is perfect!

Lately, my sweet Max (he’s 3) has been teaching me to let go.  His new saying is “but it’s okay”.

“Max, you’ve got food all over your face.” – “yeah, but it’s okay!”

As he’s hitting his brother with a stuffed animal (Miles is mildly laughing) – “Mommy, it’s okay”.

We’re running late for school – “but it’s okay!”

And what’s really cool is that as soon as he says that, I relax and say you’re right IT IS OKAY.  Sometimes we get so caught up in looking perfect, always doing things right, and everything being a certain way but does it really matter?  Can we just let go and have fun?  Because ultimately, it is okay!

Kids watch, learn, and sense our energy too.  The more rushed I am to get out of the house, the more uncooperative they are.  If I’m relaxed and calmly explain how we need to leave immediately, they listen and work with me.  The way I do something, they do too.  For example, I always rinse off the tooth brush and tap the brush on the counter before putting it up.  Max does this too, and can point out that his Daddy doesn’t.

I also came to the realization that Max got his new expression (it’s okay) from me.  I say it quite a bit – like if he drops his food, or can’t find a toy.  So it comes full circle!  I’m teaching him that it’s okay and he’s teaching me the same.  How awesome is that?

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