Day 334: Moved

It doesn't feel feel, but I am officially a resident of Easthsmpton. I don't think I've ever felt more grateful than I did yesterday. We had some of our best friends and family help us move. We got almost everything out of Milford, and today was spent unpacking, organizing, and sleeping. I am grateful to have been offered the amazing opportunity to move into a house that already feels like home. 

Day 333: Headache

I'm grateful for so many things today. I will write more tomorrow, but fit now I'm grateful that the migraine I had tonight has dissipated to a headache.

Day 332: Ollivander's Sleep Over

I am grateful that Ollivander will be having a sleep-over at Grammy's house this weekend. She came to pick him up this afternoon and he'll be returning to us on Monday!  I'm going to miss him, but it will be wonderful not having to worry about him all weekend with people coming and going.  I guess I'm also grateful that Ollivander LOVES his Grammy!

Day 331: Thanksgiving

I am thankful for family, friends, and my health. I'm grateful for each day I have and for the village I've created. I am thankful for all of life's lessons. I am thankful for sleep, wine, laughter, and quiet moments. I am thankful for this life, because it is mine to make the most of.     ~Adrienne

This year I am thankful for new beginnings. I am often fearful of the unknown and have trouble choosing a new path when I've come to the end of a familiar one. I have traveled down many new paths over the past year and am thankful for of the positive personal growth that I have experienced as a result. I couldn't have done it without my family and friends so, as always, I am also very thankful for their presence in my life!  ~Kristen

I am thankful to have two healthly little girls.  ~Tamara

We are so very thankful for our health, our families and friends, and all the love surrounding us. We are also so thankful for all the wonderful teachers at Connor's school that are helping him each and every day - seeing him learn and paply new wyasa to communicate is just amazing. We are so very blessed in so many ways.  ~Kara

I'm grateful for my son who defied all odds and negative things doctors said was going to happen. Lately, I'm grateful for his personality, and that even with new challanges at school he is fighting through. And last, but not least, my hubby. I'm grateful that we are strong and happy working through it all.  ~Ana

I'm thankful for all the examples I have in my life that help me to constantly strive to be a better person.  ~John

I'm thankful for the people in my life that have worked hard to give me the opportunities that I have.  ~Courtney

I am grateful that life doesn't have to be perfect to be amazing.  ~Kelly H

I am thankful for my new home, and all the friends and family that have pitched in to help.  ~Kate

This Thanksgiving, well everyday, I'm thankful for my four healthy, thriving children and my family. Without them I wouldn't be where I am today.  ~Tori

I am thankful for my family and my future niece on the way. I am thankful for the support team at Eastern Maine Community College, because without them I wouldn't be so successful. I am thankful for my best friend, Jess, who is 100% supportive and is always there for me. Last, but not least, I am thankful for the meal I will have with my family on Thanksgiving Day because I know not everyone is so lucky.  ~Ashley

I am thankful for my cherished memories - the pictures in my mind of times spent with my family. The fun, the laughter, the love. I am thankful for a great country to live and raise my family in, the warmth of a home, and the love.  ~Christine

I am grateful for a healthy family and the support system they provide whenever I need something to fall back on.  ~Jess H

I am thankful for loving and supportive family and friends. I'm grateful for the joy of life's experiences.  ~Jess W

I'm thankful for my daughter and look forward to her becoming a big sister in the spring. I'm thankful for my job. It doesn't even feel like a job. It's something I love and I've made some of my best friends through it.  ~Leanne

My wife.  ~Justin

Family. Friends. Love. Laughter. Hope. Strength. Faith. Peace.  ~Kelly B

Day 330: Responses

I'm grateful for the responses I've received for my Thanksgiving Day post. It's not to late to add yours to my list! 

Day 329: Loud Noises

Here's my attempt at a positive spin...

I'm grateful for loud noises.  Even though I really, really hate them. I can hear with both ears and I have a husband capable of removing door casings, install new doors, and do lots of other things that create noise. All things to be grateful for, right?

Day 238: Pinterest

Tonight, and just about every night, I am grateful for Pinterest. Especially now, getting decor ideas for the new house and cleaning tips for the current house. 

(Sorry, short post but things are crazy!!  Packing/painting/hammering/packing)

Day 327: Successful Photo Session

I am grateful that Ollivander was cooperative for tonight's photo shoot. I can't share the picture yet, but his daycare teachers will see it tomorrow so it will hit Facebook then.

Day 326: Jess's Birthday

Tonight I am grateful for Jess's birthday. We celebrated at a comedy show, and it was so much fun!! Thanks for being born Jess!

Day 325: Last Day

I'm not sure what else to say. Today was my last day at a job that I've been at for 6 1/2 years. I'm leaving the place I was working at when I got engaged and when I got married. I was there when I bought my first house and brought home our first puppy. I received my Master's degree while working there. I lost my Dad, and my coworkers traveled the distance to give me a hug and let me know they were with me. I worked there while going through fertility treatments, and when they didn't work three times. I've learned more about myself in the past 6 1/2 years than I have in my entire life. I became the person I want to be while working at Criterion-Middlesex Early Intervention. 

I know that I am incredibly blessed to have met some of the best people I know through my job. I'm not only leaving behind the work, but I'm leaving behind the people. Am I leaving behind the secretary, or what? ;) The physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, mental health workers, speech-language pathologists, and developmental specialists I worked side-by-side with for the past 6 years taught me how to be a better therapist. Some of them also gave me life lessons I will take with me. I'm not just leaving behind people, I am leaving behind friends. I'm leaving laughs, hugs, cries, and smiles. 

But I'm not really leaving them behind. I know it sounds corny, but I'm taking them all with me. We do that. Take people with us when we leave.  And I know it's not goodbye forever. It's goodbye for now. It's, "I'll see you later. I promise." 

I'm grateful that today was a hard day. I'm grateful I had something in my life for 6 1/2 years that made saying goodbye so hard.  

Day 324: "Wishing Well"

I am grateful for the following song...

"Wishing Well"

Jessica Andrews 

Here goes another day
Another hug and a kiss and we're on our way
A cup of coffee for the road
And baby I can't wait to get back home
We juggle all our hopes and dreams
With a million responsibilities
And now and then we drop the ball
We lean sometimes but we never fall

Look at me, look at you
Look at all that we've been through
With a lot of love and a little luck
So far it's been so good
Cross your fingers, knock on wood and pray
And if it helps
Go throw a dollar in the wishing well

It ain't always laughs and smiles
But the carousel just ain't our style
The roller coaster suits us fine
Boy the ups and downs liven up the ride

Look at me, look at you
Look at all that we've been through
With a lot of love and a little luck
So far it's been so good
Cross your fingers, knock on wood and pray
And if it helps
Go throw a dollar in the wishing well

Let a hundred pennies fall
Splash and send up all our dreams to heaven

Look at me, look at you
Look at all that we've been through
With a lot of love and a little luck
So far it's been so good
Cross your fingers, knock on wood and pray
And if it helps
Go throw a dollar in the wishing well
Go and throw another dollar in the wishing well
Throw another dollar in the wishing well
In the wishing well
In the wishing well

I'm not sure that there has ever been a more perfect song that describes me and Justin. We have our ups and downs like everyone else. We may start to fall, but we lean on one another and somehow manage to stay upright. I heard this song for the first time in awhile today, and it reminded me how lucky I am to have Justin as my partner in all of our crazy adventures. 

Feel free to take a listen...

Wishing Well by Jessica Andrews

Day 323: Dinner with Friends

I am so grateful to have co-workers who took me out to dinner tonight. Thank you ladies. It means so much to me.

Day 322: PB&J

I'm grateful my fancy dinner of peanut butter and jelly was a success. Here's hoping the bug has left.

Day 231: Quotes

Some days there just isn't the right word or words to describe how you're feeling. It can be a good feeling, a bad feeling, or a feeling you don't understand. That's when I find that looking for a quotation helps. It's nice to find some little blurb that someone once said that describes exactly how you feel in that moment. It makes you feel less alone; someone else has felt that same way: sad, happy, alone, afraid, excited, anxious, loved, etc. Silly internet memes, ecards, and random pins have all filled this requirement in recent years. Tonight I am grateful for quotes: silly ones, serious ones, happy ones, sad ones, all of them that have ever helped me express how I feel at any given moment.

Day 320: Moisturizer

I'm very grateful for hand moisturizer. Between a week of being sick and a weekend full of painting, I've washed my hands raw. I think my fingers and palms may have fallen off if I didn't have multiple bottles of moisturizer around the house. 

Day 319: Water and Soap

I am grateful for the nice warm shower I'm going to take. Justin and I just spent a very long time in our basement. We're purging ourselves of the things we do not need to bring with us to Easthampton. We're saving all the great things and I'll probably be sharing some of the amazing pictures I found. Justin also just informed me that he found both of our high school diplomas. Anyways, I feel gross and I can't wait to take a long warm shower. I'm grateful for running water and soap. 

Day 318: Simple

I'm grateful that my stomach tolerated PB&J. It's the simple things. 

Day 317: Early Morning Sky

I'm all set with this stomach bug, but I'm trying to keep things positive. This morning I was awake at about 3:30am. I let the dog out because whenever I get out of bed, he thinks it's time to get up. When I opened the door to let him out it wasn't actually that cold, so I stepped outside onto my back steps.  The sky was beautiful.  It was clear and bright, full of positive energy. 

I'm grateful that I got a chance to see the stars and the moon. 

“Perhaps they are not stars, but rather openings in heaven

where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down

to let us know they are happy.”

~ Eskimo Proverb

Day 316: You Live, You Learn

Tonight Justin and I met with the realtor who will be listing our house.  I cannot believe how different this whole experience is the second time around. It really is true that you live and you learn. I'm grateful that our new realtor team seems energetic, invested, and down-to-earth.  

Day 315: Veterans' Day

I am grateful to the everyday heroes who risk their lives to ensure the safety of mine and those I love. I'm especially grateful for the veterans in my family, including my amazing brother Matthew (USCG).

Day 314: Practice Patience

I am not a patient person. I will watch a pot of water boil, and touch wet paint until it's dried. Tonight I'm trying to be positive so here we go... I am grateful for an opportunity to practice patience. 

Day 313: So Much Progress

I'm grateful that this was a very productive weekend. Between me, my Mom, Kristen, and Justin we made so much progress in packing and painting! It's actually starting to feel real! I have two more weeks of work, and three weeks until we move! Anyone around the Saturday after Thanksgiving to help us move?? ;)

Day 312: Repeat

I've been trying not to repeat myself in this year if gratitude, but here I am at Day 313 and I'm going to be grateful for two people who have already been mentioned.

I am grateful for my Mom and my best friend. Kristen and my Mom helped me all day today with packing and painting. They are awesome!! And really, if I'm going to do a repeat who better than to mention but my Mom and my BFF?

Day 311: Exciting Opportunities

I'm grateful for some exciting opportunities that may be coming my way! 

Day 310: Fairytales

I'm grateful that I grew up believing in fairytales. I was read all the best stories and created even more of my own in the "forest" in my backyard. I think there is still a part of me that still believes fairytales could come true. 

Day 309: Bambi

I'm very, very grateful that I saw Bambi poke his head out of the trees as I approached the dark corner of a back road.  I'm also grateful that he saw me and decided against running into the street.

Day 308: Photography

I am grateful that my BFF, Kristen, created a Facebook page to display her photography. She has amazing amounts of talent and everyone should check out her work. She's photographed weddings of friends and family, engagements and pregnancies, and some gorgeous landscapes. I used to joke that Kristen was never without her camera, now I'm grateful for that same fact. She has captured memories and created ever-lasting works of art. 

I'm so proud to share the link to her Facebook group. If it doesn't work search for Kristen Alice Photography on Facebook. 



https://m.facebook.com/KristenAlicePhotorgaphy?tsid=0.6694615089800209&source=typeahead

Day 307: Falling Asleep

I'm grateful that I fell asleep reading tonight. It's one of my favorite ways to drift off. (I'm also grateful that Justin moved my Kindle before getting into bed!)

Day 306: November

I am really, really grateful that it is November.  Here's why...

All year I've been doing this blog and it really has become an experience for me and for a lot of people who read it. This blog all stemmed from an idea I had last November when everyone on my Facebook Feed began posting about something they were grateful or thankful for each day. I did it for the first time last November and it was really fun.  I know some people get frustrated when their News Feed gets bogged down with the same type of post from different people, but what's better than a long list of things people are grateful for??  

Anyways, this month is the time for people to begin this challenge again. I'm grateful that my News Feed is about to get inundated with other people's positive thoughts.  It's going to make my month a lot brighter knowing people are taking a few seconds to think about something they are thankful for in their lives. 

Day 305: First Real Job

In high school I started working at a music store in the mall. That job became a huge part of my life, as most first jobs tend to do. Tonight, Justin and I watched Empire Records. It reminds me so much of the hours I spent listening to music, selling cds, counting out cash registers, and just hanging out. I'm really grateful my first job was fun, really, really fun. It made it slightly easier to balance everything when I liked going to work. Sometimes I miss those days. It feels like I was a different person entirely, and since that was over ten years ago, I probably was a totally different person. I hope my kids have really awesome first jobs someday.