Summer

I am thankful for the first day of summer vacation for Heidi!

Co-sleeping

I am grateful for cosleeping because who wouldn't want to wake up next to this smooshy face?

Body

I am grateful for my body. It has brought four precious children safely into this world and given them nourishment so their little bodies could grow strong. It can move furniture and dig up soil. It can cuddle and carry and climb. My body is strong but could be stronger. It is squishy and soft, good for hugs but not so much for bikinis. I often frown at it in the mirror, but it doesn't deserve that. It deserves love and gratitude because it gives me everything it can, so today I am grateful for it.

Coffee

Today I am grateful for coffee with stevia, and the way the steam curls inside my brown handmade cup.

Taxes

I am so so so so grateful that our tax return came through! 

Little

I'm grateful that Heidi is still small enough to be held. 

Handprints

Thank you, babies, for leaving your handprints on my windows and on my heart. 

Writing

Thank you, honey, for working so hard this weekend on your submission for that big writing award.

Springtime fun

Thank you, kids, for making me come out of my shell and do something really fun with you. 

And thank you, honey, for being super creative.

And thank you, Heidi, for the selfies?

Keep working on your selfie skills, baby. 

Inspiration

Thank you, inspiration, for making me feel that things are possible. 

Smiles

Thank you for real smiles too, baby boy.

Smiles

Thank you, Emory, for your almost-smiles. 

Dirt

Thank you, dirt, for the therapy. 

Innocence

Thank you, kids, for teaching me that things don't need to be new or shiny to be fun. 

Lots of stuff

I'm thankful for birthday parties, family, tatting, wifi hotspots from the cell phone, and my husband, who organized my work so I could finish a project that was making me want to quit everything and run away. 

Morning

I am grateful that there's new light every morning, no matter how bad the night before was. 

Tummy time

I'm grateful for tummy time with a little blue-eyed dinosaur boy. 

Tea

I am grateful for tea. 

Safety

I'm grateful that the tornadoes passed by Tahlequah last night. 

Puddles

Rori is grateful for puddles and I am grateful for the spirit of adventure. 

Sleep

I'm grateful for peace and quiet. 

Food

I'm grateful for food to eat. 

Health

I'm grateful for modern medicine and for little sleepy babies whose ears don't hurt anymore. 

Aunts and Friends

I'm grateful for my aunt Linda, who bought me "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up." I'm thankful for Lindsay for recommending it, and I'm thankful for Debbie for offering to send her copy to me.

Plantation

Springtime, nature trails, and antebellum homes

Fresh air

I'm grateful for fresh air and sisters. 

Sunshine

I'm grateful for sunshine and lace curtains. 

The Gratitude Project

Grass is sprouting and flowers are coming out. It's a time of growth and blooming. As part of my personal growth I am starting a personal gratitude project. This blog is a daily list of things that I am grateful for. This doesn't mean life is perfect outside the margins. It's not. But if beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this is my attempt to change my eyes to see more beauty.