So much gratitude

Well, while I very clearly didn't make my original goal of posting every day this month, I did spend the last week feeling amazingly grateful.

Grateful for family and friends,

for save travel (and the fact that all flights do eventually end), 

and for excellent cameras :o) 

Should have photos to last for a few posts, but I have to make sure this one includes my new favorite picture of the cousins.

and take two :o)

The top of the pyramid

For today's gratitude I'm moving down the stack (as they say in the tech world).

After catching up on the news from this weekend I can't help but focus on just how lucky we are to be in a position where we can be grateful for ice cream treats after practicing a religion of choice. Going back to Maslow  (thank you wikipedia for the image)...

While I'm not sure I'll claim self-actualization, I'm grateful that I wake up ever morning with my physiological needs met, safe and sound in bed with my love who's a huge part of making that all possible.

Good company

Tonight I'm grateful for good company. C and I had a wonderful night of attending services at temple (where we officially became members!), and then of course having a treat afterwards.

Flexibility

Today I'm grateful for my job, which allows me to work from home. As a result, instead of fighting with traffic on 80 during the first real snow fall of the year, I'm warm and snug at home with a cup of coffee, a snoring dog, and a fantastic view :o)

Building

Today I'm grateful for all of the women who came before me and paved the ways for girls to build, and to the next generation of engineers in the making. Tonight at dinner C told me that she wants to build buildings when she grows up, and from play time after dinner it looks like m's not far behind...

...but still in need of some supervision :o)

Reading

Today I'm grateful for reading, and the love of learning. I worry a little bit about what reading on our phones it passing along to the girls. It's been a while since they saw me sit down with a grown up book. Luckily we're still surrounded with kid books and they seem to be paying off :o)

Family

Today I'm grateful for family, every single one of which knew I was full of baloney when I said that I was going to post every day this month. Oh well :o)

I really am grateful for family though, and SO grateful to have two wonderful little girls who are going to be each other's family for years to come.

Moments

Missed a day yesterday, but both today and yesterday I'm grateful for enjoying moments. As I mentioned earlier this week it's started to snow, and it's late enough in the season that the snow is starting to stick on the mountains. The new snow makes what is usually and fantastic view while commuting a spectacular view. And has had me getting into work and getting home just a little happier.  

I got forwarded a video at work today that might begin to explain why:
https://www.ted.com/talks/matt_killingsworth_want_to_be_happier_stay_in_the_moment?language=en

It all reminds me of an old Dave Matthew's Band song - it's all about making the best of what's around :o)

Snow!

Today I'm grateful for that first snow of the year when everything is perfect and white and magical.

http://www.deervalley.com/OnTheMountain/Mountain

And for an appointment to get snow tires on Saturday :)

Spa Day

Today I'm grateful for pretty toe nails :o)

Okay just kidding. Actually, today I'm grateful for girls mornings and having everyone enjoy doing the same thing for an hour. Alex had a conference call on Saturday morning so I successfully distracted the girls in our bathroom for a "spa" morning (aka a fantastic excuse to hang out in robes). C asked for her toes painted and M walked on up and sat down too. It was a great morning of just hanging out as a crew.

But the toes are pretty great too.

Settling in

Today I'm grateful to be out of "temporary" housing and into someplace to call our own. For some reason getting the girl's names up on the walls this weekend was a huge win on this front...

That and of course the loons :o)

30 Days of Gratitude

Happy November everyone! I can not believe November marks 6 months for us as Utah residents. Time is flying buy.

This year to celebrate November I'm going to try something I attempted on Path last year - thirty days of gratitude. Instead of storing it all up for Thanksgiving I'm going to try a blog post a day to share something I'm grateful for. We'll see if I can make all Thirty :o)


Starting with an easy one - I'm SO grateful to have the chance to watch the girls grow. Last night we celebrated our FIFTH Halloween with Charlotte. Boggles my mind. To prove it really has been 5, enjoy 5 years of C in costume...

2011 - Puppy

2012 - Frog

2013 - Elephant

2014 - Monsters

2015 - Pirates