11/19

November 19

I am thankful for the generosity of others. I have been on the receiving end of many gifts, most especially in the past year. And they have come in many forms. The more I receive, the more I want to give. I never feel entitled. I want others to feel the love I have felt. Pay it forward.

11/18

November 18

I am thankful for those in this world who care about all forms of life: plants, animals, humans, nature. When the world as a whole realizes we are all interconnected, and all life forms influence each other, maybe the conflicts that exist will begin to be resolved.

Now for some shameless advertising on my part:

RESCUE DOG!!! Erie, PA: Young female pit bull mix, possibly with shar-pei. 40-45 lbs. 2 years old max, believed to be spayed (scar on belly) and appears to be in good health. Non-aggressive, house broken, does not chew, very good temperament, very loving. Needs a good home. She is very high energy and would need someone who has the time, energy, and patience to work with her. But she learns quickly and would be an easily trainable dog. Unfortunately, the woman she is staying with cannot keep her because she travels frequently, and I am not able to take her. Otherwise, this sweet girl would already be mine.

11/17

November 17

I am thankful for new friends. It helps so much when you are new to an area and trying to branch out. New friends, new places, new experiences, new fun.

11/16

November 16

I am thankful for having the confidence to go for something I want in life. Sometimes you have to let things take their course, but other times you have to do your part. I have a couple of posters in my room that were given to me as gifts. I read them almost every day. Some of the messages? 

"Take personal responsibility"

"Commit yourself to constant improvement"

"Reach for the stars"

Sometimes, these words really sink in.

11/15

November 15

I am thankful for my toddlers. They teach me so many things about life, love, patience, gratitude, God, and future parenting. Sometimes, life's greatest teachers are those much younger than you.

Check out some previous posts on my other blog about my toddler adventures:

Toddler Top 10

and

Toddler Top 10 Part II

11/14

November 14

I am thankful for family. And not just those connected by blood. It extends far beyond the people I grew up with. Everyone I know has played a part in who I am today. My parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends near and far, and the sisters and oblates I've come to know over the past few years, especially this past year. They have believed in me, supported me, given me advice, listened when I needed it, and continue to be there today. Family, in all of its forms, is irreplaceable.

11/13

November 13

I am thankful for opportunity. Opportunity for jobs, school, anything. I received a petition email from change.org today asking for 15 year old activist Malala Yousafzai to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. It reminded me of opportunities I take for granted at times. Life is too precious, and opportunities should never be taken for granted, or wasted.

11/13/12 ~ First recorded snowfall. It was kind of pretty. But I know none of us will be saying that come January when there's slush and black ice all around, and your car is buried under 2 feet of snow...

11/12

November 12

I am thankful for having an open mind. There are things in my life that require this of me: my job, my friends, my beliefs, the career I'd like to pursue. None of this would be possible without that. It helps to make life more enjoyable for me.

Just over a week left in the regular season at work. I'll be losing a couple of my kiddos. I dealt with this last year, but this season I spent 8 months with them. Last year it was only 3. This year will be harder :(

11/11

November 11

I am thankful for my faith. It keeps me grounded when times are tough, and I don't know what to do. And it comes in handy on those Sundays when I don't make it to church. A few deep breaths, some quiet, and an open mind. It can take you far.

So I failed with my pumpkin cream cheese swirl bread yesterday. I was bummed, because I was really looking forward to it. I have to perfect my bread baking. Anyway, Carrie and I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies this afternoon. It made up for the disappointment yesterday.

11/10

November 10

I am thankful for resilience. Failure is not the end of the world. In fact, it only empowers me to keep trying.

"Once or twice, though you should fail, if you would at last prevail, try, try again"

~T.H. Palmer

Speaking of failure, I tried my hand at that pumpkin cream cheese swirl bread.

FAIL!!!

11/9

November 9

I am thankful for Fridays. I don't care how much you love your job, the weekend is always a welcome break. It's when I look forward to a clean house, crockpot meals, and the freedom to lay around or go wherever you want, whenever you want. 

Side note: after over a year of trying to find some good tasting pizza in this city, I'm starting to think it doesn't exist. I come from the chicken wing capital, so that's pretty hard to beat. But I found some wings that are comparable and actually very, very good. The pizza is a different story. I think I've tried like 8 different places, and none have impressed me. Locals here will probably have a different opinion, but come up to my neck of the woods. Trust me. We know how to do the pizza and wing combo :)

11/8

November 8

I am thankful for those that have taught me the value of a Thank You note. I opened one today, and a smile grew across my face and my eyes got a little teary. Sometimes the timing is just right.

I was going to bake some pumpkin cream cheese swirl bread tonight, but then I looked at the recipe again and it was going to take an hour to bake...and I was short one egg. Maybe that will be Saturday's project.

Also, who decided Thanksgiving doesn't exist and Christmas should begin before Halloween has even passed? I've been looking for Thanksgiving decorations for my front door and all I can find is Christmas stuff!! What the heck?!?!?!

Thankful

Ok, so I am seeing all of these statuses on Facebook where people post something that they are thankful for each day of the month of November. I guess it doesn't always have to be something that happened that particular day, at least I don't think so, but who really knows? Not I.

Anyway, I thought I might make the posts for this month a little more interesting and try writing about something or someone I am thankful for and post it each day. Now it is already November 7th so I have some catching up to do. So this post will contain November 1st-7th.

November 1

I am thankful for my parents. They loved each other enough to give me life and have loved me enough to continue to provide a good life for me. They have always supported me and continue to do so as I now enter adulthood, make mistakes, find myself, and carry on this crazy journey.

November 2

As this day was pay day, I am thankful, and oh, so very grateful for the very fact that I have a job. With so many in this country facing unemployment, many of those being people I graduated with just 17 months ago, I am well aware of what a blessing it is that I have a job at all, let alone one I enjoy waking up and going to each day.

November 3

I am thankful for good friends who get you home safely, and tuck you in with a cold bottle of water...and then offer to move your car for you the next morning so you can sleep in ;)

November 4

I am thankful for creativity. Nothing warms my heart more than creating something with your own two hands and heart for someone, and seeing them smile upon receiving it.

November 5

I am thankful for patience. While I mentioned above that I love my job, it does not mean it isn't stressful. Teaching 8 children between the ages of 18-24 months can make your head spin sometimes, but I have the patience for it. For that, I am extremely thankful.

November 6

I am thankful for having the freedom and the right to vote. Acknowledge it. Appreciate it. Use it.

November 7

 I am thankful for puppy snuggles. When you don't have a significant other, and you've had a long, tiring day, sometimes that's just what you need. Unconditional.Puppy.Love.

And right now, I am thankful for my big, comfy bed.

Slacking Somewhat

So, I've been slacking when it comes to my blog posts. In my defense, I really don't have that much going on that is interesting enough to write about. At least I don't think so. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'll start to write some things down every day and see what I have by the end of the week. Hopefully that will help with the lack of blog-worthy material...

In other news, I am now an oblate! My 3rd level of relationship with the Erie Benedictines. I now enter the ranks as one of the youngest, I believe. It's interesting to see how far I've come with my relationship with the sisters in 3 1/2 years.

Halloween is right around the corner, along with possible remnants of Hurricane Sandy, which should make for an interesting week. I have my costume for our classroom party at work. I'll be a giraffe, or a pink cheetah...whatever anyone thinks I look like. Tomorrow we're carving a pumpkin with my toddlers. Should be a messy endeavor, but also a lot of fun.

This week's yoga pose is (and forgive the outfit. It's my costume. It's fleece, it's cold in my house, and I'm too cheap to turn up the heat right now):

Triangle Pose

Hold for 5 breaths in and out, then switch direction

Benefits:

Opening of your chest, lungs and heart

Reassuring steadiness in your limbs

Conscious equilibrium of the mind and body

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!