Around the house we have several reminders of our wedding day. It has been just over 8 months now. Yet when I see our unity sand or the guest tree that was signed by our loved ones, it feels like just last week. 

One of the items around the house was this statue that my mother-in-law and her good friend gave us as a wedding gift. Originally we planned to put it outside by the pond but somehow it made it's home right here in the hall. I even did a hand fasting ceremony for the statue as my husband and I did during our wedding. 

I'm grateful for these little reminders of one of the best days of my life. I'm grateful for these symbols of love placed around our home. I'm grateful for the way their bodies create a heart and how they look as if they are dancing. I'm grateful for the symbolism of the hand fasting and the pretty ribbons used as a reminder. I'm grateful to be married to my love, one of the best men I have ever met. And I'm grateful for this place we call home.

What things around your house serve as reminders? Are they symbols of love or family? What are some of your most valued treasures and why?

May today bless you with beautiful memories. May you find warmth in the love all around you. Have a beautiful day!

This morning as I helped my husband wheel the trash and recycling carts to the bottom of the driveway we couldn't help but notice the helicopter hovering above outside. I stopped, impressed by the mechanics that allow helicopters to remain in one spot up in the air. And then, of course, I ran to get my camera.

It is these unexpected event that impress me so much. The excitement of seeing something that I've seen maybe a thousand times but this time was out of the ordinary for my morning. 

I'm grateful for little surprises like this in my day. I'm grateful that after allowing a couple pictures the helicopter moved on, hopefully signally all is well. I'm grateful for inventors that come up with machines that can do amazing things, like hover in the sky. I'm grateful for the talented pilots who fly them safely. I'm grateful for the time to capture the picture for my blog today. And I'm grateful for the new challenge that I am finding in providing new, ordinary pictures each day to go with my blog. 

What do you see up in the sky today? There is a big moon still lingering here even as the sun creeps in. Birds are flying overhead. Do any of the things you see give you pause? What inspires awe for you? What inventions impress you?

May today renew your childlike wonder. May you find awe in the beauty all around you. Have a beautiful day!

Today is National Have Fun at Work Day! What a great opportunity to celebrate and bring a little more joy into the workplace. 

Whether it is laughing with coworkers, bringing a special treat to share, or wearing something silly take this opportunity to enjoy your day. We spend so much time at work but it doesn't have to be dull. There are plenty of ways to add joy and fun back into the work environment.

I'm grateful to play even as an adult. I'm grateful for my silly owl hat and my "yeti" coat. I'm grateful to find ways to share laughter. I'm grateful for the people I see within my day that share their joy with me. I'm grateful to try to think of new ways today to bring more fun into the work space.

What can you do today to have fun at work? How can you encourage your coworkers to have a laugh with you? Who could you eat lunch with to make the day more fun?

​May today bless you with creative ways to have fun at work. May today inspire you and your coworkers to strive for a happy work environment every day. Have a beautiful day!

I love the quiet cuddles of a Sunday morning. As I start my Monday I will admit that I am groggy despite plenty of hours of sleep. And it occurs to me, that like me, my dogs could probably use a Monday morning cuddle.

Sometimes I focus on everyone else's needs and forget about my own. Sometimes I am so wrapped up in what I need that I may overlook someone else's needs. Today I am happy to say those needs seem to be on the same page. AND I have the flexibility today to climb down on the floor and give some time this morning to my sweet four legged friends.

I'm grateful for an easier work day today. I'm grateful to take some time to snuggle my dogs. I'm grateful for the silly way they take turns snuggling me rather than laying side by side. (Notice the dog nose in the top of the picture as Austin waits her turn.) I'm grateful for the sweet, gentle nature of my dogs. I'm grateful for their patience as I type this blog. I'm grateful to give time to what is important to me today. And I'm grateful to be so blessed.

What are you needing today? How can you make time to meet these needs?

May today provide balance. May you find time to meet your needs and those of your loved ones. Have a beautiful day!

Let me start by saying that I got over eight hours of sleep last night. This morning's slap happy laughter is not lack of sleep. And yet, things seem so much funnier today.

It started out with my husband and I brushing our teeth quietly. There was no trying to talk or dogs vying for attention as there usually is. Out of no where it seemed like the funniest scene I have witnessed in a long time. I started laughing so hard I nearly gagged myself with my toothbrush. 

The resulting look from my husband of confusion made it seem that much funnier. After I had explained that really nothing was funny but somehow it just seemed hysterical then he jumped on board. Adding in his different voices and anecdotes made me laugh more.

Now as I sit at the computer I still feel like laughter may burst out of me at any moment. This is by far, the best way to start the day. And I'm so happy to kick off this Friday with some laughter.

I'm grateful for whatever crazy gas got into my system this morning to start the initial laughter. I'm grateful for the hilarious look of confusion from my husband. I'm grateful that he was able to join in the fun and joke around with me. I'm grateful for the energy and positive start it gave my day. I'm grateful for silly misspeaks that happen and the way my husband and I can joke about them, such as the word "dramastic" which has come to mean fantastically dramatic. 

What makes you laugh? Have you ever burst into laughter for no reason? How can you add some laughter into your day today?

May today bless you with laughter and a lightened spirit. May you find joy in this day and humor in the little things. Have a beautiful day and weekend!

This morning I woke before my alarm, something that once was routine and common that has now become rare. I got up and, for only perhaps the second time this month, went into my sanctuary and turned on my sun lamp. Today felt like a good day to get some extra sunshine.

There seems to be more cloudy days in the Winter. Perhaps it is only that I notice them more when the days are already shorter and sunlight is in need. Either way, turning on the sunlamp this morning restored a little energy but also a little sense of personal power. To know that I had the power to give myself what I need.

As I sat down to write, I thought about waking early and the sun lamp that I have often expressed gratitude for in the past. I wondered how I could express it in a new way today. After all, it is important to not get stuck on repeating the same gratitudes. And just like that a song popped into my head.

"I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.... when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May." It brought back memories from childhood and of the movie My Girl. And more importantly it gave me that feeling of pep again.

I'm grateful for the idea of sunshine on a cloudy day. I'm grateful to be able to turn on the "sunshine" with a simple click. I'm grateful when Mother Nature provides the best, warm sunshine so I can get it from its natural source. I'm grateful for the song that popped into my head and gave me that little pep this morning. I'm grateful to start this day on a happy note and with hopeful optimism.

What tiny acts give you a sense of personal power? What songs inspire and uplift you in the morning? 

May today bless you with light and laughter. May you find support in music and warmth in love. Have a beautiful day!

Ah, how I love the quiet sanctuary of fresh fallen snow. As I prepared to let my dogs out to use the restroom this morning I paused to enjoy the beautiful thin coat of snow in the yard and on the deck. I love the picturesque winter wonderland that is our backyard this time of year. But even more I love the little tracks that appear in the snow, letting me know of all the little woodland creatures that are around but often unseen. 

There were tracks across the deck of a neighborhood cat making its way back home. Coming from the backyard and heading somewhere toward the front ventured a rabbit or perhaps two. From the tracks it did not appear to be in a hurry, each print placed gently in the snow. Had I taken the time to go deeper into the wooded area I probably would have seen even more tracks, made by the variety of woodland creatures that live there. 

It is my own little fairytale. A melody of nature plays in my head as all is still this morning. And then the dogs are released outside. Snow flies as they play and romp and hustle to use the restroom. The snow is disturbed with large paw tracks now and my own boot prints. Yet it is still beautiful.

I'm grateful to know there are still rabbits in the yard despite a few chases that have occurred with the dogs. I'm grateful to see the cat heading back toward its home and I hope someone let it in last night so it had a warm place to sleep. I'm grateful for the chaotic prints my dogs leave as they get excited to see the snow. And I'm grateful to be able to watch my winter wonderland through the big picture window, now, from the warmth of the house. I'm grateful for the beauty of Winter. And I'm grateful for the little signs of life amidst this time of hibernation. And on a side note, I'm grateful to celebrate eight months of marriage with my love today.

What are your favorite tracks to see in the snow? Are there any woodland creatures near where you live? How can you enjoy the winter wonderland today?

May today bless you with awe at the beauty of this world and warmth to enjoy it. Have a beautiful day!

Throughout my childhood I was a notoriously picky eater. Keep it simple, not too much spice or too varied of texture and I might try it. There were a few exceptions to this such as Hamburger Pie and Tuna Twist that combined a smorgasbord of things in just the right way that I was willing to give it a try. Perhaps it was the cheese on top that gave me the courage to try.

Even as a young adult my taste buds were sensitive and I was not up for trying much. Most of that, again stemmed from my sensitivity to textures. It was not uncommon to hear me say, "sorry that's a texture thing" after having only one bite.

My husband, however, is a foodie. He loves trying new things and making up creations of his own. It is an impressive skill that has opened my eyes to many new things. Combined with my new willingness to try more things it has really opened my eyes and taste buds. 

I'm grateful for caper berries, that despite the challenging texture combination, I think I enjoy. I grateful for the laugh it gives me as my mouth tries to figure out what the crap is in there. I'm grateful for Tikka Masala that my husband prepared for me last week because of my new love of Indian food. I'm grateful that there are foods like this that I can enjoy without peanuts (as many of my thai foods have been crossed off the menu). I'm grateful for the way my husband can make a dish that is not too spicy for me and then add one of his collection of hot sauces to it to bring it up to his spice needs. I'm grateful for the nights we take the time to cook together and I'm grateful that we both enjoy cooking. I'm grateful that on those nights that I am working or too tired that I know my handsome master chef can handle the kitchen alone. And I'm grateful for all the new foods that I have tried because of him.

What are some of your favorite dishes? What is something new you have tried lately? 

May today bless you with enough food to meet your needs. Have a beautiful day!

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I'm sure many of you out there are thinking of his famous speech, "I have a Dream." We all have dreams, don't we? We have personal dreams and if we take the time to think about it we hold dreams about how we wish this world looked. 

I would like to go a step further and say that I think most of our dreams for how this world could look involves more peace, more love. And if I am right and so many of us are dreaming of this, why are we not moving in that direction?

Martin Luther King Jr. was an advocate for love. He was an advocate for love in action, treating each other as equals. Yet today there are so many examples of one group looking down on another or treating them as somehow less.

Today I would like to call for love. Today I would like to call for patience. Today I would like to call for tolerance and for reaching a hand out to help. We have all needed help at one time or another. We have all made mistakes. Even within one group of people we have a thousand different beliefs and ideas, and yes that includes even within religion. We all have our own interpretations because we have all had our own experiences. Today let us set those differences apart and spread the dream of LOVE. Today, let's ACT on love.

I'm grateful to wake to a quiet morning and make the choice to stay snuggled in bed. I'm grateful for all the basic blessings around me that sometimes get take for granted even though I know not everyone has them. I'm grateful for people that have inspired history by standing up for what they believe. I'm grateful for the powerful speech, "I Have a Dream". I'm grateful for those that work every day behind the scenes to spread love and peace in this world even when they gain no recognition. I'm grateful for those that will listen to my plea today and practice patience, love, generosity, and kindness to their fellow human beings. We are all one.

How will you honor this day? How can you spread love? Where can you increase your tolerance?

​May today bless you with an abundance of patience and love to share. May you see the difference you make in each small act of kindness. And may these acts spread through this world creating change. Have a beautiful day!