My daughter is well aware there is a new baby coming. Mostly she is excited and tells me all about the things she will teach baby sister. She has also found ways to try to exploit the situation; telling me baby sister needs a play kitchen or playdoh set when I tell her we are leaving it at the store.

My daughter has reached that fun, and sometimes tricky, age where she wants to do everything herself but is not always capable of doing the task she wants the independence to do. At two and a half she has strong opinions about just about everything from clothing to hair to meal choices and everything in between. She is the epitome of strong and independent. ...until she is not.

She is recognizing the age conundrum of wanting to be older while still needing to know she is our baby. The last couple days she has been requesting to be rocked in the nursery a lot. She started asking for a binky again, but we don't have one. And she has dug the sippy cups back out of the cabinet. 

The same child that said, "I'm almost a teenager and then I can do that" is the same one saying "Can you just rock me with my blankie?" It is the age conundrum that continues through the teen years with "I can't wait to grow up and make my own rules...but can I have some money to go to a movie with my friends?" It continues in adulthood with the lure of retirement but still wanting the benefits of a steady paycheck and youth.

I will admit I do my best giving her space to exercise her independence and strong opinions. There are times it drives me crazy because I just want to get something done or move us along but I try to be patient. I love her strong spirit. I hope she keeps it because it will serve her well as an adult. But I am LOVING these extra snuggles lately. I'm loving rocking my sweet child again and reassuring her she will always have my heart.

I'm grateful to recognize the how big a change she is going through both with growing and with a sister on the way. I'm grateful for her strength and spunk. I'm grateful for all the laughs she gives me. I'm grateful to do my best nurturing her strong spirit while setting boundaries. I'm grateful to just hold her and rock back and forth. I'm grateful for the way she already thinks about helping with the new baby and giving the new baby things... even if there is a hidden agenda sometimes. I'm grateful to be so blessed with a beautiful, smart, independent, loving, and cuddly daughter. I'm grateful to have another on the way and I'm excited to see what personality she will have in store for us.

When do you feel the age conundrum? Do you ever just have a day where you wish you could just be rocked? 

May today remind us that where we are is a pretty great place too. May we have hopeful eyes for the future and appreciative eyes for the past but find gratitude and peace here in the present. Have a beautiful day!

Have you watched a child open a gift at Christmas or their birthday? The excited shredding of wrapping paper in any way necessary to see what's inside is contagious. There is no reserve, no tidiness or etiquette, just pure joyful abandon. I love it!

My daughter has this same joyful abandon in opening letters from Farmor (her grandmother). She shreds the envelope however she can get a finger in to be able to get to her card. She tells me all about every detail of the picture on the front and then wants to know what each word says inside. Even after we have read it a time or two she will pick random words and say "what do these letters say?" 

I love her inquisitiveness and her love of letters. I love her sharp mind working to figure out how the letters make a word. And most of all I love her enthusiasm!

I'm so grateful for the reminder to let go sometimes and just live with joyful abandon. I'm grateful for the reminder of how wonderful it feels to be filled with excitement over seemingly "little" things. I'm grateful Farmor takes the time each week or two to send my daughter mail. I'm grateful to hear my daughter's thoughts and she writes a letter back, drawing line after horizontal line of thoughts she believes she is writing to Farmor. (I'm grateful to be able to put a note inside the letter to translate at least some of those lines for my mother-in-law.) I'm grateful for the realization that horizontal lines mean sentences, vertical lines mean individual letters (usually her name) and the swirls and squiggles are her drawings. I'm grateful for my daughter's beautiful mind! I'm grateful to watch my daughter burst with joy and I'm grateful to know I can allow myself the same abandon.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to feel unbridled joy? When was the last time you felt such excitement over something "little" because it was huge to your spirit?

May today remind us the feeling of joyful abandon. May we let go of the need to look "grown-up" or responsible and just express our joy as we feel it. May we give ourselves permission to just rip the envelope open. Have a beautiful day!

Once upon a time there was a shy and quiet girl. She navigated her way through life unsure of her place and purpose but she had a large and tender heart. This girl had an amazing ability to love people with blinders to any faults they may have because she knew she too had faults. Yet this led to some pretty unhealthy relationships. Slowly she realized that despite her own faults she was worthy and deserving of love equal to what she gave. She found a man that agreed and they fell in love. They had their moments of turbulence as life tossed them curveballs but they also created a beautiful life together. They had children and went on adventures doing their best to teach their children self-love and a love of nature. And they all lived gratefully ever after.

Today is National Tell a Fairy Tale Day. The thing about fairy tales is we really can live them if we choose. The fairy tale above is a very brief version of my own life. 

Fairy tales were meant to pass on life lessons. Some of them teach about naiveté or about truly following your heart. Others teach about conquering evil and if you view the different characters as symbolism for different aspects of yourself or different challenges life offers; you may just realize they apply a lot more than you thought. No, most of us do not have a evil witch casting spells on us. Most of us are not royal princesses. And, to my disappointment, I have still never gotten to dance with an owl in a cloak and hat. But the underlying message applies and not always in the dated way it was meant to either.

We don't need a prince or princess to save us. We need that aspect of ourselves to save us by realizing we are worthy. And from there we can find real love and share it with another person if we choose. 

The two most important elements of the fairy tale are recognizing our worth and strength and changing our perspective to give us a happily, or gratefully, ever after. The fairy tales never said they characters never had a fight or struggles to pay a bill or had their home get hit by a natural disaster. We generally assume that because it isn't what we envision as "happy". But happy is a perspective and it can be just as true during hardship if we choose to focus on what we still have and the blessings around us. Perhaps this is why I find "gratefully" ever after more fitting.

I'm grateful for my story. I'm grateful for all the relationships that taught me about myself. I'm grateful for my big heart and ability to love people. I'm grateful to have learned to give myself that same love. I'm grateful for an amazing husband that is not perfect but is human and real and my soulmate. I'm grateful to not be perfect either and know that it is a good thing. I'm grateful for our beautiful family. I'm grateful for all the times of sunshine and all the storms that all got me to this beautiful place of gratitude. And I'm grateful to see that fairy tales can be real and we can come out the other side with a "happily ever after". 

How many times has life thrown you a plot twist? How many times have you been "poisoned" or "locked in a tower"? And so far you have survived one hundred percent of those challenges. You're still here! And that alone is something to be grateful for in my book. So how will you find your gratefully ever after in your perspective?

May today remind us life is a journey. May we see that every mountain climbed has a beautiful ski slope or sledding hill of joy on the other side. May we know that every wind in the road of our journey has something to teach us. And may we find gratitude and joy along the way. Have a beautiful day!

Batteries are a big part of life these days. Whether it be the batteries in my child's favorite toy, my cell phone, or the car; batteries are important. At least a few times a day I find myself glancing up at the gauge. My computer currently rests at 38%, my cell phone 47%, my fitness watch at 90% and yet I am realizing I may be paying attention to the wrong batteries.

My fitness watch has this special feature called a body battery monitor. It factors in sleep, stress levels through the day, activity and rest periods and then calculates how my "battery" is doing. It will suggest best times for working out and best times for resting and focusing on my breath to help teach me how to optimize my battery. Though I will admit life interferes frequently with their tips. 

My fitness watch also analyzes my sleep. So far it has confirmed that I do not sleep well when pregnant. And waking this morning my body batter is only starting at 25%, not a great start and I feel it. The thing about our body battery is, when it is low we can't just swap it out with a charged one. I can't walk to the kitchen drawer and say "click!, ahhh much better". I have to take care of the one I've got and do my best to recharge it daily. 

This means a commitment to follow their tips whenever it is safe to do so and making rest and low stress a priority to make it though today. I can do that. I can make myself and my health a priority. This is often forgotten once "mom-ing" kicks in for the day but today I will choose to take care of myself too. 

I'm grateful for this fun and educational feature of my new fitness watch. I'm grateful for the motivation it gives me to get my steps in and hit more fitness goals. I'm grateful that it takes a look at a more well rounded picture of my health than just movement. I'm grateful for the reminders it gives to move and to breathe. I'm grateful for batteries that make so many important things work and I'm grateful for the ease of how other batteries can be recharged or swapped out. I'm grateful to know my battery is even more important and that I am worth taking the time to recharge. I'm grateful to know taking care of me means I am able to better take care of the ones I love. And I'm grateful to commit to caring for my battery today.

How is your body's battery feeling right now? What things help renew your body physically and give you energy? What things help renew your spirit? 

May today remind us to renew our body, mind, and spirit. May we prioritize our own battery and well being. And may we enjoy this day for the blessing it is. Have a beautiful day!

The birds are awake and lively this morning as they chirp and dance in the trees. I'm sure part of this beautiful greeting has to do with my sleeping in and not being up at five. But it is a welcome morning greeting!

I love all the wildlife in our yard. The birds that come to eat the berries from the plants out back and the squirrels chasing each other up and down trees are the most common guests. We have seen a groundhog, fox, rabbits, turtles, and even a number of deer have come through the yard this winter. It is a nice feeling that nature, even in the middle of the city, is not far away. 

At my parents' house there is a feeder and the birds flock to it. The other night there were more than twenty cardinals along with some smaller birds. It was beautiful! Cardinals are my favorite, along with owls. It is amazing to see the birds come in such large quantities to get food in the winter.

While I have thought of placing feeders in our yard, so far we only have a bird bath. It is loved by birds and squirrels alike. But it is nice to see that even without the feeders there are an abundance and variety of birds that come to visit us.

I'm grateful for this morning song. I'm grateful for all the different colors and types of birds that visit our yard. I'm grateful to see an abundance of Cardinals this time of year. I'm grateful for the other wildlife that wanders through. I'm grateful to have large windows overlooking the back so we can watch in awe as a group of deer walks passed during mealtime. I'm grateful my dog is to the age she no longer tries to chase them. I'm grateful the groundhog found a new home and is no longer under our deck now that the fish from the pond are gone. I'm still grateful to see him visit on occasion though. And I'm grateful for all the other animals who pop in to surprise us from time to time. 

What are your favorite animals to see? Do any of them visit where you live? How often do you go out into nature to see the ones you like best?

May today remind us of the gifts of nature. May we admire the beauty and character of each creature. May we take time to just enjoy what nature has to offer. Have a beautiful day!

I graduated school as a massage therapist back in 2003. There were a few years I took off and did other things but I seem to always come back to massage. I love helping people feel better. I love the relaxing atmosphere. And I love the variety of clients I get to meet by being certified in a number of different massage techniques.

My hours and schedule have changed several times over the years as my life has taken different turns. Currently I am blessed to get to stay home several days a week with my daughter and work just a few mornings and then each evening. It means being away from my family most nights at dinner and missing several Saturday mornings but I know it also provides so quality one on one time for my daughter to have with her dad.

Working limited hours right now means the calendar books up quickly. As a massage therapist I get a percentage of what I bring in for the business rather than an hourly check. It also means no pay for days I don't or can't work. But it is such a blessing having a flexible schedule and I have a great set of regular clients now who are as committed as I am to keep their appointments (because we all know it will be at least two weeks out to reschedule).

Some of my clients have been coming to me since I started working this location almost nine years ago. Some of them have become like family. Some clients chat or vent and release their day during their massage while many people just relax or even sleep. I love it all. 

I'm grateful to have a job where I feel like I make a difference in people's lives. I'm grateful to have clients from all backgrounds and personality types. I'm grateful for the ones that have become friends or even like family. I'm grateful about all the kids, grandkids, siblings, and celebrations I get to hear about during some massages. I'm grateful for the peaceful and quiet moments at work too. I'm grateful that when I prepare to leave for work my daughter asks, "how many people are you help feel better tonight?" I'm grateful that this is the case at least with most my clients. I'm grateful to have a full schedule and reliably book so far out. I'm grateful for all the clients who work as hard as I do to keep their appointments and I'm grateful to be as flexible as the schedule allows for those who can't. I'm grateful to be earning money while doing something I love that has meaning. I'm grateful to be so blessed.

I love my coaching practice as well and the difference it has made both in my life and others' lives. But I'm also grateful to have chosen to take a sabbatical from the huge commitment it is preparing and carrying out the programs so I can spend more time with family. I look forward to returning to it in the future.

What do you love about your job? What fulfillment do you get from what you do? 

May today remind us how blessed we are for the talents we hold. May we share those talents with the world in meaningful and productive ways. Have a beautiful day!

Today is National Love Your Pet Day and it couldn't come at a better time. Don't get me wrong, I love my dog every day but lately there has been more frustration than snuggles. 

Pippin is getting older and suffers from arthritis. She can no longer be on her daily pain medicine and we have been working hard to find some kind of supplement that can help her feel okay. We have tried a number of things and are currently testing out the supposed benefits of CBD oil. So far we have seen no change. 

It is heartbreaking to know she is in pain. And she has become increasingly fed up with our busy schedule. Unfortunately after a few naughty incidences last fall, including eating my kindle, we have had to resort to kenneling her when we are gone. She has made it known she doesn't care for this by barking incessantly and bending her kennel door up trying to break out. 

I know she is lonely since our other dog passed away last summer and yet she does not tolerate other dogs so we fear getting her a companion. It has been a rough time for all involved and has escalated to her barking for attention any time we are not directly with her, such as when we have to eat meals. My patience is waning and I can tell I'm near the end of my rope. But I know she is too for her to be acting this way.

So National Love Your Pet Day falling on a cold, snowy day is just what we needed. I don't have to be to work until late this afternoon. My husband gets to work from home, granted he will be busy but still physically present. And hopefully I will be able to convince my daughter to play WITH the dog rather that just hoarding all the dog toys in her swing. Today I commit to being more attentive to my sweet pup!

I'm grateful for all the years my dog and I had together before I was married and a mom. I'm grateful for all the hikes we've shared and neighborhood walks before her arthritis shortened our distances. I'm grateful for evening snuggles after my daughter goes to bed. I'm grateful for her patience as I try to balance all the plates that come with my life right now. I'm grateful to know she still has a couple years left despite her age. I'm grateful for her silly and playful personality. I'm grateful for all the advice on pain relief we have gotten since the vet left us hanging. I'm grateful to do my best to find something that works for her. I'm grateful for her unconditional love and her reminder that she needs my attention too.

Do you have a pet? How can you show it love and attention today? What is your favorite thing to do with your pet?

May today remind us to see the world through our pets eyes. May we find a little extra time in our busy schedules today to give them love for all the love they give us. Have a beautiful day!

I have loved numbers since I was a kid. They were my nighttime friend when I couldn't sleep, playing games with the clock. They were predictable, at least in time and date. And I loved patterns, repetitions, or finding ways to make the first and second numbers equal the last.

When I got older I learned that numbers can have meaning. I was told that if a number comes in threes it is a message. Being someone who loves to watch for "signs" this idea resonated with me very well. What if all the  spiritual reassurances or redirections I needed could come to me through numbers?! Think about how often we see numbers in our day. This meant the universe and God could "talk" to me basically at a moments notice and all I had to do was be watching the numbers.

I won't go into what every number means for me but I will share a few. The number five for me means gratitude. It is a reminder to check in and be grateful. I cannot tell you how many times I have been feeling annoyed or been cut off in traffic and right as I feel myself start to boil I see a repetition of the number five. Pause. Breathe. What am I grateful for? 

No matter the number, I will say that each one has a positive and reassuring message. I believe there is plenty of criticism and judgment elsewhere if that is the message you are seeking. So messages from the divine are encouraging, nurturing, and positive reminders.

Today is 2/19/2019. I love dates like this with repetition. The number two, for me, represents connection. It is the reminder that we are never alone, that we are part of a team, that everything is connected. The number one is new beginnings, a fresh start, and being centered. The number nine represents things coming to an end. For me, when I see the numbers one and nine together it is the reminder of the natural cycle of everything. 

So what does this mean for today? For me, today is a divine reminder that everything isa cycle and we are a part of it. We do not have to wait for a new year to make change. We do not need to hold on to any aspect of us that isn't in our best interests until the next month or the next day or the next year. We are ever changing. We are ever growing. At any moment we can say, "This is not me anymore. I choose to let this aspect go." Every moment, every day is an opportunity to say, "this is who I choose to be." It may be the same or similar to yesterday, but it may not. Maybe we learned something about our strength or our beauty, or our divinity that means letting go of some old habits. Why wait until next year or even tomorrow? 

I'm grateful for numbers. I'm grateful to have been a "strange" kid. Heck, I'm grateful to be a little weird as an adult. I'm grateful for the positive reminders and encouragement I find through numbers. I'm grateful for all the divine reminders that help keep me on a positive and loving track. I'm grateful to get excited when I notice a date or time or license plate that speaks to me. And I'm grateful to share this piece of my wonderful and quirky world with you. I'm grateful for today's message that inspires me to make a few tweaks. And I'm grateful to step into this new day feeling supported.

Do you have a favorite number or a number that "speaks" to you? Do you ever feel divine reassurance as you travel through your day? 

May today remind us we are always supported. May we find that support even when we cannot be sitting in prayer, meditation, or on the phone with our most trusted friend. May we share the things that make us unique and celebrate the uniqueness of others because that is what makes this world so interesting. Have a beautiful day!

Recently I started introducing a special gratitude, thank you time to my daughter's bedtime routine. Once she is in bed she likes me to stay for a couple minutes and it has become the perfect time to tell her thank you for at least one thing she did during the day. 

It could be as simple as thank you for saying "please" today when you asked for snack. Often times it is thank you for being patient while I vacuumed, took a client call, or whatever I had to do. And sometimes it is more about who she is, like thank you for being such a kind girl today and sharing your toys with me. 

It didn't take long for her to start reciprocating and I just love the things she chooses to say thank you to me or her daddy. "Thank you for Daddy swinging me on my swing fast today." "Thank you for my snack." "Thank you for reading me a new book...about the lollipop...do you remember? It was Franklin's!" And my personal favorite so far, "Thank you for being quiet so I can talk and talk at bedtime...." as she begins telling me all about every detail of her day. 

I do my best to say thank you during the day. I try as a mom to remember to point it out when she is doing something kind or polite or even just correctly. But this special time at bedtime gives us the time we need when we are both paused to actually hear and share. Hopefully it is a practice we can keep even after she no longer wants tucked in. Hopefully it is a practice that will continue as a gratitude practice as she gets older and looks for the good in her day.

I'm so grateful for these moments. I'm grateful that even at two and a half she can reciprocate and let me know what she appreciates. I'm grateful to see what is important to her by what she chooses. I'm grateful to know that one huge thing for her is quality time together, because quality time is a love language of mine as well. I'm grateful to make sure I carve out undivided attention for her each day to play and read together. I'm grateful to take the time to tell her how grateful I am for her and the things she does. I'm grateful to be specific so she can see how well rounded my love for her is, not just when she is "good" but always. I'm grateful to have such an amazing daughter. 

Who are you grateful for and when was the last time you told them why? What gratitude do you reflect on at night as you look back over your day?

​May today remind us the importance of communicating our gratitude to the ones we love. May we build each other up and share our love with the people around us. Have a beautiful day!

This Winter has been full of snow and ice...and random beautifully warm days. It is like Mother Nature knows when we are reaching our limit and says, "ok here is a taste a Spring" before sending us back into the depths of Winter.

This week has been one of those weeks. It was in the 30's (F) earlier this week. Then yesterday is got up to 58 degrees by lunch! My daughter and I got home from her school Valentine's Day party and decided to have a picnic on the deck. It was gorgeous and sunny! By dinnertime it had dropped back below freezing and the winds were starting to kick up a bit. 

As I wake this morning Winter is back in full swing. It is a cold 19 degrees (F) outside wish several inches of snow predicted to start falling within the next three hours. Brrrr! Welcome back, Winter! She definitely isn't one for subtleties this year.

While I will fully admit that upper fifties is more my type of "Winter" weather I do at least get a good chuckle out of this crazy yo-yoing effect. It is always amusing to get to experience all four seasons within the course of a week...or a day. And I know that the next few weeks will begin swinging toward Springtime weather more and more.

I'm grateful for a little humor and a ornery Winter. I'm so very grateful for the warm reprieve days that remind me what Spring will bring. I'm grateful to get to enjoy a picnic outside with my daughter in the sunshine yesterday. I'm grateful to have carrie through with our plan to grill steaks last night even in the falling temperatures. I'm grateful my husband handled the grilling. I'm grateful my daughter's cold urticaria has been improving. I'm grateful for the ability to laugh and appreciate the humor in these wacky weather swings. I'm grateful to not have to be anywhere today so I can take the final steps of getting back to healthy before the weekend. And I'm grateful to be home for a much needed cleaning day after nearly two weeks of sick family.

How is your weather today? What is your favorite season? What are your favorite activities to enjoy outside?

May today remind us we always have the power to choose our response. May we find humor in the things we cannot control. And may we ring in the weekend with laughter. Have a beautiful day!