Last night I came home from work feeling pretty stressed. My engine light had come on and with a little inspection the oil was low. I take good care of my car. I never miss a service and if it weren't against the rules of my warranty I'd just service it myself. What was going on?

After talking to my husband and the dealership it was agreed that I could simply top off the oil until my service in a few hundred miles. So my husband, being the sweetheart-white-knight that he is, ran out to pick me up some motor oil. 

This morning before taking the girls to school I opened up the hood to give her a drink. I was a little flustered because of the rush for time but then my daughter said something that made me pause. "WOW, Mom! I didn't know you were a real life mechanic! What is that? What does that do? What's that hole?" 

The pride and excitement in her voice over something so normal to me gave me pause. It brought me joy! I got to tell her how her Papa used to be a mechanic and how he had taught me everything I know. We explored some under the hood and talked about why the car needs oil. I couldn't help but love this beautiful moment between mother and daughter. 

When I got back from dropping her off at school my little one and I planted some daffodils. Daffodils always bring me such joy in the Spring. It was nice to dig in the dirt together. Again I found myself just in love with this beautiful, dirty moment with my other daughter. She asked questions and I explained why we have to cover the bulb with dirt and mulch and water it. Then we watched a large grasshopper as he wandered by. 

I may not be able to teach my girls the best way to put on eyeshadow as they get older. I can mostly manage my way through a french braid if they sit still for me. And it is a rare site for me to be in a dress. But stereotypes and meant to be broken. Women are more than just being dolled up. And for me a little motor oil and playing in the dirt is just about the best day I can picture for a regular Tuesday morning. 

I'm grateful to show my girls that girls can do anything. I'm grateful to pause and answer their questions. I'm so grateful to let the pride in my daughter's voice fill my heart. I'm grateful to teach and to learn every day. I'm grateful my car let me know something was wrong before any damage was done. I'm grateful for the smell of motor oil that brings back so many memories. I'm grateful to get my hands dirty. I'm grateful to know there will be new daffodils in the Spring. 

Where do you shine? What stereotypes do you break? When do you feel proud and happy?

May we break out of the box. May we quit building the stereotypes that need to be broken. And may we find joy and pride in doing what we love. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend was the beginning of my birthday celebrations as I spend time with my parents and siblings as well as a date night with my husband. My mom made one of my favorite lunches. My dad did a mini hayride for me and the kids. And everyone shared the dessert.

I love this time of year. I love all the Fall Festivals, pumpkins, hayrides, and bonfires. I love getting to be near my family so we can celebrate together. And the weather this weekend was perfect for sweatshirts in the morning and t-shirts in the afternoon.

I'm grateful my birthday falls at such a fun time of year. I'm grateful for all the celebrations in the Fall. I'm grateful to kick of birthday celebrations early with my wonderful family. I'm grateful to get a date night with my husband. I'm grateful for my dad's thoughtfulness in his little mini wagon rides. I'm grateful for all the effort my mom goes to to make everyone's favorite birthday foods. I'm grateful to be silly and celebrate with my kids. I'm grateful to be coming up on another birthday and another beautiful year to come.

What is your favorite Autumn activity? When was the last time you took a hayride or wandered through a pumpkin patch? How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

​May today be a celebration for all. May we find what we love and add it into our daily lives as much as possible. Have a beautiful day!

Today I woke up telling myself I was going to have a great day. I was determined to do things better than yesterday, kick the funk to the curb, and enjoy the day. 

I pushed myself to get up too early and work out while having a fussy little one join me because she couldn't sleep. I pushed myself to be silly and playful when I just wanted to sit. I pushed my body to its limit fasting because I had a blood draw today. And then I pushed myself some more when my body just wanted to crash. 

There were plenty of beautiful moments today. But it really should not come as a surprise that I wiped out hard on my goal to do things better. I lost my temper with my kids, which always breaks my heart. I broke down in tears multiple times throughout the morning. 

I was so focused on pushing myself to have a better day that I forgot to just listen to what I actually needed to make that possible. So now I get to pick up the pieces of my crash. I get to find space to forgive myself as well as asking forgiveness from my children. I get to walk that harder lesson on listening to what I actually need and trying to turn this day back around. 

I am human. It is sometimes hard to admit. I am a gratitude coach. But I am also a person who is working through trauma, PTSD, and occasional depression. I struggle with anxiety and with guilt. Gratitude does not make the world a magical place of no pain or struggle. It takes the real life things we are experiencing and helps us find a little piece of light. It helps us find the good so we can keep moving forward. 

Each day I write this blog it is in the hopes that someone who is struggling can get a small glimpse of light. It is the hope that someone out there will be encouraged to find gratitude in their day and that maybe it will help them in times of challenge. This blog is not my gratitude practice. My gratitude practice is the same as what I recommend to everyone else. I wake up and write four things I am grateful for that are truly from the heart. They are different every day. Before I go to bed I write down the best thing that happened that day and at least four more things I am grateful for about that day. When sh!t goes sideways I try to pause and remember there is a lesson in it and find gratitude for something, anything. And when I crash and burn and fall into dysregulation and funk, I use these same practices to pull myself back up. 

I'm grateful to question why I chose to push myself rather than let myself be. I'm grateful to ponder that and let the judgment fall away. I'm grateful to see where I can grow from this moment. I'm grateful to take a long pause and just let the tears flow unhindered. I'm grateful to be able to tell my kids I messed up and ask for their forgiveness. I'm grateful to be raw and honest with you so there can be no pedestal, no pressure, just gratitude practice. I'm grateful to hold the hope and belief that this honesty makes a difference. I'm grateful to believe gratitude is powerful.

When have you had a wipe out? How do you rebuild? What practices help you learn and move forward?

May we always keep learning and growing. May we find forgiveness for our stumbles and gratitude in every turn. Have a beautiful day!

"Two roads diverged in a yellow road..." We are blessed to have so many choices each day. As adults we can choose what to wear, when to go somewhere, how to get there. 

For kids a lot of the decisions are made for them. My husband and I have been making a conscious effort to give our girls more choices over all the regular ins and outs of the day. We give choices for them to tailor their meals within reason. We give a window of time for them to choose to head to bed. And I have begun letting my little one pick what we do for an entire morning at least one day a week while her big sister is at school.

Most the time they make really great choices even without set options. Today was waffles for breakfast. My youngest chose to spend the morning on a long walk at the park followed by a little playtime at the playground. Lunch was black bean nachos with black olives and avocado. They each chose two books before their quiet time and they both went without a fuss. 

Will it always be this smooth? No. Most of these things they have always had some say over anyway so it isn't a major change. But the focus on how we are wording things helps to show them their opinion really is respected and they do hold power over their day. 

Isn't that what we all crave? We all want to be heard and to have a little control. As adults we have that...sometimes we may even want to give a little of that back. Kids are no different. 

I'm grateful for the fun we are having with letting the kids have more say. I'm grateful for the way it helps transitions go more smoothly. I'm grateful for a beautiful morning walk with my little one. I'm grateful she is happily content just wandering along a path and exploring where it goes. I'm grateful to hear her speaking up for what she wants. I'm grateful my oldest has always had a strong voice and opinions about things. I'm grateful to practice giving her more choices and watching her grow into that role.

What choices have you made today? What will you choose differently tomorrow? Which choices brought you joy?

May our choices be conscious and intentional. May we make choices that lead us toward joy. Have a beautiful day!

In the busy schedules of the day it is easy to feel like I don't have time. I don't have time to do that one more thing off the list. I don't have time to read one more book to my pleading kid. I don't have time to actually SIT and eat with my family. But mostly this feeling of "not enough time" is not true.

I have been trying to be more conscious of how I am spending my ten minutes. I don't like to be late so often times I arrive ten minutes early. But ten minutes early could have been five minutes early and five minutes of reading a book. So I am observing where I can adjust and where I can use ten minutes in a more productive way. 

We bring books in the car so as we wait in the carpool line, early as always, we can spend the time reading together. When we walk through the store, does it really hurt to stop for those few minutes so my kids can be in awe of the lighting section? Do I really want to model eating on the run or do I want to consciously choose to sit with my kids and slow down? As it turns out, I have plenty of time for ten minutes in my day to connect, to slow down, to be in the moment. Some days I even have time for multiple ten minute adjustments and other days I can add in a handful of two minute adjustments to get to ten by the end.

I'm grateful to give myself these little challenges that help me grow. I'm grateful to see what a difference it makes for all of us when I can take just a few minutes here and there. I'm grateful my girls love to read as much as I do. I'm grateful to keep seeking balance. I'm grateful to recognize my own mindset and bring in the woosah when needed. 

Where could you make ten minutes in your day to consciously connect? How can you add a few minutes here or there to keep your day more balanced?

May we never stop learning and growing. May we choose connection over chaos and always seek balance. Have a beautiful day!

Yesterday we gathered to watch football with the family. It has been a while since the family got together like this. Even though our team lost it still felt good to spend the day together.

Family is a big part of my life. I know not all families are that way, but I am still very close with mine. I hope to raise my girls the same way, with celebrations at each holiday and lots of time shared laughing together. 

It is good to have a family, whether born into or found later. It provides security. It gives you people to lean on when life throws a curveball. Win or lose, family has your back. 

There are people whose family has not acted like family. Hopefully everyone can identify some person that has become their family; someone who has their back no matter what. 

Maybe the place to start with world peace is right there with the idea of family. If we treat each other as family should, always there to help someone up or offer love rather than judgment; that is a good step toward peace. I can't say it is always easy. I can't even say I am great at doing this for people outside my family. But I can try. I can put in that effort and so can you.

I'm grateful to know that win or lose my family is here for me. I'm grateful for all the love and support I grew up surrounded by. I'm grateful to have a large extended family. I'm grateful for the wonderful family I gained through marriage. I'm grateful to give love as often as I can and keep watch on judgments that I feel creeping in. I'm grateful for a day spent with family yesterday. I'm grateful for many more of those days to come.

Who is in your family? How can you take steps today to treat those you meet as family?

May today bring less judgment and more love. May we love each other and always support each other. Have a beautiful day!

When I was young I struggled to find and use my voice. I did okay around my immediate family but if there was anyone else around it often disappeared.

As I watch my girls I am amazed at their strong voices. My oldest has always had a strong opinion and been fully open to sharing it. I admire her boldness. My youngest is more "shy" and doesn't say as much around new people. Yet when it comes to expressing her opinions to family, she makes sure to be heard.

The last couple years my oldest chose our whole family's theme for Halloween costumes. One year was Madagascar, the Moana, and last year PJ Masks. This year she decided right off that the girls and I were going to be deer... and my husband a hunter. (I found this both funny and a little disturbing.)

No matter what she said to try to convince her little sister, the little one just replied, "I be a dinosaur." She had seen a blue and green dinosaur costume and had set her mind on it. My oldest tried a number of tricks and threats and pleading. I offered the alternative that she could be a puppy, a hunting dog in training. Nope.

So I hopped online to see this dinosaur costume again to see if it was something I could recreate. Then my oldest saw it and said, "I changed my mind! I want to be a dinosaur too!" And that is how my two-year-old let her voice be heard and chose the family theme this year...Jurassic Park. 

It may sound strange to some but I am completely tickled by this turn of events. I am so happy to see my little one sticking to her own choice no matter what anyone else said. I hope both my girls keep their strong opinions and strong voices through all life's adventures. And even when it makes me pull my hair out in frustration as a mom sometimes, I truly cherish this powerful gift.

I'm grateful for all my daughters' teach me every day. I'm grateful to watch as they grow together and figure each other out. I'm grateful for my oldest's bold and cunning personality. I'm grateful for my younger's sweet but sassy personality. I'm grateful for how they compliment each other, support each other, and challenge each other. I'm grateful for the ways they challenge me to grow and see a new way. And I'm grateful to be a scientist for Halloween rather than an animal being hunted! I'm grateful for my cute little dinosaurs.

How would you describe your voice? When do you speak up? 

May today be an exploration in voice. May we speak up for the things that truly matter and inspire growth all around us. Have a beautiful day!

Today seems to be calling me to slow down and listen. It is time to push the pause button even as my mind says, "but it's only Tuesday and there is so much we need to get done!" My body is telling me the opposite, rest. And my kids seem to be more in sync with my body, calling for more attention and more cuddles. 

I will pause. Thankfully there are several things I can look over and cross off my to do list while still just sitting. I will also take some time to truly just relax because I'm not defusing bombs; most things on my to do list will be perfectly content there until tomorrow.

I'm grateful to listen to my body. I'm grateful to listen to my kids. I'm grateful to remember that even a couple weeks in we are all still adjusting to this new schedule of school. I'm grateful for salads. I'm grateful for water. I'm grateful to just sit and be, both with myself and with my kids. 

How often do you pause? What is your favorite way to unwind?

May today be just the right speed for what we need. And when it gets moving too fast, may we always remember the power of pausing. Have a beautiful day!

There is a lot going on in the world right now and a lot going on right here in our own backyard. A lot of things seem to be topsy-turvy and the division of beliefs around what we "should" be doing seems to be growing. 

As an energy-sensitive adult it takes diligence in remembering to clear and center. Then I watch my young children who have definitely been affected by the pandemic as well and yet they roll along. Part of me wonders if it is because they are so young that they can adapt to all the upheaval. 

I spoke to a teacher friend of mine. She said this year has been exhausting and harder than any year she has ever taught before. It isn't the students. The students are more than happy to do whatever is asked so they can continue to come to school and see their friends. It is the parents that berate her day in and day out for things out of her control. 

Kids are resilient. Teens are able to find ways to continue their education whether that be online or in-person. They are willing to do what is necessary to move forward. And thank goodness for that! They will be the ones truly having to make major changes and sacrifices to undo all the harm our planet has sustained. They will be the ones who will find ways to make peace no matter what the other side believes because they will know that we are more than just our feelings in the moment. They will know that pandemics end and things move on. 

It is us adults that have some work to do it seems. We can learn a lot from listening to our kids. We can shift a lot from modeling ourselves after them. We can find safe ways to let our emotions out without unleashing them on people just doing their jobs. We can build the resilience with which our children seem to be born. 

And yet we do it for them. We need to make this shift to resilience not just for our own health and sanity but for our children. We need to give them that security in knowing it will be okay. We will get through this pandemic. Any liberties we feel were taken can be argued when we are back to a stable, post-pandemic place. We can have each others' backs no matter what each of us believes. We can choose respect. We can choose hope and that hope will give us the resilience we need.

I'm grateful to witness the resilience in my children every day. I'm grateful to make a conscious effort to center and stay grounded. I'm grateful to seek balance. I'm grateful to wear a mask when it is needed and I'm grateful to know I have a voice when that need fades. I'm grateful for every parent that tries to do what is best for their kids and even more grateful for parents who witness the beauty and strength their own kids can teach them. I'm grateful for everyone who is choosing to use this time to come together in love and respect. 

In what ways are you resilient? Which areas have been a struggle during this pandemic? How do you take time to honor your feelings? How do you take time to honor and respect others'? 

May we be the pillar for our children while being a student of their wisdom in resilience. Have a beautiful day! ​

When it comes to love, most of us have some wounds. Some wounds come from love lost, others come from love never found, and some come from something else posing as love in the most hurtful ways. 

It is easy to understand how walls can be built up. Protection may feel necessary. But the tricky thing about love is that it is best felt by leaning in, not away. 

Last night I had a scare. Everything ended up fine but during that time of not knowing I felt shaken deep in my heart. Yet when everything turned out fine, I found my fear replaced with anger. I was not leaning in. I was walling myself up. 

I don't judge my reaction. I know where it is based and what was stirred up that I needed to process. But pulling myself back from it and observing reminded me why I was scared in the first place. The fear would not have been so deep without deep love and so the anger dissipated and the tears fell, washing the rest away. 

Anger is often rooted in fear. Fear can be caused by so many things and yet two things seem to help fear the most; faith and love. Both of these require leaning in. 

I'm grateful to pause and observe. I'm grateful to let the tears fall. I'm grateful to allow my body and mind its process without judgment. I'm grateful to let the anger go. I'm grateful to lean in. I'm grateful to find loving arms waiting when I lean. I'm grateful to continue to work on this beautiful process of learning to lean in.

How do you respond to fear or loss? When do you lean in?

May we always hold on to faith, in whatever form that takes for you. May we remember to lean in to love. Have a beautiful day!