Whew! Give the Universe a place you want to grow and the challenges come raining in. Remember how I said yesterday that I was working on tone? Well there have been plenty of opportunities to manage my tone...and my temper in the last forty-eight hours. 

Part of me wants to throw my hands in the air and say, "never mind, let's work on something else!" I would much rather give a certain company a piece of my mind. I want to rant and rage. But that would solve nothing. It doesn't change what's already done. 

The world is full of injustices. In the scope of the world this is a minor first world problem, even if to our family it meant so much. So we dust ourselves off and do our best to find solutions. It's part of our family motto after all, focusing on solutions. 

I'm grateful for my husband's level head. I'm grateful for my brother-in-law's efforts to help. I'm grateful to recognize there are much worse problems to have. I'm grateful to do my best to find solutions. I'm grateful for my daughter's song about taking a breath in and letting it out slow. I'm grateful she is learning some of these great techniques at such a young age. I'm grateful to accept my feelings as one hundred percent valid. I'm grateful to keep checking my tone and keep trying to see the beauty around me. I'm grateful for the sunshine and time outside.

What makes you feel like raging and ranting? What are your favorite ways to reframe?

May today give us perspective. May we be willing to accept the opportunities for growth that come our way. And may we sleep well at night knowing we have done our best. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend was Mother's Day. It was a beautiful weekend of spending time with my littles and getting to see my mom. I wish we could have seen my mother-in-law too but at least we got to have a good chat on the phone. 

Mother's Day is so nice. As moms we don't do what we do for the recognition or glory. We do it because we love our children and want what is best for them. But receiving a little thanks and attention is always appreciated too!

I'm so grateful to get to doll my daughter up for her first Daddy Daughter Dance. I'm grateful to have a little date evening with my youngest while they were gone. I'm grateful for the shift in weather that brought warmer temperatures. I'm grateful for my mom and mother-in-law and all the love and support they provide. I'm grateful to have beautiful, amazing moms to look up to. I'm grateful for all the mamas out there and all their hard work. I'm grateful for my beautiful daughters that made me a mama, my dream come true!

How do you celebrate Mother's Day? What special women in your life deserve a little extra recognition this week?

May we cherish the moms of the world who are all trying their best. May every child know they are loved. Have a beautiful day!

Do you ever have things that you just feel set on? You feel like it just has to continue a certain way or you have to get something done at a certain time? Sometimes I get stuck in moments like that. Sometimes I find myself caught in an all or nothing loop. 

I have been trying to decide whether or not to keep this blog going. I don't get much feedback these days and my content doesn't always feel as deeply connected as before. Most of that is because I feel more of a time crunch than I used to and at least one of my children is always with me while I'm writing. Some days I feel like giving it up but at the same time I love writing this blog and having a reminder to bring it back to gratitude.

While I have been monkey-minding this decision, I have somehow subconsciously already created the solution. It isn't all or nothing. Would I love to write my blog every weekday still? Yes. But at this stage that just isn't possible. But that also doesn't mean I have to let it go completely. I will write when I can. Mostly that will look like Monday through Wednesday. A few blog posts to move through the week. Each stage I can assess the situation and see what I can give.

I'm grateful to rethink. I'm grateful to recognize I was stuck in an all or nothing loop. I'm grateful to also realize I had already created the solution. I'm grateful to keep putting positive messages out to the world. I'm grateful to each of you that reads this. I'm grateful to know that this blog is real, not forced gratitude. I'm grateful to understand that some days that means deeply connected writing and other days it is just musings of the mind. I'm grateful to give what I can.

May we recognize our limits but also our joys. May we do what we can to make this world a positive place. Have a beautiful day!

Sometimes we all just need time to sit alone with our thoughts. Even my daughter, who normally acts like time alone is the worst thing in the world, chose to spend time by herself today. We need time to unwind. We time to let our thoughts drift. We need time to do the little things that bring us joy. 

I'm so grateful for some time alone. I'm grateful to see my girls needing their space today and help them find it. I'm grateful for separate bedrooms that gives them their own space. I'm grateful to just sit and breathe. I'm grateful to let my thoughts wander. I'm grateful for a new art journal. I'm grateful to take time for me and know my whole family benefits. 

How often do you take time for yourself? How often do you sit alone and let your thoughts drift around? 

May we choose to care for ourselves and see the benefits. May we take time to just be still. Have a beautiful day!

Friendship is a wonderful gift. There is something about spending time with a friend that lifts my spirits. And I am so blessed to have such a wonderful variety of friends.

I'm grateful for friends who take time to make my kids feel special. I'm grateful for friends who can hold a conversation even with frequent interruptions from little ones. I'm grateful to make time to see my friends when I can. I'm grateful to invite them to tag along, even on errands, just to connect. I'm grateful for phones and internet that allow me to keep in touch over the distances. I'm grateful for beautiful flowers. I'm grateful for breaths of fresh air. I'm grateful to be emerging from my winter "slumber". 

Who has been your friend the longest? What friendships have spanned long distances? What are the best traits you bring to a friendship?

​May we take time to stay connected. May we cherish our friends like family. Have a beautiful day!

This weekend was a busy one. We spent a whole day at the zoo walking the different continents to see the animals. Then the following day my oldest daughter and I spent a few hours at the Ethnic Festival, watching performances and tasting the food. We stayed within an hour of home, but it felt like we traveled for the weekend. 

I love experiencing other cultures. I love seeing the beautiful animals of the world. I love making donations that I feel make the world a better place. And I love sharing these experiences with my kids.

I'm grateful for a wonderful local zoo. I'm grateful for the care they are taking in updating their habitats to make the animals more comfortable. I'm grateful to take time to walk all around and share time with friends and family. I'm grateful for events like the Ethnic Festival that help spread knowledge about the different cultures and traditions. I'm grateful to watch some traditional dances from around the world. I'm grateful for representation for Ukraine at the festival. I'm grateful for good food. And I'm grateful for the opportunity to get up on stage and take a hula dancing lesson.

Where would you love to visit? Which cultures call to you? What are your own favorite traditions?

May we celebrate our differences together. May we share the beauty of our cultures and build a word of understanding and respect. Have a beautiful day!

It's mowing season again but the yard isn't the only thing in need of tending. At work I have been working with my colleague to give a fresh look to an older space. At home I have been working to clear out some of the clutter, both organizing and donating. And I have been trying to add a bit more movement into my day as well. 

I have noticed I tend to go in cycles with cleaning and organizing. It definitely spurs me more in Spring and Fall as the weather is cooler. But with my focus on doing things for myself and seeking balance I am finding the fresh looks to be very energizing too. 

I'm grateful to clear out some stuff that needed taken care of for a few months. I'm grateful to cross of a couple things from my husband's list in the process. I'm grateful to tidy my workspace so I don't feel so crowded. I'm grateful to file the stack of papers that needed filed. I'm grateful for my little one's patience and ability to entertain herself. I'm grateful to take frequent breaks to play with my kids or do something for myself. I'm grateful to be feeling more energized the more I get done.

What is on your to do list? What fresh look would you like to see in your space?

​May we move into the next season with a fresh perspective and renewed motivation. Have a beautiful day!

In my effort to do what is best for my kids and family, I often put my own needs last. I then turn into a crabby, exhausted version of myself that ends up upending my efforts to do what is best for my family. It is a hard balance for me. But I am trying and seeking some assistance in making it work.

One thing I have had to be clearer about is my boundaries. It means saying no sometimes or making my kids practice waiting. It also means making myself do something for me even when mommy guilt is banging on the back door of my brain saying I "should" be doing something else. It is a process. It is a journey. And it is a valuable lesson that I am learning and providing for my children. I need this. 

I'm grateful to take some time for me in fluid ways to fit my daily needs. I'm grateful to realize how drained my cup has gotten. I'm grateful to have people reminding me to care for me. I'm grateful to love my family and do everything I can for them. But I'm grateful to also put myself back on that list. I'm grateful for the moon glowing through the clouds. I'm grateful for a quiet drive. I'm grateful for exploring activities that bring me joy. I'm grateful to seek balance and boundaries.

Where do you draw your boundaries? Who tests those lines most? What activities bring you joy?

May we remember even the caregiver needs care. May we take time for ourselves and allow others the same. Have a beautiful day!