Tonight I worked later than usual. This meant that I did not get to see my girls before they went to bed. As luck would have it though, my three year old was still awake when I got home.

I crawled into her bed and snuggled her for a bit. She mentioned how much she had missed me as she does most nights when I return from work. Which is comforting since even after three years of working evenings I still feel a pang in my heart when I leave each afternoon while she naps. 

I think there is something healthy about that kind of "missing you" feeling. It is a great reminder of how precious that person is to you. And it is a great feeling to get to see them again!

I'm grateful to miss my children during my short evenings away. I'm grateful I don't have to work a full eight hour job. I'm grateful to hold them and hug them when I return. I'm grateful to get to see their faces light up when I walk through the door most nights. I'm grateful for how precious they are to me and to be eager to return to them. I'm grateful for their resilience and flexibility dealing with me leaving while they sleep. I'm grateful for all my husband does to make this work so I can work too. I'm grateful for all his early mornings and his amazing abilities as a dad. 

Who do you miss? Do they know how you feel? How often do you get to return to them or are you waiting on the next "life" to meet up with them again?

May we see the beauty in missing the ones we love. May we get to return to them someday, somewhere. And may we get to hold the ones we love a little tighter. Have a beautiful day!

Today was a great manifestation of time being on my side. I have a tendency to feel rushed and that stresses me out. I don't like being late and yet sometimes I get caught up in the go, go, go lifestyle. Add a preschooler in the mix and some days it feels like we are running in slow motion. 

This morning, despite some significant delays, I stayed calm and trusted things to get done. Not only did everything on my list get done but it was much more enjoyable. I had a great morning with my preschooler. We got to school early enough for me to read her two books while we waited on the bench. My baby girl took her shots in stride and grocery shopping went smooth despite the store under construction. 

Nap times went smooth and I took some me time while the girls slept. It was much needed. I definitely felt rejuvenated by being able to just sit.

The evening topped off by being family dinner night. We got to enjoy a fun, relaxing evening at my parents' house. It was the perfect end to a great time-managed day. 

I'm grateful for the reminder that time is abundant. I'm grateful to go with the flow and keep calm even in the delays. I'm grateful to get to spend some one on one time with each of my daughters today. I'm grateful to get to spend time with my husband and parents. I'm grateful to feel time was "on my side". I'm grateful to just slow down and enjoy the day. I'm grateful how everything lined up just right. I'm grateful for a day in the "flow".

What makes you feel in the "flow"? How do you keep your schedule moving forward but relaxed?

May we see time in its fluidity. May we consciously construct our day and find plenty of time in the process. Have a beautiful day!

On my way home from work tonight I decided I needed to do a gratitude challenge tonight. It is a good way for me to overload myself with the beauty of my life. In overloading myself with the positive it leaves little room to focus on what may not be going as perfectly.

I have seen how the shadows help me to appreciate the sunshine. And I have a respect and appreciation for the shadows in and of themselves. Tonight I needed to bathe in some self-made light.

When I arrived home my eldest daughter asked me to read her a book. I said yes. She asked me to read her another and I said yes. She asked me to lay with her in her bed for a few minutes and so I did. 

I watched my youngest daughter as she nursed before bed. I watched as her eyes explored every thread of my shirt and her fingers traced it gently. I smiled at the intensity of her eyes and the cute way her tongue sticks out of her mouth as she explores everything. 

I listened to my husband chat with our oldest daughter, patiently. He is such a great dad. I thought about how he had texted me throughout the day because he knew I had a rough morning. He is such a great husband and person. And I'm excited to nerd it up as we plan his birthday party. 

I'm grateful for all these beautiful moments and so much more. I'm grateful how just being present can make the abundance of gratitude flow. I'm grateful to satisfy with challenge without it being a challenge at all. I'm grateful for my girls' blue eyes. I'm grateful for my oldest's precocious nature and love of reading. I'm grateful for all the questions she thinks to ask and the insight into the inner workings of her mind. I'm grateful to get to see the world new and fresh again through my baby's eyes. I'm grateful for the beautiful bonding time we get during feedings. I'm grateful to just hold her and be in this fleeting moment of her being so small. I'm grateful for my husband for a million reasons but mostly for his huge heart. I'm grateful for his protective and supportive nature. And I'm grateful for his inner nerd. I'm grateful for this life. I'm grateful for the shadows and I'm grateful to know I have only to look as far as the current moment to find the light.

What are you grateful for? Can you find ten gratitudes in five minutes or less? What brings you light?

​May today be lived in the moment. May we seek to find the beauty that is always right in front of us. May we tell the ones we love how much they mean to us. Have a beautiful day!

It's easy to say, "I want to be happier," but what does that mean? I set a theme for myself this year to make a Commitment to Creating Positivity. I have felt the energy of our household has not been as positive as it could be as my preschooler navigates frustration and tests the limits of how to express it safely. I also have felt the strain between being yelled at by a child repeatedly and the pull of seasonal gloom. 

The stress of trying to remain chipper and beating myself up when I am not is having the opposite effect than my themed intention. The pull of "should" is counterproductive. On Saturday I was blessed with a day of snow and ice, effectively canceling anything I needed to do outside the home. It took it out of my hands and allowed me to take some much needed time home with my family. 

It also made me realize that part of Creating Positivity is observing, acknowledging, and feeling all my feelings. Today I took time to feel each feeling as it came up. I took a breath and asked myself "what is coming up?" Why am I allowing myself to take it personally as my daughter practices using her voice to express her heavier feelings? In getting caught up in my own emotion, I am less able to help her work through her own. But the funny part is that I get caught in my own when I am denying my own. When I simply allow that it doesn't feel good and breathe into it, it also helps me breathe into the depth of her feelings and embrace both. 

My intention is not "to be happier". I have a beautiful life and I am very grateful. That does not mean I only experience positive emotions. Having feelings of sadness does not mean I am less grateful or love my life less. It simply means the experience is authentic to me. My emotions help me navigate my internal dialog and help me grow. So today I let go of the idea that Creating Positivity means always having a smile on my face. And in that reevaluation and release I find a new level of positivity in self-acceptance.

I'm grateful to remind myself I am human. I'm grateful to give myself permission to feel all my feelings. I'm grateful for the compass my feelings provide. I'm grateful to love my life. I'm grateful to observe and reevaluate. I'm grateful to take time to breathe into my feelings today and to find ways to try and help my daughter with hers. I'm grateful for this crazy, sometimes challenging, adventure called parenthood. I'm grateful to have a beautiful family with a mix of personalities that keep life interesting and help me grow. I'm grateful for a year ahead and practicing creating positivity authentically.

What are your intentions for the year, month, day, week, or even just today? What emotions have you been feeling and how do they help you navigate?

May today allow our feelings to communicate to us. May we embrace all that comes up and find beauty in the process. Have a beautiful day!

Today we began routine reprogramming. Being out of town for a week also meant being out of routine. While I was impressed and proud with how well my girls handled the complete upheaval of their schedules, it also meant they relied a lot more on me (and my husband) for reassurances.

For the preschooler this was a more subtle form of seeking reassurance. It came in testing some regularly established boundaries and extra physical touch. 

For the baby it was more obvious as her separation anxiety and a need to be held at all times. Sleeping within arms reach and even being within sight for the car ride were included in the need for reassurance with the little one. 

We went from full vacation mode, sleeping in and doing our own thing yesterday on the road to tossed back into full daily grind today. I thought the sound of my alarm clock this morning would be an unwelcome sound to practice redirecting my mind to gratitude. Instead I was awake thirty minutes before the alarm after a night of multiple reassurances for the baby as she transitioned back to her crib.

My preschooler on the other hand was back and forth between not wanting to leave me and wanting to see her friends and tell them all about her trip. She bucked against the idea of having nap time reinstated then promptly passed out from exhaustion less than two minutes after I left. 

The baby on the other hand struggled with nap time alone in her crib again and woke crying several times. At one point I could feel my anxiety and impatience growing as I tried again to settle her in. But reprogramming back into the routine requires me to have stable and calm energy to help her transition so a few deep breaths brought my resolve and patience back. 

As the girls both slept I was tempted to just curl up to a show or take a nap myself. Instead I worked on getting myself back into routine as well. I worked in my rowing workout and still had time to fold the three loads of laundry I had washed last night and today. 

It's funny how what is routine still needs reprogrammed back into the mind after a long break. The blessing is it also gives the ability to make small shifts to improve the routine. 

Everything we do programs us in one way or another. Each choice we make, whether it be in our response or plan, begins creating a routine. 

I'm grateful for routines that help things run smoothly. I'm grateful to throw routines out the window to enjoy a fun vacation. I'm grateful my daughters are secure in their trust and look to me (and their dad) to follow along with change. I'm grateful for how great they each did on their trip and how they are readjusting to our regular lifestyle. I'm grateful for all the extra snuggles and special moments created both by the trip and by our return. I'm grateful to see some of their personality emerge in the ways they transition. I'm grateful to keep my own patience and calm as I help them transition. I'm grateful to be making tweaks to the routine to help us all grow as we move forward.

What is your routine? How does it serve you? How do you transition in and out of your routine? Is your routine in need of any shifts?

May we find the best routine to serve us in the present and in our growth for the future. May we be open to shifts as they need to be made. May we all find our own groove as we balance between routine and free-flow. Have a beautiful day!

Well tonight is New Year's Eve. It feels a little surreal because there is not the usual mingling of friends and food or games being played. There will be no countdown at midnight although I have lived in this neighborhood long enough to know I will wake at midnight to the neighbor's fireworks. 

Why is this year so different? First, I am still taking extra care to try to kick this congestion bug. Second, the evening was spent packing and trying to prep for a trip that got moved up by a full day. 

I started making changes for the new year a couple weeks ago. Today I was faced with my first test to my new goals and much to my disappointment I did not hold up to the standards and goals I had set. My initial reaction was being hard on myself and thoroughly bummed. But this reaction in and of itself is part of the changes I am trying to make for the new year. 

Instead I am using this test as a practice run. It showed me where I need to "break down" my goals a little further to help myself succeed and create a new habit.

Stepping into tomorrow may be a new year and new goals but it is part of the same, ever-changing story. Each little step I take is moulding a new me for the future. As part of this, I am choosing self-care tonight and getting some sleep. There will be plenty of celebrations in the days to come.

I'm grateful for a practice test. I'm grateful to have fallen on my face and observed the feelings and reactions it brought. I'm grateful to see how my goals need tweaked and shifted to make the changes I want to see. I'm grateful to allow myself to feel all my feelings and to have a wonderful husband to talk it out with as I process. I'm grateful for ideals and lofty goals but I'm more grateful to respect and honor my humanness and take it one baby step at a time. I'm grateful for a new year and many new adventures.

What goals and changes do you want to make? How do you set yourself up for success? How to you process the missteps?

May today remind us to proceed with grace. May we see the beauty in our success and stumbles as we navigate the year to come. Have a beautiful day!

The countdown to Christmas has officially kicked off at my house as I realize all the things I still need to do. I had presents bought a couple weeks ago and was ahead of the game. Now as the time approaches I realize how many things still need done between wrapping, co-creating our family ornament, making sugar cookies, etc.

Will it be the end of the world if these things do not get done? No. But I do like the tradition of these activities so it is time to start prioritizing them. 

I had a small hiccup today as I walked through the store with my preschooler. It seems pretty much the only toy in the whole aisle she says she doesn't want is the one thing my husband and I got her. She loved playing with it at a friend's house and had gone on and on about wanting one back in November. Apparently she has moved on. 

I debated returning it and grabbing something else she decided she wanted today but have decided to just let it go. When she opens it Christmas morning hopefully she will love it and if not there are a couple other little things for her to open. 

I let my mind get tangled up in the "it has to be perfect and magical" idea. I felt the stress build inside me at the thought of letting her down. But maybe this is why I didn't like Christmas for years. No, not that my parents let me down but rather the letting my head get all wrapped up in the stress. 

Christmas isn't about the perfect gift. It is about someone loving you so much and trying to get you something special. It doesn't even have to cost money. Experiences are even better than "stuff" in my book. So my daughter will open her toy as her Christmas experience. Then she will open a gift of a membership for the whole family to the kids museum. It is a gift that will last all year and include the one thing she wants most but never actually asked for, quality time together. 

I'm grateful to give this gift. I'm grateful for quality time and experiences shared. I'm grateful to know how important this is, more so than the perfect toy. I'm grateful to remind myself what is important. I'm grateful to prioritize the things that mean the most to me. I'm grateful to take a deep breath and let go of the stress. I'm grateful to be enjoying the Christmas season. I'm grateful to keep my mind and heart in the true spirit. And I'm grateful for an amazing family to share the season.

What does the countdown bring for you? What are you prioritizing? What is important and what can be let go?

May today renew the spirit of Christmas in our hearts. May we keep our eye and hearts on what is truly important. Have a beautiful day!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The snow has been falling most of the day and the meteorologists' four inch prediction was easily reached. 

Getting out for family lunch had me a little anxious but with my husband behind the wheel of the Jeep we had no trouble. I even got a laugh out of the mess the highways were and yet the practically rural road to the house was cleared beautifully. 

My preschooler loved playing on the sled and eating snow. And the house was cozy and warm with football on the television. It was exactly how Winter is pictured in my head. 

I'm grateful for the beauty of fresh fallen snow. I'm grateful to watch the flakes whirling in the air from inside a warm and cozy home. I'm grateful for a dependable vehicle to get us where we need to be. I'm grateful for a husband that enjoys driving in the snow. I'm grateful for slow, steady, calming breaths when I recognize the winter weather advisory internally. I'm grateful for fun with my daughter and playing in the snow together. I'm grateful for family lunch. I'm grateful to come home to more fun in making our first gingerbread house. I'm grateful for heading to bed a little earlier tonight to give myself a little extra care that my body is telling me it needs.

What is your favorite "visions" of Winter? What are your favorite snow day activities? What triggers winter weather advisories in your energy and how do you respond?

May today remind us of the beauty of every season. May we all have somewhere cozy and warm to rest our heads. Have a beautiful day!

The Christmas season can be a challenging time. There are events to attend, meals to host, presents to buy, jobs to tend to, and children to raise. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming.

In the past I have struggled at this time of year. Thankfully, this year has not been as challenging so far despite even more demands. There are still moments of overwhelm or frustration but overall it has been a great start to the season.

Today my husband and I made three batches of meatloaf and (my husband) smoked six game hens. We hosted family lunch. I worked a little. We cleaned. And yet we still had time to sit around and watch the football game and enjoy both lunch and dinner together.

Best of all, both meals were full of laughter and sharing. At dinner my preschooler was singing Christmas songs with adorable mistakes, like "the one-th day of Christmas". The baby, in constant adoration of her big sister, was giggling and "talking" excitedly. And at one point we all had the giggles, including my husband.

I'm so grateful to laugh together. I'm grateful for beautiful family moments like this to cherish. I'm grateful for the love my girls have for each other. I'm grateful for a day of family and great food. I'm grateful to laugh. I'm grateful to be finding ways to take this season in stride. I'm grateful for all the ways my wonderful family helps me find the beauty and support in this season. I'm grateful o hear my girls laugh and to be able to join in.

What brings you joy this season? What makes you laugh? When was the last time you got the giggles?

May today bring light through laughter. May we find the beauty in the season and loving support from the ones we love. Have a beautiful day! 

My husband had today (mostly) off work. Having him home we got so much more done than I could have done alone. We got all the groceries for Thanksgiving and the week with family. We put away three loads of laundry. We vacuumed, dusted, and cleaned while we had both sets of hands at home. And last but certainly not least we got to play with our girls. 

Our preschooler seemed to feed off the energy of both of us home and, while she still tested a couple limits, most of the day she behaved awesome. It was nice to have a day full of praise without a struggle to find something positive. Clearly it uplifted her as well from the cheery disposition we enjoyed most the day. 

The baby got to soak up some baby wearing time and snuggles. We rowed our boats and pat-a-caked ourselves silly. Like her sister, she seemed to eat up the positive energy and was mostly smiles. 

I even got to spend some time just petting the dog! My sweet dog who is so patient and loving finally got some attention. It warmed my heart to see her basking in my love. 

Overall it was a beautiful day! My husband and I are a team every day but we are better together. We don't get as much opportunity to have this time together between working opposite shifts and dividing duties. Perhaps that is what made today extra special. 

I'm grateful to have a great partner in life. I'm grateful to have married my soulmate. I'm grateful for the ways we work together to make each other better. I'm grateful for a productive day. I'm grateful for our amazing girls and I'm so grateful to get to have such a positive, nice day with them. I'm grateful to see how our energy is reflected in our girls. I'm grateful for a great day and a short breather before hopping back into work and then the holiday.

How do you see your energy reflected back to you? Who is your partner in life? How do you work together to bring out the best in each other?

May today remind us no one is an island. May we celebrate the people that are on our team and build positive experiences together. Have a beautiful day!