First I would like to send a shout out to all the dads out there that are present for their kids. Being a dad is a hard job. Lots of people joke that moms do all the work and in some cases that is true; but dads are a vital part of raising kids. They have an important role in their kids success and in their views of the world and their role in it.

Next I would like to send a shout out to my dad. He is always there for me, no matter what I need. He has driven across the country with little notice multiple times to help me out. He taught me how to fix my own car, build a proper cabinet, patch drywall, mow, and so much more. My dad let us play with his circuit boards before that sort of "STEM" stuff was cool. And how many dads today would hand their kids wood, nails and hammer and let them build their own playhouse again and again. I am truly blessed to have such an amazing dad that made sure I grew up well-rounded and believing anything is possible.

Last but certainly not least I want to send a shout out to my amazing husband. I could not be living my dream without him. I don't just mean giving me two beautiful kids; though that is the best gift anyone has ever given me. He also makes sure to step up in so many ways with our kids so I can follow my passion and my job in the evenings. He always has my back and most the time has  gourmet dinner waiting for me when I return. He is an amazing dad. He has patience when mine is gone. He can be silly at the blink of an eye. He can make us laugh and still hold boundaries to give the girls stability. I can not imagine a better dad for our kids. They are so blessed and I am beyond blessed for him.

I'm grateful beyond words. I'm grateful for every dad out there that makes a positive impact on their kids lives. I'm grateful for dads that are hands on. I'm grateful for my dad, who until nearly five years ago when unmatched in my eyes as the best dad in the world. I'm grateful for all my dad does for me and all he has taught me. I'm grateful for my kids' amazing dad. I'm grateful for the way he raises the bar on how an amazing dad is defined in my eyes. I'm grateful to come home to him every day. I'm grateful for these two amazing dads in my life. 

Who re you grateful for this Father's Day? What male role models have shaped you? 

May we always remember the blessing of having amazing role models. May we celebrate the lessons we've learned and provide positive, loving lessons for the people in our lives. Have a beautiful day!

The theme of this weekend seemed to be celebration and hugs. I got more hugs this weekend than I have in a year and a half! It was wonderful!

There was a wedding. There was a retirement party. There was family gathering in celebration. And even a trip to the lake for some splash time. 

One of the hardest things for me during the pandemic was the lack of hugs. This weekend filled that cup and more! 

I'm so grateful to spend this weekend celebrating special moments in the lives of those close to us. I'm grateful to watch a young couple begin their journey of marriage together. I'm grateful to celebrate my aunt's well-earned retirement. I'm grateful to see people I haven't seen in years, some even a decade. I'm grateful for a vaccine that has allowed these celebrations to happen. I'm grateful to hug people and get hugs in return. I'm grateful to watch my daughters getting to run around with their cousins that they haven't seen in so long. I'm grateful for the beautiful, sunny, hot weather this weekend that allowed us to attend these events and even go swimming. I'm grateful to feel my cup running over with love and joy.

What have you missed most during the pandemic? What steps would have to happen to turn a corner and start bringing back some of that joy? If it is a loved one you are missing, what could you do to honor them?

May we begin every new chapter with gratitude. May we recognize the blessings, no matter how small, from now on. Have a beautiful day!

I have found myself watching the bees a lot lately. Perhaps this is because it is the time of year when they are out in mass collecting pollen from the flowers or perhaps it is just the mode I am in right now.

Each day has moments of slow, in the moment, strolling along with my kids. We explore and observe a lot. Then there is my brief work time that is a flurry of key strokes and emails and phone calls. It is exhilarating but also a little chaotic.

I feel a connection to the bees. I watch how they gather the pollen slowly and methodically then fly with their wings moving so impressively fast to find their next flower. I feel that. It resonates. But what am I gathering?

I am gathering joy. I am gathering beautiful moments with my daughters, husband, colleagues, clients. I am gathering confidence. I am gathering skills. I am gathering all the little pieces that keep building me in to who I am becoming with each step. And all these things are joy- my joy.

I'm grateful for joy. I'm grateful for the bees for so many reasons. I'm grateful to them for how they assist vital processes. I'm grateful to them for the connection and resonance I feel at this stage of life. I'm grateful to just watch. I'm grateful to see the reflection. I'm grateful for all the knowledge and experience I am collecting right now. I'm grateful for this journey and for those whose journeys are moving in step with mine. 

What are you gathering? What brings you joy? What do you resonate with at this stage of your life?

May we all find something to connect us to nature. May we gather things that enhance our lives. Have a beautiful day!

I love a good, sunny day. I can just hear Ella Fitzgerald crooning "blue skies smiling at me". I can hear John Denver, "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy". And it is true; blue skies and sunshine bring me happiness. 

Luckily, my happiness is not limited to blue sky days. In fact, from my kitchen this time of year I can barely even see the blue sky. As I searched out the window this morning for hints on if it would be a sunny day or rainy day there was just not enough sky for a clear answer. My backyard is a forest with tall trees and a thick underbrush of honeysuckle. Even with the steep incline that tends to draw my eyes up toward the sky, very little of it can be seen through the canopy. 

I got a little chuckle to myself this morning as I sang "green skies smiling at me". I love the shade of our back deck. I love the mature trees towering overhead. 

I began thinking about the other types of sky I enjoy. I enjoy when the sky has big puffy white clouds that shift into shapes. I enjoy watching to see what I can create out of them with a little imagination. It is one of my family's favorite car trip games. 

I love when the clouds look wispy, like there was just a little white left on the paintbrush and someone tried to wipe it off. It reminds me of the beautiful creation that is this planet. 

I love when dark storm clouds move over and make colors of flowers and trees more vivid. If it comes with the soothing rumble of thunder, all the better.

As strange as it is to say, I even enjoy the slight greenish hue the sky gets sometimes during a storm. It is something you don't get to see everywhere and it reminds me I'm home...even if it also signals the need to get inside.

Last but certainly not least, I love the night sky when it is deep black with the twinkle of stars and planets far above. It makes me feel so small and yet also a part of something so vast. 

Blue skies are great. But the truth is, I just love the sky. I love looking at it whichever way it is that moment. 

I'm grateful to be in love with the sky. I'm grateful to appreciate her beauty no matter how she is feeling or looking each day. I'm grateful to be reminded this is how love is meant to be, even with our fellow humans. I'm grateful to see the beauty in each form. I'm grateful to try to apply this to the people in my life, even the stormy ones. I'm grateful for the view from my windows and for the clear view outside. 

What skies do you love? What songs speak to your heart? How can you find beauty in each person around you?

May we remember there are blue skies, clouds, and storms in all of us. May we be willing to see each other's rainbows. May we take the time to enjoy the beauty that is this amazing place called Earth. Have a beautiful day!

The last few days we have been trying to get outside more. Friday we went out and painted in the snow. We took our gloves off as they were hindering our ability to use the squirt bottles. My daughter even asked if she could unzip her coat. It was twenty degrees! But after temperatures in the negative teens and with the sun finally beaming down on us it felt pretty great. 

Today we ventured out to the park. There were mounds of snow taller than my knees, pushed from the parking lot and sidewalks. The grass was a swampy mess. Yet with a couple towels to dry off the slides and equipment, it was the perfect morning for a trip to the playground. We were the only ones out and even though there was wind, the sun did a pretty good job of keeping us warm. As we were leaving I noticed on my phone that it was just reaching thirty-six degrees. 

I am not a cold weather person. I prefer to be bundled next to a fireplace. Yet after experiencing true cold and getting a bit of cabin fever from the last couple weeks cooped up inside; I have a whole new perspective! I imagine quite a few people around the country have a new perspective and a lot of gratitude for what is normally taken for granted. 

I'm grateful for fresh air. I'm grateful for sunshine on my face. I'm even grateful for a little wind in my hair. I'm grateful to watch the girls explore, especially the little one who has not had as many away-from-home experiences due to the pandemic. I'm grateful for all the geese providing background music as we played. I'm grateful to climb and slide and play with my kids. I'm grateful for the fun idea of painting snow that my mom gave me. I'm grateful to laugh at the absurdity of us feeling warm when the temperatures were still so cold. I'm grateful for a new perspective and a commitment to get outside more!

What helps motivate you to get outside? Has your weather reminded you how great you typically have it? 

May we remember to be grateful even when we don't have something go awry. May we celebrate the beauty of getting outdoors by doing it as often as possible. Have a beautiful day!

Today provided a nice little gift of time. My littlest woke up early giving me well over an hour of extra time, which was mostly spent as priceless one-on-one time with her. The beauty of this gift is that it also allows one-on-one time with my older daughter when the little one inevitably needs an extra nap. My heart is overflowing with the individual attention I got to give each today. 

I also had an unexpected change in my work schedule, clearing my afternoon and evening. I was able to run a big errand that I was struggling to fit into the child-free allotted schedule. It was a huge relief to have that done.

As icing on the cake, I was able to get my car up our driveway and into the garage for the first time since Sunday. More snow is predicted today and tomorrow and it is nice to know my car is out of the way of the plows.

I'm grateful for these little gifts. I'm grateful to know each day offers gifts if I am paying attention. I'm grateful for time with my daughters, together and individually. I'm grateful to get to do some baking with my oldest today. I'm grateful to get my most important errand run. I'm grateful to be back home in the warmth with my family. I'm grateful for an unexpected night off. I'm grateful for the winter wonderland outside and to not have to be out in the snow tonight. 

What little gifts did you notice today? What would you do with the gift of a little extra time?

May today remind us to say thank you for each gift. May we use our time wisely. Have a beautiful day!

Every day history is made in one way or another, some days we move forward while some days feel like perhaps we are going back. Not every moment of history is momentous but it writes history and paves the future either way.

Today I was hit by an unexpected wave of emotion as I watched Kamala Harris being sworn in as the first woman to hold the Vice-Presidency. I sat there with my two daughters watching as Sonia Sotomayor voiced the oath for VP Harris to vow. 

While I tend to be an emotional person, I am not usually emotionally moved by important moments like these. I am grateful and pleased most definitely, but rarely emotional. 

I watched Christina Koch and Jessica Meir perform the first all female spacewalk in 2019. At the time my daughter asked why hadn't girls done that before and that resonated with how I generally feel about such events. It is great that it is happening but why has it taken so long and why is it still so rare for these special events for women that we have to make note that it is a woman? 

Something about watching these two amazing and powerful women today though, made me well up a little. These are the barriers I want to watch crumble. I want my girls to grow up in a world where truly any dream is possible. I want them to shoot for the stars, for whatever their hearts desire and not be held back by something so simple-minded as being born a woman. 

I'm grateful for the emotion I experienced today. I'm grateful to get to witness so many amazing women in my lifetime. I'm grateful for my girls, young as they are, watching this process with me. I'm grateful to see them enthralled by the beautiful young poet Amanda Gorman and I'm grateful for her powerful words. I'm grateful for a peaceful process today. I'm grateful for the sun shining. I'm grateful to feel like a new leaf is being turned over and while there will always be some days forward and potentially some back I am grateful to feel a new hope for love and unity. 

What moves you? What mark are you making in history today, even if it is seemingly that in "just" your own story? How do you imagine your life and your story impacting the world around you? How can you make a beautiful mark in history?

May today remind us we all have the power to inspire and bring change. May we use our powers to bring positive, loving change. May we take the time to consciously choose how we will make our mark in history. Have a beautiful day!

During the typical busy Monday morning I do not usually have time to sit and reflect. In fact that is what this quiet period of time during my kids' nap times is for. 

Today we had a fun surprise video call from my girls' grandma. As she attempted to speak to them while they crawled all over me and the sofa telling her their own thought bubbles all at once and hyped up on excitement she said something I could not even imagine. She said that even though she knew she lived through a similar busy-ness she really doesn't remember it that way.

I hear that a lot as a mom of young kids. People say, "oh, I forgot about the being up all night." I have heard, "I'm sure my kids went through that stage but I really don't remember those details." I have even heard, "I don't remember if my kids had trouble potty training." 

I'm in what people refer to as "the thick of it". There are days I completely feel that expression and other days that it doesn't feel that way at all. Yet it does make me wonder what I will remember as my kids grow up. Will I remember how my now 18 month old loves to meditate and do a very dramatic breath in and out? I hope so and yet as I try to think back to when my four year old was that age there are only little snippets of memories. Honestly, most of the memories from her being that age are from the quote book and journal I kept of her that I have not been as diligent with for my younger daughter. 

The moments fade. The days fade. Time passes. The things that drove me crazy once are forgotten. I try to think back to my pre-child days and I think, "how did I pass the time each day?" Obviously a good portion of it was that I worked a lot more hours, but on my days off? What did I do? It doesn't seem half as important as soaking up these fun, chaotic, and even the frustrating moments of my girls growing up. 

I'm so grateful for these beautiful blessings. I'm grateful for my mother-in-laws comment that made me pause and remember to cherish these moments, no matter how chaotic. I'm grateful for a walk this morning even if we barely made it a few houses away. I'm grateful to watch as my toddler tried to participate in her big sister's homeschooling today. I'm grateful to see their kind souls and hope that I am doing a good job nourishing them. I'm grateful to know I am doing my best and how that looks is ever evolving as I grow too. I'm grateful to take a moment and reflect back. I'm grateful for the realization of the many moments I have forgotten to I can make sure I am focusing on what is most important in each moment. I'm grateful to release the little frustrations as I realize those will not be the moments I choose to remember anyway. I'm grateful. I'm grateful for this beautiful gift and all the change and excitement it has brought to my life.

Which memories have you chosen to keep? What do you remember about five years ago? Ten years ago? What about 20 or 30 years ago? If there were one thing from today that you would want to remember, what would it be? For me it would be the love of a grandma that calls for a special surprise and her grandkids being so excited they can't even sit still. 

May today provide us with an overall feeling a love to remember. May we choose to carry the best memories forward and let the rest blend to a fuzzy message of deep love. Have a beautiful day!

This year I have challenged myself to read at least ten minutes each day. It seemed like an achievable goal that would bring me some joy and so far it is working. To add to the pleasure I have chosen a book called A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen. 

I will admit this book has been on my "want to read" list for a couple years now. The Complaint Free World movement started not too far from my hometown which makes it even more special!

The choice to start with this book came from a feeling of not really feeling like a gratitude "coach" anymore. I am great at digging gratitude out of regular days or even rough days but it was feeling like a lot of my words were negative. Even here in this blog I have noticed it goes something like "this went wrong and this went wrong and this went wrong but I am still grateful". While this ability is an important practical step of any gratitude practice, it is better if we focus on what is going RIGHT to begin with; as you may imagine this makes gratitude even easier to find too.

So I am taking the beautiful challenge to make it 21 days without complaining! According to the book this takes people, on average, four to eight months to be able to go 21 consecutive days without complaining. A reminder bracelet is worn and each time a complaint is voiced, the bracelet is moved to the other hand. It trains us to recognize when we are complaining. I imagine this also does a good job of making us mindful of the triggers or situations where we complain most.

Today I have moved my bracelet no less that six times. The eye opening part for me is that a lot of my complaining is actually to my preschooler. I am certain we will both benefit from my commitment to this challenge. I'm excited to bring more positive messages back into my conversations!

I'm grateful for this book. I'm grateful for Will Bowen that started this hoping to impact his community. I'm grateful to hear that so many people worldwide have now taken the challenge. I'm grateful to be learning about my communication. I'm grateful to be gaining mindfulness about my triggers. I'm grateful to see how it plays out within different relationships. I'm grateful to be taking simple steps to be changing my life, holding my power, and voicing my beauty. 

​What goals have you set for yourself lately? Are you interested in raising the vibration of your life? Are you ready to find more beauty, more joy, and more gratitude in 2021? 

​No matter what this year brings, I believe, there is beauty to be found. May we choose to view and voice our story in a positive light. Have a beautiful day!

Today has been a beautiful day! It has been full of some of my favorite "s" words.

It started off with SLEEPing in! This is rare in my family, especially on a day when my husband has to get up for work. 

Then my daughters and I sat on my preschooler's bed and had some SUNRISE SNUGGLES! I love those two words individually anyway but when they are together it makes for a pretty perfect start to the day.

Now that my little one isn't taking a morning nap most days we have had to get a little creative with schooling my preschooler. Luckily the SISTERS were happy to help each other learn today. Overall it went really smoothly!

While we were playing playdoh a deer came walking through our backyard. I think I was even more excited than the kids. We used to have lots of deer come through but it has been a while since we've seen one. I sat there SMILING and gazing out the window. I couldn't help thinking to myself, "it really is the SIMPLE pleasures in life that mean the most." 

When I am in the moment and focusing on the beautiful moments of life, it is easy to SOAR. It makes any little bumps so much easier to just float passed. 

I'm grateful for these wonderful "S" words that help describe my joy. I'm grateful to have enjoyed so many simple pleasures in one day! I'm grateful for the new book I have started reading to help me be more mindful of my words and focus on the positive. I'm grateful to feel my SPIRIT lifting. I'm grateful to witness the sweet bond that is forming between my girls. I'm grateful to have this time with them.

What are your favorite simple pleasures? What "S" words are your favorite? What letter is helping you describe the best parts of your day?

May we give credit to the little things that bring us joy. May we express our gratitude in whatever way fills our cup. Have a beautiful day!