Look at the picture above for just a minute. What do you see? (Ok, ignore the cabinets and focus on the cute guy with the flowers.)  What do you feel? Can you imagine how it smells?

This small little vase with a half dozen flowers literally brings me so much joy. My two favorite colors are bursting out in the blooms. The cute little guy sharing his head is all about this season, just like me. And a friend saw this at the store, thought of me, and drove all the way to my home to give it to me on my birthday! I feel so seen and so loved!

I know we often hear "it is the little things". This may be physically little but the feeling is huge! Maybe that is the most important part; not the size of the object or even gesture but the size of the feeling it gives. 

I'm so grateful for this beautiful gesture. I'm so grateful for this absolutely perfect gift! I'm so grateful to get to smell these blooms every time I walk through my kitchen. I'm grateful for the colors that burst forth with such beauty and inspire such joy in my heart. I'm grateful to be this deeply moved and to feel it fully. I'm grateful for my friend and her friendship that has been such a blessing through this motherhood journey. 

What moves you? What brings you deep joy? When was the last time you paused to smell a flower or just sit and gaze at something that makes you happy? 

May we all take time to appreciate the "little things" that bring joy. May we all know the friendship of someone so thoughtful. May we be the kind of friend that sees the people in our lives and drives over just to brighten their day. Have a beautiful day!

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!

Last night a friend shared a podcast link with me. This morning I listened to it while I was working out. It was about happiness and adding more play into your life. Obviously this resonated very well with me and she touched on two specific things that really stood out to me. 

The first thing she said that really grabbed my attention was that even though she was a happiness expert, she was feeling like she was in a slump. I have been living my own version of this. I am a gratitude coach that writes a gratitude blog and yet there have been quite a few times over the last couple years that my own practice hits a slump. Even experts are human who go through ups and downs.

The second thing that grabbed my attention was her talking to an author about his essay writing on delights. Delights can be anything that catch your attention and bring you joy. That spark of good feeling something brings is delight. The challenge the podcaster was giving herself was to find at least one delight every day.

By this point I had finished my exercise routine but I wasn't ready to pause the podcast. I wanted to hear more from the author and from this speaker. I also know myself enough to know I hear better if I am fidgeting with something non-distracting. (I realize to some this may not make sense...but to some people it will completely make sense.) So during the podcast commercial I asked myself, "what would bring me some delight as I listened?" Out came my markers and owl coloring book!

As I colored I listened to more about delight and the ending thoughts. I enjoyed the tip that when you find a delight you say "delight!" out loud. I can also see the benefit of their suggestion to write down a quick blurb by hand about what the delight was each day. There is actually real benefit (shown in studies) in writing things with pen and paper for processing emotions, building self-esteem, and growing gratitude and joy in your life.

Thankfully I already take time in the morning to write four gratitudes in a journal and then in the evening write at least 4 gratitudes about my day as well as the best thing to happen that day in another journal. It would take a mere few seconds more to write my day's delights!

I'm grateful for a new word for expanding my daily practice. I'm grateful for the word delight. I'm grateful to find delight in coloring this morning. I'm grateful to have woke early enough to work out and still have time to color! I'm grateful for my friend sharing this podcast and for the woman sharing her vulnerability and process with the world. I'm grateful to also find delight in the stop light turning green the second I arrived, the colors beginning to change on the trees, and deeply defined clouds in the sky this morning. I'm grateful to share this message with you in hopes you find some delight in today as well.

What brings you joy? What delights may be waiting for you to discover today? 

May today inspire us to look for the beauty in each day. May we be delighted by the little things. Have a beautiful day!

Yesterday was officially the first day of Autumn and Mother Nature is in agreement. The temperatures have been blissfully cooler in the morning and while we still have a few ninety degree days coming; it has been a beautiful taste of what is to come. 

This morning I was pulling out of the driveway when I saw the most beautiful sight! The first red leaf on our Maple tree! I hope my kids continue to be as excited about this as I am as they get older. And like any important milestone, pictures were needed of this little beauty.

I am so grateful to welcome Autumn. I'm so grateful for another year of watching this beautiful change all around me. I'm grateful to be coming up on another birthday. I'm grateful for pumpkin spice and everything nice! I'm grateful for beautiful, cool mornings and warmer afternoons, the perfect sweatshirt weather. I'm grateful to just float on this wonderlust high as it carries me into this season. I'm grateful for each season and the change it brings but I sure do love Autumn!

What is your favorite part of Autumn? Which season do you resonate with most? 

May today give us moments to pause and soak in the beauty all around us. May we notice these beautiful little shifts in the seasons as they are just beginning. Have a beautiful day!

I love helping! I love feeling like I am making a positive impact on the world, or at least one person's day, every day. So when I got a text from a colleague today with a simple dilemma I could easily solve, I jumped at the opportunity.

It was so nice to see my kids eager to help too as they rushed to get their shoes on. It warmed my heart to see their joy at getting to be helpers to someone other than me or their dad. 

We are wired to help. We are driven to find a purpose. And study ofter study has shown that even doing small good deeds for others increases our mood and joy. 

So let's get helping! There is no shortage of people in need between the pandemic, fires, heat waves, evictions and the normal everyday plot twists that can come out of nowhere. Reach out in your area. See what the local shelter needs. Call the nearest church, whether you attend or not, and ask if they have any outreach projects going on and what they need. Listen to the news or reach out to the Red Cross and see what supplies are needed for the various natural disasters. 

The first step may seem scary. What if they ask for something you cannot give? What if it takes more time than you have to give? If you worry about being able to set boundaries then write down what dollar amount or amount of time you feel you could contribute. If they ask for something beyond that, simply say "this is what I CAN offer." I guarantee they will be grateful for whatever it is you're offering. And you will feel the joy of helping.

I'm grateful to get to help today. I'm grateful for something as simple as batteries that I can fix. I'm grateful to know a building has air conditioning against the heat of the day all from this small task. I'm grateful to take my two little helpers along. I'm grateful for their eagerness to help. I'm grateful for wonderful friends and clients that serve our community in powerful ways and tell me what they need so I can see if I can meet those needs. 

How can you help? How can you give yourself the gift of this joy?

May today remind us that we are all on one Earth together. May we help each other up and know someone would do the same if we need. Have a beautiful day!

I took my daughters to the Magical Kingdom today. You may recall that I live in Kansas. You may also be aware this is half a country away from the Magical Kingdom. If this is what you are thinking, you are using your adult brain rather than a child's magical eyes. Perspective is everything and my kids always remind me to step back and view our world with wonder.

So where was this magical kingdom that had my children so enchanted? It was Lowe's lighting and fan department. That's right, the magical kingdom can be as near as the closest hardware store. And while I am laughing as I write this, there really is a great message here. 

How can I view each day through the wonder of a child's eyes? How can I shift my perspective to make everything a little more magical?

I'm so grateful for my daughters' wonder and awe. I'm grateful to see things from their perspective. I'm grateful to add a little magic to our day. I'm grateful to be reminded just how powerful our perspective can be. I'm grateful for this beautiful adventure. I'm grateful for my two adorable sidekicks. 

May today add a little magic to our life. If you're having trouble seeing it, try sprinkling some glitter on the floor. Have a beautiful day!

My little one is more reserved, especially around new people. I am the same way so I can empathize. Yet I find myself struggling to know if she is having fun when I take her to do something special. 

This week her sister was in camp. I took her to the playground and she played with me for thirty minutes, smiling but reserved. Then she wanted to go. The next day I took her to a splash park where she made it less than ten minutes and didn't want to get wet before asking to leave. 

Today I decided to change direction and take her to the library. We collected a bunch of books and played with the kid stuff for nearly an hour. Towards the end she was acting a little silly and wild so I decided to redirect us to a nearby playground where she could get some energy out. But as soon as we got there she got reserved again even though there was hardly anyone there. 

Much to my surprise there was a splash pad at this park. I had not prepared for that at all and had no change of clothes or swim suits. Given our experience the other day, I wasn't too worried about it. I figured we could get our toes wet to beat the heat and most likely she would rather swing or just ask to go. 

She kept reaching her toes out toward the sprayer but not getting close enough to actually get them wet. I was reaching out with mine to show her how it sprayed them and pretending it was tickling me. She asked me to hold her so I held her up above a short sprayer and swooped her feet through it. 

Her little shriek and giggle made my heart swell as her little voice called out "again! again!" It was that connection in play I had been seeking all week. From then on she was all in and I was not about to lose that moment. Thirty minutes later it was time to go and we were both soaked from head to toe and laughing together. If I could bottle a sound, it would be my girls' unrestrained laughter. 

I'm grateful for these beautiful moments of giggles and glee. I'm grateful for the quiet, reserved moments too. I'm grateful to have such great kids that I love with every ounce of my being. I'm grateful for a surprise splash pad. I'm grateful for an empty park on a hot day. I'm grateful to have some time with my little one, just the two of us. I'm grateful to not hold back and just run and laugh and play. I'm grateful my oldest did so well at camp all week and enjoyed her social time too.

When do you just let go and be silly? Do you like someone to let loose with you or prefer to be silly alone?

May we remember to make time to play. May we cherish these moments of finding giggles and glee. Have a beautiful day!

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!