Yesterday we got the second snow of the season, and by season I mean still Autumn. It is not unusual for us to see snow in Autumn here but even after the majority of my thirty-seven years living here I am still in denial every year. (Though I will admit this photo is from last Winter. We did not get that much snow yesterday.)

Every year I work on finding gratitude through the cold. I do my best to tolerate it and see the beauty in the trees dusted white. Often times I take for granted the true blessings I have this time of year. Last night was a great reminder.

Last night our heater froze up resulting in a cold night and frigid waking temperatures. In retrospect I should have checked it out during the night when I was getting up every two hours with the baby and thinking, "gosh it feels cold." Instead I wrote it off as me being out from under my cozy comforter and being equal parts tired and not ready for winter. 

I'm so grateful to live in a home with heat. I'm grateful to have backup fireplaces and lots of cozy blankets. I'm grateful for a warm comforter. I'm grateful to be able to take for granted having a warm place to sleep at night with a roof over my head. I'm grateful the heater was an easy and quick fix by my husband. I'm grateful to have a husband that is so handy and capable. I'm grateful to be pretty handy and capable myself. I'm grateful for safe roads and temperatures that will come back up for a little longer before winter comes for real.

What do you like about winter? What are you grateful for as the weather begins to change over?

May today keep everyone safe and warm. May we find gratitude in things we frequently take for granted. Have a beautiful day!

Normally I am all about reading the signs. Some things are not meant to be and the signs let me know that it's okay. But this week I am fighting back. Why? It is all about prioritizing and reclaiming time for me.

I only got to shower a couple times last week. I understand that as a mom with two kids under the age of four there are going to be times like this. But I also know that if I don't prioritize what I need then it falls off the map. As more and more of those "luxuries" fall off the map, the more self-care practices diminish and the less capable I am to be my best self.

Sunday I decided to take a shower. The moment the water turned on the baby was up. The moment I put her in her seat she was spitting up and my preschooler needed something. My husband ran interference and between his help and refusal to give up these five to ten minutes for myself I managed to shower. 

Today I committed to make time to workout again. I had a nearly two hour window of time before I needed to leave for work and a reasonable assumption that there was at least an hour that both girls would be napping. Instead I was called upstairs twice by my preschooler, made it downstairs and three minutes into a workout the baby woke. I got her back to sleep, returned to the basement and six minutes into a restarted workout the baby was up again and mad enough to refuse going back down. 

Normally I would say the signs are against it but instead today I said no to the signs. I fully believe the Universe gives us what we need if we are taking the steps to get there ourselves. So rather than bow down and give up I made sure the Universe knew I am taking this time for myself. I may not have gotten it when I wanted it but I will get it today as I committed to myself.

I'm grateful to claim some time for me. I'm grateful to not bow down and give up what I need because of the signs. I'm grateful to make commitments to myself and my health. I'm grateful to know I am a better version of myself when I take the time I need for me. I'm grateful to do my best to stay my best. I'm grateful for a new meditation series that started today and I'm grateful to make that part of my commitment for the next couple weeks as well.

What commitments have you made to yourself? Did you stick to your commitment even when things tried to knock you off course? What helped you make your goals?

May today give us determination and the courage to follow our goals. Have a beautiful day!

This morning, pulling out of the driveway, my daughter said, "Is that snow?" Last night's sleet had built up on the neighbors' rooftops and left a snow white covering. Her excited response was, "That means we can build snowmans today!" 

Never mind that there was no snow on the ground to accomplish that task. Never mind the cold or that the predicted snowstorms will mean no trick-or-treating. My daughter instantly saw the positive and found her little slice of happiness in this, misinformed, news.

My husband, upon hearing the news tonight that we may get up to three inches in the next twenty-four hours, responded "finally, Jeep weather!" There is no need to have a snow day when the Jeep can conquer just about anything. And my husband loves the cold weather so bring it on.

I would love to say I also saw the beauty in this transition. I gave a thank you that the Autumn weather held out long enough to get me through my birthday but I am not a Winter person. I enjoy the beauty of the falling snow... if I can stay inside cozied up and not leave until it is thawed. But alas, each year it comes sooner than I'm ready and it appears that time is now. Even feeling the way I do, there is some gratitude to be found.

I'm grateful to have had a warmer birthday. I'm grateful for safe travels last night in the sleet. I'm grateful the snow held off long enough for a safe family dinner. I'm grateful for my daughter's delight and my husband's perspective. I'm grateful for a happy family. I'm grateful to be reminded that one person's snowstorm is another person's playground. I'm grateful to do my best to nurture and mimic my daughter's joy over snowy weather to make the most out of it for both of us. I'm grateful to cancel tomorrow's playdate to just cozy up at home and see what comes.

What is your reaction to the first snow of the season? Do the people around you have the same reaction? What is your favorite thing about snowy days?

May today keep everyone cozy and warm that wants to be. May those that enjoy the snow be filled with joy and gratitude at the first flurries of the season and may the rest of us enjoy their glow. Have a beautiful day!

Some weeks life just throws ridiculous curveballs and demands. The picture above is of a game called "I Can Do That!" In the game the player draws one card from each of three stacks and then tries to perform the challenge. Given that this weekend was full of birthday celebrations; I found this set of cards particularly appropriate for the representation of the week. 

I was so excited to get to have dinner with my girlfriends this weekend. The night of I found myself rushing like a mad woman to leave work early enough to come home to feed the baby (who is refusing to take bottles), then peel the three year old off my leg (crying that I was leaving again) to race down the road to meet my friends. During the drive I felt guilty for taking this time to myself and yet I returned a renewed person ready to face the night of two clinging babies with patience and grace.

At a three year old's birthday pool party I found myself walking the lazy river holding a sleeping three month old on my shoulder and my other arm looped around the waist of my three year old so she could pretend she was swimming it. And while there were moments that felt a little overwhelming, mostly I was feeling calm and proud as I navigated my own "river". 

I talk a lot about perspective and finding the good in things. But being overwhelmed is a legitimate feeling and I don't want anyone to think I am recommending ignoring the signs. When my cup runs so low that the demands feel too much, forget the I "should" find the positive in this and instead look for where I can give myself grace and self-care. 

I did not post at the end of last week. It wasn't that I couldn't have found things to be grateful for in the blessings around me; it was the overwhelm of the whole family being frazzled from the baby's screaming wail all week and wanting to be with them in support rather than wonder off to try to make a post. 

All last week there was a pull trying to uproot me. There were definitely tipping moments but overall I was so proud and grateful to stay grounded. I'm so happy I made the choice to be there for my family but also fill my own cup. 

I'm grateful for celebrations with friends. I'm grateful to commit to taking my daughters to enjoy their friend's party. I'm grateful for all the support and love I get from friends and family. I'm grateful for my awesome girlfriends that I couldn't live without. I'm grateful to fill my cup. I'm grateful for all the support my husband provided so I could accomplish that task. I'm grateful for my loving girls who want to be with me all the time. I'm grateful for moments of grace and truth. I'm grateful for perspective but I'm also grateful to be honest and take care of my needs.

What helps you stay grounded against the pull? What aspects of life have you trying to walk with a cake between your legs? (I really do enjoy this game though!) 

May today allow us to take the steps necessary and eat our cake too. (haha) May we find the positive in the situations we can and give ourself grace when we need to just take time to care for ourselves. Have a beautiful day!

Today started out on bumpy ground. Between frustration at dawdling to the emotions of watching my preschooler once again struggling with goodbyes at school drop off I already felt my energy pulling before it was even 8:30. By 9 a.m. I had picked up what I thought was the wrong lab request and completed the "off" energy by falling down the basement stairs. 

As I sat there feeling out my rolled ankle and rubbing my bruised knee I knew I needed to find a way to shift this energy funk fast. Tis the season for pumpkin symbolism so I decided I needed to decide right there what face I was going to carve into my jack-o-lantern today. I don't mean physically, I haven't even bought the pumpkins yet. I mean symbolically, as in how will I choose for my face to react to this day. 

While I do love the lopsided, jagged-mouth traditional look I decided my own reaction would be best served with a smile, a laugh, or at least a maniacal grin. Shortly after this decision my day turned around. The energy shifted in my favor and things started running more smoothly, or at least my interpretation was more positive. Did my preschooler have several more meltdowns? Yes. But I handled most all of them with grace and patience, I mean I am still human.

I'm grateful to recognize the need to set my intentions for something more positive. I'm grateful to clear the funk that was following me. I'm grateful for being young enough to bounce and to be okay after my tumble. I'm grateful for the ability to laugh. I'm grateful for my girls' smiles that brighten my day. I'm grateful to have patience and respond with love to my preschooler during her struggles. And I'm grateful to give myself grace for being human when I lose some of that ability. I'm grateful to be humble enough to apologize when it happens. And I'm grateful for forgiveness. I'm grateful to have had a good day and had a few chances to remember to slow down and just be in the moment.

How do you set an intention for your day? What symbolism speaks to you? 

May today remind us our intention and our perspective are very important to how our story is written. May we choose to carve happy jack-o-lanterns and write a story of love and gratitude. Have a beautiful day!

Today was one of those days where things just didn't go quite as planned. Ends didn't meet where they were supposed to, transitions didn't flow, and things seemed to be missing or not working at every other turn.

What do you do when your day is going this way? What special resource do you "turn on" to help you get through days like this?

For me, humor is what I need. I need to laugh to release some of the tension because most likely if I don't choose laughter there will be tears instead. My emotions tend to run high and a physical relief like laughter is a great way to keep things positive. 

Now, did I do this at every misstep today? Nope. There was some frustration, a few moments of near tears and lost patience but overall I did well at reminding myself to take deep breaths and even laugh a little. 

I'm grateful for some humor to save the energy of the day. I'm grateful for getting the bumps out early in the week so the rest the week can run more smoothly. I'm grateful to have found my wallet. I'm grateful to learn you can still check out the seventeen books your child picked out at the library even when your wallet is missing. I'm grateful the dishwasher started. I'm grateful for all the things that run and work without a second thought from me. I'm grateful for my husband's patience as we work through some bottle rebellion from our little one. I'm grateful for friends and family that I can count on to be there whether I need to vent, ask advice, or share some humor. I'm grateful to be so loved and so blessed. I'm grateful to crawl into bed at the end of the night and know all is ok.

So what do you do to diffuse a rough day? What coping strategies do you use and who do you reach out to for support?

May today supply humor without the frustration. May we find healthy, fun coping habits to guide us on the bumpier days. Have a beautiful day!

The other day I was in the bathroom getting ready when I heard a noise. I couldn't place the sound so I called out to my preschooler for some insight. Having gotten bored with the plethora of stuffed animals and books in her room she had taken empty plastic hangers and hung them between the slats of the baby gate. She was then playing music with them by strumming across them and letting them clink around on the metal gate. 

I know I talk about perspective a lot but I find constant reminders in my life for this important message. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life gives you limes, make margaritas. When life gives you a stack of empty hangers, make music. 

It was a good reminder for me because my baby has decided again this week that she will not eat from a bottle. As you may imagine this leads to some fairly long and distressingly loud evenings for my husband. It is easy to let myself get caught up in the anxiety even though there is nothing I can do from work. But tonight I found myself consciously tuning into the music, into the clients, into the peace of the massage room. I focused on what I could help, the person on my table. I focused on the calm, relaxation of the music and told myself it was a gift to me to renew my spirit and patience for what I would find when I returned home. It's not that I didn't want to be home but since there was nothing I could do about it I focused on the blessings that were around me in the moment.

I'm grateful to redirect my attention to blessings. I'm grateful for my daughter's fun and playful reminder with the hangers. I'm grateful for the fun music she made. I'm grateful for creative energy and playfulness filling my house every day. I'm grateful to have a flexible job that allows me to be home so much with my girls. I'm grateful for my husband's ability to be home in the evening with our girls and for his patience in handling hours of wailing. I'm grateful to know this phase will pass. I'm grateful to nurse and have that bond with my baby. I'm grateful for finding blessings in each moment I choose to look for them. And I'm grateful for the reminder to look.

What blessings are around you in this moment? What reminds you to look for those blessings in moments of struggle?

May today allow plenty of reminders as well as obvious blessings. May we use our creativity to find even more blessings than first meets the eye. Have a beautiful day! 

Autumn is here! October is here! Technically neither of these started today, but it finally FEELS like Fall! 

Yesterday the temperature was 86 degrees as a high. Then the storm front rolled through and today didn't even make it to 60 degrees! Now, I will admit that my favorite temperatures hover between mid fifties as a low and low seventies as a high, but I'll take this drastic shift as a first sign of Autumn.

Autumn is my favorite season, full of pumpkins and owls and all the best holidays. My excitement over Halloween has not waned since adulthood. I absolutely love costumes and I'm extra excited when we can do couples or family themed costumes. My birthday falls during this season, always a bonus. And it ends with one of the best holidays, Thanksgiving! 

On top of all the celebration and merriment; Autumn offers the beauty of color changing leaves and the scent of campfires. I am eager to have some back deck nights with the chiminea warming us as my husband and I sit and chat. Hopefully some friends or neighbors will even join sometimes. It truly is the best time of the year in my book!

I'm so grateful to break out the halloween t-shirts. I'm grateful for Halloween and Autumn decor. I'm grateful for the cooler temperatures so I can bring out my favorite hoodies. I'm grateful for pumpkin spice...well everything. I'm grateful for yummy seasonal baked goods like pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. I'm grateful for the excitement of planning Halloween outfits. I'm grateful to have a family theme this year. I'm grateful for the opportunity to celebrate another year of life.

What do you love about Autumn? What is your favorite season and why? 

May we celebrate each season and cycle of life. May we find beauty in nature. Have a beautiful day!

After a scorching hot end of Summer it was nice to have some slightly cooler temperatures today. I'm not a fan of being cold but it is possible that I own about a dozen jackets that I love to wear. This morning provided the perfect opportunity to wear one. 

I love when I can wear a jacket in the morning, be comfortably warm in the afternoon, then have a drive with the windows down ride home from work. Today met all this criteria. Autumn is finally creeping out of hiding! 

The cooler temperatures have me looking forward to pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin spice cereal. It isn't just my nose and taste buds looking forward to Autumn; my eyes are ready for the beautiful colored leaves that grace us this time of year. 

Driving home tonight I was thinking about Halloween and my birthday that are both approaching. I looked up at the beautiful sunset and clouds and couldn't help but see a mask. It was like two orangish-yellow eyes glowing at me and reminding me pumpkin carving season is just around the corner too.

In case you couldn't tell, this is my favorite season! It has all my favorite things and in return I have an abundance of gratitude! 

I'm grateful for pumpkin spice everything. I'm grateful for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies which are amazing! I'm grateful for all the beautiful colors the leaves turn here in the heartland. I'm grateful for anticipation. I'm grateful for the first hints of Autumn weather. I'm grateful for birthdays that mean I was blessed with one more year. I'm grateful for my jackets and sweatshirts. I'm grateful for Halloween and fun, playful costumes. I'm grateful for the delicious Autumn soups and other cooler weather foods that will be gracing my table. I'm grateful my husband is an amazing chef!

What is your favorite thing about Autumn? What do you look forward to this time of year? What is your favorite time of year?

May today renew our hope and remind us that change can be beautiful. May we take time to enjoy the beauty of this season as it rolls in. Have a beautiful day!

I write from a place of shock and sadness tonight. Within the last two hours I learned that the earth lost another good soul. I was not blessed enough to have known my uncle my whole life. He entered our family when I was already an adult and yet he was just as much family as any other.

Some people are "born" carpenters, salesmen, entrepreneurs or whatever other vocation they may have become. My uncle was "born" for family. He was made to be a grandpa and just a couple months ago welcomed a new beautiful granddaughter. 

I loved watching his Facebook posts because they seemed to be either positive messages or adorable pictures of his grandkids. He was a good man and he will be missed. 

I had just got home from work and was sitting at my table eating dinner and nursing my baby when I got the news. In that moment I looked over at my husband and as I told him the news my attention was brought by a flutter to the window. There sat a red cardinal on the branch outside my kitchen window.

Cardinals became a significant symbol in my life the day my grandmother passed away. Again they flocked to me after my grandpa passed. They were a source of comfort in some ways, like knowing their spirit was right there with me still. 

Tonight seeing the Cardinal on the branch I was grateful, but I do not feel its comfort yet. Tonight is for allowing all the feelings. Perhaps tomorrow the beautiful red feathers will bring comfort.

I'm grateful to have known my uncle. I'm grateful for the years he spent with our family. I will forever be grateful for all he did while my grandpa was declining in health. I'm so grateful for all his positive messages that he sent to me on Facebook. I'm grateful to have gotten to witness his playful grandpa side. And I'm so grateful he was able to meet his newest granddaughter. I'm grateful for my family. And I'm grateful to hug them all a little tight tonight as I remember how blessed I am for each moment we are together.

Who is important in your life? Who helps put a smile on your face? Have you told the ones you love how much they mean to you lately? 

May we remember how precious each moment is and spend it with the ones we love. May we remember to tell people how much they mean to us while we have the chance. Have a beautiful day!