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!

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!

Two of the most powerful words we can tell ourselves is "I Can". I have been listening to my self-talk lately and there has been a lot of "I can't" statements. It comes from being tired and overwhelmed but even then, these statements aren't true. I can. I do, every day. I will continue to do. So why do I bother telling myself the lie of can't?

Today I can. Whenever I hear my inner thoughts trying to say can't, I am changing it to "I can't quit now when I'm so close." I've got this. I CAN do these tasks.

I'm grateful to be tuning into my internal dialog. I'm grateful to recognize I'm tired. I'm grateful to see tiny ways I can help relieve some overwhelm and do it. I'm most grateful to just be turning around the negativity and reminding myself "I can".  I'm grateful for all the tools I have as a coach that I can use on myself at times like these. I'm grateful to admit I am human.

What are you saying to yourself? What encouragement are you needing to hear from yourself?

May we remember to speak to ourselves as friends. May we keep encouraging ourselves. Have a beautiful day!

Sometimes we just need a day to laugh it off. Perhaps it is my lack of sleep or maybe I have mentally "cracked" a little bit, either way I'll take the laughter over the stress any day. 

When school pictures arrive and your kid's tongue is sticking out. When the cashier tries to charge you for a gift card instead of using it for your purchase. When your child insists on singing the potty song even in public bathrooms. When you trip on your own pants. These are moments for laughter. Just let it out. It's minor. It's silly. So enjoy the moment and just laugh. 

I'm grateful for the shift in energy. I'm grateful for shenanigans. I'm grateful to just laugh. I'm grateful for a fun day spent with my mom. I'm grateful to just sing, potty song or whatever my kids request, without care of who will hear. I'm grateful for my daughter's commitment to being one hundred percent herself, even on picture day. 

What helps you laugh? What shenanigans are going on in your life this week?

​May we never lose our sense of humor. May we enjoy the little moments as they are happening. Have a beautiful day!

Some weeks run as planned with maybe a few hiccups. Some weeks you can't get out of the dunk tank before the next ball flies. This week is chaos, maybe partially organized but mostly just trying to keep up.

It is good for me in a way. I like organized. I like planned. I like spontaneity within the small parameters of a planned day. This is a great opportunity for growth. I am not saying I'm bounding into it with excitement but I'm doing my best to go with it. It is a great opportunity to see my strengths and weaknesses.

I'm grateful for all the great things that are happening this week. I'm grateful to know that this "storm" is bringing a huge rainbow. I'm grateful to know I can and will come through this crazy time stronger. I'm grateful to get a true gauge of my anxiety. I'm grateful for the awesome people I have in my life. I'm grateful to listen to my girls play and their perspective of the world. I'm grateful to see the buds forming on the trees and bushes. I'm grateful to just stop and watch two large blue jays outside my window.

What expectations do you have for this week? When the week changes plans (or throws the plans out entirely) how do you shift perspective? 

​May we weather whatever comes with gratitude. May we always keep our eyes focused on the goal. Have a beautiful day!

Some days are best spent snuggled up with loved ones, reading books. Today seems like the perfect day for that. As I dropped my oldest off at school, I couldn't help noticing there was snow mixed in with the rain every time the wind blew. Brrr.

I don't mind the rain (though when it is mixed with snow, I don't generally feel like puddle jumping). I actually kind of love the rain! It is so nourishing to my plants and a day of calm is nourishing to my soul. 

I'm so grateful for the steady rain we have been getting. I'm grateful to see most of it being soaked up in the gardens. I'm grateful for good drainage for the house. I'm grateful to allow my daughter to jump in puddles and see for herself that it was too chilly to last long. I'm grateful for car heaters and quick school pickup lines. I'm grateful to be nestled in for a little while just listening to the pitter patter. 

What sounds do you find calming? What was the last book you read?

May today give us the courage to just sit and relax. May we remember to nourish our souls as much as our bodies. Have a beautiful day!

Flowers are blooming and the rain is steadily coming down. It is Spring! I am so ready for it this year.

The Spring cleaning bug bit a little early this year. I have been stacking things to donate, clearing out closets, reorganizing, and cleaning. It feels so nice to have energy flowing! It feels so nice to have clutter clearing out!

I'm so grateful to see another Spring blossoming outside. I'm grateful to be in full cleaning and clearing gear. I'm grateful for my husband's help in organizing. I'm grateful for some time this weekend to drop stuff off. I'm grateful to donate the stuff we no longer need. I'm grateful to be eyeing some fresh paint. I'm grateful to feel myself blooming with rebirth in this beautiful season.

What do you love about Spring? When was the last time you intentionally went through your home to clear it out? What do you no longer need?

May today be a blessing. May we give ourselves the gift of space, the gift of rebirth, and the gift of Spring! Have a beautiful day! 

Another snow is falling outside. The inches are slowly adding as it falls steadily but lightly. The kids are home from school. I am home from work. And yet, it is pretty quiet.

The sounds outside are muffled by snow. The birds are waiting in trees. And inside my kids have chosen games like slumber party and farm, choosing to play calmly together. Even with the break to come together and paint toenails for a little at home spa day, they sat calmly talking. 

I think it is what we all needed after a couple weeks that have seemed to pull on us. I know it is what I needed after a couple days of emotions and processing. 

I'm grateful for the quiet. I'm grateful for the calm. I'm grateful for the white blanket falling outside to give us a day off. I'm grateful for my kids and the way they can get along. I'm grateful to connect with them in this calm, quiet, slow-motion space. I'm grateful to just be. And I'm grateful that the driveway's warmth has, so far, kept it cleared.

What do you enjoy about snow? What is your perfect type of unwind day? 

May today allow us to slow down and be however we need to be. May we take these moments of rest as a gift. Have a beautiful day!

Today is a day of processing. I have learned some things over the last two days that have me running through emotions from anger and guilt to a sadness near grieving. For now, I am letting the process run its course and feeling all the feels. 

In the back of my mind I have options for solutions that can be carried out. But first I feel like I really need to just let the emotions run their course and process this information. I need to be able to take myself and my emotions out of the equation before I take the next steps forward. The next steps will be solely focused on my child and her best interests. This moment is for me.

I'm grateful to just sit and listen. I'm grateful to try not to push or force it. I'm grateful to recognize my tendency to rush to fix while my emotions are still high and try a different tactic this time. I'm grateful to give myself space. I'm grateful to listen to the self-talk and counter the unproductive. I'm grateful to focus on recentering. I'm grateful to believe that my family is a team and together we can accomplish just about anything.

How do you allow yourself time to process? What does allowing your feelings to run their course look like for you?

​May today be slow and gentle. May we take the time and space we need for whatever stage we're at today. Have a beautiful day!