While I have always lived a life full of appreciation of the blessings in my life, I can not even begin to describe the level of growth I recently experienced.  Living a life of gratitude for the good things in our lives is easy.  I can without even a moments thought begin to list them off.

I am Grateful For:

The health of my four children

This blog and how it is changing my life

My daughter coming home on Friday and some much needed girl energy at home

The celebration of my oldest son’s 26th b’day

My husband supporting me in being a stay at home mother

My ability to home school Connor

My husband purchasing me a treadmill years ago(wasn’t so happy at first)

My friends and the laughter, insightful conversations and love they bring to my life

Nicholas getting back on track with school

My husband taking his only day off to be my photographer for this blog and how much he directs me and really tries to get the best shots. Quality time!

That’s what 10 right away...

My growth didn’t come from the good things in my life.  It came from losing my mother and the mourning process in which I realized just how much of a hole her being gone has left in me.  You see, in my early childhood, I was a real Daddy’s girl and didn’t have much use for my mother.  Oh, I always loved her, but my father just built me up and gave me a strong sense of myself.  It wasn’t really fair that my mother got the raw deal of raising me and Dad just got the fun stuff and the deep lessons he taught me on our walks.  Anyway, realizing just how close my mother and I became in my early adult years and until the time of her death really sparked a realization in me.  I realized that I am so grateful for the death of my father when I was just thirteen  If someone had suggested that to me, I probably would have been horrified. Now, I know that my mother and I never would have had what we did if he had lived.  She went back to school and we went to college together, we took a trip after my high school graduation to Canada, I typed up all her papers when she went on to graduate school.  I was the person she shared all the changes and growth she experienced after my father’s death.  I worked with her in the church nursery, taught Sunday school with her, shared my journey into motherhood and marriage.  So much more to even mention.  The point is none of that would have been possible for us if my father had not passed away at the young age of just 42.I should note that I realized very early in adulthood that having the father I was blessed to have had for just thirteen years was a better deal than most of my friends who still have their fathers.   There really is a plan for our lives that goes beyond what we ourselves control. There really is a web that weaves our lives that makes a strong place for us that is by design, just what we need when we need it.  In a final word, I am grateful for my strong faith and both my parents who taught me that just by being themselves.

Self examination is key to being happy and I hope my dear readers use this moment to check yourselves and see if you are on top of how much you appreciate the little things in your lives.  I recently noticed that my husband is not doing well with this and I began sending text to him listing three things I am grateful for and asking for him to chose three.  I have noticed a profound difference in his moods since we began this.  He works hard and very long hours, but now he comes home more relaxed and has a sense of peace regardless of the trials of his day.

I challenge each of you to try an experiment with yourselves and others in your life and see what results you get….

Outfit Details-  I have to say that I feel like I jumped the gun on starting this blog, as I am not happy with my weight and it is taking everything within me to post pictures when I am still 20lbs from my goal weight.  I hope that in the end I can look back and see the difference and celebrate my success.  

Plaid trench coat- Chadwicks.com

T-shirt- Ebay

Black Boyfriend Blazer- Jean Paul Richard-can’t remember where I got this one

Necklace- Ebay

Booties- Payless-recent 

Purse- Avon same as in Pink & Grey Combo with leoapard print flap on this time. 

If anyone tries this experiment and gets immediate results like I have,I would love for you to come back and comment.  If you already have this in your life and it is working wonders, please share that as well.