My Gratitude list for 2008

10 Things I am thankful for...

10. A challenging job with good insurance
9. Friends that are amazingly supportive
8. a bright daughter who does well in school
7. funny dogs to greet me each nite as I come home
6. a son who is getting all A's
5. healthy parents who love and support me
4. a successful retail scrapbooking store
3. diet coke
2. a cluttered but warm home
1. A God who never leaves me even in the darkest times

Join In!

PS everyone who played the Christmas gift last week wins!
Come by Saturday to collect your prize!!!! we're open 10-4

Being Thankful

Yesterday was the start of being Thankful for me. I got Mike's car all spivy clean, nothing like a shiny black car, filled it with gas and Savan and I took off to see the new boxer puppies at the Pickron Home. PSBOXERS, it was just what I needed after an exhausting week. How can you not love being licked by Braddock and Mandy, and cuddling with 6 week old puppies. I know this will sound corny but driving thru the freshly planted wheat fields is theraputic, the sun was shining there were good tunes on the CD player and great company.

Then we were off to ON, what a faithful friend, Old Navy always makes you feel good when you purchase a darling skirt, shorts and pants for Savan. I had to say a huge Thank you to her for working for the Queen during Spring Break.

Then today it rained.... but I can still be Thankful.

* Yes there was Diet coke this morning

* Some fun customers came in tonight while I was working! (Hi Miss Sara)

* Mom is feeling a bit better and worked all day

*Savannah has all her costumes ready for the Civic Theater this week

*some laundry got done this weekend (notice I did not say all, afterall there were puppies to meet)

*I got to hold baby Jaxon while he was in the store, he is just 10 days ol and precious. Aydann wasn't so sure I should be holding him though, but its rough being 2 and a princess

*Costco got in Salsa Cream cheese dip again, have you ever had this on a tortilla for dinner? Yum yum!

*My dad and hubby sent me flowers last week to cheer me up! 24 pink roses, they are still gorgeous on my desk at work. Thanks Mike and dad, luv ya!

* Jean called me just to say hi today and Brenda said she needed some "Kristi time" What amazing friends God has blessed me with.

*Just a few more days and I am off to Spokane for some fun at the Davenport and WoF.

What a week, I am ready for the weekend and its just Monday nite.

Being Grateful on a Monday

HE IS RISEN!
I can't believe EASTER came and went so quickly. What an amazing holiday.

Today I am thankful for.....
* A Risen Savior, a Friend I didn't know I needed and whom I can't live without
* Mom's relaxed and yummy Easter Dinner (Ham and potato's)
* Women of Faith and the opportunity to hostess again in April
* Shauna is coming to the store Wed nite (many of you read her blog, Up in the nite)
* New paper coming this week, the UPS guy thinks we are stalkers
* Mike's second infection at his surgical site is healing
* DIET COKE and more DIET COKE ( I need my own machine)
* JR Miss is over, it was amazing and I can't wait to scrapbook it, but it was tiring
* James and her hilarious comments throughout JR Miss, she kept us in stitches
*Tami's rockin' camera, I am such a paparazzi when I have it in my hand. holy cow!!!

Being Grateful on a Monday

I was gone last week working out of town and attending a wedding, its nice to be home and I thought it was a good idea to be Thankful today.....
-Savannah got to try on her dress for Jr. Miss last nite and it is so beautiful and she loves it!
-I have amazing parents, people who love me despite my short comings
-I have avoided this flu that is going around (thank GOD)
-It was sunny yesterday
-I am half way thru my diet coke
-Tami and Cori are home from their retreat and they had fun!
-Amanda helped me in the store on Saturday price a ton of new product!
-I met a new friend or two Saturday nite, Heather and Hilary were a RIOT!
-God is good, ALWAYS!

Being GRATEFUL on a MONDAY

Okay, this time change is kicking my hinny....

I decided that I needed to write down some grateful things today...
1) MY FOLKS ARE HOME! MY FOLKS ARE HOME!
2) The sun is shining!
3) Mike thinks his back is feeling better (thank GOD)
4) Mike and Jake folded all the laundry in the downstairs
5) I got to hang out and have a fun dinner with James Friday nite
6) Savannah rocked her mock interview for Jr Miss on Saturday
7) We have new outdoor paper in the store, its GREAT! hunting, bear, Motorcross, basketball and baseball and more.
8) I think I have our taxes ready for the accountant (that is a good thing)

Words for today....

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger to a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." (by Melody Beattie)

Monday being Thankful

I rec'd an early birthday present this weekend from my mom. You see in my book birthday's should last a month. They should be filled with fun lunch dates with friends, a family dinner on the actual day, maybe a home cooked meal by mom/grandma, flowers in some instances, thoughtful cards, etc. My mom told me (at my prompting) that we were going to take a little siesta for my birthday this year. She has been ordered by her doctor to get some sun, because she is lacking vitamin D, I need some retail therapy so we are headin' south. We leave the 9th and return home the 12th. Its a short, impromptu trip but well worth it. I will see some friends and eat at some of my favorite restaurants. The most fun part is going! I love to get ready to go. Think about what I am going to take, the sun, etc.

Do you ever take a last minute trip/getaway?
This makes me so thankful. Thankful my mom knows I need to get away, amazing girls to help out in the store so we both can go, kids who can hold down the homefront while we are away, etc. I have such a good life. You?

Being Thankful on Monday

3 Weeks from today and its Christmas eve! What an exciting time. Its so easy to get distracted by the stress that it can be a dreadful time of year. Yesterday in church we discussed sucking it up and enjoying those around us and the time of year. Funny how that nite Mike and I had a spat over what to buy someone and how we were on totally different pages. This morning he was sorry, I was sorry and we can move on. Thankfully it only stole one nite of our lives, stress is our enemy. Hop on my Thankful train and enjoy this time..... what are you thankful for this season?

1- Arriving safely to work, there were silly silly kids spinning out in the 4-wheel drive trucks as me and my minivan arrived safely to work with all our snow.
2- A sold out B-E-L-I-E-V-E class and a waiting list, we love that people have fun taking our classes
3- Lily the new puppy, there is nothing like puppy kisses, and the look in their eye when you walk in the room
4- 20 Christmas cards completed, fun fun!
5- A husband who jumped out of bed ready to go to work today! a big improvement from a few months ago
6- Christmas songs on my radio
7- The dogs playing in the snow, its fun to watch them go nutso!
8- of course DIET COKE! (are you seeing trend here? )

Being Thankful on a Monday

today I am thankful for...
- diet coke, ( I know this doesn't surprise you)
- a very relaxing Thanksgiving day with family
- the Christmas lights around town. It makes this time of year magical
- Savannah, Jake and I are learning to use a loom to knit. Its fun
- I met a new doctor today who was kind, compasionate and a Christian
- an Amazing mom and dad who take time to mentor my husband and I in business
- a caring brother whom far away but calls daily to check in
- a great pan of dream bars Savannah made last nite that were too rich to eat but so yummy smelling

How about you? Any little thing caught you eye and made you thankful this week?

Being Thankful

Last week I took a break from my Monday Being Thankful Blogging and I missed it. I think its good to be reminded of what really matters..... or in my mind the "good"
-a dog who cuddled up in bed with me this morning 'cause he was cold
-a mom who is making Thanksgiving dinner even though she is tired, hurting and doesn't want too
-a husband who went to work even when his whole being told him not too, he went and then thanked me for sticking with him
-a really fun class I took with Tami yesterday that got me in the mood for the holidays, Thanks Tami for sharing your gifts, talents and friendship.
-Wendy E for coming to our crop and being herself, we love ya girl!!
-Savannah for taking a chance to talking to her bio mom again even if it is uncomfortable
-I survived Wal Mart last nite (not my favorite place)
-friends who call just to check in
-diet coke (this I will always include 'cause its my "comfort food"
-a dad who was willing to listen early this morning and talk about his business, and who was willing to change..... I hope I can continue to learn from him

what are you thankful for? I am going to do some Thankful pages this week, in fact, let's have a contest. Bring in your Thankful page to the store, get a photo copy and Sunday we will draw for a gift! How about a Scenic Route gift... sound fun???

Monday - Being Thankful

Today is a tough one for me. I know I committed to being Thankful and I have so much good in my life. I am just not feeling it. It just goes to you that you can't trust your emotions, right?

1- I have an iced cold Diet coke today for comfort and believe you me, its going to be full all day.
2- I had clean clothes this morning to wear to work
3- I got some sleep last nite after one too many restless nites
4- It's not raining.... I don't particularily like the rain
5- Jamie came and hung out with me yesterday afternoon at the store. I needed a friend and of course she was there. Thanks James, you are one in a million.
6- 11 more wake up's till I go on my girls weekend. now thats something to be excited about.

Being Thankful on Monday

I am going with being Thankful again today even when its difficult.

Mike had a rough weekend so I am spent....

BUT there is so much good in my life too.

1- I made 6 layouts this weekend, it was so fun being creative
2- Kristi W spent the afternoon in the store with me brainstorming ideas and classes, her attitude really inspired me, I was talking so fast I was mixing up my words
3- My folks are having a GREAT time on the Oregon Coast
4- We took the dogs for a ride in the car this morning, what a site! Two huge boxers hanging their heads out the window, ears flapping in the wind....
5- I have a great job where I help people, although sometimes it doesn't seem that way, I am really blessed. (If you've ever seen Dirty Jobs, mine makes me look like royalty)
6- Rebecca is working at the store today, I am thankful I have friends who help us out when we need it and whom I can completely trust to do it right. Thanks Becks.
7- I have life group tonight at the King's its a safe place to be ourselves and be loved
8- We have a friend named Lori and she had twins that delivered early recently and they were able to come home healthy from the hospital. What a miracle.
9- My housekeeper comes today. Anyday she comes is GOOD.
10- My friend Jean is trying to go back to work today after the death of her sister, its a blessing she has a GREAT job and so many friends, I'm praying for her and so thankful for her friendship. Love you Jean.

What about you? Are you thankful in the hard times? Sometimes you have to search to find, but the Good is always there.