Laughter ... the BEST Medicine

#25 - I am thankful for laughter

A good laugh heals a lot of hurts - Madeline L'Engle

The last 36 hours have had some seriously annoying moments. Paul and I headed out to bowling filled with frustration and anger, not with each other, but with circumstances. That sounds like a great way to start "date night" - huh? 

We walked into the lanes and our man, DJ CEE, in the house with the first round of cocktails waiting for us. A few minutes behind us .. Kim. We were bowling a fun team ... things were looking up. 

We laughed so much that my cheeks ache. We completely forgot about the crap and even managed to take 3 of the 4 points. It was a longer night than usual but the company we had was some of the best. 

I am so thankful for the laughs that healed some hurt and the sunshine it brought to our day. 

A good laugh is sunshine in the house - William Thackery

#25 - I am thankful for laughter

Time Flies

There never seems to be enough time. Lately, there barely seems to be time for the list of things you have to do, never mind the want to do. The daily "I am thankful for" dropped off on day 4. The last week has been a really good one. We talked to my parents a lot, I got out of work an hour early on Wednesday, we had a great Thanksgiving day and an even better day after. So here's all the things I would have written about from day 5 til today!

I am thankful for ......

#5 - the right to vote

#6 - the Mom's in the Moriarty Parent Community Group

#7 - Weathertech floor mats - (they can actually contain a large iced coffee and 1.5 large hot chocolates and save your carpet)

#8 - coffee - all varieties - except instant [who am I kidding, I would drink it if is the only option available]

#9 - school uniforms

#10 - for the gym Paul built in our basement

#11 - for the girls that walk with me every Wednesday at lunch

#12 - tiny wines ... you know the little single serve ones ... so much better on a a school night

#13 - my Instant Pot

#14 - Tastefully Simple's Magic Chicken seasoning

#15 - scoring a parking spot at the loading dock at work

#16 - Kohl's liberal return policy

#17 - Younique Splurge cream eye shadow

#18 - Paul getting up at 5:30am every day to work out with me

#19 - my friend, Melissa, who brings Kristen to and from dance every week - at least twice a month she keeps her for dinner and oversees homework 

#20 - Makenzie, the high school senior that helps us drive the kids from here and there. Ya know, when ya can't be in 2 places at once

#21 - early outs at work

#22 - the times when we can be together - for a whole day - without a million things to do

#23 - HOT WATER

#24 - Thirty-one Gifts and all that it affords me beyond the commission check

A Tale of Two Churches

#4 - I am thankful that our family has two churches

Many of you know that Paul is Catholic and the girls and I attend a Protestant church. Paul and I talked about this at a really high level before we got married, it was never an issue for us. It still isn't. When Sunday School is in session at First Congregational Church, the girls come with me. Sometimes in the Summer, they go to Mass with Paul. On Christmas Eve, we go to church twice - 4:00 pm Mass and then Candlelight service. I'll mention that there have been years that I have taken them to Christmas Eve Mass without Paul because he is still out in the big brown sleigh. On Easter, Paul comes with us. Today, there was a mass in remembrance of the 1 year anniversary of the passing of someone who was very important to Paul at 7:30am, so off we went. 

We make it work. 

In a way, I think this exposure to different churches is actually good for them. They know that when they are at their church -- they say sins in the Lord's Prayer and when they are in a Catholic Church they say "trespasses" ... they go to Mass enough to have almost figured out when they need to stand and when they need to kneel....we've all been to weddings or funerals when it is easy to pick out the people who don't regularly attend or have never been exposed to a service other than theirs. 

The fact that Paul and I get up, every week, and attend a formal service is an outward example of our faith and has made an impression on our kids. Every Sunday, they get up and ready themselves for Church. One is in a dress and pretty shoes and one is usually in jeans, a t-shirt and sneakers .. but there is never an argument about having to go. They grab their bibles and money for the collection and head out. 

I'm so proud of their commitment to their faith at an early age. It will serve them well. 

#4 - I am thankful that our family has two churches

One - Two - Three, Thirty Days of Thanks

For years I have been spending my November focusing on gratitude. I try to post daily(emphasis on try) and I'm already behind. Here's what I was most grateful for on day 1, 2, and 3

#1 - I am thankful for takeout 

Tonight Kristen had cross country practice until 6pm and then I wanted to go to North Stonington and spend a little time with parents since they are heading south. I didn't have time to cook and pack something up, Kristen's practice had us on the road a little later than I wanted to be. McDonald's and Irene's to the rescue. We've dramatically cut back on the eating out in the last 6 months -- mostly because it adds up .. FAST. Sometimes it is a good solution to a hectic schedule. 

#1 - I am thankful for takeout 


#2 - I am thankful for Alexa

Last Christmas, I bought Paul an Amazon Echo. Let me just say that when he opened it, there was NOT a ton of enthusiasm. The girls and I set it up over Christmas break and we started teaching him how to use it. I personally find the ability to "add things to the shopping list" life changing. No more forgotten grocery lists on the counter, or forgetting to add butter to the list when you put the last stick in the butter dish. On more than one occasion, I caught him firing off musical selection requests to Alexa like she was a DJ. It is kind of amazing how good the sound is out of that thing ... Paul enjoys the music so much when he is doing the dishes that we bought him a year of Amazon music for Father's Day -- there is no song that she cannot play for us. 

There was that one time that I found some questionable items on the shopping list ... when he was questioned I got "I was trying to see if she would actually add anything I said to the shopping list" ... I think Paul and Alexa are friends now!

#2 - I am thankful for Alexa

#3 - I am thankful for my Honda Accord

A few years ago we were able to pick up a slightly used Honda Accord. We paid cash - we HATE having car payments. My mom, bless her heart, drove it home all the way from North Carolina for us! In 2015, I started working outside of the house and had to commute daily -- not far -- but longer than I had been commuting. I'll admit, I was a little sad to hand off my Pathfinder to Paul and take the more fuel efficient car since I had the longer drive. I fell in love with it. It has a great sound system, the interior is spotless, it is the prettiest metallic blue, it has great pickup and it is FAST .. not that I drive fast or anything. This week - I went back and forth to work, pick up and drop off at cross country practice, to dance and back - twice - to North Stonington and back and then to Griswold to meet friends for dinner .. all on 1 tank of gas ... Blazin' Blue is the BEST ... I don't miss that Pathfinder at all anymore. 

#3 - I am thankful for my Honda Accord