#365Grateful February

Feb. 1 - I am thankful for my new gym membership - and for the follow-thru to go as much as I have in the last 2 weeks.  I pray the disciple continues - even when the motivation does not.

Feb. 2 - I am ever so thankful for my BFF Betsy - and thankful we got to surprise her for her birthday today.  I prayed for many years in elementary/high school for a best friend - one like I never felt I had.  And even though I had to wait until college to really know her, the last 14 years have so been worth it.  She is an answer to childish prayers and an unbelievable blessing in my life - happy birthday, Bets!!

Feb. 3 - I am thankful for a break between night and day shifts - the freedom to take an entire day and devote it to sleep, catching up, being unproductive on purpose, and switching my biological schedule around.  I'm thankful I can have the freedom to be lazy - wallowing in the wealth that is 'rest.'  I know not everyone gets such a luxury...

Feb. 4 - Thankful for Sara - and the gift of a monthly massage.  Surely I've thought cutting such a self-serving budget item would be helpful to the whole debt-free journey, but it has turned out to be a very worthwhile expenditure!  I love being able to treat myself every 4 weeks and come home to nap afterwards....

Feb. 5 - Thankful for a job where I can take PTO - where getting sick doesn't jeopardize my ability to eat or pay rent.  And I'm thankful for co-workers who are willing to pick up the slack, even with little notice.  I went home sick today, and I just pray I didn't pass any germs/bugs along to anyone at work!

Feb. 6 - Thankful for Angela and my place as an unofficial editor.  I love being able to read her work (fantastic!) and I find I'm enjoying the role of editor.  Perhaps I should look into it more closely as a career path?...  In any case, I'm thankful for Angela's talent, as well as her trust to submit to critiquing for little ole' me....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ sorry, missed a few updates here!

Feb. 13 - I've probably said it before, and I definitely will again, but I'm thankful for the kiddos!  I had fun making valentines for each of them today - coming up with something unique and creative and encouraging to say to each, since they are unique, creative, and always encouraging to me.  Even the mere thought of them brings me joy - I hope these little notes bring some to them, too! :)

Feb. 14 - I'm thankful that I can honestly say this is the first Valentine's Day in recent history in which I feel truly content to be single as I am.  Usually this is a tough day - or at the very least, an aggravating one - for me, but this year, I'm truly thankful for my unique position.  It's hard to always keep this perspective, so I'm always thankful for the days when I truly FEEL patience and contentment, instead of simply WANTING to feel that way.  Continue to shape and mold this heart, Lord Jesus!

Feb. 15 - Thankful the "meeting" with Nana & Papa was postponed due to weather (and a predictable cancellation on their part).  I wanted to feel good about steps made in this relationship, but I simply don't.  Perhaps that isn't altogether good or right of me - I'm still not sure; all I know is that today, the absence of drama makes me feel very grateful right about now....

Feb. 16 - Making custom decorations for Hannah's shower today.  I'm thankful for papercrafting, particularly.  The way it keeps my hands busy.  The way it encompasses beauty, substance, and even humor!  I love its versatility, limitlessness, its flash, fun, and whimsy.

Feb. 17 - Thankful for old friends back in Nashville who haven't forgotten me - even though I'm terrible about staying in touch with them!  Thankful for their friendship and kind thoughts, even from a distance!

Feb. 18 - Thankful for a new chapter I've begun at Anytime Fitness.  Today was my first appointment with a trainer - I'm looking forward to meeting my goals!

Feb. 19 - Thankful for brussel sprouts.  Weird?  Yes, probably.  But I'm really loving the recipe Betsy gave me for preparing them.  Mom loved it so much we're having them 2 nights in a row!  So easy, so tasty, and so healthy.  I'm thankful to have discovered this wonderful vegetable (even if it took nearly 30 years to try it!)

Feb. 20 - Thankful for shelter during this blizzard!  For no power outages, and for warmth and safety during this big ugly winter storm.

Feb. 21 - Thankful for safety and a smooth (though bumpy and extra-long) ride all the way out to Milwaukee today.  The DOT classified most of the roads between here and La Crosse as "hazardous," even after the winds lifted in the afternoon.  I knew I had to head out anyways, and despite all the ice and slush, I'm so very thankful to have traversed those roads without incident!

Feb. 22 - Thankful for my old college friends, and for the opportunity to gather with them (sans Suzy-*sad face*) to celebrate Hannah's twins!  I'm thankful for old friends who made throwing a party so much fun - and comfortable.  And for new friends made at that party, and the love and joy we got to share together on Hannah's behalf.  There was a lot of laughter, and I'm grateful for every second of it!

Feb. 23 - Besides another blessing of safe travel today, I'm also thankful for independence - the kind represented by having my own vehicle and being able to travel outside my 'norm.'  I was feeling the excitement of liberty and autonomy and freedom as I made the drive home, relishing the chance to visit new places, even for a limited time.  It made me feel brave in a way I haven't in a long time.  Perhaps that's just a mirage, but I'm thankful for it just the same....

Feb. 24 - Thankful for a job to come back to, even if I don't love it. I can, at least most days, say I 'like' it. And for that I'm thankful.  I work with good people, for the most part.  And I probably lean on them more than I think I do.  So let me take today to say I am thankful for them, their sacrifices big and small, their understanding, their humor, even their sarcasm.  It makes this job of 6 years not quite so monotonous!

Feb. 25 - Thankful for the ability to cook a meal and eat together - Dad home safe from Mexico, me from Wisconsin, and all of us enjoying some restful entertainment (CBS primetime) together over good food!  Angel hair pasta tossed with roasted brussel sprouts, tomatoes, and pesto. Yuuummm!  It is an increasingly rare honor to enjoy fresh and nutritious meals all together - this one I particularly enjoyed.

Feb. 26 - Thankful for C3Studios, my side business.  I shipped my first sold order of 2014 today.  I'm especially thankful for this bit of business since I've devoted virtually NO time or energy on the business since last fall....

Feb. 27 - Thankful for the dream of independence.  This week, I invested in that dream in some amalgam of anticipation and faith: bought some Tupperware in preparation of having my own kitchen.  It's a bit of a budget sacrifice to do this, of course.  And when it arrives, I'll simply have to pack it into storage in the basement until whatever time I actually GET my own kitchen.... but this purchase comes on the wings of hope that that day is coming soon...

Feb. 28 - Today, I am thankful for donuts. They are non-nutritious, sure, but there's just something about those lightly glazed, fluffy-light pastries that is simply heavenly!  I may be trying to eat better, work out, and lost some weight right now, but today, I gave in to donuts (twice!)  #noregrets


***********************************
More thankful thoughts next month - stay tuned!...