Gratitude

The Transition

/ jennced15 / 1 Comment

It has been a whirlwind summer. Did anyone else feel like that? Time passes by quicker than I could have ever imagined. One minute I am prepping for my friend to come and stay with me for a couple of months and the next thing I know, I am putting her on a plane bound for her next adventure. After the airport, I found myself at the grocery store picking up a few items and when I walked in I was assaulted by Halloween greeting cards and candy. Is it really that time of year again? While I am a HUGE lover of all things fall and Halloween—I have to wonder how I missed the steps between 1 and 100.

The only thing I can compare it to is an accident I had a couple of years ago. I remember everyone asking me if I was alright and mentally I thought I was responding to their questions only to realize that I was in shock and it took a moment or two for my brain to fully process what was happening. That is how I feel about moving from summer into fall this year. I am going to need a moment to process . . .

As I process, I thought it best to write down the top 5 things I want to accomplish this fall before it escapes me and becomes winter. What are your plans as we transition the seasons?

  1. Purge old clothes: For some reason, during the summer months, it is acceptable to get by with ratty t-shirts, shorts, shoes and everything else in between but we all know they are just going to sit at the bottom of drawer for the next 6 months and when we pull them out at the beginning of spring we will realize we don’t want to wear them, leave them in the drawer and go purchase new items to replace them. Break the cycle!
  2. Deep clean the house: I know this is a typical spring thing to do but I like to do it twice a year (it makes it easier to accomplish). I get everywhere and clean out everything and somehow it makes the winter rest more enjoyable. Not to mention it readies my house for all of the holiday parties and visitors.
  3. Party planning: For those that know me, parties are my thing. I love celebrating with the people I love and making people smile and the holidays present the perfect backdrop for parties. While I won’t have the time to plan my larger parties; I do hope to plan multiple smaller parties. I want to do a harvest party, Halloween party, and a thankful party (since I will be gone for Thanksgiving). Planning will now need to ensue.
  4. New kitchen skills: I am looking forward to a season of warm soup and crusty bread. While I do have skill in the kitchen; I want to hone and get better. I have so many soups that I need to try making and I have actually never made crusty bread so I am looking forward to learning that new skill.
  5. Gratitude reflection: Nearing the end of another year makes me want to take stock of all the blessings that are in my life. I want the people in my life to know how grateful I am for each and every one of them. I want to personally reflect on all the things that I own and are able to do and devise a process for the rest of the year and for the next that will adequately express my gratitude. I want a conscious thankful heart each time I walk in my door or jump in my car. I want to show love more readily and more often. In short, I just want to be a better person/steward to all the people/things that touch my life.

And the Gratitude Continues

/ jennced15 / 2 Comments

Another round of what I am grateful for. This could never get old for me. Hopefully it won’t get too old for you. I have come up with 5 new things to be thankful for this November.

How is your gratitude list coming? Please share something you are grateful for. 🙂

  1. Music: This morning I was driving to the office and a song came on the radio that I haven’t heard for a while but it brought a smile to my face and some bobbing to my head. I really enjoy music in its many forms and if I could do something that I love; it would be with music in some way. Here is my song if you are wondering what made me happy. 😛
  2. Blogs: I really learn a lot about other people and what I learn the most is that we are all the same. We all have the things that we are passionate about and the things that we like to share with others. It is really wonderful to be apart of that community. Here are 5 of my favorites blogs to follow:
    1. The Kitchn
    2. Love Taza
    3. Peanut Butter Fingers
    4. Can You Stay for Dinner?
    5. Oh Happy Day
  3. Modern Medicine and Holistic Approaches: This might sound like an oxymoron but I am very grateful for the ability to care for myself without having to worry about insurance and drugs however; I also recognize when I need something to get over Bronchitis and I am grateful for the medical profession.
  4. Food: I know that I said I was grateful for the harvest last week but I was really talking about the source of our food. This is gratitude for the wonderful things I have eaten over the years. Here are 5 things that I REALLY want to make in the next couple of weeks.
    1. Simple Lemony Spring Chicken & Spring Veggie Soup
    2. Ground Chicken Lettuce Wraps
    3. Cranberry Avocado Salad
    4. Caramel Churro Chex Mix
    5. Pumpkin Heavenly Oreo Dessert
  5. Animals: Everyone should know by now how much I miss my dog Coco but having her in my life gave me gratitude and love for all animals that cross my path. It is such a wonderful thing to have the connection we do with them.

Have a WONDERFUL and GRATITUDE-FILLED week!!

Gratitude is Contagious

/ jennced15 / 2 Comments

We made it to November . . . how–I am not exactly sure. In some ways I think this year took forever. Maybe because I had a year of struggles. In other ways I think it flew by. Probably because I was once again too busy to really live it. Either way, this year has been full of change and the kind that is painful because it forces you to grow and learn.

At this point I am sure you are thinking, “Gee Jenn, way to be depressing”.

Actually not. What I have learned the most in this entire process is what really is important to me. I have learned that people really love me and most importantly, I have learned that I am not alone in this thing we call life.

I have learned a little more every day this year what gratitude really is and why celebrating one day a year is so important. I am hoping that each of you will catch my gratitude bug and give it away as well.

So every week I will share some of the things that I am grateful for. I have a list that is much to long to write on paper and too long to share each time I pray but somehow all of it is written on my heart. It is safe there and will stay with me forever.

I hope each one of you know that you are in my heart.

  1. I am grateful for the natural beauty I am surrounded in. I have lived in many places, been to many places and seen many things but no where on this planet can I find a place that the beauty of the earth does not stir my soul in gratitude and love.
  2. I am grateful for my friends. I am talking about those friends that know when you might be close to a breakdown. The friends that know when to tease you about the guy that just walked by. The friends that would do anything in their power to save you.
  3. I am grateful for the harvest. I love this land of plenty. I experience nostalgia from the smell of cinnamon. I love the art behind a well prepared dish. I love how food brings people together because it sustains life. Food teaches us to bond at a basic human need and we all flourish from it.
  4. I am grateful for trials because they teach us to try harder. They move us forward down the paths that make us grow and change. In that change we become the people we are truly meant to be and that is a beautiful thing.
  5. I am grateful for family. I love and respect the people who have to put up with me and I hope they will always know that my life would be incomplete with any of them missing. I would gladly and readily trade every part of my existence for my family.

Since I knew this post would be full of written thoughts. I have decided to share a small slide show of recent pictures (one of these days I will  upload to Flickr). Enjoy!!

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