Thankful Thursday: Sweat

This is what it takes and I'm thankful I can get down and get sweaty!! Getting in shape is not glamorous work.

Today I'm thankful I can push myself hard enough to sweat like a champion.

I'm telling you, this 10K better watch out.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: Cooking with Love

I am so thankful that I was able to learn the basics of cooking from a wonderfully loving individual; Nana. She alone shall be accredited to teaching me many lessons on preparing food. Her taste in food is   heavy southern comfort meals that I loved to eat growing up. I still crave those comfort meals and still prepare them every once in awhile. But more importantly what she transferred to me was a love of preparing wholesome meals for my loved ones.

I believe this is the most magical ingredient of all. Adding love to any dish will surely be a hit. Since B and I got married I have enjoyed cooking for him. I delight in seeing his face after a long arduous day at work as he walks in the door to smell another one of my creations. I secretly think he dreams about what dinner will be each night. I love watching him inhale the plate of food. I love that I am in some small way not only satisfying his hunger but helping be the best him he can be by giving a healthy meal. We, of course, have our guilty pleasures that we indulge in now and then.

I have really been pushing the boundaries of my cooking abilities. I am venturing into unknown territories. This brings some frustration when the dish doesn't turn out like I think it should or how the picture of the recipe looks, but its fun.

Surprisingly to most, B loves to cook. He loves food. He loves trying new things and he's awesome at giving feedback. A lot of times we pick out new recipes together and work together on Sunday's to prepare the meal. Such a great way to spend quality time together.

Cooking with love is something I am beyond grateful that Nana passed down to me.

Off to cook dinner.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: Power of Choice

The past few days and weeks I have been on the edge of great emotions. I am not exactly sure as to why, but I do know there are a handful of contributing factors. The weather has been up and down, my joints have been really hurting, the hubby is working long hours, my 30th birthday is fast approaching and on and on.....

Today, I was standing in my closet choosing what to wear. My first thought was something drab that would cover me up, keep me comfy, keep all my self-conceived flaws out of view and plainly because I didn't feel particularly spunky. But, as I started to pull out a shirt then pants my mind wondered to that place of choosing a bad day or deliberately attempting to choose a good day. Your probably thinking I am crazy that my mind would go thru all that just over picking out what to wear. But for me, my cloths are as creative as I get. For me, they are an expression of who I am, how I am feeling and what I plan to accomplish that day. The labels are not important to me but the "look" and "feel" are.

After looking at what I had pulled out I made a choice to pull out a different less draby shirt. What I pulled out was a bright green shirt with black stripes. It all began with choice number one.

As the day went along I found myself at crossroads of choosing positive options or negative. All along the way I found that I veered towards the negative and had to deliberately opt for the positive. Decision by decision I am now wrapping up my day. The day was positive. While not easy nor was making it a positive day easy; nonetheless is was positive.

As I sit here writing this post of what I am thankful for I am realizing (not for the first time, unfortunately) that I have the power to choose. We all have the power to choose positive energy. Does this mean it will be easy, heck no but it does mean you'll be in a slightly better place mentally and emotionally than if you made the opposite decision.

Today, I am thankful for the power of choice. The power to stop at each decision each crossroad and choose which directional arrow I am going to follow. The power to allow my circumstances; whether controllable or not, to edify me or consume me.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: Ice Cream and Long Days

The past few weeks have had me spinning; going to and from with a full social calendar. This time of year I am spinning my wheels because the hubs begins his very long work days. As summer is their busiest season, the time of year that generates enough profits to get the small family owned business thru the winter when all things landscape related seem to halt. He works 6am to 7pm. Leaving no time to help out around the house; nor would I ask. The long days keep me motivated to get things done. My take on it is this, if he is busting his hump (literally, physically he looses approx. 10-15lbs every summer) then I can "lady-up" and make sure this household runs smoothly. I would be mortified if he came home after such long grueling hours of braving the weather conditions, managing people, attempting to meet strict deadlines, and at times literally picking up a shovel to move earth all day to find our home unorganized, disheveled and me being lazy not carrying my weight when he needs it most.

But the long days alone make me miss him. Anyone who is married will understand that some alone time is wonderful, refreshing and invigorating but too much alone causes you to miss them, to want to shower each other with love and words of encourage to make it thru the next long day, thus appreciating one another. I have been at this heightened routine for almost 3 weeks and I find myself watching the clock with eager anticipation between 7-7:30pm. I am eager to see him. To hear his voice. To attend to him and let him put his feet up for 30 minutes while he eats dinner. To lay in bed at 8pm while I run my feeding tube snuggled up to him and watch something via our little laptop.

Distance or time makes the heart grow founder. This I truly believe; if the love is genuine.

Since I am staying on my feet and keeping up on all my "chores" and duties around the house along with taking on his duties I am exhausted. Tonight's dinner for me was a HUGE bowl of ice cream. And I am forever grateful for each smooth, cool, sugary bit. The sugar high might push me to get his lunch ready for  the next day tonight rather than at 5am tomorrow morning.

I am thankful for the small things, for all the small things make up how great my life is.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: Yummy High Fat Treats

It's Thankful Thursday! I don't know if I can top this weeks good news. Although I do have something that I am thankful for.....Nuttella

This tasty spread is just the thing I like when I can't sleep because I feel hungry. It might sound weird that I feel hungry at night, even with a feeding tube, but I does happen. I am thankful that I can reach in the cupboard to pull out the Nuttella and lather it on almost anything. Here are a few things I enjoy it on:

• toasted waffles
• saltines
• pretzels
• fresh fruit
• bread
• toast
• plan, scooped with spoon

I love it so much that I buy it from Costco. This stuff is magical. I bake with it and have made some super duper yummy things. It's great if you need something that is high in calories yet good for you.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: May Flowers

Finding one thing to be thankful for is actually sort of difficult. Life is too full and abundant to be thankful for just one thing. However, today, or this entire week rather, my eyes have been drawn to all the gorgeous flowers that are beginning to bloom. As I drive into town I pass a man rototilling his little patch of dirt for what appears to be the start of a vegetable garden, while his wife is preparing baskets to hang from their porch. I just love the idea of taking something ordinary, a patch of dirt, and edifying it with flowers or plants. It reminds of the old mentor of life that with death (winter) comes life (spring).

Many of you know that my hubby works in the Landscape Design arena and I used to wonder how in the world the hubs enjoyed what he does for a living but this time each year I am reminded. He, just like the couple above, take a plain piece of land and give it life. He loves it. He loves seeing the transformation. He loves working outside with his hands.

I love that his profession affords us all sorts of "leftovers", which generally end up in one of my flower pots. The first "leftover" this season is this beautiful orange Lilly. She came to us with no blooms and has just recently shown herself.

Today, I am thankful for all the stunning May flowers that are blooming all over the place. Fills my day with color and rejuvenates my mood.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday: Companions of the Female Kind

I am forever grateful for my many wonderful and amazing girlfriends. These women keep me grounded, focused, supported and can offer up a laugh like no other. Today, I was in the presence of a few of these ladies and I feel so refreshed, rejuvenated and loved.

In a society that places women on display to judge one another, to pit one against another and to pick them apart as if they were a crispy chicken leg rather than a human made in God's image. I am beyond thankful for the gals in my life who see beyond those lies, who can sit down next to me and have compassion. They give me inspiration, edify me as a woman, as a wife, and as a fellow companion.

These women are fierce, smart, determined, mommies, full-time-employees, full-time employers, wife's, and so much more. I am so blessed and thankful for you all.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday

Today, I see so much to be thankful. So much so that its hard to pin point just one thing to focus on. However, today its not about me or the blessings in my life but about two children many borders away.

My dear friend and her husband will finally be able pour their love onto these children and let them know they are not alone, they have a mama and daddy who are desparate for them. These children will begin the journey of understanding what its like to have a family, to feel the love that comes from a family, to know that God has a plan for them and to have the opportunity to have life outside of institiutionalization.

Their story can be read at Treasures Over the Rainbow.

I am thankful that God hears our prayers. I am thankful that I have been a small part of their journey, for it has changed me, these children and countless others just like them have changed me into a better human. I can't wait to see how these children blossom under the unconditional love of a family.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday

Warm snuggly blankets are what I am thankful for today.

I have been addicted to blankets since I was born. Going in and out of hospitals helped infused this accessory to my hip. I hate being cold and anyone who has had an IV knows that they don't always let the medications come to room temperature before beginning the infusion, thus literally cooling your blood. A blanket is an essential piece to my hospital pack that is loaded with comforts from home.

I also love them because they feel like someone is wrapping their arms around you even when they can't be with you. I have many blankets. Some have been store bought, some have been handmade, but each was given to me for a purpose; support and comfort.

Another aspect to this blanket addiction that is hard to kick is that I just simply love the snuggle factor. I love a soft warm blanket on my skin when I sit to read, watch tv, do my nebulizer, etc. It used to be that any old blanket would suffice but as I have grow in adulthood (I think I've made it there), I try to match my blankets to the rooms décor.

Today I am thankful for this little throw blanket that is keeping me warm and fashionable while I watch the snow fall in March.

Do you have a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, peice of clothing, etc that makes you feel snuggly?

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday

I am not gonna lie. Today my blinders are on, making it difficult to see the blessings. Its super easy to get catch up in the flow of complaining and feeling sorry for oneself instead of looking outside the box to recognize what is good and wonderful about/in our lives.

Today on this Thursday my box seems too large see the outside edges but this is exactly why I copied the idea of taking one day to stop in my tracks and be thankful. My goal is to attempt to change the direction of my thoughts, which takes energy and focus, but once the wheel is spinning in a positive direction it will take more to reverse the cycle thus allowing all the negativity to fall off with little effort.

I am thankful for the rain. Most PacNW folk will think I am crazy but hear me out. We get a lot of rain. Sometimes so much rain that is causes backyard flooding and the inconvenience of getting drenched just walking 150 ft to the car. However, one of the main reasons most people LOVE this part of the country is because of its lush green vegetation, rivers to fish and mountains to ski. Without all this rain, what we love about the PacNW would not be.

So, today, as my backyard is floods and my hair is impossibly frizzy. I am thankful for the rain.

~Doodlin'

Thankful Thursday

I want to start a new trend here and I am copying a friend (for the record). However, I love what my blogger friend has done. Each Thursday he writes a post labeled "thankful thursday" and I have looked forward to reading what they're thankful for each week. Then, today, the 'thankful thursday' post came out and it got me thinking, why am I so excited to hear what others are thankful for yet not take a second to stop and think about what I am thankful for? So, in order to help me focus on what I am thankful for I too am going to have a thankful Thursday post.

Without further ado.......

I am thankful for forgiveness. 

I am an emotional person and many times those emotions get pushed deep down in the pits of my soul. As most know that when we hold something in, it will eventually become too big to contain, thus unleashing when we least expect it. 

So, today, I am focusing on being thankful for forgiveness. I am thankful God built us with this great capacity. I am thankful that I can forgive and live life free from the burdens of being hurt, saddened, mistreated, etc. I am thankful that those around me have the capacity to forgive so that they can live life free of the burdens of me or anyone hurting them, causing them great sadness or any other wrongful thing I do to them.

I am so so so beyond thankful for forgiveness.

~Doodlin'