Monday, June 30, 2014

Gratitudes 6/30/14

“A grateful mindset can set you free from the prison of disempowerment and the shackles of misery.” ~ Steve Maraboli

Today I am grate*full...

1. for this chapter in my life. I have met plenty of people who have changed my life for the better.
2. for hugs from the kids.
3. for shampoo and deodorant. I'm almost out of both and not sure how I'm going to replace either.
4. for the awesome dinner that John made last night...that the kids actually ate LOL.
5. for coffee. Boy, did I need it this morning.

Love~
Elizabeth

Sunday, June 29, 2014

Gratitudes for 6/29/14

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” ~ GK Chesterton

Today I am grate*full...
1. for an awesome time with the family last night.
2. for barbecue potato chips.
3. for the money I found in my wallet that I forgot I had.
4. for the way Rachael pulls her blanket over her head when we put her down to go to sleep.
5. that the Mets won yesterday!

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Gratitudes 6/27/14 and 6/28/14

"The kind of experience of humility and happiness that comes with gratitude tends to crowd out whatever is coarse, or ugly, or mean." ~ Kevin DeYoung

“I have learned that in every circumstance that comes my way, I can choose to respond in one of two ways: I can whine or I can worship! And I can't worship without giving thanks. It just isn't possible. When we choose the pathway of worship and giving thanks, especially in the midst of difficult circumstances, there is a fragrance, a radiance, that issues forth out of our lives to bless the Lord and others.” ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Today I owe ten gratitudes and I am grate*full...

1. for my oldest daughter's imagination.
2. that John helped me get splinters out of Marc's foot this morning.
3. for sleeping in.
4. for coffee.
5. for Nutella and jelly sandwiches.
6. for the donation I got yesterday to the GoFundMe campaign. It has enabled me to purchase method books for one of our three potential students.
7. for the three new students we might have as a result of the story on the news!
8. that a friend is going to give me an acoustic piano!
9. that I got to hang out with so many CFA people yesterday, many for the last time. I am grate*full for their presence in my lives over the past year.
10. that my credit score went up 10 points in the past month!

Love~
Elizabeth

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Gratitudes 6/26/14

"What I've learned is there's a scientifically proven phenomenon that's attached to gratitude, and that if you consciously take note of what is good in your life, quantifiable benefits happen." ~ Deborah Norville

Today I am grate*full...
1. that Dad is getting the help he needs
2. that WETM is doing a story on the Collective. (I think!)
3. that it wasn't raining when I left this morning.
4. for Dunkin coffee.
5. that Melanie didn't have a fever when I went to wake her up this morning.

Love~
Elizabeth

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Gratitudes 6/25/14

"When service members are discharged, we should express our gratitude for their profound personal sacrifice, not hand them a bill for their hospital food." ~ Barbara Boxer

I chose the quote above because my father-in-law, a World War II Navy veteran, is currently in the hospital, and he's freaking out about a medical bill that he has due July 5.

Today I am grate*full...

1. for the insurance I have through my job.
2. that my father-in-law said we could borrow his car while he's in the hospital (silver linings y'all...)
3. for coffee.
4. for a great boss who was totally cool when I sent him a text that I might be late this morning.
5. that the attorney's office was very nice on the phone.

Love~
Elizabeth

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Gratitudes 6/20-6/24/14

"A smart manager will establish a culture of gratitude. Expand the appreciative attitude to suppliers, vendors, delivery people, and of course, customers." ~ Harvey Mackay

"Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude." ~ Nick Vujicic

"At the age of 18, I made up my mind to never have another bad day in my life. I dove into a endless sea of gratitude from which I've never emerged." ~ Patch Adams

"I believe in prayer. I believe in gratitude and serving people." ~ Kiran Bedi

"Social scientists have found that the fastest way to feel happiness is to practice gratitude." ~ Chip Conley



Gratitudes for 6/20/14
For four work-related things about which I can't post details

And that I got my yearbook :)

Gratitudes for 6/21/14

1. That I got paid yesterday.
2. That we're going to Savannah and Logan's birthday party later.
3. for a massage from Melanie this morning.
4. that my husband still loves me after seven years of marriage.
5. for Nutella and jelly.

Gratitudes for 6/22/14

1. for good times spent with good friends.
2. for Nutella and jelly sandwiches.
3. for coffee.
4. for sleeping in.
5. for God's presence in my life.

And 10 gratitudes for 6/24/14 because I didn't write any yesterday

1. for people at work making me laugh.
2. for Debbie Gibson and INXS music on my Pandora.
3. for my pampering regimen.
4. for FlyLady.
5. for Jan, my predecessor at my job, for teaching me everything I know.
6. for BrainyQuote, the source for most of my quotes. Some of today's are just mind-blowing. OMG.
7. for my journal. I verbally vomit so much crap into that thing and I'm so grateful it's there for me, so I don't verbally vomit elsewhere.
8. for the Creative Dream Circle.
9. for the cookout we had at school today. It was fun.
10. that the 8th grade awards went smoothly.

Love~
Elizabeth

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Gratitudes 6/19/14

"As with all commandments, gratitude is a description of a successful mode of living. The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us." ~ James E. Faust

Today I am grate*full...

1. for some message board posts I read that were very encouraging.
2. that I'm getting paid tomorrow.
3. that summer is coming and I get to go swimming on Saturday.
4. that I got the gas can out of my car! OMG I got in my car yesterday and thought it was going to explode.
5. for coffee.

Love~
Elizabeth

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Gratitudes 6/13/14 to present

OMG how have I gotten so behind?

"I have had friends who have acted kindly towards me, and it has been my good fortune to have it in my power to give them substantial proofs of my gratitude." ~ Giacomo Casanova

"Happiness is itself a kind of gratitude." ~ Joseph Wood Krutch

"God is always coming to you in the Sacrament of the Present Moment. Meet and receive Him there with gratitude in that sacrament." ~ Evelyn Underhill

"Gratitude to gratitude always gives birth." ~ Sophocles

"One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay 'in kind' somewhere else in life." ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

"I've always had that gratitude that I had the opportunity to pursue my potential. So I think my story says that, when women are given the chance and the opportunity, that we can achieve a lot. We deliver. We can make the world a better place, one butt at a time." ~ Sara Blakely

Today I am grate*full...

1. for my house.
2. for my vehicle.
3. for my children.
4. for music.
5. for the people I work with (well, most of them).
6. for air conditioning in my office and my car.
7. for the hole punch in our office.
8. for having Monica, Lethia, and Chris over on Saturday when we were running the yard sale.
9. that we met our goal with our yard sale.
10. that I had warm clothes to wear when the weather was not what we expected.
11. for my new leopard print Snuggie.
12. for my well-insulated house.
13. that my big girl (who is still my baby girl) has the dollhouse I never had growing up.
14. That Jake bought me and Laurie lunch last Thursday, because I had leftovers to eat on Friday, and the lunch I brought to work last Thursday to eat on Monday.
15. that it was Friday last Friday. Two snaps for Friday y'all!
16. for Zantac and Tums. Woke up with horrific acid reflux last night.
17. that Amazon Prime is now offering streaming music in addition to streaming video! 18. for my oDesk job, which I was having fun with. Looking for more!
19. for Pandora. When I typed my prayers into my journal, my Pandora started reacting with songs I love and I don't think that's a coincidence.
20. that my Gmail inbox is cleared out.
21. for cold water.
22. for clean water to drink.
23. for my daughter Rachael's laugh.
24. that we're going to get to host my friend Ashley's kids on July 4th.
25. for free soda! Because the building where I work is closing and being converted into apartments, Pepsi came to get the soda machine yesterday but we had all these sodas left that they had paid for so they're free in the staff lounge. I got enough to cover my lunches for the rest of my time here.
26. for the ability to find prayers online.
27. for leftover pizza.
28. for Mobic. Some days my knee pain (I have bone-on-bone degenerative joint disease in both my knees) is through-the-roof excruciating. The Mobic brings it from 10+ down to about 6 most days.)
29. for Finale Notepad.
30. that I live in a country where we elect representatives and can contact them to make our voices heard.

Love~
Elizabeth

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Gratitudes 6/12/14

"Thanks are justly due for boons unbought." ~Ovid

Today I am grate*full

1. that we're raising awareness of the Collective.
2. that our toilet is hopefully getting fixed.
3. that I have new Kitsy Lane customers.
4. that my boss is buying me and my officemate lunch.
5. that I got a coffee pot to add to the yard sale!

Love~
Elizabeth

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Gratitudes for 6/7, 6/8, 6/9, 6/10, and 6/11/14

“Whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will increase in your life.” ~ Sanaya Roman

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." ~ W.T. Purkiser

“He who does not reflect his life back to God in gratitude does not know himself.” ~ Albert Schweitzer

"We should honor Mother Earth with gratitude; otherwise our spirituality may become hypocritical." ~ Radhanath Swami

"Giving is an expression of gratitude for our blessings." ~ Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen


6/7/14
I was grate*full...
1. for good friends.
2. for good weather.
3. for beautiful babies.
4. for Sailor, my private piano student.
5. for Barbara Sher.

6/8/14
I was grate*full...
1. that I found my Empowerment Cards.
2. for Marc singing "Movin' Out" by Billy Joel at the top of his lungs, into a fan. Seriously. You haven't lived until you've heard a three-year-old sing "TRADIN' IN CHEVY CADILLAC-ACK-ACK-ACK" at the top of his lungs, into a fan. It's bloody hilarious.
3. for the life of my cousin Jack, who turned 50.
4. for the life of my friend Melanie, with whom I've been friends since I was in third grade and she was in sixth, who also celebrated a birthday.
5. for the Sunday Mass on the internet.

6/9/14
I was grate*full...
1. for warm weather.
2. for air conditioning in my car.
3. for LinkedIn.
4. for oDesk.
5. for our babysitters, Monica and Lethia.

6/10/14
I was grate*full...
1. for good weather.
2. for Melanie responding well to her new chore chart.
3. for a good dinner cooked by my handsome husband.
4. that the Mets were leading when I went to bed.
5. for cheesy poofs.

6/11/14
I am grate*full...
1. for Goodreads.
2. for LinkedIn.
3. for this phone call I got yesterday about the nonprofit I'm trying to start. The woman was unable to help me but is interested in having her daughter be involved, and told me what a great thing it was that I was doing.
4. that Paul McCartney still sings songs in their original key.
5. for Pandora.

Love~
Elizabeth

Friday, June 6, 2014

Gratitudes for 6/6/14

“The highest tribute to the dead is not grief but gratitude.” ~ Thornton Wilder

Today I am grate*full...

1. for the fragrance of daisies on my desk.
2. for the music of the Beatles.
3. for my husband, who gave me some extra attention this morning, and made my sandwiches for lunch.
4. for yummy yummy cucumbers.
5. for the people who really came through for me during a difficult situation I had to deal with at work. This school has the best staff and I am going to miss them terribly when I leave my position at the end of this month.

Love~
Elizabeth

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Gratitudes for 6/3, 6/4, and 6/5

"If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans." ~ James Herriot

“Those who have the ability to be grateful are the ones who have the ability to achieve greatness.” ~ Steve Maraboli

“Got no checkbooks, got no banks. Still I'd like to express my thanks - I've got the sun in the mornin' and the moon at night.” ~ Irving Berlin

Today I am grate*full...
1. for my handicapped parking tag.
2. for my crutches. They really help get the pressure off my knees. I've been walking almost exclusively on them for two days and they feel a lot better.
3. that a student helped me carry my lunch to the breakroom.
4. that Ms. Barb helped me with my Coke yesterday (I had to carry the can in my teeth because I couldn't maneuver my crutches with it my hand LOL).
5. that my friend Gina carried some flowers up to my office from the staff room yesterday. They're daisies, which were my mother-in-law's favorite. Roses are my favorite, but they didn't have any roses, and pansies were my mom's, but they didn't have any pansies either, so I took some daisies.
6. that I got to see Jan, my predecessor, today.
7. for super yummy cucumbers.
8. for hope.
9. for Pandora.
10. for the song "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World (which came along at the absolute opportune moment)
11. for the Corning Free Academy bracelets I found in a drawer at work.
12. for sunny weather.
13. that I get to have lunch with my husband and kids today at work.
14. for our babysitters.
15. for my Corning Free Academy bracelet.
16. for real Nutella.

Love~
Elizabeth

Monday, June 2, 2014

Gratitudes for 5/31, 6/1, and 6/2/14

"Does not the gratitude of the dog put to shame any man who is ungrateful to his benefactors?" ~ Saint Basil

"Gratitude is a duty which ought to be paid, but which none have a right to expect." ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"Silent gratitude isn't very much to anyone." ~ Gertrude Stein


Gratitudes for May 31:

1. that the Corning Free Academy closing ceremony was really wonder*full last night. Lauren Frazer and Amy Smaldone have so much to be proud of.
2. for something work related about which I can't post details.
3. that I got to see my friend Bernie Baldini.
4. for a long snuggle with the Rachmonster this morning.
5. for the idea about the VA jobs. If I can take one or two of those, work them for a period of so many weeks or whatever, and make some money, I can pay our bills and get us out of the hole, and then save up for my training, hotel, and meals for training.

Gratitudes for June 1:

1. for beautiful weather.
2. for Twitter.
3. for my Chronic Pain Support group on Facebook.
4. for coffee.
5. that my hazelnut spread and my coffee creamer made it through the month of May.

Today I am grate*full...
1. for air conditioning in the office and faculty room.
2. for clean water to drink.
3. for beautiful, warm weather. (We really need a hose.)
4. for my beautiful children.
5. for my dear and loving husband.

Love~
Elizabeth