A Year of Gratitude - August 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on that word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

August was mostly good.  While I was sad to send the kids back to school, it has been nice to be back in a routine again… although, I have to say, I do not miss the early wakeup call.  ;o)  August brought about many wonderful things for the kids and our family in general, and although some of my neck tension/dizziness has started to creep up again (likely because of the neck pillow the doctor has me using to realign my c-curve) it hasn’t been nearly as terrible as it used to be, so I’m grateful for that as well. 

 

In August I was grateful…

 

1. For not being dizzy for soooo long now… this is the longest stretch I’ve been without being dizzy since it all started in July 2023.
2. For this wonderful, relaxing, fun summer that we had… it’s bittersweet that it ends Monday.
3. For two homecooked meals today… we love our Sunday lunches and dinners with our families!
4. That both kids had a great first day of school.  And for our drive home – it’s always one of my favorite parts of the day… I just love hearing everything about their day, and they were both RAVING about how wonderful everything was today. 
5. That Jacob loves both of his math classes so much.  He decided to double up on math this year (and he was already in advanced math prior to this year), so he’s taking 10th and 11th grade math this year as a 9th grader.  He was a little nervous about his decision at first, but after just two days, he has declared those to be his favorite classes (especially the 11th grade math class) and he’s happy with his decision to double up!
6. For feeling ahead, organized, tidy, and not like a chicken with my head cut off… yet anyway.  Haha.
7. That the eye doctor was able to get us in for an emergency appointment since Jacob’s skin around his eye was so irritated.  I am super grateful that it’s nothing serious, too.
8. For another year around the sun with my Daddy!  Happy birthday to him!
9. For some décor refreshes around the house… by shopping my own home!  I rearranged a few things today and I’m loving the changes!
10. For 90s and early 2000s romcoms… I watched How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days again today (for the gazillionth time) and it is just so good.  Why don’t they make movies like this anymore?!  Also, for my bulletin board in my office… it holds so many treasures, and I love looking at it all day while I work.  It makes me so happy!  And for being able to resume Bible studies again after having to be super careful about my neck position for weeks.  And finally, for my first run in ages… and that my neck muscles didn’t tense up like they used to do when I ran!
11. For another year with my father-in-law… happy birthday to him!!
12. For a Taylor Swift new album announcement!!!!  EEEEK.
13. For my collection of Rainbow Loom bracelets that Olivia has made for me over the years… I love wearing one each day and having that little reminder of her around my wrist.
14. For SUCH a fantastic night last night at the Teddy Swims concert.  My goodness, he is so talented!  And for my parents for keeping the kids and getting them to school this morning… I got to sleep in after being up until 1 AM.  PRAISE.
15. For social media friends who will snag the Deluxe CD version of a Taylor Swift album for you when they know you keep trying and failing to get one.
16. That Jacob and Olivia are home with me all day today.  I have missed them so much since they went back to school!
17. For the laziest weekend… re-entry into the new school year is always so exhausting!
18. For Brian, who mows the lawn in the blazing heat after he’s worked all day.
19. For all of the Taylor Swift Easter eggs about her new album… it is so much fun to be a Swiftie, y’all!
20. For my acrylic shelves in my office that Brian hung earlier this year… I finally got them styled just right, and I love every single thing about them.
21. For a long conversation with our resource officer and being able to get to know him + hearing all of the wonderful things he’s had to say about our school.
22. That Jacob’s sickness was brief, and that he only had to miss one day of school… and that none of the rest of us ever got sick!
23. For a fun time at our school’s football game last night.  For being able to sleep in this morning.  For time spent with my girl making waffles for breakfast.
24. That Jacob has joined such a wonderful group that promotes deep connection, supportive relationships, and character development through the lens of God.  It is such a great group, and he is grateful that he decided to join.
25. That people feel that they can confide in me.  For whatever reason, people have always confided in me with things that are very private (and sometimes things that I am probably not supposed to know – haha).  But I am honored that people trust me so much that they feel like they can reach out to me when they need me.
26. For a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce engagement!!!!  This seriously made my day, my week, and my month!  And that I was able to email the news to Olivia and be the one to tell her before she heard about it from someone else.
27. For those working hard every day to protect our kids while they’re at school.  For those who are willing to stand up for common sense gun laws.  And that we have not been touched by the tragedy of a school shooting.  And I pray that we never do. 
28. For 22 years of being with Brian… today was our date-iversary!  And for good food, yummy drinks, and great conversation with my girls at dinner.
29. That my neck adjustment held for so long.  It was slightly out of adjustment today for the first time in forever, so my doctor was able to spread out my visits by a month going forward!
30. That Jacob arrived at his destination safely for his retreat.  For fall decorating with my girl.  For college football on my TV.  For cinnamon and pumpkin spice in my diffuser.  For all the fall things.  And for a long weekend – AMEN.
31. For Brian, for picking up pumpkin donuts for the two of us even though both kids were gone.

 

Happy Monday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - July 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on that word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

July was such a great month – it was equal parts fun, relaxation, and productivity, and I think it’s safe to say that it was probably my favorite month of 2025 yet… most likely also because my vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness, and all of the other nasty symptoms I have been facing for so long have finally started to disappear.  It’s amazing how much lighter and happier I feel when I’m not bogged down with chronic pain, headaches, sensitivity to light, vertigo, etc.  I can now sit at the computer and crank out an entire blog post from start to finish so much faster because my brain fog is slowly lifting, and I no longer have pain in my neck when sitting for long periods of time.  It’s AMAZING. 

In addition to all of the above, I also managed to dig way down deep on the to-do list this summer and check things off that I never thought would see the light of day.  That made me feel ultra productive, but somehow, not burned out in the least, and I feel like we started the month of August (and the new school year) feeling prepared and calm.  While I’m sad to see summer go, I really do feel ready for the busy season that lies ahead, and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to navigate it with grace and, maybe, just maybe, be able to savor it for once instead of watching it rush by while we’re drowning in a bunch of tasks that need to be done.

In July I was grateful…

 

1. For the good parts of social media, one being that it keeps us all connected to loved ones who we can’t see as much as we’d like.
2. That I was able to walk for over three miles with very few side effects from my dizziness… it’s the first time I’ve walked that distance since my vertigo started two years ago!
3. For Olivia randomly telling me today, “I just want to spend time with my mom.”  I love that my sweet girl still loves to spend time with me.
4. For a perfectly low-key 4th of July with friends, for Jeannine’s friendship, and that our kids are all so close.  And also for those who stand up for all of the injustice going on in the world and in our country right now.
5. For a productive day getting stuff cleaned out.
6. For two homecooked meals – one by my mother-in-law and one by my Momma.  They feed us so well on Sundays and we always love our Sunday family time.
7. For a day that felt endless (in a good way).  Somehow, today felt super long, and it felt like we had so much time to get so many things done.  It was an equal mix of productivity, relaxation, and fun times with family and friends.
8. For a rainbow!!!!  I never ever get tired of seeing them.  They truly always seem to appear when I’m hoping to see one the most.
9. For a lazy day at home all day in pajamas.
10. For no dizziness or pain or side effects AT ALL today.  And for having a full heart after helping out at our church’s outreach center.
11. For good times with friends today for both Jacob and Olivia… and for cozy thunderstorms.
12. For an excellent homily at Mass tonight about loving our neighbor… it is so important right now with the way things are in our country during this tumultuous time.
13. For my reading nook in my office.  I love everything about it… the chair, the mirror ball throw pillow, the cozy lamp and twinkle lights, the stack of books, our family picture in our favorite place, and a live plant that is thriving.
14. That my adjustments are holding!  And my atlas is officially level!  It’s not perfect yet, as it still has to be adjusted laterally, but this is such excellent news!
15. For dinner with my girls… they fill my cup every time I get together with them.  And for a 4-mile jog and a quiet evening to myself while Brian took the kids to see a movie.
16. That the snake in the middle of the road didn’t strike at me when I almost stepped on it.  Ugggghhhh.
17. That my dizziness and unsteadiness didn’t fire up too badly at the Back to School Ice Cream social… socializing/having long conversations has always been a trigger for my dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness because it makes my neck stiff, and it wasn’t nearly as bad tonight.  Normally after a situation like that, I have to go lay down when I get home and I’m zapped for the rest of the day, but this time, I had mostly recovered in the 15 minutes it took me to get home.
18. That I didn’t have any dizziness or unsteadiness after this adjustment.  And for two patient kids who have been going to most of my appointments with me without a single complaint.
19. For finally getting that closet under the stairs cleaned out… it has been on my list for years and it’s one of the areas that I haven’t touched during my annual house cleanouts for the past couple of years.
20. For Publix, for bailing us out with a birthday cake after Walmart failed us.
21. For feeling totally normal all day today from start to finish. 
22. For a giant birthday eve hug from my Boo.  He’ll wake up a year older tomorrow.
23. For 14 years with Jacob.  That God made me a Momma.  For our rainbow baby in heaven.
24. For more time spent at our church’s outreach center and that our kiddos were so willing to help out there this summer. 
25. For poker night with our usual group.  We’re coming up on three whole years of doing these monthly poker nights and I hope we continue to prioritize them.
26. That Jacob has such good friends. 
27. For Brian, for patiently hanging Olivia’s twinkle lights even though it was a bit tedious… we also ran into a couple of issues while doing it.
28. That Jacob had a blast at high school orientation today.  It’s such a big step, and I’m so happy that he didn’t have any anxiety over all of it.
29. For a date with Brian tonight along with some yummy food and drinks.
30. For several dizzy/pain free days in a row… the longest stretch I’ve had in years.  And also, for these tennis skirts that I wear so much.  They are the comfiest things, but they are SO cute, and they make me feel put together even when I’m actually just bumming around.
31. That Olivia is so happy right now.  She has told me numerous times in the past week that she’s just happy in general in life, and there’s really nothing more in the world that I want for my kids more than I want that.

Happy Monday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - June 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on that word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

June was such a great month, although, there were some tough days as my body started “retracing” through all of its old vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness, neck tension, etc. patterns due to my new adjustments, but other than that, it was oh so good!

In June I was grateful…

1. For beautiful weather for our first beach day and the most stunning crystal clear emerald water!
2. That Brian takes our chairs out early in the morning to get a good spot.
3. For LaCo margaritas… and queso… and chips… and taco salad.  The best Mexican food everrrr.
4. For pickles… yes, pickles.  I loveeee a pickle spear, especially with my burgers from Duo’s at The Big Chill.  And also, for a perfectly timed storm that worked around our schedule so we could enjoy it from our balcony after we were done doing all the things we wanted to do that day.
5. For a good cup of coffee and a long evening beach walk.
6. For inner peace lately… I most definitely do not feel peaceful about the things going on around us in this country, but somehow, I’ve found some inner peace.  Maybe because of the longer, slower summer days?  I don’t know, but whatever the reason, I’m grateful.
7. For another wonderful, safe trip with my little family and lots of great memories to hold onto.
8. For my Maui mug that Brian gave me for my birthday… it’s my favorite one ever and I use it daily now.
9. For an amazing new doctor who SEES ME and UNDERSTANDS ME and has seen loads of people like me, and is confident that he can FIX ME.  After two whole years.  FINALLY.  Praise Jesus.  And for my Daddy for taking more than three hours out of his day to get me there and back safely.
10. For three hours with Father Manny and two of my other favorite people this morning on our coffee date.  What a treat and an absolute blessing.  And for my father-in-law who always takes the kids in when we ask… he always spends quality time with them playing board games and laughing and having the best time.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing village.
11. For a nice, clean car!!  We took it to be washed and vacuumed today, and we cleaned out all the trash and it looks amazing inside and out.  So fresh and so clean, clean!!
12. For sweet summertime, slower days, and a more laidback lifestyle so my brain can have a nice, long break.  My stress and anxiety has plummeted more than ever this summer, and I am loving it.
13. For a successful first adjustment, even though it made me feel awful for a few days.
14. That my vertigo today after my adjustment was minimal.  While it was disheartening to have three separate vertigo spins today, at least I didn’t wake up with complete vertigo again like I did on July 11, 2023.  I was so scared the adjustment may cause that, but thankfully, it didn’t.  And while the vertigo sucked, it also let us know that we are in the right place and doing the right thing because we now know for certain that it was, indeed, my cervical neck that was the root cause.
15. For my Daddy for always being a safe space to land, for always supporting me in everything that I choose to do, and for being a wonderful dad.  And for Brian, for being the best, hands-on dad to our babies.  And for my father-in-law for loving on our babies so well and always being so much fun when he has them over.  Happy Father’s Day to all of them!
16. For lots of fun with the kids today before my adjustment.
17. For our angel baby in heaven… today marks 15 years since our loss, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of him or her.
18. For fewer side effects after today’s adjustment. 
19. For being able to drive the kids to music and take a walk today after being dizzy and unsteady for days.
20. For Brian for clearing the table, cleaning the guest bathroom, and doing all the things that I normally do to prep for guests because he knows that I cannot do them today.  And for a wonderful evening with our poker night crew!
21. For my first SOLO walk since my adjustments started!  Yes, I was veering off to the right again, and there were a couple of times that I thought I might lose my footing, but I didn’t, and I feel stronger for getting out there and going!
22. For no neck tension for days.  The rest of my back muscles may be screaming at me from all these adjustments (it’s temporary, though), but the neck tension that plagued me for years is slowly dissipating.
23. For lots of pool time and fun in the sun with friends.
24. That I didn’t even need an adjustment today because mine is HOLDING.  And for the in-house masseuse’s magical hands for knowing exactly which muscles of mine needed to be kneaded and stretched.
25. For a night of live music watching my favorite band of all time (Dave Matthews Band) play… for being able to see them 29 times… that the show was able to go on in full despite a storm delay… for a safe trip home in more storms.
26. That I was able to sleep in until 9 AM after getting home at 1:30 AM.  Sleeping in is truly one of my favorite things in life.  Such a luxury.
27. For girl time with Jeannine – laughing until we cried, reminiscing about good times – and also for hugging Equisha’s neck for the first time in years.
28. For a game of Scrabble with the fam.  We don’t sit down and play games a lot, but when we do, we always have fun!
29. For an entire day of feeling completely normal… for the first time in TWO WHOLE YEARS.  I had no vertigo, no dizziness, no unsteadiness, no boat-rocking, no pain anywhere, no brain fog, no sensitivity to light, no headaches, no migraines, no neck tension – NOTHING.  ALL DAY.  I could cry I was so happy.
30. For a deer sighting in our neighborhood.  We see them all the time on the side of the road, but it’s rare to see them in our neighborhood up close like that.

Happy Monday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - May 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on that word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

May was a busy, but wonderful month, and there was a lot for which to be grateful.

In May I was grateful…

 

1. For people who introduce me to new music!
2. For my parents for keeping the kiddos again for us so we could enjoy another concert.
3. That our new rug for our primary bedroom is everything I’d hoped it would be and more… it’s gorgeous!
4. For having the courage to follow my convictions and stand up for what I know in my heart is right and just.
5. For time with the two sweet ladies with whom I do all of the Teacher Appreciation Week activities with at the school.  We’ve been doing TAW together for the past few years and they always fill my cup.
6. For my new plant.  I love it so much.
7. That the sun came out after all of the rain today.
8. For a new Pope who is humble and kind and inclusive.
9. For good quality time with our resource officer yesterday and big goodbye hugs today since it was his last day.
10. For the best time at the Abe Parker concert last night and for finding another new artist to love – Zach Paradis – the guy who opened for him.
11. For my Momma, my mother-in-law, and all of the mother figures in my life… and for God for making me a mother.  My greatest blessing of all.
12. For my new Maui mug that Brian gave me.  It brings me so much joy.
13. That I finally finished moving all of the alumni info to the new database!!!!  It was a huge job and I’m happy to have it off my desk!
14. For a fresh hair cut and highlights… and I didn’t even have to leave my house!  So grateful that my hair guy comes to me now!
15. That we were able to find Olivia’s tap and jazz shoes quickly and easily at her dance school after she realized they were missing for a week.
16. For 2023 Lindsay for creating a “Recital Master List”… it has made the last couple of years a breeze for remembering what needs to be done before, on the day of, what to pack for each rehearsal, dress rehearsal, and production, etc.  All the things!  2025 Lindsay is truly grateful for 2023 Lindsay for taking such good notes and being so organized.
17. That we were able to watch our girl dance on stage in SEVEN scenes this year… that she nailed every single one of them… that she had THE BEST TIME doing it… that she loves dance so much.  It’s so rewarding to watch your kids do what they love.  Our fun, loving, jolly gal is just so easy to love!
18. For all of the moms who care for our girls so well back stage during productions… it’s four hours of PURE CHAOS back stage helping each girl get changed quickly between scenes, fixing hair that falls, pinning accessories that come loose, sewing buttons that fall off, finding shoes that get lost, helping them with tricks like layering tights for quick changes, reapplying lipstick, getting them on and off the stage at the correct times, and living in a cloud of hair spray and perfume and girl talk.
19. That Olivia was okay after hitting her head on the swing-set pole today at school, and for her assistant principal who checked her over well and looked after her until I could get there.  And for my friend, Jessica, who is a nurse, for always answering every dumb question I ask when my kids get injured.  Hahahaha.  She is a huge blessing, and she always helps put my mind at ease.
20. For Brian for staking Olivia’s sunflowers ahead of the storm so they wouldn’t blow over in the wind.
21. For my girlfriends group chat that we pop into and chat in most days… so grateful for all of those friendships.
22. For my sweet Boo on his Eighth Grade Promotion Day and all of his achievements.  He is so kind and so good and so hardworking and so smart and all the things.  He makes us so proud, and it is truly a privilege to be his mom.  I was devastated when I miscarried our first baby and I didn’t understand why we had to go through that at the time, but from the moment I held Jacob in my arms, I understood completely.  He wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t gone through that hell of losing a child.
23. For one last, beautiful children’s school Mass with Olivia.  AND THAT SCHOOL IS OUT FOR SUMMER AND MAYCEMBER IS OFFICIALLY OVER!!!!
24. That Olivia actually WANTED to clean out her room and that she asked me to help, and that she was actually very ruthless about getting rid of stuff this time.
25. For knowing that I don’t have to wake up at 6 AM for the next ten weeks.  And for Brian for making his grandmother’s famous chocolate chip cookies for us for our Mother’s Day redo dinner.
26. For everyone who has died fighting for this country and our freedom and for those who have had to live without someone because of it.
27. For afternoon thunderstorms in the summer when we have nowhere to be… it’s always the coziest thing!
28. For Brian for always mowing the lawn and doing all of the yardwork so I don’t have to.
29. For a SUPER productive day… seriously, I got so much done.
30. For pedicure time with Momma and Olivia and for poker night with friends!  What a fun day!
31. That we have an entire week of beeeeaching ahead of us!

 

Happy Monday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - April 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on that word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

April was a month that brought along a little bit of healing after grieving the loss of our sweet doggie, Maui, in March.  The grief still comes at unexpected times, but thankfully, less frequently now, and it was nice to not cry every single day in April like I did in March.  April was actually pretty enjoyable, and we also got a break from the daily grind which helped a lot.

 

In April I was grateful…

 

1. For live music at The Grand Ole Opry with the whole fam.  We all loved it!
2. For a safe drive from Nashville to Dollywood… I had no clue it was three hours long.  Haha.
3. That we had good weather for Dollywood and that all of the tornadoes and bad weather stayed west of us.  Sheesh.
4. For a safe, easy breezy drive home and only having to stop once on the way despite the fact that it was a 5-6 hour drive.
5. For another trip around the sun.  While it’s wild (and a little scary) getting older, I sure never take it for granted.  I’m grateful for every year that passes, for every wrinkle, for every grey hair, and for every single day that I get to walk on this earth.  I’m so grateful for my good health, too.  I do not get the birthday scaries like so many others do.  Not yet, anyway.  Haha.
6. For an outpouring of love yesterday and today from family and friends, past and present.  I had some really good conversations with people who I rarely get to talk to, and it was just so nice to catch up with so many people.
7. For an oversized, snuggly sweatshirt… why oh why is it still so cold?!
8. For feeling great physically today… my gosh, it makes a HUGE difference in my overall productivity and mood when I’m not dizzy and filled with tension and pain. 
9. For my girlfriends (and my dad) for surprising me with the sweetest painting of Maui and my childhood dog, Bill, with St. Francis that my dad painted for me.  And for my friend, Jeannine, for her miniature version of the same painting.  I will cherish both of them forever.
10. For a clean vehicle!!  We finally took my Telluride to the car wash and got it all shined up inside and out.  It’s amazing how great it still looks after five years!
11. For another fun poker night with our friends.  I love these monthly poker nights so very much!  Our group of friends is just so great!
12. For a fun birthday gathering with my father-in-law and my sister-in-law and her family.  We played What Do You Meme Family and it was so hilarious.
13. That my music on my phone finally synced properly with my computer after loads of issues a few weeks ago.
14. For some advice on high school scheduling from a teacher at our school who has a child in Jacob’s class and also has an older child in high school… it was nice to speak with someone who has a child who has been through most of high school already.
15. For a hot chai tea with a splash of vanilla… thanks for the recommendation, Mr. Steve!  And also, for nods from Maui in heaven… a dog treat reminder from Amazon and Olivia’s card to Maui in heaven that came back as undeliverable.  Both made me cry, but in a good way.
16. For my mother-in-law for taking Olivia home and then getting her to dance so I could finally go to one of Jacob’s golf matches… and for gorgeous weather for the golf match!
17. For my parents for picking up the kids from school today so Brian and I could travel to Chattanooga for a concert.  For live music.  For an excellent show.  For one-on-one time with Brian.  For the cutest little hotel room.
18. That Jesus died on the cross for us to save us from our sins and grant us eternal life in heaven.  For a somber Stations of the Cross service on Good Friday.  And to be able to hug my little brother who I don’t get to see too often.  He was in town for the day, and we were able to have a quick dinner with him.
19. For Brian for picking up my last-minute Target order when all of the Easter basket goodies got delayed at the last minute.
20. That Jesus Christ is risen today!!  Hallelujah!  Also, for baby snuggles and puppy snuggles.
21. For an extra day off since it was Easter Monday.
22. For a beautiful pinning ceremony for Jacob… I cannot believe my baby is going to be in high school next year.  Also, for an ENT doctor who continues to advocate for me even though there’s not much else he can do for me.
23. For a good outcome at my emergency appointment with my GYN.  I’d been having pain (pretty bad pain some of the time) for weeks, and it turned out to be a cyst that had burst on my ovary.  Thankfully, he said it looked normal and that no further testing was needed.
24. For the privilege of being able to sit in on Jacob’s and Olivia’s music lessons every week… what a joy it is to watch them learn and create and play music that I love so very much.
25. For Life360 so I was able to see what Jacob was up to during his eighth grade all day trip to Six Flags.  #StalkerVibes
26. That Olivia had a safe and fun time at the ice skating birthday party last night with no incidents.  I was so worried since I couldn’t get out there with her because of my dizziness.
27. For a fun day exploring Arts in the Park in our city. 
28. For my List Master app and my planner for keeping me organized during this very chaotic time of year.
29. For priests and pastors who preach Jesus’s actual message and not the Christian Nationalism that many people in our administration are touting today.
30. For funny memes.  ;o)

 

Happy Monday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - March 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on this word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

March was a month of healing after losing our sweet girl, Maui, at the end of February.  I shed a lot of tears in March, but thankfully, I’ve (mostly) reached the point where I smile or laugh when I think about her rather than turn on the water works.  March was an okay month, and there were lots of things for which to be grateful…  

In March I was grateful…

 

1. That January and February are over.  They were both rough.
2. For being able to reminisce about Maui all day while looking through old pictures of her for a blog post.
3. For a coffee date with Khristina and sunshine, warmth, and an open sunroof.
4. For a lunch date with my old friend and coworker, Greg, and a shopping date with my girl after school.
5. For a beautiful Ash Wednesday Mass with Brian, my Momma, Mama Cass, Aunt Joy, Aunt Becky, and my sweet Olivia… she did such a fantastic job reading during Mass!
6. For happiness watching my girl playing her guitar… she’s learning how to play I Love You, I’m Sorry by Gracie Abrams which is my favorite song on that whole album, and she is doing so well with it.
7. For ten years of blogging, logging memories, and caring for this “baby” of mine.  I’m also incredibly grateful for this blogging community – for my fellow creators with whom I’ve connected, and for all of you who read every single day.
8. For all of the strong women in my life on this International Women’s Day.
9. For Xyzal and Flonase Sensimist because the pollen is out of this world this season (they said we broke a record in Georgia for the highest pollen count on record) and my allergies are RAGING.
10. That Brian ran to the pediatrician’s office to pick up some paperwork so I didn’t have to… I was feeling overwhelmed with things to do, so he took something off my plate for me.
11. That the countdown to spring break is ON!!  We are all so ready for a break!
12. For a sweet text from my friend, Jen, to check on me nearly three weeks after Maui passed away… it was so thoughtful for someone to check in long after the other check-ins had stopped.
13. For the best dinner with old coworkers and being able to spend time with them and catch up with them.  It’s been 7.5 years since I left, and I love that we’ve all stayed close.
14. For the absolute most thoughtful gift left on my doorstep by my friend, Jeannine, (flowers and a signed copy of one of my favorite books written by a dear old friend) and for the sweetest message written inside the book by the author.
15. That Jacob stepped outside of his comfort zone, and he participated in a math tournament at our local university.  He enjoyed it so much and we were so proud of him for trying something new!
16. That we were spared in the storms last night… it was a night of severe weather including tornadoes all over the southeast, but thankfully, our entire area was spared.
17. For a fun time with friends at my friend, Jeannine’s, St. Patrick’s Day party.
18. FOR A MASSAGE!!!!  It was my first one in almost 15 years.
19. For an open line of communication with both of our kids.  I am so grateful that they talk to me about any and every little thing, and that they don’t feel like they have to hide anything.
20. For 96 years of Mama Cass!!  Happy birthday!!!!  We pray you live to see 100 and then some!
21. For Brian for helping me blow up balloons for the dance, for a great team of people to get the dance planned, set up, implemented, and cleaned up, and for a fun evening watching the mothers and sons enjoy themselves.  Oh, and that we got through the night with no injuries… those boys were wild, y’all.  Lol.
22. For music… it is most definitely my love language.
23. For an inbox with only two emails in it… so rare to have it whittled down that much!
24. For a positive mindset and the most productive day ever.  It feels so great to get things done after months of being constantly behind.
25. For getting all of my pictures and memories of Maui organized and recorded in a blog post so she can live on forever not only in our hearts, but on the internet.  So grateful the kids will have this post to look back on forever and ever.  <3
26. For no pain today in my jaw or neck… first time in weeks!
27. That I was finally able to get back in the alumni relations Google doc after being locked out for a long time… I have so much catching up to do!
28. For the best night with friends playing poker… lots of chatter, lots of laughs, and lots of fun!
29. For God’s grace after complaining and being in a bad mood aaaallll day because of the unrelenting jaw, neck, head, and shoulder pain I experienced.  And for my acupressure mat… because it usually helps a little when nothing else does.
30. For a safe trip to Nashville, and for quality time with my Aunt Retta who I hadn’t seen in  years.
31. That we weren’t affected by the tornadoes west of Nashville last night, that the rain cleared up for a day of exploring, and FOR LIVE MUSIC.  Amen.

 

Happy Wednesday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?

A Year of Gratitude - February 2025 Snapshot

My word for 2024 was GRATITUDE.  To help myself keep the focus on this word all year, I started keeping a gratitude journal on January 1, 2024, and I’ve been writing at least 3-4 things I’m grateful for every single day since then.  I shared little snapshots of each month last year to hold myself accountable, and since I ended up enjoying these posts so much, I decided to continue them in 2025.

I’m only pulling one item from my gratitude journal per day to share here (okay, sometimes two or three), and some of the things are really big things like good health and good relationships, some things are humorous, and some things are the little things that most of the time go unnoticed.  Overall, though, the purpose of this whole exercise is to remember that even on the very worst of days, there is ALWAYS something for which to be grateful.

Always.

February was so hard, y’all.  So hard.  As you all know, we lost our beloved dog, Maui, towards the end, and it was a long month begging and pleading her to eat, caring for her in her last days, and saying goodbye.  Between that and everything going on in our nation/the world – whew, y’all.  That’s all I have to say. 

That said, there is always joy to be found amidst sadness and despair… they can coexist and they do every day… you just have to look for it.

In February I was grateful…

 

1. For time with my girls at our Galentine’s Day brunch… they always fill my cup!
2. For Ibuprofen because my head, neck, and jaw are in shambles from using these horrible rubber bands again.
3. That Maui ate well today.
4. For my office… it’s my favorite room in the whole house… my sanctuary.
5. That Maui ate three times today!
6. For a social media detox today… it was nice not knowing what was going on in the world, if just for a day.
7. That Brian and Olivia had the best time at her last Daddy / Daughter dance and that I made it through getting up on the microphone in front of everyone to make a sad announcement.  (I am terrified of public speaking in case you missed that post.)
8. For all of the true, lasting connections I’ve made with people in my life.
9. That Maui was getting around really well all day.
10. For Gracie Abrams’s album… I have been loving it for months, but recently Olivia and I have both become obsessed.  Beautiful music, amazing lyrics, and her voice is so lovely.
11. That my iPhone data transferred easily from my old phone to my new phone last night.
12. For my electric blanket… why oh why has this winter been so long and cold?!  We live in Georgia!
13. For Brian, for getting out of bed last night to go get chicken out of the freezer because I forgot, and I was already warm and cozy and didn’t want to get out and get it myself.  Lol.
14. For my four Valentines – Brian, Jacob, Olivia, and Maui – and a nice evening in with all of them.
15. For my new phone case… this pale pink just makes me so happy!!  It’s been my favorite color as long as I’ve been on this earth.  There weren’t any good color options the last time, so my old phone case has been bleh for the last three years.
16. That we were spared from any real damage after last night’s tornado sirens/severe weather.  We just lost a big chunk of our fence, but thankfully, that’s it.
17. That Brian found a fix online for my album artwork nightmare and it was easy to implement AND IT WORKED.
18. For a one-on-one ice cream date with Olivia while Jacob was at Velocity.
19. For a lovely field trip with my girl… I’m glad I made myself get out even though the weather was yucky, and I didn’t want to leave Maui for too long.
20. For another trip around the sun for Brian!  Happy birthday!  Also, for loving, supportive girlfriends who talked me through everything that we need to do for Maui since we know it’s time to say goodbye to her.
21. For tears of sorrow over knowing we only have a few days left with Maui… they remind me how lucky we are to have had the privilege of loving her for 15 years.
22. That Maui made it through Olivia’s sleepover… it would have been awful if she hadn’t made it through the night when we had a house full of kids for Olivia’s birthday.  For my parents for bending over backwards to cancel their plans and come to our house to be with Maui so Brian and I could get out just for a few hours.  For my last lap snuggles and my last hours with my sweet baby girl. 
23. That Maui passed away peacefully during the night between Brian and me in our bed.  That God took her so we didn’t have to… I was dreading her appointment on Monday.  That there was one cremation place open even though it was Sunday.  For the time spent together in our bed with Maui and the kids after Maui passed.  For the outpouring of love we received over losing her.  For 15 amazing years, one beautiful month, and one sweet day with our beloved girl.
24. For a big embrace and a good conversation about our beloved pets with my friend, Jeannine.
25. For eleven years with our Olivia.  Happy birthday, sweet girl!
26. For a good book (The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon) to get lost in while I continue to grieve the loss of our sweet girl.
27. For continued check-ins from loved ones.  For Maui’s little paw print on my bulletin board.  For a fun guitar lesson for Olivia with Mr. Steve that helped take my mind off of things for a while… I smiled more today than I have all week.
28. That we were able to bring Maui home today… she’s back home where she belongs (just in a different form) so now we can start to heal.  That Jacob and Olivia both have such wonderful friends.  For an evening alone with Brian so we could go to dinner since both kids were spending the night away.

 

Happy Tuesday, y’all!  What is something you’re grateful for today?