Happy Thursday! I am back for week two of the gratitude challenge Jen shared. I loved writing and sharing my gratitude last week and enjoying it again this week.

The challenge is from Mirabelle Creations on Instagram and I love that account. Deanna makes fun enneagram graphics, holiday graphics, and other cute images.

Day 8: 3 things about yourself that you love

I know this post is about gratitude, but I feel a little weird telling things about myself that I love so I am going to jump right in. 1-I love that I am not afraid to have fun. More often than not I am not worried what other people think and I am not afraid to ask or talk my way into any situation. 2-I always willing to help someone even if it inconveniences me in a stressful way. I like being a helper and it brings me joy. 3-I love that I tend to look for the positive in any situation. Here’s a bonus 4-I love my curly hair.

Day 9: 3 people you are grateful for

I am so grateful for my parents! They live close to us and are always up to get together if we are around, they will help us with the boys, and I always have a great time when we are together.

I am grateful for Jeff, Jack, and Luke! They make me laugh and sometimes they make me crazy, but there I am so grateful my life turned out this way.

I am grateful for friends! My friend Amy at work has been holding down the fort a lot lately, my growing up/high school friends are people I talk to every day, my college friends and I can pick up right where we left off, and my in town friends are the great friends I am so glad to have made as an adult.

Day 10: Your proudest moment

This is a hard one, too. I am proud when my kids succeed or when they are recognized for being good people. Recently, Jack got an award for character, leadership, and dedication. It was pretty awesome! Luke’s report card came home yesterday and his grades were great, but the comments were awesome. They were all recognizing the qualities I hope my kids have forever!

Day 11: 3 songs you love

This is hard! How about three songs/artists/genres? I love Jimmy Buffett songs – all of them! Right now I am listening to instrumental Christmas music and I really love Christmas music! I also love Zac Brown’s music! They all have a vibe, if you will. Jimmy and Zac are summer, good times music and Christmas music is so cozy!

Day 12: Something in your daily routine you are grateful for

I am grateful for my short commute to work. It is two miles and no longer than five minutes. I am so happy to be close to home each day. I do not take it for granted that I can be home by 2:50 pm most school days. I love that I can dash home if I forget something. I appreciate the extra few minutes it buys me in the morning. It is just enough time to regroup if I’ve had a tough day or am getting ready for a busy evening.

Day 13: The best advice you have ever been given

The first thing that popped into my mind is a soundbite I picked up from Denise Austin. I used to watch/do her exercise shows on Lifetime channel. If you rest, you rust. I love it! Sometimes, I may take it a little too far, but it is so true. If you just sit there and don’t move your body or engage your brain, you will rust. I do not want to rust! It is a big motivator for me.

As I sat here typing, I glanced at a frame I have have on my desk. It is the advice card my grandmother wrote at my baby shower. She ended it with “Just remember, it is all about love“. Well, if that isn’t the truth, I don’t know what is. As a mom, do everything with love (hahaha Mom!! Just like you – you always make it with love!). It can be applied to all relationships. As a spouse, do everything with love. As a daughter and sister, do everything with love. As a friend, do everything with love.

Day 14: A little luxury you are grateful for

Our cleaning crew is a luxury that I am so grateful for. Getting the house totally reset every other week saves us so much time. I do not love cleaning and I am not very good at it. Having the house picked up and ready for them to come on Monday morning and coming home to a clean house on Monday afternoon is the best start to my week.

Some of those were hard to pick just one, but I am glad to have thought through them. I was listening to a podcast last night about gratitude and keeping a gratitude journal or list. It was a good reminder to keep looking for the small things that I am grateful for throughout the day. Erica, from The Girl Next Door podcast, said that as you get into the habit of looking for 3 or 5 things to be grateful for each day, you will notice even more. I know gratitude journals were all the rage years ago, but I think this might be the time for me to start one. It is a quick thing that can do wonders for my outlook. I am grateful for you, readers and blogger friends! Have a great day full of sunshine and books!