Gratitude: 355

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Today I am grateful for:

friends and family

annual Christmas Dinner Party

good times!

Gratitude: 299

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Today I am grateful for:

family

friends

good food

and 

Halloween parties

Gratitude: 251

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Today I am grateful for:

friends

Gratitude: 194

{Post: 194/365}

Today I am grateful for:

steak bbq, potato salad and good friends

Gratitude: 174

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Today I am grateful for:

pictures!!!

my phone battery died and I only got 5 pics of the wedding

but thanks to my good friends 

John & Sara

I "borrowed" a whole bunch

ahhhh memories to keep ;)

Gratitude: 173

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Today I am grateful for:

weddings

and good friends

Shawn & Mary Carter~June 22, 2013

Gratitude: 138

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Today I am grateful for:

friends and family

and birthday parties

Gratitude: 123

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Today I am grateful for:

taco bowls

and good friends

(Sara) ;)

Gratitude: 99

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Today I am grateful for:

check ins

friends who have been away awhile dropping by to see how you are

(this includes pokes and messages on FB)

Gratitude: 62

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Today I am grateful for:

friends who love me enough to deliver monkey bread! ;)

thanks John & Sara...you guys rock!

Gratitude: 33

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Today I am grateful for:

friends John & Sara

good dinner, yummy dessert,

hanging out watching a movie together

and keeping my kid for a night! ;)

thanks guys! love ya!

Gratitude: 29

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Today I am grateful for:

friends

who encourage me and support me

in life and everything.

Halloween

{Post: 265/365}

planning

choosing a menu

deciding about

decorations

inventing

a costume

excited

to party

and enjoy

the festivities

with friends

and family

creating

a creepy

and spooky

space

to judge 

the costume

contest

Halloween!

Alone

{Post: 206/365}

there are times

when i know

I am alone

there are times

when I feel

that I am ALONE

and I know

that I follow

my own path

I take 

my own journey

and I AM alone

and yet

sometimes

you travel

a similar path

alongside me

your own path

your own journey

but we can support

and encourage each other

to continue

to strive

to believe

to love

to live

to never give up

to find joy

and peace

and happiness

and I thank you

for travelling with me

for sharing a small part of the journey

and for helping me

continue

to find my own way

The Light in My Life

{Post: 66/365}

the light in my life

is a friend

who lifts my spirit

when I am down

the light in my life

is a kitty

who warms my side

while encroaching on my space

the light in my life

are my two boys

who for no reason at all

will hug me and say, "I love you, mom!"

the light in my life

is my daughter

who dances to her own beat

and  I admire her

the light in my life

is a step-father

who calls me his "darling daughter"

and has a beautiful and generous heart

the light in my life

is my mother

who may not always agree with me

but will back me fiercely anyway

the light in my life

is hubby

who is my soulmate

and my best friend...always

the light in my life

is each soul connection made

whether here in my presence

or through the miracle of the internet

the light in my life

may be...

YOU

Happy Valentine's Day!

{Post: 45/365}

I love

the way you

lift me up out of my darkness

and shine a light into my life

I love

the way you

make me laugh

even when I want to be mad

I love

how we can

enjoy comfortable silences

and loud crazy  fun equally

I love

knowing

that I can trust you with my heart and life

and that you know the same about me

I love

the time you give me

even when you're busy, too busy

but make time for me anyway

I love 

knowing when you're sad

that I can be the one

who makes you smile

I love

knowing

I can call you anytime

and you will be there for me

I love

each and every one of you

who have brought joy to my life

and made me a better me than yesterday

thank you for being my FRIENDS

Happy Valentine's Day!

Buddies in My Living Room

{Post: 37/365}

atop the movie shelf

some of my beanie babies

teddy bears,

a pegasus

unicorns

a yellow duckie

ceramic angel

floppy eared bunny

more bears

and Papa Yeti

atop the extra dvd shelf

a cuddly kitty

polar bear tealight holder

friendship frame with pic

a LOVE penguin statue

baby cookie monster

(he giggles)

on the shelves above my head

red LOVE teddy bear

blue PEACE teddy bear

big and little golden bears

pink 

and

purple

Victoria's Secret bears

sisters of the heart statue

and on the bookshelf beside me

beanie baby dragon

beanie baby cougar

and patched up baby bunny

along with some fave books

I love cuddly buddies everywhere

Friendship

{Post: 32/365}

isn't it funny

that some friends

are gone away

for a long time

and yet when you

get together again

it is like it was yesterday

isn't it funny

that some friends

are with you daily

or very often

and  when you

get together

it is like you DIDN'T just see them yesterday

isn't it funny

that some friends

are busy

and don't always have time

and yet when you DO

get together again

it is like continuing a conversation after a pause

isn't it funny

that some friends

say that they want to

see you and spend time with you

but when you do 

get together

they seem like they aren't really there with you

isn't it funny

that some friends

come and go

for only a brief moment of time

but every moment

of the time together

is full of joy and vivacious life

isn't it funny

that some friends

stay

from the moment you meet

until the end 

of your time

and fill your life with meaning EVERY day

isn't it funny

that sometimes

your friend becomes

your significant other

and every moment of this relationship

in time

grows richer and deeper than you could have ever imagined

isn't it funny

that some friends

come into your life

and fit comfortably

into your life and space and silences

and just enjoy the time

of BEING with you

isn't it funny

that sometimes a friend

is only a dream of something

you thought was real

and it turns out

it is time to let them go

because it was not...but it still breaks your heart

isn't it funny

that the BEST friend

you will really ever have

is YOURSELF

but it may take a whole

lifetime

for you to understand this and TREAT yourself RIGHT

isn't it funny

how often it is that

we cling to a toxic relationship

because we think we NEED them to love us

when what we really needed

the whole time

was to love ourselves MORE

isn't it funny

that we really do

NEED our friendships

to support us, encourage us, defend us

tell us the truth

about ourselves

and take the time required

to help us build ourselves into a better version of who we are

THANK YOU

to all the friends

in my life

who lift me up, support me, love me

and otherwise help me become 

a better version of myself

the time you give to me

is appreciated and cherished

Qualities I Look For in a Friend

{Post: 25/365}

show up

show an interest in me

share your story

be real with me

value me for what I bring to the bond

be willing to share what you bring

value similarities we share

teach me the value of our differences

be willing to listen to my issues

as often as I will listen to yours

bring me some fun

and a light heart

the laughter and joy of companionship

be trustworthy with my secrets

be vulnerable enough to trust me with yours

let me be ME

and know that I will accept you as well

be a light in my life

my friend

Christmas Dinner Party

{Post: 350/365}
Every year I have a part for family and friends and make some food, listen to music, exchange gifts and have a great time. This year I made meatballs, sausage/cheese balls, meat and cheese trays, pickles too and mushroom caps (a different recipe that didn't really work as well as previous ones). Everyone seemed to have a good time and so the party was a success! :) Yay!