G r a t i t u d e  *  S u n d a y

-Learning some more signs. (And seeing this video, that reader Dani suggested.)

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-A friend sharing some coconut water straight out of the coconut. It was delicious (and felt luxurious and tropical all at the same time.)

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-The way I felt so loved when I was wrapped up in Jeff’s arms. Love that man.

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-Having “my peeps” to talk to about stuff. I always feel better afterwards.

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-Being reminded- once again- that guilt is not a good motivating factor for making decisions in life. “Because I’ll feel guilty if I don’t” just isn’t a good reason to do something, ya know? It feels good to make decisions based on what my heart says.

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-Finding local strawberries at a small grocery store when I was really craving them.

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-Seeing the bright white moon shining through the treetops.

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-Having the courage to “put myself out there” and ask for what I want. Then being delightfully surprised when good things sometimes happen when I ask for them.

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-Jeff reading aloud to us from ‘The Egg and I’ by Betty MacDonald. We’ve been cracking up, what a funny book!

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-Our old wheelbarrow to use while our new(er) one was out of commission (with a popped tire.) Even though it was so rusty it had a hole in it, we plugged up the hole and it worked alright.

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-Bracken being happily dyed with strawberries and dirt. Two good things. And being so content running around the yard that he was singing. That’s when you know he’s really happy.

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-Jeff chopping up celery hearts from the garden, with strawberries and apples. Yum! It was so good.

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-Following my inspiration (and my love for color) and creating Rainbow Color Boards on Pinterest. So fun! Just looking at vibrant colors is healing to me. Pinterest is such a wonderful place to gather inspiring things. (Are you on Pinterest? Want to create rainbow boards? It’s so fun!)

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-A handwritten note from my sister in the mail. Just seeing her handwriting made me smile. Handwriting of people I love is very dear to me. 

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-Getting the new issue of Taproot!

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-Jeff jazzing up our regular salad dressing- of olive oil and apple cider vinegar- with some lime juice, sesame oil and raw, local honey. Mmm Mmm!

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-Bracken getting us to spend more time outdoors because he wants to be outside All. The. Time.

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-Lighthearted laughter. Pure and simple.

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-Learning to ask for help and to accept it (which is sometimes challenging for Jeff and I because we can be stubborn when it comes to wanting to do everything for ourselves.)

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-Winning a giveaway!!!

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-Watering the garden with Bracken at my side, holding his containers up to the hose to fill them up with water.

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-Deciding to be brave and speak up. I told someone that something they said made me feel uncomfortable. Even though their reaction was not one I would have wished for, I was still proud of myself for respecting myself enough to say something. 

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-Sitting out in the yard, eating fruit salad in the sunshine.

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-Being reminded of a wise saying when I was feeling uncomfortable. “When we’re uncomfortable, we’re growing.” Something Sonia Choquette said (one of my favorite authors.) Those words have been quite helpful to me, many times.

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-The therapeutic effects of ‘The Whiny Baby Hotline.’ (Something my mom and I made up and use with each other and my sis. When we are upset we call each other on ‘The Whiny Baby Hotline’ and say Waaaaah Waaah and unload all that we feel like whining about. Why does it work? The laughter! It works magic every time. Try it, you’ll see! (But to work, you’ve got to make your voice sound really silly, same with your Wahhhh.)
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-A weekend at home. What a treat.

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