grateful

Hello and happy Wednesday!

I had to double check the calendar that today is the second Wednesday of the month already. How is that possible? Honestly, we’ve had two days of winter like temps, so I was also checking the calendar to make sure it’s not actually January!

I’m linking up with Shay and Erika for this month’s Let’s Look.

So far this year, we’ve looked at…

Low level goals for 2025 in January
How you work on your marriage in February
How you reset for the week on Sunday in March
Maintaining friendships in April
Our wellness routine in May
Travel bucket lists in June
Things I’ve changed my mind about in July (no post from me)
Juggling family schedules in August (no post from me)
Managing teenage life in September
Things we’ve said no to recently in October (no post from me)

This month’s topic is…how we show gratitude.

Obviously, this is a timely post with Thanksgiving right around the corner.

Honestly, I guess my answer to this prompt is simple…

I show gratitude by saying thank you…whether it’s verbal or written. I’m very quick to send a text or a note when someone has helped me or thought of me. I appreciate when others help me whether I’ve asked for assistance, or they just know I could use a hand. A thoughtful text, note or message goes a long way.

I also show my gratitude with small gifts. Again, if someone has been really helpful, I try to drop off a plant, bouquet of flowers, favorite candy or a candle.

I will bring Starbucks coffee or favorite pens to teachers who help me out at school….whether it’s for covering a class or helping with lesson ideas.

My mom group (the dads get credit too!) have spent many years organizing carpool and getting the kids where they need to be. I show my gratitude by offering to pick up even if I’ve already taken on a certain afternoon if it helps someone else out. It always evens out in the end.

I show gratitude by giving a tip at a restaurant or donating to a cause. A little goes a long way for many.

With Trav and the kids, I show my gratitude by spending time with them. Of course, I would do that anyway, but I just mean that I try and make time for them or plan something special too.

And, I always try to remember to be…

Life definitely has its ups and down, and this time of the year always feels really stressful for me. That being said, I think as I’ve gotten older, I’ve done a pretty good job remembering the big picture and being grateful for all things, big and small.

How do you show gratitude?

Hello and…

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so it’s the perfect time to take a moment to give thanks and be grateful.

Of course I’m grateful for a roof over my head, my healthy family, a rewarding job, Homer, starting my mornings with a warm cup of coffee, Amazon, grocery pick up and more. This is a natural time of the the year to count blessings and feel grateful. That being said, I know there are many who are going through so much more whether it’s a diagnosis, loss of a loved one, job loss and more.

I’m taking a moment to pause and think about all of the things, both big and small, for which I am grateful.

I am grateful for:

Travis.

Shew! I couldn’t do life without him. He’s the ying to my yang, the calm to my crazy, and just simply the best. We are a true team, and there’s no way I could juggle doing all the things while working full time and getting the kids where they need to be without him. Also, he’s just such a positive person who encourages and supports me. He’s there for all of us. Always.

(& of course, I’m thankful for my kids as well. They get our attention all of the time, so sometimes I need to remember to give a shout out to T-rav!) ❤️

My friends.

I have such a great group of “mom” friends as I call them. Without the kids, I wouldn’t have met these wonderful ladies. That being said, this year, in particular, I’ve gotten to know some of the moms of middle school friends that the kids have made. What a blessing it is to expand my circle. I appreciate moms who treat my kids as their own, give them a ride if needed, and even text them “Happy Birthday.” I hope these friendships, both old and new, continue for years and years and years!

A rewarding job with a calendar that allows for me to be present with my kids on days off. I’m not exactly sure how to word this…I don’t mean that I’m working only for days off. 😆

I really enjoy my job, and it’s so fulfilling.

I just mean that it’s nice to have natural breaks throughout the year where I know that I will be home with my kids, that I’m able to pick them up after school most days, plan visits with out of town family and more. I’ve lived off a school calendar since 1985, and I just appreciate having the built in time through the year to be at home, recharge, spend time with family, and get things accomplished without having to stress about taking days off.

My health.

Now listen…I know I’m not 25 anymore…and well, I wish I had appreciated my health back then! That being said, this year has been good for me in regards to getting on track with workouts and tracking what I eat. I’ve seen results that I haven’t seen in years. I think it took a bit for my hormones to level out after my hysterectomy. And, to be honest, while I’ve regularly exercised through the years, I needed to buckle down more on nutrition. While I’m forever a work in progress, I appreciate that I’ve taken the time for myself to workout four to five days a week and eat with “progress, not perfection” in mind.

As I type this, I haven’t had a good couple of weeks. We’ve been extra busy which means I haven’t been getting my workouts in like I’ve been doing consistently for so long. Also, my eating has not even been 80/20…feels more like 60/40 the past month or so. And…I’ve tweaked my back again. Last week, when I pulled the Christmas decorations out of the attic, I felt a twinge…and now it’s a constant pain (literally and figuratively). Once or twice a year, this tends to happen to me. I’m hoping to take it easy, and then starting Friday, I’m focusing on a plan for decent nutrition and workout schedule to get me to 2023!

Quiet mornings.

I’ve taken advantage of getting up before the rest of the house for years. That being said, with constantly busy days and evenings, that quiet time in the morning has become even more necessary. I need to ease into the day with a little “me time” that includes a cup of coffee, my favorite blogs, and right now, the glow of the Christmas tree.

You! Y’all are the best! Thank you so much for stopping by, reading, and commenting on my posts. I’ve enjoyed getting to know so many of my readers and appreciate this community so much. Show Me and Sweet Tea is a fun hobby for me, and I appreciate the support so much!

Before I go, I just thought I’d share one of my favorite recipes again. We always make this Turkey Rice Soup the day after Thanksgiving. It’s a family favorite. I thought you might enjoy it too.