Today

I am grateful for the comfortable bed I slept in; for my phone waking me up when I needed to; for my poochie who likes to pounce on me when I wake up; for the soap, the shampoo, the conditioner; for the refrigerator, the stove and toilet; for bidets which make me smile!; for oatmeal breakfasts; for carpet/rugs to warm the floor; for blenders; for washing machines; for dryers; especially for clotheslines; for tea kettles; for flip-flops!!; for jeep jeep; for leashes; for sunshiney days; for the ability to walk farther today than yesterday; for lessening pain every day; for friends; for customers; for the building downtown that houses my store; for the newspaper delivery; for being able to pay my bills.....

I am so grateful for all of these things...my life is made so much easier and comfortable because of all of the conveniences that I forget about everyday.

Thunderstorms, Bicycles and Goldendoodle Puppies

...these are a few of my favorite things!

What a great day!  I have worn flip-flops all week!  One major reason to be grateful!  Spring is here!  Yay!
...which also means that thunderstorms, lilacs and bicycling every day is right around the corner!

I struggle daily with keeping positive...which is especially hard in the winter time...but now that spring is here, it is getting better!

Biting off more than I can chew!

So maybe one hundred things are way too much. :P  It has been almost 9 months since I last posted.  A lot has happened since then!

I have decided to start with just 10.  I think I can manage that!  And if repeated--hey it's all good :)

1.  I am thankful to Chase Bank for being so agreeable to turn on all of the utilities so I can have the house  that  I am buying inspected!
2.  I am truly blessed to have wonderful my parents and siblings who have supported me in my business and everything else, because no matter how I convince myself...I cannot do this alone and they make it so I don't have to!
3.  With all my heart, I am truly grateful for my two besties Michelyn and Melissa because they are so similar, yet different--and because of that balance me, calm me down and offer me different perspectives.  They truly help me swim through this sea of life.
4.  I am truly thankful for each and every customer that walks through my door...because without them, I would have no business!  Especially Carmen, Kathy, Janet and Tim who offer encouragement every time they walk in!
5.  I am happy and grateful for my poochie, Kato because he brings me joy every day!
6.  I am thankful for my landlord because he is understanding and let us out of the lease early
7. I am very grateful that I am healthy!  Because  I know so many who are not and I am thankful that I have no issues to worry about.
8. I am truly blessed to have my grandmother alive.  She is my last grandparent and I am grateful that I can learn more about her and her life.  She is a wonderful woman!
9. I am happy and thankful to be part of the rejuvenation of downtown, because I love this town and t's downtown.  I am grateful it is so wonderful here because when I am blessed with a family, I know it will be a wonderful life for them!
10. With all of me, I am grateful that I found my way back to the Catholic church, because it centers me.  I learned a lot from other denominations, but I feel comforted and at home within the walls of my church.

29 JUNE 11

1.  puppies
2.  remembering to pay my electric bill on time
3.  that Mary can come in at a moment's notice
4.  going to the theatre with my mommy
5.  noticing some coincidences
6. having my charger at work
7.  busy days at work :)
8.  friends who will listen to you blather on....and still like you!
9.  not completely mucking up and making someone cry
10.  earrings
11.  fossils
12.  electric mattress pad warmers
13.  not having rain during volleyball
14.  knowing when to leave when drinking to much too fast :0
15.  weird turns of events
16. pondering God's will
17.  positive feeling days
18.  tears that are cathartic
19.  My grandma Sophie
20.  having enough money to pay the bills
21.  my brother looking out for me
22.  having the ability to not work and spend time with family
23.  St.  Anthony...and his help in finding things...
24.  not having a frowny face for our little candy micro-business
25.  nalgene water bottles
26.  the new city signs...they look so cool
27.  for the SUV not hitting me when it made it's illegal u-turn
28.  ice
29.  friends who will try to help even when they are busy
30.  taco bell...yeah...I know
31.  Diet Cherry Pepsi
32.  Marsha
33.  not having to stress about figuring out how I was going to make the relief trip work
34.  that I know there will be a relief trip next year
35.  that Alpena does not have many natural disasters
36.  that maybe an acquaintance and a pseudo-ex...can find love :)
37.  figuring out how to be more positive in my other blog
38.  Monte getting me change
39.  Reese's Peanut butter Cups
40.  selling more books :)
41.  Kris finally putting two and two together
42.  Sun chips
43.  string cheese
44.  finding the thing that was making my office smell!!
45.  living in America
46. that I am a girl and don't have to worry about bike saddles effecting erections!
47.  the smell of coffee
48.  cheesy B horror flicks
49.  netflix
50.  doubling the computer as a DVD player
51.  can deposits
52.  burgers that taste like the 4th of July
53.  potted plants
54.  remembering to water potted plants
55.  spider plants
56.  matches
57.  learning from my experiences
58.  laundromats
59.  brakes that work
60.  getting green lights
61.  helping someone in need
62.  beautiful sunny days
63.  learning that one of my favorite movies was actually based on a book!
64.  knowing how to number correctly :)
65.  my spelling ability
66.  ceramics
67.  the cool things Alpena is doing to promote itself
68. going to plays with my mom
69.  learning about people and their lives
70.  taking positive information from someone else's life
71.  reading murder mysteries
72.  making my my goal
73.  helping someone
74.  that my mom does my laundry
75.  that my mom brought me dinner
76.  pink water bottle!
77.  being stronger every day
78.  the summer being perfect
79.  sunsets with a multitude of colors
80.  having fun with my friends
81.  my schedule being full
82.  bible study
83.  the people who pick up the trash--yucky job
84.  the people who ensure that I have electricity
85.  whoever invented toilet paper
86.  recycling!
87.  that my roses are starting to bloom
88.  the farmer's market
89.  seeing the kids I know succeed in their play
90.  helping someone realize their potential
91.  cows
92. chickens
93.  people who butcher my meats...
94.  accepting that bacon is sometimes good
95.  figuring out what is wrong with the internet
96.  Monte helping with my internet issues
97.  facebook
98.  the messages the universe is giving me
99.  regular mail delivery
100.  knowing there are people I can count on!

28 JUNE 11

1.  wildflowers blowing in the wind
2.  white church spires against stormy skies
3.  seeing the truck behind me before I backed into it! yikes!
4.  listening to the weatherman about rain :)
5.  sand between my toes
6.  sunny skies reflecting on leaves on a background of grey skies
7.  pedal pushers
8.  black sheep burgers!  yum
9.  that the black sheep delivers :)
10. ketchup
11.  Rosemary Clooney singing "My Mama Done Told Me"
12. Tina for helping me today
13. Having the door open at work
14. having the ladies from the library be kind enough to deliver things for me!
15. cute babies in the store
16. long sleeved shirts
17. working with pleasurable people
18.  my sister getting me a tigers ticket
19.  getting to see my brother soon
20.  dogs
21.  6 days of no june bugs!
22.  not having to shovel
23.  cutting the grass
24.  smell of fresh cut grass
25.  water
26.  hot showers
27.  the people who make sure my plumbing works
28.  melatonin
29.  electric toothbrushes
30.  having the book in the store that the person really wants
31.  finding the right book for someone
32.  plants
33.  irises
34.  lilacs
35.  lilies of the valley
36.  rhubarb
37.  my teeth
38.  my eyes
39.  my moderate artistic ability
40.  knowing how to make paper
41.  learning about myself through my other blog
42.  tarot cards--fun, fun!
43.  tai pei
44.  socks
45.  having help making my seersucker dress
46.  going to see men in kilts
47.  having staff that can work when I want to do something
48.  laughing cow cheese
49.  raspberries
50.  living in Michigan
51.  post-it notes
52.  blue ink pens
53.  texting
54.  learning something new every day
55.  the book "All my friends are dead"....it's hilarious!
56.  people who appreciate you
57.  pedometers that work even after you consistently drop them
58.  mittens
59.  teaching myself how to knit
60.  that I can read
61.  that I love my job
62.  softer volleyballs
63. that I don't have a penis http://links.bikehugger.com/2011/06/new-saddles-can-help-release-cyclists-unrelenting-pressure-nytimescom.html
64.  the beauty of colored glass
65.  call screening
66.  pendant watches
67.  watercolor paper
68.  flip top cans
69.  the luggage rack on my bike
70. for it not raining during volleyball
71.  knowing the literature questions (most of the time)
72.  bookmarks
73.  lady slippers
74.  maple trees
75.  kleenex
76.  caller ID
77.  my laptop
78. no rain on windy volleyball days
79.  quiet time at work
80.  friends who will fit you into their busy lives when you need them
81.  fountain soda
82.  tweed :)
83.  knowing the secret about birds and rain
84.  my past job experience
85.  God hearing l'il ol' me
86.  knowing that it will all be ok
87.  tin roofs
88.  peanut butter
89.  sour cream
90.  dish soap
91.  whoever invented cel phones
92.  Walden
93.  apocalypse stories
94.  Guinness
95.  cold dog noses
96. hippopotami
97.  eye liner
98.  Catholic school
99.  that we weren't skunked in volleyball
100.  check deposit stampers

27 JUNE 2011

In no particular order.... (and some may seem silly...but I am grateful that I have them!)


1.  God--and that he has brought me here
2.  that the rain held off for my bike ride home
3.  my bike--it is pretty and  lime green :)
4.  flip-flops--they rock!
5.  that we finally have a website for the Catholic churches of Alpena--and it is awesome
6.  for being able to read at work :)
7.  for interesting philosophical conversations with customer Tim
8.  that I only pay half the utilities at the store
9.  for flush toilets--out houses are so last year!
10.  for remembering to get toilet paper on the way home ;)
11. for Alpena strawberries--food from the gods!
12.  for my new cloche hat!  It is on its way!
13.  for caller ID
14.  that my sis and her husband are completely silly :)
15.  that Eyeore is my favorite Winnie-the-Pooh character
16.  that the author event went well today
17. for Diet. Pepsi...enough said :)
18.  for being able to see the 2nd Ave bridge open today
19.  for the internet
20.  for the electric mattress pad
21.  for my new (to me) couch!  no more sitting on a board!
22.  for friends that loan me DVDs that are inspirational to me
23.  for the Detroit Tigers (they make summer great!)
24.  that I am able to afford my own apartment (hopefully house soon!)
25.  that I know so many customers by name
26.  for swimming in long lake in my clothes :)
27.  for my pa and uncle bringing over my couch--and getting it into the apartment :)
28.  for conspiracy theory murder mysteries
29.  for photography
30. for my SLR
31.  for my opposable thumbs--for which I could not text without
32.  for a vehicle that I adore--Jeep Jeep
33.  that summer has not been sweltering
34.  for skirts
35.  for dresses
36.  for being able to ride my bike in skirts or dresses
37.  my iPod
38.  chinese food--yum chee peng!
39.  the elephant/buffalo neighbors moving out!
40.  men in kilts...so sexy
41.  red-headed men...I am so enamored!
42.  for pretty rocks
43.  for my nieces and nephew
44.  for my parents
45.  for my brother
46.  for my sister
47.  for my cel phone
48.  for silver jewelry
49.  that I am healthy
50.  that all my baby making parts seem to be working well--hopefully one day can test that out
51.  for droid aps :)
52.  for Sudoku
52.  for crossword puzzles
53.  for vermilion sunsets
54.  for thunderstorms
55.  for cool colors to paint with with fun names like cerulean or alazerin crimson
56.  for having so much of my family nearby
57.  for folk music
58.  for second chances
59.  for the trials that are strengthening my patience
60.  for a great friday night downtown event
61.  for friends that understand me
62.  for trivia at Latitudes--one day we may actually win :)
63.  for frogs jumping in the rain
64.  for green colored toe-nail polish
65.  that I have one grandparent still living
66.  for learning stories about my heritage
67.  for my typing ability
68.  the smell of fresh cut grass
69.  the lilac bush outside my apartment
70.  for scissors...life would be so difficult with out them
71.  I could name several office supplies...my addiction is great!
72.  for the pedometer challenge with my cousin
73.  for having enough change in the drawer today
74.  for giraffes...just 'cause
75.  for the voice transfer system thingy on my phone
76.  for Avery park
77.  that I have only broken one bone
78.  that I can write backwards, upside down and mirror image :)
79.  for the son How Great Thou Art
80.  that the church bells play music at noon and five
81.  that Netflix is nearly omnipotent :)
82.  for the information I received in Sunday's bulletin
83.  for level headed people who do not jump to conclusions about me
84.  for zombie movies and books
85.  for this and the other blog
86.  for my past good choices
87.  that I didn't marry my first boyfriend :)
88.  for spanish rice
89.  for pirate stories
90.  for the Diary of Sr. Faustina
91.  that it rained and not snowed today
92.  that Barb was in MGW
93.  for lightning bugs
94.  for the fact that I have not seen the dreaded june bug in nearly five days!
95.  for spiders eating the flies and mosquitoes!
96.  for opals...which I hope will one day be given to me
97.  for the wedding dress and the shop across the street--it is just my style and beautiful
98.  for the e-mail that started this whole blog
99.  for straws
100.  for goats...which I hope to one day own :)

The Gratitude Project

For years I have struggled with positivity....or actually the lack thereof....  I am constantly fretting over what I do not have in my life.  At the beginning of this year, I decided that I would really try to become a more positive person.  I read some books, searched my faith and worked hard to convince myself that everything will be ok.  There have been days that I have struggled and days that I have been successful.  Recently, I have been struggling.  Today I recieved an e-mail that suggested that I try to find 100 things a day to be grateful for.  My life is not horrible...but I struggle to see the good over the bad.  I have been looking for a way to make positivity a habitual process.  I took this e-mail as a sign.  I will be writing 100 things at the end of every day that I am grateful for (with 25% repetition allowed).  This is my journey....