Breaking the Wishbone

We still had our wishbone from our last turkey and I decided today that I was kind of tired of it sitting in my kitchen window and therefore time to break it. We decided that it was Jarom and Spencer's turn. Spencer sometimes has a hard time making decisions so we told him to just hurry up and wish something. As the wish bone broke he exclaimed in a very excited voice, "I got what I wished for... I wished that I would win!!"

Neighbor Gifts - blogger style

The tradition of neighbor gifts has long been debated. I always seems to worry and stress about what to do and try to get it done early so that I can "cross it off my list." This year, although I had them prepared early, we did not deliver them until this week. We had a great time driving through the neighborhood dropping things by and even caroling to a few (what a treat for them - ha!) For me personally, the tradition of neighbor gifts is sometimes the one chance I tkae during the year to just say hey! We are grateful that you are part of our lives! I love answering the door and seeing the smiling faces, taking a few minutes to chat and knowing that I have such wonderful friends and neighbors. The people on the list seem to change each year, but I love the chance to reach out and take a moment in what so often is a crazy season and remember the friends that make living here wonderful. I know that I have been touched by the many friendships that I have made and sometimes am surpirsed at the number of people that count me as a friend too - (I know, I often have self esteem issues...) So to my many friends that live in my computer (see cartoon at the end of linked post) Merry Christmas and please consider yourself visited and gifted -

Wordle

Today was the Christmas program at school today. Because of that I had a a little extra time on my hands as my regular groups didn't come so I decided to experiment with Wordle.net
I'm sure that I can find a way to incorporate it into my therapy groups...

Finding matches

This is what my living room floor looked like this morning while we tried to fine three pairs of gloves or mittens that actually matched - so many mittens - so few matches. Where do they all go!!! Of course since it was 19 degrees when we left the house, we decided it was important enough to make the mess. BTW, the mess is still there - just waiting for me to come home!!

My Gratitude month comes to a close...

I was watching a rebroadcast this afternoon of last week's Music and the Spoken Word as I reflected on my month of Gratitude. Some days have been easier than others, and some days have been just flat out hard, but overall I have seen a difference as I have tried to focus on the positive at the end of the day instead of the negative. The following is part of the message...

Daily Gratitude and Thanksgiving
Delivered By: Lloyd D. Newell
A few years ago, two researchers conducted what they called the Research Project on Gratitude and Thankfulness. They found through science what most of us know intuitively: gratitude makes people happy.
For the study, several hundred people were divided into three groups and asked to keep diaries. The first group listed the day’s events in their diaries, the second group recorded any unpleasant experiences they had during the day, and the last group made a daily list of things they were grateful for.
The researchers found that the simple act of taking time each day to count your blessings makes a person more enthusiastic, determined, optimistic, and energetic. Those who expressed gratitude experienced less depression and stress, exercised more regularly, and made more progress toward personal goals. Researchers even noted a relationship between feeling grateful and feeling loved, and they observed how gratitude inspires acts of kindness and compassion.1
Remarkable, isn't it? All this from daily gratitude and thanksgiving.

I know that I am better prepared for the holiday season, and (most days) I am more patient with my family. I hope that I can find something to continue the momentum throughout December and beyond too. Thank you to all of you who have commented and shared your thoughts with me as well. Having an "audience" has kept me diligent. I needed this.

Thanksgiving weekend!

My Front porch - one of my favorite things!

We ate, we visited, we ate again. We slept. We decorated, we cleaned, we ate again (Out to dinner this time to the India Fusion restaurant with my sister and her husband!). We went to a movie. We slept. We shopped, we visited, we shopped some more. We ate (this time at Grandma and Grandpa's). Now we are getting ready to sleep again. Wow, I'm exhausted! (and I think we can stop eating!).

But... It was a great weekend, with much accomplished! The house is almost done - just have to do the trees - and I finally made a dent in the shopping area! And I got to spend the ENTIRE day with Tim! We even went shopping together, something we are not always good at! On to tomorrow. Somehow I don't think I'll be ready for work on Monday...

Belated Thanksgiving Pics

For some reason I have not been taking very many pictures so I had to get some of these from my mother-in-law! Tim and Grandpa with their fabulous BBQed turkey!The Kids table

And the adults...