3 gratitudes

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of opportunity, details + soup.

- the opportunity to teach.

- the tiny details. that often go unnoticed. but are oh-so-important.

- soup.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. rejoicing in my portion.

- the ability to share gratitude (in a tangible form) with my kiddos' teachers. bless them.

- remembering to rejoice in my portion.

- snickerdoodles. (all 3 that I ate tonight.)

[the3gratitudes]

3moreholidaygratitudes.

- christmas lights. LOTS of christmas lights.

- the 9 year old. he still believes.

- that whatever will be, will be. it will all get done, or it won't. either way, it's all good.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. I rebel.

- rebellion. proves existence. 

- that my kiddos get this. and that they will never compromise their authentic selves. even if some describe their authenticity as rebellion.

- that others in my life do, too. 

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. for my number 21.

- my number 21. who is 12. who can take an elbow in the nose, practically bleed out, and remain calm. and ready to go back in the game.

- my number 21. who is focused and present and willing and able to support her team members, no matter the threat.

- my number 21. I learn something from her every day.

[the3gratitudes]

3bakedgratitudes.

- snickerdoodles. *the* Christmas cookie.

- hot, melty, chewy, yummy, giant cinnamon roles.

- corn pudding. just because.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of sugarplums, elves + smells of Christmas.

- sugarplums. from a fairy.

- the elves. [well, I am grateful and sometimes annoyed. tonight, grateful.]

- the smells of Christmas. 

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. a GIANT tree.

- the GIANT christmas tree that neighbors decorate every year.

- an abundance of time with fabulous friends. coffee with a friend. followed by lunch with a friend. followed by dinner with a friend. blessed.

- unexpected kindnesses.

[the3gratitudes]

3itsthattimeoftheyeargratitudes.

- tree-trimming traditions.

- I ate only 2 snickerdoodles tonight. [the first two. of dozens.]

- just the right thing happening at just the right time. this still always surprises me.

[the3gratitudes]

3treegratitudes.

- blu and kiwi. our living christmas tree ornaments.

- the amazing smell of frasier fir. that is filling my house.

- choosing just the right tree with the kiddos and hubby. a tradition I will always cherish.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of cold.

- baby, it's cold outside. grateful for the beauty of winter. 

- these words from the 12-year-old's doctor: strep test is negative. it's just a cold.

- heated car seats. these are the height of luxury, in my estimation. nothing fights bitter cold better than a warm booty.

[the3gratitudes]

3lazydaygratitudes.

- a warm fire on a cold day. thanks to the hubby. 

- the luxury of catching up on weeks' worth of reading. instead of doing normal sunday house stuff. (the laundry can wait until tomorrow.)

- my family, who allowed me a lazy day of reading. 

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. it's saturday.

- brussels sprouts and rainbow carrots. roasted together. and eaten.

- my husband is home. he's been gone for a week. yee haw!

- reminders of why humility is a virtue.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of the passage of time.

- my grandmother Lil. I was just reminded of a trip we took, the fall of 1986. to wellesley, smith, harvard and yale. all the way from kentucky. I was 16. too young to drive the rental car out of the boston airport. but I drove the entire time. we ate lobster, met incredibly smart and interesting people, slept very little. it was an awesome trip. in every sense of the word awesome. and for it, and her, I am grateful.

- that, when we are young, we miss a lot. by this, I mean we miss much of the hard stuff. we don't fully grasp what at this point I would call the underbelly. we [should] see mostly the good, and go with it. youth is not wasted on the young. it is exactly as it should be.

- the passage of time. we grow. we change. eventually, we must face the underbelly. this is not a bad thing. just different.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. one man.

thank you, Nelson Mandela, for your many gifts. 3, in the words of Bill Clinton:

- Nelson Mandela gave 27 years of his life, walked out of prison, and included his oppressors in his government so that they could all be free. He taught us that none of us can ever be free at another’s expense.

- He was always, always trying, first and foremost, to be a good person: to live and love and to give up resentment and anger. Just in his doing so, countless millions of people saw how they too could be better people.

- When he left office, it was almost as if his real work began. He didn’t have to worry about negotiating the fineries of trade details with the President of the United States or anybody else. He went to work trying to save the children of the world beginning in his country and on his continent.

[Source: http://www.clintonfoundation.org/main/clinton-foundation-blog.html/2012/07/18/three-lessons-from-nelson-mandela]

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of shepherds. and no fear.

- the shepherds. is there anything better than a loyal dog (or two)? who watch over us fearlessly. unless someone tickles the tummy. then they are puddles. oh well.

- living in a place and time that allow me to dream something and then just do it. 

- getting more comfortable with the idea that I should just do it. no fear. failure? then I just do something else. no fear.

[the3gratitudes]

3gratitudes. of flowers, coaches + friends.

- the luxury of fresh flowers. the ultimate mood booster.

- parents who volunteer to coach my children's basketball teams. may God bless them for their patience. and fortitude.

- friends who bring my children home from practice when I am spread too thin. it takes a village.