Word of the Year

Last year, I ditched the idea of a New Year's resolution and instead I embraced the idea of a "Word of the Year".

My word for 2011 was... choice.

In 2011 I choose to:

• surround myself with positive people
• be supportive rather than critical
• yell (or not) at my children to hurry up (I try my best to not yell.) 
• provide chooses for my children in their daily lives
• scream (or not) at a certain pompous news anchor on TV (Can you guess who?) 
• seek to understand my husband's perceptive as to why he works the insane hours that he does and be proud that he takes such ownership in his job
• make my health a top priority and work out five-six days a week
• eat healthy food and make healthy meals (or some-days NOT and get a McDonald's burger and sweet tea)
• commit myself to a cause
• laugh more
• be confident with how I choose to parent and be comfortable with the fact that I make mistakes
• let the little things slide (e.g., the dishes and laundry always lose to reading and playing with my kids)
• blog... or not
• read inspirational words every day
• remember that a person's perceptive is critical to understanding and can change everything
• bloom where I am planted 
• be positive  
• be okay with the fact that I can not please everyone
• find opportunity in struggle
• be happy (sometimes I choose, and it is okay that I do, to be angry, disappointed or frustrated)
• remember it is MY choice and only I can give power to someone else or to negativity.

Through-out the year my choices have become wiser and easier to make. I have learned that the key to living a happy life is choosing one.

I have also humbled myself. Being happy isn't always easy, nor is being optimistic. Learning to live a life of optimism is a lifestyle commitment. I realize now, more than ever, that I will be fine tuning my choices for the rest of my days.

With all of this being said, 2011 is behind us. It's a new year that will be filled with new possibilities and opportunities.

So I have choosen a new word and I am sure that you can guess what my word might be...

Did you guess?





















Yeap. Gratitude.





I hope to be more grateful each day. This blog and my Facebook page are helping me...


What is your word?

52-57

52- Thankful for Christmas music.


‎53- Thankful for my son's first Christmas program. It was wonderful. Smiled and "happy cried" through the entire thing!


‎54- Thankful for Christmas cards!!! How I love this time of year.


55- Thankful for the amazing imagination of children. It is just. magical.


56- Thankful for a chocolate cake baked (from scratch), icing made, a kitchen covered in flour, and a little girl who is two short days away from being 2 years old! :)
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57- Thankful that my friend received a package I had mailed today. I sent it in October and we thought that it was lost for sure. Knowing that my daughter's infant clothes are not lost forever and that one sweet little girl will be wearing them absolutely makes my day! :)


JS

51

51- Thankful for the generous man who was working the salvation army station at the mall today. He saw that my nearly two year old was not cooperating (read: mom on a mission. walking slower than a slug. not wanting carried. screaming. pulling mom-ma's hair.) and gave her a sucker. After some negotiations she cooperated, making my trip successful and keeping me sane. Hallelujah!!   Thank you, salvation army bell ringer guy. Thank you.
JS

50

50- Thankful for snuggles. Holding my children is calming and humbling. Their snuggles absolutely make my day. JS

37-49

‎37- Thankful that working-out is changing my body. Not as thankful that my boots are getting so tight that I can barely zip them over my calves. I guess I'll need new boots... ;)


38- Thankful for amazing and inspiring quotes that remind me who I am, who I want to be, what I believe and how I should live... 
Live full, laugh often, feel more, and love much. 


39-Thankful for a little boy! Welcome Wesley! So grateful for you and your Mom.

40- 

41- Thankful for book stores and this book. I just love it. 

42- I am so thankful that I found the tweezers AND the long black hair on my chin!! Serious. On my. chin. Glad I caught that one! :) 

43- Thankful for snow capped mountains, bright blue skies, sunshine and bald eagles soaring. What a beautiful day in the pacific northwest!!

44- Thankful for a the knowledge in my mind, air in my lungs and the strength in my legs. (This was yesterday's thanks during and after the Jingle Bell Run 5K.) 

45- Thankful we went to church today. It felt like coming home. It had been too long.

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46- Thankful for laughter. “From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere!” 

― Dr. Seuss, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

47- Thankful for my sweet son, who covered up his little sister (who was asleep) before he went to sleep. What a thoughtful kid.

48- Thankful for gym friends. Strong is so the new skinny.

‎49- Thankful for organizations that give to others, i.e., Toys for Tots. Even though not every toy that we purchased this year went in the drop off box (I didn't even try to tell my daughter it wasn't her doll.) it is great to know a child in our community will smile this Christmas.

JS

more livable

Spending time each day reflecting on something that I am thankful for has not always been an easy task: however; it continues to bless my heart with joy and reminds me where I need to focus my energy.

Admittedly, this task has been more difficult than I thought it would be. I am a pretty optimistic person. I tend to look at things as lessons and opportunities rather than failures and challenges. Regardless, there are still days when I feel like I am holding on by a string. Days when I feel unappreciated, overwhelmed, over-tasked, and even unwelcome... And those days and those feelings SUCK! (If you are like me, on those nights you look forward to the next morning to hurry up so you can start all over again.) 

I know am not alone. I am human and these feelings are part of living. No matter how negative the feelings may be they still help me to be true to myself and my life goals. They remind me how I want to be with people around me and for that... I am thankful. 

JS 

32-36

32- Thankful for my conversations with the big guy upstairs. I need to remember to talk with Him more. May he hear my prayers for others and may he hear my prayers for myself. Lord, please guide my words and my heart. Amen.


33-Thankful tomorrow is another day.


34- Thankful for an evening alone with my husband. We talked through many things. Grateful for our communication. There is nothing we won't talk about. Sometimes it is difficult. Very. Difficult. But we always make it through. I love him.


35-Thankful for friendships that are more than friendships.


36- I am thankful for my son's laughter. It makes moments. 
JS