Today I am grateful that my camera broke . . .

I'm a bona fide picture freak! I carry my little point-and-shoot camera around in my purse so that I never miss a photo op. This weekend my camera broke, so I HAD to get a new one. I spent hours researching cameras and finally settled on one. I LOVE IT!!!!! It has some cool features and takes great pictures. And the best part is that I feel zero guilt over buying myself a new toy!

Today I am grateful that I like my new job . . .

I started my new job yesterday. After spending 12 years at my last job, I was a little worried that I might not like the new one. I'm happy to say that I really like the people I'm working with and I'm already learning a lot. I'm so thankful that things seem to be working out so well. :)

Today I am grateful for new beginnings . . .

Yesterday I received two job offers and today I accepted one of them. I start next week. I'm a little nervous to be working in a new industry after 22 years in homebuilding, but I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I'm so thankful for the opportunity, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for me!

Today I am grateful for advocates . . .

Last week at the Annual Conference for Women in Accounting, our opening keynote speaker, Mary Bennett, spoke about the difference between having mentors and having advocates. She pointed out the fact that nobody achieves success on their own. Many of us have gotten where we are with the help of others who have taken a personal interest in us, whether we were aware of it or not. During my job search, I am learning who my advocates are as I'm getting feedback regarding reference checks. I am really touched that others are doing what they can to help me land my next job. I am truly fortunate.

Today I am grateful for music . . .

My iPod broke last week. Unfortunately, I lost a lot of songs that aren't on my computer due to a couple of hard drive crashes I've had. I had 4200 songs on my IPod, and I still haven't figured out how many songs I still have. Regardless, I'm thankful for the music I have left.

Today I am grateful that when one door closes, another one opens . . .

It's been quite a while since my last post. After being laid off, I was having some difficulty finding the motivation to share my journey. However, I attended the Annual Conference for Women in Accounting this week, where I had the chance to catch up with many old friends and make a few new ones. While reconnecting, I realized that it's so cathartic to share our ups and downs and support one another. So I will be making a concerted effort to keep up with this blog, even when focusing on what I'm grateful for proves to be more challenging than I would like.

Today I received the disappointing news that I will not be moving forward in the hiring process for a company I had hoped to get a job offer from. After feeling down about it for several hours, I received another phone call. A position I interviewed for almost three months ago is still open and the hiring managers want to see me back for a second interview! Since I have had several interviews and no job offers, I remain cautiously optimistic. In any event, I am grateful for the opportunity. One of these opportunities will eventually pan out, and I am confident that everything will work out for the best.

Today I am grateful that my lack of employment is allowing me to be home when my kids get home from school . . .

Today I am grateful for comfortable shoes . . .

Today I am grateful for professional dog groomers . . .

Today I am grateful for family time . . .

Today I am grateful that my kids go back to school tomorrow . . .

Today I am grateful that my daughter's knee surgery went well . . .

Today I am grateful for naps . . .

Today I am grateful for opportunities . . .

Today I am grateful for the support of friends . . .

Today I am grateful for optimism . . .

Today I learned that my position is being eliminated in 30 days.  Perhaps it's just because it hasn't quite sunken in yet, but I'm not as upset as I would have expected.  I'm not surprised at all.  Being in homebuilding the last several years has been incredibly stressful, and I've been thinking it's only a matter of time before my job gets cut along with the hundreds of others that have already been cut.  The good news is that I will no longer have a 2-hour commute!  It's kind of a scary prospect to be searching for a job for the first time in 12 years, but I have faith that I will be just fine.  :)

Today I am grateful for the promise of new beginnings . . .

Today I am grateful for my heart's capacity to love my pets . . .

Yesterday was a horrible day.  We had to have our sweet kitty, Zoe, put to sleep.  :'(  Although we knew it was coming (she was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancerous tumor a couple of months ago), it was still incredibly hard.  The hardest part is that she was still doing just fine as far as we could tell.  She didn't really seem to be bothered by the tumor, and she was still eating.  Eventually, it just got so big that it broke through the skin and there was really nothing that could be done for her.  I'm glad she didn't seem to suffer, but it was so hard to look into her bright little eyes and tell her goodbye.  Even though I am heartbroken that she had to go so soon, I'm thankful that we had Zoe to love for the past five years.  I like to think she's up in kitty heaven having a ball and that we will get to hear her cute little squeak again someday.

Today I am grateful for the new QT in Marana . . .

I seriously love QT!  I think they are such a well-run company, and I always try to give my business to good companies whenever possible.  They just opened a new one not too far from my office, and I will definitely be visiting often!

Today I am grateful for merciful police officers . . .

Today I am grateful for salt . . .

Today I am grateful for hot water . . .

Today I am grateful for the power of positive thinking . . .

Today I am grateful for pedicures . . .

Today I am grateful for sleep . . .

Today I am grateful for comfortable shoes . . .

I love shoes!  Unfortunately, most of the really cute ones don't like me.  I have friends who wear the greatest shoes and I envy them because I just can't do it.  I don't exactly walk around in orthotics, but I have a few favorite pairs of sandals and boots that my poor feet can tolerate that I wear most of the time.  Looking on the bright side, I save a lot of money by coveting my friends' shoes instead of buying them myself!

Today I am grateful for times when I feel pretty . . .

I'm hesitant to publish this post as I don't want to appear to be fishing for compliments, but bear with me as I do actually have a point to make.  This morning my hair went the way I wanted it to, I looked fully rested and my pants seemed to fit me just right.  As I was getting ready to leave for work, I thought "Wow, I don't look half bad today."  It occurred to me that most days I just don't feel like I look all that great.  Don't get me wrong - I've valued intelligence over looks my entire adult life.  But I'd be lying if I said I'm immune to the insecurities that all of us feel from time to time.  Unfortunately, time is definitely not my friend in this area.  While I am proud of the woman I've become as I've earned my extra pounds, wrinkles and grey hairs, I am not handling the aging process as well as I always assumed I would.  Does that make me shallow?  I prefer to think it just makes me human.  So, while I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I no longer get attention from men who are neither drunk nor mentally challenged, the good news is that maturity has also allowed me to develop better coping skills and appropriate perspective.  There is more to life than winning beauty contests, but it doesn't hurt to feel like you could actually enter one every once in awhile!

Today I am grateful for DOTS . . .

No deep philosophical post today.  I am sitting here enjoying my favorite candy ever.  I'm more of a salty snack kind of girl than a sweets fan, but I make an exception for DOTS.  I'm sure my love of the ridiculously sticky gumdrops helps keep my dentist in business, but I just can't help myself.  I even choose my movie theatres based on whether they sell DOTS or not!  Do you think they have a 12-step program for people like me?  :)

Today I am grateful for trailblazing women . . .

Today I am grateful for opportunities to reconnect . . .

Today I am grateful that my husband works for a great company . . .

I write this post tonight from beautiful Tiburon, California.  My husband's employer is headquartered in nearby San Raphael.  They had a company-wide meeting yesterday, and they planned some fun activities in conjunction with it.  Last night was bowling and today was a tour of three wineries in the Sonoma area.  With many companies making expense cuts these days, I was surprised to get an invitation to come along.  I am so glad I came.  My husband has been with the company for just about three months, so I had never met most of his co-workers.  What a wonderful group of people and a great company!  I have been fortunate to work with some really amazing groups of people in my career, so I can really appreciate how fantastic it is when you find that perfect fit.  After all of the time he spent searching for a job, I am just thrilled for my husband that this is the one he finally landed. 

Today I am grateful that we have two air conditioning units . . .

It's that lovely time of year when temperatures rise to over 100 degrees and A/C units decide to give out.  Unfortunately, we were the victims of it last night.  Our upstairs unit started blowing nothing but warm air.  The good news is we have two units.  The bad news is that all of our bedrooms are upstairs.  It's a little warm, but at least it's bearable with the downstairs unit still working.  Now I'm just hoping it holds up until the repairman comes tomorrow!

Today I am grateful for longtime friends . . .

I have to say that I am blessed with some amazing friends.  I had dinner with two of them tonight.  We all used to work together and we've known each other for quite a while.  It's so nice to get together and catch up on all of our family happenings.  I am so thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life.  It makes the rough times so much more bearable when you know you have great friends for moral support.  :)

Today I am grateful for IT professionals . . .

Today I am grateful for my husband's thoughtful gestures . . .

My husband is so good to me.  I commute 2 hours each way to work, so I have to fill my vehicle pretty often.  Unfortunately, I really hate getting gas!  I don't know why, but I just can't stand it.  So, as I got in my car this morning to head to work, I was dreading having to stop at the gas station.  Imagine my surprise when I turned on my car and saw that my tank was full!  I don't know when he did it, but my wonderful guy took care of it so I didn't have to.  He's always doing thoughtful things like that.  I'm such a lucky girl!

Today I am grateful for freedom . . .

On this Memorial Day, I am feeling incredibly humbled at the thought of all of our military personnel who have given their lives to ensure that the rest of us continue to enjoy the freedoms we do.  Even though our country is far from perfect, there's nowhere else I'd rather live.  I realize how blessed I am to have been born here, and I will be eternally grateful for those who are honorable enough to put their lives on the line for American values and freedoms.  I'm so proud to be an American!

Today I am grateful that my daughter is safe . . .

The good news is my daughter is safe.  The bad news is that she's now in serious danger of sustaining bodily harm at my hands.  My lovely child was supposed to be home at 10pm tonight.  I was at a friend's house and didn't get home until around 11.  When I realized that she hadn't made it home and we started calling her cell phone, it went straight to voice mail.  So, we started calling all of her friends and trying to track her down based on who she was with the last time we knew where she was.  Of course, she was no longer with those friends and nobody seemed to know where she was.  At about 11:30, my husband started driving around hoping to see kids wandering around who might know where to find her.  Meanwhile, I was back at home imagining all the horrible things that could have happened to her.  Surely, she would have let us know she was safe if she was ABLE to, right?  After enlisting the help of my older daughters, my oldest daughter's boyfriend and a couple of my missing daughter's friends, we finally found her at nearly 1am.  1 AM!  ARE YOU FREAKIN' KIDDING ME?  She had a really reasonable explanation, though: she just didn't think about it.  Wow.  Right now I am rethinking my post from earlier this month where I said I was grateful for motherhood.  Tonight, not so much.  Ask me again in a few days . . . or when my kids have all moved away from home.  :)

Today I am grateful for frugality . . .

Today I am grateful for time with my kitty . . .

Our cat was recently diagnosed with a malignant tumor, and the prognosis is really poor.  Even with agressive treatment, which entails surgery and radiation, she would probably only live an extra eight months or so.  It's been tough, but we have decided not to put her through the pain of the treatment - not that we could afford it anyway.  The really crappy part is that we just had to have our other cat put to sleep in September when he developed cancer.  He was so bad by the time they found the cancer that we had to have him put down the very next day.  Although I am heartbroken that we will be losing another sweet kitty, I am so thankful that we have a chance to spend time with her and give her extra love.  So far, she doesn't even seem to notice the tumor even though it's continuing to grow.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that she won't suffer and we will know when it's time to let her go. :'(

Today I am grateful for perseverance . . .

Today I am grateful for good advice . . .

Today I am grateful for perspective . . .

Today I am grateful for venting . . .

Today I am grateful for motherhood . . .

Being a mom isn't always easy but it IS always a blessing.  Sometimes I feel like the only recognition I get is on this one day each year when everyone feels obligated to show me some love!  But, I didn't choose to have children for the glory, so it's all good.  In what other role do you get the opportunity to experience nearly every emotion known to humans?  It is a never-ending roller coaster of peaks and valleys, and I wouldn't want to miss the ride for anything!  Happy Mother's Day to all of you moms out there.  We are all working hard to raise tomorrow's leaders, and I, for one, appreciate every single one of you.  <3

Today I am grateful for a fast metabolism . . .

I eat way too much junk food.  I know it's bad for me, but unfortunately I lack self control.  Fortunately for me, I have a pretty fast metabolism.  I could stand to lose a few pounds, but I don't gain weight very quickly despite my questionable eating habits.  Here's hoping it doesn't all catch up with me someday!

Today I am grateful that I get to share in my kids' accomplishments . . .

My almost-19-year-old daughter started her job the week after this past Christmas.  She has really enjoyed it and likes the people she works with.  The company is growing, and today she was offered a promotion!  I am so proud of her, and I love that her hard work and great attitude have been noticed and rewarded in such a short period of time.  She has a bright future ahead of her and I look forward to sharing in all of her many achievements throughout her life.  :)

Today I am grateful that my children can overlook my parenting mistakes . . .

It's such a cliche, but being a parent really is the hardest job I've ever had.  The possible ramifications of doing the wrong things are enormous!  I'm a pretty confident person, but I constantly second-guess myself where my kids are concerned.  Am I being too harsh?  Too soft?  Too protective?  Too lenient?  The questions go on and on.  It's enough to drive a girl insane!  When I make a mistake, I'm not too proud to admit it, and I hope that shows my kids that I'm doing the best I can.  If not, I guess I can always offer to pay for their psychotherapy later!

Today I am grateful for sloppy joes . . .

Today I am grateful for family traditions . . .

Our Easter tradition is to color Easter eggs the night before Easter and then have an early dinner at my Grandma's house on Easter Sunday.  My youngest child is now 12, but we still have a good time coloring the eggs.  This year, we went to a friend's house for an "egg coloring" party and my oldest daughter's boyfriend joined us for the party as well as dinner at my Grandma's.  All in all, it was a very nice weekend enjoying the company of wonderful family and friends.  We are so incredibly blessed!  <3

Today I am grateful for positive feedback . . .

I spoke at our local ASWA meeting tonight on generational diversity in the workplace.  It's always a little unsettling for me to do presentations because I always wonder if my audience will find my information useful or valuable.  During my 2-hour session, there was quite a bit of audience participation, so I was feeling like things were going well.  After I completed the presentation, several people approached me to say that they enjoyed it.  It's so wonderful to get a positive response!

Today I am grateful for hope . . .

Today I am grateful for heating pads . . .

Today I am grateful for pediatric urgent care with convenient hours . . .

My son has a knack for having asthma attacks on Sunday evenings.  That used to mean a trip to the ER.  Luckily, I discovered that Phoenix Children's Hospital has a pediatric urgent care facility just a few miles from our house, and it's open until 11pm on Sunday.  We were there for less than an hour, just long enough to get a dose of steroids and be sent on our way.  It was relatively painless, and my son was able to get home in time to get a good night's sleep.  All is well again.  :)

Today I am grateful for new beginnings . . .

Today I am grateful for sarcasm . . .

Sarcasm plays a big role in our family.  We're all a bunch of smart alecks (some more so than others)!  It's funny to see strangers' reactions when we are out in public giving each other crap.  We just love to playfully make fun of each other, and we can all take as much as we dish out.  It provides a lot of laughter in our lives, and I love that my kids are all so clever and witty!  :)

Today I am grateful that my husband is so supportive of me . . .

This won't come as any revelation to those who know me well, but I'm a difficult person.  I'm not even ashamed to admit it.  I'm your stereotypical only child: independent, self-centered, controlling, stubborn, over-achieving, perfectionist, and I really dislike not getting my way!  While these qualities aren't always considered strengths, they are part of who I am and have contributed to the successes I've had in life.  Unfortunately, they can also make life challenging for my poor husband.  Despite all of this, he is incredibly supportive of me and really tries to understand where I'm coming from.  He's not perfect, but he's perfect for me!  <3

Today I am grateful that tax returns are due just once a year . . .

Yes, I am an accountant.  Yes, I absolutely hate doing taxes.  Thank goodness not all accountants work in tax!  Every year, I put off doing my taxes until right before the deadline.  Every year I promise myself I'll get them done earlier, and every year I procrastinate until I just can't put it off any longer.  I finally finished them tonight, so now I have a whole year until I have to worry about them again.  Oh happy day! 

Today I am grateful for the character that is built through overcoming challenges . . .

Today I am grateful for self control . . .

My 14-year-old is driving me crazy!  She's in an extended "it's all about me" phase.  Couple with that the fact that she has always been a very headstrong child, and it all adds up to me pulling my hair out on a near daily basis!  This morning she missed the bus because she was looking for a bag that was in plain sight.  When I realized that she had missed it, I told her I would drop her off at school on my way to work.  She asked me when we would be leaving, and I told her I would be ready in about 15 minutes.  She proceeded to say "Well, can you just take me now, because I don't want to be late."  Seriously ?!?!?!?  I calmly (through gritted teeth) explained to her that it was not my problem that she missed the bus and I was not going to stop what I was doing to take her to school, thereby making myself late in the process.  At this point, I expected her to huff off and leave me to finish getting ready.  Imagine my surprise when she asked yet another question: "Okay, then can we leave in like 5 minutes?"  Wow.  She's still alive, so you have proof that I did, indeed, exercise a great deal of self control.  I'm sure her ginormous set of cojones will serve her well in her adulthood, but at this point she'll be lucky if she makes it to 15!

Today I am grateful for pedicures . . .

I have a confession to make.  I have really ugly feet!  I used to try to hide them at all costs, but living in Phoenix makes that a little difficult.  So I get pedicures to make them at least presentable.  I do tend to neglect them in the wintertime, but I finally got around to getting a pedicure yesterday.  Little did I know that spring was about to take a little vacation.  It's been rainy and cold since, so my poor little toes will just have to stay hidden for a little while longer!

Today I am grateful for memories of my Uncle Mike . . .

Today was my beloved Uncle Mike's birthday.  Unfortunately, he is no longer with us to share in his special day.  We lost him almost a year ago.  He was such a wonderful man, and his passing has left a giant hole in my heart that will never fully heal.  He lived in West Virginia, and I was unable to make it to his funeral due to a prior commitment I couldn't get out of.  My Aunt Cheryl asked me to write something to be read at his funeral, and I agreed.  It was very difficult to write, but I'd like to share it now as it really sums up what he meant to me.

Writing this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.  How do you sum up an entire lifetime of love, admiration, respect and gratitude for such a wonderful man in a few sentences?  Uncle Mike was like a father to me, and that's not just a figure of speech.  He couldn't have loved me any more or treated me any better if I had been his own.  My own Dad did not live close to me for most of my life, and Uncle Mike was happy to step in and be my surrogate Dad - not out of any obligation but just because that's the type of person he was.  He's in every one of my happy childhood memories (as well as a few bad ones because Nekole and I tended to get in trouble a lot!)  I loved his sense of humor, even when he was teasing us girls relentlessly, and his kind heart.  I remember he would stay up late with me to watch Saturday Night Live because he didn't want me to have to watch it by myself.  I was a night owl, and he would always fall asleep in his recliner and then deny it when I'd wake him up when it was over.  I treasured those times when I had him all to myself.  I will be eternally grateful to Uncle Mike and Aunt Cheryl for welcoming me into their lives and showing me the stability I didn't have at home.  Because of Uncle Mike, I learned what a husband and father should be, and I was lucky to find a man who reminds me of him in so many ways.  My own father passed away 15 years ago when my two oldest children were very young.  Again, Uncle Mike stepped in and filled my Dad's shoes in my children's lives as well.  We are all so thankful for the times we got to share with him.  While it hurts more than words can express to have lost two Dads in my lifetime, I will feel forever blessed to have been loved by the most amazing man I've ever met or will ever meet - my Uncle Mike.

RIP, Uncle Mike.  I'll love you forever.  <3

Today I am grateful that my husband doesn't mind cooking . . .

I absolutely HATE to cook!  Luckily, my husband doesn't mind it, so we don't have to starve to death.  Maybe someday, when I have more time, I'll learn to cook and love it.  It's highly doubtful, but you should never say "never."  :)

Today I am grateful that you're never too old to learn new things . . .

Today I am grateful for supportive friends . . .

Last night I posted some videos and pictures of my kids on Facebook, and several of my friends "liked" them and posted some very nice comments.  It's so great to be able to share in each others' joys and be proud of each others' kids.  It may seem like bragging to some, but I love to hear about their kids' accomplishments, too!  I'm so lucky to have friends who are happy when I'm happy and sad when I'm sad.  The older I get, the more I appreciate my friends, and I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life.  <3

Today I am grateful for weekends . . .

I spent most of the weekend at a dance convention and competition with my daughters.  I love to watch them dance, so I actually enjoy those crazy weekends.  The only problem is that I don't get much accomplished during them.  I'm okay with that, though.  There's plenty of time to "get things done," but kids are only young for a short time.  There's always next weekend!

Today I am grateful for hot water . . .

Unfortunately, we don't have any right now!  Today we discovered a leak at our house.  After finding pools of water on our tile downstairs and in the garage, my husband was able to locate the source of the problem.  The hot water line to the powder room sink is leaking just under the slab.  A plumber is coming by tomorrow afternoon to look at it, so we are stuck without hot water until then.  I'm not really a cold shower kind of girl, but my life is always full of adventure!

Today I am grateful for the ability to forgive . . .

Today I am grateful for scrapbooking retreats . . .

I have a side business hosting scrapbooking retreats, and I hosted one this past weekend.  I absolutely love spending the entire weekend with great friends being creative, laughing and relaxing.  I'm thankful that I discovered retreats several years ago.  Unfortunately, we have had a difficult time finding retreats in our area, so we used to travel hours to attend them.  About 18 months ago, I decided that there was a need for retreats locally.  It was a little bit of a leap of faith, but I took the plunge and started this business.  It has turned out well and each retreat has gotten better than the last as I learn the tricks of the trade.  I had a wonderful weekend, and I'm already looking forward to our next retreat in June!

Today I am grateful for optimism . . .

Today I am grateful for ATMs . . .

We take so many of our modern conveniences for granted, but it's good to sometimes stop and reflect on how technology has made our lives more comfortable.

Today I am grateful for my "uterine tracking device" . . .

It's a big joke in our house that I'm the only one in our family who can ever find anything.  They all claim to look for whatever is missing, but they inevitably have to call in the one with the "uterine tracking device."  It rarely takes me more than a few minutes to find what they've searched everywhere for.  It appears that childbirth is what activates the uterine tracking device, so my daughters can look forward to having their very own UTDs someday!

Today I am grateful for Bluetooth technology . . .

I love my Bluetooth headset.  Since I spend so much time in the car, I use it a lot.  Chatting with my husband during my commute home helps me stay awake and makes the time fly by.  What did we ever do before this wonderful technology came along?

Today I am grateful for fun times with friends . . .

My husband and I went to a birthday party for a good friend of ours last night.  It was held at a Mexican restaurant that has karoake on Saturday nights.  I had a great time watching all the people sing with varying levels of success.  It cracks me up how seriously some of them take it, but it's definitely fun to see.  I even did a duet with my friend, but the highlight of the evening was when our waiter did "Gold Digger" while a bunch of us served as his back-up dancers.  Good times!

Today I am grateful for guacamole . . .

Today I am grateful for the time I spent with my Dad . . .

Today would have been my Dad's 64th birthday.  Unfortunately, we haven't had the pleasure of celebrating with him for 16 years now.  It was horrible for me to lose my Dad when he was so young, and it truly breaks my heart that two of my kids were too young to remember him and two of them were born after he passed away.  Even after all of this time, I still have days when I cry over our huge loss.  But more often, thoughts of my Dad bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart.  He was such a wonderful man, and I am grateful for the time I had with him.  I wish he was still around to spend time with his grandkids, but sometimes life just isn't fair.  The best I can do is to keep his memory alive by sharing stories about him with my kids, and I intend to continue to do just that!

Today I am grateful for my son's help . . .

My kids are on spring break this week.  I had to take my two dogs to see the vet today, so I asked my son to come along to help me.  He obliged, but there was never any doubt that he would.  He is the youngest of four, and he's such a people pleaser with a heart of gold.  I can always count on him to lend a hand, and it really seems to make him feel good about himself to be helpful.  I love that I am raising a kind and considerate young man, and I know that someday he is going to make a wonderful husband!

Today I am grateful for new beginnings . . .

My husband started his new job today.  He really likes the people he's met so far, and he's actually worked with three fellow employees at another company.  He's looking forward to learning some new things and doing a great job.  He's already been scheduled to go out of town next week.  The traveling will be something new we'll have to get used to, but he has always been very supportive of my traveling, so we'll work it out!  I'm just so happy for him that he is getting this opportunity.

Today I am grateful for the Take Care Clinic at Walgreens . . .



Today I am grateful for the Renaissance Festival . . .

Today, we made our annual visit to the Arizona Renaissance Festival.  I have lived here since 1987, and we just discovered the festival a few years ago.  I never knew what to expect, but we really enjoy it!  There are some interesting people wandering around, but I just love the vibe there.  It's a fun time with a bunch of people who aren't judgmental.  The performers are funny and happy to be doing what they love to do, and I find that very inspiring.  I'm already looking forward to going back again next year!

Today I am grateful that teenagers eventually grow up . . .

Today I am grateful that my husband finally got a job offer . . .

My husband has been looking for a full-time job for quite some time now.  He's been working part-time in retail in the meantime, but that definitely is not what he loves to do.  His background is in homebuilding, which is a pretty crappy field to be in right now, particularly in Phoenix.  He had nearly given up hope of getting a construction-related job, so he was pleasantly surprised when this opportunity came along.  He will be a project superintendent for a commercial contractor, and he's really looking forward to learning another aspect of construction.  I am so happy for him!!!

Today I am grateful that I get to wear jeans to work every day . . .

Today I am grateful for cruise control . . .

My commute can get pretty monotonous, so I often find myself day-dreaming.  If I don't have my cruise control on, I inevitably look down to find that I am REALLY speeding.  Luckily, I usually have it on, so it keeps me from getting too many tickets!

Today I am grateful for professional networks . . .

My husband has an interview tomorrow morning that came as a result of a former co-worker contacting him to find out if he knew anyone who was looking for a job.  He's been trying to break into commercial construction for a couple of years, but most commercial companies don't even want to speak with a potential candidate unless they have prior commercial experience, which my husband does not.  I'm so thankful that he's getting this opportunity, and it's all because his strong skills and excellent work ethic made an impression on someone he used to work with.

Today I am grateful for hotels with free internet access . . .

My youngest daughter has a dance convention and competition this weekend.  We decided to stay at the hotel where the convention is being held because it is so much more convenient than driving back and forth.  I can't go an entire weekend without getting on the internet, so I was really pleased that I don't have to pay extra for internet access.  It's the little things that make me happy!

Today I am grateful for my son's advanced conversation skills . . .

My son just turned 12, but he speaks much like a little adult (with just a little more potty humor than the average adult!)  He has been a voracious reader pretty much since he began reading at four.  He outgrew books geared toward his age group years ago and reads a lot of material that is intended for teens or adults.  I think this is why he has such a great vocabulary and can actually hold a very intelligent conversation.  I am glad he has these skills, because I really enjoy his company, and other adults always tell me what a bright kid he is.  His best friend's mom just adores him, constantly telling me what a joy he is to have around.  That certainly beats getting calls from his friends' parents telling me that he is no longer welcome in their homes!  Now if I could just get him to apply his brilliance to his school work and be able to enjoy the grades that he is clearly capable of earning.  Is that too much for an old, tired mom to ask?

Today I am grateful for professional dog groomers . . .

One of our dogs is really furry and needs regular grooming.  We never seem to find the time to take her, so we got this brilliant idea that we should just get our own grooming kit and do it ourselves.  So today, my husband attempted to groom her for the very first time.  It took a lot longer than he expected, and he ran out of time before he had finished.  So, my poor dog is half-shaven!  She has never been the prettiest dog, but now she just looks ridiculous, and I really feel sorry for her!  Our other dog keeps growling at her, too!  I'm hoping she'll look a little better when my husband finishes the job, but I think our days of DIY grooming may be over.  :)

Today I am grateful that we made it through the height of RSV season with only one ER visit . . .

I hope I'm not jinxing myself here, but I don't remember the last time we had such an uneventful RSV season!  With two asthmatics, we usually have several visits.  The respiratory gods must have taken pity on us since last year was so horrible.

Today I am grateful for the ability to learn new things . . .

I probably shouldn't admit this, but I seriously don't know how to cook - even simple things.  Tonight, I wanted a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner, but the two kids who know how to make it weren't home.  So I decided it really can't be that hard and made one myself.  I totally burned one side of the sandwich, and it didn't taste as good as it should have, but the point is that I did it myself and that's how you learn.  Baby steps, right?

Today I am grateful for personal connection . . .

I spoke at the Beta Alpha Psi regional conference in Anaheim this weekend.  I really enjoy participating in these events and interacting with some very bright students with extremely promising futures.  After my second session, a young woman who attends Arizona State University and will be graduating in May introduced herself and we struck up a conversation.  She is a single mother of a 3-year-old.  It turned out that she and a couple of her classmates were on my flight home.  We had a couple of hours to kill, so I took the opportunity to get to know them a little better.  As we parted ways when boarding began, I thanked them for letting me hang out with them.  The young lady who had originally introduced herself said "Meeting you was the best part of the conference for me."  I was so touched, and I was happy to have been able to show her that it really is possible to pursue a career and be a good mom at the same time.  She is interested in joining my chapter of the American Society of Women Accountants when she gets settled into her job this summer, and I really hope I get the chance to help mentor her as she learns to navigate her work/life balancing issues.

Today I am grateful that I can find comedic value in Murphy's law . . .

I was traveling today for a Beta Alpha Psi conference I am speaking at tomorrow.  I was so proud of myself for checking in online last night so that I didn't have to do it when I got to the airport today.  Unfortunately, there is no gate information on your boarding pass when you check in that early.  So, upon arriving at the airport, I quickly checked the monitors and saw that the flight to Santa Ana leaving at 11:25 was flying out of gate C 18.  I didn't really need to rush so I casually made my way through security and on to the gate just in time for boarding to begin.  At that point, I realized something was amiss.  This was not my airline!  What are the chances that two different airlines would depart for the same destination at the EXACT same time?  If you are familiar with Sky Harbor Airport, you will understand my panic when I realized that I now had to get to gate A 30 before boarding was completed.  The airport is set up as a giant square with very long walkways between concourses.  Of course the gate I needed to be at was on the exact opposite corner of the square from where I was, and the only way to get there was to walk to the B gates and then to the A gates.  Of course, a couple of the moving sidewalks were not in operation, and I was wearing heels because I didn't want to pay to check my bag and I was trying to conserve space!  Of course, I got to the gate after the boarding had closed.  Luckily, the activity I was supposed to participate in this afternoon at the conference did not require my participation, but I was still bummed to miss it.  So, I made my way to the customer service desk and was happy to be the first person in line.  Just then a woman went up to the counter and asked the agent if she had any scissors she could borrow because her dog's fur had been caught in the zipper of her carrier and it was stuck.  The agent informed her that they are not allowed to have any sharp objects beyond the security checkpoint and that she should go back out to the other side of the checkpoint to see if anyone could help her.  All the while, I could hear the poor little dog whimpering.  So, I got out of line and offered to help the lady try to free her dog from it's carrier.  After struggling with it for a couple of minutes, I remembered that I had a disposable razor in my carry-on bag.  Luckily, the lady was able to hold the piece of fur taut while I shaved it and we finally cut right through it.  The dog immediately jumped out of the carrier and into my lap as if to thank me!  The lady was very grateful and thanked me profusely before going on along her merry way.  At that point, I turned around to see that there were about 30 people in line whose flight was being re-routed!  So, I got in line, still feeling good that I had rescued the poor little dog at least.  :)  I was able to get on the next flight that left about three hours later, so I just hung out in the airport waiting for my flight, which then was delayed about an extra half an hour.  Imagine my relief when I finally got on the plane!  Well, my joy lasted for about three minutes until the little boy directly behind me decided to randomly scream the shrillest scream I've ever heard - not just once, but repeatedly.  Then when the flight attendant came by and informed the mother that she would have to put him in his own seat for take-off, the screaming was embellished to include hysterical crying in between the shrill screams.  This went on for about 15 minutes, until mercifully he finally stopped.  Until it was time to prepare for landing and he was forced back into his own seat again.  Boy, was I glad to finally get off that plane!  I'm hoping that I've used up all my bad luck and the rest of my trip will be smooth sailing.  We shall see . . .

Today I am grateful for times when my kids make decisions that happen to be what I wanted them to do . . .

My husband and I are firm believers in letting our kids make their own decisions (within reason) with very minimal interference from us.  Of course, we're always available to help in the decision-making process if our help is wanted.  One of our daughters has been mulling over a decision for the past several weeks, and I have a very strong opinion as to which way I wanted her to go.  It took enormous will power, but I did my best to keep my opinion to myself.  Imagine my delight when she told me she had decided on the option that I favored.  I really love that they have strong decision-making skills.  Those skills will definitely serve them well in life.

Today I am grateful for bacon . . .

Today I am grateful for Spamalot . . .

We saw a performance of the national touring production of Spamalot at the Orpheum today.  It was hilarious!  I love that some of the newer musicals, particularly those that are based on movies, are so funny.  My husband is a recent convert to the joys of live theatre, and these are his favorite shows.  It's wonderful that they are introducing a whole new audience to the art form.

Today I am grateful for days when I get to sleep in . . .

I'm a night owl.  I have a nasty habit of staying up way too late and then hating life when I have to get up in the morning.  I didn't have to be anywhere until 1:00 today, so I slept until 10am this morning!  A girl could really get used to a schedule like that!

Today I am grateful that one of my kids is a good student . . .

Today I had to go to parent-teacher conferences for my two youngest kids.  I really don't like going, because I hear the same thing over and over from almost every single teacher - my kids are smart enough to have better grades, but they don't apply themselves.  Neither one of them is very good about turning their homework in on time.  Going to their conferences really makes me appreciate the one kid that always does her homework and studies for her tests without any nagging from us.

Today I am grateful for music . . .

I love music!  The only good thing about having a 2-hour commute is that it gives me an excuse to listen to music for 4 hours a day.  I love that it makes the time seem to pass more quickly, and so many songs bring back some really great memories.  I would be lost without my tunes!

Today I am grateful that my husband still thinks I'm pretty . . .

Let's face it - getting old sucks!  Yeah, the wisdom and confidence that come with age are nice, but sometimes a girl just wants to look good!  It may just be that my husband's eyesight is failing in his old age, but he seems blind to my wrinkles, gray hairs and extra junk in my trunk (and elsewhere.)  After 24 years together, I am so lucky that my man still tries to make me feel beautiful. <3

Today I am grateful for opportunities to watch my kids perform . . .

The dance studio my kids attend had the opportunity to perform in the pre-game and halftime shows for the Phoenix Suns tonight.  My son and youngest daughter did the pre-game dance, and my daughter also did the halftime dance.  They were wonderful, and I am so incredibly proud when I see them doing what they love to do.  It's amazing how much joy my kids bring to my life.  I am truly blessed!

Today I am grateful that I don't care about Valentine's Day . . .

Luckily for my husband, I think Valentine's Day is a silly holiday!  I'll take the spontaneous, thoughtful and non-commercial ways he shows me he loves me over flowers and candy any day.  On the bright side, at least the holiday stimulates the economy!

Today I am grateful that my daughter shares my love of live theatre . . .

My 17-year-old and I have a season subscription for Arizona Broadway Theatre.  We both really enjoy seeing their shows.  Today we saw My Fair Lady, and it was amazing!  I am in awe of the actors' talent, and I am thankful that they are willing to share it with us.  :)

Today I am grateful that I am a football fan . . .

My husband LOVES football.  He knows everything about it and can recall plays that happened 25 years ago in great detail.  Luckily, I really like to watch it, too.  It's nice to be able to share that with him, and he's taught me a lot about the game.  We've had Cardinals season tickets for several years, and I've really enjoyed bonding during our football Sundays.  Today we watched the Super Bowl together at home instead of going to any parties, and it was a lot of fun to spend the day watching a great game with my favorite football buddy!

Today I am grateful for running water . . .

There was a hard freeze in Tucson overnight, and Tucson is just not equipped for the unusually cold weather.  Needless to say, the result was a lot of broken pipes.  I arrived to work this morning to learn that the water to the building had to be shut off due to a broken water line!  Unfortunately, we have month-end deadlines, so the accounting department didn't really have the option of going home early.  It was quite an adventure to have to drive to a different location just to use the facilities!

Today I am grateful that my adult daughter still finds time for me . . .

I have been sick the last 2 days and have spent most of the last 48 hours in bed.  The last 2 nights when my 18-year-old has gotten home from work, she's hung out with me to keep me company.  It's nice to know that I can still compete for her time even though she probably has much better offers most nights!

Today I am grateful for pleasant surprises . . .

Today I am grateful for courage . . .

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do.  There can be no courage unless you're scared."

~ Edward Vernon Rickenbacker

I've been dealing with a situation that has taken me completely out of my comfort zone.  There are times when I just want to ignore it and hope it will go away, but I know that isn't going to solve anything.  So, I just have to suck it up, face it head on and get through it.  Not knowing what the outcome will be really scares me, but I am thankful that I am somehow finding the courage to push through it anyway.

Today I am grateful for my grandma's potato salad . . .

Two of my kids spent the night at my grandma's house last night.  At least one of them goes over there every other weekend, and Grandma always sends a "care package" home with them that is essentially all the junk food she buys them while they're over there that they don't get at home.  When my kids came home today, they had a surprise for me in their care package - my grandma's potato salad!  My son and I are the only ones in our family who like potato salad, so we don't get it very often.  Grandma usually makes it when we get together for holidays or on my birthday, but it was so sweet of her to make it for us out of the blue this weekend!

Today I am grateful that we have enough vehicles for all of the drivers in our family . . .

My 16-year-old was rear-ended about a month ago, and we took the truck she drives in to the body shop to be repaired this week.  It has been such a pain to coordinate everything to work around having one fewer vehicle available.  I am really thankful that this is a temporary problem, and I can't wait to get the truck back!

Today I am grateful that the indomitable human spirit can triumph over tragedy . . .

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle explosion.  I was in high school at the time, but I still remember it like it was yesterday.  I am so thankful that the 7 heroes who lost their lives that day - Commander Francis R. (Dick) Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Ron McNair, Ellison Onizuka and Judy Resnik, Payload Specialist Gregory Jarvis and Teacher in Space participant Christa McAuliffe - did not die in vain.  Rather than being remembered with statues and the like, the astronauts' families made sure that they had a much more important and lasting legacy.  They founded the Challenger Center for Space Science Education, which now boasts a network of 47 Challenger Learning Centers located throughout the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and South Korea.  Over 400,000 students participate in "missions" at these centers and 25,000 teachers are trained through the network each year.  We are fortunate to have a Challenger Learning Center right down the street from our house, and my kids have had the opportunity to participate in their interactive simulated space missions.  It's a very cool place, and it's wonderful to realize that out of tragedy came the ability to inspire and educate so many children.

Today I am grateful for family . . .

My Aunt Kim and her husband, Joe, are in town this week to golf.  They come in to town about once a year, and we always try to get together while they're here.  They took us out to dinner tonight, and it was so nice to catch up and just enjoy each other's company.  The older I get, the more I appreciate my family ties, and I am really thankful that I have so many wonderful relatives!

Today I am grateful for DayQuil . . .

Lucky me!  I have a cold!  Thank goodness for DayQuil, because it does seem to help a little.  I'm exhausted from all of the sniffling and sneezing, so I hope that means I'll sleep well tonight!

Today I am grateful for Mexican food . . .

We had dinner at my favorite Mexican restaurant, Carlos O'Brien's, tonight.  We used to eat out all the time, but now it's a rare treat.  It seems like it tastes so much better!  The only bad thing is that I am so full that I am actually in a little bit of pain.  It's so totally worth it, though!

Today I am grateful for Facebook . . .

I admit it.  I'm completely addicted to Facebook!  I rarely go more than a day without getting on it.  With four kids, a job that's two hours away, various volunteer activities and other demands on my time, it seems like socializing always takes a back seat.  Thankfully, I can catch up with what's going on with everyone on Facebook.  I love that I've been able to reconnect with friends from high school and former co-workers, but my favorite thing about it is that it's great for sharing photos.  I'm a picture freak, so the first thing I do when I log on is check to see what new pictures have been posted by my friends!

Today I am grateful for hard work being recognized . . .

I spent a good portion of this weekend at a dance convention/competition with my youngest daughter.  She loves these things, but they're kind of exhausting for me!  The competitions run until 11pm or later and then the convention classes start at 8am or earlier, so the kids end up dancing all day and night on about 6 hours of sleep.  I really admire their dedication to their craft!  At the conclusion of the convention today, awards and scholarships were given out.  I was so proud to see my daughter awarded a "Die Hard Dancer" award.  Each member of the convention faculty recognizes one student out of the hundreds attending to bestow this honor upon.  My daughter was recognized by the ballet teacher.  She wasn't expecting it at all, and it really made her feel special.  I am happy that it teaches her that hard work and commitment really does pay off. 

Today I am grateful that I'm not a tax accountant . . .

I attended our annual ASWA Tax Update session tonight.  Our speaker was great, and there was a lot of really good information, but it made me thankful I don't do taxes for a living!  I'll stick to corporate accounting where there are usually logical reasons for handling things a certain way.  I think Congress intentionally comes up with some of this stuff just to laugh at the poor tax accountants who have to apply it and attempt to explain it to their clients!

Today I am grateful for Chap Stick . . .

Today I am grateful for the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King died before I was born, but his teachings will live on forever.  He was a true American hero.  His courage and dedication to justice have inspired millions.  The issues may be different in 2011, but we can't forget that there are still many injustices that we need to stand up against.  Dr. King understood that keeping our mouths shut about an evil is just as wrong as actively participating in it.  Thank God there are many others who are passionate about leaving our world better than we found it.  Society owes them all a huge debt of gratitude.

Today I am grateful for the power of positive thinking . . .

I'm feeling really optimistic about this year.  I think part of it is that I've shifted my perspective in a major way and learned to appreciate the little things, but part of it is that I am committed to maintaining a positive outlook.  It's amazing the difference it makes!  Even when the inevitable disappointments come along, they are much easier to take when you have the right attitude.

Today I am grateful for online shopping . . .

I hate to shop!  So, I am glad that I can get most of what I need online.  I don't even mind paying the shipping.  It's totally worth it to me!

Today I am grateful for community . . .

Since I have been working in Tucson for the past couple of years, I consider it my second home.  So when Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and 16 others were shot there over the weekend, I was really shaken.  I mourn the 6 people who died - U.S. District Judge John McCarthy Roll, Gabriel Zimmerman, Christina Taylor Green, Dorwin Stoddard, Dorthy Morris, and Phyllis Scheck - and I pray for the survivors, the families of all the victims, the family of the suspect and everyone else who has been affected by the tragedy.  Like many others across the country, I celebrate every improvement in Congresswoman Giffords' condition.  But the one thing that has really touched me is how the entire community of Tucson (and to some extent the community of the whole country) has mostly banded together and shown that even during times of unimaginable grief, our collective spirit can not be broken.  There are a lot of things wrong with this country, but I am thankful to be reminded of some of the many things that are right about it.

Today I am grateful that my husband cooks . . .

My husband made dinner for us tonight.  I absolutely HATE to cook, so I really appreciate it when he does it.  I'm not much of a domestic goddess, but my poor family accepts me anyway!

Today I am grateful that we can "visit" the snow . . .

Phoenix is the perfect place for me to live.  Growing up in Northern Utah, I never cared for the cold winter weather.  But now that I live here, sometimes I miss the beauty and fun of the snow.  Luckily, we can just drive a couple of hours north and "visit" the snow, which we do once a year.  We took our annual overnight trip this weekend, and the weather was beautiful - cold, but sunny and not too windy.  The kids sledded for a while and then we ventured into an open area to play in the powder.  After a couple of hours, we changed into dry clothes and headed home to the much more tolerable Phoenix weather.  Absolutely perfect!

Today I am grateful for date nights . . .

My husband and I saw Shrek: The Musical tonight.  We both loved it, and I appreciated the opportunity to spend some time together.  With everything going on in our lives, I feel like we barely see each other!  I am thankful we still enjoy each other's company after 24 years together.

Today I am grateful that my son is a human garbage disposal . . .

Today is my youngest daughter's 14th birthday, and we all went out to eat to celebrate.  Restaurant portions are insane, and I always end up wasting half of my meal.  Luckily, I have an 11-year-old son.  He is as skinny as can be, but he eats like you would not believe!  He and I split a steak, and then he even ate part of my half that I couldn't finish!  It was perfect.  

Today I am grateful that 2010 is over!

As a whole, 2010 was the worst year of my life.  I actually started this blog to help me focus on my blessings rather than my challenges.  Of course, it could have been worse, but it also could have been a whole lot better!  Even though the entire year was pretty crappy, I really am optimistic that 2011 will be a much better year.  I've learned a lot about myself this past year, and I am certain that I am a stronger person than I was a year ago.  Difficult times can really build character!