Day Thirty

I made it! 

Day thirty of thirty and it feels so darn good!

I set out a few years ago to try to see the small things in my every day and to give thanks.  In fact I chose Thankful as my word of the year a couple years ago. The 30 day thankful project is one that I've done before but this was the first time I did it on the blog.

Thanks for tagging along with me.
Jen

Day Twenty Nine

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  The food, the company even the rain held off for the day. It really was great.

Our bug stayed over and we went for a ride in the rain earlier today. It was a first for him and he and Luna did perfect!

The house has been full of family and friends for the last couple days and will empty out tonight. I love a full house so I'm a bit sad to see everyone go I'm also looking forward to some down time.... I'm tired.

I'm thankful for quiet time.

Day Twenty Eight

I'm thankful for good wine, good food and good conversation.

Today we are hosting Thanksgiving, the kids will be here as well as our niece and her boyfriend. Preparations for a fantastic dinner are already underway. The Bungalow (our guest trailer) is ready. And we have friends coming out for a visit this weekend. I sure love a full house. So fun!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Jen

Day Twenty Seven

photo by the music man

I'm not as young, skinny or agile as I once was. I have a few wrinkles and even a few more grey hairs. I jokingly say I worked hard for "this" body... rolls and all lol. But there is an underline of truth, as I did work hard to get healthy again.

photo by monkey

I'm thankful for my body though it's not perfect it serves me well and enables me to do the things I love.  In my 40's I'm thankful for the wisdom that only comes with age.  Life these days feels good and I know I'm exactly where I am supposed to be.

If I had an option to turn the clock back.... I wouldn't.

I'm thankful for ME, my life.

Day Twenty Six

Today is a busy day as we're getting ready for Thanksgiving so I'm running a little behind on my post today. Although I'm a bit late I am incredibly grateful for family. I know I already did a post of my posse but I wanted to mention the rest of my family. My parents. My sister and her family. My nieces and nephew as well the music mans family.

I don't talk too much about them here (they prefer it that way) but all of them are amazing and awesome people that I am so blessed to be able to call my family. My family lives within a couple hours drive so I get to see them often.

Day Twenty Five

In a world where many go hungry.

In a world where processed, chemically treated and engineered food is the norm.

In a world where it's easier to grab something off a dollar menu that has no good nutrition in at all than to purchase fresh fruit or veggies.

In a world where most don't even know or care what unsustainable looks like in today food industry...

In a world where one out of two children born after 2000 are expected to develop diabetes and in a world where the majority of today's born children won't taste GMO free foods.

I'm thankful for my garden... Spending time with my hands in the soil is one of my favorite things to do.  I'm thankful I can grow clean nutritious food for my family and friends.

Day Twenty Four

"Morning is when the wick is lit. A flame ignited, the day delighted with heat and light, we start the fight for something more than before." ~ Jeb Dickerson

I'm thankful for mornings

Thankful for the light.

Thankful for the quiet and stillness a new day brings.

Thankful I can soak it all in while sipping some coffee.

Thankful for the caffeine jolt.

Thankful for opportunities of goodness and to do good.

Thankful for the cool crisp early morning air that reminds me of how alive I am when it hits my skin.

Thankful for good morning kisses.

Thankful for the joyful greetings I get from the animals. Their unconditional love and their company while I make the rounds.


Yep, I am thankful for mornings and a new beginning.

Happy Sunday Peeps!

Day Twenty Three

"Friendship isn't a big thing, it's a million little things." 

I am grateful for the friendships I have, old and new. I have friends who inspire me, challenge me and love me.

My bestest buddies have been with me for many years and have traveled with me through the ups and downs of life.  We've watched our kids grow up into adults, we've shared serious laughter... the kind that leaves you with a belly ache and we've shared loss.

I have the best buddies,  in real life and here in blog land. I am so blessed and thankful for all of you. You make me smile BIG.

I am thankful for friends

Day Twenty Two

My life is good, I have no real complaints but sometimes life can be difficult. Sometimes expectations fall short or a goal missed. Sometimes financial, health or global stresses arise. Sometimes I think a day will go a certain way only to see it go another way.

Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed and when things go sideways I remember a saying a good friend of mine told me.

"sometimes the universe has something different planned for you".

She's right and that makes me smile even on a really crappy day for I know there is a Faith lesson to be learned when life throws a curve ball my way.

God gives me peace. God gives me strength and an open mind when things get rough. He is good.

I am thankful for Faith...For God's grace. Knowing there is a bigger picture brings me incredible peace.

Day Twenty One

Music is awesome and I'm a HUGE fan! I enjoy all kinds though my preference is Country and Faith. The music man is a Rock N Roller through and through.  I'm not musically inclined at all, I've been told by my family that I'm tone deaf and it's not pretty... In fact it's down right ugly. Although I know this to be true, it doesn't stop me from singing at the top of my lungs while in the car or softly serenading the animals, I'm pretty sure they like it :).

I love to turn the music up loud while I'm busting out moves around the house, seems to makes the cleaning go faster.  I love how a song can instantly take you back to a moment so vividly or bring you out of a bad mood.

I love that that my husband is a Music Man, I mean gosh how many girls have a song written for them?!

I have the privilege of photographing live music and get one of the best seats in the house when doing so. Meeting, shooting and hanging out with such musically talented people rock!.  I am incredibly blessed to live that dream out loud...Hanging with animals during the day and shooting live shows at night is pretty incredible.

Music is a universal language that touches everyone and has the power to heal. I'm thankful for the music that fills our home and life.

Day Twenty

I have always been the one with a camera, in the day of film I was the Kodak Queen. I have albums and albums of printed memories. But over the last handful of years walking around daily with my camera in hand, always on the look out for a moment or opportunity to press my shutter has greatly changed my perspective on life.

My focus tends to be on the small things that make up our everyday, an awesome excuse to pause and be present. A weed that's flowering, a tree shedding or growing its leaves, animals,  a family gathering...

Whether its a big photo adventure where I push my comfort zone...I am petrified of heights but determined to get "the shot".

a concert  (how awesome it is to be in the pit? super awesome and I love it!)

Or a silly moment, fills me. I know staring at the sun is not a good idea but it was a hilarious photo op and memorable moment with my bug.

Keeping it simple and focusing on the small things... is the space I try to live in,  for it's in the small things where my Joy lives.

I'm thankful for my camera.

Day Nineteen

Coffee
Cafe'
Java
Joe
Brew
Mocha
Espresso
Latte'

I don't use sugar or cream,  I drink it black. Enjoying a cup while the house is still and quiet is a gift. A warm cup in my hand on these cool mornings, while I check email and the blog is awesome. The caffeine jolt... needed.

I'm thankful for my morning coffee.

Side note, I knit this sweater and the cuts on my hands are from working in the garden.

Have a great day!

Day Eighteen

I am thankful for my incredibly talented, hard working, kind and gentle husband.

His dedication to our family fills my heart. His sense of humor, hilarious and weird... He's always at the ready to entertain any crazy or hair brained idea I may have.  He's the best animal pen builder, supporter of my dreams and my night in shining armor who carries a guitar and can do anything, my super hero.

Day Seventeen

I'm thankful for family time.

With the kids grown and all of us so busy these days Family Friday or Pasta Sunday is a gift. For me, taking up space together to talk over a good meal, play games or just sit quietly fills my heart with Joy.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving as both kids will be here as well as our niece.... I super love and am so thankful for family time!

Day Sixteen

Sadly 50 million people live with food insecurity in this country and one in five are hungry.

I'm thankful for food...

Both the music man and I enjoy spending time in the kitchen. Sipping a glass or two of wine, turning on our favorite tunes and getting our boogie on while watching over a pot or pan of something delicious is fun.  We love food! Seriously, we love food in this house and celebrate life around the table with a full plate.

Being able to feed my family good, clean and nutritious food is a blessing when there are so many that go hungry.   Opening a full fridge or cupboard when preparing a meal fills my heart with with joy and also reminds me of how good we have it.

Day Fifteen

We have the most amazing sunrises and sunsets here on the ranch. Our views are unobstructed for both and I find myself stopping to watch them daily.  The shot directly above was taken the other night and was nothing less than magical, in fact I have never seen so much color and texture in the sky.  Facebook lit up with everyone who lives in my area saying the same thing, some even called it a life moment.

I am so thankful for my eyes so that I can see all of God's beauty.

A dear friend of mine titled this image "Heavens Light" and I love that! Thanks K I think's it's perfect.
Linking to Sky Watch Friday today

Day Fourteen

I am thankful for fresh eggs, listening to the sounds of soft morning clucking while sipping on coffee and the boisterous welcome the girls give me every time I'm near. I love how they follow me around and are always happy to let me hold them.

I am thankful for my girls. Now if we can finish up their molt soon i'll be back to fresh eggs daily...

Linking up to

Day Thirteen

Knitting, knitting knitting... Oh how I love to knit!

As a kid both my grandma and mom had taught me to knit and crochet but I didn't stick with it. Several years ago I wanted to learn again so a dear friend of mine (lap dog knits) taught me. We knew it would be just the thing I needed to pass the time and keep my sanity while recovering from the accident.

Not only did I learn but I fell in love with it and haven't stopped knitting since.  I am so thankful for the calm it brings my body and mind. I love the sounds of my needles clicking quietly together at the end of a day and the feel of yarn passing through my fingers. I always look forward to starting a new piece with excitement and enjoy the quiet patience that sets in while working on it. Of course I love the gratification of a completed project that I can wear, gift or do whatever with, so fun!

I am so thankful for knitting and the Joy and Peace it has brought me over the years. Thanks Kyle!

Day Twelve

I am thankful for my monkey girl, she is her mama's daughter in many ways. I love her BIG heart, always at the ready with helping hands, her determination to achieve anything she sets out to do and her goofy sense of humor.

Day Eleven

I am so incredibly thankful for my brown dog Jack aka...
My shadow
My bestest buddy
The Pizza Bandit
Jackson Brown
Lumpy Lou
Limpy Lou
Roonie Bunz
My chicken poop eater
Horse poop eater
The professional and well, I could go on and on but i'll stop here.

He has been by my side for 12 years and literally at my side every single day for the last seven. I just love him to pieces.

I'm also thankful to our military who work non stop to keep us safe and free.  A HUGE thank you to those who serve and have served our country. God bless you...

Day Ten

Although life isn't always easy it IS always good. I am incredibly thankful for us, our marriage and the time we make to adventure together.

Day Nine

Ms Blue Eyes loves love. She follows me around like a dog would and meows the entire time. During morning and evening chores she is by my side with both dogs. She has begun to explore the tree in Chancies turn out and has no fear of the horses either. I have found her several times now hanging out with Luna.

Here she is flip flopping at my feet so i'll stop and pet her.

 In with Luna who is not totally sure what the heck is going on.

And here she is up a tree in Chancies stall while I'm cleaning. Once I'm done cleaning she meows, climbs down and follows me out. She is adventurous, fearless and has become such a love bug.

Ms Green Eyes let me pet her the other day but that was it. She's back to walking away from me when I come to close. She is happy girl though, more confident with every day and oh boy is she cute.

I am thankful for barn kitties, feral or not.