Day 31/365 Nate's Birthday

Happy birthday my beautiful boy. 17...amazing to think that in my head he is still that toddler with peanut paste all over his face, listening to the Wiggles and playing his toy guitar. A few feet have gone by since then.

Very grateful for my son...love him to bits

Day 30/365

Grateful today that my little puppy greets me as if I'm the best person in the world...every day

Day 29/365

Schools back tomorrow...yay Grateful that we survived the holidays without too many complaints about not doing anything special, home alone while we worked and no fancy holidays to look forward too. Thanks kids

Day 28/365

A day at home for the Australia Day public holiday....outside in fair brisbane town an ex tropical cyclone was making its way south, the rivers were rising and people were once again moving to higher ground and trying to salvage their belongings.

We were lucky, apart from a minor leak in the kitchen no damage, no fallen trees or power outages, Greg got soaked at work directing traffic around a fallen tree while people were filming while they were driving...glad he didn't get hit by a reckless driver.

School starts tomorrow for most of the kids, but mine start on Wednesday.

Grateful we missed the effects of the flooding, my positive thoughts go to those who need them.

Day 27/365

Mums birthday...a wet wet wet day grateful that mums ok...we're ok and Greg didn't have to work today.

Day 26/365

Australia Day today and we got to spend it with some great mates. If you don't get to see your friends everyday, it's good to have days like this where you can get together and re connect.

#365grateful for lovely friends

Day 25/365

Very grateful I had a chauffeur today, my neck is a little sore and Nate did all my driving today. He is very eager to get his hours up and he is driving really really well.

Glad my boy is growing up to be a lovely young man.

Day 24/365

It's raining yay!!! That's always worth being grateful for!

Day 23/365

I started my job sharing role today at work. I feel a little strange giving up my job to someone else for half of the week...although it would be impossible to work 8:30 to 5 Monday to Friday , I actually really enjoyed doing it for these last two weeks because I felt I had a real handle of what was happening. I enjoy being useful and doing a good job and I really felt like I was achieving that.

Today I helped train my partner at reception, Tanya. I have been typing up procedures for a few months now and I think they will come in handy, I certainly wish I had them when I started. My boss even texted me tonight and said thanks, that was the highlight of my day, as I don't get thanked much at work and it certainly helps a lot.

Grateful that I was appreciated today and that I have more time with my family.

Day 22/365

I came home today to find a surprise visitor in the house my Mum got talked into staying the night. She had come up to take the kids for lunch and in the meantime Greg had talked her into staying the night and he had also made dinner.

Grateful that my wonderful husband thinks of other people and loves my mum to do lovely things for her.

Day 21/365

I'm watching Modern Family tonight, they were off to Disneyland...it bought back such lovely memories of this time last year when we had our holidays in the USA

I'm grateful we had that holiday together and I'm grateful that little things that trigger those memories, and keep a smile on my face.

Day20/365

Today our good friends Ian and Donna got their wish...a little puppy to make their family complete...for the moment.

I was chuffed and pleased for them as they decided to get a cocker spaniel...a black one because they like Bo so much.

I hope they will be pleased with Baptista (Bapi) and be as thankful for him as we are for our Bubba.

Grateful today that we have a puppy who inspires families to adopt a dog of their own.

Day 19/365

Another day of grateful for Bo insisting on a walk, this time I thought I would bring my new camera, to take notice of the things around me and be grateful I took the time to notice the little things in life.

Day 18/365

I'd already worked out that today I was not going to cook, I'd warned Greg, doesn't mean that I want take away it just means I was not going to cook.

It was a leftover, what ever in the freezer, tinned spaghetti dinner and I loved it.

Grateful I didn't have to cook dinner tonight and no ones complained about it.

Day 17/365

Today has been a tough day to find something to be grateful for...it was a rotten day at work with all of the complaints coming through me on the one day.

So I will count my blessings and list just a few of the things I am grateful for on a daily basis

In no particular order....

I am grateful for my lovely husband
I am grateful for my beautiful children
I am grateful for my mum and poppy...they made us who we have become
I am grateful for my puppy and the unconditional love of a wagging tail
I am grateful for a beautiful house
I am grateful for a smile
I am grateful for a healthy body
I am grateful for my wonderful sister ( you know which one)
I am grateful for my life
I am grateful for my job
I am grateful for my friends
I am grateful for so many things

And after that exercise I am smiling and the bad day has been left behind !

Day 16/365

I was a work today, I have two weeks full time before my job share partner starts. I like work I find great satisfaction in doing a good job, and when I have clients say thank you when I pass on something that they have asked for. Of course there are people who are never happy and there are people that don't appreciate the extra yards I put in, but I don't do it for them I do it for me.

I am grateful today that I have a glimpse of the outside when I'm at work. I get to see the trees bend in the wind, the clouds bring the rain and I get to greet people with a smile when they enter my area.

Day 15/365

I had to give my beautiful puppy a brush today...he had knots everywhere and his ears were full of twigs! He hates getting brushed, he is such a whimp, he tries to run away and yelps trying to gain sympathy from everyone, where by I am the only one who will brush him because everyone else is afraid of being mean.

Afterwards though he still loves me, he looks at me with love in his eyes still and he is my puppy.so even after using all of these instruments of torture my puppy still loves me and for that I am grateful.

Day 14/365

Oh I'm grateful for my bed tonight. When I get home from work I don't sit down until dinners eaten and cleaned up...then I just feel like collapsing ...so tonight I'm grateful I have a wonderful bed to fall into. Ahhhhh

Day 13/365

It's hot hot hot here in Brisbane...and today I'm glad we have air conditioning, so much I even hung my clothes up inside so I didn't have to go outside In the heat. It's also lovely to have a couch potato day and catch up on my iPad viewing...gotta love themed cons

Day 12/365

Ooh nearly didn't make today's grateful blog in time...just got home from a fantastic night with our friends Ian and Donna, after a morning starting with Breakfast with wonderful girlfriends Ange, Alison and Sharon...so today I'm grateful that I got to start and finish the day with wonderful friends.

Day 11/365

What else is there to be grateful for on a Friday but that it's FRIDAY...Friday night movie , packet of chips and enjoying the fact that there is no work tomorrow

Day 10/365

Today I'm grateful I've gotten back into my craft cupboard and its Pinterest that has inspired me. I walk around the cheap shops wondering what cheap thing I can buy that I can either a) glue to something or b) spray paint white . I've also started to keep toilet rolls and look around the house for old books to make flowers from. Love to work the creative side of my brain and I'm grateful I can give it a workout again.

Day 9/365

I worked out fairly early today what I was going to be grateful for today...and I'll probably be grateful for this one again...that I married Gregy.

Dealing with technicians and men on the phone I just super duper grateful I married a respectful, funny, caring, man of his word.

Marriage is a work in progress and we are definitely not the people we were when we got married all those years ago...we work hard at it, we accept each other...flaws and all, sometimes we disagree with each other, but we always respect each other and love each other.

Thank you Gregy, I'm grateful I had the good sense to go out with you all those years ago.

Day 8/365

Today I found the decision easy...our beautiful puppy Bo always likes to go for a walk in the afternoon...it's summer at the moment so when it's get to about 6pm Bo starts to get restless and starts licking us or sits right on top of us, we ask him " what do you want?" And he talks to us...we say the magic word "walk" and he almost jumps out of his skin with glee. It's great because it really gives me the motivation to take him...and luckily Greg comes too because I get a sore back trying to hold him back from the sled he thinks he is pulling.

We head off on our walk and I know that's what my photo will be of today...already I'm grateful.

We take a different route today and we see a few friends along the way, always nice to have a chat and catch up. As we are heading home we see a taxi with a two ladies giving each other a farewell hug and as one gets into the taxi the other looks heartbroken, as I walk past I say " I feel like giving you a hug, she turns to me with tears in her eyes and gives me a huge hug" oh you look like you needed that I say as I walk off...I don't know who was more pleased ...me or the lady who must be thinking the strange lady showed me that people care.

My family think I'm crazy and far to outspoken to be allowed out in public...but it made me feel so good and I'm sure it helped the lady who lives down the street too.

Xxxx

Day 7/365

First day back at work today for the new year...these are the days that I think I will struggle deciding what to be grateful for without being complacent and trying to be a little creative...it's hard when you are at a desk for 9 hours...with a rush to get to work and a rush to get home again.

Today when I got home I knew exactly what I was grateful for though...I could smell it as soon as I drove into the garage...dinner was organized !!
I don't mind cooking dinner, in fact I quite enjoy it, even after a day at work, what I don't like doing and I find quite tedious is always deciding what to make for dinner, when that decision is made for me I really appreciate it, just as much as if dinner was made for me.

So thank you my darling husband ( my DH) I enjoyed coming home to a delicious smelling house ( the potato bake was done) enjoyed a cuppa and debrief , Bo enjoyed his nightly walk and the dinner decision was made.

Day 6/365

Today 6th January is my day's birthday...he is no longer with us, but he is with me everyday. I am so very grateful I had him as long as I did. I wrote on my FB wall today that my dad would be enjoying a birthday party organized my Benny Hill, happy birthday sang by Al Jolson and a cake baked by Julia Childs while regaining stories with Gilligan, the Captain and Mr & Mrs Howell...mum said " yes...he would have liked that" .

Here are some thoughts about my dad that I wrote just after he passed away...

Glennie.... Glad you are my dad, you taught me not to be a woman you can only get by with a man ...you taught me how to change a tyre...no way were you going to teach me how to drive that was for mum to do but if I was going to be driving I was going to know how to change a tyre and check the water levels in the radiator and even how to change a battery but you also paid for RACQ membership you wanted your girls to be strong but also to be safe.
You taught me how to use a screw driver and paint a fence and how to count screws while dealing with my anger.
You cleaned the lip prints off the glass sliding door while I was dating Greg and never let on...until our wedding when you let the wedding guests in on it too.
You amused Nat and Bella with your facial expressions and you were always at the ready to sing a little twinkle twinkle ...slowly I turn....or the good old favorite yarn of a bloke who got shot and it missed his heart by "this" much...
You were the only male in a female house...but you made sure you helped create strong girls that didn't have to rely on anyone...I didn't really realise this until a few weeks ago when a friend lost her Papa...but it made me think on what my dad gave me...he gave me Glennie a warm hearted , forgiving, funny and clever dad who taught me a lot without me realizing he was giving me life lessons that will go on ....I'll always be a little bit Glennie. xxxxxxx

I think I get my ability to not care if I am making a fool of myself to my dad...he was always quick to put on a face and ham it up...looking back at photos the other night was a joy because his personality jumped out of all of those photos and brought back that moment in time...I was also amazed at how many holidays we shared...how fantastic to want to go on holidays with your parents when you are married and have kids of your own

Botheration dash and tut

I loved it when he told me he liked hearing me sing...

He loved being a pa...and recently a great pa...although he always was a great pa

Thanks Dad...and thanks for teaching me how to ride a bike!

Day 5/365

I'm very grateful for my friends...I have a few true and dear friends, I think I will be grateful for them all at one point or another throughout the year today it is Helena's turn.

I met Helena when I started doing her hair when I worked at Randall's Hair & Beauty I think it was about 1992 ...I always thought of her as a fairy princess, golden curly locks surrounding a beautiful face that a smile was always at the ready...you can tell a persons measure by the smile in their eyes, and Helena's eyes were always smiling.

I shared my families ups and downs with Helena and she shared hers with me, when I left to have my babies I stopped doing Helena's hair and life got a little different for me...then perchance one day I saw Helena at Carindale she was going up the travelator and I was going down, we stopped exchanged phone numbers and I once again became Helena's hairdresser, but this time I was more than that, she became a dear friend, one who is there, who never judges me, who offers advise and who needs my advise just as much. A true gem of a person who deserves to have good things happen for her. I'm so grateful that I can call Helena a friend.

Day 4/365

For some reason beyond my control...and I have checked all of my settings , blogger thinks I am a day behind...it is really Friday 4th Jan 8:44pm...but back to the real reason why I am here

Today I have a few things to be grateful for but they all have a common denominator...Bella

I am grateful that she has two beautiful friends that she loves to bits and they all support and care for each other, they organized a day out ice skating, and I got to get stuck in and rearrange her room and clear out years with of rubbish that she somehow thought was treasure...for an uninterrupted day of junk tossing I was grateful...then as the girls are having a sleepover she was not able to have a tantrum because her room was rearranged..big plus on that one to be grateful for!

And to finish the afternoon a swim and photo op at the Stringfellows then take away for dinner...I'm grateful I didn't have to cook after a day of cleaning, washing and tossing

And to top off the grateful train I get to watch movies with two of my boys..the hairy one...and Bo because the girls have commissioned the big TV...all in all a lot to be grateful for today. It's amazing that when you think about it all of these little things that you are grateful for, turn into a whole day of gratitude...this experiment , a whole four days so far, does make you appreciate all of the little things.

Day 3/365

I was lucky enough to be on holidays at the moment and able to have lunch with my mum and my daughter today...I'm grateful that I was able to do that.

It's so funny when we go out to lunch...mum really doesn't need to have a bog meal, and she knows that meals at the coffee club are big, so instead of actually eating the BLT she eats the side salad and chips and fills herself up then wraps the sandwich up to take home for dinner...love ya mum.

We were also very lucky that mum spoilt us by buying me some clothes and Bella was able to buy a ball bag and water bottle, mum wanted to do something for us because we are always doing things for her...so nice to be spoilt sometimes...thanks Mum

Was a lovely little outing and I'm very grateful that I have both my mum and Bella around to share some time with them.

Day 2/365

Today I'm grateful that Greg went to work...what! that doesn't sound nice, let me explain...

I'm grateful that Greg went to work, because I felt guilty that I was home doing nothing while he had to get up early for work so I cleaned the pantry out...why am I happy that I got to clean the pantry? For the feeling of accomplishment...because when you look in the cupboard you can actually see food, for that feeling of achieving something that has been nagging at you for awhile, and for good measure I cleaned the oven too!