I’m having a rough week. A could-have-been-so-much-worse-but-still-very-scary moment with the kiddlywinks has left me physically, mentally and emotionally drained.
I had grand plans for this, my final post of 2013. But.
I bought a gratitude journal in September. A little book in which I record three things I’m grateful for every day whenever I remember to.
So, to round out the year, I thought I’d simply share some of the things I’ve been grateful for since purchasing it.
People, things, appliances; it’s an eclectic mix. It’s nice to read back over it and realise how much there is to be grateful for. And how many more things I’ll come to be grateful for as we enter 2014.
Here they are, in no particular order:
- Cameron
- One-on-one time with Mitchell
- Sleepy cuddles with Ashleigh
- Sunshine
- Family
- Good books
- My coloured pens (a farewell present from a colleague when she finished work)
- Breastfeeding (specifically, not being able to forget to take food with us when we head out!)
- Washing machine repairers
- Chocolate
- Pink band-aids (and their ability to magically make ouchies disappear)
- Baby monitors
- Daylight savings (which I actually don’t like as a concept, but which got me three straight days of both kids sleeping until at least 6.00am)
- Stickers
- Writing
- Music
- Mums’ group (I really cannot imagine my parenthood journey without those amazing ladies and their children)
- Lavender (Ashleigh’s favourite bloom)
- Kind strangers
- Cousins
- Hand-me-downs
- Baking
- Raincoats, gumboots and umbrellas
- Puddles
- Public holidays
- Sleep
- Raspberries (of the blow-them-on-your-children’s-tummy variety)
- Friends
- Newborn cuddles
- Imagination
- Barbecues
- Christmas carols
- Washing machines
- Dishwashers
- Microwaves
- 25-words-or-fewer competitions
- Paramedics and nurses
- Long friendships
- Past friendships
- Blogging friendships
- Blogging
Thanks for joining me on the blogging journey this year, whether you’ve visited often, a few times, or are here for the first time.
I’m taking a bloggy break over the Christmas/New Year period, returning in January. May your Christmas and New Year be delightful, relaxing, exciting, all of the above or none of the above. May it be what you want and need it to be.
For me, that means a time for family. A time for hugs, cuddles, kisses and closeness. A time for laughter, joy and happiness.
And a time for sleep.
That’s my (abbreviated) grateful list. What were you grateful for in 2013?
Happy Christmas to you! Enjoy the break, see you on the flipside. Me, I’m grateful for the good stuff (of which there was plenty) and more grateful I survived the crappy stuff (of which there was also plenty) . I’m extremely grateful this year of the Snake is drawing to a close, and counting down the start of the Horse…
Thank you! I hope there is plenty more good stuff in store for you this year, and less of that crappy stuff you mention.
That’s quite a list! We are so very lucky in Australia to have a multitude of things to be grateful for—it’s kind of easy! I hope you have a FAB Christmas Em and plenty more to be grateful for next year! Kx
That’s it – even on days you can’t think of anything, days where it feels like all you’ve done are chores, you can be grateful for the appliances and tools that make those chores easier!
Love your list, Em! It’s nice to know that you have a lot of supportive people around you. It’s been so fun getting to know you better this year. Look forward to sharing more giggles and stories with you in 2014! x
Absolutely! Bring on 2014! Hope it gets better for you quickly x
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What a fabulous list! I love practising gratitude, what wonderful a way to find fresh perspective and realise everything really is okay.
Merry Chrissy and Happy New Year!
Thank you. It was really nice to read over them again. So much to be thankful for, all of the time.
What a wonderful list of gratefuls Em! Have a lovely Christmas and I look forward to seeing you back in 2014. x
Thanks Jodi! I hope you enjoyed Christmas too.
Merry Christmas Em! SO many things for which to be grateful this year, and it looks a lot like your list. Those tiny, funny little things that happen that just make life wonderful. x
Merry Christmas to you, too! Love your phrasing. That’s exactly how I feel.
I love this list, so many warm and fuzzies in there. If that picture is of the coloured pens you mentioned then I am in love with them also. Do you know where they’re from? Hope you had a nice break and are feeling recharged and ready to go x
Thanks! Yes, those are the pens. I’m not sure where they’re from – they were a gift – but they’re Staedtler pens. 20 in a roll-up case. Hope that helps!
I hope everything is ok after your scare…
What a great list to be thankful for! I am so thankful for breastfeeding, its so nice having food on demand when I forget!! And how awesome are Mums groups, seriously, I love mine too!
Have a great break!!! x Karen
Everything is okay, thank you for asking. I’m glad others love their mums’ groups – not everyone seems to hit the jackpot!