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Here it is, New Years Eve!  A lot has occurred since my last blog.........Many life changes including surgery.  I am grateful that the surgery went very well.  I was terrified of doing it having never had surgery before and this was a big one.  I am grateful that recovery is going well (slow but well).
I am grateful to my family and friends for being such a great support system and being there every step of the way......I couldn't have done it without them.
I am grateful for the little snippets of normalcy that I have been granted over the last two months as most days I wake up and know that everything is upside down right now. I trust in God and know that all will end up how it is suppose to and there are great things on the other side of this turmoil.  As with surgical healing, I have to be patient with the process.
I have a lot of time to think, recover, ponder and assess.......that is good and bad :-)
I know that if you have family and friends, good health, food, a safe environment, a roof over your head with a warm bed to sleep in.........you are one of the lucky ones and have much to be grateful for.....I know I do.

I wish you all the happiest of New Years and all the wonderful blessings life can bring you for a wonderfully enriched 2015!!!

A Warm Bed :-)

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I am grateful for the super pleasant, relaxing and peaceful lunch spot that happened upon me yesterday! I got to have the outside dining all to myself with a terrific view, breeze and yummy steamed veggies with great hospitality.  Thanks to Park Pantry

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I am grateful I got to meet and chat with an airman that served three tours in Iraq and was so pleasant and kind and puts the little things into perspective!

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How fast time flies. Things have been a little hectic.  I am grateful to get back to gratituding :) I am grateful we reached and surpassed our goal. I am grateful that I got to do some riding and ocean swimming over the weekend. I am grateful that I have some great peeps I work with and got to see them over the weekend :):):)

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I am grateful it is a new day :):):)

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I am grateful I got to go for an ocean swim with my sister :):);)

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I am grateful we got to spend some quality time together ;););)

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I am grateful that I figured out how to fix the cupboard door :););)

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I am grateful for the cooler temps :):):)

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I am grateful that my dog always puts things back in perspective :):):)

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I am grateful that I have my mom to talk to :):):)

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I am grateful we got to break away from the heat last night and get into some cool A/C, eat some yummy sushi and watch a little baseball :):):)

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I am grateful for my vision board :):):)

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I am grateful for access to air-conditioning  :):):)

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I am grateful we got to go for an awesome ride and swim to follow with the icing on the cake being 2014 Lobsterfest!!!! Lots of fun, great exercise, music (Teri Nunn/Berlin) combined with delicious Lobster :):):)

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I am grateful that I got to spend some quality time with my BFF last night :):):)

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I am grateful for these cute, little, vivacious hummingbirds that fly outside my window with am greetings :):):)

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I am grateful for the first new bloom on the Orchid :):);)

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I am grateful for a little coffee in the am and a quick game of "Sling Duck" with the dog :)

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I am grateful I got to carve out some early am time to go for a ride :):):) Wow! What a difference the new seat makes.....it brought back the joy to riding! That is twice now that I have gone for a ride and didn't have to adjust once or even stop for that matter. Should have gotten it a year ago instead of torturing myself and my lady parts. If you ride, check out the "Selle Italia Diva Gel"(on sale at www.Doggslife.com under Triathlon Essentials)  WELL WORTH THE INVESTMENT!

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I am grateful that I am posting gratitudes again. I am also grateful I got to stop and smell the plumeria today :):):)

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I am grateful I got to go swimming with the girls and for a dinner night at home with husband :-) ;-) ;-)

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I am grateful that despite life's little BS's, I know how lucky I/We are :):):)

Put it all in the rearview and look ahead 

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I am grateful for slingshot dog toys ....... We got our pup sling duck and she loves it!  That duck flys through the air like no ones business.  It is great for lazy dog owners or maybe ones that don't have the same energy as their canine.....you can sit in one place and just keep launching it (well, that is of course if the dog brings it back to you)

Look under "Doggslife for your canine companion" www.doggslife.com

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I am grateful for the internet site I found on how to make my vitamix container look new again :):);)  Works like a charm:

How to Make Your Vitamix Look New Again | The Vedge

thevedge.org/2013/05/how-to-make-your-vitamix-look-new-again/

‎

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I am grateful for this beautifully cool morning :-)

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I am in disbelief that it has been since June that I have posted.  The time just keeps rolling by.  Last week I had made a note to myself in the morning to start posting again. I guess I started slacking as I thought, no one is probably reading it anyway......the truth is, I write these for me, if anyone else reads, that is just a bonus!
I did a triathlon a couple weeks ago and was truly in awe when I saw a women in a wheel chair with no use of her legs also participating. To get in the ocean and swim is hard enough with all of ones abilities. Two people helped place her in the ocean for the swim, I was in awe. I couldn't help but think of her the entire race and smile at her incredible strength, courage and resolve.  I don't know this woman, I didn't even get to speak to her but I am grateful for her.
I went to a meeting the following Friday (the morning that I thought I needed to start posting again).  One of the lectures was on the power of gratitude.......what are the chances?
Per Dr. Steven Richeimer, here are three ways to express Gratitude
- Write a Gratitude Letter
- Keep a Gratitude Journal
- At the end of each day, express three things that went well and why


I am grateful we got to spend quality time with Irene while she was here and enjoy this beautiful night:-):

Evening across from "The Queen"

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I am grateful we are celebrating our 9 years of wedded bliss :):):) My husband is even more handsome, smart and funny than the day we met and he always keeps me entertained:):):)

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I am grateful for a wonderful trip last weekend with my girls to spectacular Willamette Valley. Great food, fun, peeps and scenery!!!!

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I am grateful I got to sleep in, go run, clean up, walk the dog and do some reading all before 11:30 :):):)

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I am grateful for the cute kids I met at the pool yesterday for reminding me of what life is like through children's eyes (fun, fascinating and full of adventure) :):):)

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I am grateful it is Saturday and I got to sleep in until 8am :):):)

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I am grateful for family time :):):)

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I am grateful for peaceful days in the beautiful Central Coast :):):)

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I am grateful when people share what they value about each other and don't wait till its too late :):):)

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I am grateful my husband brought home dinner :):):)

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I am grateful when you can live in the moment :):):)

Put it all in the Rearview Mirror

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I am grateful for beautiful days :):):)

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I am grateful for water - let's make sure we all do what we can to conserve it :):):)

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 I am grateful for brave people.....they are inspirational, often everyday peeps who face challenges, adversity and injustice valiantly.  Look for the brave peeps in your life and be inspired :):):)

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I am grateful for the glorious shade provided by trees :):):)

Harmony

     

Banyan Tree Oahu

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I have been very remiss in posting my gratitudes ;( it is not that I am not grateful, it is more that my commitment to posting gets deterred by all of life's goings ons or sheer lack of energy.  Today I will post my gratitude for photography and other creative outlets that always seem to center me and reinvigorate my sense of purpose and well being :):):)

Nevada View from the Sky

When the Cows Come Home

Turtle Beach Sunset

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I am grateful for forgiveness:)

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I am grateful for the seemingly now rare times my heart beats normally and my lungs have normal function :):):)

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I am grateful that we got to have a great b day celebration last night for my husband;););)

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I am grateful for my lunch appointment today ;););) We very well may get the opportunity to change more lives for the better.

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I am grateful when I can tune out the distractions and concentrate on the moment :):):)

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I am grateful it is Easter :):):)

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I am grateful for goal setting :):):) signing up for Santa Barbara Tri!

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I am grateful for Canine Retreat Dog Daycare ;););)

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I am grateful that after a tedious day we went to have a wonderful dinner at Neil's. Yummy Italian food. Pasta with Shrimp and Spicy sauce and Lobster Stuffed Ravioli -- Yum! Great way to celebrate the end of tax day. We are also very grateful that our friend that was critically injured last year at the Boston Marathon has had a miraculous recovery.  It is hard to believe it was a year ago that my gratitude was that we did not get hurt when we were there -- it seems so long ago yet we remember it like it was yesterday. We are grateful that this year was a celebration and not a tragedy.

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I am grateful that our dog is feeling so much better :):):)  I am grateful that she had her collar on when she ran off the other night, that our neighbor found her and that our other neighbors helped us find her :):):)

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I am grateful that my husband had the house all clean and groceries bought when I came home from my business trip :):):)

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If you are following, you have seen that there have not been posts for three weeks :(   A lot has been going on and I was having a very hard time finding my gratitude, let alone posting it.
Friday night, I think I hit bottom of my state of sadness, confusion and general sense of frustration with the way things had been going.  I woke up at 3 am and prayed to get back to a state of gratitude and for God to guide me in the path that he thinks is best for me while here.
He knows that I know I have so much to be grateful for everyday; and that I know I am so fortunate to have the people, opportunities, a roof over my head, utilities, etc.-- which actually makes me feel worse when I feel so down as I know I have nothing to complain about.
That being said, when I finally went back to sleep at around 5am, I woke up at 6am and for the first time in weeks, I had a sense of peace.  Nothing had changed with my circumstances that were making me at such unrest, yet I was peaceful.

I am so very grateful to God to have that sense of calm inside of me.  I know that I can do so much more for everyone else when I am of a calm, centered, peaceful at heart -- for that, I am grateful.

If you are following and would like to share, please let us know what you are grateful for :):):)

Calming Hills Northern CA

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I am grateful for the little bird that I got to watch drink out of the fountain :):):)

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I am grateful I successfully fixed the sprinklers so they no longer spray all over the car :):):)

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I am grateful I got to walk my dog last night :):):)

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I am grateful for my new trail running shoes - I took almost two minutes off my time. They are comfy, with great surface area and support so you can run like the wind! Doggslife.com under triathlon essentials :):):)

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I am grateful for cold calling ;););)

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I am grateful that my iPad is working again :):):)

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I am grateful that I get today off :), sort of :):):)

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I am grateful we had a great dinner with our friends last night :):):)

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I am grateful they make healthy dog food :):);)

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I am grateful for wifi ;););)

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I am grateful for a full nights sleep! What a difference :):):)

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I am grateful I got to see this baby hummingbird :):):)

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I am grateful for this :):):)

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I am grateful for the country air;););)

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I am grateful that I have access to excellent healthcare :):):)

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I am grateful for the beautiful sunshine :):):)

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I am grateful that my husband had a great day!

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I am grateful for the calm silence of the early am :):):)

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I am grateful I found my keys:):):)

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I am grateful for the little bird who sat on the fence and sang to us :):):)

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I am grateful I got my admin stuff done:):):)

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I am grateful for the rain :):):)

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I am grateful that I was able to help people today :):):)

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I am grateful that my mom is happy and healthy ;););)

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I am grateful for a good nights sleep :):):)

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I am grateful for nice teeth :):):)

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I am grateful for this quiet morning :):):)

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I am grateful that we were able bodied to do Race on the Base Reverse Trialathon :):):)

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 I am grateful that today is Friday :););)

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I am grateful that all went very well today and everyone was taken care of :):);)

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I am grateful I followed the critical path today :):):)

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I am grateful for a better day:):)

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I am grateful that my friend made me laugh today :):):)

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I am grateful we got to go for a 20 mile ride today ;););)

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I am grateful I had all the ingredients to make yummy cannelli bean soup ;););)

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I am grateful that I had a wonderful Valentine's Day:):):)

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I am grateful that even though I was tired tonight, I went swimming anyway :):):)

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I am grateful today is hump day ;););)

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I am grateful for a successfully planned and executed day :):):)

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I am grateful that I got some serious quality me time this weekend and got a ton of stuff done :):):)

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I am grateful for funny things, people and circumstances :):):)

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I am grateful I have the whole day cleared to go through the closets and find great stuff to give to the Salvation Army :):):)

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I am grateful I am finally getting caught up after being out of town so much :):):)

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I am grateful to God for a peaceful heart :):):)

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I am grateful I was finally able to get my hair done tonight :):):) The dark roots were really adding up!

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I am grateful we got to watch a movie tonight :):):) The movie was "Rush"...... It was great!

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I am grateful that all of the gang was able to get together yesterday :):):)

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I am grateful that we made it home in time to pick up our dog and that I am finished up with the trip circut for awhile :):);)

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I am grateful I got to see and spend time with so many of my fantastic cutomers :););)

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I am grateful for this great view from my hotel :););)

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I am so very grateful that we are not going to be moving afterall :):):)

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I am grateful I am going to bed

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I am grateful that we got the hot tub fixed ;););)

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I am grateful that a very complicated case today went very well, the outcome was a great one and my new boss had my back :):):)

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I am grateful I was able to get an earlier flight and will get in at 8pm instead of 1 am :):):)

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I am grateful I finally got to go to sleep ;););)

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I am grateful that we learned some cool stuff today ;););)

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I am grateful that my BFF and I got to spend some quality time together :):):)

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I am grateful I got to swim tonight. I had the whole pool to myself and didn't miss a beat even though I hadn't been for any long swims for at least two weeks ........I even started to breathe bi-laterally :):):)

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I am grateful that I was reunited with my pup :):):)

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I am grateful to be home sweet home ..... Even if it is only for a short while :):):)

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I am grateful for this :

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I am grateful we got to get massages today and I got bonus video from my sis of the dog playing in the backyard. :):):)

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I am grateful that my heart did not feel like it was going to explode this am when I went running :):):)

Note to self * no coffee and run while cool

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I am grateful for beautiful views :):):)

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I am grateful that my gigantic "to do list" got done ;););)

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I am grateful that we are open to life's opportunities :):):)

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I am grateful I still have enough energy to do the dishes ;):):)

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I am grateful that today we get to relax a little bit, read the paper and hopefully go for a fun workout somewhere :):);)

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I am  grateful that our garage went from this

to this :):):)

The garage sale went great. Met a lot of terrific people that will enjoy their new stuff.

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I am grateful I happened to see my.neighbor today :):):) I haven't seen her forever and she is having a garage sale tomorrow so we are going to join in......should be great fun:):):)

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I am grateful that I was able to rearrange my schedule to help out yesterday -- we had an awesome outcome and I was still able to swing all my other commitments :););)

Bonus Pic of Paris to show my Gratitude :)

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I am grateful for coffee :););)

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I am grateful that I got to have a long, meaningful, uninterrupted phone call with both my Mother and Sister (there were a few tedious interruptions on this call:().
Loved ones are so important and I am lucky to have some great ones :):):)

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I am grateful that I was able to see some wonderful customers today post holiday and catch up :):):)

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I am grateful I got to celebrate baby Islas's birthday número UNO and see some great friends :):):)

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Take to the Safe Center 

I am so grateful we started to make a dent in our operation "get rid of" ..... Reduce, reuse, de-cumulate, give to someone that can do more with it;););).
Every year we accumulate more stuff, more stress and more of a footprint on this tiny universe of ours.

Today we made a commitment and followed through to start parting of our stuff to the appropriate place .......and we washed the dog:):):)

Shreddings and Recyclables

Donate, Sell or Giveaways :)

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I am grateful when God walks me through the anxieties, challenges and overwhelmed feelings that can come with life. We have so many blessings to be grateful for and when we let the "to do list" overcome us we can have a hard time enjoying all the wonders of the day and helping others do the same.

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I am grateful for this time of year when just for a few moments (if you are lucky, hours) things, people and expectations slow down.  People stop and reflect on the years achievements, setbacks and overall summation of where they have been and where they want to go for the next year.
It is an ominous thought as to all we have on our plate at times so when we get to take a step back and stop and breath I am grateful for that :):):)

 1st Sunset 1/1/2014

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I am grateful that on this News Years Day 2014 I incorporated two of the lessons from the Los Angeles Environmental Learning Center (ELC).
I filled the sink up with the the soapy water to do the dishes and I brought my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store to buy my green drink ingredients;););)