Gratitude Challenge 4

This post is inspired by the many Gratitude Challenges that have been popping up in my Facebook friends feeds. My sister Mary Jane took the Gratitude Challenge a while back, she asked me to take it as well. As I’m typing now, I am remembering that another sister asked me to do the same thing when she did on Facebook as well. Keri Wicklund posted a Gratitude Challenge before MJ and she tagged me, so this is for both of my sisters…one who shares the same blood, and one who became my sister in college more than 20 years ago. (OMG. 20 YEARS!)

I have had a restful weekend.

And I am thankful for that. 

I have been feeling a bit like a chicken without a head. There are some big changes coming down the pipeline for my family, and while I know we can handle the changes, at times the thought of what lies ahead can still be overwhelming. 

 

 

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Milk Chocolate Kit Kat and Tres Leches cupcakes from @larcyscupcakery His and Hers. Secret: I can eat two Tres Leches cupcakes in one sitting. @gia_jado Can you please learn how to make this cake already?

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I spent much of Saturday running errands with Nino and fixing things that needed to be addressed. It was like I was able to check off quite a few items from my “To Do” list and that feels just plain awesome. Aside from accomplishing lots of little things that needed to be done, I was able to get to bed early. I had a massage. I ate cupcakes. The kids (er, my elves…) made felt ornaments while I caught up on some more writing in my office. 

 

 

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So, I had three big kids (er three little elves) in my office yesterday, asking why we are sewing Christmas trees together when we didn’t even celebrate Halloween yet…

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It’s funny, but when Mercury Retrograde comes around (it comes around 4x a year) I find myself naturally drawn to staying home and doing lots of “home-y” things. I organize, I clean, I collate, I file, I purge. It’s a good time to cocoon. It’s a good time to be still.

Which leads me to the next thing I am thankful for. I am thankful for all the holidays and activities that lead up to Christmas! This is my most favorite time of year. Here in the Philippines they mark September as the beginning of Christmas. The Christmas decorations come out early, the carols are played in the malls, and the lists are made as early as September to start your Christmas shopping. I LOVE to be prepared! I love to make lists and prepare gifts for people who are special to me that I know they will enjoy. I try to think of gifts with meaning, gifts that are useful, and gifts that my friends and family know I picked out just for them. 

BUT as I said in an earlier post about the upcoming activities for The Mind Museum I also like the holidays that lead up to December. I love Halloween. I look forward to Thanksgiving. This whole time of year really kicks off a season of GRATITUDE. 

I am grateful for everything this time of year encompasses:

• a time to slow down
• a time to be grateful
• HALLOWEEN and candy and dressing up
• Thanksgiving and pumpkin pies and BIG gatherings for family and friends
• the time to prepare for Baby Jesus’ birth…Christmas is just around the corner

If you would like to read my other posts about things that I’m grateful for check out my first, second, and third posts from last week.

Here is a photo stream put together from different Halloween Celebrations from the past few years. What is something you are grateful for at this time of year?