Thankful for........

Thankful For:

My husband, my kids

My brothers, their families.

My friends, their families.

My health, my home.

My simple life.

My pets.

My God

My childhood.

My gifts and talents.

My desire to try new things.

My willingness to live and let live.

My ability to let go.

This Thanksgiving is a tough one.  Robby and I are by ourselves and he is sick.

The past two Thanksgivings were so wonderful, spending it with my 

brothers, their families and my dad, that it makes this one 

so much more difficult.

Every year it seems the Holidays are a little less Holiday-ish than they

use to be.  

I guess this just happens as life goes on.

But, in spite of it all,

I have so many blessings in my life.

And since my mantra is now, 

Choose Happiness,

I will be happy today for the things I have,

the things I am thankful for.

This will be enough,

as it is much more than many people have.

I miss my mom and dad,

I miss talking to them 

and 

especially on the Holidays.

But I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving and remember to find something to be thankful for.

My New Year's Mantra

Today makes 2 months since daddy passed on.

Today, I came up with 2015's Mantra:

I CHOOSE HAPPINESS

This will be the last mantra I ever set for a New Year and I am starting it now.

There never needs to be another one.

This one covers it all.

With Happiness in my heart,

fear, sadness, anger, grief and guilt

have no room.

Happiness in my heart only makes room for 

LOVE.

Today was an awakening.

Nothing out of the ordinary,

just an understanding that came over me.

Another dream a few nights ago,

telling me again that they are okay,

and to please LIVE.

Live with Happiness.

Life is for the Living.

I spent some time outside today.

It was rainy, cloudy, dreary by anyone's standards.

But I sat down and the chickens came over to me,

my dog laid down next to me,

the birds darted and chirped around me.

All of the simple beauty of my life became so clear to me.

I couldn't help but smile and laugh.

I took this photo with my Ipod

and when I looked at it,

I saw it.

Pure Happiness.

Yes, life is good.

Life is for the living.

I am ALIVE.

And so, 

though I will never stop missing you both

and wishing you were physically with me.

I will move forward and live my life

the way you loved to see me live it.

Full of laughter, love, little adventures

and crazy ideas.

And I will know you are there,

watching, rolling your eyes, smiling and laughing.

Today and for now on

I CHOOSE HAPPINESS!