Day 13

Day 13: Today I am thankful for mornings.

              Mornings haven't always been my favorite time of day. I was always a "night owl" as a kid. I don't often get to wake up before the sun right now. Working nights has put the kibosh on that for most mornings. The feeling of the morning air is so crisp and refreshing. There is something so mind clearing about popping out of bed, grabbing a cup of coffee and spending the first hour of your summer morning watering, tending and enjoying the garden. Watching the sun as it begins to illuminate the yard is amazing.

    Most of the time I am a happy, peppy person in the morning. This has not always been the case, in fact only recently has this transformation come about. I can think of a few things in my life over the last few years that have changed my morning routine in the most wonderful way! My adorable and cuddly morning boys. I love waking up and seeing my love next to me, most of the time already awake. Then I look to the floor on my side of the bed, and my little baby dog is there, sometimes already awake sometimes I have to coax him out of his hole. Then we all lay in bed for a few minutes and cuddle. Its by far my most favorite time of day! Maybe I am growing up or just realizing the majesty of the world waking up.

Day 12

Day 12: Today I am thankful for kisses.

       I wish that kisses could be saved in a jar and the magical warm feeling they give my heart could be released and enjoyed all over again. There are all kinds of kisses, there are loving kisses, friendly kisses, hello and good by kisses. There are passionate kisses and baby kisses, eskimo and butterfly kisses, even comforting parenty kisses. My personal favorite is right on the top of my head from my man when he just cant seem to contain how much he loves me. A kiss can even seal a letter or be the first gift a man and wife give each other. Kisses are beautiful and one of the many things in life that is still fairly intimate and a meaningful exchange between two humans. Kisses are usually not given out to just anyone. Our families are pretty affectionate when we get together we always hug and kiss and tell each other how much we love the other. Guess when you loose as many members as we all have you try to keep the ones you have close.

     Life gets complicated and stressful. For me, life gets very overwhelming at times. I don't manage stress the best but all I need is for Adam to wrap me up in a hug, kiss my forehead and tell me its all going to be OK.  He loves to make me laugh with play kisses on my neck because he knows I am sooooo ticklish, we love to fish kiss and be silly with our kisses and someday I can not wait to have a mini Adam who gives me the sweetest fish kisses!

Day 11

Day 11: Today I am thankful for my precious little pooch

              Bucky can be well, a challenge to say the least. He can be down right mean actually. He will love you one minute and turn to bite you the next. He hasn't always had the easiest of lives but I am glad we are the house that gets to love him. He loves to lick the floors and is a constant at your feet in the kitchen. He loves to play and chase me around the house and playing is one of the first things he thinks about when he wakes up, besides outside and Bryan. He loves Bryan, some times I swear he thinks he is Bryan's dog. He is a great cuddler when he wants to be, but only likes to cuddle when he is sleeping or just waking up. He is a fickle and jealous bugger and I worry about how he will act when we have babies but we will cross that bridge when we get there. Until then I am just going to smother him with love. 

Day 10

Day 10: Today I am thankful for creativity.

              Creativity keeps me sane, well as sane as I can be. Most of the time my creativity is best expressed in writing. Usually I have so many thoughts going through my mind, but when I put a pen to paper I have a way of working through them all. I have kept many many journals since I was a pretty  young child including the 4 I have kept over the last 3 years I have been with Adam. My freshmen year I took creative writing and loved it. I wrote many poems and short stories at that time. I would love to take more, and hope to write at least one book. Cooking if nothing else! Writing helps me understand my thoughts better and is my spiritual creative outlet.

               My emotional outlet is definately singing! For the most part I am only brave enough to sing in my car or the kitchen with Adam. I used to be a lot more open about it, maybe its karaoke time. We love to sing and dance together. I have never sang so openly infront of anyone else, even infront of crowds. Singing for me has a total release that I am addicted to. Music as a whole is beautiful and mind blowing. I have to have music on no matter what I am doing or where I am. Even now I am listening to the Wicked soundtrack, and singing. My soul gets a strange weightlessness and I feel every breath as I inhale and all that I am holding on to gets let go and blown out with my exhale. I feel a change in viewpoint and uplifted after singing a song that I love as best and as passionately as I can. Singing can help me feel better about life and happier in general.

" And no body in all of oz, no wizard that there is or was is ever gonna bring me down"

Day 9

  Day 9: Today I am thankful for inspiring people.

            I am a truly blessed to have so many inspiring people in my life. My sweet, loving grandmothers. My kind, strong minded aunties. My endearing, funny uncles. My protective, close nit cousins, regardless of how long its been. My understanding friends who can talk me through anything. My thoughtful brothers and sister. My compassionate, patient, wise Mommies. My quick witted, insightful Dad.

             

Another person who has really inspired me in my life is Isabel Toro. She is a holistic counselor. I am so thankful for her, openness, hospitality, warmth, sharing of knowledge, guidance, kindness, love, and general care for me. She has taught me a lot about being calm and enjoying and being thankful for life. Has taught me to be objective and understand myself and life better. She is a truly in touch with the greater energy and has helped me to grow closer to it. She has opened her home to Adam and I and brought us through some hard times, and helped us find the tools to continue to get through them. I look forward to continuing my journey and growth with her. I think the biggest influence she has had on me is helping me realize my ultimate goal in life is to be a healer, to help people feel better in their lives.

Most of all my husband. He is such a hard working, selfless, dedicated, honest. I know that I will never have to worry about where he is or how he is with. I will never feel unloved or unappreciated, I never hear angry cruel words and he will never reinforce the message of my wounds. He is what makes me want to create and inspire another human life to have and live a life of all of these qualities. He makes it so easy to want to be the most amazing wife I can be and the best human I can be. He has inspired me to really look at what I and we want for our future, to grow up and figure out how to make what ever life throws at us work. His soul continues to impress and amaze me.

Day 8

Day 8: Today I am thankful for Nature.




             I am really at a loss for words when it comes to nature. Surprising I know! I am so awe struck by its graceful beauty that most of the time I can only stare with a smile on my face. Nature is my second favorite thing to photograph besides sunsets, and my third love in life after Adam and food. Adam and I love nature, one of our favorite places is Folsom lake. It is very close to our house and has great 4 wheeling spots and spots to just sit and enjoy the peace and quite of the view. In the spring time when all the lupine are blooming its like a sea of purple and I make Adam take me all the time to pick flowers. Flowers are my favorite part of nature. All kinds make me happy but a meadow of wild flowers is the best! Making bouquets is so fun and calming to me. I love to bring them to people for no reason and see how they light up. When I am in nature its so easy to let every thing else go and only connect with mother earth. I am trying to do this more so everyday. 

                                       http://vimeo.com/32001208

A.R.D. parking lot Auburn, Ca

Bucky at Folsom lake Granite Bay, Ca

Rattlesnake Bar Folsom lake Newcastle, Ca

Shandley Hill Auburn, Ca

Day 7

Day 7: Today I am thankful for tradition
      

        The holidays with my family are all about traditions. Certain people prepare certain dishes, certain days are hosted at certain peoples houses, and poker is played by 9 o'clock sharp! I just love them, and that my family takes the time to pass them on and instill in the next generation where we come from and how to stay connected. I plan to pass these traditions on to my children. Best of all is homemade pies. My Grandma Trish makes great apple pie and for my bridal shower gift she gave me the recipe and all the the tools/ingredients needed besides apples. So I thought what a great time to continue her tradition and get to use my fabulous gift! I am not going to share this recipe with you guys (sorry, some things gotta stay in the family) but I will include pictures.

Mary (my mother-in-law) makes a killer pumpkin pie so I am also continuing her tradition, at the request of my boys, and making pumpkin pie. 

 





   


                             Berry pie is my personal favorite
and I make a pretty mean one so I am also making one of those, you know just to keep our options open, HA! Or because I am selfish and want my favorite. While I love our combined family traditions I am excited for Adam and I to make some of our own with our family some day!