Day 3 of the Gratitude Challenge

Today I must think of one thing I am thankful for in my life. Today I am going to say I am truly thankful for my dogs. To a lot of people dogs are just pets but to me my dogs are my family. So, "thank you" Doc and Izie for all the love and happiness you bring to my life!


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Day 2 - A-Z List of Thiings I'm Thankful For

Today's assignment of the Gratitude Challenge was to make a list of things A-Z that I am thankful for. My list is below...

A - Apple's iphone
B - Bible
C - Chapstick
D - Doc. Doc is my oldest dog and has been there for me through so much. I am thankful for what he has done for my life. Yes, I reallize he's just a dog but to me he's more!
E - Equal Rights
F - Friends and Family. They are both amazing and mean the world to me.
G - God and Grapes
H - Hugs. Especially the hugs on those bad days when that's just what you need!
I - Izabelle aka Izie my adorable, sweet Scottie dog. She's the best cuddle partner.
J - Jana Ja and Jennifer Aniston(aka Melissa) the best bestfriend's a girl could ask for!
K - Kisses! Izie gives some good ones too!
L - Lake Taho
M - Music
N - Niece, Adrianne and Nephews, Jacob and Franklin Riley
O - Open minds
P - Power of Prayer
Q - Queso....I love me some queso!
R - Roses. Sometimes you gotta just stop and take a smell!
S - Siblings. All 5 of them: Tamara, Jaclyn, Ashley, Jacob and Hannah
T - Technology. Like Kip sang, "I love technology!"
U - Umbrellas
V- Vacations
W - Wine
X - X-Ray machines
Y - Yogurt
Z - Zac. Zac has taught me a lot about love, life and happiness.

This isn't an "all inclusive" list but just a few A-Z things I am sincerly grateful for!

Day 1 of the gratitiude challenge

Ok, it's day 1 of the challenge and today the calendar says...
"Today you start The Gratitude Challenge. Sign the contract and make a commitment to take note and give thanks for the next 21 days. Express why you accepted this challenge and what you hope to achieve from it. "

So, consider the contract signed and let the challenge commence! I accepted this challenge because I think a lot of times I am too selfish. Yes, I typed that and I admitted it. I am facing this challenge face on to put my selfishness to the side and work on saying thanks for all those things in my life that I may not express enough gratitude for. By doing this challenge in conjunction with my blog, I am openly commiting to this and have all of you to hold me accountable. So, thank you readers for that and thank you in advance for this 21 day journey i am about to embark upon.

I started today by visiting a church. It was ok, but no Water's Edge. I will continue my quest next weekend. I only have four more days with my nephew here and it's so bittersweet. We are going to visit my sister next weekend to take Jacob home AND meed baby Franklin Riley. I am so excited. I am also hopeful that this week will bring something good in the way of employment. I do have an interview tomorrow. It's a start.

Oh and I just wanted to say a couple things based on comments from my last post.
Christina-miss you and love you too!
Greta- Amen to the Teen Mom thing. It has gotten out of hand and I don't know if MTV is being helpful or harmful on the situation. Should we make these girls "celebrities"? Is it doing any good?
Tara- You are sooooo lucky! You should have been like, "my friend dianne is a huge fan. you know her she's one of you million followers on twitter." JK

The Gratitude Challenge

I received an email today from my friend Tara. One of her friends was getting a group together to do a Gratitude Challenge. It's a 21-day challenge created to help you take note of the brighter side of life. You pretty much follow calendar that helps you explore a "topic" and name something you are thankful for. I will be using the topics from the challenge for my blog topics. So, if you read my blog and wondering what is going on...you now know!

With this challenge, I am inviting all of you to do it with me! Check out the website  for more information. We all have things to be thankful for and sometimes we just need to take the time to be reminded of them! Who's in?

D

Top Ten Tuesday

Well, HELLO folks. Happy Tuesday! Today was my first day that I was not a "babysitter" so I actually got to get out and about a bit. Today I applied for two positions I heard about and I am crossing my fingers for something good. One of the jobs I want really, really, REALLY bad so I'm praying for the opportunity. I think it would be close to a "dream" job for me. Here's to hope!!! Ok, so I have to share one picture of my nephew. Isn't he adorable in his spiderman muscle shirt???? He's "cheesing" with his cousins(my dogs Izie and Doc). I will say the picture is just a front. To be honest, Doc is not a fan of Jacob. Jacob messes with him non-stop and well Doc is old and crumpy. The funny part, is Jacob still messes with him! It's like he doesn't learn. UGH it's totally frustrating. Anyways on to the normal Tuesday topic, the Top Ten List.
This week's list is just a fun list dedicated to...

Top Ten Shows I Enjoy These Days... 

(In no praticular order)

10. American Idol - Still think they should have sent my sister Ashley (she tried out in Dallas) through but their loss!
9. Brothers and Sisters - Just really like this show! They really are all about family.
8. The Singing Bee - I need to be on this show! Anyone know how I make this happen?
7. Keeping Up With the Kardashians - The girls are beautiful and their drama is pretty hilarious.
6. The Good Wife - Great stories and Juiliana M. is amazing in this role.
5. 16 and Pregnant/Teen Mom - My mom had me at 16 so this show really appeals to me. I think more teenagers need to watch the show to realize life isn't easy with a kid AND it's not easy on the kid!
4. Life Unexpected - Love the story line. Still trying to figure out how two brown-haired, brown-eyed people are supposed to have made a blonde hair, blue eyes girl? Anyways, it's cute.
3. The Biggest Loser - Best motivation around!
2. The Bachelor - Ok, I know the seasons are getting more and more "corny" but its like a bad car accident, you can't help but watch.
1.  The Mentalist - This show is GENIUS! It's addicting and one of the best shows around!

These are just a few of my picks. Any recommendations for one not on here?

The Past Two Weeks...

Some would think that since I have been unemployed the past two weeks that I would have relaxed a little and caught up on some R&R. Well, this past two weeks have been nothing of the sort! I have been babysitting my nephew who is coming into the terrible two's a few months too soon. WOW, kids are a lot of work! Don't get me wrong I love, love, LOVE my nephew and LOVE getting to spend this time with him, but WOW he's a lot of work! The weather here in Lubbock has been cold and snowy which has left us confined indoors which means a lot of Barney and Hip Hop Harry to help pass the time. We tried coloring and well, a pair of pants now have some goregous stripes thanks to Jacob. I knew they needed that little something extra. At times this babysitting venture has made me re-think the possibility of ever having children but when Jacob smiles and does his little booty poppin to Hip Hip Harry, it makes me think I can do this.
The job search is coming along. I've tried to apply to atleast one job a day and next week when I will not be babysitting as much, I will focus on it more. I want a job that's fun, rewarding and somewhere I can put my outgoing personality to use. I know God has a plan so I will just remain to be patient. I am excited that I am officially a Texan again! Cheaper car insurance is one of the great perks!
Hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! I will be waking up to begin visiting churches in the area to find a new church home. I miss Water's Edge. It was one of my favorite things about Lake Charles. Hopefully I will find something equally as great here in the L-B-K!

Top Ten Tuesday

Good morning all! I'm still super sick and I thought i could fight it off on my own but that doesn't look to be the case. So, this afternoon I will be making a trip to Urgent Care for some medical advice. I can't wait to feel better! This week's Top Ten is a request from my mom. She wanted me to do a Top Ten about her so here it is...
Top Ten Reasons My Mom Rocks
10. She gave me 2 awesome sisters who in turn gave me the cutest nephews and niece ever!
9. She still makes me grilled cheeses when I don't feel good.
8. She gave the world the MOMMY DANCE! A club favorite!
7. She makes the best meat patties and fried potatos in the world!
6. She almost always answers the phone when I call
5. She is random like me
4. She doesn't judge and let's me make my own decisions
3. She's open minded
2. She is a horrible singer but still belts it like she doesn't care
1. Because she's a GREAT friend.

Enjoy Mom! Love you!