Over the past couple of years I've been working on establishing a new tradition of creating a gratitude list on my birthday for every year that I've completed. It has proven to be a fun way to reflect on the year and focus on all the good things in my life. Here's this year's list in no particular order:
1. All of the friends and family who reached out to wish me a Happy Birthday. You don't make it through 52 years of life without meeting amazing people along the way. I'm so very grateful for all of "my" people.
2. My robe - I bought my robe for $12 when I was pregnant with Becca (who just turned 21 in January). I wasn't much of a robe wearer until a couple of years ago, so mine has been mostly unused for about 19 of those 21 years. I suppose the relatively new use of my robe is indicative of the changes in my life in the past couple of years; namely, being an empty nester. As a mom, I hit the ground running almost every day. That meant getting up and getting dressed before all of the day's crazy began. Now most of my mornings are more leisurely. I put on my robe, feed the dog, and eat breakfast while I listen to my favorite podcast. And then, a good hour into my day, I get dressed. The robe is not only comfy and warm, but it reminds me of the fullness of days past, and the joy of being able to take life at a slower pace now.
3. Blackout curtains - Living in Alaska and North Dakota has given me an appreciation for black out curtains.
4. Deodorant - The world would be so stinky without it.
5. Extended family - I always appreciate opportunities to connect with my extended family. Recently, with my dad's death, I was able to see many aunts, uncles and cousins that I don't often get to see. It was truly a silver lining in an otherwise somber occasion.
6. Showers - Baths have their place. Soaking and relaxing in a tub is something I can appreciate. But for day to day convenience, showers are better.
7. Photos - Between my mom's 80th birthday celebration last February and my dad's death in January, I've looked through a lot of old photos. They are priceless to me.
8. Airbnb - Being able to stay in a home with multiple rooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen where I can prepare meals on the cheap has made travel so much more enjoyable. It's seriously brilliant!
9. My treadmill with iFit - It's truly one of the best purchases we've made. While I'm far from the picture of fitness, the iFit trainers keep me coming back for more week after week, and I don't have to worry about the weather or how I look.
10. Sunday evening Facetime with my kids - It's a highlight of every week.
11. iTunes - For this girl who grew up in the 70's and 80's making mixed tapes off the radio, having pretty much every song ever recorded at the touch of a finger is nothing short of miraculous!
12. Church responsibilities - Over the years I've been called upon to serve in many ways, and those opportunities always teach me new things help me become a better person. Currently I work with the children at church, and they are so fun!
13. Diet Mt. Dew
14. Brownies
15. The "Sistas on the Loose" trip that I took with my sister in October - I've always wondered if Jill and I could talk for pretty much a week straight. Turns out, we can.
16. Pedicures
17. Kleenex - especially the super soft lotion-y kind.
18. My dog, Colt - Having a pet isn't always convenient, but he gives me a reason to get out of bed at a reasonable time in the morning, he's always super happy to see me, he gives me snuggles and he makes me laugh at his shenanigans.
19. My family - Jeremy, Becca, Isak, my parents and my siblings - what can I say? Family is everything and I'm grateful for mine.
20. Reliable cars
21. Air travel
22. Bagged salad - I wouldn't eat nearly as much salad if I had to cut all those veggies all the time.
23. Hello Fresh - We've been using this meal service for a couple meals most weeks and it's been really fun to try new foods and new cooking methods. And as I've adjusted to cooking for just two of us, it's been so helpful to have the portioned servings. I honestly thought I'd never try a meal service, but we've actually really enjoyed it.
24. Volunteers - I've been a part of a lot of volunteer organizations at church and in the communities we've lived in, and I'm so grateful for people who are willing to jump in and work, asking nothing in return. Some people truly amaze and inspire me.
25. A good night's sleep - Those rare mornings when I wake up and realize that I've slept for 6-8 hours straight are exhilarating.
26. Medications
27. Lotion - Not only does getting older dry out your skin, but living in a dry climate and being a compulsive hand washer makes my skin downright leather-like. I don't know what I'd do without lotion.
28. Pillows
29. TDY's to Florida - In the military, TDY means "temporary duty station". This past year Jeremy has had multiple temporary duty assignments in Florida. Each time he was able to add on a little leave to his trip and I was able to tag along. That's why you you've seen so many Disney and Universal posts this past year. It's been so fun! It also gave us the opportunity to spend time with our friends that we hadn't seen in many years.
30. Puzzles
31. Books
32. My new laptop - My Christmas gift from Jeremy was a new laptop to replace the super old and slow desktop I've been using for I don't even know how long.
33. Chocolate milk - I've always love chocolate milk, but there is a local brand here in ND that has the BEST chocolate milk. I have a little bit almost every day.
34. Reading glasses - I always have to have a pair within an arm's reach.
35. Leggings with pockets
36. My hair dryer brush
37. Fans - I always need the air around me circulating. I don't know why, but I appreciate electric fans that make that happen.
38. Military discounts - It's a small perk that makes a big difference for military families. This year I'm especially grateful that Disney and Universal have special discounted passes for military families. We used the heck out of our Universal pass in 2023!
39. Visits to Indiana - Although Grand Forks is a 12 hour drive away from Indianapolis, this is the closest I've lived to home in over 10 years. I've been able to take several trips to Indy over the past year - an opportunity I will truly miss when we move to Spokane.
40. New opportunities - Of course there's Jeremy's upcoming opportunity to be a squadron commander in Spokane, but also this past year Becca started a new job that she loves, and Isak is constantly exploring educational and career opportunities. Good things are happening for my family.
41. Games - Over the past year we've spent a lot of time playing games with friends. Board games, card games, trivia nights, bingo, etc.
42. Lip balm
43. Blankets - Some may feel that I keep my house too cold, but really its just an excuse to use all of the cozy blankets we own.
44. Flowers - Flowers are pretty.
45. Evening walks - Many evenings Jeremy and I will take Colt for a walk. When the weather's nice and other people are out, it gives us the chance to chat with neighbors and friends. When the weather's not so nice, and we're the only crazy people out, it gives us time to chat about our day.
46. Things to look forward to - I'm grateful that I have many things to look forward to, but a couple of things in particular that I'm looking forward to right now - our 25th wedding anniversary in March and an upcoming trip to Mexico with my mom, siblings and spouses in October.
47. Naps - Naps are a luxury that I frequently enjoy.
48. Massages - Whether its a session with a professional massage therapist or a shoulder rub from my hubby while we watch tv, there are few things in this world that I appreciate more than a massage.
49. Teeth - They're amazingly useful tools built right into our bodies. They're also my husband's livelihood, so I'm pretty grateful for them.
50. GIFs - Whether you pronounce them with a hard G or a soft G, they're a stinkin' fun way to communicate.
51. Texting - It's truly a dream come true for people like me who hate phone calls. Quick and efficient communication without actually having to say words to people? Yes, please.
52. Printer ink subscription - Never having to worry about running to the store to buy ink when you suddenly run out in the middle of a print job is life changing. Okay, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but it's pretty great.
