Day 280

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. Nelson Mandela

Grateful for shining

Let your little light shine.
Canal Park, Duluth  Minnesota.
The lighthouses shine.
The sun shines, the moon will shine off the lake on a clear night.
This is home. 
This is where I shine.
Mostly because of the people that were there, and are there...that keep that light shining in my heart.

Day 279

When you sit and look long enough at the sunset...everything else goes away.

Grateful for sunsets

Ever since I can remember, I have drawn, or colored, or painted sunsets.  Each and every one, each and every day...is different.  Its different in each place you are.
We are so small here, on this Earth.  We are so blessed to even be here. 
Sunsets are one beautiful thing that God has created for us to choose to enjoy, or just pass by.
I try to enjoy as many as I can.  They are truly a beautiful sight...free for the taking.
<3

Day 278

Truth is...for a long time...my "you" I hated.  Still not sure that I am a fan, but working on that daily.


Grateful for "you" ness

You are amazing.
You are a gift.
You are important.
You are enough.
You are better.
You are learning.
You are a star.
You are strong.
You are brave.
You are weak.
You are alive.
You are blessed.
You mean something.
You are somebody.
You are an artist in your own life.
You are an inspiration.
You are caring.
You are kind.
You are broken.
You are moving on.
You are on two feet.
You pray.
You are free.
You are loved.
You are on that path.
You can do anything.
You sometimes fall.
You are confused.
You keep going.
You are you.
You are an original.
You are special.
You are a free spirit.
You are.
<3

Day 277



They should never grow up.  Can time stop now?

Grateful for pictures

Its one moment in time.  It's a still shot of a memory.  It's frozen forever.
I am truly grateful for pictures, as it's one of the only ways to reflect back upon what we "saw" back when...
I love my girls.  I love that I have the life I do, I am so blessed.
For a very long time, I felt this was the worst hand dealt, the worst life ever.
(teenager and college)
But...now...I am grateful for so much more, and trying to open my eyes to everything that is in front of me.
We are all blessed to have one more day, and to have photos to look back at, and family and friends to remind us that its all just one moment in time...and we should be grateful for every single one.



Day 276

you know what it can do?  it can take people away that you love very much...and leave you sad.

Grateful for something

Sometimes, it doesn't matter how much you want something.
Sometimes...something is the cancer that wins.
Sometimes...something is the joy that occurs when its in remission, and you know you are in the clear.
Sometimes...it comes back.
Sometimes...it doesn't.
Sometimes...we wish we had more time.
Sometimes...we wish we had done things differently.
Sometimes...we just have to truly let go.
Sometimes...it doesn't make sense...what God decides.
Sometimes, its all about us not knowing, and having to trust that our God knows what we can handle, and what we can't.
Sometimes...its just when you break...that you are thankful, grateful...that you have someone...
or something
one little thing
even if its little tiny
one thing to be grateful for.
Something I am grateful for, is God.
Because He is always there...even though sometimes...
I don't understand.
Something else I am grateful for...is my awesome family.
<3

Day 275

Beat Cancer.  That's all. 
~Praying for Eli

Grateful for willpower

If anyone has willpower, look at a child with cancer.
A child that has to be poked and prodded, and deal with this awful, rotten thing they call cancer.
There is a will and a power though, in these kids.
One that most adults wonder where it comes from.
One that we could all learn from...its so pure...so innocent.
Cancer picks on everyone.  It doesn't matter who you are, or how old.
We are grateful for knowing Eli Horn...and his family.
He is fighting a tough fight.  We are here to stand by him, and his family, and be part of Eli's Army.
We love you, buddy...and pray you keep having that strength and willpower.
Keep fighting.
We will keep praying.
<3

Day 274

"Mama, her is crying.  Why does she do that so loud?"
~Regan

Grateful for 3

There were two, and then, October 16, 2003, there were 3.  Kailey Kathleen Gibbs.
She came into this world upside down, and all turned around.  Dr. Doran couldn't turn her, because her cord was around her neck.  So, when he delivered her, he had her little butt in the palm of his hand, and showed her to me.  Her legs were straight along either side of her with her feet above her head.
"This is the most breech baby I have ever delivered!"
~Dr. Doran.
Kailey has kept us on our toes from day one.
We are blessed to have her in our lives.
We love you, little one.
<3

Day 273

"Shang hi hong kong egg foo young.  Fortune cookie always wrong."
~Siamese Cats on Lady and the Tramp

Grateful for dericious

After the past I have, I think that now days, everything rooks dericious because mostly it is. 
Who knew?
I think that skinny for me was crabby and bitchy, and I was hungry.  and mean. and hungry.
Did I mention hungry? and mean?
well, and really hungry. 
somehow...i made that go away back in the day, and exercise was fun.
now...not so much. (the fun in exercise.)
most things rook dericious to me.
so i eat them.
and exercise hurts my head to think about it.
I need to just pull out a fraction of the skinny bitch.
Here's hoping.
:)

Day 272

Soo allergic.  Be gone with you.  And you.

Grateful for quitters

This last week has been a "doozey", as Gram would have said.
Lets just say that people went where they needed to go...far, far away from anywhere I need to be on a nearly daily basis.
Its for the better.
I was VERY allergic to the bs.
Its good to be bullshit free...even if it means that I have to work more.

Day 271

AFL
(Absofrigginglootley.)

Grateful for Tuesdays

Well, I like Tuesdays because it means Mondays are over.
Mondays suck.
Tuesdays just need a Starbucks to get through...
Wednesdays we are in St. Paul, and Thursdays are a blur for me, because I work 12's. 
Fridays I am just effing thankful for.
No way no how will I ever be a fan of Mondays.
They suck shit.

Day 270

Fall turns into winter. Which sucks shit.  But I do like fall.

Grateful for fall

I love the colors of the leaves.  I love the fire pits, the sweatshirts, the late nights outside that let us see our shadow with the moon shining brightly.
I love how fall just comes in so quiet, yet so beautiful.
The colors.
The smells.
The farmers with their harvests and the late sunsets that turn pink and orange.
I love every single bit of fall, and wish it would last forever, because...I know what's coming.
We all do.
Winter.
Damn, do I hate winter in Iowa.
If I were Harry Potter, I would make it fall all the time in Iowa.
But I'm not, so that sucks.
Plus, I don't have a wand.
Which also sucks.
Here's to dreaming for a wand.

Day 269

Papa's resting place is beautiful.
<3

Grateful for Papa

Papa's final resting place.  Camp Ripley.  Beautiful.
We are all better people for knowing Papa, and for hearing his many stories.
We love Papa to the moon and back.
Papa believed in family...in love...and in everyone that he met.
Papa believed.
We are all blessed.
Still miss him, though...lots.
Thank you, Papa...for what you taught me.

Day 268

Fly, my pretties...fly.
~The Wicked Witch

Grateful for the chance to fly

Just when I feel like I can't move...can't breathe...something comes along that makes me realize that we are creatures of habit.
We run to what is always the most familiar.
The least scary.
The most comfortable.
The things that we know will make our days or our lives easier.
Sometimes, though, when I can't breathe...can't think..
I go back to times that I remember made me happy.
Times that made me smile.
Angels fly.
The Wicked Witch flies.
Both of those things make me smile.
That's a little effed up, I know, but its me.

Day 267

Together is a perfect place to be.
~Pooh

Grateful for small happenings

It doesn't matter how long you get together.
Time is precious.
Have not seen the Berg's since July, and seeing their smiling faces,
getting to hug them all, and tell them we love them...
...priceless.
Erin Lynn. So much taller.  Smile the same, and missed her so. (and her giggle)
Cecilia Rose. Smile melted my heart, twinkle in her eyes I missed so.
Mary Elizabeth. So like...like...awesome.  And I miss her and miss her quiet little voice and her smile.
Brennan Jason Stanley. That much older, but always my B.  Always my Godson, and loved seeing him again...
...Jason and Jenny...
miss them like crazy.
Love you all to the moon.
And back.
And more.
<3

Day 266

I will attack these things they call grasshoppers.

Grateful for walks

I like walks.  Coconut does also.
However, we are both more on the portly side lately.
Which makes walking short and makes us out of breath.
But when there are several pauses to catch a grasshopper or two...or at least to try to follow where they jump...it makes walking a little further easier.
He's my little good boy. 
I heart him muchly.

Day 265

First Feis with Uncle Greg....

And Grammie and Grampie.

Grateful for firsts.

First experience in the Irish dance world.
It was good.
There were lots of smiles, lots of happiness, and lots of medals.
For this, I am grateful...mostly because I know that my girls loved
every.
single.
minute.
of it.
<3