Today I am grateful for having enough food to feed my family not only on Thanksgiving, but every day.

Today I am grateful for a primarily restful weekend, relatively free of drama.

Today I am grateful to be wearing my late mother’s wedding set. Every time I look down at my hands she’s a little closer to me.

Today I am grateful to have made some headway on both holiday shopping and clutter clearing.

Today I am grateful that each of my girls is blessed with good friends and that each of them enjoyed a night sleeping away from home.

Today I am grateful that my “stats” at work have so far been quite good. May it continue through February when everyone’s pay level is set to be evaluated so that mine either stays the same or (dare I hope it) goes up.

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Today I am grateful for finally having an overnight visit with Lady Rose.  It’s been far too long since we last had this time with one another and we both look forward to returning to the habit in 2010.

Today I am grateful for being able to share life stories and worries and help one another find inspiration again in the midst of life changes.  We each came out of the visit with ideas for the future and narrowing of focus in terms of books we each hope to write.

Today I am grateful for getting decent sleep two nights in a row.  It’s amazing the difference it makes in terms of how I feel physically and how I cope emotionally.

Today I am grateful for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday.  Granted, my employer decided to make it impossible for me to take any additional time off, but I always enjoy being able to fill my table with a feast and spend the day with my family.

Today I am grateful that for the first time in far too long I can trust that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, even if I am not able to see it now.  I can have hope that in a few years, or in a decade if need be, that my life will be closer to how I wish it to be.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Today I am grateful for a short week at school for Princess Nibbles which allowed her to only miss 2 days of school instead of 5 as she has had a nasty chest cold since last weekend.

Today I am grateful for a Dr. willing to call in prescriptions for me on Friday when I came down with one of my sinus infections/bronchitis episodes as he wouldn’t be able to see me until Tuesday.

Today I am grateful for being able to afford to take Friday off.  Granted, I’ll still feel the pinch come payday, but losing the pay doesn’t drive me to a state of panic as it would’ve just a couple of months ago.

Today I am grateful for a weekend spent resting and napping and forcing fluids so that tomorrow morning I should be up to going back to work (even if I’m unsure about making it all day).

Today I am grateful for a hubby who, while suffering a touch of this bug himself, was willing to run out for Chinese food & do the food shopping & take care of most things that needed to be done to allow aforementioned rest.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Well it’s November 1st.  Finally October is behind me, something I am grateful for each and every year.  While this one was a little bumpy, more than a little stressful, and overall pretty exhausting I can truly say with a thankful heart that nothing of any major consequence occurred.  I look forward to this particular month getting a little easier with passing time.

Yesterday was rather peaceful.  I managed to get a bit more sleep than I usually do, woke up and began my once-a-week cooking.  As always I am grateful for the ability to afford the food to feed my family and the energy & stamina to spend 4 hours on my feet preparing enough food to last the next 7 days.  But, this week I am particularly thankful to be able to afford to spend a little extra at the supermarket so that I could send 3 full meals over to “C”’s house.  “C” is the pseudo-step-mom of one of Miss Artistic’s best friends “S” and she recently fell off a horse and suffered a compound fracture on her dominant arm.

Once the cooking was done I tossed on a Rennie dress and the new corset I bought when we were in Maryland a couple of weeks ago.  While I was grateful for the gleam it put in Gamer Dude’s eyes, I was disappointed that the few trick-or-treaters came before I was so bedecked.  But my own children were out for a couple of hours (along with a few of Miss Artistic’s friends).  As I generally do, I fed the hungry crew pizza upon their return and listened to their happiness and excitement echoing off the walls of the house.

While I never got the time or privacy to do any type of formal rite, I consider my house blessed by their laughter.  However, I am grateful to have found a couple of minutes outside (in my Rennie gear) listening to the wind rushing through the leaves and whispering my hopes and dreams to my ancestors.

I am also grateful to have received, right in time for the new beginning this time of year always represents for me (maybe even more so than January 1), my new datebook.  I had seen the Busy Body Book featured over at Mrs. B’s blog, Confessions of a Pagan Soccer Mom.  I immediately fell in love with it, as it has columns which will enable me to keep myself very organized by separating my to-dos into categories (i.e. the kids, Dr visits, bills, work, and the blog).  I was particularly grateful that when I ordered mine for 2010 I was able to get, for free, a 2009 edition.  This will enable me to fine-tune my category choices so that I can start up 2010 with a handle on my plans for doing much more with this little spot in cyberspace.

May the coming days be filled with blessings large and small for each of you. May they be filled with pleasant surprises and moments of sheer joy.  May each day bring you closer to your deepest desires and fondest dreams.

Blessed be!

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:blessings, gratitude, samhain

Today I am grateful for the influx of funds afforded to us by our recent refinance that allowed me to take off Friday to attend a meeting at Miss Artistic’s school without too much worry about the loss of pay.

Today I am grateful that Princess Nibbles’ birthday outing went off smoothly.  I can’t say that any of us loved the movie, but the girls all seemed to have a great time and my candy-based favor was a hit.

Today I am grateful for having a pretty good October, despite my usual dread of the month.  So much fun already had, and even more to come.

Today I am grateful for a day spent filling my ‘fridge with food and then curling up on the couch in front of a fire reading.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Inspired by Andy over at The Spicy Cauldron, this week’s Blogging of Blessings focuses on the little things …

Movies (or TV shows or well-crafted commercials) that make me cry.  Laughing until I cry.

Hanging with my kids.

Playing Scrabble.  Playing 500 Rummy.

Reading.  Stories that allow me to fall in love with another place and time.  Authors that create characters that feel like old friends.

A hot cup of coffee, very light and very sweet on a cold lazy morning.

Pastries, cookies, bagels, cake, and pie.

Homemade hummus and baba ghanouj.  Indian food.  Any food that someone else cooks.

Knowing my children love my cooking.  Having their friends love my cooking.

Having a big pot of chili, pasta sauce, stew, or soup bubbling on the stove.

The smell of baking cookies.  The aroma of baking bread.

Spending an entire day, the weekend before Xmas, baking a bunch of cookies.

Having cookies for breakfast on Xmas Day while we open presents.

The myth of Santa Claus.

The fun of the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny.

Knowing that while my kids have outgrown it all, one day there will be grandkids to have fun with all over again.

Looking forward to growing old with my hubby.

Knowing my husband since we were teenagers.

Friends I’ve known since I was a kid.  Friends I’ve only met as an adult.

Friends I’ve lost touch with.  Friends who I’ll never see again.

Friends who I only know online.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Today I am grateful for taking the first steps toward getting our finances back in order. There is still work to be done but for now, the weight off my mind, is worth all the extra stress these past few weeks.

Today I am grateful for slowly getting our house in order. Windows are slowly being replaced and clutter is slowly being eliminated. Hopefully by the year’s end we will have the girls in separate bedrooms.

Today I am grateful for libraries. While I wish ours was more local (it is 15-20 min away) I am looking forward to satisfying my urge to buy bunch of books with the joy of coming home with a bunch of books I can instead read for free.

Today I am grateful, as I always am, for the ability to fill my ‘fridge with food. I am also grateful for having enough to share with friends. I sent Miss Artistic to a friend’s house for a sleepover yesterday and sent enough vegetarian chili to feed the entire family.

Today I am grateful for the sleep I get on the weekend. It is just as broken as it is during the week (no matter what I do, or take, I wake up every hour or two all night long) at least I get to stay in bed longer and accumulate a bit more rest.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Today I am grateful for new windows.  Mr Grumpy has been slowly replacing the windows in the house a window at a time.  He buys the windows as he can afford them and then does the labor himself (with a little help from Gamer Dude).  This coming winter should see us all staying a little warmer with a little less money out of pocket.  Also my allergies (and related upper respiratory infection issues) should be much better as the windows were the original ones in this house and were as a result 35 years old (or more) there were issues with moisture (such as ice forming inside) and some mold.

Today I am grateful that Miss Artistic is holding her own emotionally.  I know that her anxiety levels have to be really high as she’s had a couple of melt downs in the past weeks.  But, so far nothing like we’ve dealt with in the past.

Today I am grateful that Princess Nibbles has a new best friend.  Her former best friend “J” moved away in the wake of her father’s passing.  While the plan was for them to keep in touch – it never really happened.  “Big E” is 3 months older than her and one grade ahead but they are thick as thieves.

Today I am grateful for getting my camera finally fixed.  I had broken it back in May, but had never gotten around to mailing it in – mainly as I was scared that the repair wouldn’t be covered (ah the joys of denial).  But, hurrah, it was and my electronic baby is back home with the only money out of pocket being the cost of shipping it.

Today I am grateful for commission bonuses at work.  The future of the department is not clear.  It is really hard to say what’s going to happen with their profit margins, etc.  But, for as long as it last I am enjoying having a paycheck that more closely approximates a living wage.

Today I am grateful for a ‘fridge full of food.  This week’s once-a-week cooking found me making a large batch of meat sauce with sausage and meatballs; 2 pork loins on beds of onions and potatoes (with gravy made from the drippings); a small meatloaf (with another gravy); and a batch of Swedish meatballs (adapted from this recipe) which will be served over egg noodles with a side of vegetables rather than as an appetizer.

Today I am grateful for cool autumn breezes and the whispers of that which lies beyond the veil.  This is my favorite time of year and I am relishing in it.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

PS Meanwhile check out the following giveaways …

Isn’t this little Goddess that Nydia made just the sweetest thing?!?!? The drawing doesn’t end until the 22nd, so there is still time to enter.

Mrs. B is offering this great kids’ book in her giveaway. It runs until Sept 23 so you still have time on this one as well. Personally I plan on buying this one and tucking it away for the future grandchildren I hope to one day read to sleep.

Written by Mama KellyTags:blessings, gratitude, life

Today I am grateful to be alive and breathing.

Today I am grateful for food on my table, in the pantry, and in the fridge.

Today I am grateful that Princess Nibbles will be starting music instruction on the flute I used in 4th and 5th grade.

Today I am grateful that I have a box half-filled to send to a friend serving in Afghanistan.

Today I am grateful that I rested today, even though I wish I’d gotten more done.

Today I am grateful that so far Miss Artistic is enjoying high school.

Blessings

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:gratitude

Well what can I say? It’s been relatively busy here in Mama Kelly Land. With back-to-school and the increased stress at work and a long holiday weekend I even failed to do my weekly Blogging of Blessings. And so today’s post is part update, part gratitude, and part ramble.

Miss Artistic had high school orientation this week. So far she likes her teachers, has friends in her classes, has people to eat lunch with, and is talking about joining extra-curricular activities – something we’ve been trying to get her to do all through middle school to no avail. We keep talking about high school being a fresh start, a chance to be who she wants to be, and to leave the past (and the mistakes and pain in it) behind her.

Princess Nibbles couldn’t wait for school and is so far not disappointed. She got the teacher she had hoped to get, her gifted program resumes this week, and best of all, she gets to sign up for band tomorrow. She will be taking the flute – mainly because we still have my old flute (refurbished of course) – and I look forward to relearning it myself as I help her in her lessons.

Miss Artistic spent the holiday weekend with one of her BFF’s and family camping. As of this writing she is probably on the way home from her first experience truly roughing it. This is her first experience with no showers, no flush toilets, and eating/drinking only what can be carried in to a campsite. I am curious to see what she thought of it.

Princess Nibbles spent the holiday weekend home with us. As of this writing she is out on her bike enjoying the last breath of summer. She was a true delight all weekend. Not only did she and I have lots of quality time (and hopefully more to come) but she was a huge help to me.

Insofar as quality time we watched The Sound of Music (in three sittings) which was enjoyed thoroughly, Bedknobs and Broomsticks which was not a hit, as well as episodes of Jon & Kate Plus Eight and one of those Cake Challenge on FoodTV. We have a date later today to play a round (or two or three) of 500 Rummy.

We took a trip Sunday to a local zoo and had fun feeding goats and deer by hand and tossing popcorn to anyone who was interested. Toward the end of that visit we were stalked by a squirrel (one of my favorite animals) who was very annoyed at our lack of peanuts. He made us feel so guilty that Gamer Dude wouldn’t rest until he found an abandoned one and then hand fed it to our little friend.

Mr Grumpy has been slowly replacing the windows in the house. He buys the windows as he can afford them and does all the labor himself. This weekend it was time to hit the girls’ room. Saturday morning he removed the moldings and then lectured me about the state of their room.

To some degree the lecture was deserved (though it should have been directed at the kids and not me) and so my 9-year-old and I spent the rest of the day cleaning. Yes you read that right … the …. rest …. of …. the …. day. Now granted, some of the problem is two girls sharing a room that is too small to fit them, their furniture, their clothes, and all their stuff. However, the bulk of the problem is that one of those girls is a teenager … and, well, frankly … a total slob.

I will not go into how many bags of garbage I got rid of. I will not discuss how big the laundry pile is after I found the stash of dirty clothes. I will not mention the food wrappers.  I will not let myself remember the things that were found behind furniture. Let me simply say that the room is about as clean as I can get it until we divide the furniture between them and get them into separate rooms – probably sometime in November – as bulk pick-up is in mid-October.

Today I am grateful for getting so much accomplished. I am grateful for food enough to feed my family. I am grateful for the school year getting off to a good start. I am grateful to have a job, even one I hate. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to earn commission. I am grateful for catching up on some sleep, even though it is still broken. I am grateful for having peace and rest these past 3 days.

I wish you all blessings both large and small.

Mama Kelly

Written by Mama KellyTags:family, gratitude, life, update