I would add a picture if I could figure out how. I am very grateful for many moments in my life. The best moments were shared with my family. When my children graduated from college I wanted to take a special family vacation, because I knew that the dynamics of my family would soon change. I am so thankful for the time that we spent together in New York City. This is a place that I thought I would never enjoy going to because I thought that it would be difficult to get around. I was right. It is a huge city. However, I was wrong as far as it being difficult to get around it. My family would point me in the right direction and we were off to explore the treasures of New York City. I loved it!!! Jennifer is right about the Ellen Star Dust Cafe. They sang all of the Oldies But Goodies. The girls wore poodle skirts and bobby socks. We got the old time ice cream sundaes. They were so good. We ate in a French restaurant and sat by doors that opened up like windows so that you felt like you were sitting on the street. Seeing the Statue of Liberty was a WOW moment. Wicket was a fabulous play as was Phantom of the Opera. I loved riding the bus with my family and touring the city. The Yankee game and the surroundings of the Yankee Stadium was like going back in time. The vendors selling peanuts, cokes, and beer was like seeing the past. People passed the food and drinks up several rows and across 25 to 30 people before it got to the person who bought it. We ate hot dogs and peanuts. Paul was like a little kid at Christmas. He reminisced about sitting on his grandfather's lap and watching the Yankees play on TV. We met some very friendly and kind locals who helped us get on the right subways so that we ended up where we were supposed to. Time Square was bigger than life. Walking through the financial district and seeing Wall Street and the Bull was an eye opener in itself. The church that was next to the Twin Towers where presidents had sat and worshipped and the rescuers would take a break was another WOW moment. Our family time and the fun we had exploring New York City together was one of my favorite memories. What an awesome family I have. God is wonderful.

Family

The following pictures are a few from my grateful moment. When I look through the New York pictures, my mood automatically rises, I have a grin that hurts and I sometimes cry for joy. We went to a restaurant where the waiters danced and sang, and my mom would smile the entire time. We went back a few times because she loved it so much. My dad had a hotdog at Yankee stadium with me which was a dream come true. I saw the cafe from You've Got Mail. I had more fun in New York with my family that week than at any other moment. I know there were times we argued just because we are family, but I don't remember that part. I remember the part where we experienced an adventure as adults. We laughed until at least I cried and stayed up late talking. I will treasure those moments forever and hope to make more in the future, but with an added bonus. Jackie will be with us next time.

From Tara: Grateful picture

Take a picture of one thing, person, place or specific moment that makes you feel grateful. Share it with your social network.

My picture is of a specific moment. Saturday mornings Brandon usually sleeps in till 11am, but somehow Bruno (our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) always knows when it is time for Brandon to wake up. And so every Saturday morning he jumps into the bed, and snuggles next to Brandon, rolling over and making noises of pure joy until Brandon starts playing with him. They snuggle and play for about 10-15 minutes, then both are up and in a happy mood. I am always so grateful for the these moments, because it is just so cute and sweet. The smile on both their faces (yes, Bruno smiles!!) gives me such a feeling of joy and gratefullness every week.

When I went away for a week this past summer, Brandon called me when they were snuggling and put me on speakerphone, so I wouldn't miss it. He knows just how much I love it. So these are a couple of pictures from this mornings snuggle session.

Call....

Today's post is to call someone you haven't talked to in awhile. I will have to think on this one because I try to talk with everyone. I think I will call Bo or Rachel. Bo is my great aunt whom I rarely see or speak to, but I hope that changes when I return. Rachel is one of my closest friends, and I miss her. Being in Honduras I don't call many people, so I guess my list could be very long of people to call.

Yesterday, we didn't have students and only had to work part of the day. Today, we are not working at all. Why? Because we had a wind storm that took out trees, power, roofs, and more. I have power now, but the school does not. I think this gives teachers and students a much needed break from each other. I sat with friends last night talking and laughing well past my normal bedtime and was grateful for their open door policy and laughter. We shared a glass of wine and chocolate cookies while laughing until some of us cried.
I know this isn't part of today's challenge, but I am grateful for all of you posting because I smile and think of more to be grateful for as I read your posts. I also am starting to recognize more when I am being negative or those around me are being negative and never realized before how much I skip over looking for beauty in my day. Love you all and will let you know who I call later.

God has blessed my life in many ways. Family (including some that have adopted us as parents and we have adopted as our own which I love, friends, jobs, wonderful neighbors, and a Cowboy Church where we have made more new friends. For these things I am very thankful. You see one of the definitions of God is,"God is love." The more unconditional love that I have around me the happier and more content I am. Love feels like a big hug from God. God has blessed Paul and me with steady jobs while living in a time where that is not the norm. The teachers that I taught with for many years got together the other night and had so much fun it was hard to any of us to leave. Laughter and Chatter for hours. Heaven on earth. My children are so thoughtful and caring. It amazes me the friendship that has formed between us as they are now adults. I love getting together with them. Now I have one more precious child. My son is getting married to a thoughtful, caring, and loving cowgirl. She is delight to be around. One of my prayers is that my children marry into a family that loves them and is kind to them. He as answered that prayer for my son. I am bless that my daughter, who lives in Honduras, set me up on Skype and taught me how to use it before she left so that we could talk and see one another on a daily basis. We have had so much fun. I even got to visit her and see where is lives. Honduras is a beautiful country. She has gotten to travel and see places that she would not of seen had she not gone there. I am looking forward to seeing all three of my children next weekend. My children are a gift from God. After writing this blog today I can see that I am truly blessed. God's riches are in his name,"Love." He has showed me with his love and I plan to remain under this shower as it feels so good.

I am grateful-

Why did Deb post 5 days of challenge material at one time? See Day 4 and have a good laugh.

Day 5:
I have a wonderful family, a great stable career, a large orange cat, good health (my blood pressure is normal again), and no money to worry about losing. I am truly blessed! and I do not think about it often enough. I have no need for a bigger TV, bigger house, bigger car. I have all the clothes and jewelry I can wear and more food than I can or should eat. I have the blessing of time to think, read, and worry about my family because I do not have to fight for survival each day, the way so many people do. The slogan is true: "Life is good."

Day 4:
We all call stress a "negative." but stress makes me a more productive person. It causes me anxiety and worry, but I also try to achieve more because of it The stress of learning to use a blog site and being so far behind was pure stress. I had to reach out to my oldest son for help and that was positive stress. Opposite attracts - so, maybe it's the negatives that make the positives so good.

Day 3:
I am grateful for daffodils. I start the winter months thinking of warm fires and reading good books, but soon the cold, gray days take their toll. Two of Steve's yellow daffodils bloomed today, so spring is coming soon. Birds, baby squirrels, outdoor music events, and warm afternoons will make life easy living.

Day 2:
A apples
B Bo and books
C cartoons
D Dancing (slow dancing)
E Elves
F fried food (I'm Southern)
G gin
H historical anthropology
I interstate highways
J John, Jennifer, Jenni, Janice, Jonathan
K Kisses
L Ludo (our cat)
M Matthew, Michael, Mareike, Melissa
N nighttime
O onions
P Paul and pumpkins
Q quiet
R rabbits (I was born in the year of the rabbit)
S Steve and Stephanie
T travel
U universities
V Valentines
W wine
X X-chromosomes
Y ying and yang
Z zebras

Day 1:
I accepted the challenge because Jennifer thought enough of me to ask me to join. I was delighted she thought I would have something of importance to contribute. It is exciting to believe people she knows can learn from each other and about it each at the same time.

Blessings......

The challenge for today is to write a list of all the blessings I currently have. Since starting the project, I have discovered this might be a never ending list, so here is an incomplete list. Here goes…..

Janice and Stephanie Kelly – two people who know me better than I know myself
Family – all of them
Yogi
Friends – Honduran, Canadian and American – some who know me as well as Mom and Steph and call me on my craziness (Tara, Megan, Laura)
Rain
Butterflies, birds
Exterminators and bug spray
Electricity
No electricity
Laughter
Food
Clothes
Computer
Music
DVDs – Movies and TV series
Neighbors
Enough money to pay bills and have food
Backyard with plants
Health
Clean water
Rain jacket
Books, Literacy
Literacy
Common Sense
People in my life who keep things in perspective and have a sense of humor who have taught me to laugh instead of crying.
Professional coworkers who are willing to share resources
Prayer warriors
A wonderful job
A roof over my head that doesn’t leave during a wind storm
Traveling
Support for my endeavors and crazy adventures even when they fail
Warm showers
Flashlights, candles and matches
Guacamole and chips – my dinner when the electricity went out
Internet to talk with family and friends
Hugs
Beaches
Going home to Texas to people who love me
Coming back to Honduras to people who miss me


I know my list is full of randomness. People, materials, knowledge. Since being in Honduras, I have discovered that the greatest blessings are not bought. They are experienced with the people in our lives. I don’t know if this is the right kind of list, but they are things I am grateful for today.