Perspective...

• I am so tired… but I’m thankful I had a warm bed to sleep in last night
• I don’t want to get up and go to work…but I’m thankful I can take a hot shower before I go
• Yuck, it’s raining and cold outside today… but I’m thankful I have a warm coat AND covered parking at work
• I am so tired…but I’m thankful for a sweet hubby who made coffee for me, complete with yummy white mocha creamer
• I hate packing my lunch…but I’m thankful that I’m not hungry and wondering where my next meal will come from
• I am annoyed that my kids are whining… but I’m so very thankful that I have two healthy children that go from whining to giggling in 10 seconds
• I don’t like the way I look in the mirror…but I’m thankful I can stand at the mirror on my own two legs
• I am so tired…but I’m thankful that I got to wake up before Isaac did this morning, beating him to the punch!
• I hate driving 2.5 hours every single day to work and back and then to get the kids from school…but I’m thankful that we have 2 cars and I don’t have to drive even more by taking Jason to school first!
• I wish I had some PTO at work so I could take a day off…but I’m thankful that I have a job and that I had a splendid 10 weeks off with each baby after they were born
• I wish I was a stay at home mom…but I’m thankful that I have a job.
• I am so tired…but I’m thankful to wake up period AND that my sweet hubby gave me a little back rub before I had to get out of bed.

It’s all about perspective, don’t you think?  There are soooooo many times that I get caught up in thinking negative, degrading thoughts about life.  I know that most of it has to do with the fact that I’m sleep deprived and not always able to choose my own priorities because of things I can’t control.  Which normally leads to a not very good feeling of being overwhelmed and then I start to feel bad.  Bad that I’m not focusing on the blessings that I’ve been given, that life could really be so much worse, and that all this time spent whining is really quite pointless! And then I’m mad at myself for being sad and overwhelmed and it really is a vicious cycle that is no fun at all, but I’m certain I’m not the only mommy out there dealing with this!  That is a tad comforting in itself.  What are some things you’ve said to yourself lately that you’ve got to put a little perspective on?

Saw this on a friend’s blog and thought I’d copy- what a great idea! In no particular order, here I am!

I like early morning snuggle sessions and breathing in the joy that is my children

I like bear hugs from my family

I like knowing that God has my back

I like hot and spicy cheez-its and jalapeño poppers

I like making out with my hubby (Grandma, ignore this one)

I like McDonald’s hazelnut iced coffee

I like it when my family is healthy and not missing school/work

I like it when I get to see my children show their love for each other

I like when I get more than 7 hours sleep (this is rare)

I like the dimple on Ava's right cheek and Isaac's left cheek that shows up when they smile

I like walking into Isaac’s room at 4:30am in the pitch black and not having to turn a light on cuz he’s reaching out for his mama and he knows I'll be there

I like baby soft skin that smells so incredibly yummy

I like watching my children’s eyes dance

I like Jason’s dreamy blue eyes, his broad shoulders and fabulous abs and calves and bum ;)

I like lasagna and garlic bread with a salad on the side when the ranch barely touches everything and mixes together

I like pumpkin and apple pie candles

I like when Ava says to me, tell Daddy I did a good job mama

I like hydrangeas, calla lilies, fall mums, gerbera daisies, brown eyed susans, lavender, and azaleas

I like singing out loud in my car with Air 1 turned up as high as I can stand it without blowing the speakers (warning, no kids ear drums were harmed in this situation)

I like no traffic days

I like quiet time in the morning with a fresh cup of coffee and God’s encouraging word

I like dancing with my children

I like hearing Isaac growl like a tiger, do what the gorilla does and hop like a bunny rabbit

I like watching Ava prance around in her high heels, princess dress, and butterfly wings as we go for our evening walks.

I like foot rubs and getting my hair played with

I like Isaac’s mean face

I like Jason’s jokes and random thoughts, and inspirations and ability to dream of our future when all I can think about what will I make for dinner

I like Ava’s bounce in her step

I like fudgy brownies with ice-cream and a cup of coffee.

I like how Isaac swings his left arm side to side when he walks and how it moves faster when he runs.
I like how Ava nurtures her baby dolls and rocks them while singing to them

I like sunrises and stepping out into the cool with a robe on while listening to the quiet morning

I like taking pictures of my family and venturing out of Auto into the world of a bazillion settings and trying to learn them all

I like how my pup crawls in my lap anytime he knows I’m upset

I like it when Jason makes the meal

I like anything girly: lip-gloss, hot pink or bright red nail polish, perfume, flip flops, long dangly necklaces, big earrings, and flowers in my hair

I like it when laundry is caught up (btw, this never happens!)

I like to thank God for everything he’s given me every single day

I like it when I have a big presentation or meeting that I’m so nervous about speaking publicly and that huge feeling of relief when it’s over

I like encouragement and appreciation. A kind word gets me through just about anything.

I like how Jason makes me laugh and gets me to loosen up and when he doesn’t say, Just relax Crystal!

I like the smell of fresh coffee brewing

I like going to bed with a clean kitchen

I like lifting my arms up in the air as high as I can praising God during Sunday morning services with a child on my hip watching and dancing at the same time.

I like talking to my mama almost every day

I like 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:11, Matthew 6:27, and James 1:3-4 just to name a few

I like to laugh, that really deep gut laugh where you can’t stop it from just coming out

I like to imagine what my life will be like in 5, 10, 40 years

I like team meetings with my hubby

I like to pray for my family, that God will protect them and help me to show them how very much I love them What do you like?! Leave me a comment with something you like. Have a great day all!

This is the day!!

So many days I wake up feeling utterly exhausted but I try to tell myself, wait a minute Crystal...Are you going to let exhaustion take away from the joy of the day that God has given you? Are you going to give in to the excuse of poor me, I'm so overworked and tired and underappreciated? Remember, that's the devil speaking to you, you know? Are you going to remind yourself of all of those things that were on yesterday's to-do list that you didn't get done and the 10 more things that you've added on for today? Or are you going to take a deep breath, stop hitting the snooze (even if it's 4am) and think of all the blessing's you've been given. Are you going to look over at that dreamy man in your bed *insert husband with a pillow over his head* and lean over to kiss him good morning and tell him how very much you love him and all he does for you? Are you going to think of those sleeping bundles of awesomeness that are snoozing away, storing up endless amounts of energy so that when they wake up they are READY for the day! And boy do I mean READY!! (sorry, breaking out the exclamation points, and it's only 5:27am) You need to jump out of that bed because Crystal Ann, you are so blessed. You're gonna thank Him for such a comfy bed (complete with egg crate mattress from college days), your job that will have never ending job security with all the EMR changes coming along, your healthy, beautiful family who will be waking up any minute now, and the espresso machine, just dying to be touched for the morning.

You've been given a beautiful new day to start over and thank God. For this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

Happy Thursday friends, seize the day!