I'm not so good at blogging.

I'm not so good at blogging. I just get too busy, then I don't have anything to say. But...I had a great morning taking photos of a family and when  got to the park early, it was too beautiful to pass up taking a few more!

Week 19- Week 22

Week 19 - May 8 - May 14
So happy that we could celebrate Mother's day! We managed to get Stephen and Erin (in Hawaii), Taryn, and Mike all together on the phone, Skype, and facetime with me in person. We were able to give her one of the neatest Mother's Day gifts. It was neat to see her expression and see if she could guess who picked which charm.

Week 20 - May 15- May 21
This week is simple. I love blooming flowers. I love that right outside of my house are beautiful blooming flowers. Makes me smile each time.

Week 21 - May 22 to May 28
Beyond beyond grateful to spending the weekend with my Papa. Not only is it a beautiful view that just oozes relaxation, it was a great weekend of playing games, laughing and talking together. My memories with him are huge and it is a blessing that I get to continue making memories.

Week 22 - May 29 to June 3
Two amazing events in one day. I am grateful for our weekend. First was hiking with my mom in order to reach her goal! She made it to the top of the mountain, first time since her entire cancer ordeal! The second, a great date night with my husband! We haven't had one in a long time because of business.

 

Week 18: April 30 to May 6

**Disclaimer - Pictures stolen from my sis/sister's page.**

I am thankful again for this little man. He absolutely made me laugh on Facetime. I love my phone calls that he tells Taryn to make and then screams no because he doesn't want to hold the phone. I love his money face at me, rolling on the floor, and his exclamations of "Love Soup." 

He is a mess, an absolute adorable, love-able mess. 

I'm blessed to be an aunt. :) 

Week 17: April 23 to 29

I am thankful for evening walks. Tim and I have  been able to do some walks at night and it has been great. A chance to feel the air, to talk to one another, and to exercise. So thankful for even just 30 minutes of being outside and having it feel so peaceful.

Week 16: April 16 to 22

It's super late, but it's because of what I am thankful for! I am so thankful for MY NEW JOB! I can already feel a huge stress relief, happier, am home more, and seeing Tim more. As I get trained, it will be less driving and more working from home hours! SO thankful for this opportunity. My coworkers are great and it's such a great atmosphere. I'm blessed.

Week 15: April 9 to 15

I am thankful for a lot this week. I am thankful for closure, in leaving my job that I have been at since an intern in 2009. I am thankful for my husband who supported me as I had a rough week and booked me a massage for today, my one day off between jobs! I always crave these but never schedule them for myself. So happy that he went ahead and did that. I felt deliriously happy and relaxed. I know they don't last for forever, but they feel great. What a way to close out a stressful job and help me transition into a new one!

Week 14: April 2 to April 8

I am thankful for warm weather! Warm temperatures are just around the corner! Tim and I have been able to go on a walk in the neighborhood, be outdoors, and just relax this weekend. How wonderful that feeling is. We are always feeling "on the go" so with the warm weather and the relaxation, it was fantastic!

Week 13: March 26 to April 1

I was so thankful for Easter this year. Tim and I got to host my parents for Easter meal. It felt real, hosting a meal in our new house. It was different than hosting a meal in the apartment. Felt more, settled? Tim and Dad headed to Lowes for stuff for the house and mom and I hung out, took naps, and played with the dogs.

Week 12: March 19 to March 25

So thankful for Gayle this past week! She came in on Thursday night and stayed until Monday morning  We hadn't seen her in over a year, which was insane to think about! As Tim and I were burning out on ongoing house projects, Gayle came in with motivation and complete surprise  We had no intention of doing our library/home office so soon! But we worked so hard and it came together. Not 100% done but we absolutely love it. It looks fantastic! Since I start from home in not too long, I am super happy to have such a beautiful room done! So thankful!

Week 11: March 12-March 18

I am grateful for new beginnings. I am grateful for change. I hate it - every part of me hates change, fears change, yet knows that change is constant in life! 

One week start to beginning (I know it's normally start to finish but beginning is more appropriate. 

God is great. God is good. God is faithful. 

Blessed beyond measure! 

Week 10: March 5 to 11

I am thankful for opportunities. To friends who reach out and give possibilities. To new chances, new experiences. I know this all sounds cryptic, but it is what is sticking out to me the most. I am thankful for chances, fresh starts, and hope.

Week 9: February 26 - March 4

Little late, but I think you will understand!

This week I was SO grateful for the moving ministry at our church! In the snow, the men came until about 15 people were at our apartment and getting us moved! They packed up, drove across town, and unpacked us! People stayed with us to help unpack, bring pizza, and put items and furniture back together! Unbelievable. We are blessed, way beyond measure. It was incredible to have their help and to have a house! That's right! We have a HOUSE! It was incredible and must have been a total God thing, considering the house turned out to be an amazing deal, and is now located about 5 minutes from Tim's work. We are close to some friends and are planning to get involved in a Life Group in the area.

So forgive me for me late, but we are BLESSED and GRATEFUL for a place we plan to stay in for a very long time!

Week 8: February 19-25

I am thankful for some great friends. Friends I have grown up with, friends from college, friends from work, and friends in my life now. I am especially thankful and grateful for a couple friends - Ashley and Rachel. These two girls are vary different but have provided me TREMENDOUS amounts of help, support, and encouragement.

Ashley from work is my sanity. After all of our other friends have left and moved on, she encourages me and supports me and listens to me vent on the bad days I have! So excited for her as she is in her 2nd pregnancy and has the most adorable little boy.

Rachel is a girl I went to college with and was in ChiO's with, only to find out later that she moved to Charlotte! So happy that her and her husband are here and such great friends with us. From shopping buddies to coupon friends to seeing her with her little one. Rachel has been a great friend. So glad that we are going to be "near neighbors" in just a few days!

I have many more, but in the past two days of frustration/stress/and anxiety, these two have been exceptionally awesome!

Week 7: February 12-18

Snow. I am thankful for snow! It seems like a silly one, but when snowflakes start flowing, I become like a little kid again! Tim said "Morgan, come here now." I rushed in the room and saw massive snow(chunks)flakes coming down! I am mesmerized by it. Snow is something that makes me relax and truly sit back and think of cozying up with hot cocoa and a book. And of course, heading outside to take photos! Even though it was just one day, it was a wonderful blessing to sit down and enjoy a peaceful day. Maybe a picture to come later! :)

Week 6: February 5-11

I am thankful for whoever decided to take stories in their head and write them down into book form. The library and books are one thing that I am constantly thankful for. They are my escape. Whenever I am stressed about something or whenever I need to unwind from work, I love reading. Reason: It's my escape. I almost always refuse to read "real books" or books about autobiographies or real life issues. Occasionally I will grab one about religion or psychology, but honestly, that's rare. I love escaping into lives that end happily, into triumphs over evil, into friendships that withstand tragedy and heartbreak. I love reading to relax. I challenged myself the past three years to read a certain number of books & found a new website that helps keep track so I know which books I have read and which I haven't. I have read about 220 books since January 2011. I know that's a ton, but I am a fast reader. Anyways, I am thankful for the ability to read, to escape, and to wind down!

Week 5: January 29 - February 4

This is going to seem trivial, but I am thankful none the less. (Remember, these are whatever pop into my head, not in a most important list!) But this week, I was thankful for having a crock pot & whoever so kindly bought it for me at my bridal shower! 

The reason: Tim and I both work a lot and have longer commutes. So, in order for us to eat every night, we have to eat at 8:00 or we have to eat separate or we have to forget the gym. So, solution: crockpot! This has been SO helpful to us lately! We have made pulled pork barbecue, we have made shredded pork with cream over egg noodles, several pot roasts, chicken meals and more. I have been turning it on at 7:00am and this wondrous little machine cooks slowly all day until I turn it off at 6:30 or 7:00 when I gee home! I honestly have no idea why we have not used it more, but we have used it like crazy the past couple months. Anyways, since I'm typically starving and this has been our go to the past couple weeks, it made my list!

I guess what they say is true....sometimes the little things mean the most! 

Week 4: January 22 to 28

Week 4:

I am finding it harder and harder to think of what I want to write next - I am too grateful and too blessed so it is hard to choose. However, today's absolutely was from my day lighting up because of this. I am thankful for the ability to be an aunt. I mean, who else can play hide and seek through Facetime or sing ABC's over the phone. Cutter, my sister's son, is 2 years old. I have been blessed to see him at least between 3-4 times each year since he has been born. This past summer, I got to take off work just to spend the day with him! Tonight, when chatting with my sister on the phone that Cutter was holding, we sang the ABC's. Then I was told I could go to Granny's house to play with him. He wanted to call his Dad and the next thing I hear "Bye Bye Morgan" and a discussion between him and my sister of who could call him. Cutter kept saying he would call. Anyways, this little one LIGHTS up my day and life. Taryn's stories of life with him keep me laughing and you can't help but smile or give him a huge hug every time you see him! I am so grateful to be able to be an aunt and getting to see him grow despite being far away. 

  

L to R: First time I met him, Mountains in October 2012, mimicking me at Thanksgiving 2012. 

Week 3: January 15 to 21

I am grateful for my sister. She is such a support to me.  Even when we shared a bed as little kids, I could always count on her so I could stick my cold little feet on her to warm up! Granted I usually got hit for that until dad yelled "girls." Days I need to vent or cry, my sister is there. When i want to celebrate, she cheers along with me as if something good happened to her too. We have had ups and downs growing up but my sister is truly one of my best friends. Her beautiful son just makes me smile!  She is an awesome person & she just got awarded teacher of the year for her school and county! See, stinking awesome! She is a sounding board when I meed advice and is an awesome one to have on my side if I am mad! She always offers to help tell them off and back me up! We are both in the process if buying a house and it is neat to go through it together, sharing excitement and frustrations.  She is the best sister I can have and I am grateful for her! 

 

Week 2: January 8-January 14

I know I am a date late posting this, but it has been written and thought about countless times! 

January 8-January 14: I am thankful for my parents & their selfless ways. Especially this weekend, they have just been on my mind. My parents are the greatest example I could ever ask for - of a marriage, of parents, of people striving to find their place, of strength, and of wisdom. In my job where I am facing struggling parents and parents who have given up, I just see my parents shine through and I think "I am blessed." Back to their selfless ways - this weekend, Tim's car just died. We ran around, made phone calls, and were trying to figure out how to get to work when we are about 70 miles away from each other during the day. After looking into rental cars, I get a phone call. My Dad called me and said "Mom and I can make it work, borrow our car." Thankfully we turned out to only need it Monday, but they were willing to make arrangements for the whole week, despite the fact they both were working. It saved us significant time, stress, and money. That is only one example. Later in the year I will probably go into specifics with my parents individually - but this week, it is for the fact that they are selfless. They always seek to help others despite whatever is going on in their lives. They serve and expect nothing in return. My parents are my greatest role models and I am truly blessed.

The year of gratitude.

Everyone starts the New Years with resolutions. Most of which fail because they are designed to get to a goal and then be done. However, I have a challenge for myself this year. I loved reading everyone's November Thankfulness entries on Facebook  I have decided to combine that with something I tell client's day in and day out. There have been studies that show thinking and keeping a gratitude journal can boost your mood, imagine that! No surprise there - we are called to be thankful!

This year, I am going to keep a weekly gratitude journal. One thing a week that I am thankful for, grateful for, or love. So to start my new years off: 

January 1-7th: I am so thankful for my husband. He works incredibly hard and is so mindfully focused on making the best and wisest decisions for us. He pulls 13 hour days at work so that he can continue to further his career - not for him, or for power, but for our family. He spends countless hours researching and looking into decisions for our future and making sure I understand all the business stuff I like to ignore. Some may call me spoiled, but he loves cooking and unless he is working a lot, he is usually cooking for me! :)  He spends incredible amounts of time listening to me and making sure that I am happy, that I have someone to talk to, and that I can decompress from my challenging job. He spends time with my family and encourages me to do the things I love in life. The past seven years we have been together have made me realize how lucky I am. I am so thankful and grateful, every day, for my husband and my best friend, and am so looking forward to the future with him...