The Kind of Day I Had

The kind of day I had was one where it seems like one bad thing happens after another. It started when my husband brought our youngest son into our room first thing in the am with a diaper that was too full....Ooops, a leak on our King size mattress that is only a few years old! Eak!

The next little issue that always seems bigger at the time was the fact that the boys would not go down to sleep at nap time. They fussed for a good hour before one finally dosed off and I caved with the other and put a movie on so he'd at least stay in his room for some "quiet time". Shortly thereafter I was shaking a big can of white paint so that I could touch up the train table when "cur plunk", I dropped it on the floor and it burst open! Luckily the paint was thick and most importantly, I was in the laundry room where the carpet can be thrown out!

Next, I went out to do some errands and get my husband a battery for his watch. I took the battery with me but what do you know, I lost it! Somewhere along the way I lost it! He doesn't know yet. I don't think he could handle this info at the moment.

Which leads me to the final scene - I got home a little later than I should have from my errands to find my husband battling with our oldest about getting into bed. Then he said "go look in our room". Our son had taken two different shades of marker and drew all over our exposed mattress...exposed because, if you recall, the morning accident (sheets and mattress cover are in the wash). What a day.

And now, before heading off to bed, I will thank God for each of the tribulations that I faced today. Why? Because these things are nothing, a ridiculous flash in the pan really - I mean, well, you'll understand...Prepare yourself...

Today my sister's best friends buried their infant son. He was due this week but did not make it into this world. His father carried his tiny casket and did not set it down for the entire service. I was not there but this is a visual that brings further heaviness to my sorrowful heart. I don't know why I am posting this or if I will leave it up - I do want to honour their baby boy angel. A shining star.

I wrote something for him but have not given it to them so I will not post it here. I just wanted to take time out to write because this is something that I have thought about constantly since I found out what happened, last week. It's like it is part of me. My prayers are for God's comfort for this family. My heart goes out to them...and now, probably, so does yours. I may write again, we'll see.

Prayers for comfort, strength and faith are appreciated.

GRATITUDE: Starting Your Gratitude Journey

I have been meaning to do a post about gratitude for some time. The topic of gratitude comes up in my mind on a daily basis. I have learned that being grateful is significant on many levels. It is important spiritually, physically, emotionally and much more. Think about how much better you feel when you take time to focus on the joys in your life and things that you are grateful for, rather than on pains, mistakes and other misfortunes. There is also a way of thinking that believes that if you are not truly grateful for the good things you already have, you will not attract more good things into your life.

For myself, I just like the positive energy I get when I am being grateful. I am grateful for God's many graces in my life - and for every gift; from very small to very spectacular. I give my thanks to God because I sincerely believe that he makes all good things possible. Let me tell you, I have a lot to be thankful for! So, let's get started:

Oprah brought up the idea of writing in a "Gratitude Journal" on a show she did a long time ago. I think I probably saw the show in 2002 or so. I immediately started a Gratitude Journal for my (then) boyfriend and soon-to-be fiance. I was looking forward to giving it to him someday, and in fact, did so as a gift on the night before our wedding. A Gratitude Journal can be for yourself or for someone else. It can only contain positive thoughts, no matter what. I found this to be such a therapeutic thing to do because even if I felt something negative, I could only write about the positive. Try it and you will see what I mean. You may have had a hard day and feel like writing words like "but" or "except" - let's face it, it is common practice to want to throw in (or unload) our rants, complaints and demands when we are reflecting about our day. The Gratitude Journal should only contain content that is positive!!! One way to get started is to just begin writing once a week or once a day (or whenever you get around to it), and choose one thing to be grateful for.

Examples for your spouse could be:

I was grateful that you were tuned in to my needs and took the kids for a walk so I could have some breathing room for an hour.

I am grateful that you are such a good person and a good friend to people around you.

I am grateful that you want to pass on faith and confidence to our kids.
I am grateful that you never complain about taking out the garbage.
I am grateful for the awesome necklace you bought me for Mother's Day (hee hee).

Anything positive will work. It can be actions or attributes or anything that comes to mind.
Your Gratitude Journal could also be a reflection of the qualities you like in yourself or your gratitude in your faith. Wouldn't it be nice to someday give your children Gratitude Journals that you had added to over the years?

For those of you who are computer buffs, you could start a Gratitude Blog or just add it to your usual blog. You could also just keep a list in Word or any other format. I am looking for a neat way to incorporate it into my Blog. I will get back to you on what I come up with.

In the meantime, here is a relevant web page that I came across on the Internet:

GRATITUDE

The Gratitude journal--what a wonderful idea first brought to light by Oprah Winfrey on her TV talk show. She is right on!
I thought of the many times in my life I had felt sorry for myself because something hadn't worked out. I thought of the time I hadn't gotten the raise I had worked for. I still struggle with weight problems after years of 12-step support group meetings, and I miss my grand children now that I am across the continent from them. These are but a few things I have moaned and groaned about over the years.
A lot of people ask me for advice. They don't know where or how to start their journey of healing . They have no idea how to start their life over after a divorce or the death of a spouse. How do you begin to pick up the pieces of a life that lays in splinters at your feet? Which direction do you place your feet as you stand at the crossroads of your life? How do you learn to forgive? How do you forget? What do you do after losing a job? Oprah has shared the answer with the entire world. You begin by picking up a note book or a journal and writing each day in it.
What do you write? You pick at least three things you are grateful for. It might be difficult at first. You may have to struggle to find something to be grateful about if you are in the middle of a crisis. They may seem trivial compared to your situation at the moment. But, it will change your life.
I had a young lady ask me to sponsor her. The first thing I had her do was start a gratitude journal. I never heard from her again. For some it is just too soon to start the healing process. Some of us are not ready to heal. Many still have to reach the conclusion of the grieving process. Some just haven't hit bottom yet, and still more think it is silly and a waste of time. There are all sorts of excuses for not beginning. But, let me share something with you. Even if you do not think it will be of any help to you--even if you do not feel grateful right now-- even if you can only find one tiny thing to be grateful for--start. Just take a piece of paper and begin. It is as simple as that.
This simple thing has the ability to change your whole life.
I am grateful that I am able to share this with you at this time!
I am grateful for the internet, for it has opened up the entire world to life-changing information!
I am grateful for my husbands patience and commitment to help me learn to create web pages so that I may see my dreams fulfilled!

My Gratitude Journal Entry for Thursday, July 5th/2007

I am grateful for two beautiful children

I am grateful for the sweet personalities of both of our children (they take after their Dad)

I am grateful for my faith which also gives me peace and happiness.
I am grateful for my friends.
I am grateful for the other great moms in my life that I have shared so many ramblings about the trials and tribulations (and triumphs) of motherhood with!
I am grateful for my husband who is a true gift in my life and the lives of our boys!
I am grateful for extended family...what a great gift to our children!
I am grateful for a comfortable life.

I am grateful for happiness and so very grateful for health.

I could go on and on. I hope you can also! Don't delay, start your journey of gratitude today!

MOTHERHOOD: Elizabeth Edwards on Oprah

It is through tears that I type this blog entry. I happened to turn on the TV a few minutes ago and tuned in to Oprah. Her guest is Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former senator John Edwards...but that doesn't really matter to me, what I connect with her on is her love for her son. They lost their son in an accident in 1986. What caught me right away was the exerts from their son's journal. He said "someday I want to be as good of a parent to my kids as my parents have been to me". What an honour. He was 16.

The show is still on, which is why I am writing in both past and present tense. Elizabeth wrote a book called Saving Graces. Oprah commented that it was a great read that she highly recommends to anyone going through the loss of a loved one.

Another thing that struck me from the interview so far was that Elizabeth said she always read the same books as her son when he was in school (books that were assigned reading). What a great thing to do. What a caring, involved, connected mom! She said that her relationship with her son was so complex and so complete that when the family wrote him letters after his death, all she wrote on her paper was "you know'. After his death, she went to his grave daily. She got the senior reading list from his school and would go to his grave and read from the list. This gave her a way to stay connected, because it is something she would have done with him, had he have been alive.

I am touched. My youngest son is on my lap as I write this...

He is getting teeth, so I should go now to comfort him.

Be grateful and embrace motherhood today - I know I will.