Texas Lou

Archive for the ‘Thankful Mondays’ Category

Happy New Year Friends! I really have so much to be thankful for lately!

1. I am sooooo very thankful that we got to spend a long 2 weeks with my mom and extended family for Christmas! We had the most wonderful time and I’ll always remember this trip!
2. I’m grateful that some of my family members who were very sick in the hospital with Covid are all home now and seem to be doing better.
3. I’m grateful for a safe trip to and from Texas. We drove for the first time and I’m glad we made it safely without any incidents. I’m also thankful for my husband who quickly and gracefully handled the minor car trouble we had on the way home as well as for the Honda service center, especially their employee, Carlos, who were able to quickly get our car checked out and ensure it was safe to continue driving (all with a fun kids waiting area too)!
4. I’m thankful for my boys’ school and that they are able to continue to attend in person and learn with their friends and teachers.
5. I’m thankful for the vaccines for Covid that are now becoming available and for all the people who have put their hard work, time, and expertise into developing and testing them.
6. I’m grateful that Ben, the boys, and I already had Covid and recovered without any issues. It is because of that, that we have been able to have some sense of normal back in our lives including getting to visit my family and meet my new nephew, traveling for Christmas and getting to see family we have missed so much, and having less interruptions or worry when it comes to school and protentional exposures.
7. I am thankful for hope for the future. I am very hopeful that this spring and summer, most of us can hopefully try to get back to somewhat of a normal life.
8. I’m grateful for my husband for agreeing to drive to Texas with 3 young children with me. He surely knows the way to my heart.
9. I’m thankful for my best friend Lindsey who checked on our house and kitties while we were gone and has never judged me or been scared to be around me throughout the Covid crisis. I may not have made it through the past few months as gracefully without her!
10. Lastly, I am grateful for life and love. I love life and I love all the people in my life whether I see them every day or once a year. I’m so blessed to know so many wonderful and kind people.

Sending wishes of love, happiness, and health to you all!

Although I haven’t been keeping up with these posts regularly, I do practice gratitude and gratitude journaling daily and have even incorporated it into my parenting so I can teach my boys the value of it. I am extra thankful that I started writing these posts several years ago because it was one of the first things that introduced me to how being grateful can help me live a happier life.

Here’s what I’m thankful for today:

1. I’m thankful for having tomorrow and Friday off of work to spend with my family for Thanksgiving.
2. I’m thankful for fun plans over the long holiday weekend with family and friends.
3. I’m thankful that our internet seems to be back up and running smoothly.
4. I’m grateful for my husband who does so much to help our family and save us money. He seems to have become a very talented Mr. Fix-it over the past few years.
5. I’m thankful for my family’s health.

Happy Thanksgiving friends! Remember what it truly is all about!

Hi friends! I have a lot to be thankful for lately!

1. I am so grateful my kids are back in in-person school. They all seem so much happier now that they can interact with their teachers and friends in-person and have a more predictable routine. I’m so grateful that we had the option to send the boys back to school and that we can afford it.
2. I’m thankful that I get to video chat with my family often and see my sweet niece and nephew since we can’t be together in person.
3. I’m thankful for an amazing friend who has really helped me stay positive throughout the past 6 months.
4. I’m grateful that our friends who moved to Florida a few years ago have moved back to Charlottesville! I’m looking forward to spending more time with them when the pandemic is over.
5. I’m grateful for my husband for all that he does for our family.

Have a wonderful day friends!

Hi friends! Here’s some gratitude for you:

1. I’m thankful for this pandemic. I know, sounds crazy but hear me out. The pandemic and being stuck at home and forced out of all of our routines and habits has inspired, if not forced, me to take a look at my life and make a lot of good changes:
   • I quit drinking so much (I’ve had alcohol on 3 occasions in the past 60 days).
   • I’ve become a better parent. Ben and I spend more time with the kids, take them on bike rides and walks, have movie nights, eat dinner together almost every night, read a lot more, yell a lot less, and are learning to live with each other in our shared space a little better each day.
   • I exercise almost every day and have made it more of a priority.
   • Ben and I are spending more time together and have taken up some shared interests again. We are watching movies and shows together again because I’m not working nights any more.
   • I’m a better cook and have learned how to be more creative and varietal in my meal prep.
   • I’ve worked really hard on having a positive outlook on life and focusing on the positive things and what I can control.
   • Life is a tiny bit slower and a tiny bit less chaotic.
2. I’m thankful for my body and my health. I was having so many health issues in the past year and I’ve finally sorted them all out and am enjoying running and walking and building muscle. I’m so grateful I can still feel young even when I’m pushing 40!
3. I’m thankful for the new members in my family. We’ve gained 2 new babies in the past 6 months and they are just precious and remind me of everything innocent and wonderful in life. They also remind me to cherish the time I have with my babies while they are still young.
4. I’m thankful to my in-laws. They have helped us so much with our boys during the pandemic and have worked with them on learning to read as well.
5. I’m grateful for life! It is sweet and a gift!

Good morning! Here’s a dose of gratitude for you.

1. I’m thankful for getting to see a good friend (social distanced style) that I haven’t seen in a year this morning.
2. I’m thankful for Ben doing bed time with the boys last night so I could attempt to give blood.
3. I’m thankful for sleep and how I always feel better when I get up in the morning even if it wasn’t the best night of sleep.
4. I’m thankful for a fun, close-knit, loving family who makes the effort to stay in touch and support each other.
5. I’m grateful for summer. I love warm weather and sunshine and am really savoring it this year.

I’ve been very good about my thoughts and practices of gratitude lately so I’ll continue it here. I’m thankful for the following:

1. I’m thankful for summer time and warm and dry weather that has allowed us to get out of the house safely and spend time outdoors during a pandemic.
2. I’m grateful for all of the help my in-laws have given us with the kids, especially within the last 4 months, that has allowed us to work from home while schools and camps have been canceled.
3. I’m grateful for video chats and phone calls that help me stay close to friends and family during this time.
4. I’m thankful for our bubble family who helps us feel less isolated.
5. I’m thankful for an amazing, down-to-earth doctor who has been a big help in guiding us toward mental and physical health always, but especially during the pandemic.

Have a happy day!

Good morning! Today I’m thankful for the following:

1. I’m thankful for a good friend who inspired and supported me through 30 days of no alcohol together. I was relying on alcohol way too much to numb uncomfortable and negative feelings and cope with things brought about by the pandemic so my body and mind really needed a break. I feel healthier and happier.
2. I’m grateful for the sunny and warm weather we’ve had. I love summer!
3. I’m grateful for the health of my friends and family.
4. I’m thankful that we got to visit with some family last weekend. It was nice to be together and catch up.
5. I’m grateful for a good life. I feel like my life is definitely full of amazing things and people.

Have a happy day!

Good morning! My gratitude posts have been few and far between as we’ve all adjusted to living in a pandemic but once again, I was recently reminded how important practicing gratitude is to keeping a positive frame of mind.

So today I am thankful for the following:

1. I’m so thankful for an amazing place to work with wonderful coworkers and an awesome boss. Everyone is very understanding and patient when it comes to family coming first and work-life balance. They have made working from home a little less stressful.
2. I’m grateful for running. It is free, brings me closer to others, and can be done social distanced style. I have really been using running as a tool to stay healthy both physically and mentally during the pandemic.
3. I’m thankful for some good friends and their support while I’ve given up drinking for a month. I’m lucky to be surrounded by good and supportive friends.
4. I’m grateful for 14 years together and 8 years married with Ben. We celebrated our anniversary yesterday and it was a good reminder of all that we’ve been through together and how much I love him.
5. I’m grateful for summer and the ability to spend time outdoors. It is so good for me and my kids.

Have a happy day friends!

Things have been crazy (pandemic, staying at home, school canceled for the rest of the year) so now, more than ever, is a time to practice gratitude. Here are just a few of the things I’m thankful for lately:

1. I’m grateful for technology! In the last 5 weeks it has allowed us
   • Online school and educational meetings
   • Virtual happy hours and game nights
   • Online therapy sessions
   • Working from home and online staff meetings
   • Keeping in touch with friends and family
   • Getting important news and update
   • Endless entertainment
2. I’m grateful that we are all going through this together and have one another to lean on. I’m also thankful for all of the helpers throughout this. I like to focus on them rather than the bad things happening.
3. I’m grateful to still have a job and that my company is doing well in these hard times.
4. I’m grateful for my in-laws’ help. They have enjoyed spending time with our kiddos so we can get some work done from home.
5. I’m thankful for spring and warmer weather that allows us to get some outdoor time instead of spending all of out time indoors these days.

I hope everyone is hanging in there and reaching out when you need to. Sending virtual hugs to you all!

We are experiencing an unprecedented and historical time. Our country has been called upon to social distance ourselves and stay at home as much as possible to “flatten the curve” and reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. While the past few days, which have seemed more like weeks, have been hard and stressful, it is important now, more than ever, to remember to practice gratitude.

So here are some things I’m very grateful for despite the hard time we are all having with this BIG change:

1. I’m thankful for an amazing and understanding company, boss, and coworkers and the ability to work from home (with kids around) during this. Many people are losing their jobs or having to forgo pay until this is over. I am very lucky even if it doesn’t feel fair that I have to work all day at home and deal with the responsibilities of being a mother at the same time.
2. I’m thankful for help from my in-laws who live close by. They have offered to entertain our kiddos for a couple of hours on my work days so I can have some kid-free work time which has been so helpful to maintaining some productivity.
3. I’m thankful for technology. We’ve been able to video chat with family and friends and even all of the boys’ classmates at the same time. Social distancing feels a lot less isolating when you can still see the faces and hear the voices of the people you love.
4. I’m thankful to live in a great county where I have faith that the government, doctors, and scientists are working hard to keep us safe. I can’t imagine that some poorer countries will be in as good shape when the pandemic comes for them.
5. I’m grateful for the opportunity to slow down a little. Staying at home has allowed me to spend more time with my family, have a cleaner house, rush around way less, and remember what is important in the grand scheme of things.

I’m sending everyone out there hugs and love during this hard time. We will make it through. Remember, take one day at a time and don’t forget to be grateful for the little things and notice the silver linings.