Day 163: Free dessert

Hi again,
Today is one of those days where I feel that very little is positive and it makes it hard to find something to be thankful for. I wonder why I do this on days like today because I had hoped it would help me get through days like today... maybe it sort of does but some days just stink and finding something new to be thankful for on a day like today feels practically impossible. So I am picking something that is possibly not that good or similar to another post but it is all I can come up with. So I am thankful for free dessert because today (possibly the best part of today) I went with my mom to use another birthday week coupon for free dessert from Tony Romas. It was very good and we enjoyed the time together. We possibly ate too much because we did feel kind of yucky after but that is ok. It tasted really good and was nice to have it free. thanks for reading my blog.

Day 162: Mud!!!!

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for MUD!!! Amazing mud!!! The snow is melting and the ground is starting to show through and thaw out and we are getting mud!! After all the months of snow and ice it is so amazing to see mud! I am so thankful for mud because that means the snow is melting and spring is coming!!! I know it will still likely snow and we are not done with winter but the sun is getting stronger and snow is melting faster and the ground is showing through! Of course it is only the driveway so far and everywhere else is under a ton of snow but that is ok because it won't be so long now! I was attempting to walk where the lawn is normally and I was trudging through knee deep snow which is not so easy so I turned around. Eventually the snow will be gone and the ground will be visible and grass will start growing.... I wish it was already but it will come. The sight of mud is a good sign. lol I also still kind of enjoy mud puddles. lol Never quite grew out of that. :) So today I am very thankful for mud! Thanks for reading my blog.

Day 161: Smiles are contagious

Hi again,
I am thankful that smiles are contagious. This is something simple today-nothing too deep. I think that it's wonderful when I see someone smiling or laughing that I feel better and smile too. It is especially contagious when you see a baby laughing-how can you not smile when a baby smiles? A smile spreads across your face instantly right? It does with me. :)
Some quotes about smiling.

Give away your smiles freely and in abundance. Spread your laughter around as it's contagious.
-- Author Unknown
A smile costs nothing but gives much. It enriches those who receive without making poorer those who give. It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that he cannot get along without it and none is so poor that he cannot be made rich by it. Yet a smile cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile. Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.
-- Author Unknown
Everyone smiles in the same language.
-- Author Unknown
Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
-- Mother Teresa

Keep smiling - it makes people wonder what you've been up to.
-- Author Unknown

Smiles are contagious-be a Carrier!

"A smile is like looking in the mirror. If you smile you're likely to get one back."

"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. They are trifles, to be sure; but, scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. Joseph Addison

Smiling is contagious, you catch it like the flu,
When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too.
I passed around the corner, and someone saw my grin
When he smiled I realized, I'd passed it on to him.
I thought about that smile, then I realized its worth,
A single smile, just like mine, could travel round the earth.

So, if you feel a smile begin, don't leave it undetected
Let's start an epidemic quick and get the world infected!

- Unknown

A smile is contagious, let’s see how far we can spread it.
-Unknown

Day 160: Birthday Rewards programs!!

Hello again,
This post is for yesterday because it was my birthday and I didn't get around to posting. lol
For this post I am so thankful for birthday rewards programs because it makes birthdays worth celebrating. lol A lot of businesses have birthday rewards now and it can range from free meals to desserts to discounts on many things. Personally I have signed up for free meals for Tony Romas and Alberts Restaurant, free dessert for Boston Pizza, Bogo blizzard coupon for Dairy Queen, and more. Apparently I am signed up for the Old Navy birthday program but I didn't recieve anything this year. I also signed up for the Marble Slab birthday program but too late to get something this year but will recieve something next year! Apparently Dennys has a birthday program as well but my sister has been the only one that has actually recieved a coupon from them so I am not sure what is up with that. lol This is only a sampling of places that offer freebies for your birthday and it is very worthwhile to check in to who offers something and what they offer. Also most of the birthday freebies are good for the week of your birthday so you don't have to use them all in one day. lol I eat well during my birthday week. lol Normally I can't afford to eat out so my birthday week is very very nice! So this is why I am thankful for birthday rewards programs!

Day 159: Limitations

Hi again,
This post is for 2 days ago because I was unable to post.
I am choosing to try to be thankful for my limitations. This one isn't easy for me because my limitations cause me so much frustration so often. My back is still so weak and I have limitations with lifting and how long I can sit up for and be out and about. My one year old nephew is getting heavier to a point that it is very difficult for me to lift him and it makes me very frustrated. I am mentioning this only to help you understand what I mean when I explain why I am thankful. My limitations remind me where I can improve because it isn't something that is permanent. They also help me to be thankful for stuff that I have trouble with (like lifting my nephew or other things that are too heavy currently) when I improve and can do it again. Before everything got really bad, I was very strong and I was so proud of that. Now after losing that strength, I can be thankful for that and when I gain it back I will be even more grateful for that ability. When I had to be in a wheel chair, it was a limitation that reminded me to be thankful for being able to walk. I find it easier to be thankful after I am no longer dealing with the limitation though. lol While I am unable to do something, it is very hard to be thankful but I am trying to look at it differently that I can become more aware of everything that I have. It also gives me a chance to improve and accomplish something because if I had no limitations then would I have anything to improve on? I think it also gives me the ability to build determination because I need that to improve and get past my limitations. So this is why I am thankful for limitations.

Day 158: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake!!!

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake! My sister and brother in law and nephew came to visit today to celebrate my birthday since they are unable to visit on my actual birthday. So my mom made my birthday cake for today as well and made chocolate peanut butter cake which was absolutely amazing!!! For anyone who knows me, I am a peanut butter fanatic. lol I can't get enough of the stuff so it is only natural to want a chocolate peanut butter cake. lol It is so incredibly yummy so I am very thankful for it.
I am also thankful for my sister and brother in law and my nephew coming for my birthday and the time we get to spend together. I am thankful for the hugs my nephew gave me today because I think it is the absolute sweetest thing and I just melt. :) So today I am very thankful for alot of things. :)

Day 157: Dental Floss

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for dental floss and the recent realization of all the uses it has. I am actually quite serious about this. First and formost I am thankful for dental floss for the reason it was created-to floss my teeth. I can't imagine life without dental floss for just this reason. Yet there are so many other uses for dental floss! I was surprised when my mom told me that you can use it for making jewelry and so I googled uses for dental floss and I was amazed! It is very strong and can therefore be used for stuff like hanging picture frames. It can also apparently be used to cut cheese, cakes and hard boiled eggs. Did you know that? I didn't. Supposedly it is also good to seperate photographs that are stuck together-I haven't tried this but it would be interesting to test this. This one site (http://www.gomestic.com/) states that you can use dental floss as an emergency shoe lace as well. As I mentioned earlier, dental floss can also be used for making jewelry. It can also be used to tie up poultry for cooking. There are many more uses for dental floss that I haven't mentioned but I will stop with this. I think what I have mentioned gives people a fairly good idea of how useful dental floss can be for stuff other than teeth! This makes me wonder if I should have some dental floss in the kitchen and car for emergencies! lol It may not be such a bad idea though. I am also thankful for the person who invented it even though I have no idea who did. I have never googled that before. Anyways this is why I am thankful for dental floss!

Day 156: My mom getting me unstuck

Hi again,
Well today I am thankful for my mom getting me unstuck or rather getting the car unstuck from the snow. Today I had to go in to town and on the way out of our driveway I got stuck in the snow. With all of the snow we had the past few days (about 9inches), the snow has gotten fairly deep which is what I got stuck in. lol I had gone back to the house and got a shovel and on my way back down the driveway to the car, my mom joined me. She offered to give it a try even though I had been spinning the tires with no hope of getting out. She got the car out of the snow with little trouble. lol I like to think I had a little to do with it from going forwards and backwards trying to get unstuck but I know it was her and her experience with driving in snow. :) I don't think I would have done so well but I have also been driving less than her so maybe I will get better with more experience. It is kind of something I don't want to get experience with because that means I will have to get stuck more times to get the experience but it is also a part of winter I suppose. lol Not that I or my mom have gotten stuck in the snow many times but it does happen. Anyways this is why I am thankful to my mom for getting me unstuck today.

Day 155: Challenges I face

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for challenges I face which may seem odd at first but I hope I can adequately share why. Challenges are not something any of us like to face but we can learn from them and grow as people. We can become stronger emotionally through them. We all have challenges in our lives-none of us are immune to difficult times. We can learn from them or we can be overcome by them I think. I have had times where I thought I could not push through and I have almost given up but I am glad that I haven't. It can seem daunting and impossible to get through while we are in the middle of what ever obstacle we face but when we get through it we are stronger and better as a person. It shapes us and who we are. I also believe there is a reason for everything that happens. Sometimes it isn't apparent why I must face something difficult and then when it is over I can look back and see why it happened. Of course I don't always understand the "why" but sometimes I do and I am thankful for those times. In my life, I have been through alot of physical challenges and I look at who I have become through all of it and I see that I am more equiped to help others by understanding what they are going through. I like to help others and my own obstacles have helped me become more aware of obstacles others face. I can understand what it is like to be in a wheel chair because I have been there even if only a short time. I can understand what it is like to be house bound and shut in because I have been through it. I can understand alot of different obstacles people face because I have experienced them. I do not believe this is so I can feel sorry for others but to be able to understand what they are going through so I can support them. This is what I see when I look at my challenges. If you are asking why I am still going through them if I am supposed to be helping others then you are asking the exact same question I ask myself. lol I don't know the answer. Maybe I have more to learn still or I am not strong enough yet. lol I do attempt to be there for others and I am told that I am, though I wish I could do more than I do. Yet I also don't know how I have impacted others lives by simply listening or offering support. Sometimes that is what a person needs- I know from personal experience. :) I suppose I should say that I am not so much thankful for the challenges but what I learn from them and who I become because of them. Anyways this is my attempt at explaining why I am thankful for the challenges I face. Thanks for reading my blog.

Day 154: Footprints in the snow

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for footprints in the snow. I have always enjoyed looking for footprints in the snow and today I spotted a bunch of tracks in the fresh snow. Mostly birds and some squirrel tracks. I don't know what it is exactly that is so fascinating about them-maybe because they are so delicate and cute and small. Some footprints are not small at all though that come from the moose and deer. lol I like to take photos of them sometimes as well. I think I also like them because it is a little reminder of the wildlife that lives around us that we don't neccessarily see but they leave behind tiny evidence in the form of footprints to show us where they have been. Often the footprints are so perfect that it is kind of neat to look at. I am not sure if I have really answered why I am thankful for footprints in the snow though. I suppose I am thankful for them because they are fun to look at as well and make me smile. But explaining why this makes me smile isn't an easy task. lol I suppose it is just one of those simple little things that bring a smile to my face and I am thankful for that.

Day 153: Free classics ebooks

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday as I was unable to post yesterday.
I know I have already been thankful for ebooks but I wanted to make special mention of the free classics you can get. I love books as I have said many times and I love some of the classics as well. There are also classics that I have intended to read but never got around to it so I love that I am able to get them for free! I read Jekyll and Hyde last week and now rereading Pride and Predjudice. I actually have the physical book of Pride and Predjudice and have read it a few times but I thought I would read it in ebook format for fun. lol Anyways I think there are pretty much any classics in ebook format now which is neat and a great reason to read a few! there are even some non classics that are free as well. Free is great! well for this post I am thankful for the free classics ebooks.

Day 152: First Official Day of Spring

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for the first Official day of Spring despite the weather not cooperating. lol I know that the first day of spring doesn't actually mean much for weather necessarily but it is a great reminder that spring is getting closer where the snow disappears and everything starts turning green. It also reminds me that winter is slowly losing it's grasp and can not hold on much longer. I love Spring because of the new life that comes with it and the first day of spring gets me excited because it is getting so close! I can start planning which flower seeds to plant as well which is so much fun for me! Today I planted my first flower seeds because they require much longer to grow than other seeds do and it was alot of fun. It is weird planting them each year because I need to plant them so much earlier when there is still snow on the ground and spring seems quite a ways off still. But the snow will go and the green grass and flowers will come. It also reminds me that even in our darkest moments, there are better days ahead even though it seems impossible. So this is why I am thankful for the first Official day of Spring. :)

Day 151: Post It notes

Hi again,
Today I really hoped I could be thankful for experiencing a supermoon but I guess it wasn't to be. It was too cloudy to see it. So I was sitting here thinking and I was reminded about post it notes. This may seem like a silly thing to be thankful for but for me post it notes come in really handy at times. I like to cut them in strips and use them as something to mark my place and it doesn't fall out of the book or magazine like bookmarks can and it can be moved to different pages without damaging a page. It can be posted and re-posted a few times. lol They are also handy for the purpose they were designed for which is to write little notes and stick up to remember stuff which comes in really handy for me at times. Yet I am finding that more and more I am turning to my phone to write reminders because my phone is always with me and it saves paper that way too. I do still love post it notes though and thankful for them because they can be very useful. So today I am thankful for Post it notes. Thanks for reading my blog. :)

Day 150: "Life Survival Kit"

Hi again,
Today I recieved an unexpected card in the mail that really made my day from a friend of mine. On the front it states that it is a Life Survival Kit. On the inside it has this pouch with different items in it and a list describing what each item is for. I found it so cute and funny that I wanted to share it with everyone here.
"Life Survival Kit
A LIFESAVER -for the many times you have been one
A PAPERCLIP - To hold it all together
A RUBBER BAND - To stretch beyond your limits
A HAPPY FACE - To remind you to keep smiling
A PIN - to help you pinpoint solutions
A STAR - To remind you to always dream big
A HEART - To remind you to love and be loved
A MATCH - To remind you the smallest things can change a life forever
A BAND AID - To be able to patch it up."
This card could not have come at a better time because of a lot of tough stuff I have been going through lately and it really made my day. It was so thoughtful of the person who sent this to me that I am not only thankful for the card but thankful for her as well. Every time I look at the card it causes me to smile and I am thankful for that as well. So this is why I am thankful for the "Life Survival Kit" today.

Day 149: Storage solutions

Hi again
This post is for yesterday as I was unable to post.
For this post I am thankful for storage solutions because they are a lifesaver in organizing all my "stuff". I admit I am not always the neatest person but I do love when I have the ability to store stuff so that it is orgainized and out of the way. I am a creative person so I have alot supplies and projects on the go and I need storage for it all and ways to have it organized. :) I love creative solutions to utilize the space I have because I do have alot of craft supplies I can't afford to waste space. There are so many different items for storage and it is so helpful when organizing stuff. So this is why I am thankful for storage solutions.

Day 148: Roasted Marshmallows

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for roasted marshmallows. I don't know who ever came up with the thought to place a marshmallow on a stick and place it over an open flame to see what it does but they really were a genious! lol While I didn't have any roasted marshmallows today, I have been thinking about them and wanting one. lol So that is why I am thankful for them today. Just think if someone hadn't had the idea to roast a marshmallow what camping would be like? Just think.... no roasted marshmallows.... it is a truly awful thought. lol We really like roasted marshmallows during the winter too when we have the woodstove going and we can roast them indoors. I don't know who first had the idea but someone had to be the first person to try it right? Well I am grateful for that person also. I love roasted marshmallows because they have that wonderful gooey texture inside and the crunchy (sometimes burnt) outside and when you stuff it in your mouth it just tastes so amazing! Yes I know they are full of sugar and who knows what else but every once in awhile it is ok to indulge! So today I am thankful for roasted marshmallows and craving them terribly after writing this post. lol Tomorrow I must have one. lol

Day 147: Creativity

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday.
Today I am thankful for creativity. I am considered a creative person. I like to draw, paint, do woodworking, scrapbooking, etc. I like to create things. Sometimes it doesn't turn out so well but it is still fun. I like to learn new crafts as well so I can be creative in even more ways. I suppose it is also partly seeing something in your mind and then finding a way to create it. Not wanting to just buy something already made in a certain way but to make something the way I have in mind. Maybe it is also seeing an original idea that is different from what all others have done. I don't like to follow what other people do in terms of making something, I like to bring my own flavour to a project I guess you could say. I am not saying I don't follow patterns because sometimes I do but I usually use them as a guideline or inspiration to come up with my own ideas. I love this quality about myself because I don't have to rely on/follow what others have already done and I can be original and to me original is very good. I suppose Creativity could also be classified as being artistic. Anyways I am really grateful for my creative streak and not feeling the need to follow what everyone else does.

Day 146: snow melting!

Hi again,
I kind of got distracted so this post is a bit late. lol Well today I am thankful for snow melting and spring getting ever closer! The weather really warmed up and today it was +8!!!! The snow has been melting at a very fast rate with the warmth we are getting. I love the sound of the water dripping as the snow melts off the roof and feeling the warmth of the sunshine on my face. I get so excited this time of year when the first major melt happens and the snow shrinks substantially. Of course winter isn't over yet but spring is coming! This first taste of spring before winter's last attempt of staying is always so enjoyable! It gives me that hope that winter really won't last forever. lol It is so exciting to see the snow melting and the ground showing through that has been hidden under a thick blanket of snow for so long. Soon before we know it-we will have mud! It is so weird to think of mud when there is still so much snow and the ground is still frozen but it's coming! There is getting to be puddles of water with all that snow melting. :) I know we haven't seen the last of winter because it is only March after all but as I said, the first taste of spring and snow melting is so wonderful! So this is why I am thankful for snow melting!

Day 145: Laughter

Hi again,
Today has been an extremely difficult day. Today we had to say goodbye to our dog Coco. It was the right thing to do but so incredibly hard. Alot of tears have been shed. But this is not what I am here to talk about. I am here to talk about laughter and how thankful I am for it and how it can ease the sadness in tough times. Today I needed laughter to help with the sadness I felt inside. I chatted with a friend on msn who got me laughing and while we were joking and laughing, the pain subsided and I had a good time. It helped to take away some of the sting of the pain I felt from saying goodbye to Coco and seeing her walk out of my life forever. I still feel alot of sadness but I also feel happy for her because she will be better off where she is now. At least I hope so. I hope we made the right decision. Laughter can heal and it can make a person feel better and can make a bad situation more bearable. There is something almost magical about laughter and the effects it has. It can be contagious. It feels good and helps us to feel good. There are many benefits to laughter. Tonight I needed something funny to laugh about and it helped somewhat ease the sadness I feel. This is why I am thankful for laughter.

Day 144: Moisture meters

Hi again,
Well today I am really thankful for moisture meters. If you are unsure what I am speaking of, it is this thing that you stick in plants and it tells you if a plant is dry, moist or wet. Certain plants are incredibly finnicky about how wet the dirt is so this device comes in real handy! I like to use it on my plants because it is much more reliable and easier than using my finger to test how dry a plant is. It isn't very accurate to use your finger because the top of the dirt can dry out faster than the bottom if you water a plant from the top. If you water from the bottom (which is preferable for plants) then it is very inaccurate to touch the top of the dirt to see if it is dry or not. That is where the moisture meter comes in handy. It has a long probe thing that goes as far into the soil as you need it to in order to guage how much water, if any, a plant requires. That way you know you haven't overwatered or underwatered a plant which for finnicky plants can mean life or death. lol So I love our moisture meter and I am so thankful for it! It is only a few bucks to buy as well so it is completely worth the money. Thanks for reading my blog!

Day 143: the Red Cross

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday because I was sick. So I wondered what I could be thankful for when I felt miserable and I came up with being thankful for the Red Cross. While I haven't needed help from them personally, I see the wonderful work that they do around the world and the people they help. They are an amazing organization. The reason I thought of this was because of the earth quake in Japan and they were ready so quickly to accept donations to help the victims in Japan. The Red Cross helps in so many situations, not just natural disasters. I don't want to give any inaccurate information about them so the best thing for me to do to share the good they do is to direct you to their website. :) It is http://www.redcross.ca/ . I believe people can even donate money through their website as well. When the disaster struck in Haiti and I wanted to donate something, I looked into several organizations and how much actually went to help people in Haiti and I found from my searching that Red Cross took less money for admin costs and what not than other organizations out there. That is a very good thing! Red Cross really does make a difference in the lives of others. Anyways if you would like to see more of what they do, please visit their site. :) This is why I am thankful for Red Cross!

Day 142: days getting noticably longer

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for days getting noticably longer. The other day I looked outside and noticed the sun was setting past 6pm and it hit me how much longer the days have gotten already. To see that it is still light outside and the sun hasn't set yet after 6pm is extremely nice!!! The sun is now setting about 6:30pm which is quite a change from even a month ago. A month ago it was dark by 6:30pm. Then with the time springing forward on the weekend, the sun will set even later if I am thinking correctly. Having more sunlight each day is extremely nice! But I find I don't notice it much and then all of a sudden it hits me how much longer or shorter the days have gotten. Anyways today I am thankful for the days getting noticably longer!!! YAY! Maybe spring will soon follow?!

Day 141: Backyard skating rinks

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for backyard skating rinks because they are private and so close to home! There is no need to travel to a skating rink to skate, I can just put on my skates and walk outside. Also I can be sure it will never be busy because I am the only one who skates on it. lol I can also skate and not worry about people looking at me especially if I fall. lol It isn't fun to have an audience when you fall. :) I am thankful for this today because it was a nice day today and I went skating for a few minutes. With my back, I can't handle alot of skating but it is good exercise for me to move around. So it is really handy to have a backyard skating rink! This is definitely one reason why it's good to live where there is an actual winter! Thanks for reading my blog.

Day 140: International Women's Day

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for International Women's Day. This year marks the 100th anniversary of this day and it  is celebrated around the world to my knowledge. The website for International Women's Day states that "International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday." I think it is wonderful to have a day dedicated to "social achievements of women". It has not always been easy for women and I am so grateful to live in a time and country where women have much the same rights as men do. There are still countries around the world where women are not treated even close to equal and I can't imagine living in a place where I would not have the opportunities or rights that I have and enjoy in Canada. I am grateful to the women who worked so hard for women's rights and equality. Because of their hard work, women like me have so many more opportunities to be who we want to be as well as vote and have our voices heard. thanks for reading my blog.

Day 139: Geraniums blooming inside

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday because I was unable to post for the same reason I wasn't able to post on Sunday. Again I apologize for my absense.
For this post I am thankful for our geraniums blooming that we overwinter indoors. We take the geraniums in when it starts to get cold in the fall and then in the spring put them outside again. They are not quite as happy indoors but they still bloom and it is so nice to have flowers blooming during the winter months. I am especially thankful for the flowers at this time of year when the yearning for spring is so incredibly high.We have been through months of snow and cold now and spring is within reach but still just beyond our grasp. So the next best thing to spring is flowers blooming indoors and it does help. It isn't nearly as wonderful as spring or seeing flowers blooming outside but it does help tide me over a bit till the snow leaves and everything wakes from it's long slumber beneath the snow. Along with the geraniums, our Christmas cactus is still blooming as well. Thanks for reading my blog!

Day 138: Popcorn Twists

Hi again,
This post is for 2 days because I was unable to post anything. I have been going through some tough stuff and I am not attempting to make excuses but just trying to explain my absense.
I know this does not seem like anything really worthy of being thankful for but on Sunday this is all I could find to be thankful for. I do love Popcorn Twists (by Old Dutch) and get them as a treat every once in awhile. Last week I found them on sale and decided to get some. I am thankful for them because they are just so good and there is nothing else quite like them that I know of. Again, this isn't much but somedays I suppose I can give myself some slack right?

Day 137: Houseplants

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for houseplants because they provide something green and alive to enjoy during the long cold winter. We have a ton of houseplants here and I love it. We have spiderplants, different types of ivy, different varieties of Dracenas, rubber tree plants, Christmas cactus (that have been blooming non stop since before Christmas!!) and several other houseplants. There are really too many to mention. lol We also have geraniums over wintering in the house which flower as well through out the winter. It isn't the quite the same kind of green you find in the summer time but it helps to make it through winter. I find this time of year very difficult to get through because we have gone through a fair bit of winter but it still isn't over and spring is close but still just out of our reach. Everything outside looks so lifeless so it is nice to have greenery indoors that is alive and so nice to look at. Houseplants are great any time of year but I am especially thankful for them through the winter months. This is why I am thankful for houseplants. Thanks for reading my blog!

Day 136: Encouragment

Hi again,
Today I am very thankful for encouragment. I have been having a really tough time again lately and I talked to some people on a site I am a member of and mentioned how I have been having a tough time and they offered encouragment and support to me. Their words of encouragment were helpful in reminding me of stuff and what they said to me actually made me cry (thankful tears-not sad tears). Encouragment seems so simple in a lot of ways yet it can be so helpful. Some of the people I know through the site have been through similar stuff to me in the sense that they have gone through back problems or chronic pain or other stuff that they can relate to me and I can relate to them and they know what to say. Others just listen and that can be amazing in itself when you are going through tough stuff and just need to vent. Sometimes we are not looking for answers or advice and all we need is a listening ear or some encouragment that we can get through it. I consider these people to be friends and I am so thankful for them and their words of encouragment and support. I am thankful for my family also and how they encourage me and support me through so much. It isn't just friends that offer support and encouragment! My family does as well. Sometimes support/encouragment comes in the form of tough love which sometimes is what I need while other times it isn't. Anyways I am thankful for encouragment and support. THanks for reading my blog!

Day 135: Coco behaving

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday as I was unable to post yesterday.
Yesterday was quite a difficult day for me and I found it hard to find positives so I must admit I was a bit stuck on what to write about. Then I remembered how Coco seemed to behave with me yesterday and did good which is odd for her and I am thankful for that! She was content to lay down on her mat and chew on her toy which she finished destroying yesterday. lol I laid beside her yesterday afternoon and I read a book and while she chewed on her toy and she didn't jump on me or anything and we had a good time. It was nice. So I am quite thankful for that!

Day 134: homemade bread

Hi again,
Today I am thankful for homemade bread. We don't buy bread that often and we make our own. We have a bread machine so it is pretty simple. We get fresh home made bread roughly every other day which is quite nice! Plus it is cheaper than buying bread in the store!!! It's great no matter what way you look at it. :) I think I will leave it at this and keep this post short because I am extremely tired and I am having great difficulty keeping my eyes open. Thanks for reading my blog!

Day 133: when computers work properly

Hi again,
This post is for yesterday because my computer went wonky and I couldn't get on the internet. Hard as I tried, I just couldn't fix what was wrong. So I am posting for yesterday and I can't help but chuckle because yesterday would have been day 133 and I guess I can't go through that day with out a little hiccup? LOL I am not actually superstitious but if I was this could definitely be something to feed the superstition!
Well I decided for this post it would be fitting to be thankful for a working computer because mine wasn't working. lol I find sometimes when something bad happens, it causes me to be grateful for the times that stuff doesn't happen and everything works fine. Computers are amazing when they work but when they don't work I get so frustrated and they make me want to scream! It isn't always easy to figure out the problem either. At least for me-I may be technologically challenged maybe? lol My first thought is to check for viruses and then I try to check what else could be wrong. I don't know why but for some reason my first thought is it could be a virus. My computer is well protected but I still worry. lol I ended up thinking I need to start backing stuff up in case of it crashing and deleting programs I am not using and in the process of that I must have fixed it? I am still backing stuff up as I try to do regularly because I don't want to chance losing it but not as frantically as yesterday. My guess is a program I updated on the weekend was causing the problem. Anyways this morning I turned on the computer and it's working fine. lol Go figure. I am so grateful for a working computer today!