I’m really looking forward to beginning our new primal lifestyle on monday – my sleep habits have gotten out of control – up down and everything in between thus i’m a little late starting on this…

1) I’m so grateful that I was able to squeeze an appointment in with my tax guy – calling the week tax’s are due is a bit stressful and I haven’t done my own in years…

2) After making the appointment suddenly I couldn’t find the W2!!  I’m so happy that I found it pretty quickly this morning – woo hoo!!

3) Duke continues to improve and it’s so great to see him getting stronger each day – on nights when Brian’s not here he snuggles in bed with me and I loved waking up to him softly snoring in the crook of my arm…if that makes me the crazy dog lady so be it…I love my boy!!!

4) I’m happy to be here to babysit my nephew so that my sister can get to a much needed massage appointment.  She does so much for me and it’s nice to be able to do some little things for her once in a while.

5) as silly as it sounds I’m thankful for facebook…after growing up on the East Coast but moving to the West Coast 13 years ago I have a lot of important people who I would never get to see/keep up with if it weren’t for that addicting little website – so thank you facebook for keeping me up to speed with family and friends

6.) i’m so glad the sun is out today – brayden is so much happier when he gets to enjoy our big yard, made even bigger recently when my sister disassembled the Pirate Ship she built for him…it was fun but I love having the whole yard back!!

7) Enjoying a warm buttered toast with jam on it for one of the last times, it’s comforting and yummy – thank you kelly for buying bread!!

There are many challenges living with an autistic child but things have become so much better now that Brayden has in home therapy 5 days a week.  We have seen major improvements and i’m so glad today he has such amazing therapists.

9) Thursday’s are a nice time for me to still have some time alone but weekends are just around the corner which means quality time with my boyfriend, his kids, my sister and my nephew – always grateful for time with the ones that i love…

10) I’m so happy and blessed to have a best friend who lives close and will help me out next week on our first weddings (for cupcakes) thanks leah – love you!!!

This morning I am grateful for the following 10 “things”

1) I awoke to sound of rain falling and the feeling of hands that I love pulling me close.  I’m so grateful and lucky to wake up beside a man that I love that truly loves me back.  It didn’t happen overnight but second chances and love after divorce are a reality and I am oh so lucky and happy!

2) Next on my path of gratitude I heard the familiar sound of Duke bumping the door as he heard us stir in the morning – in light of his recent paw injury this was a great sign.  My little “hop along” is moving faster every day and even his resistance to the bandage is a good sign that makes me say thank you!

3) A gloomy rainy day and I am so lucky that I am able to “work” from home and spend the day in comfy, warm sweats avoiding the traffic and slick roads.

4) I got a great night of sleep – not always a given for me – I am very grateful and starting to feel refreshed after my week in the cold…

5) I received an amazing and sweet email from one of the brides we are making cupcakes for – it made me smile and feel so good.  Human connection is what it is all about and I’m so grateful to connect with so many amazing people.

6) A good and healthy laugh in the morning is a great way to start the day – laughing with my sister, happy to have her in my life as the best sister wife, roomate and big sister that anyone can ask for.

7) Right before leaving for vacation I received the letter I was waiting for from the IRS – they realized their audit of me was incorrect and I was entitled to all of the deductions that I took…ah vindication.

Today is Wednesday – in terms of my relationship it’s our Saturday night – last night of the week sans kiddies and I’m looking forward to another evening with my lover…simple pleasures never to be taken for granted.

9) My nephew, off from school for an entire month, has therapy twice today.  This helps to give my sister a break, give him more of a schedule and give us all some sanity.  Thank you thank you!

10) Last but not by any means least, I’m grateful simply to wake up to live another day on the beautiful planet.  I am open to recieve all of the gifts that the universe has in store for me – thank you!

There are things that I know and believe with all of my heart yet somehow when life gets busy and hectic I let them slip aimlessly by not giving them the attention they deserve.  This is the case with a simple and powerful concept; gratitude.

One cannot and will not have more; more blessings, more abundance, more happiness, if one does not appreciate what they already have.  I believe this and have seen it to be evident in my life yet sometimes I don’t take the time needed to be truly grateful.  for the next month I will start my morning with a quick and simple post – a list if you will of ten things I am currently grateful for.  Large, small, materialistic, relationship driven whatever the case I will simply think about, acknowledge and feel gratitude for my life.

Today I begin with my mother.  A little over a week ago she had to go into the hospital for an urgent surgery.  She was upset, scared, panicked and overall in low spirits.  It was only days before my week vacation to the Grand Canyon and I am 3000 miles away so my influence was limited to say the least.  I am so happy and grateful to say her procredures were successful, she is home from the hospital and as of our 45 minute conversation yesterday in great spirits!  I love you mom and wish you nothing but the best and a speedy recovery!!

My dog Duke currently suffering from a limp as a result of a cut on his foot pad seems to be doing a little bit better each day.  He’s affectionate, sweet and finally starting to look like his old self – I’m grateful the injury was minor and he has been allowing me to dress his wound with a bandage and sock for protection.  He is the best dog I have ever known and he means so much to me…

I’m so happy and grateful for the amazing vacation that my boyfriend, his kids and I took to the Grand Canyon.  Everything fell so perfectly into place on our vacation from the location of our camp site, to our camp neighbors to the clouds literally clearing from the sky minutes before our sunset tour began.  It was a week full of fun, adventure and some hard work at camp that was well worth it and will provide us all a lifetime of memories.

I’m so blessed to have so much love in my life.  From life long friendships to my sister and nephew who live with me to my boyfriend who not only brought romantic love into my life but who also gave me the feeling of family.  I’ll never forget on our trip when his 6 year old daughter wrote me a note – a big challenge as she is still learning to read and write.  It said “I love you Robyn.  You feel like family to me” and it made me tear up slightly.  I am so blessed that in less than a year I have been able to share a relationship with his kids that feels very maternal.

My fifth reason for gratitude surprises even myself at times but I know that without her and her tolerance life would be sooo much more difficult and challenging.  I am grateful for my boyfriend’s ex wife.  She allows me to play a major role in the lives of her children and has even thanked me on occasion.  All of us, she, her boyfriend, my boyfriend, her parents and I are able to spend time together without any drama, issues and with minimal awkwardness all because we know that the kids are more important than any of our egos.  I think this must surely be a rare arrangement and I am so blessed to be a part of something so easy and natural.

Nearly 13 years ago I packed up my life, asked my parents to sell the car I was leaving behind and headed across the country from Connecticut to San Diego to start a new life with my best friend Leah.  I had no idea what that would mean and I am so blessed and grateful to say that it has been nothing short of amazing.  I am so happy to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the country and to have amazing friends, family and the love of my life close to me.  By those standards I am rich beyond measure and oh so grateful!

Although the housing bubble was a catastrophe for our economy, I am still grateful that my ex husband and I were able to purchase a house during that time.  The house that I retained after our divorce and my sister and nephew moved into.  It is not a large house, it is not perfect but it is mine and my sister was able to remodel so much of it and make it a beautiful space for us to spend our lives.  My dog, nephew and boyfriend’s children have a yard they love to play in and for this I am grateful and happy!

After a week of vacation it’s so nice to have creamer in the fridge and coffee here and ready for me to enjoy.  I’ll drink to starting my day with something hot and comforting!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

I spent 6 days in a tent in the Grand Canyon.  Overnight temperatures were in the 20′s and I could see my breath in the tent.  I am grateful to be indoors with access to heat, air conditioner, socks, blankets and all of the other comforts of modern life.  I am so lucky to have all that I need and so much more.

Health is something we all take for granted until we don’t have it.  I’m so grateful and happy that in my 30′s I have been more adventurous, pushed my body harder, farther and more often than ever before in my life.  I know that the strength I have found I will continue to build on for years to come and I will get stronger as the years add on.  Thank you for my health, the first and most important key to happiness and freedom!