So grateful for you....

I have been making it a habit to add a focus to the things I am grateful for before closing with each post.This post, I'll start with that.  Basically, I am so grateful for those of you who have asked me to document the lives of you and your loved ones.  You have blessed me a million times over this year.  I have grown and learned much because of you.  I have laughed and cried with you.  I have smiled over and over at the images of you smiling back at me.  That is so good for the soul.  So, in two words that don't seem enough at all,  thank you.   I am really looking forward to 2010 and all the dreams waiting to come true.  Thank you for making my dreams come true this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!

This won't be a long blog post.  I really just want to wish everyone out there the merriest holiday season.
I hope you are enjoying time with the ones you love, who ever that may be.  We are so lucky to be blessed with the loveliest people in our lives.


It is also such a perfect day to reflect on the things you are grateful for.....

(getting old yet--too bad)

1. the man  (the one I married- twice - someday I may elaborate)
2. two of the most beautiful kind daughters any one person could hope for
3. sparkly christmas tree lights...they finally worked.
4. words like joy and hope and merry and seeing them all over the place for a couple of months
5. a day off after Christmas to just chill

Merry Christmas to all!!

xxooo,

Sissel

i've got little elves messing with me.

Been so busy and getting a little behind, and now catching up.  We picked up a Christmas tree last weekend but it has just been sitting there waiting for the party.   No lights. No ornaments.  Just a big 'ol tree.  I started putting lights on it last night.  I figured I could save some time and just put them on before  I went to bed.  It really didn't take too long.  That is until I got the last string of lights up and they all shorted out.  Ugh!  I took off the first strand from the bottom and that seemed to fix it.  I put on a string of lights to replace the one I took off, and it happened again.  Only this time, it shorted out somewhere in the middle.  I took off all the lights.  I tested each string while Kona tested my patience by pulling stockings and santa hats out of the box and began chewing them up.  This began to not be very much fun.  So, I sat down and watched Dexter, the very best show on the tele.

This morning I picked up where I left off and started putting the lights back on the tree.  And Kona picked up where he left off and starting chewing up stockings again.  Ugh!  I got them all up.  Yay!  I stepped back to admire the tree.  Beautiful.  I like a lot of lights.  I went into the kitchen, poured myself a cup of coffee, turned to see the tree.  No lights.  S%@t!!!  Seriously.  I am determined to stay cheerful.  (actually I kind of wanted to rip the lights off and throw them away)  Do lights go bad?  So, my tree is now lit  half way.  I might just leave it.

I am grateful for

1. All the challenges in my life because I know that they will make me a better person.

                        

2. Chris Orwig.  Awesome photographer and person.  I learned about him on lynda.com

                        
3. That I am fortunate enough to be in a position to help others.

4. Elves.  Although, they are messing with me today.

5. Forgiveness.  When practiced, it is a beautiful thing.   ( i forgive the bad dog above daily- sometimes
hourly)


Congratulations to Miss Kendyl!  You won the I-tunes card.  Watch your mail.  And keep the comments coming!!

Blocked.

   I have writer's block today.  I have written and rewritten the first two sentences now about ten times.  Usually about this time, I walk away and don't write anything for a week or so.  I will not let frustration get the best of me, but instead, will try not to torture you with a boring post.  I really am working hard to kick the creative dust to the air.  We'll just have to see.

I will mention the things I am grateful for, sometimes that sparks the fire.

1. Peace officers.  (not just police officers, but all "peace" officers)  

    Today there was a funeral for the four police officers that were shot down in Washington.

    My husband and two fellow officers drove from Newport Beach to Washington in one day in  

    a patrol car from the city to attend and support the families of those killed.  He sent me 

    images which showed "thousands" of police units from all over the nation.  I'm grateful the 

    families have support from the nation at this time.  This brutal, senseless  killing is just

    beyond tragic.

2. Jackets.  And socks.  It is freaking cold outside.  Ok. Ok.  I know it's California and I have 

     been bragging about how perfect the weather is and I'm being a big baby by saying it's cold,

     but it is.  Very.  Cold.

3. That my tires on my car have not gone flat.  I have never had a flat tire. Ever.  (boy I hope 

     I didn't just tempt fate with this-uh oh)

4. The people I work with.  Because they are fun and just go with it when I ask them to dance 

    and be videotaped.  Got to love it!  (there seems to be a story here-maybe later)

5. White House Custom Colour.  For doing beautiful prints/cards and getting them out to me      

     so fast!  They rock!

Wish I had more to add for today.   How about a nice summery image to warm you up?

Have a great night!

It's game day!

I look forward to Sunday.  Family day.  A day to relax.  Game day!  I love watching football with the man.
I didn't always like football.  But the more I learned about the game, the more enjoyable it became.  Plus, the man is just crazy about the Steelers, most Steeler fans are, which is actually pretty fun to be a part of.
So, we will be rooting for Ben today.  He suffered a concussion two weeks ago.  As an emergency nurse, I know that another head injury at this point could be a dangerous risk.  I am praying he is kept safe.  The offensive line better step up.  ( I may be losing the ladies here )  Anyway, hope you enjoy a relaxing Sunday who ever you are rooting for.

And the five things I am grateful for today...

1.  Prayers.  Answered and unanswered.  Do I really need to explain?
2.  Remote controls.
3.  24 hour fitness.  If there were no remote controls, we all might get a bit more exercise.
4.  My Kindle.  For my last birthday, the man bought me a Kindle.  I wasn't sure about it at first.
     I like books. I like the pages, seeing the type on pages, etc.  But since I have been using it,
     I actually love it.  I get the Washington Post.  I save trees. I can carry all my books with me all the time.
     I can get almost any book in an instant.   (which is a little scary-could get expensive) I LOVE it.
     Thanks baby.
5.  Rain. I think it is going to rain today.  Expect the "Storm Watch"- duh duh duuuuuh.  We need it.
     Plus it gives me an excuse to bundle up and get cozy on the couch while it rains outside and read or
     watch football.  Woohoo!

Today.

You're back.  Really?  Keeping me on track here right.  I know this is eventually going to get harder, but
there really is no shortage of things to be grateful for, and it makes me focus on positive things.  So....

1.  U-turns.  I am grateful for u-turns.  I am frequently pointing my car in the wrong direction and it is a bit annoying to have to go blocks out of the way before you can make one.  When I finally can make one,
I realize how relieved and "grateful" I am to have come to it.

2.  Mexican food.  Yummmmmy.  It really is just simply a combination of four or five ingredients cooked in different ways.  But you got to hand it to them, they nailed it!

3.  Potty training.  Think about this for a minute; if people had never started potty training.  Ever.  Wow!  What a mess.  Especially after mexican food.

4. This cool web address: Alltop!  It features all the top sites and stories about EVERYTHING you could want to know and has a space for you to save your own.  It is at the top of my browser.  I love it!
Give it a try.

5.  America.  Even with the mess we are in, I think it is still the best country in the world. ( I do have to get out there and visit a few more...I did love Ireland, hmmmm.  This might change. )
And Congress needs an overhaul and some fresh new representatives.  Come on 2010!!

And an image to go along with all these fabulous gratuitous ideas.......

This image has nothing to do with u-turns, mexican food, or the rest, although it does have an

"Americana-Ralph Laurenish" type vibe so it kinda fits.  It does for me anyway.  I love this image!

Miss Dani and her father look beautiful, stunning if I might say!

Have a wonderful u-turning weekend!

Continuing the grateful series....

Today  I am grateful, thankful, appreciative, indebted for

1. Having a good job.  Everyone should be thankful for this these days. (whew)  I guess I have two.
    Double thankful.
2. My fish stapler.  It's cute and makes me smile each time I look at it.  (it's the little things)

3. Coffee or caffeine.  Yep, has become a staple in my diet.  I like it.
    I'm gonna go get some more.
4. My health. mental and physical.  Life is hard(er) without good health.
5. This blog and anyone that reads it.  (hello-hello- anyone-  are you there?)


P.S.   Now that I look at that stapler up close-it's kinda weird; looks like a trout in a Nemo suit.
Well, whatever.  It still makes me smile.  Thanks for stopping by. Have a great day.

I claim Thursday as my day...

Why? Why not?  I have been thinking about Thursday.  It's just a day that has nothing connected to it.
Monday.  We have Monday morning blues, the "start off the week" day is famously Monday.  Tuesday.
Ahhhh  Tuesday.  Everyone loves Tuesday because it's not Monday.  It's Tuesday!  Yeah!! Then there is good ol' hump day, Wednesday.  Always famous for the middle of the week and that much closer to Friday.  If you make it to Wednesday, you are half way there.  Woohoo!  Plus, it's spelled weird. Really- a silent "d".  What will they think of next?  Then, Thursday comes along.  It's not Friday, but you wish it was.  Poop-it's just Thursday.  On Thursday, everyone is just wishing it was Friday.  So much so, that is has nothing really notable about it except the twenty four hour period keeping you from Friday.  So- I claim Thursday as my special day.

Y'all can have all those other days, I'll even throw in the weekend.  I'm taking Thursday as my own.
Plus it's payday!  (woot woot)

With that said, I have been thinking lately about what can get me posting more often, spark creativity,
get connecting with others, etc. etc.  ( you thought I was just wasting time not blogging, huh?)
So, I am going to post (as often as I can-should be daily, but let's be realistic here) about five things I am grateful for.  This is a grand exercise.  Daily practice on the things you are grateful for helps to keep life in
perspective, and helps one honor life in general.  I think it should be a daily thing, not only reserved for Thanksgiving or holidays.   It should be something you say out loud-you know, to the world, or the internet (same thing).  So I'll start today.  Five things I am grateful for.....

1.  I am grateful that I apparently wasn't having a heart attack when I jogged/ran home from dropping my car off at the shop to be fixed (long story here too)  My faithful carpet cleaner guy, Bennie, was due at my house at 9 AM and he is never late.  I dropped my car off at 8:15 AM and planned to get my daily exercise in by jogging three miles home.  For some reason, I thought I could run 7 minute miles and it would just take me twenty minutes or so to get home.  Ahem.  Even when I was in great shape, I ran 10 minute miles, so I don't really know why I got this time allotment all wrong.  Suddenly, I was not jogging.  I was running.  And having left sided chest pain.  And picturing ambulances hauling me away and Bennie standing on the curb staring at his watch.  And listening to the wrong music during all of it as well.  If you are going to run, pick something uplifting.  I didn't.  It didn't help.  I made it home,  feeling broken and breathing heavily in about 30 minutes.  Bennie was late.  (I am thankful for that too)  And my carpets are clean.  And I didn't have a heart attack.  I think.  I am grateful.

2. I am grateful for my family.  Warts and all.  (yeah, I know you are reading this- please don't be offended. We all have them. Just sayin )

3. I am grateful that my dog threw up on the carpet this morning BEFORE I had the carpets cleaned.
He is getting sneaky again and ate my migraine medication (because it was in a ziplock bag-and before you call the SPCA on me- it came like that from the pharmacy.  I'll yell at them.  And he really had to dig around in my overnight bag to get them and it was on the table. (But actually, he just chewed the packages but didn't get all the way through.)   However, it seems he smelled the chocolate coins
that were in there from Disneyland.  He ate those.  And got sick.  The foil doesn't agree with him. But he
doesn't have a headache either.  I am grateful.

4.  I am grateful that my dog is smart enough not to eat the bag of screws he took off the table this morning too.  Yep, they were on the table in a ziplock bag.  Zip lock bags are used for everything in my house.
Wish my dog could figure this out.

5.  I am grateful someone invented the vacuum cleaner.  The amount of dog hair removed from my floors is just sick.  I don't know how my dog has any hair left on his body.

And because a post is so much better with an image to go along, here is one of my favorites from a recent shoot.  Gets me in the mood for the holidays fo' sho'!!  I should have added I am grateful for this image.  I really love it.

If you have hung in with me this long, congratulations!  If you want to join in with my gratitude series and let me know five things you are grateful for in the comments, dive right in.  I am going to give one random commenter a new shiny I-tunes card!  And then, you'll have one more thing to be thankful for!  Happy commenting and don't forget to leave me your email address!

Have a fabulous Thursday!