GGG – Day 6 – Laughter

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Gratitude Gift Giving – What makes you laugh and smile? Aren’t you thankful that life isn’t always so serious?

“We don’t laugh because we’re happy – we’re happy because we laugh.” –William James

Today I am thankful for laughter. It comes in so many different forms and at different times and for different reasons. I love laughing with my kids, with my friends, and family and by myself. I laugh watching other people laugh, even when I don’t even know why they’re laughing. It’s like their laughter sparks something in me that makes me smile just because they’re happy. It’s contagious.

I have a special ability to crack myself up, which then makes my husband laugh, which makes me laugh even more. I think it’s a gift to be able to laugh at yourself too. I try to not take myself too seriously and laugh as often as I can. Sometimes I laugh so hard, my stupid cheeks start to hurt.

Sometimes laughter is a substitute for other feelings, but it feels so much better to laugh and release stress than to yell or cry when you’re frustrated. Do you ever do that, where you just have to laugh to avoid crying? Yeah, me too.

Anyway, I’m thankful for the gift of laughter and the shared joy and connection that comes from it.

What makes you laugh and smile? I hope you laugh every day. It’s good for you!

5Nov2013

GGG – Day 5 – Your Work

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“I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true – hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.”
Ray Bradbury (born 1920);
Author

Gratitude Gift Giving – Day 5. Think about the work you do everyday. Are you thankful for the opportunity to either work from home, work outside the home, work raising a family, or work at being retired? What do you get from your work that is a reward to you?

It’s kind of a cool way to think about work, isn’t it? Sometimes the word, “work” has a negative connotation, like it’s a bad thing. I think we should celebrate the gifts that we receive from creating valuable work, even though it is work and think about how our work creates meaning in our life.

My main job or work is to support our family, to raise happy, well adjusted, responsible and independent contributing members of our society and community, I take care of the domestic logistics and manage getting the kids to and from their appointments. I am thankful that I get to listen to them and support them with their athletics, academics, social, religious and friendship interests and get to be a part of their daily development and change. In addition, I also keep the house tidy, exercise, plan events, entertain, shop and maintain our home, as well as volunteer and help shape our community.

One other part time job I have is selling jewelry as a Stella & Dot Stylist. I love to wear and share cute jewelry, meet fun women at trunk shows, and talk about other things besides housework and make a little bit of money by sharing my passion with others. I love the women I meet and the stories we share and the support that is given to all of us. I love the knowledge I gather when we have team meetings and share best practices. And I love helping other women to feel stylish and cute. Check out my website if you’re interested in learning more about my work, becoming a hostess or maybe even a stylist like me! www.stelladot.com/adrianahartley

I am thankful for my work and the meaningfulness it gives to my life. I am thankful for the role that I chose and am thankful to my husband for supporting my choice and our choice for our little family.

What do you like about your work?

Today I’m thankful that my work allowed me to attend Christian’s cross country meet in the hills. I loved being there to see him participate and finish, even if he does look a bit tired!

4Nov2013

GGG – Day 4 – Your Favorite Form of Exercise

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Gratitude Gift Giving Day 4 – What is your favorite form of exercise? What makes you feel alive after you’re done and gives you energy even when you’re exhausted from it?

Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it. – Plato

I love exercise, but I don’t think of it like work. I love to be moving, trying new things, being outside, on the water, in a gym, alone and with friends. It’s hard to pick just which form is my favorite because I have many.

Today I was thankful for the TRX class with Julie again. TRX Suspension Training was developed by the US Navy Seals and includes straps that you “hang from” to do all kinds of resistance training exercises that kick your booty. The class helps to develop strength, balance, flexibility, movement and stability. It works all your core muscles using your own weight as resistance and it’s very challenging. I’m hoping it will help with improving my tennis game and just help me to get stronger in general. I like the feeling of being aware of my muscles, which means they are sore and hopefully improving.

After our TRX class, there was a dance class waiting to come into the gym. Julie was brilliant and suggested we stay for that too. I think she just wanted to get out of doing laundry and chores! But I was game!! She suggested we stay for half of it, but we loved it so much we stayed for the entire class and danced and laughed and just had the best morning ever. The class was called U-Jam Fitness, and it was a mix of music from around the world including Bollywood to Hip-Hop to athletic cardio dance. There was so much energy in the room, mostly from the regulars that must attend all the time because they seemed to know what they were doing. I, on the other hand, felt like I had two left feet, but I did it anyway, trying to watch the instructor and to keep up. It felt so good to dance like a wild one, and to the point where I couldn’t raise my arms anymore or squat any lower! I can’t wait to go again next week for some more “abuse.”

So today I’m thankful for TRX and U-Jam Fitness Dance classes in the gym with Julie. And I’m counting on enjoying some yoga, tennis, and perhaps volleyball and kettle bells the rest of the week. Life is good. Go out and “play!”

2Nov2013

GGG – Day 2 – Food, Glorious Food

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Gratitude Gift Giving (GGG) – Day 2

What food makes you happy? What type of food do you love and crave?

““All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”
― Charles M. Schulz“

I love food. I don’t discriminate or judge. I just love it all. It’s probably why it’s so hard to lose weight, because I love it so much. I get such pleasure from just looking at food, shopping for it, cooking it, eating it and going out for it and sharing it with family and friends.

I don’t know if I could pick just one favorite. But today, my favorite food was the Dark Chocolate covered Rice Krispy Treats with Sea Salt sprinkled on top with Halloween Sprinkles too. April made these and brought them over to our Halloween party. There were some left over and they made for a great breakfast treat this morning!

Thank you April, for fulfilling my chocolate fantasy!! Oh, they were so good!!

13Jul2013

Being Loved

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Being loved is the best feeling. Period. There is nothing better. Nothing.

This post is a bit personal, but aren’t most? We’re still resettling and it’s the honeymoon stage, and I’m loving all the attention being showered on my family. Thank you for all your shared calls, emails, texts and love and visits.

My parents drove up to my house to prepare for our arrival this week, as I’ve already mentioned. Seeing my kids love on them and tell them how much they’ve missed them and love them, is so nice to see and hear. The love dance is swirling through my house in little moments and details and it fills my soul. For example, I loved just watching Charlie work with my dad on fix-it projects around the house.

My friend Julie had coffee and snacks waiting for us this morning at her house. The kids played while the women chatted and sat and enjoyed her beautifully remodeled house and sunshine out on her patio. I’ve missed days like today and am so happy to be back and in her kitchen again…the best part of the home!

Tracy came by with her kids on bikes and asked if Charlie wanted to go to her house and play. Of course, he gladly went off and had a great time with his friends, riding his bike with them. Thank you, Tracy!

Julie and her kids stopped by with my favorite artichoke dip and stayed to chat for awhile before we headed to the pool.

Our swim club has a Friday night potluck BBQ that we all enjoyed with April and her family. I learned to play Bocce ball with the little ones and made some new friends while playing. Mom and dad joined us too, and it was great to sit outside and NOT have to cook or clean!!

Marilynne stopped by and dropped off a dinner for us. She’s been making a new Japanese curry and told me about it and I had mentioned I wanted to try it sometime. There she was with a delivery on my porch! Thank you ML! You spoiled us and it was quite delicious!

And the best part of my day was when my sisters and nieces arrived from Thousand Oaks. They drove 6 hours to come and see us and met us at the swim club. We went out to the parking lot to greet them and couldn’t stop hugging! It’s been almost a year, you know! Way too long for me! I’m thankful they drove the distance to be with us.

Reunited and it feels so good!

I am loved and I am thankful! Love y’all!

16Jun2013

Day 326: Today is My Birthday!!

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I Am Happy!

I love birthdays! I love mine and yours and celebrating life. I love the songs and presents and decorations. I love the attention and the meaning of birthdays, and bringing people together. I love chocolate cake and ice cream and blowing out candles, as long as I don’t think of spit flying out on the cake when you blow!! I am so thankful every time another milestone comes and have no problem with getting older, except I don’t really like the wrinkles and gray hairs that serve as receipts for the aging process. I’d just as well skip the receipt!!

Today is my birthday and Father’s Day and I was lucky enough to celebrate it in Amsterdam with my family and friends, out on the water. Nothing makes me happier than being on the water, in the sunshine and being with loved ones. Thanks, Kurt and Ali for sharing your boat and day with us. And thank you Blythe for my cool card and delicious birthday cupcakes. You made my day!

I Am truly blessed and am filled with gratitude for the 40+ years of my life! It just keeps getting better! Thanks mom and dad for giving me life. Thank you to all of my friends, family, teachers, mentors and acquaintances who have connected with me and made my life more meaningful.

My birthday wish is to share with you peace, love and happiness. Namaste.

Char and I went for a bike ride with the Bakfiets this morning and found a fun, new little park.

My “twin” boys enjoying each other on the tram ride into the city. I love when they get along.

I love Amsterdam!

Beautiful Amsterdam from the Prinsengracht

My honeys making our birthday/father’s day dinner. Juliana picked the menu and Jeff helped her while I got to lay on the couch. Thanks, guys!! The best part was not thinking of what to eat/cook and hearing Juliana say she understands how much work it takes to get a family meal on the table. Love her. Love this life. Loved the dinner! xoxo Thank you!!

24Mar2013

Happy One Year Blogging Anniversary!

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Here I Am, 365 days later… still writing!

Today it has been one year since I began writing every day. I never knew I would enjoy it as much as I do and never, ever thought of myself as a writer.

My passion is connecting people, finding things we have in common, supporting one another, finding joy every day, loving my family and friends, and creating communities.

Thank you for reading and for sharing your comments, private messages, stories and connections along the way and creating bonds of friendship and community.

Thank you for sharing this journey with me.

I am blessed.

Namaste.

22Nov2012

Day 120: The Thanksgiving That Was

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I wasn’t planning on making a Thanksgiving dinner tonight and then April and Steve sent us a care package yesterday that inspired me to make one anyway! It included stuffing, gravy, cranberries and pumpkin filling and spices. I just had to add the fresh ingredients, no problem! I would have made a pie, but I couldn’t find a pie crust anywhere, and trying to make one from scratch just wasn’t on my fun list.

Jeff picked up the kids from school and practice so that I could get cooking a little earlier than normal. It was really nice to actually have a Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving, together as a family in Holland, especially since I’m really homesick this week. April was making Diane’s potato casserole tonight from the Ponderosa Cookbook, so I decided to make the same casserole so we could “share” a dish. It was the one cookbook I actually packed from home. We also had roasted turkey breast, fresh bread, cranberries, stuffing, the potato casserole, gravy, green beans with toasted almonds, and roasted brussel sprouts with bacon! Mmm…I set the table with a candle for each person in honor of the lights that have gone out this year, along with a love note. Dinner was yummy and my heart is content.

We enjoyed chatting on Facetime with Dylan and his family, and chatting with Julie, and sharing connections on Facebook – such great ways to stay connected with loved ones when we can’t be together. I’m thankful for technology!!

Wishing you all a great day with family and friends, thankful that we’re sharing this journey together.

Namaste.

20Nov2012

Day 118: Thanksgiving, Giving Thanks

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Today I’m thankful for all 98 of you who choose to follow my blog with me every day. It’s exciting to think that you’re interested in what I have to share and hopefully my life story connects with yours in some type of positive way.

I’m thankful for those that check in once in awhile and like what I have to say, and for those that send me personal emails and facebook messages too. You make me smile. It’s so nice to be loved and liked.

I’m thankful for my husband who had the crazy idea to go on this journey in the first place. He works so hard to support our family and I appreciate all that he does to provide for us. Sounds so old-fashioned, but it works for us. I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom (and go on Wheel of Fortune or Price is Right) and because of him, I get to live my dream. I wonder if I’ll ever get on TV??

I’m thankful for my kids who are such cool people, with loving spirits and funny personalities (and BIG opinions!) I enjoy their company and am so lucky that we get to live together and play together. I love hearing their stories at the dinner table, watching them interact with their friends, and seeing them mature and grow up in front of me. I am blessed.

I’m thankful for my parents who have been staying with us for a month already. They left tonight to stay with relatives for a couple nights and I already miss them. My dad has been busy in the kitchen making bread and cookies and helps our oldest with math homework every night. My mom makes dinner for us and cleans up and magically makes the laundry disappear. We play cards, shop, cook, eat french fries, explore Europe, drink coffee together in the morning and drink wine together at night. What could be better? I’m so lucky that they enjoy being with us and we enjoy being with them. What a gift to move to Holland and have them be with us for 1/6th of a year! It will be weird when they leave us next month, but let’s not think of that just yet.

I’m thankful for my friends and sisters and family back home that keep in touch and call and text and write and send me cards and packages in the mail and let me know that they are holding my spot back home. I long to hug them, and play tennis, volleyball, paddle and hike with them, and drink coffee!!

I’m thankful for the new friendships I’m making in Holland – that make the transition to a new place so sweet. It’s nice to come to school everyday to pick up the kids and to see familiar faces and to chat. Today the kids had practice until 5 pm and it was actually a joy to sit in the cafeteria, drinking coffee with the other mom friends and sharing stories. I’m excited to celebrate a Thanksgiving potluck dinner with a few of them!! I’m looking forward to more shared experiences that help to build friendships too.

I’m thankful that the sun peeked out today. I realize how much I love and need the sunshine and when it shines, I’m beyond thrilled. Today I sat in the parking lot before going indoors to play tennis so that I could feel the sun on my face. I didn’t even want sunglasses on. It’s strange how when you don’t have something, you feel it and want it more!! I’m hoping for more days like today.

Happy Thanksgiving! Love, Adriana