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It's a little late in the evening but this is my Thankful Thursday for today, a part of my weekly ritual of sharing what has me feeling grateful lately. If you feel inspired to do the same, I encourage you to share  your's in the comments below. 

1. Recently Stephen surprised me with a wonderful trip to the spa. It was an experience like none other!    If you are in the San Antonio area, I highly recommend A.R.T. massage body spa. The ladies there are extremely fabulous and I had such a relaxing experience---I was as calm as a hindu cow by the end of the day. Best of all is that the products they use are organic!   

2. Pinterest has been my sanctuary for inspiration lately. Have you checked out my boards? It is just what the doctor ordered in between juggling a feisty toddler and a full courseload! 

3. In just a few short weeks we will have our darling Jeremiah (Stephen's son) with us for the summertime! I miss that little boy very much. 

Thankful Thursdays

Just hanging out with her sweet cousin Spencer.

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I am bringing Thankful Thursdays back this week. This is where I take the time to reflect on things that have brought me joy recently, sometimes silly (okay, usually silly) but sometimes not. I welcome you to share what you are grateful for recently in the comment section.

1. Working out together as a family. I have never been much of a runner, even when I was in the military; I did it because I had to and that was about it. However, lately we have taken to running as a family and I am starting to enjoy the challenge of pushing myself. We are hoping to do the Color Me Rad 5k in November together (yes, even Sommer!)

 2. Cooking meals from scratch. There is something very rewarding about not only a homecooked meal, but one that was made from scratch. I feel accomplished when everyone is well fed. What has really helped is planning out our meals for the week.  It takes a lot of the stress out of the question “what’s for dinner?”

3. Speaking of cooking…I find myself strangely happy when I bust my mother’s pyrex measuring cups out of the cabinet to cook with. I have plenty of photos, drawings and other things to remember her by and yet these are the things that bring me the most comfort and make me feel close to her again.

4. Rosie’s sense of humor. This kid is hilarious. I am so grateful for that cheeky little grin, the shrill laughter as waddles away quickly to escape tickles. She is just bursting with personality these days.

 She loves her tia Aimee very much <3

Thankful Thursdays

Presenting this week's edition of Thankful Thursday, a small list of things that I am thankful for. Seven things for seven days of the week.

1. Old fashion snail mail...I love getting letters. <3
2. My last subscription to Real Simple arriving in the mail. I really love this magazine but it's time I give up the guilty pleasure for something less wasteful of paper.
3. I am officially on terminal leave. No other words need to be said except for maybe: Adios Armada
4. Rose's personality. It is really emerging and I love the affectionate, hilarious girl she is becoming. I can't help but gush. Her shrill little squeals of delight absolutely melt my heart.
5. The people who made time to come out for a good ol' Navy send-off dinner. Good food and awesome folks, what more can one want?
6. All the helpful people at the airport who made flying with a pre-toddler easier on this poor mama. I won't forget that gaggle of grandmas on the first flight back to Texas, you ladies rocked!
7. Making new friends through an online class. One of the hardest parts about not going to a regular university can be the lack of social contact among students.

Thankful Thursdays

I don't know why I let this regular blog post fall by the wayside. Taking the time to appreciate the little things that have crossed my path through the week is quite therapeutic. It helps me take a step back from the pesky annoyances that I admittedly sometimes let get the best of me and really focus on what's good. So here we go, this week's Thankful Thursday:

1.) After a whole lot of running around, my separation package is finally moving along.
2.) ...Which means t-minus 10 days until I am enjoying my terminal leave and bye-bye to the Navy!
3.) Rosie has been extra huggable lately. She has never been much of a cuddler but last night she laid on my chest and we just laid on the couch together.
4.) The kindly woman at the DMV absolutely made my day by being so helpful and really just going above and beyond what I ever could have expected.
5.) I got over my pinterest-phobia and discovered a delicious nutella cookie recipe. YES!
6.) Having that friend who always can make you laugh is great. This week I have been reminded how wonderful it is to have a small handful of lovely people in one's life.
7.) I really feel like I know where I'm going in my life. Last night I stumbled upon something I had written awhile back and it gave me a renewed empowerment, a sense of confidence that I didn't even realize I had been missing recently.

Love & Peace
Nicci

Thankful Thursdays

(a wiggly monster captured in a candid image)

It has been a few weeks since my last Thankful Thursday post. Sometimes it is all too easy to get stuck in the routine of trudging along without stopping to appreciate all of life's daily blessings. With that said, this week I am grateful for...

• Spontaneous visits from a wonderful friend. We are so happy to have you Miss Lauren aka Auntie Curls. I cannot wait for the day that we all live much closer and can hang out regularly.
• Finding my spark again. Lately writing was just so... stilted for me but thanks to a little introspection I am back on track and happy with the direction this blog is going!
• A clean house. It is so satisfying to have ALL the laundry done. YES!

Thankful Thursdays

I am thankful this week for....

• blasting buena vista social club on my post-work commute
• taking funny pictures of Rosie & her many expressions 
• the cheery clerk at the gas station who greets everyone with such infectious enthusiasm
• the anticipation of a new book arriving in the mail this week!
• cake leftovers from father's day, it's an instant sugar coma! 

Thankful Thursday

This thursday I am thankful for...

• delicious breakfast tacos to start the day off on a yummy note
• having a beautiful, wonderful family
• hearing the rosebud laugh, it makes my heart sing
• stumbling across a few new blogs, as if I need the distractions though!

Thankful Thursdays

I am thankful for...

• the kind police officers at work that helped me unlock the truck after I accidently left the keys inside. What could have been a stressful and expensive situation turned into a chance to make a couple new friends!
• my brothers and sisters fighting the good fight home and abroad. yes, I'm in the military and working on memorial day but my sacrifice is small in comparison to those overseas.
• Linderman's framboise lambric, aka a very delicious fruit beer...compliments the perfect balmy quiet night.

Thankful Thursday

credit to zsazsagbellagio.blogspot.com

I am thankful for...

• my education. it's something I took for granted as a young adult but after a five year hiatus, it feels great to be back on track & taking classes. I feel like I am going in the right direction now. This is what I need to do to create a better life for me and my family, to help others like I have always wanted to.
• being able to write again. or rather I should say, finding my inspiration again. it's amazingly therapeutic. 
• auntie aimee & cousin spencer coming to visit us, I've missed them so!
• a glass of wine and a good book to read

Thankful...Fridays?

I skipped my weekly Thankful Thursdays post yesterday,  so how about a Thankful Friday instead?

I am grateful for peaceful evenings. When the TV is off and the phones are silent.  & I'm curled up on the couch in my pajama shorts, just reading a book for pleasure. I've got a sleeping baby snoozing in her rock'n'play and an awesome dude sitting next to me, equally content with his own book. I enjoy being able to sip  my coffee (so what if it's 5PM) and shed a few tears because I am way too into the story I'm reading.  Life isn't always everything I want to be but it's moments like this that remind me that I have everything I need.

Thankful Thursdays

I am thankful this week for...

• my mother coming to visit the last two weeks, she's been such a help with Rosie.
• Texas-style thunderstorms: the lightening, the thunder, the rain...it's so beautiful!
• After calling 45 daycare providers, one backing out at the last minute, fingers crossed hopefully I found the perfect sitter to start watching Rose next week.
• Accidently scratching someone's car & leaving a note only for the owner to call me, shocked, and said not to worry about it. They even thanked me for leaving a note!
• nutella. nom nom nom.. 

Thankful Thursdays

This week I am thankful for...

• my family being reunited
• for a reprieve from the humdrum of college classes 
• for the amazing photos taken by the lovely Casey Keeton

Thankful Thursdays

I am thankful for many things. Life is good these days and it's not just because things are going well but also because I've seen a shift in myself, in my perspective. Life is good because I am finally choosing to see it that way.

Things I am thankful for on this Thursday:

• The grandmas helping out with watching Rose while I get childcare sorted out.
• The warm welcome I got when I returned to work yesterday. It was hard to leave Rose but everyone's support made it easier.
• The smiles and giggles and gurgles I got from the baby mermaid when I came home. 
• That finals are almost over with!!