\\Thankful Thursday Vol. 1//

I find that it is impossibly easy to get into a rut of negativity. And once you're there, it's hard to climb your way out. With my whole heart, I believe that you have the power to have a good day or a bad day. You can make your day fabulous or, you can decide to have a not-so-great day.

One way I have helped myself have wonderful days, and avoid the rut of negativity, is a gratitude journal. I write down the things I am thankful for.

And I've decided to bring that to the blog. Welcome to the birth of Thankful Thursdays. Each Thursday, I will write about a few of the things I've been thankful for in the past week. Feel free to leave your "thankfuls" in the comments!

1. I've been so thankful for my mom. Without her, I wouldn't be here (duh). I wouldn't be the person that I am today. The woman is is, quite simply, one of a kind. I had a bit of a meltdown on Sunday. The hubs was out of town, the babes was a bit ornery. And the mama was quite frustrated. A quick phone call to my mama and all was right in the world again.

2. The Ergo. Oh, my dear, sweet, favorite baby product. Okay. I don't know if it is my absolute favorite. But I love it. It comes in handy when the daddy is working late, the baby is fussy, and dinner is being made. Plop the baby in the Ergo and life is good. He loves it, too. The hubby and I both use the Ergo on a weekly basis. We shuttle it with us everywhere we go. And the best part? Deer Day was this past weekend, so my sister and I went shopping. Baby G got hungry...strap him in the Ergo...nurse and shop. At. The. Same. Time.

3. My job. Quite simply, I love teaching. I work with the littlest kids at the school (kindergarten!) and find so much joy in those little buggers. We have been talking about working and playing together: what it looks like, what it feels like, what it sounds like. One of my kiddos said, "Playing together is being friendful." Friendful! What a delightful word! He coined that word on Monday, and I have used it so many time since then. Five- and six-year-olds are so thoughtful, so caring. I love that I can to teach them each day.