I am glad this week is winding down.. all this gratitude is wearing me out (I kid, I kid.) Seriously…these posts have been a wonderful reminder of some of the everyday blessings I neglect to properly acknowledge.

In case you are just stumbling onto my “With Gratitude” posts, here are the posts from Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. And here is what this is all about:

Instead I want to be someone who constantly feels blessed. Because in all reality I have everything I need, and more. So in honor of the season of Thanksgiving, I have decided to publicly express my gratitude this week on my blog for some of my many blessings.

Sometimes it is easier to focus on the things I don’t have. But I’ve found that’s no way to live.

I am thankful for children . (more…)

As I said yesterday:

Sometimes it is easier to focus on the things I don’t have. But I’ve found that’s no way to live.

Instead I want to be someone who constantly feels blessed. Because in all reality I have everything I need, and more. So in honor of the season of Thanksgiving, I have decided to publicly express my gratitude this week on my blog for some of my many blessings.

I am thankful for  my parents . (more…)

To say I was raised among avid travelers is an understatement.

Everyone in my family was born with a major case of wanderlust and a passport in hand.

As a case in point, my nieces (the youngest of which is two) are about to make their second international trip. (I know, my sister, brother-in-law, and his parents are very, very brave souls.)

So as an “avid traveler” and our official planner, my father begins investigating where we should go any time a holiday approaches. No holiday is too short (President’s Day, 4th of July, New Year’s), or too sacred (Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving), for us to stay home.

This Thanksgiving I’m heading with Mom, Dad, “Honey” (my grandma), and the Wilburs (family friends) to California. Pebble Beach to be exact. I leave a week from today and return the following Monday. I can’t wait. Turkey, stuffing, sand, and surf…what could be better?

It is not your traditional Thanksgiving but I am thankful any way. And isn’t that what it is all about?

What are your Thanksgiving plans? Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?

Oh, and please let me know if you have been to Pebble Beach and have suggestions on things to do and places to eat.

Confession: I think my nieces are literally the cutest kids in the whole world. (Only to be closely rivaled by my God daughter, and the children I sponsor through WorldVision and Compassion.)

Confession: I am aware of how annoying this behavior is but I can’t seem to stop myself. (This post is a case in point.) (more…)

I think relationships between sisters are always complicated.

My Sister Marcie and I (and Baby Kate with the cheeks)

They are like taking the already complicated friendships between women and putting them on steroids. Because you are innately alike, but also innately different. Because you have to share the time and attention of your parents, and sharing doesn’t always come naturally. And because you are dependent on one another, forever linked by DNA.

So, as sisters, when your relationship is bad, it’s horrid. And in turn, when it’s good, it’s great.

At least that has been my personal experience. There are five years and six grades between me and my sister Marcie. To say that while growing we had our differences would be an understatement. (more…)

This summer has been A COMPLETE WHIRLWIND. I have been traveling non-stop and loving every minute of it. But I am worn out. And my life and my house are in disarray.  (Seriously can’t remember the last time I changed my sheets. I think it was sometime last week but I’m not quite sure.)

With all this traveling, another thing that has been neglected is my blog. So this is a quick play-by-play with some of my favorite photos, of course. (more…)

Or maybe I just know what I want? Or maybe I have no idea what I want? Or maybe I am content with where I am right now? Or maybe I am seriously afraid of change or of just putting myself out there? But in my defense, I have no fear meeting new people, confessing my deep dark secrets on my blog, or sharing what I think about the latest loser on the Bachlorette on Twitter. It just doesn’t make sense.

Oh, I just realized I haven’t given you a clue of what I am talking about. Well, here it is…

(more…)

Last Christmas when I was in Texas with my family, we went to this A-MAZ-ING independent bookstore in Plano, Legacy Books.

Legacy Books was the kind of bookstore where you get lost in books. You wander around for hours and discovering new authors, exciting adventures, and gourmet recipes. You sip on lattes while browsing through a magazine you would never buy. You find things you never knew you needed.

And after working for a bookstore chain for five years, this is quite a feat. Now-a-days, I walk into bookstores and have a hard time relaxing. I want remerchandise. (Anyone who has spent an extensive amount of time working in retail knows what I mean. It is hard to resist the urge to straighten, tidy, refill) Perusing a bookstore is much more fun than remerchandising. Take my word for it.

Baby Kate

I love all bookstores, but I really loved this bookstore. And thankfully so did my nieces. But don’t take my word for it. Check out their smiles. Each one of them. (more…)

It is really starting to feel like summer. (If it would only stop raining here in Nashville? I swear you’d think we live in a rainforest with the way the weather has been.) I love summer. I don’t love the heat. But I love summer.

Here are 10 of my favorite things about summer:

1. Road Trips – trips to the lake, the beach, neighboring cities. For some reason, no place seems to far to drive in the summer. I need to start making some playlists on Itunes right now! (Some of my twitter buddies, helped me start a wish list. Now I just need to find some time to download.)

Macon and Anne Shelton - Lake Texoma 2008

2. Music Festivals – City Stages, Bonnaroo. One of my first jobs out of college was planning music festivals. And I love them. There is nothing better than being outside (when the weather’s nice), listening to good music, drinking a cold beer, and hanging out with your closest friends. This summer I plan on hitting CityStages (my personal favorite) and Bonnaroo (to see what all the fuss is about). I am excited because for the first time in several years, they don’t fall on the same weekend. (more…)

I am in North Carolina for a few days with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and nieces -  Macon, Anne Shelton, and Kate. Today we are heading to the beach. I can’t wait!

I thought you might enjoy how we started our day yesterday. I love how kids start their day with loads of energy!

My favorite part is listening to them giggle at themselves at the end

How do you like to get your day started?