30 days of gratitude...DAY 14

Day 14...

Location, location, location.

I love living in Oregon.

I love that we have four distinct seasons.

I love that we are an hour from the beach, an hour from a big city, and just a few hours from the mountains, desert, and a bazillion other things.

I love that I can sit in my own front yard and enjoy the view

(that's where I took this photo, actually)!

30 days of gratitude...DAY 13

Day thirteen...

Photography.

I am so grateful to be able to do what I love...and to get paid for it!

Even if it's just part time or I decide to return to being just a hobbyist, it will always be part of me and part of my life. I've been told that I breathe photography.

30 days of gratitude...DAY 12

Day twelve...

Food.

I am grateful to have food on our table and in our pantry to feed my family.

I'm well aware of the fact that this is not the case for many many families around the world and I do not take it for granted.

30 days of gratitude...DAY 11

Day eleven...

My dad.

Although I didn't realize it growing up, I have an awesome dad.

He is one of the most patient people I've ever met (he had to be, living with both me

and my mom!). He's gentle and kind and funny. He's an awesome grandpa.

My dad taught me how to drive a car, how to fish, how to check the oil in my car, how to use power tools and...how to make totally kick @ass paper

airplanes (which has earned the respect and awe of my children).

Thanks, Dad!

30 days of gratitude...DAY 10

Day ten...

Friends.

I love my friends.

I love that my friends all meet my needs in different ways.

I have my local friends, my coffee homies, my long distance friends, my friends from back in the day, friends that make me laugh so hard I almost pee my pants, shopping friends, and even a friend who will always be the Lucy to my Ethel.

There are many days I wouldn't have made it through without my friends.

30 days of gratitude...DAY 9

Day nine...

My mom.

We've had a few rough years (when I was a feisty teen and she was...uh...MY age!), but we're close and she's taught me a LOT that I am thankful for.

Independence, self-confidence, and above all...how to shop sales like nobody's business!

In her honor, I'm posting a photo of a coat that I bought yesterday (at a bargain, of course)! Sure, I could have posted a photo of the entire coat, but that wouldn't be as visually interesting as the texture, would it?

30 days of gratitude...DAY 8

Day eight...

The important moments.

I'm so grateful to have been here for all of the special little moments in the lives of my children. First steps, first time without training wheels, loss of first teeth, etc. I know that a lot of people aren't as fortunate as I am and I do not take these moments for granted.

(This is a photo of Oscar that I took last week right after his first tooth fell out.)