Thursday...Your turn @ the Table

Today's 'Your Turn @ the Table' post will be kicked off by a much older me. No, it's not my birthday. I did however, age significantly when I woke up this morning and realized that today my daughter turns 16! She's an amazing young woman, full of energy and humour, she brings me so much to be grateful for everyday!


And she looks pretty good for a 16 year old...don't you think?

 That's my greatest gratitude today from a sea of things to be grateful for.

Your Turn @ The Table.....What's your Gratitude?

How My Kids Ended Up With the World's Greatest Mom.

Remember last month when we celebrated ILYFD? If you missed this post and are feeling utterly in the dark, you can read Happy ILYFD

This month we celebrate Father's Day, the real deal. There will be no attempts to morph Father's Day into something more pleasant, in my opinion there's not much need. My kids have an amazing father. I say that rather boastfully and without shame for doing so. Michael is a great dad! He takes the responsibility of being a dad very seriously with a hands on - heart in approach. His devotion to parenting has taught the kids that they can come to him for help and healing.

Mike's passion for his job as father,  is also how my kids ended up with The World's Greatest Mom.

Just take a look....

I get to talk to our teenage girls about hair and makeup and music because Mike is not afraid to talk to them about their relationships, drugs, sexuality and commitments to work and school. He is willing to go to the mall and hold purses and shopping bags while the girls try things on and change their minds and ask his opinion.

E-man and I are able to work on talent show projects and play in the kitchen because Mike helps him tackle his homework and clean up his room. I get to cheer like a hockey mom for bicycle and skateboard tricks because Mike has instilled a sense of confidence in E-man and a sense of 'don't panic, everything will be okay' in me.

I get to be patient because Mike takes kids to the park and fishing, out for road hockey and ice cream; leaving me with some solitude to recharge my batteries, pamper my spirit or wash the floors.

My children think I am funny. Mostly because Mike never fails to make light of my absurdity, which is actually okay with my. I've learned that life floats along a lot easier if you don't take yourself too seriously.

Everyday I am able to encourage our kids to pursue what makes them happy because Mike believes that you will always get what you need but nothing is as valuable as your happiness.

Mike is a master of creative discipline, employing cleaver tactics like the famous Darth Vader Time-Out and a household favourite; the Les Nesman Door (the LND deserves its very own post one day. For now let's just say that knocking on the place where a door used to be is a very effective strategy for halting repetitive door slam) As a result of Mike's creative approach, I spend a lot of time granting permission for activities and adventures and not much time negotiating with grounded kids.

Perhaps the single greatest thing Mike does to make me look like the World's Greatest Mom is to treat me like I am. He loves me the way he wants our children to love each other. He respects me with the same level of respect he expects from and gives to our children. He allows me to put our family first above everything else because he does the same.

So today we are celebrating Father's Day because anybody who works this hard to make me look this good deserves a holiday in their honor!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Happy ILYFD

A couple of post absent days around here, I do apologize my mind has been preoccupied with the eventuality that is Mother's Day. (A few extra days of "Your Turn @ the Table" seems to have been okay though. I've enjoyed reading your gratitudes.)

Truthfully every time I thought about writing in the last couple of days I've been struck with the same question; how? Mother's Day is coming and how am I going to write that post? How am I going to string lines together that don't sound incredibly ungrateful? I should probably just get this line off my chest in the interest of the 'how'; I hate Mother's Day. (If you read this you will understand that I am not fooling around).

So I'm not doing it! That's right, I'm stomping my feet and have my arms crossed firmly over my chest and yes, I am pouting! I'm not doing it. I will not be made to feel guilty because I can't love my mother well enough, I will not feel bad because I'm doing laundry or refereeing a domestic. I won't be made to feel inferior because I'm just a regular mom not some super mom like those featured in magazines and news stories. I don't want to celebrate an observance that brings sadness to so many of my friends who are missing their mothers. I won't and Hallmark can't make me!

Instead I present another option for the 1st Sunday in May. International Love Your Family Day. Okay it might not catch on Internationally but go big or go home I say. I suspect from conversations that a strong following of mothers who would rather celebrate anything but Mother's Day is waiting for something better. The switch might actually have a chance.

So here goes. My post for ILYFD.... My family and a snippet of what I love about them!

In order of appearance

Michael
Does an amazing job of manifesting his life. Reminds me everyday through laughter and gratitude that it's all about the journey.  Has an incredible talent for faith, justice, laundry and dishes ...XOXO

Lula
My beautiful 'do it all' who approaches life with an 'all in' attitude. Full of compassion and a sense of humour that never fails to catch me off guard. Amazingly talented in the realms of art, love and make-up...XOXO

KJ
My gorgeous young lady with wisdom beyond her years, snaps me back to reality with  logical humor. Strong, capable and always thinking. Displaying incredible talent in the pursuits of creative expression, friendship and nail art....XOXO

E-man
My handsome man with the plan. All boy, full of adventure, gross humor and bruises. A math-magician with exceptional talents in snuggling, thoughtfulness and trickmastering anything with wheels...XOXO

 

I hope you enjoy International Love Your Family Day. If you are a mother who suffers emotional turmoil on the 1st Sunday in May please feel free to take up the challenge spread the word, twist the sentiment of the day and share the love of your family.

Heaps of gratitude today for the privilege of having an amazing family to spend my mothering on. Fantastic kids who display endless reasons to wear my title with pride and a loving man who wears his Father, Husband (and occasionally the Mother hat too) better than any I've seen.

Happy ILYFD...how are you celebrating?


Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Just That Simple

Sometimes we just think too hard. We try to turn the mundane into magic.

Keep it simple gratitude today...

                                      ....hanging around my neck are the arms of a child.



Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

My Day of Greatest Gratitude

Today Michael and I celebrate 19 years of being married. This is the day I celebrate my greatest gratitude. I was blessed with Michael. We talked last night about how the word "blessed" is not a word we use very often, in today's world, we use the word lucky. Michael says that luck is for horseshoes and the lottery. We have nothing short of a blessing. Luck does not bring you blessings and we have indeed been blessed. Blessed with 3 beautiful, amazing children, a comfortable life, health, love and happiness.

So today marks the root blessing from which all other blessed things in our life grew. That's pretty special in my book and well worth my greatest gratitude.

Happy Anniversary Michael with love.

yes, that's a french fry behind my head. I didn't say the last 19 years have been dull! LOL

K.I.S.S.

"If the only grateful you have today is that you love or are loved, that is enough."