Singin' and Dancin' in the Rain

I know I already blogged about this recently, but I was reminded again today how grateful I am for singing and dancing.

I took the day off work today (yay!) because my kids didn't have school and we made our first foray into Christmas shopping. It was also pouring rain today!

As we dodged raindrops running into Target we all started singing, "Singing in the Rain" and I started dancing up and down the curb the way Gene Kelly does in the movie. Unfortunately, I wasn't very good at it. The kids tried to do it too and we all erupted into giggles. When I mentioned that Gene was much better at curb dancing than I was, my daughter mentioned that he was better looking too! I countered that I was taller, so I win! We were laughing so hard by the time we tumbled, dripping into Target, the security guard was raising eyebrows at us.

But much like Mr. Kelly to the policeman... we didn't mind. We just smiled!

And for an extra smile... take a look at this video mix of Singing in the Rain and Star Wars HERE.

A Place To Lay My Head

I am grateful for my bed. I'm exhausted tonight. This single working mom cannot wait to crawl under the covers and crash. And my bed is soft and warm and a pretty shade of turquoise and has a polar bear on top. I am fully aware that there are many, many people that are not as lucky (especially about the polar bear). So I'm going to climb in, pull the covers way up to my chin, and be grateful.

Life-Long Learner

Quite frankly, I think the phrase "life-long learner" is severely over used. However, the idea it stands for is something that I am very grateful for.

I'm grateful that I live in a country where I had the opportunity to go to public school. I'm grateful for my parents' support of my higher education. And I'm grateful for every opportunity to learn something new.

I've had the chance to learn astronomy, fencing (the kind with swords), piano, meteorology, accounting, tap dancing, yoga, basic plumbing, and more!

The library is my absolute favorite place. I'm so lucky that my city has an amazing library with books, magazines, videos, CDs, DVDs, databases, etc. Not to mention the classes and events there too (you know I want to work there!)

And the Internet is simply astounding. The near-instant access to information all over the world never ceases to amaze me. How did I look things up BI (before Internet)? I learn so much every day just by moving my fingers and my eyeballs. Weird. But cool.

I want to learn until I can't stuff one more thing in my brain (which, understanding the nature and percent of our brains we use, will be a while from now).

After all, that's all you take with you.

I am grateful for these people...

And these people...

And these people...

And these people...
And many more not pictured here.

These are the people I call family... who bring so much love and joy into my life!

I am grateful for this...
And this...

And this...

And this...

And this...

I am surrounded by such beauty. And it gives me such joy.

Just Imagine...

I am grateful for imagination. What a bonus to our existence as human beings to have minds capable of creating things beyond what we take in through our senses. My imagination is usually in overdrive... especially early in the morning or late at night. Or during staff meetings.

I am amazed by the imaginations of the humans around me. Especially as displayed in books and films. Have you guessed by now that I went to see "Twilight" today? Several of my co-workers and I took an extended lunch and in fact did no eating but merely drank in the creative canvas of this book-turned-movie. Way cool. I won't say more than that for you few that haven't seen it yet. By the way, I'm going again tomorrow (gotta take the kids!)

But I digress. The point of this post was not to mention that Carlisle Cullen is absolutely dreamy, but to celebrate the imagination that created him. And all the other books and films that take us a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. Or to seek out new life and new civilizations. Or to any of the other amazing places I've imagined in my mind.

I can't imagine life with out it.

Let There Be Light

I'm grateful for light. Especially this time of the year when it's dark by 5 pm! I hate that. I am one of those people who are really affected by light. When it's sunny and warm I'm happy. When it's dark and cold I'm cousin to Oscar the Grouch.

I love sunrise. I love that the sun came back for one more day. I love that my big bedroom window faces west and that the sun shines directly on my bed in the afternoon. That's my favorite spot - curled up in the sunshine on my bed like a cat - and probably reading a book.

And when the sun is casting its lovely glow over the other side of the world... I'm grateful for lights. It never ceases to amaze me that I can flip a switch with one finger and have light. It never gets old. I remember seeing the shacks set up haphazardly in Africa and thinking, "They don't have lights." That was so sad to me. I felt too rich.

Then when I don't want to think about my electricity bill or I want my house to smell good, I'm grateful for candles. They're such tiny lights, but when everything else is dark, they light up so much more than you'd think. Their little tiny glow seems to make something in me glow too. Especially candles on dinner tables or on holidays. Bonus points if they smell like gardenias, cinnamon, or honeysuckle.

Let there be light!