Day 21 - 27 Grateful Journal

Day 21

I am thankful for a voice.  You really don't know how much you use it, until you don't have it any more What an amazing thing a voice is when you really think about it.  You have two sets of muscles that control the vocal cords, one in the front and one in the back that act like zippers to make certain sounds.  I am thankful for these two muscles  and I see that "zip your lip" isn't that far fetched... LOL!

Day 22

Thanksgiving Day... Can I have a do over? Well, here it is we went to Supreme China Buffet (and Hibachi Grill of course) for Thanksgiving. Yes, I've spent most of the day saddened that I didn't give my family more today. No big family gathering , no turkey, no cornbread side, no big dessert spread, no... well the list can go on and on and it's making me depressed again... that's not my point.. when I downloaded this images and I looked at how happy they are, everything else didn't matter. We prayed over the: sushi, french fries and mac n' cheese, said what we were thankful for, we laughed and we were together. I am thankful for this very special Thanksgiving Day.

Day 23

Today I am thankful for the beautiful bouquet of flowers my sweet hubby gave me :D

Day 24

I am forever grateful that God choose me to be the mother of this little boy (who is wrestling tigers).

Day 25

 
I love my dad! I am so thankful for him.  There are lots of things that I love about my dad.  At the age of 15 he "found" a job for me.  I hated it.  I went from sitting on my butt watching TV to working 10 hrs a day over the summer.  After about a week he told me to go ahead and quit, I had stopped talking to everyone.  I didn't quit and because of him I know what hard work means.  I can go on and on about the real life lessons he has taught me.  Thank you DAD!

  Day 26

 

I am grateful for my brothers and sisters.  I love my brother D, he has always been someone I can exchange creative ideas with and get good feedback from.  D is always encouraging me as a photographer and a mother.  He is also a wonderful Tio (Uncle).  This night my kiddos told me how much fun they had playing with Tio D.  I could see in their eyes how happy they were to have spent time with him. 

Day 27

I am grateful for hot showers.  They do the body and soul good. 

Sweet Boy - Chicago Area Children Photographer

This was such a great session.  M is a sweet boy, he even took a nap at the end. 

I love this image so much.  It may be my Christmas card ;)

Mommy is a teacher and she requested this specific shot.  I can't wait for her to see what I came up with on my variation to this shot.  I really enjoy collaborating with clients. 

Big sister did a great job too.

I am thankful for little sleepy clients.  :)

Day 14 -20 Grateful Journal - Chicago Area Photojournalist

I am continuing my 30 days of gratitude. 

"Saying thank you is more than good manners.  It is good spirituality."  Alfred Painter

Day 14

 



I am grateful for my health.  "The greatest wealth is health."

Day 15

 



I am grateful for sharing goals, dreams and fears with these special and successful women. 

 

Day 16



 

I am grateful for photography and that my business grows every year. 

 

 

Day 17



 

I am grateful for cotton candy faces. 

 

Day 18



 

I am grateful for all things that soothe little and big sore throats. 

 

 

Day 19

 

 

I am grateful for doctors, nurses and modern medicine.  Even if they tell me something I don't want to hear. 

Not sure why she was holding her arm.  She should be holding her throat.  I think she was nervous. 

 

Day 20



 Today I am very grateful for mommy friends who look after me.  I received a message yesterday from a mommy friend reminding me that the A.M. Kinder class didn't have school today.  I sure was going to send her on the bus... can you imagine the mommy shame?  She was so sweet too saying, "I know you've got it together... but I just realized they don't have school tomorrow."  I don't have it together this week, so grateful for sweet friends.   

 

 

Check out M's 3 month session... cuteness overload!





30 Days of Gratitude Cont... Chicago Area Photojournalist

There is so much to be grateful for!

Day7

I am grateful for friends here and across the country.  Women from very different backgrounds, with different accents, political views and goals.  I am grateful to be inspired by them every day.  Thank you for dinner Sandra. :)

Day 8

Thankful for my partner.  I am grateful that God brought us together.  I can't imagine my life without him.  I am also grateful for his sense of humor.

Day 9

I am grateful for the sun.  I was pulling out J's winter clothes (something I've been avoiding) and the sun's rays poked right through the curtain on to my hand.  I felt like that ray was just for me. 

Day 10

I am grateful for my faith.  My faith has evolved throughout the years and I've never felt closer to God as I do now.  One of the reasons I am most thankful for my faith is because I know God is always with me.  "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a future and a hope."

Day 11

 Today I give thanks for our veterans and their families.  When my husband was stationed in Iraq, I asked him to take pictures of everything.  He did and he put a caption on the back of almost every image - I put an album together.  I never showed the kids the album before and this morning we looked at them together reading the captions.  They loved this page because it had a pic of how daddy celebrated Halloween in Iraq.  I sent him a box of Halloween items and they put them on for the pic.  We talked about all the veterans we know, we prayed for them and their families. 

Day 12

I am grateful for one-on-one time with R.  We read books, laughed and cuddled. 



Day 13

 



Today I am grateful to be able to volunteer in the Kindergarten classroom.  I really enjoy being in the classroom with all of the children and giving the teacher a hand.  It fills me with so much joy.  It also makes me very grateful for all teachers. 

What were you grateful for this week? 

30 Days of Gratitude - Chicago Area Photojournalist

November is the month to be grateful.  I have joined many of my FB friends in posting something I am thankful for every day.  I encourage you to share with your family and friends what you are thankful for every day this month. 

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures." Thorton Wilder

Here is the start of my 30 days of gratitude. 
Each image was taken the day of except for day #1.

Day #1

I am thankful for my mom.  She has shown me through example what being a wonderful mother means.  I am grateful for the sacrifices she has made for us.  Happy Birthday mama, I love you!

 

Day #2

Today I am grateful for where I came from; the South Side of Chicago.  Not the most wealthy and glamorous of places but rich in diversity, community, culture and faith.  I am proud of where I came from and grateful. 

 

Day #3

I am thankful for my in laws they raised the man that I love and are wonderful grandparents. They feed my kids all the stuff I don't and let them play video games all day.  ;)

Day #4  

 

 

Today I am thankful for time alone with my love.  It is very unusual that we have time alone together like this.  I am SO grateful when we do.  This angle is wide to show we are alone and we got to sit next to each other!!!!!! 

 

 

Day #5

 

 

 

I am grateful for the laundry.  I am grateful because I am physically able to do it.  I am grateful that we have the means to clean and dry our things.  I am grateful that we have clothes, towels, sheets, blankets, etc. to clean.  I complain about it more than I should.   

 

 

Day #6

 

 

I am grateful and proud to be an American.  I am thankful for our military and their families who sacrifice so much.  Exercising my right to vote this morning, now that is a wonderful thing.    

 

What are you thankful for?