Z is for Zebras and Zany personalities

This month I'm participating in the A to Z blogging challenge and posting every day in April (except Sundays) with the corresponding letter of the day. The theme I chose for this year is 26 Days of Gratitude. I'll be posting about people, places, things, and events in my life I'm grateful for. Today is the letter...

This may seem like a strange thing to be grateful for, but it isn't the zebra itself, but what the animal represents. Individuality. Uniqueness.

Although every zebra may look the same at first glance, no two zebras have the same stripes (something I learned from watching Madagascar with my kids). Each zebra is unique. Each zebra has its own identity.


Just like us. We are all unique. We are all special. At times we may try to compare ourselves to others. We may wonder why our hair is curly instead of straight, or why we can't sing as well as our friend, but the truth is, that doesn't matter. We've all been given talents and gifts with an expectation that we use them to reach our full potential.

This goes along with the fact that I LOVE zany personalities. I love to be around people who are fun and exciting, individual and unique. Who aren't afraid to be themselves, no matter what others think.

As I wrap up this last post for the A to Z Challenge, I am grateful for each of you. You are each unique, special, and have some of the coolest personalities ever! It's been so great to "meet" you and read your fantastic blogs! I look forward to seeing you around the blogosphere!

But for now, it's time to celebrate our survival of a month of continuous blogging! Can I get a Woo-Hoo?!

Ta-ta for now!! :)

Y is for Young Love

This month I am participating in the A to Z blogging challenge and posting every day in April (except Sundays) with the corresponding letter of the day. The theme I chose for this year is 26 Days of Gratitude. I'll be posting about people, places, things, and events in my life I'm grateful for. Today is the letter...


I'm thankful for young love.

There's something almost magical when you fall in love for the first time. Swiftly beating hearts, first kisses, nervous anticipation and excitement every time you see each other, and tender declarations of love.

I recently had a friend's fifteen-year-old daughter stay with me. She reminds me so much of myself at that age, which is fun to see since I don't have any daughters of my own. Slightly boy crazy with a crush on a cute boy, she was full of giddy excitement. I loved being in her confidence as she talked about this boy and the next time they would see each other (there is a little distance between them).

Talking with her, I realized how fun it is to be in love for the first time (not that she's in love right now, but someday she will be). What a great feeling it is to fall in love, to have someone love you back, and want to spend the rest of their life with you.

I'm also thankful that my own "young love" wasn't a brief, fleeting moment, but is one that will last a lifetime and continue on forever.

What do you think about young love? Have you met "the one" yet?

X is for maX

This month I'm participating in the A to Z blogging challenge and posting every day in April (except Sundays) with the corresponding letter of the day. The theme I chose for this year is 26 Days of Gratitude. I'll be posting about people, places, things, and events in my life I'm grateful for. Today is the letter...

This is maX. 

Oh maX, how do I love thee...Let me count the ways...

1. You are always there for me.
2. You clean while I write.
3. You diligently suck up crumbled crackers and goldfish.
4. You are patient with curious little fingers.
5. You clean without being asked.
6. After taking a break, you finish where you left off (if I could only teach my kids to do that).
7. You never talk back or complain.

Oh maX, what would I do without you?  


*Okay, so I might have cheated a little bit on this post...But, at least Max has an X in it!


**For those interested, Max is our Neato robotic vacuum. And yes, we really do call him Max! You can find more information about his uncles and cousins here...

W is for Washers

This month I'm participating in the A to Z blogging challenge and posting every day in April (except Sundays) with the corresponding letter of the day. The theme I chose for this year is 26 Days of Gratitude. I'll be posting about people, places, things, and events in my life I'm grateful for. Today is the letter...

What can I say? I'm grateful for washers. Any type of washers, really. Dishwashers. Washing machines. My husband when he washes the dishes by hand...

Where would I be without my washers? With the amount of laundry I do, I'd be up a creek without a paddle. I hope my washer knows how grateful I am each time I throw in a load of laundry. I truly do think at times how lucky I am to be living in a time of modern conveniences. Without my washing machine, this would be me....

Source

I look tired, hot, and very soapy. Yes, love my washer!

As for the dishes, gotta love my easy, convenient dishwasher that I pile my dishes into and Viola! They come out clean and sparkling (okay, maybe not sparkling, but you get my drift). Without my dishwasher, this would be me...

Source

Once again, I look tired, hot, and soapy! 

And what's not to love about a man who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty in the sink...

Source

What modern conveniences are you grateful for?

U is for Unlikely Heros

Photo Courtesy of Mission68.org

This month I'm participating in the A to Z blogging challenge and posting every day in April (except Sundays) with the corresponding letter of the day. The theme I chose for this year is 26 Days of Gratitude. I'll be posting about people, places, things, and events in my life I'm grateful for. Today is the letter...






I love the story of the underdog, or the unlikely hero that rises from the ashes. There are so many of these in our history and culture, and seen on television shows and in movies, but there were a few that came to mind that I wanted to highlight.

Think of David and Goliath. A small boy sent to kill the Philistine giant Goliath--we all know how things should have played out. But God intervened and gave David the strength of a thousand men. With a simple slingshot and stone, David killed Goliath and became the unlikely hero of the Israelites.

 

My all-time favorite story of the underdog comes in the form of the plump panda with an appetite for cookies--that same appetite which turns him into an incredible ninja warrior. I LOVE Poe in Kung Fu Panda. He is the epitome of the unlikely hero. Every one of the Furious Five expect him to fail (including Master Shifu), and they are astounded when the black and white furball is made of more than just layers of gooey goodness. He is fearless. He is AWESOME!

 

I even have my own unlikely hero that came in the form of a small boy on a hot, summer day. A boy who adamantly insisted that the workers fixing the road outside our house needed water and refused to listen when his mother tried to persuade him that they were fine. When we finally did bring water to the tired and hot men, we were thanked and even offered money because they had run out of water hours before and had been praying for a miracle. You never know when you might be the next unlikely hero!

Who is your favorite unlikely hero?