And a reasonable one, I hope! I’m so stressed out I feel like I am a guitar string that someone keeps tightening and all of a sudden I’m going to SNAP! The weather has me on edge! Anyway, here I am… Larry is about to go out and move a little bit of snow from the driveway which means that I can, maybe finish my book so I can start that one that is the Advent book… 12 days of it.

Gratitude fort he Past Year for today is Everyday routines you stayed consistent with… getting up in the morning, having breakfast, tea and taking my vitamins! Also, getting to bed at a reasonable time most nights and taking those meds too.

Year Gone and Achieved Nothing for today is People you had dinner with… they are really on this dinner kick aren’t they? YUP! I think I’ve done this one so many times I’m not even going there again!

Advent Calendar Gratitude for today is A place that feels magical in December… anywhere that has Christmas lights especially after dark! I couldn’t believe yesterday trying to visit a couple dollar stores and how busy it was. Seems all the people here shop on Friday afternoons! Didn’t feel so magical. But, seriously, it is pure magic to just see the lights.

Okay, time to do some other stuff! YAHOO!!!

For a girl to get a bit of time for herself? Sheesh! I took part of the afternoon to make up some lieu time and came home figuring maybe I could curl up and read a book! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha… HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!! Now my mom and dad are coming over and I’m trying to get this in real quick.

Gratitude for Past Year today is A time you laughed this year… there’s been plenty of that. There have been a few moments of that belly-aching, tears-flowing laughter but don’t ask me to remember what the cause was! Just know that I LAUGHED my heart out!

Year Gone and Nothing Achieved for today is Milestones, traditions and events you celebrated… should I start at the beginning of the year? A new year, one brother’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Canada Day, my daughter’s birthday, my birthday, other brother’s birthday, mom’s birthday, thanksgiving, Larry’s birthday, dad’s birthday and now we’re into Christmas!

Advent Calendar Gratitude for today is A sit-down friends or family dinner from the year… we had some sit down meals with my mom and dad plus all the other occasions including Easter and Thanksgiving. We had a sit-down dinner for my dad’s birthday last week too.

Okay, I’ve even been interrupted trying to write this so I better go!

A day that is! And a snowy one at that. Looking at the map though I keep wondering where all the forecasted snow is supposed to be coming from!

I’m going to keep this short since we’re short at work for the night and I have to decide with my partner in crime what we should do!

Gratitude for the Past Year for today is A trip or holiday you went on… well, having had the summer off mostly, it was just extra time at the trailer but fabulous either way!

Year Gone, Nothing Achieved for today is List as many places you went as you can think of, no matter how close or far… Goderich, Dunlop, Carlow, Auburn, Blyth, Walton, Monkton, Brunner, Topping, Wellesley, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Blenheim/Bright, Guelph, Bridgeport, Meaford, Thornbury, Badjeros (and all the towns in between Goderich and those places), Bayfield, Clinton, Seaforth, Kincardine.

Advent Gratitude for today is Nearby nature spots… ha ha! Lake Huron!

Going to run!

Of that white #$%& out there! There was a couple inches to clear off this morning and it was heavy. Yup… there went the shoulder and the hands, again! At least the highway was clear.

Went to the Hot Chocolate Social this afternoon and had some good hot chocolate and conversations. Many of them are learning about my writing so that becomes part of the conversation depending on who I’m talking to.

Anyway, it’s later and I’d really like to go sit, put my feet up and watch something.

Past Year Gratitude for today is Places you visited and what you enjoyed about them… I guess the trailer could count but I’ll go with our trip up to Meaford and Thornbury because we had to attack that trip from an entirely different angle. We saw some really neat, new things and I had new things to take pictures of.

Year Over and Achieved Nothing for today is A moment you felt proud this year and why… I think the day I found out I hadn’t done anything to deserve what happened to me was one and I’m going to add the second one which was my review the other day and how pleased everyone is with what I’ve done at my job.

Gratitude Advent Calendar for today is An achievement from this year… these are getting a little repetitive! I still think the greatest achievements were the Goderich Sun and that trilogy. I’m sticking with those!

I’m getting there on that surprise for you and I’m getting closer to getting my Christmas shopping done. I need something really good for my daughter! Hmmmmm….

Until tomorrow.

Had my three-month review and all great things! That felt good to hear because it’s been so crazy! Onwards and upwards… hopefully! Cautiously optimistic! So I went to the Ukulele music performance for a bit and had a few laughs with one of the residents.

Let’s get to the prompts!

Gratitude for the Past Year for today is A goal you made a lot of progress on… I think getting back to writing for me this summer was HUGE. A goal that was always just there in the background for a while before I was given the chance.

Year gone and Achieved Nothing for today is The people you’ve spent the most time with this year and what you did… I spent the most time with my daughter, Larry and my parents. Period. That’s pretty much it! At home with my daughter until the trailer opened and then most of the stuff we did was at the trailer but also some great visits to the barn! ♥♥

Lastly is our Gratitude Advent calendar which is Songs or music you’ve fallen back in love with this year… oh my! Elvis was huge… probably the biggest one and church music/hymns since I’ve been lucky enough to attend some sing-a-longs. Christmas music doesn’t count because I love it 365 days a year!

Okay, my brain is baked for today!

Until tomorrow and I’ve started on a little surprise for you!

It’s snowing…. again! I think the biggest issue I take with this right now is the staff I have that live out of town and won’t come to work if the roads are bad. That makes things tougher! Anyway, it’s a nice day to just stay inside and watch Christmas movies before I go to mom and dad’s for his official birthday dinner. I’m praying that my daughter makes it safely since she said she was coming up despite the weather though it has at least stopped!

Anyway, we’ll go on to the prompts and then I’m going to go watch a Christmas movie!

Gratitude for Past Year for today is Something you’ve learned this year… trust no boss, ever! Go in with suspicion and remain so and always look for the ulterior motive! I know that doesn’t make for much of a work life but at least go the distance to be extra cautious.

Year Gone and Achieved Nothing for today is The specific places you frequented this year and memories… Goderich is probably the easiest to put for that. The trailer, the house, the town and all the shopping… yup, that sums it up well.

Advent Gratitude for Day 7 is Something that has happened every day of the year… Having breakfast, drinking tea, being thankful for what I DO have and reading my devotional book and praying. I think that’s probably the best way to answer that!

Okay, I don’t know what’s on but I have a few things to do/tidy up so I’ll go do that.

Until tomorrow! Enjoy your Sunday!

In light of yesterday, I thought I would sit and write quickly this morning. If I knock off a few things this morning, I can come home and relax tonight! In theory! But since I still have a couple little things to do before I leave at 9:30 how about I jump to the prompts?

Gratitude for the Past Year for today is A moment of stillness where things became clear… I had that this summer when, at one point, I actually put together two binders… one for my writing studio and the other for art therapy. I’d love to do that! I’d love nothing more than to have a studio, teach writing again, be able to have writers in to sit, write, talk and then also have the space available for amateur photographers to show their work. Plus, have a small space where I could do some art therapy!

Year Gone and Achieved Nothing for today is Routines you’ve upheld and stuck to that ground you… getting to the trailer amid a lot of different this year. With the house and interviewing and all that came with it, I stuck to my guns and said I’m not changing my trailer routine!

Advent Calendar Gratitude for today is Light displays you’ve found joyful… ummm… all of them! I love the lights at Christmas. Little displays, big displays, I love them! Neighbour across from my parents has twinkly reindeer all over his lawn. Our neighbour across the street has one of those little light-up birch trees but it still looks lovely. I love to just go for a drive with Christmas music playing and see the lights.

What a beautiful selection today!

Until tomorrow… and wish me luck for today (and that I can get coverage for tomorrow)!