What was the last thing I said in my last post? I was going to look to see what I could find to get back in the groove for April. Sigh… April 1st was yesterday so we have some catching up to do!

It’s been a tough go. Last Thursday and Friday I was using the cane again because I’d just reached my exhaustion level and I was feeling a cloudy/woozy feeling and kind of seeing spots. Rested over the weekend and then only worked three days this week and I think that made a difference. I finally, FINALLY got the project I’ve been working on complete and sent off this evening. I am really hoping it’s something that gets some positive feedback and I can present it to all of you soon!

So I’ll set right to it… this month is going to be April Gratitude Journalling and Inspirational Messages.

Your Inspirational Message for April 1 is Go about life with love and enthusiasm, but allow yourself time to be silly. I think we should all follow that! But I think that we tend to let our enthusiasm wane because we fall into the mundane routines of day to day life. I know as I get older, I lack the energy I once I had. I think we all do.

For April 2 Embrace what makes you different. You are one in a trillion. Enough said.

The gratitude calendar I will share at the end.

Yesterday’s prompt is The best thing that happened this year… Well, we’ve only had three months pass by. What was the best thing? That’s a tough one for me because we had too much snow and too much cold! It was a winter to hibernate! Since there’s nine months left, I know there will be something that will be counted as the best… it’s yet to come!

Today’s prompt is The kindest thing someone did for you… I believe that is a person who has pointed me in the right direction for my project. She showed the same amount of excitement that I have and that was incredible!

Here is the calendar for April if you want to journal along. Plus you can always share in the comments! I love hearing from my readers!

We’re on the final hours almost! Isn’t it amazing? It certainly is. Didn’t leave work until around 12:30 and went to get those little boxes I needed at the dollar store and went to Fincher’s for, probably, the last time before it changes hands and I visit the same location but not the same name. Everything changes!

I did get home and got my wrapping done AND managed to make my Buckeye Bars and made Larry get out his mixer. I think if I make them again I will do it with an actual mixer… you know, the electric one with the attached bowl and everything. Wow that was a LOT!

Anyway, we’re about to start a movie so I’m going to do the prompts.

Gratitude for the Past Year for today is People you don’t see often you met up with… Saw Tara and staff at Beechwood Forest a few times. Probably the most that I’ve met up with. Lorna as well… even though it was at various shows, I still classify that… especially this past Saturday when we got to spend so much time catching up and talking about things!

Year Gone, Achieved Nothing for today is Something you overcame this year through perseverance… as some of you know, I persevered a lot this year and came out ahead. I have to admit that much anyway. I know I’m not through all of it… not mentally! The rest of the ways, I’ve put it behind me.

Advent Calendar Gratitude for today is Something the year taught you about yourself… okay, I’m also beating a dead horse with that one. An excellent reason why I need to take some time off doing these!

Lastly, being off this afternoon, allowed me to walk across to the sales office and wish the ladies a Merry Christmas over there and it was great timing because they closed today until January. Had planned on that yesterday so glad I got that done today.

Made it to work alive and made it home alive. Now I’m just waiting, and fitting this in, to leave for our staff Christmas party! YAY! It won’t be anything exciting I don’t think but if it is, I’ll let you know tomorrow! The day was blustery until about 1:30 and it’s finally starting to clear and, according to the forecast, it seems like it’s going to not only hold its own for now but it’s also going to get warmer to the point of rain for a few days! Can only stay a short time at the party since we’re having our water turned off at 9pm and not on again until 7:30… or so they say! We’ll see what happens because you know how much all these companies LIE about that. So I have no idea if I will have the luxury of showering in the morning or not so I will do that when I get home and before 9:00 since I wore my hair down today and it’s slathered with mousse.

Anyway, enough of that for the moment. Better get the prompts done before it’s time to go. I think Larry is more nervous than I am!

Gratitude for the Past Year for today is A vivid memory from summer… yesterday it was spring, now it’s summer… I’m going to with Halloween at the trailer. My brother was up because his band was playing, I was dressed as Cinderella handing out candy. The biggest problem it was cold but that meant the dance was inside and was absolutely AWESOME!

Year Gone, Achieved Nothing for today is Describe an ordinary day from the year and what about it you enjoyed… okay, you all know my memory. Ordinary days don’t stick in there! So I’d love to go into detail on the events of an ordinary day but… well, if you’re talking about an ordinary day that ended extraordinarily then I can talk about the day I went to Dollarama and I ended up helping that Instacart shopper find stuff in the store. It was kind of fun and he was soooo grateful!

Gratitude Advent Calendar for today is The story behind the last photo you took on your phone… When I started working up here, the one thing that Sam and I share most days is a photo of the sky in the morning. Once in a while one or both of us will miss but this morning I snapped a pic of that and made sure to include how tall the snowbanks are!

Okay, well, time to start the process of getting ready to go because we seem to be late for everything so I have to start pushing a little! Wish me luck!

Those of you close enough to me will read that and know I’m referring to winter! Tonight I came out of work to find my car covered in… ICE! I started it from upstairs so it had the chance to warm up and start melting it. Luckily the windshield was coated in snow first so there was a 1′ circle of ice on the glass and was easy to remove. The same on the passenger side windows. The rear defrost works so fast but it was the driver side. One single window… my hands and arms and shoulder are NOT thanking me! I was heading to the chiropractor anyway so the shoulder and arm issues have been resolved but the hands, NOPE. As this arthritis in my hands continues to advance I’m finding there are things I just cannot do anymore… so let’s just say tonight is depressing. I came home and they are now so sore I can’t even open my brand new bottle of Orange Juice. Larry had to do it. I HATE feeling that helpless too.

Anyway, I’m beat after not sleeping all that great tonight plus I think I have headache onset fatigue so let’s barrel through the prompts and I’ll go take some migraine meds.

Gratitude for the past year for today is Something you read that inspired you… hmmmm… I have been reading some Hollywood stories online lately. Like the Doris Day one where her husband had gambled away all her money and at 46 she had to go back out there and start all over again. Pretty good! I like inspiring stories.

Year Gone but Achieved Nothing for today is Three things you wouldn’t change about the year, no matter what… I wouldn’t change writing that trilogy, the job at HH would have transpired anyway so I wouldn’t change that now that I’ve almost hit my stride and I guess the obvious… making the move. Although those two things kind of go hand-in-hand so the other thing I can add is reaching out to the Goderich Sun and getting a permanent writing gig with them!

Advent Calendar Gratitude for today is A gift you received that you appreciate… I love and appreciate the jewellery I get from Larry. But I appreciate all the gifts I receive because they are usually given with thought of something. Like I try to instill thought into a gift because I know the person will appreciate it.

Okay, it’s time. I’m still working on that surprise. It might be my Christmas gift to you!