Thank You

Yesterday I was on the phone with the guy from AT&T and I was a little overwhelmed.  Not only by my bill, but also by the kindness of the AT&T guy.  He was helpful and calm and patient and very nice.  He was good at his job and I appreciated it so much. The AT&T guy helped me figure out my bill and how I could switch to a new plan to save money.

"Not one thing has been easy lately, thank you for making this so easy," I told him.  "And thank you so much for being so nice."

"Oh ma'am, it's my pleasure and thank YOU for telling me that," he said to me laughing a little bit.  "Merry Christmas!"

                              *****

A woman I am lucky to call a friend/mentor, Satori Shakoor, lives and breathes gratitude. She said once that she believes "in thank you and that service with a smile is the possibility of love."  Satori is a master storyteller and she spoke in the Listen To Your Mother show I helped produce in Detroit last year.  In the show she talked about how gratitude is her only religion and "thank you" is her only prayer. (Click here to watch her story, it will blow you away.)

Two Sundays ago in church I taught a class about saying thank you.  I feel like I teach a class like that a few times a year. But I think we need reminders--we need classes, stories, Satori's and AT&T guys and Christmas--because it's easy to forget. Sometimes life can be really hard and confusing and frustrating.  Life can make you want to wring your hands in the air and ask why/how with an occasional you've got to be kidding me, instead of raising your hands up and saying thank you. 

But then, the reminders, the thank yous, the gratitude...you remember the possibility of love.  It shines through the smile you give someone, the nod of respect, the thank you at the store, the thank you on the phone, the acts of service, the appreciation you give your friend or your child or a stranger, it's all love.

I have a lot of love for Detroit.
We spent time at Eastern Market in Detroit this past weekend.

I love that I have so many kids that they can play a pretty legit game of basketball together.

I am thankful for this space where I get to share my life and be creative and talk about storytelling and my friends and their wisdom; and where I get to try and be funny and post dance videos and maybe make someone feel less alone.  

I am thankful that I get to do fun giveaways and give you a chance to win stuff.  Today, my friend Katie Redmond is giving away a $50 gift card to stella & dot.  Have you seen their jewelry?  They have beautiful stuff- click here to check it out.

These are just a few items that are each under $50!  

Katie is also selling another line called Keep Collective (click here to check it out), you can use the gift card there if you wish to do that. 

Enter and win! Leave a comment about what you are thankful for right now.  Is it somebody?  Go tell them thank you.  

Spread the joy, feel the love, remember to believe in thank you. Tis the season of gratitude and love and kindness. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Thank You Kind of Weekend

This past weekend was good.  We were all together which is rare.  Usually, Tim and I divide and conquer shuffling and chauffeuring kids to various activities.  But this weekend it was different and it was so good.

This weekend was one of those times where I looked around me at my little corner of the world and said, "yes, this is it, this is my dream life, and thank you, thank you, thank you."

I was less scattered, more focused; less nobody is listening or doing what I say!, more I'm going to sit back and take it in; less I'm so full of stress and tired, more I'm so full of love and tired (um, yeah, even though it was a good weekend, I don't think I'll ever not be tired, that just seems never ending).

Fifteen years ago, I watched my boyfriend playing football with my little brother who was seven at the time.  I watched how patient he was and how he looked him in the eyes.  I marveled at the connection he made and the time he devoted.  I fell in love with him and dreamed about what kind of father he would be to my own kids.  This past weekend, I thought of that boyfriend and once again marveled at the man, the father, he is today and found myself saying "yes, this is it, this is the dream life and thank you, thank you, thank you."

Tim is the dad that plays, teaches, coaches, reads, provides, comforts and did I mention play?
He really is Super Man
(just like his costume for the
Kids vs. Dad wrestle mania event).

And he makes the kids laugh and laugh and laugh.

This has sort of turned into a mushy, belated Father's Day post. But really it's a post about those weekends, those moments in time, where you look around filled with gratitude.  Those moments where the same messy closet that drove you nuts the day before just doesn't bother you; or the stack of bills that gave you a mini panic attack the night before doesn't even phase you the next morning.  Those moments where you look at your husband and you fall deeper in love.   Those moments when it's all good and you want to say thank you, thank you, thank you.

This is is drop the mic and walk away all big and bad moment, because well, he's Super Man.
Ha. Ha. I'm kidding this is on the way home from our walk to Dairy Queen.

****Giveaway Reminder****
In honor of living in the moment and loving it  I'm giving away a quick-change camera lens for your iphone--the olloclip.  A lens that can make the awesome pics you already take on your iphone um, awesome-er.  It is a $70 lens and is perfect for capturing all the summer memories you are making.

All you need to do is leave a comment here or like my Facebook page and leave a comment on the FB page and you will be entered.  You have until this Thursday to leave comments and enter.  A winner will be chosen randomly and announced on Friday.

Not Quite Fearless, Yet

A year ago today, I pushed the "publish" button on blogger.com.


My first vlog!!!! Okay, you can't view it on "mobile devices."  Sorry, blame Carly Rae Jepson.  If you go to your computer and watch, you'll understand why I am blaming the "Call Me Maybe" singer.


I started this blog to get everything out of my head.  To share what's in my heart.  Hopefully along the way I've made people laugh, rethink, appreciate and/or reclaim some joy.


Blogging has let me do what I love, write and connect.  It has opened doors to writing and video editing opportunities.  It gave me the courage to start a business.  


Most importantly, it has helped me to stop apologizing and become less afraid.  Not quite fearless yet. 

There have been some amazing moments this past year. 

I do feel much less afraid to be the socially awkward woman who is afraid of public speaking but has a lot to say; who loves old Chris Farley sketches on SNL and all things pop culture but can passionately and intelligently speak about politics; who rides that emotional roller coaster like a champ but won't let go of the safety bar, just in case.




Thank you for reading and supporting me.


The perfect gift for the occasion would be to share my blog on Facebook, like the FB page(click here) or become a subscriber (click here).  I almost typed, "sorry to ask" but stopped myself.  

Here are a few of my favorite posts from the past year.


I Am Not Funny

A Dream Fulfilled With My Posse

Embracing My Crazy and My Sam Kinison

Back to School Revolution

The Sock Basket

#ShockingButTrue (At least to me)

Do you have any?  
Let me know what you think.
And again, thank you.


This is the happiest song and the silliest video.  I heart Jimmy Fallon.