family

DianaK

Appreciations 4.107 – spectacular and sparkly

synchronized-parallel-parkingWhat a sparkly day! One of those days when I am truly astounded by how lucky I am. First, I got to witness the most AMAZING thing as I was driving around looking for a parking spot before the concert today. Synchonized Parallel Parking!! Three cars backed into three parking spots, each separated by a parked car (I made a diagram so you can see what I mean. And yes, I am just that big of a geek.) at EXACTLY the same time. Same angle, same timing. Unbelievable! I can’t even begin to tell you how lucky I feel to have seen this happen. It was miraculous! 😀

Then the day got even better. We had the most wonderful show at ASI! The space was a gorgeous place to sing and we sounded (if I do say so myself) fantastic. The audience was smiling and dancing in their seats, clearly enjoying it and it was utterly, soul-fillingly, brilliantly blissful to sing with these wonderful women. It was all I could do to keep from weeping during Star of Wonder. So so so good. 💗💗💗

And after all this amazing goodness, I got to round out my day with a great visit with my mom and dad (I hope you get better soon, Mom!) and a really fun conversation with my brother Jeff… who is moving here in a few weeks! All in all, one of the very best days. I am incredibly grateful for my shining life. ✨ 🌟 ✨

DianaK

Appreciations 4.99

Terrific meeting with Jerilyn this morning. How exciting to have support, encouragement, and a plan for my new project!

Wonderful dinner with the whole family at Jeff & Laura’s. So great to see everyone. (And to get some of Laura’s amazingly delicious gluten-free pulla. Yum!) It was so so so much fun hanging out after dinner and playing silly games. I appreciate and like my family so much!!

Gluten-free stuffing that tastes like stuffing. Yay! And since I’m the only one here who’ll eat it I have enough for the whole next week! 😀

DianaK

Appreciations 4.98: Thanksgiving…Business as usual!

Quiet morning sitting on the couch, watching the beautiful snow.

Busy afternoon cooking today’s meal with Mckenzie and Katie.

Lovely dinner with the kids and relaxing fun evening with our little motley crew, all of whom I love and appreciate so much. ❤

The funny feeling that I should somehow write something profound for a Thanksgiving Day gratitude post… which I then ignore in favor of going to bed early – forgetting even to post it on the big day! Hahaha. 😉

DianaK

Appreciations 4.95

I so appreciate all the time my dad & brother took installing the new storm door. They are so generous with their time, energy, and expertise!

Meeting clients at my favorite coffee shop. There are so so so many reasons I love my work!

Exciting rehearsal with the Earthtones – just one more rehearsal before our December shows start.  🙂

DianaK

Appreciations 4.86

A perfectly perfect Saturday! Getting little taskies done, like clearing out my office supply drawer! I know I don’t need 10 pairs of scissors, 30 or 40 highlighters and dry erase markers, and 3,000 extra pens. And guess what — Katie and Cina needed exactly that many of those things! 😉

After getting little taskies and some work done I headed out with the kids to my folks’ annual church bazaar. So fun to catch up with those friendly people!

Then a brilliant and wonderful dinner with Sarah and Ida. Sarah made the most delicious lentil pasta with crazy-good spinach-garlic-something delicious sauce. Yum! And what a blissful evening of catching up, playing with Ida, and cuddling with cats. ❤ Even Reggie came over to say hi and be petted — a first for me! I know enough to be deeply, deeply honored. 🙂

DianaK

Appreciations 4.79

Writing a testimonial for someone I appreciate, like, and admire. What a lovely opportunity to reflect on the best qualities of that person!

Remember that thing about me wanting to find fun in as many situations as possible? Well, it turns out that the impound lot is one of those places it really does take some determination — especially when you’re there for the 2nd time in 3 days! 😛

Impound lot smileToday while we were waiting and hoping that the jump start would work so Cina could get her car out of the lot (yes, this is still from the street cleaning this week and no, the jump start didn’t do the trick), I was standing outside feeling cold and a looking for something fun and distracting, so I decided to use my feet to round up nearby rocks and make a smiley face in the parking lot.

Shortly, a security guy drove over and told me I needed to be over near my car, so I pointed to the ground and told him I was just making a smiley face. He laughed and looked a little confused, so I told him about my appreciation journal and looking for something fun at the impound lot. He sort of grinned at me and said yes, it was okay to take a photo before I went back over to the car. So that was fun! I wonder what effect it had on him!?! Hahaha!

Even though the day didn’t really go the way we’d planned, Katie and Cina and I did get to hang out a lot (mostly AT the lot – hahaha), but then we had dinner and watched a movie together, so it was a really nice day in the end.

DianaK

Appreciations 4.78

Sleep! Wow, the difference between 6 hours and close to 7 hours of sleep is truly amazing. I am going to stick with my new sleep-promoting habits if this is the result! 😀

Lovely coffee and chat with Laura today! Ever time I see her or Jeff, my brain still boggles a little that they’ve moved/are moving nearby – you know, like in the same state. 😉 Fun afternoon!

2015-11-06 09.11.07 pmMy cleaned up desk top. I love how satisfying all these little tidying projects are!

DianaK

Appreciations 4.52

Unbelievably warm weather. Wow!

Rock candy 2015Annual rock candy making date with my mom. I have to remember not to wear black, though… It makes too tempting a palette for the powdered sugar. 😛

This sweet little cinnamon heart Katie made for me while she was pouring the candy. ❤ cinnamon heart

DianaK

Appreciations 4.51

colorful vines 10-10-15The brilliant vine growing all along the back fence. So pretty to look out and see those vibrant colors! Getting some serious pruning and weeding done in the backyard. Still a long ways to go, but we made a good start! And we had perfect weather for some yard work. Thanks, Mckenzie!

Fun lunch with my sibs! 😀 I am still trying to understand how I am able to drive 15 minutes and see Jeff & Laura. What?!? 😛 Thanks for the fun afternoon, Laura!

Evening of couch time to rest up from my day of activity. 😉

DianaK

Appreciations 4.49

toaster smiley faceMy toaster has a smiley face inside of it! Smiley mornings! 😀

More wonderful work with my lovely clients. What an amazing job I have. 🙂

Thinking about the people in my life. I am continually astonished by my great good fortune to know and love people who regularly inspire, amuse, and delight me. I am so lucky. ❤