30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 9 and 10

Made it through 10 days! Only 20 more to go!

Day 9:  As I mentioned in my last post, I am very grateful for my family. My extended family is wonderful!  Of course, they are quirky like all families are, but I love them dearly.  On my mother's side, she has 5 brothers and sisters, which makes for so many aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, etc!  Thanksgiving at my grandmother's house is crazy!  There are usually around 50 people there if everyone is able to make it.  So much fun with the little ones running around and the adults having conversations from room to room.  I like to float all around, to make sure I get a chance to visit with everyone.

My dad's side of the family is rather small compared to my mom's!  My grandparents on my dad's side are gone, but we do get together with my uncle, aunt, their kids, and their kids' kids when we can.

Jason's extended family is rather small too.  I really like it too, though, because everyone can sit in one room and be included in the conversation.  It's easier to keep up with what everyone is doing and where they are.  And there are usually some shenanigans going on.  Especially when you get together Jason and his twin 16 year old boy cousins! It's a lot of fun!

Day 10:  I am thankful for my job!  I have only been at this job since April of this year, but I really love it.  I love working at the University where I went to school.  I always said I would go back to school if they paid me, and well- they are!  It's different working with college kids than the general public, but I really like that better.  I also have some pretty great co-workers.  For the most part, everyone gets along really well.  I also enjoy the hours.  I work 8-4 usually, if I skip my lunch break.  I like having the option of not taking a lunch.  For one thing, it saves me money! I always feel like I have to go somewhere if I have an hour break.  So by eating a quick lunch that I've brought from home, I don't feel the need to go somewhere.  And leaving an hour early is very nice!

This has been a great thing for my career, as well as for our finances.  I did get a slight raise when I started this position, which is very much needed since Jason is in school full-time.

Comment and let me know some of the things you are thankful for!

Day 1 and 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5 and 6
Day 7 and 8

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7 and 8

Ok, so this blogging every day thing has been harder than I thought! I got behind over the weekend.  Lots going on! So I'll take time now to catch up.

Day 7:  I want to take some time to say how thankful I am for my in-laws.  Jason's parents have been so good to me since day one.  They have treated me less like a daughter-in-law and more like a daughter.  They have helped us in so many ways since we have been together.  It is wonderful to know that my family grew when I married Jason.  I am thankful for them and all the family I have on his side.

Day 8: I am also thankful for the awesome brother and sister I gained! Jason's sister and her husband are great.  We don't get to see them as often as we'd like because we are all so busy, but it's great when we do get the time to catch up and hang out.

They say you not only marry your spouse, but also their family! I'm glad that is the case.  I love family on all sides!  Especially with the holidays coming up, I am so thankful to get to spend time with family.

Day 1 and 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5 and 6

Be Present

I just watched a video that really got to me and convicted me.  You can watch it here.  It's a Periscope video from The Tag Team, a group that trains direct sellers on how to have effective and successful businesses.  Now, they talk about more than just business, but how, women especially, should live their life.  Check out this video here that talks about how we need to get rid of negative self talk and to tell ourselves the opposite of what we think: for example, I am beautiful, I am loved, etc. This particular scope was about how to find balance between family and work. Please watch these even if you aren't a direct seller or business owner, or a woman.  These are things that everyone needs to hear.

Anyway,  In the first video I referenced about how to balance work and family, Amanda talks about how she has believed before that she isn't a good mother.  So, she has committed to telling herself, "I am a good mom."  Rachel and Amanda (The creators of The Tag Team), have both committed to be present with their families in the evenings and on weekends instead of work taking over.  Amanda said how she asked her kids what they needed or what would make them feel more loved.  The answers differed, but basically boiled down to her actually spending quality time with them, to be present instead of just being in the same room and being on her phone.  She gets emotional in the video and really speaks honestly about the struggles that moms and wives face regarding being present.

This really hit home with me.  My husband and I have had several conversations about me being constantly on my phone.  It has actually been a problem with me for quite some time.  It has caused issues with my family in the past, and now with my husband.  I have tried to be better about being on my phone when we are spending time together, but it has become such a habit, it has been hard to break.  It is not that I don't enjoy spending time with him, I very much do! He is so fun to be around.  He is silly sometimes then other times we have amazing and deep conversation.  But this nasty habit has been hard to break, and I haven't tried as hard as I should to remedy it.  So, I've decided to delete the Facebook App on my phone.  The app makes it too easy to click on, and up pops my news feed.  I don't want to completely get rid of Facebook altogether, because of the few friends I keep in touch with, and my business page, but I have decided to only check it periodically at work.  If he is watching football or something, and I have time, I can check it on the computer at home.  Basically, I want it to be an intentional thing, not just habit.  I have also deleted the Pinterest App on my phone as well.  I can get caught up in the endless scrolling and waste time that way also.

So here it is, in black and white, plastered all over the internet that this is what I am going to do.  This is my accountability.  I am striving to be the best wife and friend and family member that I can be.  Not to mention to use my time more wisely than wasting it on social media.

Where do you stand on the phone issue?  Do you use yours too much?  Are you really present with your family?  Have you found a way to keep it in check?  I would love to hear from you!