To be in a “funk” by definition means – a state of depression; a great state of fear or panic.

Not sure I would go that far, but that is the word I chose when greeted by my hubs after walking through the door. To say that I was snarky and ill tempered, would be an understatement.

That did not deter him.

In the background the sound of Marques Wyatt spinning some deeply soulful house music made me wanna close my eyes and pretend I was swaying under the lights on a NYC dance floor.

Chris has that way about him…Moving me from my seemingly insurmountable circumstances to this place where nothing exists but those things which evoke feelings like the ones you have when recalling the most wonderful times in your life. When there was no real struggle, stress or worry, even if only for a moment. (For some of us this will be difficult to recall…try harder!)

Are you following me???

Let me put it another way. Have you ever walked into a place where the music, smell, lighting, people, ambiance all just made you feel cool…relaxed and desirable? (This probably looks different for all of us. For one, it may be a craft store, while for another, a jazz bar and still for another, it might be nature.)

That’s what I’m talking about. That’s where this man takes me. And for no other reason than, “It’s a Wednesday.”

SO, in an effort to be a wife even close to deserving this kind of treatment, I am making a list of things, from this week alone, that I am grateful for.

Few things will change ones perspective as quickly as an “attitude of gratitude”. And when I am grateful, those around me feel free to express gratitude as well.

Are you ready?

Here we go.

~ Pajama pants. Seriously, what would we do without them?!

~ Girlfriends! What would I do without you?!

~ A husband who cooks. And not only that, but the food tastes better than any restaurant I have ever been to. (Which leads me to my next one)

~ Stepping out of my car and before even walking through the door, smelling garlic permeating the air as it simmers with other delicious Italian herbs and spices while creating the perfect red sauce to pour over piping hot pasta that will be garnished with fresh (not out of the green can) parmesan cheese.

~ The road less traveled

~ My friend’s prognosis after her cancer surgery. The doc thinks
they got everything.

~ When God shows me a glimpse of His splendor.

~ A husband who doesn’t point out the fact that I’m being a whiny bee-otch, but instead says, “It’ll pass.” as he embraces me with his big strong arms and kisses my neck, sending chills down my side. (TMI? Well, I had to paint an accurate picture. Neither of us are very touchy feely so this is a genuine act of comfort and reinforcing the security that we have together)

~ AH-MAY-ZING women that I get to work alongside

~ Roasted garlic, black bean Tostito’s. Delish!

~ The precious little ones I am able to spend time with while at work. Children truly put things into perspective. They show me how to approach life…if I will let them.

~ The parking garage where I work (especially when it’s raining).

~ York Peppermint patties. (It’s the little things)

~ My small group! I love “doing life” with these incredible individuals and couples. Circles are better than rows.

~ Kettle Corn (not much more to say, it’s just tasty)

~ When my man sees that I am pushed to my limit, and after cooking an amazing meal, bathes the kiddos and gets them to bed. (For all of you guys out there, there is no foreplay like that of you taking care of something that we do on a daily basis and doing it with a good attitude. HELLLLLLO, your sex appeal just skyrocketed!)

~ The celebration of Cathy Moore‘s life and 4 years (on Oct. 31st) of being cancer free.

~ Coffee! Hot, iced, luke warm…it makes my heart happy

~ Dark chocolate (can’t be less than 70%) that you have to shave from a block. (It goes great with the coffee!)

~ The sound of my 5 yr. old asking me to make sure I give him one more hug and kiss before I go to bed, even if he’s asleep.

~ My 3 yr. Old saying, “Mommy, will you sit by me at dinner?!” Even though my chair is always beside his. It’s nice to feel wanted.

~ My dishwasher.

~ Laughter.

~ Kisses

~Italian (especially when spoken from the mouth of my love)

~ Warm water.

~ The money to buy gas.

~ The fact that I can go into the grocery store and get exactly what I need for my family without worrying if my card will be declined at checkout.

~ Aveda hand lotion. The smell, the texture, everything about it makes my hands happy.

~ Armlengths (for those of you who don’t know what that is…it’s a photo taken from your own outstretched arm. I beg you to try it if you haven’t! It makes for some great pics!)

~ The church where I worship and work. They welcome me… piercings, character defects, tattoo’s and all! Because of that, I want to be better, do better and grow in a deeper relationship with the God of my understanding. I’m not used to that in a church. Guess that’s why Buckhead Church is a church for people who don’t like church.

~ 8 years of marriage with the man of my dreams.

~ TOMS shoes (especially the sparkly ones!). Need I say more?

~ Fall!!! YAY! I wish I could say it’s not because I get to cover up with sweaters, but that would be a lie! Though I do love sweaters, I plan to get my fitness on before next March.

~ Self portraits from a child’s perspective.

~ The fact that my oldest son always takes pictures of his feet that I find when going back through the pics. He always has and hopefully always will. Even long after his feet have grown out of the frame.

Anyway, you get the jist…

What are you grateful for? You don’t have to wait until Thanksgiving to make a list. Why not start now?

For the rest of the week, before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I’m going to choose my tude. I’ll let ya know how it turns out.

Oh, and Chris was right…it passed.