Gladitude!

Happy Monday, Everyone! Honestly, it's been a long, busy week, but as always, there are things which make me glad.

10. Glad that Saturday is over. Generally, I don't wish my time on this planet away, but Saturdays are hard for me when Big is out of town. They seem to drag, and unless I'm really organized and energetic, they aren't as planned and structured as the rest of the week, so the kids and i can tend to get on each others' nerves.

9. Even though I'd like it to be a wee bit warmer, i'm glad for our fair weather. Big is absolutely in the middle of a huge flop-sweat in Shanghai, and I don't envy him that. I can get so crabby when my face is hot and my makeup sliding.

8. Glad for Orbit gum in spearmint flavor. For we are all Violette Beauregard gum chewers in this house. Sensory input anyone? I'm amazed that chewing gum helps me to calm down and/or concentrate. Hello, my name is Gretchen, and I am weird. Also, happy that Orbit was on sale for $.99/pk because I live amongst dreaded gum thieves.

7. Gladdissimusly glad that I started voice lessons last week. This is sort of a 40 in 40/bucket list goal for me, and I prayed about it, talked to Big, and dove in with both feet. My teacher is 1/2 my age, and has just cut this CD, so I'm learning much humility, too. My daughter and I are fighting over get to share the CD, so there may be another purchase in my future.

6. Always super glad when good summer TV comes my way. Enjoyed my first episode of Mad Men and the first few episods of Royal Pains. And, it's probably about as realistic as E.R. and Grey's Anatomy in its genre, but lurve Army Wives, too. Hey, if House isn't on, what's a girl to do?

5. Glad that my downstairs floors will finally, after 8 years, match. Of course this requires every scrap of everything to be moved out of the downstairs by earlymid July, but hey! It'll be worth it. It will. It will. Won't it? ;)

4. Glad that I was able to reminisce about two of my childhood icons, Michael and Farrah. At one point, they were both just incredibly talented folks, and I'm sad for their children. I used to play Charlie's Angels on the playground in 3rd grade, and I was a huge Jacko fan in high school and even into college.

3. Glad to have experienced and finished VBS. I'm not usually one who enjoys helping out in children's ministry--don't kill me, Amber--because I'm just not hugely gifted there. And random, high pitched noise really distracts me. But I really felt urged to step out and help, and I'm glad I did. I remember studying Rick Warren's opus a few years back, and though he espoused helping in our areas of gifting, he also essentially exhorted helping where we're needed. I did 2nd/3rd registration, and floated around to other areas. By the end of the week, I knew most of my kiddos by name.

2. Glad that I'm still training for the 5K, and that it seems to be going well. Still waiting for the fun factor to hit at any time. SOOOO glad that my friend is doing it with me. And it's fun b/c of her, but you know, I could have a coffee and have fun with her. Right now, it's an obligation towards a goal, and perhaps it will always feel that way, but training myself that I can make and achieve measurable goals is helping to rewrite a lot of negative body image baggage. What's not to be glad about there?

1. Looking forward to this holiday weekend--2 night beach sleep-over with special friends at the beach, and though perhaps bleary-eyed, Big will be here to enjoy the festivities. Hoping to get some beach coming, running (? did I say that?), and cherry pie and homemade ice cream making and eating going on.