Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst
From the moment he wakes up things just do not go Alexander's way. Gum in his hair, getting out of bed, he trips on a skateboard and drops his sweater into a sink full of water. At breakfast, his brothers Nick and Anthony reach into their cereal boxes and pull out amazing prizes, while all Alexander ends up with is cereal. It is all down hill from there...criticized for his singing, reduced to third best friend and no dessert in his lunch. No wonder Alexander wants to move to Australia!
Haven't we all had days like these? While I don't foresee a move to Australia, I have been trying to change my attitude about these days. Below is a list of 100 blessing that I've compiled to remind myself that I have many more reasons to be happy rather than sad.
In no particular order....
My Blessing
1. my health
2. my mother
3. my father
4. Paine (my son)
5.Madeline (my daughter)
6. Hayden (my son)
7. Paul (my husband)
8. my brother and sisters
9. sleeping late on the weekend
10. beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of Autumn
11. good friends, who love me
12. never knowing real hunger
13. always having a home
14. being able to read and write
15. a warm safe bed to return to at night
16. central heating
17. good books
18. a comfortable chair
19. freedom to worship
20. Miss Kitty (our sweet seven year old cat)
21. my husbands unfailing love
22. getting control of the t.v. remote
23. good movies
24. soothing pots of tea
25. God's love
26. the good health of my children
27. good health of my mom
28. good health of my dad
29. Chelsie (our beautiful Sheltie that died last year)
30. freedom to make my own decisions
31. delicious food
32. wonderful childhood memories
33.the right to vote
34. walking quietly in the woods
35. watching birds
36. growing up with horses
37. warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookies
38. comfort food
39. hot shower to soothe aching muscles
40. a funny joke
41. sitting in the sunshine
42. chocolate
43. smell of citrus
44. bubbles
45.Thanksgiving celebrations
46. Peonies
47. the smell of freshly mowed grass
48. red, juicy apples
49. field trips with kindergarteners
50. birthdays
51. cake
52. teaching Sunday School
53. quiet time
54. mood lifting music
55. freshly painted rooms
56.Christmas with family
57. reading under an apple tree
58. warm colorful quilts
59. Christmas church services
60. dinner in the oven
61. the kindness of strangers
62. a baby's smile
63. lilacs in the Spring
64. Thursday morning bible study
65. used book stores
66. modern appliances that make life so much easier
67. seeing the sun rise over the hill in Cooperfield (our neighborhood)
68. seeing the sun set over the Pacific Ocean
69. collecting seashells on Coronado Island
70. flying in an airplane
71. a new perfume
72. mystery shows on t.v.
73. going to the movies
74. a quiet house
75. taking a beautiful drive
76. baking cookies
77. painting a beautiful picture, when I didn't know that I could.
78. having a reliable car to drive
79. spending the day with my Aunt Minnie
80. the internet - being able to communicate with anyone/anywhere
81. cuddling in bed with Hayden
82. watching Paine play football
83. having an afternoon with my parents
84. spending a few hours alone in Joseph-Beth (local bookstore)
85. the smell of a new baby
86. fresh brewed coffee
87. a surprise snow storm
88. finding money in a jacket pocket
89. fresh gingerbread
90. being inspired to create
91. waking up full of energy and in a great mood
92. reading something that resonates
93. freshly washed hair
94. the beauty that is my dad's garden
95. cold watermelon on a hot day
96. lemon scented furniture polish
97. cool, clean cotton sheets on a hot summer night
98. standing between the lines of clothes hung to dry
99. warm flannel sheets
100. freedom to give and receive love
I feel better already!
1. my health
2. my mother
3. my father
4. Paine (my son)
5.Madeline (my daughter)
6. Hayden (my son)
7. Paul (my husband)
8. my brother and sisters
9. sleeping late on the weekend
10. beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of Autumn
11. good friends, who love me
12. never knowing real hunger
13. always having a home
14. being able to read and write
15. a warm safe bed to return to at night
16. central heating
17. good books
18. a comfortable chair
19. freedom to worship
20. Miss Kitty (our sweet seven year old cat)
21. my husbands unfailing love
22. getting control of the t.v. remote
23. good movies
24. soothing pots of tea
25. God's love
26. the good health of my children
27. good health of my mom
28. good health of my dad
29. Chelsie (our beautiful Sheltie that died last year)
30. freedom to make my own decisions
31. delicious food
32. wonderful childhood memories
33.the right to vote
34. walking quietly in the woods
35. watching birds
36. growing up with horses
37. warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookies
38. comfort food
39. hot shower to soothe aching muscles
40. a funny joke
41. sitting in the sunshine
42. chocolate
43. smell of citrus
44. bubbles
45.Thanksgiving celebrations
46. Peonies
47. the smell of freshly mowed grass
48. red, juicy apples
49. field trips with kindergarteners
50. birthdays
51. cake
52. teaching Sunday School
53. quiet time
54. mood lifting music
55. freshly painted rooms
56.Christmas with family
57. reading under an apple tree
58. warm colorful quilts
59. Christmas church services
60. dinner in the oven
61. the kindness of strangers
62. a baby's smile
63. lilacs in the Spring
64. Thursday morning bible study
65. used book stores
66. modern appliances that make life so much easier
67. seeing the sun rise over the hill in Cooperfield (our neighborhood)
68. seeing the sun set over the Pacific Ocean
69. collecting seashells on Coronado Island
70. flying in an airplane
71. a new perfume
72. mystery shows on t.v.
73. going to the movies
74. a quiet house
75. taking a beautiful drive
76. baking cookies
77. painting a beautiful picture, when I didn't know that I could.
78. having a reliable car to drive
79. spending the day with my Aunt Minnie
80. the internet - being able to communicate with anyone/anywhere
81. cuddling in bed with Hayden
82. watching Paine play football
83. having an afternoon with my parents
84. spending a few hours alone in Joseph-Beth (local bookstore)
85. the smell of a new baby
86. fresh brewed coffee
87. a surprise snow storm
88. finding money in a jacket pocket
89. fresh gingerbread
90. being inspired to create
91. waking up full of energy and in a great mood
92. reading something that resonates
93. freshly washed hair
94. the beauty that is my dad's garden
95. cold watermelon on a hot day
96. lemon scented furniture polish
97. cool, clean cotton sheets on a hot summer night
98. standing between the lines of clothes hung to dry
99. warm flannel sheets
100. freedom to give and receive love
