Thank you notes – July 2019
It’s easy to get so caught up in the hustle of life that we forget to appreciate the small miracles that happen every day. I created the monthly Thank You Notes post to help me relive the happy moments, savor the gratitude, and share them with you. I hope they also inspire you to think about what you have to be grateful for and share them with us. So let’s get started!
Thank you Utah…
for all the beautiful, easily-accessible hiking trails, like this one in Olympus Hills Park.
and this one along the Jordan River in Murray. Thank you Mother Nature for the stunning clouds to top off the lovely scenery below. Thank you Universe for the strong, healthy body capable of enjoying the trails and for placing me here in this country, in this state, in this neighborhood that I love.
Thank you sisters…
for another delightful girls trip…
…the yummy food…
…and yet another beautiful hike, this one on Dawn’s Trail in Park City.
Thank you Bryan…
for the many happy memories. Thank you Mark and Cindy for hosting our family barbecue–again. Thank you Aunt Sheri for contributing dessert. Those cookies captured perfectly the spirit of Bryan. Thank you family for being such a crazy, diverse, loving bunch.
Thank you Larry…
for the early morning Independence Day walk on the Jordan River Trail.
What better way to celebrate freedom than having a day without plans–just doing whatever strikes us in the moment. I did take some time to read the Declaration of Independence and to think about the sacrifices made so I could enjoy my freedom. How blessed am I to have been born in a country that so many others risk their lives to get to? I am well aware that the political system in the United States of America isn’t perfect, and neither are its citizens, but there isn’t any place I’d rather live. It’s my home, and I love it.
Thank you Hawkes Landing…
for patiently waiting for us. Between Charlie Dog’s health, the weather, and our international travel, we haven’t been to Hawkes Landing in almost nine months–the longest we’ve ever gone. As you can see, the driveway is overgrown, but the cabin is safe and sound.
And the beautiful view remains. With any luck, we’ll have many happy days there before the season’s over.
Your turn
That’s it for me. I hope you will share some of your feel-good moments from this past month in the comments. Here are some questions to get you started.
- What made you smile this month?
- What will you do today to inspire joy?
- Share anything else you’d like to–any topic at all.
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Shared on #MLSTL.
I admire you running and hiking, wish I could. I’m wondering, do you ever run into any ferocious critters like bears or mountains lions? Do you carry a gun just in case?
So far, Dee, I’ve never run into anything ferocious. Once I rounded a corner and there was a deer right in front of me. We both stopped and stared at each other, and then she took off. Most of the trails I hike are pretty well trafficked, so the animals tend to stay back. It is something I think about though. I have a fear of being tracked by a mountain lion. I do not carry a gun. I sometimes use a large walking stick. It probably wouldn’t be particularly effective against a bear!
Well gosh, then at least get some pepper spray and one of those squealer alarms that you just pull the pin out of like a grenade.
Good advice, Dee. Thanks!
Hi, Christie – You’re right – It is so easy to get caught up in life’s hustle and bustle and to forget the beauty and joy surrounding us. THANK YOU for the reminder to take the time to appreciate all around us.
You’re welcome, Donna. I hope you are having a lovely, gratitude-filled day!
So much to be grateful for! Sometimes we lose sight of what we have when we are focused on our day-to-day and it’s good to remind ourselves. Utah is one of my favorite states and you are so lucky to have all that beauty close by.
If you ever make it back to Utah, Janis, let me know. I’d love to meet you in person!
I definitely will!
Thanks for letting me relive some of these happy moments with you! Lots of nature, food and loved ones! All good things to be thankful for. I’m thankful your my sis.?
So many of my thank yous for this month centered on family, which is lovely. I enjoyed spending time with you, Cindy. I love you.
I love it that you are deliberately taking time each month to be grateful for the good things that have happened. You have much to be grateful for. I am grateful that my schedule in July is opened up and I can have lunches and dinners and happy hours with friends and family. Making time to connect with people has really fed my soul this month.
That’s wonderful Michele. Connecting with people feeds my soul as well. I’m glad you got to do that.
Thank you for the reminder to stop and say thank you. At the moment I’m grateful for mild sunny winters days and fabulous sunrises. #MLSTL
That does sound heavenly, Joanne. Enjoy!
Lovely nature photos Christie – but I always love the family photos the most. They give such a joyful snapshot into your family and how you obviously care a lot about each other. Thanks for sharing such happy and grateful pics and thoughts – always a pleasure to read your thank you notes x
And thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
Thank you Leanne. I really am blessed to be surrounded by a big, joyful family–most of whom live within about a 50-mile radius. I am also thankful for my internet friends and appreciate you facilitating those connections with #MLSTL. Thank you.
Such a lovely lot of thank yous in this post Christie and you all look so happy in the photos. I love seeing happy smiles and gratitude, and you’re right we often forget to take a moment to think of what we’re thankful for. I’m thankful for having time with my granddaughter recently, she’s at an age where she knows us now and smiles and comes to us easily, it is a beautiful feeling of love that I have for her and her parents. #mlstl
The relationship between grandchild and grandparents is a beautiful thing, Deb. I’m happy for you spending time with your granddaughter. Here’s to many more such moments! Enjoy!
I do love reading your thank you notes and it was you who inspired me to do something similar. Loved reading and viewing. You have had (and still do) an amazing Summer it seems.
Denyse x #mlstl
It has been an amazing summer so far, Denyse. Next we have friends coming to visit from Washington State, so I am really looking forward to that. I’m glad I was able to inspire you. Thank you for sharing that; it makes me feel happy. Have a lovely week.
A wonderfully positive post – how lovely to hear thanks and being grateful! With so much misery and sadness in the world, it is important to be grateful for the multitude of wonderful things in our lives. I’m grateful for just about everything in mine! I should indeed pop them down in little notes.
So true, Christine. The world can be a cruel place. I do my best to improve things within my control, such as spreading kindness and gratitude. Even in the most challenging times, there is much to be grateful for, if we open ourselves up to it. I’m happy to hear that you are grateful for so many things in your life. Enjoy them!
What beautiful hiking areas! We managed to get to the beach once this past month. Not easy considering our schedules don’t often sync up. And we spent the 4th with friends having a bar-b-que and playing games.
The beach sounds lovely. I definitely understand about trying to match up schedules. We have the same issue. Your 4th sounds delightful, though. Here’s to more walks on the beach and time with loved ones!
Hi Christie,
These are all things to be grateful for…and Hawkes Landing was still there waiting for you, just as our little “School’s Out” cottage waits for us.
Love the reminder to practice gratitude.
Yes, Nancy, Hawkes Landing was waiting to welcome us. Hope you get to School’s Out soon!
Christie, I always enjoy your gratitude posts. I love how you get into the details of things and the breadth of them as well. I have started a gratitude list, trying to use your style as a model. This month…there was a lot about shopping. LOL. In Florida, we went to the flea market, craft shows, multiple food boutique stores. But I also had some lovely quiet mornings with my journal and coffee, multiple beach yoga days, and a visit with my mom (she lives in Atlanta, so while we talk almost everyday, we don’t see each other that often). Thanks for continuing to inspire me to look at and be grateful for the small things in life.
Thank you for the kind words, Pat. It sounds like you’ve had a lovely month. I’m so glad you got to spend time with your mom. And I wish I could join you for beach yoga.
Was about to turn off my computer when I realized you had written another Thank You Notes post. Had to put things in reverse for a minute so I could read it. These posts are so special. Glad to know the cabin is safe and sound in Hawkes Landing. A few trips across the path/road will get it back in shape!
Aren’t we truly blessed to be Americans? I haven’t traveled that far and wide, but from the places I have experienced abroad, there is no place like home.
Thank you kindly, Leslie, for staying at the computer a few minutes longer and for taking the time to comment. I must agree with you, as much as I love to travel, there is no place quite like home. Enjoy your week!
Hi Christie I always enjoy your Thank you notes and they do make me pause to consider what I am thankful for. This week my grandson Elliot who turned 1 in May brought me laughter and joy as he has discovered saying ‘hoorah’ and lifting his arms up. So precious. Thank you to you for being part of our #MLSTL community and I’m sharing on social media. Have a lovely week in your beautiful part of the world.
First of all, Sue, I cannot believe your grandson is a year old already! And I can just picture him saying hoorah. That is such a fun age; they are growing so fast and learning something new all the time. Enjoy him! (I know you will.)
Christie what a beautifully written and illustrated post. Yes, you have much to be grateful for. My list always includes my dear husband, family and friends as well as the gift of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. I am grateful each day as I lift my head of the pillow and thankful when I put it back down for the night. Will pin this post from MLSTL and hope you see mine… similar topic Top Reasons to Practice Gratitude with Tips to Help You Do It. Hike on dear one.
Thank you Nancy. Loved ones are always at the top of my list as well, and I often give thanks for my senses, which allow me to enjoy the pleasures of this life. Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to share your gratitude list.
What a lovely, heartwarming post.
It is so important to be thankful for all we have and all we experience x
Thank you Claire, and welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere. I’m off to visit your site now!