Gratitude Journal

"Momma said there'll be days like this, there'll be days like this momma said" - Shirelles, One Fine Day

For the record, I did previously write that a gratitude journal is not only for the days when everything smells like roses. Those days just make it easy to knock out a gratitude journal entry. I can list 5 Things I'm Grateful For in a heartbeat when things are going well. When things get rough, a journal post takes more thought. 

I wanted to skip this post today. 

I really did. 

It's just been one of those weeks. 

My first week of deployment was rough. The first mistake, counting the total number of days my husband would be gone. Let's just say the number was not far off from 365. Not cool! Then it was adjusting to all the 'husband' things missing. It is an emotional process. An exhausting emotional process.

I made a commitment to myself that Monday would mean a change in my attitude and outlook. Monday was good. My dear friend Helen came to spend the morning. She is one of those specific people I wrote about in last week's gratitude post. We took a walk around the lake. The lake is tucked in the mountains behind my house. I have written about how grateful I am to have an amazing view here. The kids and I rode around the lake multiple times since hubby left which you can read about here. I love to be out in nature and exercising. I am so grateful my friend joined me and the week was off to a great start.

After Wednesday, things went down hill. There was a very discouraging email sent to the spouses of our command. Followed by another discouraging email sent on Thursday. These communications bothered me a lot. By Friday, I was sick...literally. And now it's Sunday and I am still sick. Being sick when you husband is gone is not ideal! Thankfully my daughter has stepped up and commanded her brothers to help out with the household tasks, i.e picking up after themselves. While I know she loves having an excuse to boss them around, I am grateful for her leadership.

Looking at the ups and downs of the past week, I am grateful for a new week. I need a fresh start. I'm ready to wash this filth out of my life and get back to happily checking off days on the calendar. It's nice know you are never locked into a bad place. It took me a long time to figure that peace out. I am approaching this week with a positive outlook.