Bedtime Stories

I have many memories of my dad sharing improvised, hilarious bedtime stories with me and my siblings. I also remember staying up late to read books like the Narnia series and A Wrinkle in Time. I look forward to reading and telling stories to my own children.

My wife recently had the brilliant idea of reading books to each other before we go to sleep. I like that. This will get us in that great habit when kids start to arrive. Besides, I like reading books out loud. I think I would have a lot of fun being an audio book narrator or a participant in a radio drama. I like acting, especially voice acting.

I am grateful for bedtime stories, past, present, and future.

Happy (Work) Anniversary!

Yep, I have an anniversary, my workplace and I. I have been working at my job for one full year. Only a few dozen more of these until retirement! Really though, I am grateful for the job I have, for the opportunities it has presented me, and for all the positive changes I've seen among my co-workers in this past year.

I am grateful for a work anniversary today.

In-Laws

I spent part of Mother's Day at church, worshiping God and then looking after kids in nursery during Sunday School classes. I spent the next part of the day in a group video call with my siblings, and we all wished my mother a happy Mother's Day. Then, I spent the rest of the day visiting my in-laws, enjoying dinner and company until evening came.

I have, on this blog, given well-deserved praise to members of my own family. I don't think I've as yet expressed my gratitude for my in-laws. I am grateful to have more wonderful family in my life than ever before. I am grateful for more loving, hilarious siblings and more supportive parents. Even while I was dating my wife, I only felt welcome in her family's home. I always felt I could be comfortable with myself. I am grateful for that. I know that's not what everyone experiences, but I think we can all see that a larger family can be a blessing. Additionally, I try to be just as good an in-law to others as well (that is, family members related to the spouses of siblings).

I am grateful for my in-laws. :)

Two Friends Marry Each Other (Finally)

Today, I got to attend the wedding and reception of two good friends. These were two friends that I and many others have been shipping (shipping: verb, wishing and hoping that two people, real or fictional, will end up together as a romantic couple) for several years. In fact, these friends were instrumental in getting me and my wife to meet each other for the first time.

The wedding was a lovely and modestly extravagant affair. I love everything a good wedding stands for. I am grateful for the joyous occasion of the wedding of two best friends to each other.

The Shirt Fits Again!

I have been working hard on my nutrition these past few months. My goal is to reach a certain weight (and of course to gain lots of other health benefits, such as more energy and less sickness). For more than a year (maybe two, maybe more), I've had a bunch of clothes that I really liked but didn't fit me very well. Since I've lost weight in the past few months, I tried one of the shirts and...it fit very well! This is an accomplishment I've been trying to reach for quite some time.

I still have a ways to go with my health, but I'm certainly on the right track. :)

I'm grateful a good shirt fits again.

In the Mood for an Apple

Here's gratitude for another very small thing. Most of my dinners at home emphasize cheese and meat, or otherwise high fat/low carb dishes. Today, my stomach wasn't feeling the best (I think from sugar earlier in the day), so I didn't feel like meat or cheese of any kind. Instead, I had an appetite for an apple. It was perfect: not too strong, not too sweet, just right.

I am grateful for the apples we bought from the grocery store today. They were just what I needed for dinner tonight.

On the S-pot Cooking

Sometimes, I like to follow recipes. Sometimes, I like to make up my meal as I go along. What I really like about this second type of cooking is the fact that I've noticed my meals made this way more often end up being quite tasty.

You might say this is on-the-spot cooking, or on the s-pot (get it? on the s-pot because I'm using cooking pots...oh never mind.)

I am grateful for experiences that involve spontaneous cooking.

It Feels Good to Be Liked and +1-ed

I'm not generally very active on social media except for posting these blog posts. I also don't make daily check-ups on who is liking and viewing what I write here. This is simply because I don't write for popularity or recognition, but because I like to write and I do so in the hope that this content may make the internet a little bit brighter and better...at least for me.

That being said, I do like seeing the "likes" and the comments. There are some people (usually family members) who are more consistent readers of this blog. But sometimes I am pleasantly surprised to see Facebook likes or Google +1 votes from unexpected friends or even complete strangers. I won't deny that it always feels good to be "liked" or "voted up," even if it isn't what I'm asking for directly.

So, thank you to all who read and especially to those who react. I am grateful for the social media reactions I see on this blog. :)

Same Job, With a Twist!

I love the English language. I love editing and proofreading, endeavoring to find ways to improve someone's writing and communication. I also love to work with wonderful, geeky people each day. All the best, greatest fandoms you can think of, I or my co-workers are into it and talk about it.

I will say, however, that my day-to-day duties can often feel monotonous. This is simply because I have so far been assigned one task to complete each day, many times over.

This is why I leaped at the chance to take on some other responsibilities when I could. That's what happened to me today. Today, I was able to receive some additional duties at the front desk at my work place. I've worked at front desks before, in a library, and I loved it! My primary job is still as an editor, but now I get to spend some time each day working the front desk while I edit on the desk computer.

I am grateful for an opportunity to get a change of pace to my normal duties, and I'm grateful I was able to take the opportunity when it came.

How Mexicans Celebrate Halloween

As always, as I write, keep in mind that I write according to my understanding and experience, accompanied by some light but reputable internet searching.

I am grateful for Day of the Dead as celebrated in Mexican culture because, in my perspective, it is a refreshing approach to the Halloween season. I express gratitude for it now because for afternoon breaks at work, we're watching the animated film, The Book of Life, as a way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.

Now, I am aware that Cinco de Mayo is really more of an American holiday celebrating Mexican culture in general, but most of my small team of editors happen to be white Americans, so happy Cinco de Mayo! Hurrah for Mexico! (no sarcasm or belittlement intended)

Anyway, in America, Halloween is a fun holiday that involves costumes, candy, parties, and haunted houses (for those who like that sort of thing). But in Mexico, that same time of year is a day of honoring and remembering loved ones who have passed on. It is also incredibly colorful, and it translates very well on an animated film like The Book of Life. As I understand it, Day of the Dead is not spooky at all. Everything about it seems to be overly colorful, festive, and positive. There is nothing creepy about it, and I find that to be a very refreshing interpretation of the Halloween season.

When a Family Member is Ill

Today, I am grateful for times when a family member becomes ill. By "ill," I mean something like a common cold or a bad headache for a day or so, something that's only bad enough to make a person want to stay in bed for most of one or two days.

For me and my wife, today was one of those days, but things are looking better. As bad as a minor illness sometimes is, I am grateful for the opportunities they present to show extra love, to learn and demonstrate extra compassion and kindness. It's often the little challenges (and most big ones, to be sure), that give families a chance to come closer together.