Thankful and Grateful...Same thing?

thank·ful

  [thangk-fuhl] 

adjective

feeling or expressing gratitude; appreciative.

grate·ful

   [greyt-fuhl] 

adjective

1.

warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received; thankful: I am grateful to you for your help.

2.

expressing or actuated by gratitude: a grateful letter.

3.

pleasing to the mind or senses; agreeable or welcome;refreshing: a grateful breeze.

I would say so. 

This week has been a difficult one. Henry left on Saturday night. Heading East for who knows how long. Cruz got a fever on Sunday night after a fun birthday party and now Victoria is sick. But here is what I am grateful for today. 

1. A job that allows me the opportunity to stay home with my children when they really need me. 

2. A co-worker that takes on extra duties to make sure the class and students run smoothly and as a mother understands what I am going through.

3. My mom who was able to stay home from work for 2-days in order to take care of my little monkey boy. 

4. Good Doctors that know what is going on with my kiddos, are always patient and receptive to my concerns and take me seriously even though I don't have an M.D. at the end of my name. 

5. A husband who is my best friend. I miss him fiercely when he is gone. The phone just isn't the same when I just want to be snuggled up next to him on the couch or looking at him across the table while eating dinner. 

6. My husbands job/career. It is the best out there in the trucking industry and even though it takes him away...we are truly blessed that he works for that great company. 

7. My little Victoria. She isn't so little anymore in size, but she is still my little girl. 

8. I am thankful that I comfort her. That even just by me being next to her she feels a little better. 

9. Music. All kinds....pop to country I love it all. 

10. Nice people. In this county where if you put on your turn signal the car behind you feels the need to speed up...it is so refreshing when a random stranger is nice and polite. 

11. Facebook. It allows me to connect with my hubby when he is on the road through pictures and sweet words that keep us going through the week. 

12. Pinterest. Cause a girls gotta dream. ;) 

So that's my top 10 this week. I will continue to be thankful and grateful for all that I have and all that is given to me on a daily basis. 

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."

Denis Waitley

<3, J