Part II!

Hello again, savvy savers! I wanted to end my weekly posts by bring the week to a close with a post about the reflections on this past week. This weeks reflections are going to be slightly different, in that I want to focus this weeks post, not on what I hope to accomplish, but on what I am most thankful for this past week. I wish to continue this series for the remainder of the year, as an “Attitude of Gratitude-style” post. I will be following this trend for the rest of the holiday season, and each weeks reflections, will reflect the calendar date of each post. I encourage all of my fellow blogging friends, readers, family, and friends-at-large to join in as well.

So, without further ado… here are the 16 REASONS I AM GRATEFUL THIS WEEK:

1. This past Friday, my beloved husband, friend, and confident, Daniel, turned the big 4-0, in such a gracious manner, that I was truly proud of him!
2. This past week, my husband brought home a new fur-baby, Glenda, a rescue, who after a clean bill of health from our family veterinarian, has already proven to be a loving, thoughtful companion, and helps prove that the old adage, “who rescued who,” to be more than the truth, in our case!
3. I lost an additional two pounds, as part of my healthier lifestyle, and am hopeful to lose more!
4. Last week my website hit 500,000 views; I am truly blessed to have reached so many readers since March of this year, and am grateful for all of my readers!
5. I am having continued success with my ETSY shop, and am loving all of the positive comments, conversations, likes, favorites, and orders this holiday season!
6. I have finished up my holiday shopping for this holiday season, and came in under budget!
7. I plan to take some time this afternoon to clean out, organize, and inventory my deep freezer, freezer, and refrigerators; I am grateful for the abundance of groceries, food staples, and other blessings that couponing has allotted my family this past year. I plan to donate 20% of our non-perishable food staples this week to a local soup kitchen and my husband’s school food drive, so that we may pass our blessings onto others!
8. I am grateful for falling leaves. I somehow love the quiet moments, early in the morning, where I alone can creep across my yard, to fetch the morning paper, while listening to the crunch of leaves beneath my feet, the glow of brilliant fall foliage in sight, and the feel of chill in the air. I long for the days of Autumn!
9. Finally, I am grateful for my three overgrown puppies, Sassy, Roxie, and Lady. My girls were so ecstatic this morning to receive a new treat from the store, and just the fact that a binky and ball makes there day, makes mine, too; I strive to be the kind of person my pups think I am!
10. I am grateful for warm, seasonal crockpot meals on cool Fall nights.
11. I am grateful for having a husband who has not just a true heart for God, but a desire to help others in the process.
12. I am grateful for being a product reviewer; being able to bring my readers, friends, and family new, affordable products that will make their lives easier, is comforting to me!
13. I am grateful for silence; I enjoy nothing more than waking up on cool Fall mornings, to a silent house, a cup of warm chai, and the sound of nothingness. There is a contentedness that I find in silence that I long for and crave. 
14. I am grateful for being a book reviewer; I have been afforded the opportunity to read so many amazing pre-released works from authors previously unknown to me, and the opportunity to share their works with others is always a shared blessing, in the ability to in the greatness of the written word. There is something to be said for the sense of accomplishment that one feel when a good book closes for the last time, on the last page, the sense of forlorn consideration that comes with having to leave newly made literary friends, that no sort of electronic reader can come close to! 
15. I am grateful for silly pet moments; bringing home a new dog bed and smoked ham bones for my dogs brought forth grins and smiles all around this morning! 
16. I am grateful for Sundays spent in pajamas and sweat pants; there is something to be said for being comfortable in one’s own home! 

Happy Sunday!