Grace in Small Things

Last week was rough for all of us in my office, and this week my fiance leaves for another long training exercise – his last one prior to his Afghanistan deployment early next year. I want to start the new week off with the right mindset, which is why today’s GiST post is an important one to write.

Here are five things I want to remember this week, no matter what happens at work or how much I miss my fiance when he leaves for his training:

1. I’m loved.

That’s no small thing, but man, it’s easy to take for granted. I’m loved, and because it’s easy to focus on myself when times are tough, I need to remember to love others, too.

2. My dog is the best.

I have the best little dog. She’s just a mut from a tiny little Missouri town called Zalma, but she makes me crazy-happy, and I love her.

3. I have a home.

I lived in a studio apartment in Taiwan, a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, and a one-room cabin in Missouri. Now, in Colorado Springs, I don’t just have a safe place to sleep at night, I have a home to come home to, and I’m thankful for that.

4. I have a job.

Not everyone is so lucky. I’m very thankful.

5. I work with good people.

I saw some incredible kindness in my office last week. I knew I worked with good people, but last week really reminded me that there are some wonderfully kind hearts in our company. I love that.

Are there things that you’re especially thankful for this week? I hope you’ll take a minute to reflect, and to leave a comment.

Since launching my Small Town Girl’s Guide logo last fall, I’ve received a lot of good feedback on both the logo itself and the Americana feel it captures.

Since moving to Missouri in early 2009, countless people have told me that Cherokee Street in South City St. Louis was one of the St. Louis area’s real historical and hipster/indie treasures.

While walking along Cherokee Street not long ago with Nick and Rosie, we came across a very Americana fire hydrant that Nick and I felt captured the feel of my Small Town Girl’s Guide logo. Here are our feeble attempts at creating a mini-me style Small Town Rosie photo shoot featuring Rosie and the Americana fire hydrant on Cherokee Steet.

Today was my family dog’s monthly grooming appointment. Each time she’s groomed, she comes home in a new bandana with bows in her ears. Today’s bandana and bows make her look like a living, breathing, weiner dog candy cane.

She’s not a girly dog, and I think this month’s candy cane doggy ‘do has her bummed out.

Poor pupster…

Candy Cane Dog, photo by smalltowngirl