Thankful Thursday

1. Friends who make your birthday special

Plain and simple - it's a great feeling when people remember your birthday and make it special for you. It shows they care about you and there's nothing better than that!

2. A perfectly hung picture

OK, I'll admit - I was not as precise as these guys in the picture, but I also wasn't hanging really expensive art in my house! I bought a really neat collage frame/art from Kirklands and filled it up with pictures. But I just hate trying to get the nail holes in the exact right spot - the FIRST time. Well, I achieved success on the first try this time - YES!

3. Getting used to the heat of Texas

The one downside to living in Texas - the SUMMER HEAT. Man, when you get in your car and the 'outside temp' says 110 degrees.....that's kind of a problem for this northern girl with thick Viking blood. I know that I have adjusted to the warmer climate to some degree, but I wouldn't say that I'm as comfortable with it as the natives down here yet. But I can tell that it doesn't bother me as much as it has in the last 2 years since I moved here, and that makes me happy! I'm adjusting!

4. Doing something that scares you

With my 33-list beginning this week, I'm going to be doing some new things this year. Not many of them really scare me, but some of them are going to stretch and challenge me to get out of my comfort zone.......and that's a GOOD thing!

5. When your boss asks your input/opinion AND values it

We've all had those bosses where they ask your input/opinion, but you know without a doubt that it's just lip service and they are just doing it for show/morale and that they really don't care what you have to say. Or maybe they asked you and you thought that they agreed with you, but then they went the opposite direction with a decision.

Well, the boss that I have right now is fantastic about asking for my input/opinion and actually valuing it, using it and basing decisions on it. That makes me feel like a million bucks and like a truly vital part of our Finance team. I love being a part of something bigger than myself and when he trusts my input, it makes me want to work harder to be of value to him. A win-win!