February... has it really already been a month?

Wow! Time really does fly, doesn't it? I realized it has been almost a month since my last post.

A little catching up to do...

Gracie has definitely come in to her own personality. She will officially be 8 months on February 28th. Every day with her has been such a true blessing. Don't get me wrong, she has definitely learned what "nope" means (and sometimes I think she may think it is her name) but she is truly just a sweet, gentle, loving and playful puppy. Going through her training has been an experience for us both. Learning commands, making sure we are continuously practicing, keeping up with her schedule has all been beneficial to her progress (and mine too). Two weeks ago, we had a bit of a change, Gracie decided she no longer wanted to eat her food. This is the same food that she came home with from Smeraglia, so I was a bit surprised when she just stopped eating. Apparently, this is common for puppies, particularly her breed. According to our friends at Petco and her veterinarian, taste buds change as they get older and so do habits. We are still testing foods but have learned she is a soft food girl in the morning that needs a small amount of kibble and all kibble at night. Maybe a little high maintenance "If you feed them, they will eventually come" but she is doing much better now. So much better that she is whopping 42 lbs and still growing!

A blessing and curse... the job search! I am looking at this time off as a blessing, I have been able to dedicate some time to myself and Gracie. We have spent a lot of time at the beach, I am learning new healthier habits when it comes to making food and exercise choices and learning that moving more definitely helps with stress and anxiety for me and helps Gracie rest better at night. I have worked on my professional skills and a lot of personal development and growth. You truly learn about yourself in the hardest moments of your life and what is acceptable and okay and when you need to let go. I have not perfected this yet, a true work in progress but it's all about progress and not perfection. In a recent interview I had with a wonderful company, he used those exact words. He said, "We look for progress not perfection because no one is perfect, as long as our employees are doing the right thing for the right reasons, it's forward progress and that is really all you need to be successful". I find so much truth to that statement professionally and personally. It's about forward progress. Take the lessons from the past and put them into action in the future. I have said before everything happens for a reason, some more apparent than others and while I don't know why I have not found the right opportunity for myself yet, I know it is out there and I have faith it will happen when it is supposed to happen.

"Faith and wine, helps remind you everything will be fine" ;)

We are officially seven days in to February. A questions from a friend to me about this month was, what theme stands out to you for February? American Heart Month? Valentine's Day? Oscar parties? LOL! For me, this month celebrates my nephew's 21st birthday, my sister-in-law (his mom) well her 21st birthday too LOL! and my parent's 53rd wedding anniversary. Although there is still sadness in my heart from my divorce, I still have faith and know that love comes in many forms and I am surrounded by an incredibly supportive family and overwhelmed by my friend's outpouring of love and support for me over the past few months. Real friends, true real friends, don't care if your a mess, fully put together, sad, happy, angry or anything else, they are right there by your side through it all. My heart is truly full knowing I am surrounded by such love and support. Even on the hardest of days, I am never alone. So my theme for February and what stands out to me, LOVE. In every shape, fashion and form in the simplest and purest way, just love. Love for my family and friends and the celebration of their lives, marriages, new beginnings, babies, dancing, smiling, and just being together. The hardest one I am starting to learn, how to love myself, forward progress or forward we progress.