August 31, 2010 – Music to my ears

I took my little boy to a music class today.

He giggled and sang and danced and played for 45 minutes.

We giggled and sang and danced and played together… just the two of us for 45 minutes.

He is timid… and came out of his shell to shake his musical eggs on my lap.   He is a quiet learner… and moved his lips along with the new songs until he was confident he knew the words.   He is curious… and carefully picked out each special instrument he chose to play.  His smile lit up my heart and the whole room.  He is a wonderful gift.

These were the best 45 minutes of my day and I’m so grateful for each of those moments.

~K

August 30, 2010 – Great Days

My little girl is in her first few days of school.

It’s been kind of a rough transition for the poor thing.

Today she came home with huge smiles, beaming with pride in her ‘new job’, quick to share her work was completed and full of excitement in relaying her day.  Searching her backpack later, I found a quickly jotted down note…. clearly done in a rush, when there were probably 20 kids needing something, the end of the day madness and chaos that only a primary teacher can understand, but also one that held such importance.   “She had a great day!” it said in quick handwriting.

Thank you, to this wonderful person, for fostering my child’s development and for carefully encouraging her with love.  Thank you for taking those few seconds in the middle of your chaos to quickly let me know she did ‘great’ today.   Thank you for helping her to have this great day.

For you, and for all the others like you, I am grateful.

~K

August 29, 2010 – Nature

Today we took the kids on a hike.  We ended up on a longer hike than we anticipated for sure, but it was wonderful.

It was the four of us… in the woods… alone…. with trees, bridges,  birds,  butterflies, mushrooms, stumps, creeks, leaves…..nature.

We had so much fun.  We ran, we walked, we hopped fallen trees.  We read maps, we hunted mushrooms, we followed butterflies, we created bouquets with leaves, we sang songs, we played pretend.

It was the best idea we’d had in a long time.  It was one hour, just us, no phones, no tv’s, no one else anywhere to be found.

Having an amazing time making wonderful, perfect memories.
~K

August 27, 2010 – Late Night Gratitude

Tonight it’s late and I’m ready for bed.  I almost waited until the morning to post… and then realized all of my thoughts at this late hour were exactly my post for today.

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I just checked on my kids, sleeping soundly, cuddled up with their special loveys and as I am about to turn in myself, I am filled with  anticipation and excitement.  It’s the weekend and I am so relaxed and filled with happiness thinking of being in my home with my family.  Doing nothing outrageous.  Maybe reading some books over coffee and juice in the morning.  Playing in the yard in the afternoon.  Cleaning up the house, putting everything in it’s place and lighting beautiful smelling candles.  Working on numbers with my girl and playing with trucks with my boy.  Grilling with my husband in the evening. 

Loving.  Enjoying.  Being.

Just being, but no place to be.   No appointments to attend.  No one or no thing to answer to. 

Two full days.  Just us.   Being us.  So comfortable with each other.  I’m grateful in advance and already filled with joy thinking about it. 

~K

August 26, 2010 – Gifts and Choices

“You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.”

~Desmond Tutu

What wonderful gifts I’ve been given.  Precious, unique, interesting, kind, curious, loving people.

~K

August 25, 2010 – Almost… a smile

I was talking with a friend of mine.   He commented about my last post… and he giggled with me at the ‘almost’ theme.

A giggle, a half smile, something to think about.   He needed a this.  He’s been walking a long, hard road lately.  And as ironic as it was, I was glad that maybe,… just perhaps,… my ‘almost’ post may have done just that…. almost given him a reason to smile.

With love, buddy.  For you today I am grateful.  Keep almost smiling and one day it will be back.

~K

August 24, 2010 – Almost…

Almost has potential, an element of hope and is a light you can see in the future.

…. almost.

We are … almost… done with our home renovation.

I am … almost…  back into my bedroom after 2 months.

My little boy is …. almost… ready to be potty trained.

It is …. almost…. football season.

We have …. almost…. finalized a Disney vacation.

My daughter is …. almost…. settled into school.

My dad is…. almost…. healed.

I am working out …. almost… every day.

My grass is …. almost … grown back in.

I am …. almost… finished with the book I’m reading.

It is…. almost… the weekend again, more time with my family.

 

All of these almosts… full of hope, potential and light.

 

Thinking of them all today, excited about the almosts, but also keeping fully aware and grateful for all the everyday ‘absolutes’ that must never be taken for granted.

~K