Things That Make Me Smile

One:

I follow Karen Russell's blog because I think she is a fantastic photographer.  I love the pictures she takes of people, specifically her children.  I love that her husband is included in many of the shots.  She shows their life as they are living it with not much sugar-coating that I can see.

This morning, I read this post and it made me tear up a little that her husband carries on this Friday ritual every week.  Year after year.  I am excited for her to get all gussied up for her date tonight.  And I am smiling because she has butterflies.

Two:

I talked to an old friend/coworker this morning.  I have known her for eight years.  Her strength inspires me to the point I normally have tears sliding down my cheeks as I think of what she has been through.  Especially over this last year.  She has survived breast cancer.  She found and married the love of her life.  She has been challenged by her two strong-willed teenagers who struggle to find themselves and the right path to walk down.  She was in a motorcycle accident two weeks ago with her husband when someone else ran a red light.  He broke 3 ribs, shattered his wrist and elbow and has gone through surgery for repairs.  She broke her wrist, cracked her sternum and dislocated her collar bone.  

Yet she still smiles.  She is not bitter.  She is full of hope.  I can hear it in her voice every time I talk to her.

Three:

Dylan.  He is such a sweet boy.  He snatches the kids toys to keep him company in the backyard during the day.  He likes to throw the toys up in the air over his back.  He sometimes growls at the toys after he has thrown them, like the toys are misbehaving.  And then he dashes off as fast as he can move to come back in the house and find something else to snatch.  Dylan draws my honeys to him for affection throughout the day when Todd works from home.  In my office, I smile to myself as I hear him drop his voice to talk sweetly to Dylan.  Sometimes slipping into baby talk as he rubs Dylan's ears and scratches his back.  Today is the beginning of week three for Dylan being in our family.  He still cries himself to sleep at night, which makes me sad and wonder what life did he leave behind and how long until he trusts this is his forever home and he is safe.

Four:

Our home.  This May, we will have lived here four years.  Rarely does a day go by where I don't give thanks for our house or how much I love it.  I worked hard right from day one to get color on the walls, pictures hung, mirrors made and shelves built.  It feels like home to me, in every room.  It makes me feel safe.  I hope our home makes our children feel safe and that they have many years of wonderful memories to look back upon.

Five:

Three Beautiful Things.  Mallory participated today and linked to the 3BT blog.  I love reading through the random things that the writer considers beautiful each day.  It reminds me that it really is the simple things in life that are the most important.  It is a reminder I try not to pass up because it truly refocuses me.

I am hoping for more time on the torch this weekend to make new beads.  I also need to sit myself down to make some new jewelry.  It's been too long since I have made jewelry on a regular basis and I miss that.  I'm ready to put new things together.  

I am ready for the weekend.  It has been a long work week and I have fallen asleep every night on the sofa around 10.  That is so unlike me.  We have a roller skating birthday party to attend and soccer registration for the boy child.  Valentines cards and receptacles must be made.  Laundry seriously needs to get done so I can leave my house shamelessly.

What are you doing this weekend?