Counting Blessings

I have actually written down even the most trivial blessings, so that I can review them and attitude adjust when I'm feeling not so great.
However, today, after reading another post, I've decided to write what about each of my children makes me smile! (immitation is the sincerest form of flattery!)
David makes me smile when he calls me just to talk - he's always done that and I have so enjoyed so many of our conversations - even if we end up chatting until 2 am. He is a person that is so kind hearted and sincerely non-judgemental of others, I can learn much from him.
Michael, is so quick witted and can warm your heart with his smile. He's actually very funny and creative and I really enjoy his efforts to be a good big brother and he truly takes over and cares for many aspects of our home.
Daniel, is truly a soul without guile, he warms my heart and is ALWAYS kind to me and such a huge help, he makes every effort to do what I ask. He teaches me things, which I love, since he's such an excellent student. He just walked in my office and said - "oh mom did you know I love you?", see what I mean?
Nathan, again is truly a sweet and warm hearted person to the core. He still want's a lot of hugs and dosn't seem to be embarrassed even when at school - big deal for a kid his age! Many times he just is happy to be with me and read or hang out a bit. (He still spends much time with friends though! and he has many)
Andrew, oh is my little sweetie, still. He has to have multiple snuggles daily, and the truth is so do I! He is so helpful and can't wait until he's old enough to do his own laundry - go figure that one. He's also extremely honest, to the point we are working on softening it a bit. He'll tell you the complete truth. yikes!
So, today, that is what makes me smile! And they are my silver linings every day, no matter what!
So, count your blessings, write them down and re-read often!

Silver Linings

I did it! I found a silver lining for a friend. That is a good thing. It seems that so many people are faced with big challenges. I sometimes think that mine are hard, but I find that, as we all know, you don't have to look very far to see that you don't want to trade places with very many people. Now, there are times in my life that were tremendously difficult, but it can always get worse - so there you go. Sometimes, maybe, ... the silver lining is that it could get worse? yikes!

In addition I love e-mail etc, because you can often delete a sentence, whereas when you say something, it's said - no take-backs.

Now, if we could just fix that pesky "send button" - I actually have a delay that I have used!

Perpetually Pessimistic People

are Poison. I think I made that up. Never-the-less, they're no fun to talk to, no fun to be with and certainly poison your own attitude. I think they're best to avoid. It seems though that even the most positive person doesn't "rub off" on you as easily as the negative. I wonder why that is. What I find hard is that some of these perpetually pessimistic people are hard to avoid - like ... you're related to them, live next door or work with them. Then what do you do? I'm about to try a experiment. I am going to try to prepare with a positive attitude before I have to be with them and then I'll try to respond positively to everything they say, you know find the silver lining! So for one week, ok, until Thursday, I'll report. Maybe, I had better go into my room and lock the door until then! ha! Ok, here goes!

Friendship

Isn't so nice to just be with someone that you connect with. Someone that you can talk to and know that you're on the same page. Someone that you have a history with and "get's" what you're referring to, without a long explanation.

Friendship takes time to build and it takes effort. It takes communication on a regular basis. However, have you ever been such good friends with someone, that even if you don't get a minute to chat for a few months, it doesn't matter, you just pick up right where you left off, like not a week has gone by.

However, it's nice to be in close touch with close friends and that takes some effort sometimes with hectic schedules. I promise it's worth the effort!

Thank you "friends"!

Nice Visits - Sisters...

I'm so excited that my cousin is coming to visit with me. This is a huge deal because I was raised an only child and she is my "sister". Now, I have since met (3 years ago or so) my biological family ~ whole different story there.

I hear other people talk and how they get together with their sisters, and laugh, watch old home movies and laugh some more. They have sleepovers at cabins or go somewhere fun or they all gather at various homes. I've missed that.

But, now, my sweet cousin is coming and we have so much fun. It's girl talk. I don't think men have anything that comes close to "girl talk". Do men ever get the giggles like we still can? I have always envied those with sisters that grew up together. Well, the truth is my cousin and I did get to grow up together. Every holiday and I remember her spending weekends, it was fun. I was older and very bossy (could have been the only child thing), I'm glad she still likes me.

Her little brother put up with us too. He was so darling, I think back on him and with the eyes I now have of a mother and think that he was just the cutest little boy in the world and how did he ever deal with those older girls, especially me, the bossy cousin.

Anyway, I'm happy that now and again, I get the chance to be a "sister" and enjoy those times. We only get to do this once every 2 years or so, so i'm really looking forward to it.

We have so, much to share, so much to laugh at, cry over, toe nails to paint etc...

I teased my sister-in-law about preparing like Martha Stewart, ribbons around towel sets ... you know all of those really lovely things you'd love to do to prepare a guest room, if you didn't have a life in the way and sucking up all the time. See my last post for that one.

Ok, enjoy your "sisters", biological or not!

Everywhere I look there is a huge "something" to do; yard, weeds, property needs finished, clothing - overwhelming in every area, dishes, bills, work, etc... I feel like everything and everyone needs attention, I need one of those "time turner" thingy's from the Harry Potter series, or a real working magic wand.

What if, just "if", I didn't do anything? Eventually, I think someone or maybe it would take a few people to "move me". Sitting in a rocking chair, locked in a room with bars on the windows, doesn't reeeeaaally sound all that bad.

Beautiful Lawns

My 20 year-old son, has taken great pride in our lawn, since he took over the whole "project". He's done well, the grass was green, he kept it mowed. I really can't say that the grass was greener on any other home on our street (oh well, we only have 5 homes on our street). He left to work with my huband out of town for a week. During that week, my dad came and replaced a few sprinkler heads, places that were a bit dry. We had old acorns that needed power raked out and so that was done. Next day, replaced 2 more sprinklerheads and fertalized it with a "guaranteed to be green" fertalizer from IFA, no less. Oops forgot to turn the sprinklers back on. Oh my, he's so sad, there are big dead spots. It's definately NOT greener. He's more than disappointed, I think he's a bit mad. I would be also.