20ish Days of Gratitude

Today, I'm thankful for my husband.

Who makes me laugh.  Who is a true partner in life.  Who dreams big dreams and then makes them happen.  Who finds new music and makes me listen to it.  (OK, I admit I usually enjoy it.)  Who gives me neck massages and listens to me gripe when I'm stressed out.  Who teaches the dogs cool tricks.  Who teaches Flanna to teach the dogs cool tricks.   Who makes excellent tofu.  Who walks or bikes everywhere and inspires me to be healthier.  Who just gets cuter with age (no fair!).  Who has known me from nerdy teenage years to nerdier college years to even higher levels of nerd-dom in grad school and SLP life, and still manages to think I'm pretty.  Who prays before each meal.  Who takes care of me when I am sick.  Who listens to the Indigo Girls and Joni Mitchell without complaint on long car trips.  Who kisses me every time he says good-bye.  Who balances out my anxious nerves with his calm demeanor.  Who is a gentle and supportive father to our little girl.

Seriously, I have a lot to be thankful for.



Who has known you and loved you through many stages of life? 

Experience Nature: A Gorgeous Weekend

enjoying Locopops at American Tobacco

One of the things that makes me happiest is being outside in nature.  Some of my happiest memories as a child are sitting in a special climbing tree in our woods reading a book, or taking walks in the woods to a special mossy spot with my dogs. 

Anyway, this weekend was just gorgeous, and we got to spend so much time outdoors.  It was really wonderful.  On Friday, Robi, Flannery, and I joined our friends and their daughter to see a band play at American Tobacco.  Flannery and her friend got to play, dance, and eat Locopops popsicles together.  We stayed out way too late, but it was worth it. 

On Saturday, Flannery and I walked to the park and spent several hours playing and picnicking there.  While Flanna played, I got to read a few chapters of my Harry Potter book, which I've really been enjoying!  (I'm going to be sad when I finish the series, I think!  It's so exciting having a new chapter to look forward to each day!)  Flannery's learning to cross the monkey bars and kept wanting to practice it over and over with me "spotting" her (a.k.a., catching her every few seconds!).   

Flanna said, "It's gonna take you 11 years to finish that book!"  But I finished it today!

Can you believe these amazing gardenias?

The most beautiful flower I've seen this spring.

Then, today after church, we transplanted the seedlings that we had started from seed several weeks back.  Flannery made some cute tomato-teepees from sticks to keep the squirrels from digging up our delicate seedlings, and she also wrote the tiny plant markers.  I thought it was really cool that, not only did she write them (with me helping her sound out each letter), but after she wrote them, she was able to pick out which one we needed from the group of markers when I asked for the one that said "peppers" or "basil."  It's exciting to see her reading & writing skills coming along bit by bit. 

The "tomato teepee" Flannery made to protect our seedlings from squirrels.

Dill

Rosemary

mint

yellow flowers...so cheery!

We planted some herbs, tomatoes, and flowers, and then the mosquitoes emerged and chased us inside.  Robi made an amazing BBLT (bacon, basil, lettuce, & tomato sandwich) that was such a simple and fresh (can I describe a bacon meal as fresh?) way to end the day.   It was just such a gorgeous weekend, and I tried to really be in the moment and appreciate it. 

I know that too soon, lazy days spent with our little family will be few and far between.  Flanna will be busy with sports or drama or ballet or whatever it is she's going to be into, and Robi's job will get more demanding when he's tenure-track, too.   But for now, I am soaking up these sweet weekends spent together with my wonderful hubby and daughter. 



How did you experience nature this week?  Did it make you happier? 

A Picnic

 We had a picnic with some wonderful friends on Saturday.  The girls climbed trees and made mud stew while the adults sat in the sun and chatted.  (OK, the moms sat in the sun and chatted.  The dads played with the kiddos quite a bit!)  It was a gorgeous day, and a real treat to get to enjoy some outside time as spring approaches.

My hubby is just the sweetest and best dad around.  It brought tears to my eyes watching him play soccer with Flanna.  Such a gentle and kind soul--she just adores him.  Plus, isn't he cute?

Remember to wear green on Thursday!!

The Birthday Boy!

It's my husband's birthday today!  (That's right...we're both capricorns.  My friend Debi says that's why we're so peaceful and compatible.)

Because celebrating traditions makes us so happy, Flannery and I made some neat cards for him, bought him a cooking class (I promise that wasn't a selfish gift--I really think he'll enjoy it!), and frosted some brownies for his birthday "cake."

Then we lit the candles, and Flanna helped him make a wish.

I think this is going to be a good year for him.  I can feel it in my bones.


What are you looking forward to in this new year?

Wuv, Twue Wuv

My 11th wedding anniversary is coming up next week. I really can't believe how fast time has flown since my wonderful wedding day! If I'm ever upset or feeling blue, just reminiscing about our wedding can really bring me happiness. It was just so magical.

I remember that as my parents were waiting to walk me down the aisle, my dad leaned over and said, "You don't seem nervous. Most people are nervous at this part!"

But I wasn't nervous. I really wasn't.

It wasn't that I didn't realize the gravity of what was happening. I knew that this was a sacred event.

But standing there beside my mom and dad, preparing to walk down the aisle of Robi's dad's church, where Robi and I would say vows to love one another forever, I wasn't nervous at all. I knew that I could trust this man with the rest of my life. I knew that if he made vows, then he would follow through on them. That he would do his darnedest to be sure we had a great life together. Walking down the aisle, I was just amazed, thrilled, and so grateful, that I was so lucky as to be the one Robi chose. I wasn't nervous. I was just eager. Just ready to truly be his family. It was so magical to take his hand and stand in front of a church with all that love and support around us.

I get a little lump in my throat here. Ahemmm.

Anyway.

I really hope my daughter gets to experience love like this. I don't take it for granted. I know I'm lucky. Not every girl gets such a great partner who knows how she likes her marshmallows overly-roasted, and who works hard for a living to support the family, and who takes time to play with their daughter each day, and who prays out loud before meals, and who makes her laugh at least 8 times a minute, and who takes care of his own health without any nagging from her, and who is the best trivial pursuit player of all time, and who is just generally the most gentle person ever created.

Did I mention I'm super lucky?



What area of life are you lucky in? Or if you don't believe in luck, in what area of your life have you been truly blessed?

Donuts with Dads

Today, Flanna's school had a special program to recognize the students' dads. Donuts with Dads was reportedly a big hit, and the teachers said that a class full of children with a donut sugar high was really entertaining.

Here are some cute pics of Robi and Flannery before school. So sweet!

Seriously, sometimes I can't believe how lucky my daughter is to have such a fantastic dad. I fell in love with a great guy, but I just got lucky that he turned out to be good at being a dad AND a husband. I'm so thankful for him.



What are you thankful for today?

When There's Nothing I Can Do, There's Something I Can Do

My hubby is interviewing for a job today. The perfect job for him. A job I can just see him succeeding in and loving and being very fulfilled by.

And I really hate that there's nothing I can do to help with the whole process. It's a pretty grueling process. There will be a big presentation, a day of interviews, lots of questions by lots of people all day long. I know he's up to the task, but still, I wish there was something more I could do to help out.

But, lately I've been reminding myself that when there's nothing left to do, there is something left to do. I can pray. And that's something. A rather big something, actually.

So today I'm praying in every spare little moment.

Would you mind praying, too? Or if you don't pray, sending good tenure-track thoughts to my hubby?



What do you do that helps you get through when things are out of your control?