ThoughtFULLness

Snuggling with me one morning last week, Gracie told me know how lucky I am when she sleeps with me. "Well, you have me so close to snuggle AND you don't have to get up in the middle of the night to come close to me when I'm scared. I'm RIGHT here." She has a point. =) I love that girl in all her sweetness. =)

Drinking From My Saucer

The birthday was yesterday. What a great day indeed. Gracie had the perfect gift for mama. She's been itching to give this lusciously wrapped gift since returning from shopping with cousin Mimi. I had to close my eyes, hold out my hands while she crooned happy birthday in that sweet, sweet voice (vibrato & all). She grinned from ear to ear while I opened up her thoughtful gift. =) We ended the day with more cutie things crafted by her little hands -- a picture she drew of our full-of-love family, as she called it. I like the sound of that. =) I told her my best gift was Grace - she is best gift & I'm so blessed to have her every day.

So many wishes, blessings & birthday salutations came from friends & family via Facebook. Some phone calls came in from the nearest & dearest friends; they began at 6 AM but I didn't answer until 7 AM. It took me about an hour to say "thank you" to each one of those delivering birthday greetings. Saying "thank you" made me even more thankful - for so much more than a date on a calendar.

Gracie said I'm the best mom she ever had. Rhonda said I was her best childhood camping buddy. Cindy said I was one of the happiest persons she'd ever known. Pam & Sonny were wishing I'd come back out to California to visit. I'm so going once this degree is finalized! I was sent lots of love & blessings from all over the world - literally. I'm blessed to have friends near & far, some long time friends & some as new as the last 24 hours.

This morning as I enjoy the scent of cinnamon n sugar waft through my kitchen, I'm counting my blessings. I've got so much for which to be thankful. I'm getting healthier with every stick o'butter melting off my behind (three this week). My daughter is smart, healthy & loves to learn. I am loved by my family & though I miss my mom muchly on days like these, memories of her make my heart smile.

My life is full of goodness. Someone said that way before me in a near-cheesy poem that circulated years ago when forwarding bites of wisdom via email was still cool. I pulled it up to read, re-read & share because it just sums it up so nicely. I'm reaping better than I sowed. Not sure about the grammar, but is sure echos my heart today. Drinking from my saucer...

DRINKING FROM MY SAUCER

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now,But I don't worry about that much I'm happy anyhow.And as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I sow,I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed..Haven't got a lot of riches and sometimes the going's tough,But I've got loving ones around me and that makes me rich enough.I thank God for his blessings and the mercies He's bestowed,I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed..O, Remember times when things went wrongMy faith wore somewhat thin,But all at once the dark clouds brokeand sun peeped through again.So Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed,I'm drinking from my saucer "Cause my cup has overflowed".If God gives me strength and courageWhen the way grows steep and rough,I'll not ask for other blessings I'm already blessed enough.And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads,Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer"Cause my cup has overflowed."
John Paul Moore

Great Forest Park Balloon Race

Always a good time at the Great Forest Park Balloon Race! Quick trip down and back in the SAME day. Some mystery sickness was making the rounds at Aunt Tracy's house, so no fun with family outside our own full-of-love circle. Gracie is a journalistic as part of her 1st grade routine. In the picture above, you see she chronicled her Great Balloon experience.  She's dreaming of a ride in the big balloon.  That's my girl. =)

Less of Me

Started something new & needful last week. There is less of me today...24 sticks of butter LESS of me. =) Yeah! Gracie thinks there's already more room on the couch for her. hee hee! Actually, she's right. Think about how much room 6 pounds of butter takes up on the couch. Not that we allow butter on the couch. No, we don't.

I must pause to give credit to my friend, Cylinda Shirley Nickel over at Because Life is Like a Bowl of Marbles, for her "sticks 'o butter off my butt" analogy. =) Inspiring, indeed. Well, giggling does indeed add up to activity points. =)

I've got some new shoes...made for walking. Well, they are really made for running, but we are wogging (the walk-jog combo) for now. =) And I've got this great book by John Bingham, Courage to Start. I'm feeling pretty well equipped.

Not only did we buy new shoes for our wogging to running journey to Nashville, but we also invested in a blender. Yes, we are now a smoothie making family. =) Gracie is thrilled. Yes. However, I am under strict orders NOT to sneak celery in her smoothie. "OHhhhhh, that's what those stringy things were. MOM!" So now I know just not to tell her I put sweet potatoes & red pepper in yesterday's blend. Scrumptious with all those raspberries, strawberries & bananas. That's what I call "Deceptively Delicious." To be honest, that's what Jerry Seinfeld's wife calls her cookbook...I love the book, the idea & just plum plagiarized the title. Except that now I've just given her credit, so no plagiarizing going on here. Thanks to Uncle Randy & Auntie Em for the cookbook. =)

So here we go....oh, the we part. I could use some cheerleaders here & not the kind that bring cookies. =) Except I can have cookies. Just have to figure out how many points are in those Shorty Cake kind. =)

Goal for this week: journal every bite

Actually, that was my goal for my 1st week. Journal every bite = SUCCESS! Plus, I totally resisted SODA while down with the family in MO. I survived a family reunion with a 24 stick loss. I even ate the peach cobbler, roasted pork loin, potato salad and some other goodies. I did, however, spit out that bite of cinnamon chocolate roll. Not good; not good at all. =/ JOURNAL EVERY BITE!

Bis spater...

For the Love of Reading

September is Library Card Month.  Whoo hooo! Gracie got her first library card today with her very own 5 year old signature. =) Oh, happy day! She was so proud. They took her picture and put it on the bulletin board designed to celebrate young readers.  She got busy picking out her very own books, insisting that she carry them to the desk by herself. Indeed, it was a great day for 5 year old Grace! She's growing up too fast. =)