Today, for the first time in over 2 years,
I got to just sit and read a book.
I know, it sounds silly, but to me...it was a big deal.
I got to sit in my peaceful, beautiful and quiet back yard
that is it's own private little park of sorts,
and in the shade of my porch on a lawn chair I sat and read.
For like 5 hours.
It was delicious.
I couldn't help but think about all the things I was grateful for.
Avery.
She came out and would spin on the swing and look of pure joy on her face meant everything to me.
Morris sat and played at our feet, happy for the companionship of us there and I was happy that he was happy there.
I love this picture that captured her funny spirit that morning when she told me she was beautiful enough to be on a magazine cover. I don't think I ever came close to ever even thinking that as a kid. It made me happy to know she saw something beautiful about herself, even though it was a bit vain.:)
I thought of my one bum kitchen and that I knew it bugged me when we bought the house but I knew the yard would make up for it. And it has.
I was reminded of my childhood growing up on Ames Road
and the peaceful retreat my parents had created for us.
A place we knew we were always safe and loved.
I would sit under the most beautiful peach tree and dream of the day my prince charming would find me and I would have a family of my own.
Now I sit under a porch and find pure joy in the silence of the afternoon that is only filled with the birds and squirrels chirping, Avery giggling and saying Mom.....Mom....Mom.
After three years of living a life of pure panic and really there is no other words to describe it
except feeling complete and under pure panic,
I felt a tender comfort and overwhelming feelings of gratitude for all that I have been given.
A beautiful daughter.
Who is a brilliant artist.
This is her version of the Mona Lisa.
Being able to sneak away in my parents car to crash my cousin's wedding
and being able to walk 8 blocks in flip flops (and not having my feet ache) to temple square so my daughter can feel the spirit there.
Being so proud of my husband and his ability to coach and inspire his lacrosse boys.
In 17 years of watching lacrosse with him, I have never been so emotionally invested in lacrosse and with his team, nor more proud.
Knowing that Heavenly Father sends great blessings in little packages.
I always thought I'd have lots of little mouths to feed.....
I just never imagined they would be squirrels.
Our first squirrel Gracie got pregnant and had babies in our garage.
The night that we first saw the babies was so fun!
I couldn't wait to call my parents and let them know I was a Grandma!:) Of triplets no less!
I love that Avery has good cousins that she actually has relationships with.
I love that I have discovered my nephews love to be kidnapped for just a couple of hours, even if it is just going grocery shopping with me.
I love that Avery and Charlotte hold hands when they walk together every where they go.
I love they they actually want to visit us.
Getting to take Avery for a pedicure on the last day of school
where I was the one crying about missing her class as we drove out of the parking lot.
Carrying on the tradition that Candy and I had of making swim suits for Barbie out of balloons.
Yes, the Red Robin balloon was actually good for something
and was perfect for her remake of Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber....
Grateful for the only woman I have really known and had a relationship as a Grandmother.
I'm not grateful for the wrinkles that Picasa can't remove or the grey hairs that continue to think they are welcome on my head. But I am grateful I have figured out how to dye my own hair to hide them.
I am thankful for a place to call home,
for being able to give my Dad haircuts,
for having a Mother who loves to talk to me,
to be able to laugh out loud and hard and long with my siblings when I talk to them
and to continue to laugh about whatever I was laughing about with them for hours and days afterward,
for a husband who actually loves to call me multiple times a day from work just to see how I'm doing
and a daughter who completely loves me.
I was grateful for a day to be grateful.:)
