Smell the Roses

I woke early today because the builder was due at 7 am, and I wanted a moment before the noise started. (They took out the kitchen wall yesterday. My kitchen is officially off-limits for at least a week.)

It was dark and warm, safe and secure when I went outside and sat on the step of my front porch. I never discount that feeling of safety, especially with so much going on in the world.
While my two most-adorable little dogs, Tootsie and Brock (pictured to the left), did their business in a leisurely fashion, I sipped my coffee.
Birds chirped.
Geese landed on the pond.

When it's quiet enough, as it is that time of the morning, I can hear the slow, lazy moos of the cows in fields a few miles away, mixing with the echo of a distant train whistle.

Not to sound poetic (though it's true) as I sat there, a giant neon-red sun rose into the sky. My camera doesn't do it justice, doesn't s how the vivid colors, but it always moves me.

And I can't help but think - dang, I am just so blessed.

I mulled over the night before, when I'd spent some time talking on the phone with my two older sons, both of whom are happy, settled, and have bright futures before them.
(Above is the sunrise, though my camera doesn't do it justice. To the left are my kids, starting with my soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Bev sitting on Jake, then Mason and last, my oldest Aaron. This photo was taken at an underground river cave, while we waited for the tour guide.)

My oldest son spoke about his new position at work and how much he's enjoying it. He has his own private office now, and added responsibilities that both challenge him and motivate him. He moved a couple of hours south of me (he used to live a couple of hours north) and he loves his new home, and the new town he's in. After catching me up on work and life in general, he told me an amusing news story that he appreciated, and we laughed about it.

My middle son told me how his and his fiance's new cats always find a way into the bathroom, and how they sleep all day, then don't want to sleep at night. He thinks he'll somehow teach these enormous cats to adjust to his schedule. Of course I laughed.

If I haven't yet shared with you about the cats, take a look at these photos of one of the brother cats with Bev. He's as big as she is!
They took the pair from the animal shelter near my house because they were told the cats are brothers, and close to one another. The biggest of the two weighs 18lbs. The smaller one is only smaller by a smidge.

But they're beautiful, and Bev loves them, and Jake loves Bev, so it's all good.

Not long after talking to my two older boys on the phone, I kissed my youngest son and grandson goodnight, before they went downstairs to my son's "apartment" in our house. (That's them at the amusement park last week) My grandson smelled like baby lotion and was all squishy-soft and cuddly as only a sleepy 20 month old baby can be. My son had him dressed in Batman pjs, and he looked adorable. On their way downstairs, I heard him say, "Nighty-night, Daddy," in his very cute little voice. He talks all the time now, and says anything and everything, often taking us by surprise. Watching him grow is a joy.

That evening, in our normal routine, the husband and I talked for awhile before going to sleep. We worked over some problems on the horizon, but found no solutions. We discussed furniture for the addition. We made plans for the next day, and laughed over a few things that had happened earlier.

All in all, we just shared, as we've always done.

Did I tell you that on June 30th, we'll celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary? I thought it was 30 years, but then I'm terrible with numbers. I met my husband on the 3rd day of my sophomore year of high school, and I've been smitten ever since. Every year honestly gets better, and I'm so glad I've had him with me to share the ups and downs of life. When I tell people that he's honestly the core to all the heroes I write, I mean it.

The weekend before was my and Dianne's event, and I'm still amazed at the number of volunteers who turned out to help, and how friendly and generous everyone is. In one weekend, we made around (give or take) $4500 for charities. (Exact figures are still being calculated.) We have donations for the Battered Women's Shelter, the troops, and my local animal shelter where my son got his two cats. (That's me in the middle of the photo to the right, surrounded by truly incredible readers/volunteers.)


Sometimes the "good stuff" almost overwhelms me.
Do you ever feel that way?

I lost my mother to cancer years ago, and grandparents to cancer before her. But I still have the rest of my family - my two sisters and my brother, a houseful of nieces and nephews, and my dad and his wife, who is a very lovely person. I have my husband's family. And I have a wonderful friend, Dianne Castell, who is a dynamo with a heart of gold. (That's Dianne with me at the get together.)

Throughout my life, I've had problems big and small. But I've always had more blessings than not. I often look around myself in almost guilty amazement. There are so many things for which I'm grateful, family first, healthy and safety second, and so much beyond that, I could blog for a month and still be wondering at how and why I'm so blessed.

I don't know exactly what this blog is about - I just had to share with you. I sincerely hope that you're as happy as I am, that although you'll have problems (as I have) they'll be balanced with promises and love and good memories. I hope you smile a lot more often than you cry. I hope that for every loved one you lose, you welcome another into your heart.
And I hope that you remember the importance of attitude, that even when things seem to be at their worst, you have blessings that others might not have.

I'd love to hear of some of those things, life-altering or spirit lifting, that make your world better and happier, the things that give you peace. Anything you consider a blessing, whether it's your dog, or a friend, a new home or a new job, or something as simple as seeing another sunrise.
Never, ever take any of it for granted.

Big, BIG hugs from me.