Moment 12

We woke up to a gray sky and puddles left over from a mid-night rain.  Within the first hour of morning the rain began to gently fall and although I love an occasional rainy day I was sad that my boys' last soccer games would be canceled....that's no way to end a season.  As I checked and rechecked my E-mail I finally noticed an E-mail that the game was ON...so we scurried to get my oldest to his 8 am game.  I was especially excited that his team was able to play their last game as this season held some life lessons as they watched a player lose his mom to cancer and then move away.  My husband told me that just as the rain came down sporadically so did the arrival of the players and as each one came running the team would cheer at the teammate "sighting".  Watching this team play tough and with heart during their last game was a perfect metaphor for the season as a whole.  So today I am grateful for a great 2011 soccer season.

Moment 11

As the wind turns crisp and the nights bring an extra layer of blankets there are still signs of summer hanging on.  Today I was struck by this lone lily in full bloom and I thought of my mom.  She's a tough one with a sturdy stem, just like this beautiful lily.  The last few years have not been easy on her and she's been beat down far too many times.  But she still blooms and holds on while the brisk wind whips her around and she teaches me time and time again that it's okay to wilt occasionally and take a rest but come spring you better stand tall and strong and show your beautiful colors for as long as you can.  Today I am more than grateful for my mom....my hero.

Moment 10

Today I am grateful that my gym membership was still active because let's just say that it's been awhile.  Oh, and I'm grateful that I was actually able to still run a little bit and in all seriousness I am grateful for how exercise makes me feel!!!

Moment 9

Some days I feel so restless and I just don't know what to do with kids....yes, that's coming from someone who has worked with and played with kids her whole life.....but it's different when they are your own.  It's also just my nature to be completely unorganized and unplanned and at times that causes my anxiousness, but other times it leaves me open for spontaneity and delight.  So today as the panic started to set in I said, "Hey kids, let's go to the park," and although that doesn't seem like an extremely creative idea, it was a brilliant one.  The air was crisp and the sun was shining and we just let go and had fun!!!  So today I am grateful for spontaneous ideas that work out perfectly.

Moment 8

One year ago today in Ethiopia we held our baby girl for the very first time.  She looked at me and then looked at my husband and then gave us a huge smile.  To say that it was love at first sight is truly an understatement.  She was and still is so beautiful, sweet and happy.  She is our daughter....a dream come true and I am forever grateful for this day one year ago.

Moment 7

Today I am grateful for....naps...and the sweet dreams that they bring.

Moment 6

An art course is a funny thing....It not only challenges you to grow as an artist but to also grow as a person.  Our instructor, Flora Bowley, was inspiring, approachable, funny and wise and even though she says her intention in her art is to have fun and get all the colorful images out of her head and onto a canvas I think maybe her teaching journey is to impart valuable life lessons to others and to send the positive energy she creates into the universe.  She asked us to make a positive intention or affirmation and write it down as a reminder to reference as we worked on our paintings.  The idea was to take something you may be struggling with and turn it around to be something that you are accomplishing.  So I chose, "I Am Growing," because I so often want to be at the finish line.....whereever that is.  I want to be a seasoned artist with my own identity.  I want to "know everything".  I want to be "the best"...blah, blah, blah.  These are the voices that many of us deal with and it is hard to be patient and it is hard to be the student, especially when you are used to being the teacher, So I am working on reminding myself that "I Am Growing," and there is time and that it is okay to not know everything.  Today's grateful moment was meeting Flora Bowley and continuing to grow.