True Appreciation

This small incomplete piece has been  sitting in my drafts since 4/30/2014. I have been meaning to complete and post it. Obviously, that is unlikely to happen so I am posting as is. :) So here you go.....

Stop and smell the roses.

This is such a common saying, but how often do we actually stop and appreciate some of the amazing things that are happening around us? I am just another violator of this somewhat universal offense. More than I'd like to admit I find  myself coasting through life considerably emotionless.

Get up, go to work, come home and cook dinner, put the kids to bed, putts around on the TV or computer, go to bed myself..... and start all over again.

There are also a list of areas that I could go on about that I feel I am lacking in as a good mother but that's beside the point. Tonight, I am going to focus on the positive.

My Amazing Family....

Although I have been surrounded by such an inspirational, goofy, loving group of people, I have felt divided for about the past ten years. This is due to half of my family residing in Illinois and the other half in Oregon. For this reason I've not been completely content living in one place or the other knowing two thousand miles separated me from someone that I love. However, just a few short months ago my mother, step-father and two siblings finally made the move to Oregon. Just this statement alone is a great blessing from the Lord. Since then, my weekends have been packed with gatherings, cookouts, birthday parties, and theater trips, so much that I haven't had much for downtime in a while. None of that matters because at long last, my family is back together. Just knowing that my mother will be here for every birthday, every cookout, and gathering makes my eyes well with joy. I am complete again.

My Children.....

Not a day goes by that my children cease to amaze me. Emma, for her kind and loving heart. Recently, she showed compassion and empathy for a homeless man standing on the side of the road. Emma gave kind words and a smile to this man who generally gets turned heads and glares throughout the day. After we continued on our journey my nine year old with tears in her eyes, vowed that in her years to come she will make a difference for people in need any way that she can. I am awed by her selflessness. Conner, for his joy of knowledge. He has an almost effortless way about himself when it comes to attaining new information. Almost as if he already has the information stored and isn't aware of it's existence (to quote my stepmother). During a casual conversation at the dinner table my father told Baileigh that she needed to take ten times ten times three bites. Conner, who is only 6 mind you, turns to his grandfather and states "Grandpa that's 300 bites".