Finding Joy Every Day

Sometimes you just wake up in a bad mood. This morning my darling Meg was at my bedside at 6 am, just 7 minutes after Justin left for work today. She wanted her Dora surprise. I had no idea what she was talking about and she was getting mad about it. A few minutes into the incoherent conversation she decides she's going to be happy with a yogurt instead. About an hour later she comes up to me and tells me she thinks the Dora surprise was a dream. She had a dream that was real to her and was mad I wasn't up to speed on it.

Earlier in the week my neighbor dropped by. She had a stack of Parenting magazines. She said, "I don't know why I am getting these. I didn't subscribe to them. I can't use them and I thought you could." After staring blankly at her, I took the magazines, said thanks and went in to shut the windows that are on her side of the house. I am not sure she meant anything by it, but it really made me think how loud my voice could really get and how much of my life my neighbors knew about that I don't want them to. I know a little too much about them too. Windows in the back of the house now remain shut and Meg has lots of magazines to cut pictures out of. Oh, I got a new dinner recipe too. Can't wait to try it.

We had a friend stop by with her kids the other day. Meg and her little boy are close to the same age. Meg wanted to play Hide-n-Seek with him. She brought him to her favorite hiding place and told him, "You stay here and hide. I will go and count. I will be right back." And off she went. The best part was, he stayed there.

After Meg's latest reading lesson she got out the Children's Songbook. It's a collection of Primary songs for children in our church. She loves to bring it to me, randomly open it and have me sing her the song. We had a little sing a-long today. So sweet. After I was done, she remained on the couch to sing on her own. I hear this from the kitchen, "Mary wants me for a Sunbeam, sunbeam, sunbeam. Mary loves me and wants me to be a sunbeam for her." So I ask, "Who's Mary?" "You know", she says, "Row, row, row your boat, Mary down the stream. She wants me to be a Sunbeam today." Later she sang the same Sunbeam tune with the words "Daddy wants me for a prayer." Several times.

Sometimes in the day to day with the laundry never ending and the dishes stacking up and the kid messes and never ending project lists and meetings and commitments, it's really hard to remember why we are all here. To have joy and be joyful. I am so grateful today for my darling daughter who tries my patience more than anything and brings joy to my heart every day. I am going to try and pay a little more attention to the joyful, uplifting and good things around me. Won't you join me?

A Happy Birthday Part 3

After staying out late the night before with my darling hubsand at the community theater, I headed out bright and early the next morning for a day of shopping and girl talk in LA at the Fashion and Garment district. That was tons of fun.

At the Michael Levine's loft, where you dig through bins and buy your fabric not by the yard, but by the pound, I found some yummy white and bright yellow fabric I have a skirt in mind for.

Some of it was good, some was not, but mostly it was a grown-up treasure hunt.

We choose a day that was not ideal. It was a Jewish holiday and most shops were closed. Even with that, we found enough open to keep us walking from 10:30-3:30 that day. There's no place to sit and rest, so if you go, be prepared for that. We saw shops with $1.00/spool serger and embroidery threads, and notions of all types and sizes. Elastic for 15 cents/yard. Flannel, cotton, fleece, knits, rayon, blended fabric, lace of all kinds and everything in between. Some shops were organized and pretty.



Some were not. They kind of reminded me of my Grandmother's basement at one time. Seriously. Grandma knitted, crocheted, sewed, serged and did all manner of needle crafts. She could have had her own shop. All of her grand kids had the pretties to prove it.

Trims anyone? If you can't find it here, it isn't out there.



On the way home at the request of some hungry husbands who had a taste of being Mom for a day, we stopped at Randy's doughnuts. One of the better doughnut shops on the West Coast, so they told me.

We all had a great time. We didn't get home until late and we were tired. We also had all added at least 10 things to our project list. We also can't wait to go back. Thanks Mary, Michelle, and Angela for wonderful day and a great birthday weekend adventure. And thanks to my Hunky Husband, who held down the fort while I played a little.

A Birthday Surprise part 2

You didn't really think he took me to see G-Force at the park did you? On my birthday, when we had a babysitter we were paying for? Not. Going. To. Happen.

The next thing that came up on the reader board was this...

Much better. I love community theater. He's never given in and gone with me. That was the biggest surprise of the night. That he chose something out of his comfort zone that he knew I would love. Much Ado About Nothing is a wonderful Shakespeare comedy. If you are in the area and are able to catch anything at the Coronado Community Playhouse, it's well worth the effort. We both really enjoyed it and thought the performers did and excellent job. I was really, really surprised. I even told him I wouldn't mention that we went with me to any of his friends. He could stick with the G-Force story. I am fairly certain none of his friends read my blog. Face Book is another story. In any case, he gets big points for making his wife happy and pulling off the surprise.



A Birthday Surprise

Any time my Dearest Husband plans something without my input it's a gamble for him. After all this time, I think I am still a bit of a mystery to him. I think that's a good thing, right?

So, for my birthday this year he planned a surprise. He snuck around all week trying to get things accomplished. He erased his browsing history on the computer and cleared the cache every night. (Why do you think I am so hard to surprise?) There are only two times in the past he's managed to surprise me completely and he was aiming to do it again. My one request was that we go to a good Mexican restaurant for dinner. He nailed that one. Miguel's was perfect.

After dinner we strolled down the boardwalk next to the community center, enjoying the sunset and taking a few snapshots. We watched a wedding reception for a while went down to a park. We came back up the boardwalk and this is what I saw on the reader board at the Community Playhouse.

That's right folks. It says G-Force in the park at sunset. On the beach. With 200 other people and their loud, darling children throwing things and having a great time. Guinea Pigs who save the world. Gotta love my guy!

Stay tuned.... It gets better!

Good Clean Fun

What's Summer without running in the water in the backyard? It's been hot here, and we don't have AC in the house. There's only so much our old rickety fans can do. This hot afternoon Dad convinced the kids to come and play. It wasn't really that hard as they are always up for fun with water. What's better than good, clean, family fun? Ignoring the neighborhood water restrictions, that's what. I certainly hope this is one of those precious memories my kids conjure up one day when they are far away and needing to feel the strength of family.

Don't miss this!!!

I just wanted to send some more love to my cousin Becky. She's in a fight for her life and she's doing amazing. She's bringing people together in love and support and showing her never give up attitude to everyone. I have no idea how hard this really is for her, but I do know I send her my prayers and support every day.

You don't want to miss the event coming up tomorrow, Sept 7. Not the first day of school, although it is for us. The Bald for Becky committee, comprised of her sisters and brother, are hosting an amazing auction and fundraiser to help Becky's family. Not only do they have awesome tee-shirts, they have had some really amazing donors give some things you don't want to miss out on. Be sure to stop by the blog early so you don't miss anything fun.

And, if you are in the area and can attend the biggest party of the month, Becky would love to have you sign her head. She's adorable, isn't she? You can donate blood, play with the kiddies, and be surprised with the rest of the fun in store. I wish I could go, so if you do, give them hugs from me.

Photos and poster copywrite Sarah Kang. Amazing, isn't she? So much talent and creativity in one family.