Small Gifts

I can't go to bed tonight without saying thank you.

Thank you for the calls, texts, emails, comments on the blog, beautiful flowers, and hot chocolate/pumpkin ice cream (which I am enjoying as I type this).  :)
I have been very touched all day.
Truly.
After 3 years, I honestly didn't really expect it.
But I felt uplifted  by your thoughts and prayers throughout the day today and incredibly blessed by the friendships in my life.

We spent two hours outside at the park this afternoon and enjoyed some sunshine.  It was wonderful  Of course I took a couple hundred photos that I'll be more than happy to share later.

As I was there I couldn't help but to think that while it didn't start feeling this way, the day ended up feeling a little like a gift.

I went to bed pretty sad last night.
I didn't sleep well.
I woke up feeling sad as well.

But as the day went on my spirits were lifted by all of you.
And to have some unstructured time outside with the kids...watching them run and chase squirrels, catch seed pods falling from trees, climbing on the play structure...chasing butterflies....

A gift.



I know if I would have stayed home and forced myself to comply with the demands of our schedule for the day, pushing thoughts of my Dad out of my mind...I would have had a gnawing ache in my heart all day.

Instead, it was really good to stop and acknowledge the day.  Feel the loss.  And be blessed.   By friends.  By small kindnesses.  By sunshine.  By time with Mom. By a day without a tight schedule.

And while I woke up feeling sad, I'm going to bed feeling grateful.
Grateful for the relationships in my life.
Grateful for the the Dad that I had.

Thank you, dear friends.