enjoying the overflowing list of small things

here’s the thing about this blog. it’s changed the way i think. because, for nine months now, at the end of the day, i document our life…the little things i want to remember, a funny story, an endearing moment.
but, over time, it’s become so much more than that. when the day is done and i sit down to write…to paint the portrait in the window of life that day, i have discovered that there are colors i didn’t know existed. i have begun to see life more beautifully and find myself appreciating so much more.
i choose to write about the good, to photograph the beautiful…and by doing so, the bad has disappeared, even in my mind.

when i set up my blog on that november evening last year and had to title it, i thought for a moment and impulsively chose ‘enjoying the small things.’ consequently, i am doing that so much more.
…and slowly, i’ve become associated with the title.
…and i love it.

little gifts have come…

…from friends i’ve known (thank you janet)…
…and from new friends i’ve met through this blog and photography (thank you amy)…

…reminding me to live up to the title.

and that, my friends, is what i love about blogging. it’s inspiring to hold the paintbrush…and know that the canvas i will remember is the canvas i will paint.

and with that said…i am enjoying the small things today.

the week began a little…well, like this:

…but, determined to make sweet lemonade, we turned our lemons. today, we might as well have set up a lemonade stand and made a fortune. i couldn’t stop noticing all the little things that make me smile.

beginning with…

10. the way she chews the ears on her puppy blanket until they are sopping wet.

9. how cute her butt looks in embroidered jeans.

8. watching my huckleberry finn get all dirty in the driveway…and not having a problem with it.

7. realizing that taking care of two kids is… absolutely conquerable. today, we entered our ‘groove’, and everyone was entirely happy. everyone feels loved, everyone’s happy, everyone’s getting attention, and deep down inside i have this smiling heart knowing my friend i love so much is happy because i am loving her girl.

6. feeling like i could trade in my supermom cape for one with brighter colors…maybe even glitter, after i took two babies grocery shopping and to panera where the three of us sat and giggled and cooed over a coffee and a bagel. …and there were no tears, no fits…just happiness.

5. the frogs. somewhere, a pharoah just refused to let the peeps go ‘cuz i don’t think there’s been this many amphibians since the plagues. regardless, lainey is thrilled. they’re tiny enough not to freak her out and i can catch a dozen in half a minute.

4. you know it’s a good day when this is on my counter:

3. the absolute blessed happiness i had after my dad called with the surprise that he is flying our entire family up for a long weekend in the middle of december to celebrate an early christmas. it’s been two years since brett has been able to join me in michigan…and then to have the boys and lainey and all of us together with my brother and sister and their families. the plans are in the works, and even though it’s only a friday through sunday, we’re packing it up with love. for a teaser, i perused through old christmas pictures today and got all excited…even teary. we got lucky…we both love our families and each other’s families and love nothing more than just to be with them.




i can already hear the laughter.

2. laughing watching her eat a pickle today. she loves them. gets all puckered up, but just keeps on chewin’.

1. looking forward to tomorrow…and the next day…and the next.
because we are blessed, and every day holds new smiles.

…enjoying the small things. ~k