Day 4

Peace and Quiet. How often we wish for just a little bit of this, but how rarely do we receive it. Sometimes we are blessed with an abundance of it. Sometimes it is a true task to just carve out a few lone minutes, but today I had a whole hour. Usually the cat wakes me at 7. Then I groggily pad downstairs to feed her, start my coffee, and begin to read my devotions as I wait for the children to wake up. But today everyone slept in, even the cat. I awoke at 8, not to the sound of howling for food, but to silence. As I sat up, the cat stared at me and then remembered she hadn't eaten yet. So together we crept downstairs and enjoyed an entire hour of peace and quiet. When the children awoke, they were refreshed and so was I. What a nice surprise!

Week One Watercolours

Mums By This Mum and That Mum

Day 3

Sometimes trying to find happiness in everyday life is like looking for a needle in a haystack. That needle can be overlooked when tedious tasks abound or can be simply overshadowed by one careless remark which begins the downward spiral. Yet, when one looks hard enough for an object or simply searches for it from different angles, one can be surprised at how brightly it gleams in the sunlight. The secret, of course, is adjusting one's perspective. Today as I took one of my twin's to one of his many therapy appointments, I looked down at him and thought about how much I love him. I felt his hand in mine and was struck by the soft, smallness of it. At that moment, I stopped, bent down, looked him in the eyes, and told him I loved him. As he stared back into my eyes and said "I love you Mommy.", my heart filled with joy, and I thought, "Yes, all of this is worth it."

Day 2

Happy Day! Swam 5 extra minutes today! Don't laugh - I'm going for time here, not number of laps. (Normally I swim for about 30 minutes, 2X a week.) That extra 5 was a killer, but it felt great! It paid off because the man in the next lane suggested I join his swim team. I said for what - middle aged ladies? Apparently, the man was serious - it's an all ages group. You race against time, although you swim with different age groups. Maybe next year. / Paid hair compliments forward while in grocery store and they came back full circle while later on walking to get the mail.  / Ate wonderful lunch- fresh avocado, cherry tomatoes, hummus and pita chips - am Mediterranean Goddess! / And oh yes, 2nd article published! Does that make me officially a writer? Or is there some imaginary number I have to obtain? I think maybe it's 5. 

"For every moment you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of happiness." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 1

Pajama Day! Except I don't do pajamas so fuzzy JLO inspired velour pants will have to do. Also, No fighting with children day...Was rather successful in sloughing it today. Let twins choose their own lunch - requests included crackers, apples and crepes. Kudos to me for raising them to request/expect healthy food. No crepes in sight as husband is out of town and can't imagine how he makes them. Tomato soup worked instead- that's right twin four year olds eating tomato soup without a mess (the trick is to add goldfish to the soup and tell them to go fishing). Started first writing topic. Moved Watercoulour Wednesday to Friday night (which might be hard to do with no margaritas). Hooray- Mom surprised me by joining in on my no alcohol binge. Strange - blogging is like writing my stream consciousness down, except I feel the need to constantly edit just in case anyone actually ever reads this. Best moment today- not having to go outside in cold weather!

Fasnacht

Happy Fasnacht to me and anyone else who may read this. Tomorrow begins my 40 Days of Happiness project. During this time I will endeavor to do the following: Give up Alcohol for Lent (which should be really hard since Spring always seems to inspire Tanqueray & Tonics and Perfect Margaritas), complete 5/6 writing prompts for The Sun (I'm giving myself a little leave way by only needing to complete 5 and not the full 6), have Watercolour Wednesdays with my best friend (and yes- I do love the British spelling of the word "watercolour"), blog about at least one moment of happiness that occurs each day, and oh, yes- force myself to continue to send my children's stories to publishers and perhaps contact an artist who might consider illustrating my children's stories. Wow!  Now that I have that all down, it seems like a lot, but who knows, I'm just as curious as you are - my phantom audience - to see if I stick to any if not all of my project.