Curves in the Road - Day 189

Isn't it nice to have road signs warning you to slow down because there are curves up ahead? Sometimes I wish the same thing applied in life - because it sure would be nice to have some warning sometimes! But I'm still grateful for the curves - expected or not, because I have discovered that when I'm on a road trip, the straight and level roads end up being pretty boring - it is the curvy and windy roads that are filled with interesting things and unexpected beauty along the way.

“If all roads were straight, we’d fall asleep.”  Unknown

Hugs - Day 188

Ever have one of those days when you just need a hug? Yep...yesterday was one of those days. I'm grateful for the good friend I was able to spend some time with last evening - who is especially good at hugs, right when I need them! 

“A hug is like a boomerang – you get it back right away.”   Bil Keane, “Family Circus”

Homegrown Strawberries - Day 187

We just got back from a trip out of town to be surprised by lots of sweet juicy goodness out our back door! Not being here to see them ripen, it was fun to come home to enough ripe strawberries for us each to be able to eat a few! So sweet and tasty - I think better when you grow them yourself!

“Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did.”   William Butler

Our flag - Day 186

Today as we celebrate the birth of our country, I am thankful for our flag. This set of flags flew over the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, and stands out in my memory so much because of the emotional experience there of recognizing the many lives that were lost defending this same flag. I am forever grateful for each of them...

“The American flag, Old Glory, standing tall and flying free over American soil for 228 years is the symbol of our beloved country. It is recognized from near and afar, and many lives have been lost defending it.”   Jeff Miller

Infinite beauty - Day 185

Love this picture of my daughter surrounded by beautiful flowers, and trying to pick the perfect and most beautiful one! Do we even realize how often we are surrounded by infinite beauty and don't bother to recognize and appreciate it?

“Nature is painting for us…day after day…pictures of infinite beauty.”    John Ruskiin

Completing unpleasant tasks - Day 184

This is a picture of the vitamins my kids take in the morning - one is chewable and yummy, according to them, one is to swallow, and the other has to be chewed, but they aren't exactly fond of it. So we have been learning about tackling the things we don't necessarily want to do quickly, and having the joy of looking back on them as completed!

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And if it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”   Mark Twain

Half full, or half empty? - Day 183

So I figured out that since today is day 183 of my year of blessings, I am at the halfway mark! If it wasn't a leap year, there would be exactly 182 days before and after today. Leap year bumps it off a bit, but I still figure that is close enough to half way. So I started to think, is the year half over, or am I starting the second half? All in the perspective I guess! So I decided to post a picture of a glass, that I like to think of as half full!

“Is the glass half full, or half empty? It depends on whether you’re pouring, or drinking.”   Bill Cosby