Another good quote...

"Most folks are about
as happy as
they make up
their minds to be."
~ Abraham Lincoln

I'm feeling much better tonight. Truth of it is that I felt much better immediately after blogging today. Things are tough sometimes and it's hard, but I can't imagine my life without Ryan.

Several really great things have happened today...

• I had a great workout ... a super sweaty, super good workout. One that I will really feel tomorrow. I love that feeling!
  
• I had the pleasure of a long conversation with a really good friend today.
  
• I had a super long, uninterrupted fun conversation with my sweetheart. (Don't forget I have 6 kids. An uninterrupted conversation is pretty rare.)
• I was able to deliver a van load of wrapped presents & I didn't spend a dime on the presents or even wrap a single present. Cool, right?
• I spent almost 3 hours with a whole bunch of my favorite people tonight at a Christmas Party! It was super fun! I talked a little bit of "shop" with one friend, laughed with friends, caught up with some friends, and made a few plans with others. Best of all I picked up some more Almond Rocca for my family. ;)

I hope some good things happened in your day today. I'm off to get some sleep. Merry Christmas ya'll!

This is not what I had imagined...

When I was a little girl, I definitely had an idea of what it would be like to be a grown up. We all do, don't we?

I couldn't wait to grow up. I don't really remember a time when I couldn't wait to be older and able to do more things. It wasn't that I wanted out of my parents house or out of my town, like some kids do. It wasn't that I dreamed of getting married or being a mom, like some girls do. It was that I wanted to work in an office, travel to lots of places, attend meetings, organize events, own my own company.

It wasn't a vague perception. It was a definite idea. That probably doesn't surprise you, if you know me.

Well, tonight as I was picking up the Christmas ornaments off the piano bench and putting them back on the Christmas tree (again), it occurred to me that I am a grown up. Yup. I really am a grown up. And, this is not what I had in mind.

It's better.

Much better.

I have worked in an office, traveled to lots of places, attended plenty of meetings, organized many events, and even owned my own company, but this grown up thing is far better than I had imagined.

I am so thankful that God does not just bless us with what WE want, but stretches us and gives us blessings so that we can enjoy greater happiness than we can imagine!

The group that provides Ryan's therapies, Brighton Center, is hosting their annual Children's Holiday Party on Tuesday, 12/7 from 6-9pm & THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS to help serve food, seat families, & pass out gifts! It's a great way to share the Holiday Spirit with the many disabled children that Brighton serves & their families!

If you'd be interested in helping out, please e-mail my friend, Shae Freeman-Hicks at
sfreeman-hicks@BrightonSA.org!

THANK YOU!