From Chaos Comes Happiness

While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt I'm learning so much this summer - mostly taught by Katie and Ella. When searching for a quote to accompany the above photo of Ella and her lollipop, this particular one seemed to fit. It's perfect, don't you think? I am forever blessed for these two little girls. What are you blessed with today? Leave me a comment . . . I'd love to know.

While on my daily journey to work this morning, I had one of those spiritual moments. You know the moments, don’t you? Oprah calls it her “Ah-ha” moment, while others might call it a light bulb moment. Whatever it is – I had something like it today. I know I have written about my daily journey many times before – and shared photos with you of the very road where I often say the heavens open up to shine down on me and my car. It’s a wonderful road that I take – peaceful, tranquil, serene. I love this road. My mind was deep in thought as I traveled along road today. I have something heavy on my chest – thoughts of worry and big concern over someone in my heart. “Breathe . . .” I kept telling myself, “just breathe.” When faced with an unknown answer in life, it’s so easy to get caught up in the thoughts in your head. Imagining the worse scenario when you really have nothing to base it on is a situation I find myself in often. This morning, was one of those moments. My mind was r...

Happy 4th of July, my friends!  In honor of our nations independence, and all of those who have fought for our freedom, I am reposting a story I told you about of an amazing moment in my life last year. While the events I write about took place during a Memorial Day visit to Washington D.C. in 2010, I think it's fitting to re-tell it today. For today, I woke up thinking of Mr. Miles. Wishing you all a safe and Happy Independence Day! Original Post: May, 2010 Hello Friends! And Happy Memorial Day to all of you! We arrived home last evening from 3 nights and 4 days at Washington D.C. ... days full of laughs, surprises, and a number of emotional moments when I found myself brought to tears. Yes, DC was full of magical moments once again, and even among the crowds (and heat), I found shivers up my arm were just the start of it ... While I'll probably have a few posts this week about the trip - there was one specific moment that I want t...

It's been a crazy busy week in our happy chaos home. Between work, PG being out of town for his work, multiple friend play dates and overnights, pedicures and manicures (I LOVE Katie's birthday this year - a Mommy & Katie day - wahoooo!), planning/shopping/cleaning/cooking for a family barbeque, and all the other comings and goings this week . . . I'm finally able to sit down and get caught up on . . . Life. Life. What a Life. You see . . . all the guests have left. The food is all put away. I've washed the last dish of the night. The children are tucked in bed. PG is playing with his iPad on the family room couch. The house has finally cooled down after a hot day of cooking and company. And I am tired. Really tired. Like, cranky tired. Like the "dogs are barking and the back is aching and the hands can't possibly clean another dish" tired. Life. It's often exhausting, isn't it? Well . . . maybe just this week. Then . . . a short whi...

Eight years ago today, life changed for me  . . . in the most miraculous way. My baby is 8 today. This baby. Here she is, just this past Saturday, sporting a brand new side part haircut. She is gorgeous, isn't she? I mean . . . really gorgeous. And what is even more gorgeous about her . . . is what is inside of her. Her heart. Her mind. Her spirit. Her soul. Oh, I can't wait to see where life takes her. And I'll be right here . . . watching her go . . . picking her up when she needs it . . . and cheering all the way. Thank you, Lord, for the blessing of this little girl. Happy Birthday Katie! I LOVE YOU!

So many things touching my soul today . . . so many people making a big difference in my life. People who have no idea who I am. Isn't it amazing how we can touch each others lives without even knowing it? My dear friend Leslie at {Words of Me} Project wrote a very touching post today, on finding herself in the midst of some difficult obstacles (pain) in life right now. I admire her more than words can say. While reading her post, I felt myself in awe of those people who are their authentic selves - on good days and bad. I often find myself traveling from blog to blog reading inspiring, motivating and creative posts and looking at creative pictures taken by people who, in my eyes, are just about as perfect as can be. While I know the grass isn't always greener on the other side - I wonder if they truly are as happy as it seems. Authentic au·then·tic 1: obsolete 2a : worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact b : conforming...

I had a pounding headache last night. One of those, “I need to go and lay down” sort of headaches. Don’t worry – I can’t even remember when I had one of these before and I am feeling tons better today. I think it was a combination of not drinking enough water during the day and the whole sinus/weather goofy/allergy crazy pounding head kind of day, you know? So, after dinner, I told PG I had to lay down. I felt if I tried to keep functioning and doing things around the house, my brain would have exploded. That’s never a good thing. So, I found my way to the bed and rested my head. I think I’ve watched too many episodes of ER . That, or Greys Anatomy . Whatever the case – I was certain that it was “the big one.” You know, the Fred Sanford “I’m coming Elizabeth!” one. So, as I lay on my bed and could practically feel the gunk in my sinuses move from one side of my brain to the other, a good ol’fashioned “Random Thinking Moment” started and I began to think about what I would ...