Grateful for all the things that make me smile

As Maxabella‘s weekly grateful link up moved to Kidspot it changed a little – Bron now writes along themes with a prompt for each week. As someone resistant to change I was hesitant about the new digs and the new set up. I am now finding I actually like the back up of a prompt as with advanced notice I am finding I can look out for those things to be grateful for and it adds another dimension. Knowing this week’s prompt was asking what makes me smile I was more in tune with those little moments and I am grateful for even that.

The little (and big) things that made me smile this week:

All the beautiful butterflies that love to visit our garden – I am simply mesmerized by them when they flutter around. Dainty, colourful, playful and then gone, I stop and savour a few moments here and there in my day.

My daughters telling jokes. This has been a passion of theirs for the last couple of years and they can range from the well delivered joke gleaned from an American kids magazine to the made up variety that has us puzzled momentarily. My almost 7 year old especially loves to create her own jokes that make no sense but make me smile widely!

Sitting in on the same daughter’s drum lesson and watching in awe as she learns something new in a matter of minutes. As a tone deaf mama it gives me such pleasure to watch her thrive with music.

When my 8 year old tells me she wants to bring in our menorah to teach her class all about Chanukah and draws pictures to show them everything she knows about it. My smile widens at her attempt to spell “Jewish star” seeing “Jusus Star ” instead.

The phone call from a friend inviting us over for a swim after school just when I really need some time to chat and relax and connect.

The emails filled with kind and supportive words – oh how they touch me in my heart and soul.

The pictures dropped off by the photographer the other day – ready for me to send off to America. One thing I did right when my mother was here was to give her a gift of a photo shoot for the kids – one of the only things she asks of me to make her happy. The last time she was here the shoot was a disaster as my youngest refused to participate and we only managed to get one good photo. This time at 6 and 8 the kids had a blast and it shows in their smiles, sassy poses and beaming faces. Their smiles made me smile.

Watching one of our chickens bask in the sun in our garden. Her enjoyment of the late afternoon sun after so much rain made me smile and stare out the window as I tried not to alert her to my presence. My daughter joined me watching and after a few minutes the chicken was urged to peck the garden by her companion hen and the moment ended. Those chickens peck at my laundry basket and scare me to death some days, but I have come to marvel in them – watching them go about their business, listening to them cackle sometimes as they try so hard to lay an egg, even racing outside to chase away a neighbour’s cat that approaches their coop – fiercely protecting them as if they were our children.

In a week where I have been unwell and not at my best I am grateful for all those moments of beauty and simple things to make me smile. It is true – there is always something to be grateful for if you keep looking.

What are you grateful for this week? What made you smile?

Find your simple,

Deb

Images: lay in the sun

Did you smile today?