Life in Focus

focusing on celebration

I have been working hard all week cleaning and organizing every room in our house. It is now 2:30 on Friday and I am finally ready to put my feet up, sip on some hot tea, and enjoy my clean and quiet house before everyone comes home for a busy and fun weekend. 

We're looking forward to our combined BIG 40th birthday bash on Saturday night with a bunch of our friends and I can't wait!  Since Kevin turned 40 in January and I will turn 40 in March, we're celebrating both of our birthdays during the month in between.  However, since I still have about a month to be 39 and I have a goal of "focusing on celebrations" this year, I've decided that this will be my "opening ceremonies" for a month long "turning 40 is cool" party.  I'll be sure to post throughout the month and share all the ways I'm celebrating my new number. FUN!

Happy Friday and make it a weekend worth celebrating!

ten reasons why.

and here's the last...but not least...
to my son, Owain.


ten reasons why i love you

1. Very simply - you make me smile!  It's your happy nature that always lights up my life with pure
joyfulness.

2. Whenever I see the color red, I think of you.  It has always been your favorite color and it reminds me of a big red heart that you crafted for me and the love that you give me each day in your smile.

3. Your enthusiasm for life is contagious!  Your day isn't just "good" it's always "great!"  I love that you see the great in every day.

4. You are so much fun to play with.  Whether we build snowmen or play a game together, I always have fun spending time with you.

5. Owain, you are one of the most generous people I've ever met.  you love to give and do it so freely that it inspires others around you.  This makes me very proud to be your mom!

6. You are the best hugger and always have a hug ready for me whenever I need one.

7. I love to watch your confidence grow everyday. Your "can do" attitude is something I have always admired about you.

8. You are such a good little brother and do your best to be a friend to your brother and sister.  It's because of this that you will always have two best friends in them and knowing that, makes me happy.

9. I love to see what you see through the lens of your camera. You seem to look for and recognize beauty wherever you go.  This inspires me and I'm learning from your example.

10. Your sweet gestures of kindness and love toward me and others is such a treasured gift.  I save everything you make for me and feel so special because of them.

There you have it!  ten reasons why for three very important people in my life.

Have you told someone why you love them lately?
Try it...it's guaranteed to cause a smile!

ten reasons why.

Here's the second...to my daughter, Donna Lee.

1. You fill my days with happiness and my heart with joy.

2. You have one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen.  It is sincere, gentle, and kind.
It lights up the room when you walk in.

3. I love that you travel through life with an optimistic attitude.  You always see the good and positive side of a situation.  It's one reason  I enjoy being around you.

4. You face challenges with confidence.  Nothing is too hard and you greet every opportunity with enthusiasm.

5. I love that whenever I hear the song "You Are My Sunshine", I immediately think of you.  I see my sweet little blond 5 year old swinging while she sings this song over and over.  You are the original sunshine girl!

6. I have so much fun with you and I love our mother/daughter dates.  Spending time with just the two of us is something I  always look forward to.

7. I admire your natural expression of gratitude.  You truly feel grateful, recognize it, and express it often.  "Thank you" is something you never need to be reminded to say.

8. I love how you take care of yourself and know when to slow down and spend time alone.  You listen to your body, mind, and soul and do what's best for you....that will serve you well always.

9. You are determined are are always willing to work hard to get what you want, reach your goals, and achieve your dreams.  Watching you reach for the stars is so exciting to me!

10. I love that you are just as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside.  You make me so proud to be your mom.

i am one lucky mama!

ten reasons why.

For Valentine's Day last week, I wanted to give my children something special to express how much I love them.  I thought long and hard about what that could be and I decided on a little book for each one simply titled, "ten reasons why".  In this book, I included ten photos and ten handwritten (although there are many more) reasons why I love them so much.  It was so fun to celebrate each of them individually and what makes them so unique. I love the way my little books turned out and am so happy to have my feelings documented in this way. I know it made them feel very special.

Here's the first....to my son, Dylan.

ten reasons why i love you

1. It is you that called me "mama" for the first time and ever since your arrival into the world, I have been learning for you and from you.  You continue to teach me in ways you can't imagine.

2. You are so good with young children and have a gift for making them happy and feel safe.  It is a treat to watch how nurturing you can be.

3. You, my dear son, are always making me laugh!  You have a fantastic sense of humor and I know it will serve you well always. I hope you never stop laughing, smiling, and making others feel good.

4. I love your adventurous side!  Your willingness to try new things and conquer your fears is inspirational to me.  I'll always remember our roller coaster rides together.  This is part of what makes you so much fun to be with.

5. You can be so perceptive and seem to always know when to reach out with a kind word or a hug.

6. Whenever I see the color blue, I think of you.  You are true blue and will always know yourself, what you believe in, and what you stand for...that makes me so proud.

7. I love how passionate you are about books and reading and words and language...and how I can hear the excitement in your voice when you talk about it.  That is so cool!

8. You are a great big brother who is generally patient, caring, and kind.  You look out for them always trying to protect them.  You will have two best friends for life because of this.

9. You are so creative in so many ways!  I have always enjoyed watching you play, draw, write, act, and imagine.  Watching you live creatively continues to inspire me.

10.The first thing I see whenever I look at you are your big brown eyes.  It is in those beautiful eyes that I see so much tenderness, honesty, passion, and goodness.  Your eyes are the windows to your soul.

i love this boy.

Life in Focus Friday

Focusing on a few simple pleasures that are making me feel grateful and happy today...

 

colorful fresh flowers in February


iced cafe mocha from Target


the scent of cinnamon wafting through the house


sunshine, blue skies, and singing birds


dark chocolate m&m's in festive colors


& a freshly cleaned car to taxi around in

What simple pleasures are you focusing on today?
Happy Friday!