Beauty in Everything

Not a long post today but an important one. Beauty. The real kind. The kind that is in everything. The kind of beauty that sometimes isn't immediately apparent but is undeniable.

Last night we were eating my favorite food-tacos. We had another one of my favorite foods with them-nacho cheese Doritos. Under the right circumstances, I could eat a family sized bag by myself.  I have always liked folded chips and Cassie found the queen of all folded chips. Like any good daughter she fed my love of folded chips and relinquished her Dorito to me. As she passed it to me, Meghan said, "Wow! That Dorito looks just like a rose!" Now, we have roses on the brain with all the wedding preparations at our house so I wasn't sure she was seeing roses because we have made hundreds of crepe paper roses, or because this chip actually resembled one, but upon closer inspection we all saw that Meghan's assessment was right on the money. I decided I needed a photo of it and snapped one with my phone. I told my family, "I've got to find a way to use this on my blog. I just need a title." Quick as a flash, Meghan said, "Beauty in Everything". A-ha moment and proud mama moment rolled up into one. Not much more needs to be said-she summed it right up. There is beauty in everything.....especially if you're looking for it.

Wedding Kissing Ball for Cassie's wedding-over 100 hand made roses and counting!



The happily engaged couple.

The beautiful rose Dorito!



My beautiful Meghan who reminds me to see the beauty in everything!

The Good Kind of Exhaustion

SO exhaustion has hit-big time. I have never been a person with much stamina although I really want to carry myself like I have great amounts of it! Lots of big things are filling my days and I am so tired I'm afraid the puddle of me is going to have to be mopped away at the end of this week. But I'm happy. I have smelled many proverbial roses over the last few days.

I will say that this is one of the most bittersweet weeks I endure every year. Father Time's big pendulum swings heavily for me. I am ever aware at the time I feel is stolen from me as my children grow up and move forward. But as I cannot change it, I try to see the good things in the future (when I'm not stressing over the things in the future!)

Recent days have again proven to me that great opportunities have been given to my children through the grace of God. Good people have been placed in our lives who will enrich the growth my daughters will experience. I marvel at the way these people are hand-picked for the exact way and time we need them in our journey. That alone boosts my spirits. Add to that the kind words I have received from parents and the many wonderful, sweet, heartfelt, enthusiastic hugs I have received from my little kiddos at school, and there are lots of roses in my garden!  I love feeling loved and appreciated and there's nothing quite like a hug to show that. I think if the world realized the power of a hug we'd be a lot happier and abundantly more kind.

SO though I am utterly exhausted,  it's in a good way.  I feel blessed by the people that surround me. I love my job and the fulfillment it gives me. I'm always hoping I give something of value back and that I can be a blessing to someone else the way my family has been blessed by those placed in our lives. I love the "village" that surrounds us.

Days gone by...