Sweet Sophia. Day 365.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 365

     Today was Sophia's first birthday. And it was sweet. Just like her.

     Today also marks my 365th post. My 365th post of thankfulness. It has really, truly been an amazing year. One of growth and revelations and truth. One of joy and jubilation. A year of all things good. A year of hope. And of love. If I could use one word to describe my year, it would be that. Love. I am incredibly excited for this next year. I'm excited to see what it brings. And I'm excited for new beginnings.

     Thankful for my 365th post of thankfulness. Thankful for family. Thankful for friends. Thankful for those who read my blog posts. I feel honored that anyone reads my posts at all, honestly. Thank you for reading! Thankful for incredible love in my life. Thankful for a very fine year. Thankful for this upcoming year. I love the feeling of a fresh, new something. Especially when that something is a year to fill with all kinds of good and lovely things. Thankful for this place to write everyday. Thankful for this sweet, simple life of mine. New Year's Eve certainly isn't what it used to be for me. But the truth is, there is no place I'd rather be tonight that sitting here, in my home, writing about what I'm thankful for. Happy New Year!
   

Is there any hope at all?

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 364

     There are days when darkness seems to loom. There are days when this world seems to be without hope. Without good. Without love. There are days when I feel heartache jabbing into my sides. Pressing down heavy on my shoulders. Today started off that way. I woke up this morning to this:

     I sat there. Crying. For birds I had never seen or met. And I found myself wondering, is there any hope at all? Fast forward to tonight. We had dinner at Patty and AJ's house. After dinner, we put a show on for the kids. And Matt, AJ, Patty, and I sat on the couch, staring at our phones. I got up to use the restroom, and when I came out and looked at what we were doing, I was seriously sick. For two reasons. One, it made me sick to think how much time we were wasting with our kids. These are precious, precious, precious years. We can't ever get this time back. And we were sitting there. Wasting it. Letting it slip through our fingers like sand. Two, I realized...Casey, Adelyn, Tobin, and Sophia are the future. They have to live here. Their children have to live here. Their children's children. What will the world look like then? What will it be? Will there be any good left in it at all? In order to have hope for good in the future, we must teach goodness now, in the present. In order to have hope for love in the future, we must teach love now, in the present. So, we got off our phones. We turned off the television. And we played. Maybe it seems silly. Maybe it seems like a stretch, but when it comes down to it, what teaches a child more about love? Us sitting stone faced staring at screens, or playing hide and go seek? 

     Is there any hope at all? Yes. There is hope. It's called love. When the dark seems to snuff out the light, we must shine brighter. When the bad seems to outweigh the good, we must do even more good. When hatred seems to prevail, we must love more deeply. 

     Tonight, I'm thankful for time with my children. I'm thankful for wake-up calls. I'm thankful that I can teach my children about love. I'm thankful for hope. And good. And above all else, for love. I'm thankful that watching the video about the birds this morning confirmed what it is I'm supposed to be doing throughout the next 365 days. I'm excited. And I'm hopeful. For that, I'm thankful. 

     

It was good to have the best company on my hill tonight.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 363

     Today was a good day. We visited with family in the afternoon. We had lunch together, and opened even more Christmas presents. The kids were super excited about all their fun new things. And it was good to catch up with family that we don't get to see that often. After lunch, we all watched a movie. And some of us dozed off for a bit. After that, we went out to get some fresh, cold air in our lungs. And to watch the sunset on my hill. It was so wonderful to have my favorite people on my favorite hill watching my favorite show on earth.

     Thankful for family. Thankful for time to catch up and chat. Thankful for late afternoons that are spent watching movies and napping. Thankful for fresh, cold air. Thankful for wide open spaces of sky, grass, and trees. Thankful for a glorious sunset. Thankful for muddy pants. And muddy shoes. Thankful for that feeling of, "ahhhhhh," when you go to bed after a day well done.