It was an adventuring kind of day...

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 214

     This day was gorgeous. One of those days where the air seems alive with promise and possibility. It was one of those days when you step outside, and you just have to stop for a minute to take it all in. You step outside, and you have to take a couple of deep good breaths of fresh morning air. It was one of those days where you know you have to be outside all day. It was just that beautiful.

     So...we went on an adventure :)

     Thankful for adventures. Thankful for gorgeous summer days. I have to say, this summer hasn't been half bad. Thankful for fun times spent with people I love. Gorgeous day + Sweet family = A day to be very thankful for.

Happy Birthday, Opa!

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 213

     My dad's birthday was on August 1st, so we had our big family party today. Birthdays are big around here. Huge. When I told Adelyn that Opa had just arrived, she grabbed the card she made for him, and ran from the kitchen to meet him at the door. Not even a smile. Just intensity. Running to get to the door. When he walked in, she greeted him with a big smile and a, "Happy Birthday, Opa!" She was pretty proud to hand him her card as well. She loves to give gifts.

     We had an awesome little cookout, followed up by some awesome birthday cake. Complete with gluten free, and now, dairy free cupcakes for Adelyn. They were actually, pretty darn good. I used coconut milk, and a vegetable butter. Yum. Vegetable butter. No, but seriously, they were good!

     This was the first birthday party that Tobin and Sophia could really join in on the fun. They enjoyed some cake too. Or, at least making a big mess of it. My favorite part, as always, is the affirmations, and the giving of gifts. I love hearing our family proclaim their love for one another. There is always at least one person with tears in their eyes. And then, the gifts. It's not because I'm materialistic that I love to receive gifts. Or to give gifts. It's because a gift is a token of love. It says, "I love you so much that words alone don't feel like enough. So, here's this little something that I know you'll really enjoy."

     Thankful for my dad. He's amazing. And everyone that meets him or knows him says the same thing. He's helped countless people throughout his lifetime, most times without recognition. And sometimes, without thanks. But, that's okay. Because that's just the kind of guy he is. He is always there for us. Whenever we need him, he comes running. Thankful I got to celebrate with him today. Thankful for a fun birthday party with my family. Thankful to be able to spend time with people I love and hold dear. It makes me feel full.

Scary thoughts try to come...but I push them away with happy ones.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 212

     So, having an anxiety disorder, scary thoughts pop up in my head for no reason whatsoever. They just come. It's hard to battle them everyday, but I do it. Because I'm stronger than anxiety. Today, I was petting Roxy. We were just sitting there, cuddling together, and I was looking into her eyes, and a scary thought came. I made the mistake of watching a very disturbing and horrifying video PETA put out a few years back. My brain is forever scared with those images. I guess, somewhere in the world, someone needs to see those videos, so that justice can prevail. I am not one of those people. It is the one thing I constantly wish I could erase from my memory. It is just too horrifying.

     So, all day long, I was plagued with those images. And then, while we were driving home from Wegman's, the words to Adelyn's music jogged something else in my memory. "You can be a handy helper, too." I was reminded of that now famous Mr. Rogers quote.

     I was reminded that there are helpers. I was reminded of Andrea Marshall. An actual, National Geographic Explorer that came to my house for dinner. She is a helper. She is out there, doing good. Making a difference. Caring for animals. There are scary things. There are horrifying things. Like the things I saw in the PETA video. But, I'd bet for every horrible thing that happens to animals, there must be one hundred more good things that happen.

     I'm thankful I have a sweet animal to call my own. I'm thankful she loves to cuddle with me. I'm thankful that I can make a difference. I can do good. Just by loving Roxy. And maybe there would be some people out there who would say, "what difference can you make? You only have one dog, and there are countless animals that need help or rescuing." To that I would say this:

   

     Thankful for Roxy. Thankful that having her allows me to do good. To make a difference. Thankful for the unconditional love she shows me. Thankful for all the helpers in this world. There is good. There are good people. There are good images we can think on. When anxiety tries to pull a fast one of me, I pull an even faster one. Because I think of the helpers. I think of the good. And good will always, always triumph over evil. Because the good is stronger. Thankful for the good tonight.

The Top Five.

Project 365 * 2 -- Day 211

     Five things made me happy today.

     One: This. Needs no further explanation.

     Two: We don't need an open house. We don't have to wait for a parade. When we want a tour of the firehouse, we just call up my husband. The kids had a personal tour of the firehouse today. They had a blast. Looking at the trucks, looking at all Matt's gear, finding the hoses. The only part no one liked was when Matt honked the loud horn. Even Patty and I jumped. Too loud. Matt seriously, has the coolest job. He's a real live hero. And I think my favorite part of the tour was the end. When Matt helped us get into the car. Adelyn, who has been missing her dada tremendously over the past few weeks, cried. The sweetest, saddest, most adorable cry. All because she didn't want to leave Matt at the firehouse. She thought he was coming home with us. Ah. Such love. I'm surrounded by amazing love.

     Three: Tobin's smile. It's the best. And it's infectious. I love my boy so much.

     Four: Sweet, cuddly, sleeping Roxy. Why does a sleeping dog make any home seem even more cozy?

     Five: A beautiful sky. I love it when the sky casts down a pink hue all around. I love to go outside and walk in the pink. It feels like I'm walking in the red stripe of a rainbow. It was one of those sunsets where you take a deep breath of air, and just stare into the beauty of the sky. One that makes you happy to be alive.

     Thankful. Just, thankful.