Fabulous Five

I was reading Dans' niece's blog yesterday, and she had the most wonderful idea on there. It was the "Fabulous Five". She said, "With all the busyness of school, therapies (2 of her 5 kids have special needs), work, and all the other things that fill our plates, I thought it would be nice to take a moment and write down 5 things that made smile that day. It would help me take a moment to appreciate all the little things that bless my life each day." She writes them in a "Joy Journal" (what a great name). Some of her "Fabulous Five" she shares on her blog, because they obviously involve her children, while others are more private and are better left in her journal. I thought this was such a great idea, and thought I would give a try. Thanks, Valerie! I hope you don't mind that I stole your idea! When I did find myself smiling about something throughout the day, I seemed to stop and take the time and say to myself, "Boy, you are blessed!", and thank my heavenly father for bringing all this joy into my life!

Here are my "Fabulous Five"

1) Picking Emma up from school and she had copied words onto pieces of paper. The excitement and the joy on her face made me smile. She was so proud that she could write words like her big sisters. She could hardly wait when I dropped her off the next time so she could "do her work". Her love for learning makes me smile.

2) Grace and Olivia finishing their science fair projects last night and the sense of accomplishment that both of them had. When I was helping Olivia with her project, she commented, "This is so much fun". Grace worked with 2 of her friends again this year. To see the leadership, organization, and cooperation that my nine year old daughter has is amazing. They make me smile.

3) Last night before going to swimming lessons, Olivia was reading to Emma in the hallway outside our bedroom door while I was changing my clothes. I heard Olivia say, "Emma, would you like me to read to you? Emma: "Yes!" Olivia:"Well, I'm reading this Magic Tree House book and it really doesn't have any pictures, but sit down next to me and I will read it to you and you just have to make the pictures in hour head." Emma sat right next to Olivia and Olivia took off, and did she ever take off (she can read one of those books in about 30 mintues). She was reading so fast, and I was in my bedroom snickering. When I peeked around the corner, Emma had this look on her face like, "Wait, you're going so fast that I can't even make the pictures in my head!" She listened intently for a long time before politely asking, "Olivia, do you think you could read one of my books that has pictures?"

4) Last night was the start of swimming lessons. Grace and Olivia were thrilled to be in the same class. What made me smile, though, was Emma. Everytime she looked over at Dan and I, she had the biggest grin on her face and she would wave the cutest little wave. When it was time to go down the slide, Dan and I could see her say, "I can go down myself. It's O.K. if I go underwater. I do it at my grammy's house." You have to know Emma, but her hands were out to the side and her head was tilted. She did it--3 times all by herself!

5) This morning the girls were eating breakfast at the kitchen table and Grace was thumbing through a PB Teen catalog and commented, "Boy, things in here are really expensive. Why do we even have this, though, no one here is a teenager." Olivia quickly said, "Mommy is." (Thanks, Olivia) Grace informed her you have to be at least 13 to be a teenager. Olivia said, "Well, Mommy is." I told her, "Mommy is not a teenager, but maybe a teenager at heart." She said, "Yeah, weren't you born in the 90's?" (They are all into when people were born) I said, "No, 1973." Olivia said, "Wow, you were alive when Ruby Bridges (who is about 90) was a little girl!" She goes from making me feel young to making me feel really old! They do make me smile, though!


Here's a little smile for everyone: I tried Zumba this week. Dan asked me at dinner on Monday night, "How was Zuma? What exactly is it?" Well, it's a little Merengue, Salsa, Chacha.... NEED I SAY MORE? I am blessed by a wonderful husband who ran kids to piano this week so I could go to step aerobics. That's more my style! Thanks, Dan!