THANKFUL THURSDAY: THE LITTLE THINGS

Today is Thankful Thursday hosted by Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses . Take a peek and see who is participating and do a little visiting!
Today was one of those days where I woke up with a smile on my face. Actually it is Wednesday (I'm posting early for privacy purposes :-) and although I am thankful for today, I will still be thankful for today tomorrow (does that make sense?).
Thankfully, The Husband and I had time to spend together this morning even though we did not get up until 7:00. It was very nice of him to stay a little longer to have a little coffee and talk. I have appreciated him a tad more this week since he just arrived home from Naples Monday night. He was there for a golf tournament to benefit The Make A Wish Foundation and it went very well. As some of you may know, our son Kevin is positioned down there for the winter golf season so The Husband's trip was beneficial (and coincidental) in seeing Kevin again since we were down at Christmas. They had a really great time together when they had the chance and I am so happy for Kevin because I think outside of work he is quite lonely. But he will be back home in the spring and we might just pay him another visit over spring break. So...I missed The Husband! He was tired when I picked him up from the airport (he had to switch planes in Orlando) so he simply ate the nice stew I had made ahead of time and dropped. I didn't think I would miss him so much and although the girls were not home much and it was pretty quiet around here, it was really a longing for his company! Sometimes that feeling ebbs and flows when you have been married as long as we have but it was definitely flowing this past weekend! So we had a nice chat and it was a nice way to start the day.
The girls were both buzzing around the kitchen together at breakfast and I don't think an unkind word was said. That is par for the course (I must have golf on my mind). I think every mother wishes their children always got along but Emily and Abby are polar opposites. But they made me proud this morning and maybe surprised themselves...
After I dropped Abby off at school I snuck around to the front doors to deliver a special "secret" envelope to the office. She is going on a Kairos retreat this weekend at an "undisclosed" location (somewhere on the Illinois/Wisconsin border) and the letters are from The Husband and I which will be read at the Friendship Ceremony. She is so thrilled to be going. Many of the other senior girls (she attends an all girl school) have gone on the retreat but they are sworn to secrecy. Can you believe a teenage girl keeping a secret? Anyway, we wrote our letters last night telling Abby how special she is, how proud we are, what she means to us...I had tears in my eyes as I took a mental walk down memory lane. This is my baby, my last child to go to Kairos and soon she will leave the nest. It is such a paradox of happy and sad feelings. I will need a lot of support from you guys next fall when she leaves for college. But I skipped a little coming out of the school anticipating her hearing our letters. I can really run on and on when writing (who me?) so I know she will feel special and loved.
Today I had another reason to be thankful, the cleaning ladies were here when I got home!! I love it! Two days a month I don't have to make my own bed and you all know I love a made bed. I love these two woman. They work soooo hard to make me happy and to support their families both here and in Poland. Although we don't always understand each other (language-wise), we have a great rapport. I get a tad annoyed when they polish my dresser with windex but I still offer them coffee anyway.
Then it was off to get my hair done. Gosh I love having someone wash my hair!! I turn into mush! And I got really daring (for me anyway) and had two inches lopped off and my bangs cut. The husband will be so surprised if he doesn't mistake me for a boy first! So I was very thankful for my bravery and that it looks o.k. but I haven't tried to put it in a ponytail yet and that would be a travesty because that's my "bad hair day" disguise!!
After that I came home to a shiny clean house and put a nice roast in the oven since I had nothing to clean! And now I am just sitting here reading my favorite blogs, drinking hot cocoa and smelling that wonderful aroma! Ah, life is good. Did I mention the sun was shining today? The snow on the street has started to melt. I almost thought I would see a robin! And that I was thankful for.
So these are just a few little things I am thankful for, but they sure add up. I will definitely go to sleep with a smile on my face, the same way I woke up!!
Happy Thankful Thursday everybody!!

xoxo
Janie