Fall Sky

Today I am grateful for the view outside my window!! 

I love the colors and the fall sky!

Grateful for...

Today I am grateful for family.   This weekend was the best I've had in a while.  I had the perfect combination of family time, quiet time, and alone time with Nick.  When we all came back together today, I made them go outside to take some pix.  They weren't thrilled but they knew it was important to me so they did it.  After some grumbles and hair fixin, they settled in and had a good time.

Thank you little bundles.  You are the four chambers of my heart!!

We also witnessed some pretty cool kindness yesterday.  Nick and I were on our way to dinner and we saw a scene that looked really sweet and kind.  We couldn't hear the words so my version of their story may not be 100% accurate but here is how I choose to believe things went down: 

What appeared to be a homeless woman was walking down the street with a shopping cart full of stuff. (clothes and things)  She appeared to be pretty content as she walked steadily along the sidewalk. The sun was going down quickly and she wasn't wearing a  coat.  Suddenly a car pulled over and the woman driving got out of her car, ran quickly to the back of her car, and opened her trunk.  She pulled out what looked like a big coat or a blanket and gave it to the woman.  Both women were smiling.  The woman in the car drove off and the woman with the cart walked away.  It took less than a minute to stop and get that blanket.  And I pray that woman walking was warm all night.

Weekend Gratitude

I am grateful for the weekend!

I am happy to have an unscheduled day! 

I am happy for play outside weather and sunshine! 

Yahoo for Saturdays!

Kindness came early this morning when Nick let me sleep in.  He got Stella, without waking me, and gave her breakfast.  He also took me to lunch today.  Thank you Honay!!

Grateful

Yesterday I was grateful for a rainy day to make me remember how much I love home, my bed, and warm, cozy jammies!  After two rainy days with an extra chill in the air, however, I am so so happy to see the sun today!!

Today I am GRATEFUL for Fall Colors!

Kindness came in all shapes and sizes and colors today.  I received many, many sweet hugs from my students (both new and old).  Their smiles made me feel loved, warm, and fuzzy.  This day started out in a coffee deprived fog but as the day went on my spirits lifted.  When I left school today it was just starting to rain.  As I studied the nice Fall drizzle, I noticed huge splashy drops of red, yellow, and orange.  The colors sailed through the air and then hit the ground peacefully.  The voice in my head said, "Look Suze, it's raining colors today!"  

  And it was really pretty awesome.

Today I am grateful for....GIRLS!

I got to listen to these girls laugh all afternoon.  There were many kind moments between them.  They are all VERY kind to Stella too.  Even when she follows them around and drives them a little nuts...they are very patient with her.  For that I am full to the brim with grateful!

In Addition...

Grant, our next-door neighbor, came over this afternoon.  He offered to stay home with Finn while I went to pick Maddy up from school.  Finn loves to have him over so it worked out very nicely.  While I was in the dreaded pick-up line, Grant called me and said, "Ms. Moore did you know that your oven is on?"  Sweet kid.  I didn't know it was on.  He turned it off for me and played with Finn until I got home.  AWESOME.  Then he watched Stella outside for a bit!!  Love that kid. 

**I can promise you those wise people of Africa knew exactly what they were talking about when they made up my favorite proverb.  It REALLY does take a village to raise a child of mine.  I would be lost without my village!  :)**

Kindness and Gratitude Month

A couple of days ago, I wrote about my plan to record the many acts of kindness that I get to witness each and every day.  Just yesterday, I was reading curiousgirl's blog and she has declared November GRATITUDE MONTH!  I have decided to combine the two! 

My goal for the month of November is to recognize kindness each day and write about it.  It may be something that happens right here in my own home, maybe it's happens at work...  or maybe it's a random act of kindness I just happen to witness while I'm out and about.!  (It may even come from an inspiring kindness blog...) 

THE SEARCH IS ON!!! 

As I find it and write about it, I hope to reflect and discover/rediscover a never ending supply of gratitude.

My evidence of kindness for the day:

My lovely co-worker (Angela) offered to share her whole rolling suitcase of goodies (FAT FULL with Ocupational Therapy type toys!!) with me ANYTIME.  And I know she meant it.    She also offered to do a mini-workshop with me on a program called Handwriting Without Tears.  I am very interested in the program due to brain-based research I discovered recently AND beacause Angela would only promote activities that are richly appropriate for my part-time babies. 

My gratitude today.......  I am so happy to have my part time position this year, thankful for all that I have learned so far, and MOST OF ALL happy to have extra time with my own 4 love bugs.

Lastly, and most importantly....my favorite little nugget of gratitude for today (and a quarter of my favorite gratitude for life)....

This little boy turned into a 9 year old today at 1:02 pm! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FINN!! 

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON.

My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet.

Ghandi

This quote just made my day.  Thank you Spiral Sisters!

HAPPY FALL!!!

I am going to start writing down random acts of kindness that I happen to witness or be a part of...

1.  I was thrilled to be able to join Finn's Fall Party last week.  The theme was outer space.  Each child got a small pumpkin (donated by a kind parent) to decorate like an alien or planet or other space related work of art.  Finn's awesome friend Ava (who has a broken arm in a big, clunky cast) took young Stella under her wing.  She gathered materials for her, explained the project carefully, AND offered to help her poke holes in the little pumpkin for feathers and such...(with only one working arm I might add!)  She was sooo sweet to little Stell that it made me tear up a couple of times. 
Stella was sparkling with happiness and excitement.  Ava made her feel pefectly at home in a class full of big kids!

So thank you sweet Ava!  Your kindness was greatly appreciated!  

  

My goal is to record kindness as often as possible to remind myself that it's out there.  Everywhere.  Every day.

Stella's 4th Birthday!

I don't  know how I managed to go so many days past her birthday before posting! 

I no longer have a baby!  I have a house full of big kids!  Happy Birthday sweet girl. 

(you will always be my baby!)

I did it!!

Well....the day is almost over and I survived!  I had fun too!  Several mishaps along the way...but I managed to get some great shot...cause they are great kids!

Here's a sneak preview with a little editing!  I am still playing around with PhotoShop and cropping..but here goes....

SCHOOL PHOTO SHOOT TOMORROW!!!!

TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY.....

for the first time ever...i am doing our school photos for the year book!!  Here are a couple of test shots from my practice session today!   I'm so nervous.  AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Things are looking up!

Photography jobs are starting to come!!  Yippeee!!

Caught in the Red

Dear Debt Collector (from that credit card that I had before I got divorced) : 

Please leave me alone.  I'm doing the best I can.  I will pay you one day.  Just not right now.  I'm sorry.  I hate it too.  But this is the way things have to be for right now.

Peace Out,

Suzy