Happy 09 09 09!

Well apparently (think about it) this doens't happen very often that a day like this occurs. And it happens to be my cousin Cameron's 9th birthday to boot! Cool!

I did take advantage of the 99 photos for 9.99 deal at Walmart online. I am waiting on 281 photos to be developed in the next day or so. And then maybe I'll be inspired to do some scrapbooking projects.

Thankfulness

Thankfullness. Today we are reminded that sometimes it is the big things that we learn from and sometimes it is the little things.

It has become a pattern for me to thank God for various things at the end of the day. So often it is for the day we had - that we were able to appreciate it - that we were all safe and were healthy - that the things we did over the course of the day meant something. i started to write down something that I was thankful for each day over the last few months but I confess that I've slacked a little bit because it kept looking like it was redundant and therefore maybe not meaningful. As I reflected on today's prompt it hit me though - I learned that for me - it really is the little things that make my day. The little things that make me happy.

I've often told others and been told that I'm a fairly even-keeled person. I don't show a ton of emotion. I tend to be a bit of a "plateau". I'm not showy in my enthusiasm over gifts and things like that. Much to my husband's dismay because he is the exuberant one. And it is not that I'm not happy or thrilled and I have learned (can I use this for a future prompt?) that I need to work on this - to express my thanks to others more frequently - even after the time that I have received something.

Anyway, I learned today that the seemingly little things that make me happy are really big things - because they do make me happy, help our day go smoothly and make life comfortable and content. And that is a big thing! So thanks!!!

A little more learning...

On the eighth day... transient - not lasting, enduring or permanent. Temporary. Something that disappears simply by the passing of time.

Well today I learned that that feelings from the previous day don't last long.

Matt headed off to school today totally excited and I was at home with Marlee and 2 daycare kids for what turned out to be a very relaxing day - and fun. And while I love being at our cottage and on holidays, wherever our family is, it is worthwhile and pleasurable just to be together.

The return after the holiday.

Taking a few weeks off can feel like 10 - but then it hits you again overnight and yo ufeel like you never left. I need to learn to continue to take it easy for a bit when we get back. While I love putting everything away asap and not keeping the hallway cluttered, it certainly takes away that relaxing feeling!

Prompt 6 from the learning room...

Being prepared is a good thing.

Maybe its just that the kids are older. Maybe its that we have individual DVD players. I like to think that it is because I was prepared and organized. Both the ride up and back from the cottage were great this year - relatively uneventful. And that says a lot for a 16.5 hour car ride. Well - including meals. But hey - the kids aren't allowed tv until after lunch. They have their own bags with things they need. We had nutritious snacks packs (and some non-nutritious ones too), a few planned stops, stories on CD, and well - it just worked. And even better? We were out of places to eat for dinner when everyone got hungry but they were happy with bread and butter. Go figure.

Lessons learned today...

Time is relative. It takes as long to do something as the time you want to spend on it - and if you concentrate on that one thing - it might actually get done relatively quickly.

Part of the flylady mentality is that as a SHE (sidetracked home executive) we strive to do too many things at once. That's me. I've always prided myself on multi-tasking. But she is right. I don't seem to be finishing all of those things. Oh don't get me wrong - I still can't watch tv without doing something else but all those other things on my to do list? Put on the timer and just concentrate on doing that one thing - and more often then not, it is getting done. (like the wood, like the floors, like the dishes...)

Lessons learned about today...

Todays prompt is about the weather or specific events or things we have observed. (I'm a little confused). So I was going to write about the weather but instead (as I'm sure it will come up later) I will write about that another time.

So today I am going to write about the gorgeous day we had here at the cottage - probably the last for this year as tomorrow will be spent closing up the cottage for the most part. And what did I learn? That I am becoming a pool person - not so much a lake person. I love to sit by the water but the whole "not seeing where I'm swimming" thing kind of gets me. And that is a little dissappointing for the kids. I did venture into the water today - as it was really hot. I got wet - wen ton the lilly pad - but I didn't stay. I will work on that.

As for the weather... I talk about it a lot and it definately affects us regularly. Just check out my project 365 to see how often I talk about it!