Sunshine

Today I am feeling very blessed and sweet memories of kindness are flooding my mind.

The other day when I was with Lorrilee celebrating her birthday and our friendship she told me that when I came through her door I was like "Sunshine" filling her room.  That reminded me that my mom had said something similar when I visited her while she was in rehab.  My mom has told me many times before that I was a breath of "Sunshine".  My friends from school (the younger ones) asked me if I had a middle name....or should they just call me "Sunshine".  I want to express how having that said about me makes me feel.  It makes me feel like I am doing something right.  It makes me feel loved and wanted.  It makes me feel special.  It makes me cry just a little with tears of joy.

I received a text from Karie Kennedy speaking for my cute younger friends from HS saying "You have blessed our lives....your happy spirit is contagious..."

Another friend send me this..."You like to compare yourself to others.....want to be enough....but you are much more....don't compare.....there is none.....You are More!"

Then I get comments on FB about how my "Light" is spread to many.....many more than I will ever know.  All this kindness makes my heart burst with happiness.  I love being seen this way!  Even TJ was talking to Trichelle and their friends saying how he appreciated me for accepting them the way they are and not criticizing or judging them.

I was at my friends house last night with Kimi, Jared and Larry.  My friend has been sick and has had a lot of challenges and needed a blessing.  I volunteered my sweet hubby.  While we were there Kimi said: "I am so cute....look how cute I am".  She had just performed her Orchestra Concert and was feeling great about herself.  My friend and I laughed and wished that we too could be so confident and happy with ourselves.  I wonder why we don't see ourselves as others do?  Teresa and I talked about it for a minute.  Others see the good in us....our "Sunshine" and focus on that.  They know the weakness is there also but that's not where their eyes look.....the eyes see and focus on the good.  We, however know the weakness oh so well and that is where our own eyes seem to look and stay.  Why is it so hard to accept our goodness and our own "Sunshine"?   I wonder if somewhere along in life we are told we shouldn't....that if we do we our prideful.....or vain.....or wrong.  I wish that didn't happen.  Because of others love and kindness I am getting a glimpse at who I really am....through the eyes of others.....and my eyes are actually seeing it too.  I like what I see....I like how it makes me feel....I know that I am loved.....that I am special.....that I "Shine"....that I am more....much more than I have given myself credit for.

I believe we are all very similar and that this experience isn't unique just to me.  We are all special....and wonderful....and awesome......and enough.....and cute.....and loved!  Loved by our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ....loved by our family and friends.  What more could we ask for?

Zaden

I get to see this little guy on most Thursdays.  He goes to the day care in the morning and I usually get to pick him up for a little bit since Trichelle has a night class on Thursdays.  I say usually because there are weeks that TJ get's there before me to pick him up.  I think TJ enjoys this little one about as much as us.  Last quarter Zaden and I enjoyed spending our Mondays together and I will will just say I enjoy the time I get with the grands.

It's so fun watching their little personalities develop.  I love listening to them express themselves.  I just love everything about these little ones.  They are all so amazing and wonderful!

Have I ever mentioned that I love being a Gramma. (wink)

Kathy .....

Kathy and I planned a whole day together.  We decided to go get pedicures, try on wigs, and have lunch and maybe squeeze in a movie.  We were a little early for our pedicures and so went and got a drink and treat to enjoy while we got pampered.  I love getting pedicures.  I love the massage chairs.....oh I really love the massage chairs.  I love having my feet rubbed & fiddled with....it tickles but I love it!  However today the lady kind of hurt me with her little scissors.  She was digging a little deeper than I think necessary. I even made a face that Kathy picked right up on....It hurt....

After our pedicures we went out into the cold with our flip flops so our nails could dry before putting socks on them.  For some reason they didn't dry very well and both of our socks stuck to our polish.  So are nicely pedicures toes don't really look so nice.  I can't help but notice the bruise still on my leg.  I slipped off of Kathy's porch 3 weeks ago and still have a bruise and a little bump.  It's almost better though and so that is good.

The wig shop was closed when we got there.  It's closed every Monday....now we know!  We just thought it would be fun to try on wigs and Kathy is even thinking of getting one to wear.  Her daughter in law's mom wears a wig and always gets compliments on her darling hair so Kathy thinks it might be nice to have one.  If I got a wig it would just be for fun.....you know dress up parties and girl time.

Since the wig shop was closed I dragged Kathy with me to the Monument Place so I could get the Monument I won many months ago.  I'm kind of excited to get the big rock actually.  They are engraving the saying: "Out of the DREARINESS, into it's CHEERINESS, come we in WEARINESS, HOME!"  It will be in our courtyard just outside our front door.  Trichelle suggested this saying and I really liked it.

We were both starving after ordering the monument and so we went to Zuppa's.  I love Zuppa's !  It was yummy as usual.

Since we were by the Dress Barn we went in a did a little shopping.  We each only spent like $11 because we had some coupons.  Kathy did better than me though because she was able to get earrings and a shirt and I just got a shirt.  It was a fun day with my friend.  I love goofing off with my friends and I am very thankful for this time in my life where I am able to.  I am a blessed girl and I know it!

Mya and Parker

I look forward to seeing Mya and Parker every Sunday.  I love that they usually come on Sundays to have dinner with us.  These two little's make my  heart smile.  I also love it when I get to watch them so their parents can have time together.  They are good kids and very sweet and funny.

Parker loves Larry's stuffed animals and usually runs right in our room to pick out a few to play with.  He usually picks the big dog and the elephant.  I think he likes how soft they are and he likes to lay on them.  Lately he has been climbing in the basket with them and hiding.  Today he was in there hiding for at least a half an hour.  He makes me laugh.  Parker now wears Big Boy undies. We are all very proud of him for being so Big!

All the grands are so completely different and so darn enjoyable.  I marvel at how smart they all are and how stinkin cute they all are.  I think I have some of the cutest grands made.

I love being a gramma ..... it's just the coolest thing ever!

A Day with Kamryn

Today Kamryn and I got to play together.  It was fun having her over and I know she enjoyed our time together also.  We watched some movies together.  Kamryn wanted to watch Pirates of the Carribean ....the one with the Mermaids.  We also watched Enchanted. (I picked that one)  I let her decide what she wanted to do and that was it.  She also played with my IPad.....the grands sure like playing on it.

I enjoy looking at my little grands.  I marvel at how perfect they are.  I love just watching them.  My heart delights in having my grands around.

In between movies we took a break and took Grandpa some lunch.  We were a little early for his lunch but he took it when we got there anyway.  The shop has been slow and we really hope that changes.

It was a fun and enjoyable day with Kam.  On the way home from the shop I asked her if she wanted to stop at the store or Trichelle's and she didn't want to.  It kind of made me feel good.....she just wanted to spend time with her Grandma Dawn.  Grands really do fill a space in your heart that you never knew was empty!  I LOVE my Grands!

It's not about hitting the pins.....

I really enjoy bowling but it's all about the friendships and the sweet ladies I have become friends with over the years.  I like it when I hit the pins of course and love winning at least half of our games but the real reason I like to go bowling is the ladies.  This is the team that got me started a few years back. Debbie asked me to sub for Cheryl while she had surgery.  I have bowled ever since and made a bunch of fun friends.

I get hugs each week from a few of the ladies...and I really look forward to their hugs.  I cheer and hoot and howler and love it when I hear the other ladies follow my example.  It makes me smile.  Who knew that rolling a ball down a lane could be so fun?  Oh wait.....that isn't what makes it fun!

I'm glad for the days I bowl....I'm glad for the wonderful ladies I get to spend time with a few days a week.  I feel loved on these days!

Kimi doing what she loves!