Celebrations

I heard this quote the other day, "You have to practice gratitude to feel joy." I think that might be the truest statement I've ever heard. I'm a big proponent of focusing on the blessings in my life. Sometimes I have to process a situation before I get there, but I always get there.

I'm finding lots to celebrate around here lately. First off, it's autumn. I personally believe autumn is the best thing in the history of best things. It's at least right up there with falling in love, golden retriever puppies and warm chocolate chip cookies.

For those of you asking for an autumn tour of the Village, I'm more than happy to oblige. Next week is our fall break and we are happily spending it at home. I can't wait to take my camera out and capture the magic that is our Village for you!

I am of the opinion that birthdays should be a big deal. Trust me if your birthday was 5 days before Christmas, you would be convinced of this fact too! It's why I love to spoil those I love on their special days. Last Friday I celebrated the birthday of one of my best with some quality crafting time, the results of which I will show you soon. Even messes in the studio are worthy of a celebration.

I'm celebrating having finished up all of my early fall nesting projects, including painting my lower cabinets a pale grey. The plus side of having really, really ugly homemade, ancient cabinets is that you don't hesitate to throw a coat of paint on them on a whim.

Not that I wouldn't happily give all of that up for beautiful new professionally finished cabinets that were topped with marble! But I will patiently wait as long as needed for that dream kitchen and then I will spend every day that I am in it feeling that much more grateful.

I'm celebrating that after a morning spent deep cleaning my kitchen, that it's sparkling and that my girl came home from school and made a batch of chocolate chip muffins in it. And now it's just occurred to me that I haven't walked into the kitchen since she finished the muffins and there's a pretty good chance that it might no longer be sparkling, but still...muffins, right?

I'm also celebrating friendship and generosity. I have had so much of it extended to me lately. Then today I received this amazing framed artwork from my very talented friend Shelly Kennedy. I have admired her art since Maddie was a little girl! I cannot even recall how we ended up becoming acquainted through our blogs. I was so blessed to get to meet her in person at an art retreat several years ago. She is beautiful inside and out and she has been so sweetly encouraging to me for many years. Recently she posted a photo on Instagram of some arrow artwork that she had made and I fell in love and wanted to buy it. She wouldn't let me but insisted on sending it to me. Today it arrived with the most beautiful card that I want to share part of with you. It's a great example of how your words can bless someone's heart.
She said:
I changed this design up just a touch. Only ONE arrow is going in the opposite direction- just like you!!
...true to your path,
...doing your own thing,
...standing out from others,
...going strong with nothing in your way!!
Don't ever waver!

Words I will remember every time I look at this beautiful picture. 

Many of you have asked how I'm doing so I just want to share that I am slowly getting better. I can tell an improvement from week to week. I have days that are good and those that aren't and I try to adjust my attitude and life accordingly. I now nap without guilt when I need to. Who thought that day would come?! Sometimes I get frustrated when I tire so easily or when my lungs hurt at the end of day when I do too much or when it takes me a week (if I can manage it at all) to do what used to take me a couple of days. I'm choosing not to let it all get me down and choosing not to focus on the negatives. What would be the point? Things could be worse and I have much to celebrate!