~Donald Miller
The Simple Things that make my soul sing...
...when my children tell me they love me...
...tucking my son into bed (hopefully he will stay there and not wake up and not be worried that he will fall back to sleep - just go to sleep!)...blowing goodnight kisses to my daughter...
...connecting with other artists at Gallery Q (especially AS and JW)...
...connecting with other artists at Gallery Q (especially AS and JW)...
...being in a community that appreciates art in all its forms...
...getting an unexpected package of beads in the mail from Sue Beads...
...participating in the Bead Soup party with the talented Emma Thomas from FredBeansNook as my partner (will you just look at those supremely cool beaded beads she made?!)...
...connecting with my Delta sister KJ at Silver Parrot and bonding over beads and boys and bad deli counter experiences...
...reading the deep truth of MJ at Mariedodd and appreciating her thoughtful mentoring of me...
...traveling to small town 6th grade basketball tournaments...
...witnessing the freedom of movement when Tiny Dancer twirls with happiness...
...rosy cheeks after playing outside in the snow...
...a fireplace that lights at the flick of a switch...with no ashes to clean ever...
...mailing packages to beady friends across the globe...Canada, Germany, Australia...and hearing how delighted they are to receive their winning gifts....planning the next Inspired by... challenge (Stay tuned! Coming soon!)...
Jupiter's Most Wide...working with Tiny Dancer on the solar system jewelry project (due today!)...
...Kookaboora red licorice...
...girls' weekend with my sister and 5 year old niece and my daughter...the first of many to come...
...drinking wine with my sister (mmm...merlot)...
...drinking wine with my sister (mmm...merlot)...
...live theater...especially musicals...
...watching daughter discovering the treasure that is Laura Ingalls Wilder, just as I did when I was her age...
...reading the sage and soul-searing words of Danielle LaPorte at White Hot Truth (she always sets my heart on fire)...
...discovering my Style Statement...
...pesto with shrimp fettucine for dinner (I always have the ingredients for this 10 minute recipe on hand)...
...banana bread with chocolate chips (because really, everything is better with chocolate chips!)...
...fluffy snowflakes...
...toasting the New Year with my oldest and best friend...
...toasting the New Year with my oldest and best friend...
...straight A's on 3rd grade report card (not simple at all, just fabulous!)...
...highest honors in 6th grade (definitely a lot of hard work!)...
...my handmade winter hat from recycled sweaters, with a big wool flower from artist Jeanne Weymouth, the Whimsy J...I get stopped when I am wearing it all the time...
...my handmade winter mittens from my friend Dorothy, with little leather patches on the palm so I can drive...
...anticipating Spring...
...candles burning on the altar at Church...
...celebrating 42 years (Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!)...
...colliding with my husband for 'date night on the couch'...
...the smell of Japanese Cherry Blossom anything from Bath & Body Works...
...clean floors...
...playing Wii with my kids (particularly fishing and Speed Racer)...watching my 64 year old father try to play Wii...
...hugs...the real kind with squeezes and everything...
...being held in a loving embrace...
...letting go of those things that don't work...
...cherishing friends who understand the real me...and leaving behind those who don't "get" me...
...cherishing friends who understand the real me...and leaving behind those who don't "get" me...
...imagining impossibilities...
...reservations to Christian's Bistro...
...massages with Allen at Inner Element (could use one right now)...
...massages with Allen at Inner Element (could use one right now)...
...getting lost in a book...
...having my TiVo work again after almost two months...
...dreaming of traveling...to Paris...India...Brazil...or just Chicago...
...dreaming of traveling...to Paris...India...Brazil...or just Chicago...
...planning an Ikea run with my sister who has never been...
...pouring over the Bead & Button show classes...
...plotting which ones I can take that will maximize my time, talents and treasure...
...dreaming of connecting with all my new bead-y, bloggy friends there...
...working on my first gallery exhibit proposal, and having support of the other artists...
...staying in a hotel with a really great hot breakfast in the morning...
...the fact that my husband does the laundry...including the folding...
...imagining the decorating possibilities on my blank walls...
...blueberry muffins brimming with berries...
...freshly brewed coffee...
...coming home...
What are the simple things that give your heart joy?
What are the often overlooked parts of your day that really make your soul sing?
What are the often overlooked parts of your day that really make your soul sing?
Do tell!
Coming home after a 12 hour long day of work and getting puppy kisses....putting on ratty sweatpants...making the perfect cup of Zen tea....finding excitement with creating something new!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post!
Bead Happy!
Michelle
Erin, I smiled all the way through this wonderful list!! The photographs are delightful and your wisdom...letting go of things that don't work....that just struck me so deeply today. Thank you!!! xo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful list of things, Erin! You have a lot to be happy about! :)
ReplyDeleteErin, my list is huge but I will share a few of my favorites...
ReplyDeleteHaving dinner with my family, hearing "Mom",the sound of birds in the morning, a hot cup of tea,the sound of a nickering horse,looking into my DH eyes, digging my feet into warm beach sand.....and each of these inspire me in many different ways. Life is Good!
Have a wonderful day Erin!
Boy what a great post! Thank you:) You know, when I started going through my own "list" in my head it TRUELY is the little, often untangible, things that bring the most joy. How wonderful to start my day with my coffee and a great read that makes me think of all the things that make my heart sing:)
ReplyDeletei will get mine up, i will! erin - this was beautiful... to see my name included in your list made my heart skip a beat... for surely i feel the same way about you!
ReplyDeletewhat a great post!
ReplyDeletethanks for introducing me to christina's wonderful blog. i have joined the effort and posted my list of simple things.
Hello, Erin. I am stopping by to visit today in the wake of Christina's love. What a list! And your beaded jewelry is lovely. (And, yes, everything does go better with chocolate chips...)
ReplyDeleteoooh, playing the wii with the children...i am not very technologically advanced but i am enjoying the wii too.
ReplyDeletelovely post.
one love.
Some yummy soup ingredients for the Soup Party! Can't wait ti see what you'll come up with.
ReplyDeleteoh,i am here clapping my hands, at this list!! all the way through, this i was nodding my head and feeling the gratefulness and love.
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
xo
Wow - what a great list of simple things. I found myself nodding in agreement so many times!
ReplyDeleteThis is a list to be treasured - I am sure we will all treasure our own.
Take care.
What a wonderful post, Erin! Your blog is one of my daily pleasures! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful list!
ReplyDeleteI just posted mine tonight for Christina's wonderful project.
I hope you enjoyed making your list as much as I did mine---so good to really think about these things from time to time.....
You have so many wonderful (and amusing) ones ... hoping a child stays in bed after being put there is a hope I share!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd we have a "flip a switch" fireplace too .. perfect for a fire-building impaired couple like ourselves.
Wonderful ... as always.
I love that you have an absolutely enormous list of things to be thankful for. Isn't life beautiful? And, isn't this such fun? I love how many of us are roaming the blogroads stopping to say hello here and there. So, hello to you. Happy almost-Friday.
ReplyDeleteErin, what a beautiful soul you are. To have so many things to be thankful for...all of the special things in life (from hugs, to old friends, to blank walls with possibilities, to appreciating your 64 year old Dad...). Your happiness really shines and it's contagious. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you played along....and clean floors...YES !!
ReplyDeletenow if I could only figure out how to keep them that way for at least an hour or two....