"Yesterday is HISTORY ; Tomorrow is a MYSTERY; Today is a GIFT; That's why it's called the 'PRESENT' "

-Unknown

Today is a gift, an extra day to be loved, to give love, how did you spend your GIFT?

By writing a love letter to my Mom. I've been making little 6x6 double-sided pages for her each month that I send in the mail. I made her an album and, as she gets the new pages, she just adds them to the album. I put some kind of quote or words of encouragement on one side and then on the reverse side I sort of highlight my month so she can know what's going on in my life. All of this to just encourage her and brighten her day. And so, since February was the month of 'love" with V-day and all, part of my little page for February was to write her a love letter. I'm sure she'll love it, too...

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all."

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

What simple thing in your life made your day just perfect?

How about opening a package from SIStv full of beautiful papers? That definitely made my day just perfect! Now - if only I could find the time today to go and use it!

“Look at what you've got and make the best of it. It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.”

Proverb

I think it's the whole "see the cup as half full, rather than half empty" thing. And I am really all about that. I used to think it might be better to be a pessimist, because if you always expect the worst then you're not disappointed when that's exactly what you get. But have you been around a pessimist lately? Not a happy place to be. Negativity just sucks the life out of you and everyone around you.

So I choose to be an optimist, a positive thinker, a generally happy person. I just feels better. When you're looking for good - in your life, your circumstances, the people around you - you're generally going to find it.

"Joy enters the room. It settles on the windowsill, waiting to see whether it will be welcome here."

-Kim Chernin

Have you ever heard the thought that the mood of the home is determined by the mood of the woman? You know - "if momma ain't happy, ain't NObody happy!" I hate that, but dang if I don't find that it's so often true! Why is that? Maybe it's because we women are such emotional, even spiritual beings that the vibes we send out are not only felt by those around us, but possibly even adopted by those around us. Now, I have to say, that ever since I've been married, I've lived in a house full of boys, er, men. No... Boys! ;) Males do tend to go with flow... I've seen it time and again. (I have no idea how this works in a house full of women!) :) So, I feel the onus is on ME to be in a good mood. Unfair! Who's gonna make ME feel better when I'm NOT in a good mood? Let's say it all together - NObody! :)

So, Joy, please don't sit there waiting on the windowsill waiting to see. Come IN. Fill me up. Fill up my home! And come every day!

8/52

(Credits: PP's, labels and buttons, "Git R Done" by Audrey Neal for SIStv; Scallop mask by Jen Caputo (scrapbookgraphics.com); Fonts: Century Gothic (journaling); CK Curly (title and quote)

"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you"

Dr Seuss


Ha! LOVE that quote! Love the uniqueness of each one of us that it addresses. Gotta give God the credit (and praise) for that. Wouldn't it be a boring, boring existence if we were all the same?

And the depth of who we are goes so far beyond what we see on the surface. I hope to concentrate more on that depth in others than on the surface beauty that the media so wants to sell us on.

And, yes! I want to embrace the ME that I am. Why do I/we get so caught up in trying so hard to be like someone else? I know oftentimes it's because we just really appreciate or enjoy who they are. But then we cross the line from appreciation to comparing ourselves to them and, inevitably begin feeling somehow bad about ourselves... I want to STOP that and just enjoy their uniqueness - and MINE!

"Adopt the peace of nature" ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I could have gone out and tried to take a photo on this gorgeous, clear and sunny (and cold!) day but we had company and I have an ankle injury, so going out and tromping in the snow wasn't an option... But honestly, what could be more peaceful than my little kittie all curled up and snoozing on the couch - if it wasn't for my interruption, of course. He's may not be profound, but he's peaceful - and natural! :)