Ten Good Things

I have moments lately in which I feel as though I am hanging by a thread. And then I remember there are still so many good things, so many things to be grateful for when I'm paying attention.

Thank you for your words of comfort and kind emails in response to my tale of woe and darkness. It helps, more than I can explain.

And now, Ten Good Things that I can see right now (a.k.a, Why I am still getting out of bed in the morning.)

Good Thing One: Esme and her music. All hours of the day I hear her whistling, practicing her violin, serenading us with her recorder, or tapping out rhythms with her busy feet and hands. Music to my heart.

Good Thing Two: This freckly kid's love of learning. So excited to go to school every day. Reading all by herself now and she's hardly ever without a book in hand. This morning, I overheard her giggling along with George and Martha and it made the whole day seem brighter.

Good Thing Three: Knitting. Elizabeth Zimmerman said, and I whole heartedly agree, "Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either."

Good Thing Four: My days alone with sweet Adelaide. Even if she does raid my pantry when I'm not looking to make "Soup" with those expensive cashews and pecans and dried pasta. In her defense, she ate most of it after it was "cooked" - even the dried pasta.

Good Thing Five: The random bits of kid art I find clipped and taped all over the house. I live in a house of artists and that is a very good thing.

Good Thing Six: Tea Parties with my girl.

Good Thing Seven: More knitting and the way my girls appreciate mama's handmade gifts. Ada's been wearing her Little Pip's Acorn Cap all day (and we've had to read the book four or five times too).

Good Thing Eight: Home. It might be messy and it might be small, but when I walk in the front door and I see the cozy bits of family - fairy wings and kid-crafted flags - I can't think of any place I'd rather be.