I recently read Elizabeth Smart's new book, written about her experience during her kidnapping. It was extremely heartbreaking and, at times, disturbing reading what she experienced. But something she wrote really stuck with me. In the middle of one of the darkest experiences I've ever heard of, she would write about miracles she experienced. Moments when she felt angels surrounding and lifting her. And, in the course of the story, she challenged the reader to look for and recognize the miracles in their own lives. Since then, I've been paying attention. And what miracles I've seen! Here are a few of my recent miracles:
1. Tori and I are getting along. We haven't had a knockdown, drag out fight for weeks! My house might be a mess, but we're busy being our own little family. And that's ok. The more we fall into being on our own, the cleaner the house will be able to stay...hopefully. ;)
2. I was able to stretch out my gas until tomorrow...when I get paid. I'm currently on empty (as is my bank account).
3. Tori is doing GREAT in school! She is getting "in trouble" (they just don't get in trouble often in this school) for reading when she isn't supposed to and she does her homework with a minimum of fuss. She's happy when she comes home and she's happy when we go to bed. We're reading Little House in the Big Woods right now. She loves it.
4. I have wonderful parents who are always willing to help me out when I need it. And an ADORABLE nephew who I love to smother with kisses.
This leads me into my "thankful" post for today. Tori was in her room listening to her "Spotifie" playlists on the iPad while I cleaned up the main room. Suddenly, she ran out of her room saying, "I don't know what I did! I didn't mean to, mommy!" I, of course, asked her what was wrong. She said, "I don't know what I pushed, but I saw an inappropriate picture of a music woman and it scared me! I turned off the iPad!" Cue the sobbing. I hugged her and told her she did exactly the right thing. She saw something that scared her, turned it off and came and told mommy. I was so grateful she did that! Once she saw the chocolate chips I had out she calmed down. I then asked her if she could describe what it was that she saw. She said it was a woman lying on a cloud, naked, with a cloud covering her bum. Damn you, Katy Perry. So today, I am so very grateful for the innocence of children.
That ends my post! Now I challenge you: at least once every day, look for the miracles in YOUR life and write them in your journal. And if you don't have a journal, get one. You'll be amazed at what you find when you look.
