My favourite moment today

At the end of every day since my daughter was about a year old I would marvel at something wonderful, cute, or funny that she had done that day. When her daddy came home from work I would share with him a cute story about what she had done or said that day that made me laugh or made me appreciate the beauty of childhood. I knew at the time that I should be writing these little mini-stories down, but I didn't, because just keeping up with her was enough for me. But now she is 3 with 4 just around the corner. And I feel her childhood slipping away from me like sand through my hands. At times I reach and grasp for moments and try to hold on to them as though if I concentrated enough I could hold on to them forever. But time will not be held. And my heart will not be stilled. I watch her grow and love her more and more each day. Today was such a wonderful day. She was cute and cuddley from the moment she woke up and when I brought her to daycare she clung to me. It broke my heart to leave her. A part of me needs the quiet in the house while she's out and a part of me never wants her to be out of my site. The weather outside today was amazing. Indian Summer they call this I believe. To have a 68 degree day in November is really something. So we were outside in the yard, she playing with a toy cat, I drinking tea with a friend. And then she brought over a bag she had found with candy in it. She asked if she could give it to my friend and I couldn't help but feel delighted at her generosity. Then after the candy exchange she went in the house. She was gone a few moments and my friend and I were debating about what she was doing. Was she getting into more candy and eating it while we weren't looking? Or was she getting another toy to play with?...In a few moments she returned with toys in her hands and absalutely no signs of any candy consumption. I know I swelled up with pride, but how could I not. My friend reminded me to watch my modesty and not to brag. But we were both so happy to see her playing happily feeding her little toy cat. The self-discipline and respect that I saw in her at this moment really made me smile and I know when I look back on these years it will be these precious moments that I truly cherish.

A Really Fun Halloween

Halloween wraps fear in innocence, As though it were a slightly sour sweet. Let terror, then, be turned into a treat... ~Nicholas Gordon, poemsforfree.com This year was the first year Grace really "got" Halloween. Last year she was only 2 1/2, dressed up as a kitten, and tired after about 10 houses. Last night, dressed as cute as could be in a Little Bo Peep costume she went from house to house to house, sometimes running, sometimes walking confidently with that funny stride she has with her elbows in the air. Never did she want to go home. We stayed out for an hour and this was perhaps one of my most memorable Halloweens too. I've never been one to go for suburbs, but last night, walking around in this burb was a blast. There were about 1000 kids and their parents wandering the streets. One family had set up a concert with animated skeltons in their front yard that were playing Grateful Dead music that could be heard around the block. Another family was in their driveway making Kettle Corn popcorn. One man had put a bunch of hay on a trailor and was pulling it around the neighbourhood with a four-wheeler giving hay rides. There was a true spirit of fun and family last night. Hooray for this neighbourhood for putting the fun back in Halloween.

For the love of writing

As of about a month ago I did not even really know what a "blog" was. And now here I am creating my own blog with my name splashed above it. This is very strange for my generally timid and modest nature. But although it's foreign, it feels right. Sort of like trying on a new outfit. At first it doesn't fit in all the right places, but it is beautiful and you like it, and the more you wear it the better it fits and eventually it becomes your own favourite peice in your wardrobe.

Blogging is a little like that for me. Something feels right about it though it's new and strange.

So when I first started out I created a blog called "The Simple Self Improvement Project" and I didn't even realize how bad of a title that was until I tried to type it into my computer later that day. And I found it didn't really say what I really wanted to say.

Now that I have my business websites up and in the making I realize that my blog needs to be the place where I can write for the love of writing and not for marketing or profit or any other reason.

That's all the time I have for today. It's 5:19pm on Halloween. My pasta is boiling in the pot and I've got to get the sauce on. Hubby will be home momentarily and Mom-mom (Grandma) will be here soon too. Happy Halloween to all of you!!