Day 107: 5 Gratitudes for Friday, 11

1 - Play Dates! I just love it when the children can get together with their friends and spend an afternoon playing. It just doesn't happen often enough, but it sure is wonderful when it does. The children run off energy, their creative juices start flowing...it is like a little shot of "yoohoo" - I mean, the children can be feeling sick, bored, lonely, tired, frustrated...and then the play date happens & they are rejuvenated. Maybe that is the secret elixir I should attempt to bottle to make millions...hmmmm...

2 - Grown up conversations. Do you know how much I miss grown up conversations? Sometimes I think I have forgotten how to carry on a conversation. When the children were super little it was hard because have the time I couldn't understand them. Now it is hard because I never get a word in edge wise...and, as much as I love my children, their ideas, etc... they can talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk and talk...I  miss grown up conversations. One of the perks of visiting friends is the opportunity to have grown up conversations. I love it when I can take advantage of that opportunity. Let's see, today, I have discussed the ups & downs to boys, oldest children, 12 year olds, the lack of modest dresses for young girls, an app called "the closet" (I so can't wait to try it out!), learning a little bit more about what makes mid-westerners tick, the ups & downs of being a mom, realizing that everyone has to rediscover who they are...well, you get the idea...it was good grown up conversation.

3 - Warmer weather...no, not in the 60s or 70s, I am talking in the 40s! The sun was shining, I could wear my winter coat & gloves & be warm (normally I am still shivering from the cold), the children could actually play for an hour outside before getting too cold. Ah, the hope of spring was in the air today!

4 - The pleasant surprise of a good movie. We have family movie night every Friday night. Tonight we took a chance on "John Carter" for two reasons. 1 - because someone (I can't remember who) said it was really well done & I should see it. 2 - because my friend, Ashlee, did a post about the John Carter book series. The movie was so much better than the previews looked - it was a lot a fun. The children and I are going to look for the book series as well.

5 - Being happy, joyful and at peace the majority of my days. When I started this journey back in November, I was still struggling with the lingering effects of depression. I knew I was better, but not back to being myself. Today, I can honestly say, that I feel like myself. I still have my moments of frustration, sadness or what have you, but it is within "normal" ranges. I don't know, I can feel a difference and I like it. I like the direction I am headed and I am not so worried about getting to the end...and that is a good thing.