Random Joys

I don’t have anything to rant about this week, or any sage wisdom to pass along (assuming I ever

do). I’ve actually been a bit of a bobble-head doll these past few weeks, distracted by shiny objects, family schedules, and work projects. As crazy as it’s been, I thought I’d take the opportunity to talk about some random fun stuff.

A joke one of my kiddos told me: What do you get when you put a computer on some cheddar? Mac on Cheese! (Career on SNL, so... but it's so much better than the knock-knock jokes I endured for years;-)

We’re behind the wave on this, but we’ve begun watching the Harry Potter movies. The kiddos love them, and Saturday Harry Potter Movie Night is a highly-anticipated family affair for us. It comes complete with microwave popcorn and lots of cuddling... moments which are becoming increasingly rare, as any parent will attest to.

My work holiday meeting I whined about last Friday was a resounding success and I received a ton of accolades for it. I’m pleased everyone enjoyed it, but the coolest part was how willing fellow co-workers were to pitch-in and help the day of with the barest direction from me. I truly work with awesome people!

I had a girls-night-in with a good friend. We ate fried food and cheesecake and drank great wine. Watched a movie we could never watch with our families (no, not Magic Mike ;-) and talked and talked. As much as I love my husband, it is soul-filling to share stories with another mother who has walked the same path I have walked in raising kiddos and dealing with hubbies.

Last weekend, the family camped. It was at a friend’s fall cookout on 80+ acres of woods. We ate
and relaxed and rode 4-wheelers through the woods. The kiddos played with the multitude of dogs, which made them extremely happy campers. While we love our kitties, there’s something to be said about time with face-licking, stick-chasing, water-romping dogs. Hubby and I claimed some quiet time gazing at the millions of brilliant stars in the clear country skies. It’s both humbling and exhilarating to realize our solar system is just one of... way more than I can count! I confess I wondered if the worlds and characters of my Heart Nebula Series might mirror some of those out there in the inky void.

And I’d better wrap this up. Hubby is in the kitchen opening a can of tuna and the kitties are circling his legs like furry, purring sharks. It's fun to watch them pounce on a little bowl of tuna like it's ambrosia... and then lick and clean themselves for hours afterward. A few nibbles of tuna, and we've made two kitties feel like royalty! Shouldn't we all feel so blessed by the little things?

The small joys and laughs are plentiful in my life, and I need to remember to enjoy them. And because joy should be shared, please share one of your happy moments/events, however small, from the last week or so.