Right In Front Of Your Eyes #MyPostMonday + The Week's Best Original Content

 Do you ever do the coulda' woulda' shoulda' game? Not a smart idea to do for very long. But sometimes I do occasionally indulge in a bit of 'What if' reminiscing. 

For instance I wish that I had treated my two grandmas so much better. Not that I treated them badly at all, but I wish I had written them more letters, and shown them more consideration and honor. They were such wonderful women, whom I loved dearly. If I had known that they wouldn't be with me forever here on this earth, I might have gleaned more of their wisdom, spent more time sitting at their knees, and taken their words more to heart than I did. 

If I had known that my boys would have turned out to be such amazing young men, and that I really had such a limited time to be with them, as it turned out, would I have spent so much time trying to improve them, mold them into what I thought they should be, disciplining them, and most regretfully, raising my voice at them? Honestly, I would have spent much more time just laughing with them, and admiring their individual characteristics and God-given traits. I am lucky that now I can still spend time with them on occasion and I can do better by them than I did my own grandmas because I know that I won't always have those moments to enjoy. 

And of course there is my own husband. Wow, we've been through a lot of ups and downs. With my own baggage from a previous marriage, along with his own previous marriage, and our own individual childhood upbringings that occasionally don't mesh, especially when it comes to dealing with kids and our family. But I do love him after all of it, and there is still a long way to go. In him is the ticket to every bit of happiness that I'd ever want. He's kind to me, kind to my aging father, and kind to my boys. He brings me nice gifts (my love language), thinks I'm pretty, and compliments me enough to make me blush. And there are more and more times of just peaceful contentment between us! What's not to look forward to and appreciate now? 

I think that I've learned enough from the past to know that the very best things in life have been right in front of me all along. I just needed to see it!

Image - Jami Bollshweiler Photography

The Art Of Appreciation + #MotivatingMonday

Every day we have the ability to choose how we will look at our day. How many times do you make a note to yourself  about the little and big things that you are so lucky to have? I just recently was able to obtain something that I had almost given up having. It's pretty simple, but it's something that I relish and appreciate. I feel good that I can appreciate small things!
On the other hand, a woman that I really love in my own family, just got the word she has breast cancer. I'm so very saddened by this news. I know that she will be going through the hardest test she has ever faced, both she and her family. But I know she will come out of it strong. She has that positive attitude and it will turn her towards her family more than ever and she will appreciate the little things. She will surround herself with joy, beautiful things, and love. She will help to make our family stronger.

 My heart hurts when I hear of the things that people have to go through. But I am so amazed at how good and generous others are. It helps to lighten loads; For instance, there is a post trying to go viral on Facebook about a woman with terminal cancer, who got to go see her favorite baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds. She got to sit on the sidelines and people knew her situation. But the only player that came out to see her was Skip Schumaker. He signed a ball and took some pictures with her. It absolutely MADE her day, week and last month. She died soon after that. Right now her sister-in-law wants to make a picture taken with Skip go viral.  This guy is someone who appreciates the things he has and then turns around and helps others do the same. If you'd like to share the post, please click here!

picture credit

 Today is Motivating Monday!  We all need a little motivation!  I, for one, love to explore other sites for motivating, mostly non-sponsored posts, tips, pictures and videos!  If I happen to find a great one, I'll link it up and share it with you here and on Twitter via the #MotivatingMonday hashtag!  It's like being featured!  Sometimes I miss some amazing posts.  So, in addition, if you'd like to link up yourself, you can do that too!  I'll visit your site, comment, promote and publicize! Don't be shy--I'm really very supportive!  Remember, any link to your posts helps your blog numbers increase!