The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

 Apr 11th- A few of my favorite things...

~A quick bike trip to the Lock before the rain

~Spring flowers gracing the trail sides

~A smiling pumpkin along the path's edge that seems to be enjoying the day too

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

 Jan 27th- A few of my favorite things...

~Gwyn discovering a doll who needed a little girl

~Finding a blue dress that fit while fixing the holes in the dress she came in

~A doll who seems to be smiling at the progress

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

June 22nd- A few of my favorite things...
~Getting to host a Thank You luncheon for the teachers and staff at McKinley Brighton for all the hard work they do for the children in our community
~Daisies adding beauty to a gravel covered parking lot
~A grasshopper who almost seems to be smiling at how good his camouflage is

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Jan 19th- A few of my favorite things...
~BLT's made with smoked gouda
~A water spot that seems to be sticking his tongue out
~Surprise gifts of chocolate left by the eldest girlie

The Habit of Thankfulness: A Few of My Favorite Things

Dec 11th- A few of my favorite things...
~The simple joys of pelting...errr hand feeding ducks with corn
~Watching ducks come in for a landing
~Having a duck almost smile for the camera

The Habit of Smiling

Smile...

just saying the word is almost spurs a reflexive action

 causing most if not all to smile back.

It is a universal sign of happiness.

Birthday parties, graduations,

 weddings, and births 

are just some of the many reasons that cause us to smile.

One of the first milestones after birth is

"When will s/he first smile?"

It seems to make the little one

real, interactive.
Not just taking...

...but it is the first gift they give back. 

Smiles interact with others on so many levels.

My youngest seems to have the gift of smiling.
Shortly after birth, she gave her first smile.
The nurses could hardly believe it.
They smiled back at her and
she returned the greeting, again.
Maybe it it because her first name means
"Gift of God"
and she literally has "Joy" in the middle.

Like a blessing of old,
her name is a reflection of her being.
She looks for people to smile at...
...to share her gift with.

Her smile has brought sunshine into more souls
than even her little heart can understand.
All she knows is that smiling
 brings smiles to others
in her world.

It lifts them up.
It tells another they are important to notice.
It's like giving a reflection of God
and his goodness,
a reminder
that God is good
and I see His image
in
you.

And because He is Good,
we can smile
and carry on.
Keep sharing your gift little one,
this world needs it!
And if she happens to share it with you,
remember to pass it on.
It might make someone's day :-)

Happy 2nd Birthday,
My Smiley One!