Have you ever wondered what perfection looks like?  Look around you at all of your loved ones and you will know.  Perspective is everything!  ~Katherine

As the trees bud and the flowers bloom, I am reminded just how special each season is.  Every season provides us with different challenges while also presenting us with different gifts.

With spring’s storms, rain comes to wash away the gloom of winter and brighten our lives with the lush beauty of the natural world.  With the warming temperatures, our friendships also tend to deepen as we spend time enjoying one another outdoors with barbeques and get-togethers.

Spring gives way to summer’s long hot days which encourage us to slow down and splash in the cool water.

While autumn brings a blistering winds, it ushers in a refreshing crispness and a bouquet of reds and golds raining in the trees.

Winter chases us inside with its frigid temperatures but the quiet landscape is gorgeous decorated with white snow.  Winter also seems to bring families together as they gather to warm their hearts and souls in front of the hearth.

Photo: Johnathan_W

Not only does Mother Nature bless us with unique gifts with the changing of the seasons, I find that I am lavished with fluctuations through out the day. As of late, my emotions seem to be running the gambit – lets just thank Mother Nature again for this as I have been “blessed” with early (at 36!) perimenopause.

Even though my days don’t run as smoothly as I wish, I am blessed to have both the highs and the lows. The highs are appreciated so much more when it was only moments ago the lows were visiting as I tend to upset much more easily than normal.

During this season of my life, I was not expecting to be dealing with this emotional roller coaster but planned on simply enjoying my wonderful family.  However, my emotional travels provide for a very full life.

My quick temper brings with it the opportunity to practice patience.

The sadness reminds me to take time to focus on all of my blessings – especially our two sons and my wonderful husband.

While the frustration teaches me that I can’t always have my way.

As I walk through the seasons of my day, I am growing (hopefully!) while relishing the life God has so graciously blessed me with!

Why is it that I am easily and freely given credit for the bad, but not for the good?  I know that I am far, far from perfect, but I am not completely at fault.  When things are going well it somehow never has anything to do with my actions, but when the negative is brought up, I get all of the credit.

Loving our children comes naturally to us. But, we don’t always convey it to our little ones in ways that they feel it – at least not at the moment.  (It take years, and yes, even decades for children to equate your discipline with love.  Although, lack of discipline doesn’t make children feel loved either.)  It is so easy to get caught up in getting all of the chores done, everyone chauffeured to their particular event, and feeding everyone that making an effort to ensure our children FEEL our love is not even on our to-do list.  Don’t they realize that we love them by everything that we do for them???  Well, sometimes, but isn’t it always nice to truly know that you are loved because someone important in your life has shown you in some small way?  I know that it makes me feel like I can take on the world and I can accomplish anything when someone I care about does something to show they love me!

Photo: geishaboy500

In an attempt to make sure that my little ones feel loved, I am going to try to incorporate more of the following:

• Take the time to stop what I am doing and truly listen to them.  Giving someone your undivided attention lets them know that you care about that person and what they are saying.
• Read aloud to them every day – several times a day, if possible!  No matter how old my children become, I am going to continue to read to them nightly.  You can never be too old to be read to!
• Schedule time to spend with each child individually.  Not only do children need to know that we love them, but also that they are special enough to take time to get to know them better by spending time with them one-on-one.
• Touch them – hug them, kiss them, tussle their hair, tickle them – use loving touch to remind them of your love.
• Surprise them with a sweet note in their lunchbox or a specially cut sandwich.
• When they participate in an event -  whether that is a sport, a dance, a concert, an art show, or just a impromptu puppet show – truly watch and pay attention to them.  They are showing their love in their actions, we must do the same!

Visit Mom’s the Word for more ideas to Make Your Home Sing.

When was the last time you did something special for someone just because you love them?  It is so easy for me to take my husband for granted.  His presence becomes just part of the scenery at home more often than I wish to admit.  I love my husband dearly and want him to know just how important he is to me - not just because he provides to well for our family, but because he is the wonderful man that I love and want to spend the rest of my life with.

Photo: lonelypluto911

Here are some of the ways I am going to try to show my love just how much I love him:

1. Make him his favorite treat just because.  He loves chocolate chip cookies!
2. Set aside uninterrupted time to spend with him in the evening instead of pursuing my own interests to let him know that he is important to me.  More often than not, once we get the kids in bed, we tend to migrate to our own activities until we go to bed.  We rarely make the time to reconnect with each other on a regular basis like we need to.
3. Complete his chores for him.  Even if it is a simple as bringing the trash bins in from the street after refuge and recycling has run, it make his day that much easier.
4. Write him a love letter telling him why I love him – not just that I love him.  Everyone needs validation from time to time, and what a great way to share the wonderful way he makes me feel than to reaffirm all of the wonderful qualities he possesses.  This is a gift that will keep on giving as he can read it any time that the wants a pick-me-up.
5. Show him that I want him, not just need him.  Cheap Trick expressed how we all feel so well – “I want you to want me.  I need you to need me. I’d love you to love me.”  I want him to know that I choose him day after day because he is the man that I love and want, not just my best friend.

What special things do you do for your husband?  I would love more ideas to help DH feel how special and loved he is!

This post is linked to Make Your Home Sing Monday.

There are so many things that compete for our attention – work, finances, chores – that inevitably we lose sight of all the precious moments and wondrous beauty that fill our lives on a daily basis.  So, as I snuggle in to dream about plum fairies, I recall with great joy some of my favorite winter blessings.

Photo: Corin@ 2008

The Beauty of Winter

• The glistening of icicles delicately dangling from the rooftops.
• The peaceful beauty of new-fallen snow.
• The view of little ones enveloped in cuddly, footed jammies.
• The crackling fire flickering its soft, brilliant light in the fireplace.
• The tracks left in the snow by wildlife reminding us that we share this special place and time with other creatures.

Photo: Tiffany Washko

The Joy of the Cold

• Watching the kids play… and play… and play… in the snow until we force them to come in to warm themselves with delicious hot cocoa and mini-marshmallows.
• The warmth of my favorite mug warming my hands while sipping steaming hot cocoa.
• Cuddling on the couch with my husband to watch a movie after our children are asleep.
• The crispness in the air and the crunch of snow under your feet as you traverse through a world where the ice and snow have changed the landscape and life seems new.
• Snuggling with the little ones while discovering new worlds and revisiting beloved ones through the pages of marvelous books.
• The warm kitchen with the scrumptious smell of brownies baking in the oven wafting through the house.

Photo:  Michael Wade

Self-Indulgences

• The excuse that it is simply too cold to go outside allowing me to pursue my indoor pleasures while enjoying the beauty of the outdoors through the windows sheltering me from the frigid temperatures outside.
• My familiar, old, flannel nightgown protecting me from the chill of the cold, dark night.
• Thick, soft, warm socks caressing my feet and keeping my tootsies toasty.
• Being curled up in a cozy cocoon of my favorite throw while reading a great book.

Some of these pleasures are available year-round while others are truly wintry treats.  Even when our funds are scant, our hearts can be overflowing with joy and love as we delight in the wonders and beauty of the season without spending any money.

What do you enjoy during the special time of winter?

This post is linked to Finer Things Friday and Frugal Fridays.

There are so many things that I have to be thankful for!!!  As I look forward to the new year, I am overwhelmed with the abundance that we have.

Photo: annstheclaf

• Our family is in good health with our little boys growing stronger and faster than I could ever imagine.
• Our marriage has grown very strong over the past year with a deepening appreciation of and love for one another.
• Our homeschooling adventure seems to be going well.
• Our children are happy and enjoy life.
• We are blessed with friends to share are ups and downs with.
• We have been able to visit with our extended family who we do not live near.
• We have more than enough to meet our needs.

Our family has been truly blessed!!

I hope that when you sit down to count your blessings you loose track as your blessings far exceed your ability to keep count!  May 2010 bless you with all of your heart’s desires and all of the beauties life has to offer!  Happy New Year!

“Thanksgiving”

Thank You
for all my hands can hold-
apples red
and melons gold,
yellow corn
both ripe and sweet,
peas and beans
so good to eat!

Thank You
for all my eyes can see-
lovely sunlight,
field and tree,
white cloud-boats
in sea-deep sky,
soaring bird
and butterfly.

Thank You
for all my ears can hear-
birds’ song echoing
far and near,
songs of little
stream, big sea,
cricket, bullfrog,
duck and bee!

~Ivy O. Eastwick

Photo: Lyubov

This poem echoes the song of my heart.  As we approach Thanksgiving Day, society places more focus on the blessings that we each have received.  I enjoy this time of year as extra care is taken in the contemplation of the gifts that we have been given.

Although times have been hard for us (like many families) financially this year, I am grateful that looking forward our monetary worries are less burdensome.  This allows me to be more focused on what is truly important in my life – my family!

We have been blessed by some very awesome friends!  There isn’t a day that goes by that don’t thank God for the terrific people that He has brought into our lives.  We are able to share both tears and celebrations with them.  I hold them very dear in my heart.

My family is what I am most thankful for this year.  Our marriage has strengthen through our difficulties.  Our bond, when tested, has quivered but held-steadfast.  There are many times when marriage seems more of a detriment than the wonderful spiritual bond that it is meant to be.  But through the turmoil, strife and strain,  our love continues to deepen and our commitment to one another preserves.  Our two little boys are the light of my life! God blesses me daily with their beautiful smiles and giggles.  The four of us make up our cozy, little family.  Spending time together as a family is one of my favorite times!

There are so many things that I am thankful for this year!

What are you thankful for?