Friends

I thought I was all done posting for today, but then I read a post at one of the blogs I follow (Maine Momma) and she posted this.

I've been feeling this way a lot recently.  Perhaps this is one of the big reasons I am missing New York is such a major way.  I have made a handful of absolutely incredible friends here in Richmond, but I've also been surprised by people I thought were my friends.  I guess the word friend means something different to everyone...

To all of my true friends wherever you are in the world, I am so happy to have you in my life.

Gratitude

Did you see this article in yesterday's New York Times?

Ok, so here are five things for which I am grateful:

1)  P, L, and B - my sweet, wonderful, loving, exhausting, funny family.  I could really list each of them separately but I think that would be cheating.
-P is my sweet, sensitive, 5 year old who just wants to please and help, when she isn't being melodramatic or sucking her thumb.  Sweet girl.
-L is my feisty 2 1/2 year old who loves to get a rise out of everyone and be a little trouble-maker at home.  At school, she is a sweet little helper who does nothing wrong.  So she saves it all for us at home.  Lucky us.  No, really, though, she is strong and feisty and wonderful.  And she loves to cuddle and caress my face when I lay in bed with her.
-B is my awesome hubby, my partner, my saving grace when I feel like I am going to rip my hair out.  Our marriage isn't always mushy gushy romance or picture perfect, but we laugh together and love one another, and we are on this incredible journey of marriage and parenthood together.

2) My extremely supportive parents - they would really do anything for me, my girls, and B, and for that I am extremely grateful. My brothers who are so smart and funny - truly unique and wonderful dudes.  I am grateful to have my family.

3) Friends - Where would I be without my friends?  Old friends who know me so well and are always there to support me; new friends who have helped me through the transition of moving to a new place and away from everything I know.

4) Photography and Pottery - my creative outlets that give me so much peace and joy.  I just love creating things, and while I will probably never sew a quilt or paint an oil masterpiece (although my gum balls were pretty awesome), I can capture a great photograph and throw a pot.  Or at least I am working on those two!  I still have to learn Photoshop Elements to make my photos better, but I'm working on it.

5) Time to myself - as I sit here at Starbucks, I am grateful for the time I have to myself right now.  The time to be with myself and my thoughts, and to do exactly as I please.  This also goes back to being grateful for B, who is off, out and about with the girls, while I am here alone.  What a guy!

Happy!

Ok, so I'm having some difficulty getting back into this whole blogging thing and can't figure everything out, but bear with me. (I would like to create a new paragraph beginning with the next line, but for some reason I cannot do it! As I said, bear with me.) Are friends not the best? My hubby was out of town for the weekend and I was home with the girls (whew!), but a friend invited us to her house for dinner on Saturday. Much to my surprise, she and her family (sweet husband and adorable boys!) made it a belated birthday celebration for me (BK, you really shouldn't have!), and it was just so freaking sweet! The kids had a great time and it added such a little shining moment to my weekend. So, yes, friends rock! Thank you guys again for such a fun night and such thoughtful gifts!

P.S. I love my new mug!