List 43 things that bring me JOY

19. pico de gallo… made just right
20. starting new and doing old family traditions

17. This is sort of a silly one, but I love the smell of candles that make the home feel warm and autumny and/or christmas-y. like apple spice, apple pie, pumpkin pie, lattes… those kind. i just bought a vanilla latte scented from my neighbor for her school fund-raiser. it just makes the place feel cozy. i love it. my best friend suprised me yesterday with another new one for my birthday… tamarind spice. ohhhh! so exciting!

18. i know i go on and on about this, but i love the feeling of falling in love over and over again… everyday… with my daughter. she is the sweetest, most remarkable individual in the entire world. i can’t get over that she is mine and that she is so sweet and easygoing. i can’t put into words how i feel about her, but i just L-O-V-E her and she fills me up everyday, all day, and there is nothing more joyous than that.

15. cookbooks… no, seriously… especially with beautiful photography
16. enjoying a good meal with friends

12. being out in the country at night and looking at the clear sky and all the amazing stars. i will live someplace where i can do this every night… again.

13. my daughter’s tooshie when she wears her big girl underwear.

14. my daughter pushing her baby stroller down the street. she’s a good mommy to her babies which makes me think that i’ve been a good example.

5. Houseplants
6. sitting on the porch with my family on a hot summer night
7. i love to take walks at the end of summer and beginning of fall when you can wear pants and long sleeves and be comfortable outside.
8. watching my daughter suddenly master something when only a few days before she struggled
9. getting the “just right” words while writing something (“the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning bug” – mark twain)
10. street festivals
11. horses

1. my daughter has brought me joy like i could not have ever imagined. she has healed my hurts and brightened my life. i can’t believe that her sweet little soul was created to compliment my life and that God has trusted me to be her mother… she is my greatest honor.

2. my daughter’s little curls at the nape of her neck

3. the way my daughter gets into a downward facing dog stance then flip her arms up and wiggles her fingers and giggles and giggles.

4. i know that they are both bad for you physically, but i love coca-cola classic and sweet tea.