What Will We Be & Smile Sunday

"So many choices and so many dreams. A lifetime to fulfill them." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves to play dress up! This Halloween we had many choices of what we could be, but Little Chick knew right away what her decision would be. Hmmmmmmm! Will she be a ballerina? A bumble bee? The belle of the ball? Snow White? Lolli wanted to participate in the decision making process and dressed up as well. It snowed here this weekend! We have no power and are at Grandma Hen's house again (thank you Grandma Hen). We hope you are having a wonderful Smile Sunday!

A bumble bee?

The belle of the ball?

Snow White?

Facing Our Fears & Thanksgiving Thursday

"Facing our greatest fears can be a challenge, however, the result so rewarding."~Mama Hen

Autumn is here and Little Chick and I are loving it! The other day we went to a local farm so Little Chick and her buddy could go climbing the hay stacks and jump into the corn pit. They had a wonderful time. Today we went on a filed trip with her class to the fire station. Little Chick has a fear of fire and it was a brave moment for her. She sat and listened to the firefighters. She did not want to hop on the truck, but said she wanted to be brave and headed on up in the drivers seat. She had faced her fears and felt much better for doing so. I am so proud of my Little Chick!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) For Little Chick's bravery and facing her fears. 3.) For heat on chilly days. 4.) Marcy! I love you my dear friend! 5.) The beautiful fall colors.

Transport Me

"If I could rewind the clock I would most surely return to the time when you were here." ~Mama Hen

Lately I have had days where I wish I could transport myself back to the time when my Dad was here. I miss the comfort and safe feeling I always had when I woke up each day simply knowing that my Dad was just a phone call away. We often take for granted the people who are our "rock" while on this journey. It is almost fourteen years that he has been gone and in some ways time has made "dealing with" his loss more bearable. I guess in some ways I have mastered the art of compartmentalizing the tremendous hole I feel in my heart since he no longer was here to talk to, visit, or simply hug. I see so much of my Dad in Little Chick. His great big smile and incredibly bright personality are only a couple of things she reflects. I only wish he was here to see my beautiful daughter as she grows and continues to brighten the world we live in with her infectious smile. If I could rewind the clock I would love to revisit my Dad in the picture you see. He had visited me when I was living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Although he worried and wanted me home and safe, he always supported my decisions and encouraged me to follow my dreams and passions. My Dad was my strength, guide, role model and inspiration. More than anything his love was like a blanket of comfort and safety. I miss him so and pray that he knows just how much he meant to me.

Fate & Thanksgiving Thursday

"Fate is a combination of hope and what is meant to be."

~Mama Hen

Last week while Little Chick was in school I took Lolli to the beach for a long walk. She absolutely loves going for walks and seeing all her furry companions. Each time we approached a dog her tail would wag and she would do the happy dance. It was very cute to see. At one point we bumped into a beautiful black dog named Emma. I began talking with her mom and an extraordinary story came about. I had mentioned that we rescued Lolli over the summer. She replied that she had rescued her dog about a month ago. I asked her what shelter and it turns out we had gotten our dogs from the same shelter. This was pretty amazing because the shelter was an online rescue site. We continued to talk and I said that my dog had come from Arkansas. She said, "My dog came from Arkansas also!" I then said that my dog had a litter and that is when they found her in a ditch. She said that her dog had babies, as well. Then I said that my dog had already been placed, but the family had not treated her well and needed to be placed again. She said that the same thing happened to her. We could not believe it! That night I e-mailed the kind woman from the shelter and told her that I had met Emma. She could not believe it either! She said that Lolli and Emma had been in the same shelter in Arkansas and she wondered if they had recognized one another. She also said that there was a video of the two dogs in Arkansas playing together at the shelter. She sent it to me along with a video of Lolli's babies. It was incredible! Fate has a way of working out in wondrous ways! Here is the video of Lolli and Emma playing in Arkansas: http://youtu.be/M1tK1uiYCms Have a happy Thanksgiving Thursday!Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) God's ever abundant blessings! 3.) My mom always helping out! Thank you mommy! 4.) Little Chick's wonderful gift of making everyone around her smile. 5.) For long walks on the beach with Lolli.

More Soup & Smile Sunday

"Nothing cures a cold better than Mama's homemade soup!"

~Mama Hen

Little Chick has another cold and had to spend the day resting in bed. Of course I called Grandma Hen immediately and asked if she could bring over some essential ingredients to my "Kisses Soup". She is the best and went shopping right away. So while Little Chick stayed in bed drinking lots of fluids and watching Little Bear, I made her the soup I always make when she is sick. She came down stairs and said, "Mommy, don't forget the kisses!" I said, "They are already in there, but I will definitely be adding some more." So before she went back up stairs I showed her that I was adding plenty more of the best ingredient - mommy's kisses. Happy Smile Sunday!

Get well my Little Chick!

Saying Thank You & Thanksgiving Thursday

"Saying thank you can mean the world to someone and takes so little effort to say." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick wanted to paint me another surprise last night. I was so excited when I saw her adorable creation! I, of course, said a huge thank you and gave my baby a big kiss. Her eyes lit up as she said, "You like it mommy?" I replied, "I absolutely love it!" We all have so many opportunities to say thank you each and every day. It is so important to show gratitude to the people around us and to our creator above. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Thursday!

Adding more hair.

So adorable!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) The incredible amount of kindness and love my beautiful daughter pours out every day. 3.) For a lovely hot cup of coffee on a cool, rainy Autumn day. 4.) For old friends and new friends. 5.) Dreams! For the wonderful feeling of being able to dream and work towards something.

Living from the Heart

"The heart is the center of it all."

~Mama Hen

The other day Little Chick asked me if I could set up her paints. She said, "Mommy you can't look because it is a surprise." She was painting for a while and I asked if I could see. She said, "No mommy, you will love this surprise. I will let you know when it is ready." Finally she said, "Mommy you can see it now." When I came around the corner she was still painting. I squealed with delight! She just kept painting as I told her how proud I was of her. When I saw the heart in the middle my own heart just melted. The love that my daughter poured into painting that gift for me is a reminder of what it all is about. Everything we do revolves around the heart - how we use our heart, give from the heart, love from the heart and simply live from the heart.

Smile Sunday

"Ahhhh.....There are so many reasons to smile!" ~Mama Hen

We are at the beach enjoying this beautiful day! Time has a way of floating by so quickly. Capture each moment and make it really fun!

Have a happy Smile Sunday!

Peaceful Walks & Thanksgiving Thursday

"Taking a walk with a loving companion can be so peaceful."

~Mama Hen

Little Chick loves going for walks with Lolli. Yesterday was such a beautiful day so we headed to the beach after school and took a long walk. Lolli and Little Chick looked so adorable together along that peaceful stretch of beach. We will definitely take advantage of all the great Autumn weather. Happy Thanksgiving Thursday!

Just hanging out with my buddy!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Gorgeous Autumn days and long walks on the beach with my loved ones. 3.) Apple cider, pumpkin picking, crunching in piles of leaves and sunny cool days. 4.) Little Chick's caring heart. 5.) Flannel pj's, cozy slippers and hot cocoa.

Ladies Luncheon

"Each moment offers an opportunity for fun and happiness. Make each day a cherished memory." ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I love taking trips up North and enjoying a ladies luncheon. Over the weekend we decided to go to one of my favorite little towns -Essex. Since I was a teenager I always loved visiting this town. It is small, quaint and historical. When walking along the sidewalks I like to think about years ago when people were in horse and carriages. It makes me appreciate the luxuries of today (heat, electricity, transportation, etc.). It also makes me think about how strong the sense of community had to have been in order to simply survive, especially during harsh Connecticut winters. Little chick and I ate at the Griswold and we had so much fun listening to a 40's band playing. Of course, after we finished our meal, Little Chick danced up a storm! It was a wonderful day to be cherished!

Look at Little Chick dance!