Thanksgiving Thursday - Beautiful Gifts

"Give thanks for the beautiful simple gifts that surround us each and every day." ~Mama Hen

We are surrounded by blessings every day. It can be so easy to become caught up in the stresses and negative that swirls around us as we go about our days. I, at times, can get pulled into the vortex of negativity and find myself losing valuable moments with what is most important in life - family and friends. I am incredibly grateful for my greatest gift - my daughter, Little Chick. She is filled with love and compassion for animals and people around her. The past couple of months she collected donations for hurricane victims in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico. She, along with her Girl Scout troop, created 67 hurricane relief kits and she also completed 55 more kits with our church. She also brought boxes of collected donations to our local shelter and baked cookies to share. On Sunday I surprised her with visiting a friend of ours on a farm filled with many beautiful animals. Little Chick was so excited. She rode an adorable Appaloosa. There are so many things to be thankful for.   

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) The ability to be able to give to others. 3.) The joy that animals bring to my daughter. 4.) My mom and the way she makes Little Chick laugh. 5.) Our church and the beautiful giving community it is.

Happy 11th Birthday Little Chick

"Wishing you a lifetime filled with an abundance of love, all out silly laughter each and every day, excellent health and true and kind friends to share your days with." 
~Mama Hen

Happy 11th birthday my beautiful Little Chick! What a fantastic time we had celebrating your special day! Harry Potter was a hit this year! You are my greatest gift and I am so thankful to have been blessed with being your mommy! I love you!

Thanksgiving Thursday & Celebrating Family & Friends

"Give thanks and celebrate family and friends every day. This is our greatest blessing." ~Mama Hen

It was a beautiful 4th of July with family and friends! Little Chick and I had a barbeque and at night headed to our neighbor to see some backyard fireworks. It was a fantastic holiday! Little Chick and I love spending time with friends at the pool and of course Little Chick cant get enough of horse back riding each week. So much to be thankful for!

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and our family. 2.) Beautiful holiday celebrations with family and friends. 3.) Living in the U.S.A. 4.) Hanging out with friends at the pool. 5.) Watching Little Chick's face light up every time she rides.

Thanksgiving Thursday & Soaking it ALL in

"Wake up and soak it ALL in! Today only comes around once." ~Mama Hen

This Thanksgiving Thursday I want to give thanks for the blessing of Little Chick and my mom. The two people I love more than anything! Little Chick and I love heading to the beach for breakfast or for dinner. Why eat at home when we've got two beach chairs in the back of the car and the beautiful beach near by?! Yesterday Little Chick was so excited to get a new fish. She had fun putting everything together for her new friend. My Little Rider continues to fuel her passion horseback riding each week. There is so much to be thankful for today and always.

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) The beautiful beach being close by. 3.) Horses! 4.)  Fish 5.) Magnificent concerts at Carnegie Hall.

Little Chick in the Big Apple

"We have one beautiful life bestowed upon us - I intend to live it to the fullest!" ~Mama Hen

Little Chick and I have spent the past two days in NYC having a beautiful time! On Sunday we were so excited to attend an incredible concert at Carnegie Hall. It was beyond magnificent and Little Chick and I left feeling inspired. We did not have time yesterday to explore the city like we like to do, so we decided spur of the moment to catch a train and head back today for a lovely ladies brunch and some city fun. Little Chick said, "The first thing we have to do after we eat is light a candle for Grandaddy and for Whiskers at St. Patrick's Cathedral." This is our tradition each time we head to the Big Apple. I thought it was beautiful that she wanted to do this before anything else. That included holding off on the American Girl Store until candles were lit. It was an absolutely gorgeous day with my beautiful Little Chick.

Thanksgiving Thursday - Simple Gifts

"As the years go by we begin to realize what fills us most are the every day moments we share with the ones we love. The simple gifts are the greatest blessings." ~Mama Hen

Summer has arrived and Little Chick and I have been enjoying every moment with family, friends and all the fantastic gifts God has bestowed upon us. The beach has been our number one destination and now the pools have been added to our list of great fun. Little Chick has been sketching birds in her sketch book and each day we have been sitting outside watching our bird feeder as a variety of birds come to enjoy a meal or two throughout the day. It is the simple things that bring the most pleasure and lasting memory. 

Thanksgiving Thursday: 1.) Little Chick and my family. 2.) Cherished moments with family and friends at the beach. 3.) Town pools that bring such refreshment and fun in the summer. 4.) A great book. 5.) Time spent with my mom.

Happy Father's Day

"No matter how long its been since our dear ones have passed, their presence and love live on in our hearts and daily lives as if no time has passed at all." ~Mama Hen

It is another Father's Day and my Dad is not here to celebrate it with Little Chick and I. We visited him today at his grave and told him how much we love and miss him. I truly wish that he could have been here to enjoy my daughter and teach her, as he taught me. Little Chick looks like my Dad and I just know that is a blessing that was sent from Heaven above to remind me that he lives on in our family. There is not a day that he is not thought of. It has been almost twenty years and I feel like he just passed. May he know just how much we love and miss him. Happy Father's Day Daddy!

 We love you Daddy!