Five Pieces Of The Puzzle

"Judge not, before you judge yourself."

~Bob Marley

Have you ever met one of those people who always have something to say about someone else, without even knowing what the person might be thinking or going through? Someone who makes judgments without truly knowing the whole picture? They feel the need to say something to you and talk about you with others, yet they only know five pieces of the hundred-piece puzzle? I recently encountered someone who passed judgment on me and although they knew me all of my life, they never really knew me. They could not understand why I have been avoiding them and keeping contact together light. I think if we wanted to we could pass judgment and give our “opinion” to others, but I truly believe that no one on this earth has that right, because they have not walked in the shoes of that other person. When I finally spoke up for myself and explained why I had avoided this person the last few years, they dismissed the reason. Have you ever met someone who likes to dish it out, but not take responsibility when the dish is handed back?

Come and join me for Thanksgiving Thursday tomorrow! Grab the Thanksgiving Thursday button in the left sidebar, write five things you are thankful for, and let me know so I can add your link!

Midnight Snack

"Turn everything you can into a cherished moment."

The past week Little Chick has been waking up a couple of nights. She used to cry for me when she would wake up, but I told her that I always know when she is up because of the monitor and that all she had to do is call me. So now when she wakes up I can hear her call in a sing song voice, "Mommmmmyyyyy! Where are yoooouu?" I always respond singing, "I'mmm commming!" I love walking in to get her and seeing how cute she looks with her sleepy eyes holding out her arms saying, "Mommy, pick me up." I scoop her up and bring her down for a "midnight snack". Because she does not wake up that often, I think it is something rather soothing and fun to do. It is another future cherished memory for her, as well as for me. We always call my mom and Little Chick tells her about her and Pooh having a snack at night. Of course Pooh Bear is always included (and an extra cup of milk for him too).

Cherished Moments Monday

"Cherish each moment every day,

they will become your cherished memories tomorrow."

After my Dad passed away I was spiraling down into a deep hole of endless tears. It was such a difficult time for me. There were two things that pulled me out of this hole - finishing my Masters (I only had the second half of my Student Teaching left and one course) and raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society which included participating in a full marathon. The training for this race helped me tremendously. My father was such a determined inspirational man! He always finished what he started. I wanted him to see me training hard for this marathon and accomplishing something I had never done before. Each day I knew I had to get out of bed (as difficult as it was because I missed him so much) and train. As I ran and tired out I would think of him and how he always pushed through things. I felt him with me with each step I took. The marathon itself was quite an experience! I had hurt my left knee by the 11th mile and the doctor (on a moped) told me I should stop at the half marathon mark. I thanked him and told him I would be finishing the full marathon. My right knee also gave out by the 18th mile, but I pushed on as my father would. I know he was running by my side the entire time! I did finish the entire 26.2 mile marathon and it is one of the most fantastic cherished moments in my life!

Bermuda 1999

Smile Sunday

"Smile at everyone you encounter,

it may be the only kind gesture they see all day."

Sometimes spreading smiles means setting ones own feelings aside in order to make someone else happy! After our big day in New York City on Friday I thought that Little Chick and I should have a quiet day on Saturday. We went out for breakfast and then headed home. After being home for a short while we decided to go to the aquarium. We have a membership, it was drizzling outside and we wanted to see the Meerkats. So off we went. Little Chick loved the Meerkats! When we left we were both quite pooped out! While on the highway I saw cars slowing down into traffic so I got off an earlier exit. We waited about five times at the light at the end of the exit because there was a fair going on across the street. Little Chick saw this and of course asked if we could go! I was so exhausted, but wanted to see my daughter smile! After all, we love fairs! So we went and she was so excited to go on the roller coaster (for little ones) for the first time! We had such a fun time!

As Little Chick went to sleep last night, she turned to me and said, "Mommy, you are such a good mommy and I love you so much! I am proud of you mommy!" Oh my goodness, this made me so happy I started to cry. She passed on the biggest smile to me! Happy Smile Sunday!

More people spreading Smiles: Taking it all In, A Practical Mom & Jess Mise Placed

Thank you so much to Amy at Artistically Amy for giving me this fantastic award! I really appreciate it! She is a very talented and creative blogger!

I pass this award on to: Taking it all In, At Last...We Are Family, The Thoughts and Travels of Rachel Cotterill, Jinnia Low. Com, Korean American Mommy, Mommyhood Memos, Newlywed Adventures, Wilborn-White News, Our Happy Home, and Practical Mom.

You deserve it ladies! There are so many fantastic bloggers I see daily that deserve this award! I appreciate all of the wonderful women bloggers that make me smile, laugh, think and enjoy blogging every day!

Come and join me in Cherished Moments Monday tomorrow! Just grab my Cherished Moments Monday button in my left sidebar and write about a cherished moment. Let me know so I can add your link!

Little Chick in the Big Apple

"Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love,

the things you are, the things you never want to lose."

Today was another fantastic summer vacation adventure for Little Chick and I! We woke up and I decided that she needed a surprise. We love, love, love surprises! So, while we were eating breakfast I told her I had a surprise for her. She squealed with excitement! We got ready and headed off in the car. Little Chick kept asking me what the surprise was, but I explained that it wouldn't be a surprise if I told her. Then we pulled into the parking lot of the train station and Little Chick screamed, "Mommy, we are going on the train!" She had such an amazing smile on her face! It was beautiful! We had so much fun! Little Chick got to sit in the conductor's seat and toot the horn on the train, we had a ladies luncheon, rode in a yellow taxi (yippee), visited Rockefeller Center, St. Patricks Cathedral and the American Doll store. What a day!

When we were at St. Patricks Cathedral, I told my daughter that we were in God's house. She opened her eyes wide and said, "This is God's house? Where is He?" I told her that He is everywhere and that people come to visit Him to say thank you. As we sat for a moment in the pew I then said lets go and she replied, "Not yet mommy." I asked her why and she said, "I am waiting for God. He is so cute!" I just looked at her and the pure innocence of her entire being and sent a prayer up to God to say thank you. We then walked over and lit a candle for my Dad. It was such a nice day! A day to remember always!

Come and join me for Smile Sunday tomorrow. Just grab my Smile Sunday button in the left sidebar and write about something that makes you smile. Let me know so I can add your link.

Perspective

"Is the glass half empty, half full, or twice as big as it needs to be?"

Life really is all about how you look at it! Little Chick is going to be four years old in a couple of weeks and again I have been having pangs of wanting to have a brother or sister for her. I went through many miscarriages and fertility "stuff" which can be quite an emotional road! It took years for me to be blessed with my beautiful daughter. My sister also went through five miscarriages and is longing for another child. However, although these are healthy and normal emotions as a woman turning 40 soon, who wants so much for Little Chick to have a sibling to go through life with, I have to put things into perspective.

I was reading my good bloggy friend's post (Love Remembered) a couple of days ago about her sister's friend having lost her baby only 32 hours after it had been born. It triggered feelings I had about my own losses, as well as reminded me of a good friend of mine who had lost her baby at 5 and a half months and still had to give birth knowing the child had not made it. She was traumatized and still has not been able to get pregnant.

Once again, it takes me back to perspective. I know it is OK for me to want a sibling for Little Chick. I want so much for her to have a partner in life as I do with my sister. However, this blessing of having my daughter is my greatest gift and I am filled with such endless love and happiness. When I think of my friend and all the women out there who are struggling I have to take a long hard look perspectively and truly give thanks for my abundant blessings.

Thanksgiving Thursday

"A single grateful thought toward heaven

is the most complete prayer."
~Gotthold Lessing

It is Thanksgiving Thursday and I have many things to be grateful for! Yesterday we went back to Six Flags. With the summer vacation I have had so much fun with Little Chick every day. She loves her preschool and I enjoy the fact that I can get things done around the house (like cleaning the bathrooms, kitchen, floors, etc.) when she is at school during the school year, but having all of this time together like when she was younger is really rewarding. I know there will be a time that she is in school full days and many activities and sports will be occupying her afternoons. I am just taking this time, right here and now, to simply enjoy our mommy-daughter moments!

Here are the five things I am thankful for:

1.) Little Chick and my family.

2.) Summer rain during humid and hot 95 degree weather.
3.) Having learned to be compassionate and considerate towards others.
4.) Having been taught how important education is and to also have been given a thirst for knowledge.
5.) Memberships to the zoo, aqauarium and passes to Six Flags. Thankful for having been able to pay for these extras, as well as to be able to enjoy so many fun things with Little Chick.

More people celebrating Thanksgiving Thursday: At Last...We Are Family, Jinnia Low.Com, A Practical Mom, Taking It All In, Artistically Amy,

Thank you beautiful bloggers for my Awards!

There are so many fantastic bloggers that deserve a huge thank you for honoring me with some pretty amazing awards (Versatile Blogger, Sunshine Award, Beautiful Blogger and Cherry on Top Award) the past few days! I appreciate all of you and your super blogs! THANK YOU! Please go and visit these inspiring bloggers: TV's Take, Blue Cotton Memory, Judy's Handmade Creations, Discovering the Me in Mommy, Organic Parenthood, and Buzzing the Day Away.