Grateful for Beauty

I have been reading "grateful posts" by some of the lovely bloggers out there.  It is so nice to find a community that supports and nourishes the souls of people that, generally they don't even know.

It has inspired me to write my own grateful post, and link it up with Kidspot.  It is always good to share the love.

I am grateful for beauty, the beauty that is all around me.  I see it when I walk outside onto our deck 

and overlook our tree shaded, big beautiful green, grassy backyard.

I see it in the excitement M2 has when we finally get to make cupcakes together (I had been promising her all week....)

I feel it in the awesome cuddle I got this morning - and yes I mean "just" a cuddle.

I see it in the clean clothes that are waiting for me to fold them up - especially after reading some of the stories from the "kids of the flood".  Those kids are amazing.  I shed a tear or two whilst I was reading that article, but, wow, how resilient are they.

My point is, I am grateful for beauty.  It is everywhere.  We are soooo lucky to live in this country.  Forget your "first world problems.  If your kids are fed tonight, and clean and you can give them a kiss and cuddle at they hop into their own bed then that to me is beauty.  

Today I am grateful for beauty.  Beauty is EVERYWHERE.

Balloons and Reflection

Today I am feeling a bit reflective.  Seems some people I know are feeling this way too.  Looking back on their year and how they found some amazing strength and have come out the other side.

Great for them.  I am happy they have come out the other side.

Everyone deserves their piece of happiness.

I have done this too, but can't help think this other person's triumph was, (only a little tiny bit, but still), at my expense. It was because of her that my year too was turned upside down.  It was because of her and her "group" that I (and some of the people I am Friends with) were labelled and considered toxic.  Not Fair. You should never be punished for showing care and compassion. 

Selfish I know of me to think like this, but.. that's how I feel, and it's my blog, so I will write what I want to!
 A dear friend of mine has decided that this year she is going to be happy and that the rest will just have to sort itself out.
I love this. 
This is what I am going to try and do.

So what I am going to do, rather then dwell on this, is to have my little rant (this is it..), put it in a balloon (again) and let it go (again).

I made a pledge to myslef this year to define and stick to my core values.  Things that I think are important.  I listed living, loving, learning, honesty and courageous.  So to be true to myself and these values, I can't click "like" on that FB comment.  But that is ok.  This is who I am.

I am going be happy, put my face to the sunshine and smile.