What Brightens My Day

There are many many things that make my day, and I don't have pictures obviously of all of them, but I thought I'd highlight a few in today's post, and then down the road, do another post on What Brightens My Day. Here are some shots I have of what does brighten my day:


Seeing my teenage daughter still being playful with our pooch, brings a huge smile to my face, and makes me giggle. I loved capturing these two pictures.

My blog is called Contemplating Beauty for a reason. I have stressed over the title of this blog a lot, but it always comes back to the title actually being true. Since I can remember, I have always looked for the good in life. The good in others (when you would maybe think there is no good to see). I've always appreciated the smallest things, and then I'd freak out over things like cows and horses on road trips. I'd find myself in museums for hours, when others that I had been with left and cruised on through--there I'd still be. Contemplating. 
I started to become self conscience about it, so I asked my Mom if I have always been this way? She insured me that yes, even when I was a toddler, she picked up on the fact that I loved and appreciated every little thing. She said I'd "freak out" at things that no one else would even notice.


One thing to know about me is that I love donuts.
love them. I am so happy that donuts shops are making a come back, because I will try to hit every single one.
I don't eat them often; I'd like to have one once a month, but I eat them
less than that because it's a habit I can't get into regularly.
My favorite? Classic cake donut with chocolate icing!

Having the house filled with teenagers has become my number one past time. I absolutely adore it. It's what I've come to know and love. I cherish and love on every single kid that comes through our front door. It has sort of become like a calling of mine. Love your neighbor has become "love the teenagers" for me, and it's the greatest, most surprising, unexpected, challenging, yet beautiful fun gift I could have ever imagined. I'm so thankful.




No surprise here for anyone that knows me well, I am head over heels for birds.
They easily brighten any day of mine. And let me tell ya, some of my days get pretty long. These little guys seem to know just when to fly by too. What a gift from God.
(notice there are about three birds in the branches in this last picture. This is just half the picture; total there were about seven:)

Getting unexpected mail has got to be one of the most exciting things! Seeing it in the mailbox, holding it and opening it turns in to such a sweet moment. My girlfriend told me that when she gets snailmail, she will hold onto it for hours. 
She says she wants to cherish it, and appreciate it and hold it in her hands and carry it around with her so she can appreciate it. She'll have a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, and hold onto her mail. Isn't that sweet? I now do the same thing. Once you get an unexpected piece of mail, you don't want it to go away.


I love finding this guy when I come around the corner. He's sitting on my desk chair waiting for me. How cute is that?! 
He always makes my day; no matter what he does.




 This girl will make anyone's day. Meet this girl and within five minutes, you'll be in love with her.
Talk with her for ten minutes and she will have stolen your heart. Trust me on this one.
This chair she's in sits empty all day until she gets home from school. And she plops down and tells me of her day:
how classes went,
how lunch was,
her worries,
her excitement,
her stress,
her news. 
It's all shared in that one little chair.
Her smile lights up the room, and her spirit is contagious. She's one of those girls that's just happy to be alive. And she makes being alive look like the greatest thing to be!
She beyond brightens my day, and she beyond brightens any day.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Your doggy is soo cute! and you're so lucky to be that person who appeciate those tiny little things in life. we as as people do not do that too often and that's too bad.

hugs from my corner and thank you for stopping by my blog!
I notice tiny things in life. For me though, it often means that I need to be careful on how many negative things I notice or at least find a balance.

This is cute :)
engineer's wife said…
I love the name of your blog and your lovely home too !!! yes..unexpected mail makes my day too.
Mary said…
what a blessed life. how encouraging to hear someone who appreciates so much in a society that can never GET enough! love your blog, friend! :)
blessings!
xoxo
... said…
Aw love this happy post!! :) What kind of dog do you have?! :)
Natalie said…
Snail mail brightens my day too! Only I tend to rip right into it... I cannot wait. =)
Anonymous said…
you girls brighten my day ALWAYS

-ann
amy o said…
Yay! Yes, I do treasure my snail mail... Though it doesn't come as often, so I have to hold onto it longer and longer.

Great post, Gene!
Darby & Sheri said…
I am a fairly new reader to your blog and I just love your words! I have personally been trying to dig deeper and find the beauty in all things including myself. Keep on writing, I love your appreciation for the beauty in life. Here is where you can find my most recent post about my mission of self awareness www.undergroundvintage.org
jozen said…
love all your photos and your daughter is so beautiful!
memory said…
this is too sweet. yes, your daughter is very beautiful.<3 i love, love, love doughnuts too! especially with the chocolate icing annnd don't forget sprinkles! :D i don't get to have them very often either, so when i do, they are a treat! :)

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