It's the Little Things...

I've tried to pay more attention to the little things in my life and be grateful for them.  I'm finding the benefit of having those memories at the times during my day when things get stressful and I remember the little things.

For example...
* Last night I was tired.  I have found that a lot lately.  I walked into Caroline's room and she was intent on something at her desk.  I said goodnight to her and she jumped out of her skin.  Her eyes were HUGE and she said, "MOM!  I'm working on an early Mother's Day gift.  GET.OUT!  Please."  So I left.  About thirty minutes later, she comes in and says my present is ready.  On her desk she had a note that said, "My early Mother's Day gift to you is my love...and a clean room."  It's the little things.

* Jack knowing that having the left over sandwiches from their dinner was not enough to constitute a real meal for me, set about cooking out.  He and Caroline made hamburgers.  As he handed me my hamburger he said, "I hope you like it....and it's not under cooked."  Looking at the other patties, that might have been true.  But...it's the little things.

*Last night, Jack had his last practice before his Sandy Lake orchestra field trip.  I was there along with Caroline, Dana, Pa, and Grammy.  Right before bed he came in and said, "Mom.  I know my choice of instrument didn't go with what you and everyone else expected.  But, thanks for supporting me.  I appreciate it."  It's the little things.

* Caroline came rushing in last night and exclaimed, "It's time for the Lightning Bug walks!  They're back!!!" Which took us on a walk around the neighborhood looking for lightning bugs, and the kids trying to catch them.  This is something the kids and I did when Jason was in the hospital during the summers.  It helped them escape for a bit. As we walked I thought about how Jack chased firefly after firefly to try and catch one for his four year old sister, so she could laugh out loud and exclaim, "Jackie look!  It's bottom glows! "  He'd let the one go that he had and then try to catch another one.  She'd exclaim the same thing and the process continued.   Another year, another round of Lightning Bug walks.  It's the little things.

*Memory bombs (as Kevin calls them) happen at the oddest times.  My students are reading a story about the Dust Bowl and the Public Works Administration.  They are doing a short research project on the Top Ten PWA projects and we've learned a lot.  I pulled up on United Streaming videos of the Discovery Channel's clips of the Great Depression and Roosevelt's New Deal.  In one of the videos today, they played the song, "You are My Sunshine" in the background.  It was the first time I've been able to hear that song and not cry.  Jason used to sing it to the kids when he'd rock them at night, and I sang it to him as he went to Heaven.  The memory was sweet, and reminded me of the wonderful family I have.  It's the little things.

Caroline happened on an old episode of Friends.  I heard Joey say, "How YOU doin'?"  I thought of Kevin because normally when he's in a funny mood, he'll ask me that.  It's funny to hear an eastern Washingtonian say that.  It's the little things.

So I encourage everyone to make a list of the little things that happen in your life that bring you joy.  They come in handy when life is stressful or sad.