"When people show you who they are, believe them" Maya Angelou

I am so thankful for true good friends. They are rare gems and bright lights in our world. I was lucky enough to spend the day today with one of those people. Our friendship is effortless and comfortable. We can go days without talking and pick right back up on where we left off. She is my cheerleader and I am hers. We know how to celebrate together and how to cry together. These genuine friendships are something I thank God for daily.

While we were talking, I thought to myself, I love being in my thirties. I am finally comfortable in my own skin and know who I am. I no longer have the worries of my younger days when I tried to understand the "Mob Mentality" that can exist within human nature and that desire to fit in. I am finally comfortable with the fact that not everyone in this world is going to like me, and I am not going to always like everyone. This took me a very long time to grasp. And in this discussion my sweet friend dropped the quote from Maya Angelou, "When people show you who they are, believe them". I had to giggle a bit. I know I am not always the best judge of character (I know many of you are laughing very hard right now at this one)...I want so desperately to see the good in everyone. But now I can do that without the naive view that everyone does have good intentions. And in life all learned things can come at a price. I had to learn this lesson as many people do, but being on the other side of the lesson....well I am thankful. It is empowering. I now know I really should pay much closer attention to what people show me :)!

While I am a person of many faults, I like who I am. I live a life full of joy and love. I am a blessed lady. I am so thankful for those friends who I can call with tears of frustration, tears of sadness, and in moments of pure excitement. Friends are a very imporatant part of life and when you find those who you connect with so easliy....it really makes this ride a lot more fun. WB thanks friend for a really fantastic day.

Yellow Cars

So last summer, before leaving my parents house...my dad says to our daughter...."Every time you see a yellow car you can remember me. Every time I see a yellow car, I will remember you."
If you have ever had the chance to know our little one...she has a memory on her. She can remember going on a vacation with the Davis branch of the family when she was still in diapers and had a paci! The kid forgets nothing. So to be told that she could remember "Doda" every time she sees a yellow car stuck in her head.
You know when you are little (okay ladies, probably not so much for the guys....) you would dream about your family. The man who would be the King of the Castle and all the little princesses and princeses? One thing I never imagined was all those sweet moments between my parents (the true King and Queen) and my own little girl (the true princess). Today, on our way home from gymnastics...I hear a squeal of delight from the backseat followed by "A YELLOW CAR, A YELLOW CAR, I remember DODA and Grandma Sue". I will never quite look at yellow cars the same. I can still picture my dad and my baby, on the front porch of their house talking about how they would remember each other. Yellow cars. And in a sweet second a tradition that will continue on for a very long time....
It can be so hard being so far from the ones you love so much. It makes me sad that my baby girl doesn't get to see my family and my husband's family more than she does. We make every attempt for her to know these amazing people but it makes me sad that they all miss out on her growing up and she misses out on them in her daily life. I wish I could bottle her excitement from her new puppy, being line leader at school, and reading her first book. It makes me sad knowing I am missing these moments for my sweet nephews Parker and Luke. Madeline is a very blessed little princess to have so many people in this world who love her so much. I pray that she never takes that for granted. I don't think she will though....this kid has an amazing heart. But she will always have her Yellow Car.....

Snow day and Child Like Hearts

So I truly believe children have the key to living a happy life. Everything is so simple and so in the moment. Today in South Texas it snowed. San Antonio shut down...and children of all ages came out to play. We met neighbors today that we have never met before...all over some signs. I had saved some signs from going to the trash at an event and they became the best sleds on the street. We pulled them all out and everyone took turns riding down the street. Pure joy, pure laughter, and pure excitement. I wish we could put moments like these in a nice little bottle for those days when the world seems so dark. We live in a tough time with lots of not so great things going on in the world. But here in San Antonio on Feb. 4, 2011 pure delight was found on a neighborhood street.
If only we could look at every situation with such excitement. Today I GET TO GO TO WORK! Weeeee. Or I cannot wait to clean the house and go to the GROCERY Store! Think of how much happier our lives would be. And the funny thing is, we should feel that way. We are very lucky people to have houses to clean, jobs to go to, and places where we can go and buy food. My challenge to you this week is to look at your world through those child like eyes. Get excited about the normal and be thankful for all the things we have. WEEEEEE I am off to clean my house :)!