I've been thinking of writing down all of the things that I love, things that make me smile every day, things I am thankful for. I tend to talk about the negatives in my life more than the positives, and I'm trying to change that. Here goes:
I love Lilli's tiny voice. I love the way she says "Kai-Lan," one of her newest words. She doesn't watch much TV, but lately she has been pointing to the TV and saying this. (Kai-Lan is a Chinese cartoon character on Nickelodeon.) I love the way she says "I love you," which comes out more like "wub woo." We waited so long to hear her say that! I absolutely love the way she loves her bed. She curls up into a little ball, clutching her baby and her blankie, puts her thumb in her mouth and smiles when it's time to go night-night. I love the way she takes off running, puts her arms straight up in the air and says, "Running!"
I love the Mongolian spots on her little bum. I love her rosebud mouth, her long fingers, her black eyes, her long, long eyelashes. I love the way her nose wrinkles up when she smiles. I love how she wraps her little hand around my pinkie finger when we walk together. I love her silky soft black hair, even though she won't let me fix it. I love her inquisitive nature, her sweet spirit and her zest for life.
I love my husband for loving our baby so much. I don't think either of us knew we could possibly love a child THIS much. I love that he is such a fun and playful dad. He carries her around like a plane, on his shoulders, and gives "pony" rides. He makes her laugh louder and harder than anyone else with his silly games and faces. He builds things for her, like a cardboard box playhouse that could probably fit a couch inside, complete with a door, windows, a light inside, and shingles drawn on the roof. **I had to add the pictures of her playhouse, see below.
I love The Home of God's Love, without whom we might never have become a family. I love that Ted and Bev Skiles have worked tirelessly for the last 40 years in Taiwan doing God's work, saving babies from abortion and desertion, giving the gift of a child to hurting couples who cannot have a child on their own.
I love my God, who will never forsake me, who who is so awesome and who has worked such miracles in my life, even when I was too broken and bitter to recognize it.
Other things I love:
A double tall soy white mocha from Starbucks
Fall in Oregon. The rain, the beautiful colors of God's creation, the rain, the start of the holiday season, and did I mention the rain? I love it!
Spending time with my family, who I am fortunate to live so close to
My faithful old mutt Jasper, who was our baby for 6 years before Lilli came along, who is so sweet and gentle with Lilli, who tolerates all of her poking and hair pulling
These things more than make up for the things that I don't love. For example:
Rude, demanding, unreasonable and irrational people. (I work part-time in a doctor's office.)
How much my double tall soy white mocha costs
The migraines I get that take time away from the things I love
Bills
Spiders
The 60mph winds we get in the Columbia Gorge that blow over fences and garbage cans, rattle the windows and knock down small children.
My loved ones who've passed away that won't get to be a part of Lilli's life.
That's the short list.
What do you love and not love? I'd LOVE to hear from you!
Blessings,
Chisms
