spreading light

Surround yourself with positive people – positive energy is infectious. When we surround ourselves with positive people their energy transfers to us as well – remember when a candle lights another candle it doesn’t lose its flame, it makes the room brighter.


-- Priya Sher via The Daily Love

what's making me happy

- thoughtful strangers who hold the door.

- the first peek of sunshine after 36 hours of gray and rain.

- sully's hugs. and kisses. and songs. and giggles. and brown eyes.

- homemade chicken salad and mom's spaghetti and meatballs, sitting in my refrigerator.

- the neighborhood mommies that are now my friends.

- witnessing the adoration that my parents feel for my son.

- blooming hydrangeas and fresh herbs that i'll be planting this weekend.

- giving life to dreams. with my husband.

- four friends who are "expecting". two for the first time.

- shopping for easter basket goodies.

- a sister i can laugh with even when the "big c" is staring us down.

- mint and eucalyptus hand soap.

- my stepson getting his second visit from the tooth-fairy.

- salty charleston air.

latest soulshine moment...

sunday morning.  early spring sun pouring in through the multitude of windows in the kitchen/breakfast area.  sliding door open, allowing the cool morning breeze to waft through.  buttery-warm waffles out of the oven.  agave nectar to drizzle on top of them...

and sully, randomly belting out his own version of the "abc's".  a solo first!

two good moments today

• School started back in Summerville today.  I was stopped in traffic in front of our neighborhood elementary school watching all of the adorable and eager kids walking across the parking lot towards their first day.  I spotted a dad, in his army fatigues, carrying a baby in one arm and a video camera in the other.  He was video taping his daughter, i'm assuming a first grader, in her cute little dress and blonde hair walking into her first day of school.  It was such a precious moment and true representation of parenthood - especially for this moment our country's history.  I had to wonder if dad had recently returned from overseas or maybe he was about to leave.  You never know.  And regardless, I had to choke back the tears. 

• On my lunch break, I was driving through the College of Charleston campus and saw a young boy and girl (18/19ish).  They were standing behind a car, maybe coming or maybe going, but she dropped her bag and leaped into his arms.  He scooped her off the ground and they must have hugged like that for a good thirty seconds. Normally, I would have had thoughts like "gag me".  But for some reason today I embraced witnessing that sweet moment between two young people in love.  It made me a little jealous that John and I don't hug like that anymore.  Jealous enough that I might just try it tonight! 

my latest soulshine moment...

sully sprouted his first tooth yesterday. never thought i would be so excited about a little pearly-white.

time for a facelift

new mommy, new diamond ring... new blog look.

enjoy!

"There shall be eternal sunshine in the grateful heart." - Celia Thaxter

In the midst of frustration at work today, I decided to step back and take a breath. Several breaths. Deep breath in... and out... ahhhhhh!

I clicked the mouse, at my right, onto "blogspot" and snuck away from work into my own little cyberworld and continued to breath my cares away. But somewhere in the midst of my breathing, I got sidetracked... stuck... on a word.

Soulshine!

It's in the title of my blog, the Allman Brothers wrote a song about it, but what exactly is soulshine? As I muttled through my free-flow of thoughts, I decided there was no better cure to my anxiety than to think about what soulshine means. So here goes!



To me, Soulshine is......


*Knowing that I've made someone else smile

*The oh-so tiny baby that peacefully sleeps in my belly

*The first hug from John when he comes home from work

*Laughing

*Listening to great music in the car, with all the windows down (even more fabulous on those perfect Spring days)

*Coming home to my waggly tailed, toy in tow, pup, who is always happy to see me

*The smell of freshly bloomed lilies

*Delighting in the company of my lady-friends at Charleston's newest cookie bakery

*Family vacations

*The first snuggle into my sateen sheets before I go to sleep at night

*Unexpected surprises

*Witnessing the vast beauty that God has bestowed upon this earth

*The swings at Waterfront Park

*Knowing that I am strong enough to resist temptation

*Fireworks

*Sweet, encouraging emails from my Dad

*New car smell

*That empowered feeling I get right after a good, long workout

*Blowing out the candles on your birthday cake while your loved ones attempt to serenade you

*A change of scenery - whether big or small - new colors, new sounds, new smells (it's good for the soul)

*LIFE! Being here, living (really living) everyday, and showing God that he did not put this body & soul here to waste