Reasons to smile.

I keep getting emails from others saying how much they not only love my photography, but love my writing here on the blog. The funny this is, I feel like it's been forever since I've really written on here. Like, really, wrote, from the heart. And you know why?

Right now, I'm so happy.

Looking back over old blog entries where I really wrote bearing the vulnerabilities of my heart to you, most of them came in times of pain, confusion, frustration, trying to figure out what the heck God was doing in my life at the moment. As my mom always says "Wisdom from the pain."

But right now, it has been such a season of joy, peace and prosperity. Not just prosperity in my finances, but in appreciating the true riches of the everyday million and one reasons we have to smile. Like the way my dog, Rhett, chills on his back in his dog bed while I work, or the way my dad's voice sounds when he calls me up with his usual "Heeeey Sunshine!", or the LOL comments you leave here on my blog or MySpace or Facebook, or the silly forwards about cats that my friend Rachel sends me, or the surprise gifts and cards that come in my mailbox, or appreciating how M&Ms truly do melt in your mouth, or running into my neighbor on the way to the trash and seeing a smile on her face despite the fact that she too is battling cancer and going through chemo.

My mom sent me an email yesterday and told me how her and my dad popped some popcorn and sat down to watch a movie earlier, but before they pressed play, they took a moment to just simply stop and give thanks for all the amazing blessings in their lives. Despite everything my dad is going through and all the down days he has fighting the chemo, they have really begun to cherish the good days he has to simply enjoy each moment and all the little things that make each moment special that we as busy stressed people take for granted.

And despite how busy and stressed I have been lately getting such little sleep and pulling a few all nighters to get some creative projects done as I prep for the "big announcement," I have started a new habit every morning. Every morning when I open my eyes, after Rhett stops jumping up and down so excited that I am finally up, I lift my hands and say outloud:

"This is the day the Lord hath made, I will REJOICE (This is where Rhett starts jumping up and down again) and be glad in it!"

Then I grab my iPhone, read new email, write in my prayer journal, eat a grapefruit and I'm off to start my busy stressful day.....

Whatever you are facing today, I pray you too can find joy in the little moments and truly rejoice on this Friday the Lord has made. And if this picture doesn't make you smile, then I don't know what will:



I adore my dog!!!!!!!!!!!! Is Rhett the cutest or what??? He seriously lays like this on his own, just watching his mommy work.

p.s. Be sure to check the blog on Monday! The countdown to the big announcement begins then..... he he he