Day 9: Today I smile because...

09/09/12

Day 9: Today I smile because...... All the family members that live in NC joined together for dinner at the rehabilitation center where my brother in law is recuperating from his "Pons" Stroke.

About 35 family members, 3 generations worth  gathered for dinner to celebrate and rejoice with my brother-in-law Tom. He is making a rapid recovery. Though he has a way to go, he has come remarkably far considering the area of the brain in which the stroke occurred. With how fast life happens now days, it makes it hard to get together for big family dinners, or functions unless it is the holidays or a special occasion.

Today not only did we  laugh and have a great time as we usually do when we get together, it was a time of reflection, of rejoicing and thankfulness. Our family has much to be grateful for. There is a lot to be said for the power a faith and prayer. For it is with those two things that we were all able to smile today.

What made you smile today???

God Bless,

Kimmie <3

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:7

Day 8: Today I smile because...

09/08/12
 Today I smile because.... I got to see my granddaughter Kaya today. She is 2 1/2 and  starting to talk in full converstions. She was telling me how she got to go out on a boat yesterday. Though I had to patch together what she was telling me picking up about every 3rd word, she talked about it with total enjoyment.
my favorite time with my kids was when they were the age my granddaughter is. 
Their little personalities are blossoming, they are learning to talk, to show their independence. I just love this age. My granddaughter is very very animated, and the polar opposite of how her mother, my daughter Kady was at that age. Kady was very relaxed & easy going, mild tempered, quiet, and could sit and entertain herself. My granddaughter Kaya is very tenacious, has a bit of temper(she is extremely impatient), though she can entertain herself, she really prefers an audience. She is really a bit of a performer. She is smart as whip to boot. Though her mom was a quick learner, my granddaughter doesn't miss a beat.
I love being a grandma, (she calls me MiMi) I get all the joy of having a little one without all the work. It's awesome. Kaya makes me smile every time I see her.

What made you SMILE today???

God Bless,
Kimmie <3

Playing Shy

Slowing showing herself

The Drama Queen

You Can't See Me!!!

Thinking on it.....

Maybe I will look at the camera...

TA-DA... Look at ME......

Day 7: Today I smile because.....

09/07
Day 7: Today I smile because..... I got to watch my daughter perform her Irish Dancing with some of the dancers from her dance school at St. Ann's Catholic Church International Festival in Rock Hill, SC. She did a phenominal job, as did all the dancers. They performed in front of about 200 people. 
The shows are always fun because it allows us as parents to get to watch other dancers perform that we don't always get a chance to see dance.
The only downfall was the terrible heat and humidity. It makes it a bit rough for the dancers. They all did an amazing job and the crowd just loved them.

Our dog Bruiser even had a SMILE today.

 So that's what made me smile today, what made you smile???

Day 6: Today I smile because....

09/06/12
Today I smile because... I learned how to make beautiful "Affirmation Tiles" I learned that we are not alone in feeling the bite of the green-eyed monster from time to time. I got a blog post from jenniebellie.com today, and Jenniebellie was talking about being filled with negativity and finding a way to squash it. This was accomplished by crafting beautiful affirmation tiles and making a board in which to put the tiles. It is a way to reverse the negativity one might be feeling an turn it into a positive. Check out her blog post @ http://jennibelliestudio.blogspot.com/2012/09/negativity-flipping-affirmation-tile.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+JennibellieStudio+%28Jennibellie+Studio%29.

So what made you smile today??? 

God Bless,
Kimmie <3

Day 5: Today I smile because.....

09/05/12

Day 5: Today I smile because.... of a new journaling project I am working on.

 I follow a blog call "Lil Blue Boo". The author of this blog is Talented, Beautiful, Courageous, Strong and INSPIRING. She is currently doing "The Lil Journal Project" Each day she shares a prompt, and then tells her readers what the prompt inspires for her. Her followers are Journaling right alongside her.

I have been studying, reading, researching all about Art Journaling, techniques, making handmade journals, and the whole of what Art Journaling is. I have tried to keep a hand written journal it seems my whole life. Trying to spill my thought and feelings onto paper. I am TERRIBLE at it. Then about 2 months ago I discovered Art Journaling. It lit a fire in me I hadn't felt in a long time. My only obstacle to keeping an art journal.... I am not very artistic. I am creative, I love crafting, but I can not draw, paint, or make a stick figure.

 Enter a personal challenge... I need to learn to draw, to become artistic. BAHAHAHAHA.... me artistic, yeah right. Well I have been keeping a journal of sorts for the last 2 months, it is full of notes, ideas, technique's, examples, artist supplies, etc. I have discovered and begun following some really amazing blogs of some very talented artists. I have also been building a ready supply of paints, glues, papers, stamps, inks, markers, pencils, well you get the idea. I have even been collecting a steady supply of recycled material in which to create the ideas swimming in my head. 

To jump start my new journey and kind of pressure myself so I don't get so frustrated and throw in the towel, I joined "The Sketchbook Challenge 2013" @ http://www.arthousecoop.com I had to pay to participate, I even paid the extra to have my sketchbook digitized. Please check it out. It really is a neat project. The idea that my sketchbook will become part of something so much bigger than me intrigued me. I have to admit, I am intimidated. Most of the participants are amazing, gifted artists. I have a few pages done which I will post pics of in the next week or so.

I really encourage you all to check out Ashley @ http://www.lilblueboo.com/2012/09/the-lil-journal-project-day-1.html . Besides this cool journaling project, she has a some great content. She also shares her story on her blog about her courageous battle with Cancer. 

So today I smile because I am enjoying my new Journaling project. What made you smile today???

God Bless,
Kimmie <3

Day 4: Today I smile because...

09/04/12
Day 4: Today I smile because..... I got to spend some quality time with my daughter Bridget, a.k.a. Gidget in the car going back and forth to dance class not once but twice today. Tuesday's she has 2 dance classes, one in the AM, which is dedicated to homeschool students, and then her regular dance class in the evening.
The dance studio is 35 miles from my house, so we got to really spend quality time talking and laughing. I relish these moments because the "CAR Conversations" are on unlimited topics, and "What is said in the car, stays in the car". 
Although tonights trip was greeted with a torrential downpour. You could not see the cars 3 feet in front of you. It was a kinda scary. With God's watchful eye, we arrived there safely. 
What made you smile today????
God Bless,
Kimmie <3

Day 3: Today I smile because....

09/03/12

Day 3: Today I smile because....... I got to sleep in like a teenager. I slept until 2 in the afternoon, BLISSFUL uniterrupted sleep. It was AWESOME. Plus thanks to the holiday I got my hubby home for 4 straight days. That is the first time in over a year that we got to spend that many consecutive days in a row together. What made you smile today???

On a different note, as I had shared with you guys a few weeks ago in regards to my brother-in-law having a near fatal stroke, I'd like to update you all on his remarkable recovery.   

He went to the rehab center about a week ago and is bouncing back by leaps and bounds. He is shocking his doctors, his nurses and his therapists at his tenacity and his very quick miraculous recovery. His swallowing abilities are slow to recover, but he is able to eat applesauce now. His sense of humor has not waned since day 1, he is always cracking jokes.

This coming weekend after a family mass, we are all going to the rehab center to have a family meal. There are approximately 50 immediate family members living in NC.(We are all originally from the central NY area) That is my hubbby's siblings, their spouses, and nieces and nephews. It should be a good time.

My hubby is from a very large tight knit Irish family. He is one of 12 children and 87 grankids on his dad's side. In my childrens generation there are 250 great-grandkids. Every 5 years there is a family reunion consisting of around 500 family members who convene on the family farm for 3 days and 2 nights of pure fun. I always said I'd love to write a book. I think if I knew how to write a book I most definitely would. (If anyone has any tips on how to write a book, I'm all ears) 

The stories surrounding my hubby's family are heart-warming and hilarious. Come reunion time anyone who knows the family wants to be an honorary member just to attend the reunions. That is for another blog post. 

I hope you all enjoyed your day and found a reason to smile. Until tomorrow.....

God Bless,

Kimmie <3