Thankful for what I have

The soft touch of your palm in mine,
your breath against my neck, as you lie on my shoulder,
the lilting laughter as you ride on my back,
your not so tiny anymore feet curled around my waist,
the brisk beat of your gentle heart,
your warm embrace as you get off the bus and into my arms,
the peek-a-boos and the surprised gestures,
the crack of the baseball bat, and the tilt of your visor on my clap
the sheepish embarrassed smile when you wear the pretty dress that you adore,
the unfailing may I have candy please every time we go shopping,
the squirming and squishing every time I tickle your belly,
the I'm sorry look every time you spill that drink,
the soft-humming of your favorite song with your earplugs on,
the mess of your Lego-toys, and the creative masterpieces of your imagination,
the stick-figures in your comic books and their antics as they make you laugh,
the bright stories of your best friends,
your solemn impish look when you're upset,
the ear-to-ear smile on the way to the theater,
your plan to doze all the way through mass,
the fear on your face, when I'm yelling at you for the extended screen hours,
the high-pitched sharing of your report card scores, and your teachers' compliments,
the twist of your head to catch my glimpse, as you perform on stage,
and thousands more of adorable every day moments, 
they're all mine .. oh they're still all mine!!

I couldn't ask for more, no not a thing more.
I have all that matters in my life, and that is all that I want, all that I need. 


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Written 12.13.13.

Newtown, my heart goes out to you.
I share your sorrow, as I hold each day forward as a precious gift not to be wasted.

My attempt at painting

I'm not too displeased with the results.

World's most beautiful scene

This is not a story. 
 
Due to pressing needs, I was away in India for about an year plus with my kids, us having to be away from my husband  who had to stay back in the US in the meantime. After our stint there we were traveling back via the Europe. It was a clear bright day and the views over the various landscapes throughout the journey were amazing. Especially Lake Geneva was breathtaking. My kids were imagining all kinds of cloud shapes and seemed to be having fun.  Finally we got to the US. My husband of course was right there to receive us. The kids were very tired. We got home to CT, and on the way back saw some snow on the ground though it was April already. Again a beautiful drive as we drove back home and the kids were very excited to see snow again.

The next morning at breakfast, I asked my kids casually, 'What's the best part of the journey that you liked the most, what's the best thing that you saw?'. 

My son's answer blew me away. The then 8 yr old taught me something that day. His eyes shining despite the jetlag, he said "The most beautiful thing I saw was Daddy's face"