Enough

It's a rainy day today. It's making me feel kind of lazy and kind of thoughtful. All I want to do is hang out and scrapbook. My son has the day off school and we are pretty much taking it easy. We have a hectic day tomorrow and the housework is always waiting for me, so I decided a lazy day is just what we need today. I enjoy an occassional rainy, lazy day, don't you???

My "thoughtfulness" was triggered by an Oprah show I saw this week. It was on Wednesday, but I taped it and watched it in bits and pieces. It was a follow up on homes she and others have paid to have built and furnished for Hurricane Katrina and Rita survivors who lost everything. It's always so nice to see things that showcase goodness and kindness of heart. We see so much of the opposite. Anyway, it was heartwarming to say the least.

I don't like to think I'm a material person. Would I like newer clothes? Sure. Would I like a nicer house? Sometimes. Do I wish we had more money? It would be nice. But at the same time, I know how blessed we are and that truly, we have enough. We get by. We have a roof over our heads and food on the table. My children are healthy and happy. We have a loving family and some amazing friends. Who needs more than that? Is it hard to live on one income? Sure. But do we NEED to have more? I don't think so. I feel so blessed that we can make ends meet (even though it's a challenge!) and I get to stay home with my children who continue to grow up before my very eyes.

It saddens me when people feel like they deserve more -- need more -- expect and demand more -- when what they have, could be enough if they would focus on what they have instead of what they don't. I'm not saying we shouldn't all strive to better our lives -- I'm just talking about the focus on material -vs- what's truly important. I think when you become too focused on the "getting", you miss out on enjoying what you have.

I believe it was just my last post when I spoke about the phone call I was dreading. It came either that very day or the day after. My cousin lost her battle with cancer just two weeks ago. Her passing still seems so unreal to me, but it has been a true reality check in my daily life. I still get impatient or overreact to things and get in bad moods. But I feel like I've been trying harder to keep things in perspective. Even little things.

My husband likes to tease me a lot about my age. (He's two years younger.) It always reminds me of my cousin because we were just six weeks apart in age. When we were little, she used to like to hold it over my head that she was older than me. As we got older, I got to tease her about being younger. We had some fun with that. I've never been one to freak out about my birthday, but sometimes I do find it hard to believe I'm in my mid-to-late thirties. Now when I think about my next birthday, I feel like it would be almost disrespectful to my cousin if I freaked out about being another year older. I know how much she wished for another 40 or 50 birthdays so she could watch her kids grow and see their kids.

I'm sure this post seems so disjointed. My underlying message here is -- let's be thankful. Let's realize how blessed we are. Let's realize that it's quite possible, we each have enough to be happy. And certainly, we have more than a lot of other people out there.

I know I said this just recently, but it's never enough -- I am so thankful for each of you -- my wonderful friends. Your kind thoughts and heartfelt notes, especially with my sadness over my cousin has been so appreciated. Thank you so very, very much.

Enjoy the weekend -- enjoy your families!! And be thankful for each day -- each moment -- you are given.