Ups & Downs

Sometimes people tend to think "why does this always happen to me?" when things don't go right or as planned. But in my experience, most people forget about all the good in their lives while the bad is going on. It makes sense, of course. Something negative happens and you think "damn..." and it puts a person in a bad mood. Then they think of negative things and dwell on them instead of making a point to remember and focus on the happy things in life. I think people forget how to be happy sometimes. With all negative media coverage from politics to sports to celebrity gossip to local news, a lot of times it feels like there is nothing to be happy about. It's important to make your own happiness though. Helping others gives a wonderful feeling of fulfillment and gratitude for the things you have. Spending time outside enjoying mother nature and fresh air can make you happy. Reading a book or playing with your (or a friend/family members) child(ren). Giving someone a meaningful hug or having a conversation with a good friend. Happiness is about finding the joy in all the little things that make life complete... and not forgetting about them. Anyone can feel sorry for themselves when times are tough, and it takes courage to pick yourself up when you are feeling down, but it's amazing how good it feels to be positive.


My weekend recap: After a late start on Friday morning, we made it upstate to visit with my best friend. We took advantage of the nice and relatively warm weather and decided to take the kids apple picking that afternoon instead of Saturday. It was loads of fun, minus all the mosquitos from the recent rainfall and subsequent stagnant water. I think we would have stayed longer had it been less buggy. Still, we left with 5 pecks of apples, 3 mums, 2 fresh cider jugs and 1 jar of apple butter. The flowers, cider and apple butter were for BFF, as well as 2 of the pecks of apples.

Then we went back to her place (after getting lost by the Shawangunk Mountains), got changed and brought 4 of the 5 kids to her mother-in-laws. Then the two of us plus my tuckered little boy went to the welcome reception for alumni weekend at my college. The campus looks great and I take huge pride in the new science hall. I alo found out that the science department has gotten enormous since I left, with science being one of the top 5 majors at the school. Woop woop. I am such a nerd. Anyway, my mentor and former advisor showed us around and we caught up and reminisced a bit. He is great with kids and seemed to adore The Bean. We left, grabbed the kids, who apparently had all already passed out, and headed back to her place. Saturday morning we all got up btwn 6am and 8am. My BFF's husband made breakfast, everyone ate, their oldest went to religious education and I took The Bean and Little Miss along with my god-daughter over to the college for a science experiment thing for the kids. Then the rest of them met up with us at a puppet show and we headed to a bbq. There was face painting, sand art, tie-dye puzzles and a photo booth. They all had a great time and I got to catch up with a couple more professors. Then we left to run a few errands, including to the sueprmarket to grab ingredients for maple cheesecake. We made two. We tried the first one and, of course, it was super yummy. I also had picked up a magazine for idea for "food gifts" for this holiday season. So I am going to try some of them with any luck.

While we were away my future MIL was finally released from the hospital. She is happy to be home and I am glad she is feeling better and more comfortable. She is taking this week off to recouperate and rest. I was happy to hear it because she likes to push herself too hard. And before we left, I washed the kids clothes that I've been making. I wanted to see what would happen if someone threw them in the wash (even though they should be handwashed). The three things that I thought would fall off, did. So I wasn't surprised. And I was only mildly disappointed. Now I have to figure out how to get these appliques to stay on. But that is why I put them in the machine to begin with; to see how they would hold up and fix any problems. My future MIL has really been a positive push for me with it. She keeps me motivated and gives me new ideas. She wants me to pull out her sewing machine and really get some things done. I think she knows her art makes her happy and that if I can craft, it would make me happy, too.

I am hoping to see my girlfriend this week and maybe we can get to the fabric store I've been practically dreaming about. I am really looking forward to using fabric to wrap some holiday presents. How cute would that be?! Maybe embroider the gift tags.

Thanks for reading.
Peace & Love,
Emily