One to Five

This post is simple.

5 Nights

my "4" sisters

4 Families

3 Campfires

2 Noise Complaints

1 House

Numerous Blessings

Thank you God for a week in Ely full of memories, laughter, fresh air, family, and friends

Happy Living, 

~M

F*R*I*E*N*D*S

During some of the summers of our childhood we had an amazing nanny named Monica. She filled our summers with fun and fit right in with me and my two siblings.

She introduced us to many things, one of them being the TV show FRIENDS,  I was in high school at the time, and had seen various episodes here or there, but had never gotten into the series as a whole... little did I know it would soon become my favorite.

After borrowing a couple of her seasons my siblings and myself were hooked. I had surgery that summer on my jaw and finished 4 seasons in 7 days. Scary, I know, but honestly the show is that good.

After we were old enough to not require a nanny, we bought the seasons ourselves, at black friday, used bookstores, and although we had seen all of the episodes, it became our show of choice to pop in during the evening, or as a background distraction during homework (just kidding Mom!).

It was the one show my siblings and I could agree on, and we would watch it together, laugh together, and use FRIENDS jokes more than normal jokes. It became our thing.

No matter how different we are, we can always quote Joey Tribbiani and be on the same page.

It became a sometimes daily occurrence this spring for me to send a quote and picture from the show to my siblings during school. They would get a laugh between classes, and I would have fun seeking fun ones to send.

It became almost like a comfort. Turn it on if you need a break, a good laugh, or an escape. The show perfectly balanced hardships and humor, making it one of the most successful TV series of all time.

We could all relate to the characters; Me being the bossy and controlling older sister, am like Monica, Annie a mix of the witty blonde Phoebe and the girly girl Rachael, and Peter with Chandler's sarcastic sense of humor.

So as much as I love my Grey's Anatomy, Annie loves her Pretty Little Liars, and Peter likes his Family Guy, we can always agree that popping in a disk of friends is a quality way to spend an hour.

So thank you Joey, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Ross, and Phoebe, for all the kicks and giggles. We appreciate it.
                    
                                              The three musketeers 

Happy Living,
~M

The Ordinary

The other day I woke up, sans alarm, to a beautiful summer morning. So, I grabbed my 12 year old black lab, and we went for a walk (much to her delight). The sun was shining, light breeze, streets bustling... We then stopped at a local coffee shop and I got a non-fat iced chai latte, my favorite, and we walked home. I then did some errands, met a friend for lunch, wrapped a birthday present, danced to a couple songs on the radio, baked a GF cake, and then went to work, which happened to be a beautiful evening of lifeguarding.

It was a seemingly ordinary day, no huge plans, no lavish trips, just, ordinary.. but it was wonderful.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a planner... I plan things in advance, have schedules, love to-do lists, and love to fill my day with activities....  but i've learned something about life..

The days we plan to be the best days, often are not the best days... instead, it is the seemingly ordinary days filled with ordinary activities, carrying no expectations, that turn out to be the best days.

Of course there are days that we plan to be fabulous and they are, our wedding day, birthdays, CHRISTMAS, the usual... but then there are the ordinary days when little things happen out of the blue, making them extraordinary.

The surprises, the un-expected, the lessons learned, the simple text from a friend, reminiscing, that moment when you look around and thank God for all you have in your life. Whether you are a religious person or not, everyone has those moments of awe where you are overwhelmed with happiness and contentment. This is a gift.

We can plan our days to be extraordinary, with the best restaurant, and the best shopping trip, adorable outfit, and the best people... but as great as those are, when we think back, the nights of laughter, the life conversations with friends and family, the smile from a stranger, the breathtaking snowfall, chats with Grandma, spending a day reading a good book.. those are the things we remember.

Those things are truly the extraordinary, they are God's way of telling us what matters in life. To be thankful and to love.

So plan the extraordinary, thats part of the fun of life! But don't forget the ordinary, because it's those ordinary days that often bring the most important things.

Happy Living!
~M