365 Things To Smile About Day 24. My last night with friends.

As sad as I am tonight to be leaving Virginia in the morning I am full of wonderful, happy memories to keep me smiling through the semester!  Tonight was a perfect ending to my trip:).

Tonight Ginny and Carolyn and I went in to DC on what has become a traditional outing to the Lincoln Memorial where we walk around back and sit and watch the sun set over the Potomac and Arlington. It's so quiet and peaceful and we sit there, each lost in our own thoughts and enjoying the breeze off the water. After a while we start chatting some but really it's about just three friends spending time together:). 

A perfect ending to a lovely trip!  It was so wonderful to see so many friends and spend time visiting, catching up and just BEING with the people I love and miss so much!!  On top of that I got a chance to roam around my mountains in the Shenandoah Valley and explore the many beautiful spots in DC!  These few weeks were exactly what I needed to unplug from Kalamazoo and everything there and a chance to deal with some difficult issues and emotions. Not every moment was perfect but I was surrounded by friends who were there to support me in the difficult times and make me laugh and helped me find all these things to keep smiling about:). Wherever I land a year from now (and I'm hoping it will be in this area) I know that I can always come back here and find the peace and love that brings me back to good and happy places:). With many, many things to smile about!  Goodbye my lovely Virginia and all my lovely friends!!!  Thank you for all the wonderful memories!!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 23. Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Bites!

I have to rave about the most amazing chocolate I have ever had!!  My friend Carolyn introduced them to me and I hope they aren't sold in Michigan because it will take serious self control not to buy them!!!

I can't remember their exact name but they are like bite sized pomegranates covered in dark chocolate. I must admit at this point that I don't like dark chocolate...too bitter. But these things taste like little pieces of choclaty, pomegranaty pieces of heaven!!!!  Having a bad, emotional or stressful day?  Just pop a couple in your mouth and like the chocolate coating, all those unpleasant things melt away and you can't help but smile!!!  So thank you Lord for all those smart people who came up with the idea for these tasty treats!  And thank you Carolyn for introducing me to the delicious, happiness inducing bits of chocolate!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 22. A Strong Man

Tonight I took a trip to Baltimore. It was my first time in this city that intimidated me at the very thought of it!  But as I looked around as my friend drive us by Inner Harbor I started to make a mental

list of things to do if I got a chance!  It looks like an exciting place!  But exploring wasn't the reason I was there. I was there to visit a very good friend of mine whom I long ago adopted as one of my little brothers since his older sister and I have been best friends a startling and crazy long time!!

Philip is at Johns Hopkins Hospital starting a road to recovery after his most recent surgery, I believe around 26th or 27th, fighting cancer and all the nasty after affects it leaves. Brain surgery was the start of it all this time around and a nasty infection made it even bigger. But tonight I got a chance to hang out with him and was happy to see the usual hilarious, snarky and incredibly strong Philip I've known for years!  Over an hour of chatting about family, low vision and other random topics was a great way to spend the evening.  I didn't want to leave as it approached 8 pm. I wanted to just stay with my friend. Even if he kept falling asleep, as he was starting to do, I just wanted to be there for him.   But I had to go and so we said goodnight with a possible return visit tomorrow tentatively planned,   

I can't help but smile when I see Philip's determination and unfailing strength and stubbornness to get out of the hospital and home to get on with his life!  No matter how many surgeries he has, he stays the same and I only hope I have half his strength and determination in my own life!  Please pray for my friend!!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 21. Friends

Well, it only took 20 days for me to get behind on this blog but I'm determined not to let that stop me!  Lol!  I have a good reason!  Friends!  I have been on a vacation visiting friends back in Virginia and the other night turned into a small party with four friends;)

We stayed up late talking about all manner of things from the ridiculous to the serious and I loved every minute of it!  I've missed these spontaneous get togethers with good food, drinks, laughter and conversation!  Calling it a night only as we all find ourselves fighting to keep our eyes open!  I don't need (nor do I desire) to go out to fancy places with music and drinks. Sitting at home on comfortable couches and talking about old times, wondering what the future holds and discussing different philosophies on different topics is much more attractive to me!  When I'm missing my friends over the next two semesters at school, I'll keep nights like this firmly in mind and know it will always make me smile!!

365 Things To Smile About Day 20. Random Little Adventures!

Tonight was a fun night:). A friend came over to go for a walk. Since neither of us knew the area we found a park online and tapped the address into the GPS. On the way we passed a small farmers market and decided to do turn around and check it out. I haven't smelled such delicious peaches in ages!  For some reason I have been unnaturally craving peaches!!  Sadly I had forgotten my purse:(. But, the experience was fun and we left with a bag full of tomatos for my friend. We then spent the next half hour or so trying to find this park that existed on the map but didn't seem to exist in GPS land!!!  

Eventually our hunger for a late dinner took over and we pulled off on the side of the road to look up restaurants. When we finally settled on one we pulled back out on the road and a few seconds later...passed the entrance to the park we were looking for!!!!!  At the very least we managed to find the park!  Lol!  Dinner was delicious and conversation was intriguing and not lagging:). So while our walk may not have happened in that park, we did enjoy a walk nonetheless and had a good and enjoyable evening:). 

365 Things To Smile About Day 19 History and good friends.

Today was a mix of a day but in a good way:). I went into DC and took a tour of the Capitol!  A very nice Docent gave me passes he had with him to go into the galleries of the House and the Senate!  While nothing is in session in August it was pretty wonderful to sit up there and look down in to the rooms where so much of our country's history was made:). 

After that I went outside and found a shaded bench and sat and relaxed. It was perfectly positioned between the Capitol and the Library of Congress...my favorite place in the city:). 

Then this evening I took two walks with two friends and had a much needed heart to heart talk with one friend. I can't express how happy I am that I am out here right now:).  So many things to smile about:). 

365 Things To Smile About Day 18 A Peaceful Porch

Today I spent two hours in a big wicker chair on a small, rustic porch!  The sky was blue, the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing and no humidity!!!  It was gorgeous!!

I sat there alternating between reading a book written by a friend and messaging back and forth with a few other friends;). The birds were chirping and a neighbor was mowing their lawn.  It was so peaceful and relaxing!  

Today was one of those days where enjoying the little things made the day perfect:). Nothing big and amazing happened and that's ok. I think most of life is filled with the small things that we so often miss looking for those big moments. So today I sat in a chair in a porch and just enjoyed the sounds of nature and the soothing breeze!!