What was right there the whole time

The other day, leaving the kids' school, I looked up and saw the paint peeling of the walls and some random water stains on the ceiling. The thing is, I'd never noticed these before, even though i go down that staircase every school day after dropping off my son. It stuck me as wonderful. Wonderful because I don't notice the faults in the school. The missing tiles, peeling paint, the stains and leaks, the faults. I don't notice these things, because what I do see when I'm there is the LIFE. The kids and teachers. The happy faces and hugging arms. All the high fives as I go down the hall. The laughter and running feet. I see my friends and their kids. I see my son's old teachers and his classmates from last year. I love their school. I love that we chose public. It gives me such a sense of community.

Everyday we make choices about how we perceive our world. I see the love and the life in that school and that is a great lesson to me to see the love and laughter in my family too. The little things add up. Sure my husband left his toothbrush out on the counter that I just cleaned...but he brought home dinner and told me that I looked nice when I was going out. This morning Harper dumped all of her clothes on the floor, but she came down dressed and ready for school. I can choose to see the good or the bad in the world around me, in those I love.

It's not always that easy...somedays I'm ready for 5:00 to come and a glass of wine. Or to finish snuggling and turn off the kids' lights. Somedays I just want quiet and to be untouched for a moment.

Then, in the quiet reflection, I can look back at the moment that Henry blew into the beautiful foam leaf on a stranger's awaiting latte... and laugh.