"The Little Things"

It's the little things in life that mean something to us, don't you think? We may receive plenty of birthday cards, for instance, but we remember the one that took hours for our best friend to make. We see dozens of people every day, but it's the one that smiled at us on the metro that we remember. We eat meals everyday, but we really remember the cinnamon rolls that Mom made Christmas morning. Little things aren't always of little importance.

Our lives are made up of little things - little happy moments here and there where we saw beauty in a person or action. It's the way your rosy-cheeked daughter fell asleep on your sons shoulder, or the way your neighbor's face lights up with delight over some silly cookies that took fifteen minutes to make. Little things make life, well, life. They make it bright. And that's a good thing.

My little things? Well there's a lot of them right now, so y'all could be getting an earful . . . or eyeful. Whatever.

I'm about to start planning my wedding - and I want it to be full of special little things. I'm going to marry an Army soldier, and I honestly could not be happier. I never saw it coming, but man, take it from me - the best things in life are the unexpected surprises . . . but more on that later.

I'm also learning how to cook. I've been out of college for a bit now, and I'm finally learning to cook yummy things on a consistent basis. Cooking and baking make me happy because they're ultimately about taking care of other people and taking care of yourself. Warm soup and bread are one of those little things that make you smile - especially if it's homemade!

And while I'm no "decoratuer," I do sometimes go crazy in T. J. Maxx. That place is so good for my soul. There's just too much to love! I love the potential of a well - placed picture, the cozy love seat, the gourmet olive oil carafe set that just begs to invite over company ... these are the things that create a welcoming home. The way we arrange all the pieces of our house is called creativity, but the reason your guests remember it afterward is because it was welcoming. That's my goal one day, y'know? When I can have company over and watch them relax - like my home is theirs.

So, to sum it all up, I love the beauty of little things. Little things touch our lives. The warm melty cookie in a toddler's hand, realizing you'd say yes if he asked you, feeling at home in your own home - they're all beautiful, and they're all little. Which is why they're so important.

'Til next time!

Andrea