Start #1: Gifts 542...

542. Although I was hoping to pull weeds on Sunday, when Lily asked me just before I sat down outside, "Mom, will you color with me?" I said, "Absolutely."  Lily and I sat on either side of the kids picnic table, my right cheek and neck getting warm in the afternoon sun as we colored and talked.  Ater Emmy woke up from her nap, she came outside to join us and asked if she could paint.  Andy even pulled himself away from his projects in the kitchen to sit and paint with Emmy at the other table outside.  They did Emmy's favorite thing, painting each other's hands with the paintbrush to then slap their hands on the paper.  Here is the result of our brain vacation in the backyard, sharing time together:

543. A quick family walk at sunset Sunday night together after dinner.

544. Being greeting at the door by Emmy with her arms wrapped around my leg and hands tugging on my pant legs.

545. A cookie treat from coworker Danielle, makes me feel like Cookie Monster.  I can't stop at just one.

546. Looking over at the couple next to me in their car at the stop light and seeing their hands interlaced together, he, with his eyes closed, bringing their hands to his lips so he could kiss the top of her hand.  Such a sweet, tender moment. 

547. Hearing a love story on the way home from work today on NPR.  The couple being interviewed have been married for over 50 years.  They were reminiscing about their first date and how he fell in love with her the moment he saw her bounding down the stairs to greet him for the first time, her pony tail bouncing behind her.  She fell in love with him because on that first date she talked with him about her favorite classical piece by Shumann, and weeks later he remembered that detail and had it sent to her with flowers, even though he was sick in the university's infirmary with mono.  Here's the link to the interview and piece, "Winter Songs: Young Love in Ithaca, with Schumann's Help."

548. Giving in to my exhaustion, ignoring all other duties and going to rest at 8:30pm.  I did get up at 9:30 to take a shower, but got an extra hour of sleep in my evening.  And now for the rest.

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