It's amazing

how words can bring such joy or such sorrow. Sweet "I love you's" whispered from my husband or from my girls make my eyes light up and my heart feel warm. It can take a day that is gray and gloomy and transform it into sunshine and light.

At the same time, words can also bring pain strong enough to drop you to your knees. Pain that is almost physical it hurts so badly. The words I heard tonight were not ones that were unexpected. They were guised under a friendly tone but the warning was there nonetheless. How I wish that they didn't hurt so. I wish that the aura that I projected was really me, the "you can't hurt me, me"

Valentine's Day

Today was Valentine's Day (well, not really) but it was for the girl's at school. Since Abby has been small I have always done a few little things for Valentine's Day. This year was no different. Each girl got a new V-day shirt and I really stepped out on a limb this year and didn't buy them matching ones, imagine that? I also bought them beautiful little lockets with their initials on them and V-day socks. As usual, they were thrilled with their presents and I got sweet thank you's and kisses.

Abby decided to make her Valentine's Day cards this year and it was a bit sad because for the first time she didn't want my help or input. I am proud of her though because she creatively did her cards and they showed her true personality. Maddie opted to go the buying Valentine's route which worked well for me too. Spiderman for the boy's and brown and pink monkey tattoo cards for the girls. Destiny made a few for friends at Middle School but apparently Middle School kids are just too cool for those kinds of things,

I found myself a little sad as I made Abby's request Chex Mix with chocolate and peanut butter and powdered sugar and Maddie's requested chocolate dipped pretzels. I realized I probably only have another year or two to do this with Abby and another four with Maddie and I wondered where the time went quickly. The good thing that came out of this though was that I was able to throw myself into the moment. I soaked in the conversations occurring around our kitchen table as the girl's did their cards, I listened and asked questions and let them lick the chocolate spoons and taste a bite of their treats and I fully enjoyed each moment with them.

Oh how much I love those sweet, sweet girls!