As I'm settling in to sleep this morning, I do so with a sense of happiness and well-being (For those of you who know me well, this isn't a particularly normal state for me... I'm usually agitated or obsessing about something). I really must say that when I take the time and make a conscious effort to remember and put into practice all the helpful little hints my counselor has been giving me the past year or so, I really can improve my mood/outlook. Instead of stressing out about the pile of laundry I tripped over as I entered my back porch/laundry room this morning, I instead focused on the fact that my neighbors' 2 (very large) dogs were roaming around my back yard. I love these 2 fuzz-buckets; they are extremely friendly -- in a warm, gangly, slobbery sort of way. So after letting my own 2 dogs out, I set out on a cold winter's morning adventure. Despite knowing my efforts would be rebuffed, I called to Simon and Lucy in hopes theirs would be a short-lived prison break. No dice. Lucy came running to me, rolled over to have her belly rubbed, and as I reached for her collar too quickly, was off like a shot, chasing after her companion Simon, who had barely given my calls and whistles a second glance. Simon is a much more accomplished escape artist; none of this neighborly trap-laying for HIM. Leash in hand, I headed up the street hoping they hadn't ventured too far, since the current temp was hovering around 30 degrees and I was wearing my usual uniform of shorts. Blessedly, they had only gone about 8 or 10 houses away, and had even made the mistake of entering someone's fenced back yard via their open driveway gate. After trespassing into this unknown neighbor's yard and closing their gate quickly, I was able to wrangle both dogs relatively easily, considering Lucy (on the leash) weighs about 65 or 70 pounds and Simon (being held only by his collar) weighs well over 100 pounds. But they both marched home with me like perfect little soldiers. My neighbor was so ecstatic after I put them back inside their pen that she cooked me breakfast.

I have such an enjoyable time with my neighbor. She's a stay-at-home mom who works far harder than anyone working outside the home. She's a phenomenal photographer, a talented writer, an upholsterer, a creative quilter, a poet ... is there anything this woman isn't capable of doing? She's a wonderful wife and mother, blessed with an awesome husband and 2 beautiful children. She's one of those people who GET IT. She may not know what the latest political crisis in the world is, but she takes the time to marvel at the beauty of a perfectly formed leaf. She may forget to take the time to brush her own hair, but she will sit down to read to her children, or play with them in the yard, or take them on adventures. She cares about the things that really matter: being a wonderful partner to her husband, and a mother who loves her children enough to want them to be the best they can be: loving, creative, respectful, adventuresome, caring human beings. If they follow her example, they will have the best teacher they could ever have. Any time I get to spend in her presence lets me know I am blessed. I am blessed to have her not only as my neighbor, but as my friend. So as I pillow my head this morning, I do so with a smile on face and a feeling of happiness at having been able to spend some time with my friend.