Newborn Days Tired

That's what these animals have me.  TIRED.  For the last three weeks it's been broken sleep or up at 5:30am. every. day. including weekends.  At the end of the day, M and I are practically begging the kids (both furry and fleshy) to go to sleep, so we can hit the hay by 9 o' clock.  I am ready for this phase to be over.  Though, I am still glad we got these little animals.  They give our house a different energy (and suck the energy right out of me!).  They force us to go outside.  They force us to play and be thoughtful.  One of the best things about getting up at the crack of dawn is that the Hubs and I get about 1 hour of alone time before the human kids wake up.  That is super nice.  Almost like a date night.  Maybe I could name it "Date Dawn".  I miss my sleep tremendously, but I do love quiet conversation with my man.

This is only a short season in our life, right?  Soon the puppy and kitten will be grown up and then what?

Then I will sleep 12 consecutive hours and not clean up and poop or pee for an entire day.  Heaven.

The New Kids in Town

Along the way this non-pet loving Mama happened to pick up two sassy little creatures.  We had no intention of getting a puppy, but somehow the sadness of the local Humane Society ripped at my heart and I could not leave this little girl alone.

So here she is, the cutest thing... Miss Elsa

 And a birthday surprise for our sweet and spicy 5 year old... Mr. Kitty, or "Oki".  Although, the name changes daily and lately I've been referring to him as "Kit Kat".

A Favorite Read

Once in awhile a book comes along that I want to read over and over again.  These books inspire me and/or teach me something new each time I read them.  These books I hold onto.  

Usually, I will read (or try to read) something and then it's tossed in the goodwill or used bookstore pile or given to a friend and that's that.  

Only a few little gems make the cut and are kept for life.

"Heaven is Here" by Stephanie Nielson is one of those gems.

For me, this book is jam packed full of life lessons, inspiration, motivation, and insight.  Things that I hope to pass on to my birdies.  

One the most important being Gratitude.  

In the midst of deepest pain and sorrow, there is still love and beauty all around us.
To my little loves:  If you are ever reading this, know that gratitude will change your perceptions, your circumstances, your life.  Everything we need is right here.  And we never need very much.
I have always loved quotes and typically have them swirling in my head throughout any given day.  I'm not sure what it is, but quotes and lyrics of certain songs really boost me.
A few of my favorite gratitude quotes:
"If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.”
― Meister Eckhart
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”
― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose