Every Friday, the Little Bliss List provides a chance for us to celebrate the little things that brought us hope and happiness this week. I do believe when we focus on the sweet stuff of life, the sweet stuff multiplies. And by sharing those small gifts in our lives, we help others notice the gifts in theirs.
Can I tell you a secret? This time of year is hard for me. With young kids at home, the transition from summer to fall {particularly the back-to-school part} is jarring. I find myself dreading the endless forms, the fees that keep popping up, the schedule juggling, the shopping for glue sticks. My kids start school after Labor Day and I usually wait till the last minute to get everything taken care of {I know, big mistake}. But last night? I decided to try something new: an early school-prep shopping trip.
As we drove to the mall, I noticed my anxiety rising. But I didn’t want my attitude to wreck our evening. So, I decided to choose a different way of being. Rather than fret about finding the right brand of pencils, I told myself to pay close attention to the little moments of joy during our shopping trip. And you know what? It totally worked; I found bliss where I least expected it. I even took pictures…
l) We started our trip by getting dinner in the mall food court at a favorite pasta place. The boys picked a table and Tru immediately noticed the skylights above us. He was so excited, saying, “The sky is beautiful here! I cannot believe it!” It was so darn cute. I love that seeing the sky from inside the mall can dazzle my little guy so!
2) Speaking of him, I couldn’t resist snapping a pic of those big brown eyes as he ate {all!} his mac & cheese with a fork. This new-found confidence with a fork is only a few weeks old for him and it’s just one of those little things that make me so proud and excited.
3) We went to an electronics store and waited forever for service. Luckily, Ryder found an iPad on display with an app that changed his reflection into all kinds of funny shapes. The boys could not stop giggling; such a relief and so fun to hear them laughing like crazy!
4) And did you notice that full shopping cart up above? We stopped at Target and actually found everything on Ryder’s school supply list except for one thing. He had fun helping and I was thrilled the shelves weren’t empty yet. It is such a huge relief to know that part of our back-to-school prep is over!! Plus, we stocked up on items for families in our area who can’t afford school supplies. That felt good, too.
I’m so glad I put myself in check and chose to enjoy our shopping adventure vs. losing my marbles at the mall! It turned out to be a great, productive evening. So, what did you do this week that brought you joy? I’d love to hear! You can participate in the link party below through Sunday at midnight central {and click on other entries below to give yourself a bliss boost} or simply leave a comment!
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