Today was spent literally searching every store in GJ to find my sister a dress to wear for her engagement photos. Her criteria is very particular. Simple. Long. Flowy. Limited floral patterns, prefers something not floral all together. Strap position and thickness matter. And after over a dozen stores and probably 30 plus dresses we still are looking! 

Is she frustrated? Yes! But as I have thought about our day of dresses, and her mission to find the perfect dress (one she likes, feels good in and she also wants Tyler her fiancé to like it too) it is really a sweet story. Right now it is annoying GJ doesn’t have a lot of options (actually that is always annoying.) But this story of the engagement dress will someday be a fond memory. And I love how important it is to Elise to find something that looks like her. So that their engagement photos are authentic and depict their relationship. They are not some staged Pinterest perfect fashion photos. 

Reagan loves accessories! Seriously. She is constantly getting her shoes. Taking my necklaces. Wearing ribbons over her shoulders like a scarf. Stealing earrings off my night stand. Trying to wear hats. And always finding her sunglasses. It is seriously adorable. I am afraid we will have quite the fashionista on our hands. 

My best friend had her second baby girl yesterday! Today I went to visit Holli and meet baby Sloane. Joy is the definition of new baby. Their tiny size. Amazing smell. Adorable sounds. Their pure helplessness just makes me melt. And seeing Holli become a mama again is beautiful! I am so excited for her and Shanon and their new family.  

Welcome to the world sweet baby Sloane.  Everyone is so excited you are here! 

Today I was tired when I woke up. I had a headache almost all day. I didn’t accomplish anything I intended to do at work. Interruption could have been today’s title. 

Wow! Complain a bit? Perhaps it sounds that way. However, the point of tonight’s blog is acknowledgement that not all days are perfect. Probably, there are more days like today than I care to admit. But these days make me grateful for the good days. The better days. The easier, headache free days. 

And I also find joy in just being human. Knowing that feeling disappointed in today is okay. That the emotions that go with exhaustion and a headache are valid. So I try to give myself some grace. Let myself feel how I feel. And go to bed knowing tomorrow will most likely be better. 

When you are running around like a crazy person in the morning. And come into the bathroom to find your baby, proudly sitting in the wet shower. Makes you laugh and pause for a second (because you literally only have a second to spare or you’ll be late.) Reagan brings so much Joy because she is constantly reminding me, life is SO MUCH MORE! Stop for a minute or second and breathe it in!

When Reagan is running or walking with a mission she pumps her right arm with gusto. Just the right arm. Bent at 90 degrees. Hand in a fist. You can tell she is doing something she finds important. Watching her do this always makes me smile. It’s the little things! 

And sadly I don’t have a photo of this adorableness! 

Easter Sunday is one of the most Joyful days of the year. Because Jesus has risen! Gods love and grace for his people is perfectly clear! Thank you Jesus! Thank you God! We are forever grateful. Beyond thankful. And praise you with a Joyful heart! 

Spring Sprouts make me happy! These flowers are beautiful! Little reminders of God’s amazingness! I don’t think amazingness is a word – but it describes God perfectly!

We dyed Easter Eggs today for the first time. Watching Reagan was so much fun. Joy can be so simple sometimes!
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Tonight I am tired. Actually exhausted. And I would like to skip the blog. But I know I would feel guilty if I did. I made this commitment to myself and I really want to keep it. Find JOY in each day. 

So today’s joy comes from the simple fact that I love reflecting through this blog. I am writing for myself. But am sharing what I write because I think we all can use a little bit of inspiration in our daily lives. The reminder that every day isn’t going to be our best day. That life is real, messy and hard. But we all have the ability to find JOY in our days. We just have to approach each day with a grateful heart. Realizing JOY is found in the little moments. And those moments make up the story of our lives. We should embrace it all a little bit more. Xoxo, Trish