Little Triumphs

This morning as I was waiting for my pants to come out of the dryer, I started tidying up the laundry room. I folded my daughter Maribeth's precious quilt from her childhood. We found it together and brought it home when she was about four or five years old. Maribeth got in bed right away and said, "Mom, let me pull the quilt up over me so it can make me beautiful!" I was stunned when she said that because Maribeth was an amazingly, magnificently, and splendidly beautiful child without any embellishments at all. I must admit, though, that the quilt was, and is, gorgeous -- mainly pastel fabric in geometric designs, a keepsake to treasure!

As I was wiping down the washer and dryer, cleaning out the stationary tub, and removing the cobwebs from the corners, I felt so happy to be participating in the rejuvenation of a room in our beloved home. It was a "little triumph" for me and a great way to begin the day. I started thinking of other small triumphs that have popped up in my life recently.

I recently reconnected with my precious rolltop desk that was left to me by my Mother. I dusted every nook and cranny and moved things around -- took some things off the top, added a couple of things. This is where I write in my journal now and I love sitting there and being surrounded by my "God jar" (where I put concerns, hope and dreams on little strips of paper), my Mary Engelbreit page-a-day calendar, amethyst formation, Kewpie doll, pens, and other sentimental odds and ends.

One of my friends at church has had a fantastic garden in plots right next to my Dad's gardens this summer. I watched in awe as her wondrous sunflowers started blooming in profusion. I even took lots of pictures. Imagine my delight when Laura told me she was going on vacation and I could pick as many as I wanted! I was in sunflower heaven as I gathered amazing sunflowers of all kinds to make two bouquets -- one to welcome my friend Sharron home from her trip to see her brother, and one for our living room. This really was a "big triumph" for me because I used to grow sunflowers in my yard, but for some reason, never cut them and brought them into the house!

We all have little and big triumphs in our lives. It is fun to recognize them as they are happening. Sometimes, we don't even realize how important some events are until they are in historical context! Have you had any triumphs lately?