The "PERFECT" Day

Ok, I have to admit it...I am a HUGE perfectionist.  I don't necessarily like that about myself at all times, but it's part of who I am.  I analyze every little detail and I agonize over things not being just right...

...maybe that's why I love crafts so much...I get to be totally in control of them and can make them as perfect as I need want them to be...

Anyway...today I had a fantastic day for MANY reasons.  None of those reasons involved my typical definition of perfect.  For example:

• for the majority of my day, my house was a COMPLETE mess (there were things strewn all over the place)
• I did not get to cross off everything on my sacred "To-Do" list (in fact, I only crossed out 1 thing)
• there was a LOT of noise...mostly coming from the TV and Nintendo Wii (I'm not a huge fan of TV or video games)
• I washed some of my own baby clothes (for Gracie), and as I was about to put them into the dryer, I noticed that I had dyed them pink (with splotches of red) because I had washed them with a tiny red velvet Christmas dress

Anway, I want it to be clear that I am not complaining at all.  I really mean it when I say that I had a fantastic day. 

In fact, I would be willing to call it a PERFECT day, because now that I am sitting in bed with my hubby watching Deadliest Catch, my baby peacefully in dream land beside me in her bassinet, and my dog totally asleep on the floor by her, I realize that I am completely content.  I am happy. 

Why? you  might ask...

Because:

• I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing, and it was my best friend (who just so happened to buy the house next to ours two years ago with her husband and two boys)
• Within ten minutes my house was bustling with the sound of my baby cooing and two little boy voices laughing, the smell of freshly brewed coffee, and the feeling of total love and friendship. 
• Nichole, my best friend, is looking for a dress to wear to her husband's five year college reunion, so she brought one of her dresses and then tried it on followed by about 6 of mine.  I had my own private fashion show - with lots of giggles and fun - and Nichole found a FREE dress to wear for the weekend!  BTW, she looks LOVELY!
• After Nichole took her youngest son back home, her 5 year old stayed the afternoon with Grace and me!  We had a LOT of fun together...Grace and I watched him play MarioKart, we shared berry smoothies and an apple, and played with bubbles on the front porch.  We also made a huge snuggle nest for Trevor to sit in while he was playing Wii.
• My husband returned home from work and we shared dinner with Nichole and the kids.
• I have my Keurig Machine set up and ready to go (for the first time) for tomorrow morning!

...and as I reflect I realize how very blessed I am to be in the shoes that I wear.  I have a fantastic family, the best friends ever, wonderful pets, and overall, a pretty fabulous life. 

That's why I think today was the "PERFECT" day...not because each detail was perfect, but because each detail built together with the rest made me realize I have to focus more on the important things in life - not the things, but the people and the connections that I have and can make. 

I guess I should mention a little bit of history between our neighbors (Shawn and Nichole) and us (Joel and myself).  Joel and Shawn have been best friends for a LONG time.  They went to the same elementary, middle, and high school.  It was sometime during High School that Joel and Shawn introduced Nichole and me.  We became fast friends, too. Then Shawn and Joel went to college together at Lafayette College in Easton, PA (Joel commuted while Shawn lived on campus).  Shawn and Nichole had their first little one after college and got married.  Eventually Joel and I got married and moved into our current house.  We wanted Shawn and Nichole to move into the neighborhood, and Shawn jokingly said "...only if the house next to you goes for sale..."  Well, guess what?  Yup - about a week later the house next door had a sign in it, and they moved in next door!  Joel and Shawn now work together about an hour away and commute to work together.  Since they lived here they have had a second son and Joel and I have had Grace.  They are about a year and a half apart from one another, but actually all three of them get along well...we all do!  How cool is that?   

IDEA FOR YOU: If you are like me and look into every little detail until it is perfect, try to take a day and enjoy it for what it is.  Find out what is important to YOU (besides perfection), and focus on that.  Enjoy the day for what it is and then write about it.  Put the writing somewhere that you will see it each day as a reminder to yourself to "chill out."  Eventually it will become second nature.