I Gave Myself A Day!

So, all the kind comments after my  last post made me take stock. I thought, maybe I am being too hard on myself. Maybe I need a day of rest. I'm going to give myself a day. A day free of worry, sadness, work, bills, cleaning, and all those other sometimes yucky things. I am going to create a day of Peace and Light. So here is what I did:

I started by praying the rosary here. I like that I am praying with others. You might think it's weird to pray via an online program, but I like feeling connected. It's kind of like dropping by early morning weekday mass but in your pajamas.

I then took a long shower using my very favorite products from Lush. I love their mango bath melt and their lemon and beach sand soap the best. I never take long showers, so it really felt like a splurge:)

I then walked the dogs in my favorite wood. It leads to a little pond, and if you go early enough on the weekends, you are alone. Here is where I went. Dasha loved it here...

Then I started the book that my friend Keith lent me, Blue Like Jazz. by Don Miller. I was crying by chapter three. It's one of those books you immediately want to buy copies of for all your close friends.

Then I ate an amazing tomato, mozzarella and basil salad.  I even picked the basil from my window garden. Used Paul Newman olive oil, which is something I splurged on at Christmas, and we still have some left!

Then I had a meeting with one of my favorite people, Rozena Crossman, who is working for me teaching the little ones starting next week. We went here, because it was a day of indulgence after all. I had a tall iced black-eye ( that's two shots of espresso added). I have about ten giftcards left to use here, since everyone always buys me one for holidays and birthdays and thank yous. I just keep treating everyone I take there because I feel pretty coffee-rich with all these cards.

Then I had simply wonderful 'cuddle time' with Nastia. Windows open. Birds singing. The sound of wind in the trees. After cuddling and talking, she read to me for awhile from her current favorite book. I still love when she mispronounces words. It's so endearing.

Then we both took the dogs here (photo below) to the school next door to run and play off leash. After, we laid in the grass. It was beautiful.

Then Nastia and I ate an early dinner and watched the movie The Italian. If you haven't seen it, do. But be forewarned, it is gut-wrenching. It's the true story of a boy who is growing up in an orphanage in Russia. A wealthy Italian couple comes to adopt him, and in the months before they return for their court date, he goes on an amazing quest to find his birthmother. Nastia and I both cried. But it was a good cry.

With the movie reminding me of Russia, I then went online to  write Anya an email, only to find she had written us one while Nastia and I were watching the movie! Coincidence? I think not! I then joined Russian Facebook at her request, and uploaded numerous photo albums for her to see. I then took about an hour to fill out my Russian Facebook profile in Russian. Quite a feat. I'm quite proud of myself! (Before you get all impressed with me -- I used an online translator. Time-consuming, but far more accurate than relying on my limited vocabulary!)

We ended the day with attempting to call Dasha's orphanage several times, hoping we could speak with her. But it was not meant to be. No one answered, and I'm guessing the kids might be away at camp. We'll try again on Monday.

So, now I am going up to enjoy more cuddling with everyone -- dogs and cats included --and then off to sleep in our tent in the yard. It's too beautiful a night not to.

Thanks for inspiring me to give myself a day. 

I feel young again!