The light sprinkling of snow, flitting in the air, but not sticking to the ground.

My daughter sleeping.

My son and I sharing stolen moments before falling asleep, covering eachother's hands in kisses and giving eachother eskimo kisses.

The birthday lunch with my two co-workers (Jeannie and Joanna).

Zumba with Mom.

Cheesecake birthday candles with Mom, her boyfriend, and my children.

Seeing myself in the mirror... not made up, hair barely brushed.  Appreciating what I am.

Japanese coconut pudding!

My daughter trying to run to me (really fast, tottering walk) to give me huge hug.

My son smiling at the "over night" holiday decorations and saying, "Santa! Santa!"

My nephew's excitement at giving me the necklace he made me.

Helping my mom cook the holiday meal with my youngest brother's fiance.

Playing the Wii with my nieces and my son.

My son allowing me to give him a haircut (while he played with a toy and ate peanut butter fudge) without any fight.  :-)

Lunch with Joanna!  She's awesome!

My daughter, sleeping on the floor with my husband, her little body curled with her tiny tushy sticking up.

Looking at my mini sandgarden on my desk, decorated with fried marbles, fried gems, a seed pot and a penny.

My son using his magic sceptre as the "Sword of Omens" and saying "Thundercats, Thundercats, Thundercat, Ho!" while watching the old Thundercats cartoons.

My children gobbling down their spaghetti pie with gusto (though I thought was a failed dish).  Such a lovely thing that they both ate so well and so much of it (and ate it heartily!!!).

The pattern of frost on my car windows.

The setting sun, the sky looked like a vibrant painting w/ yellow, gold, coral, orange, magenta, pinks, aquamarine blue, slate blue, slate grey and the start of purples and lavenders.

Sleeping in late.

My son playing with the balloon he got from Tasti-D-Lite.

My daughter doing a zombie walk with an empty soda cup clenched in her teeth while my husband and I watched an episode of The Walking Dead.

My son using "the Force" on Santa at the "breakfast w/ Santa".

My daughter in her adorable little snow bunny outfit (pink stockings, pink eskimo slippers, white knit dress with dark pink flowers and light green leaves) and white fur coat.

My neighbor coming over to help me scrape the frost off my windshield, just because.

The frost covering the grassy field of a farm with old fashioned fencing.

My daughter babbling to me when I picked her up early from day care.  She was very intense and pleased about the topic.

My daughter walking around so much at Grammie's house.

Spending alone time with my mother and later with my husband, just talking.

My son sitting on my mom's lap, him watching her play her webkinz ganzworld games.

My son giving my daughter a lollipop.

My daughter resting snuggly.

Having a sit down moment with my husband at work in the lounging area.

The yellow rose blooming in December.

My daughter's belly laugh whenever I said, "Ewie!!!"

My daughter walking to me, so timid and proud of her new form of mobility.

My son taking his medicine after gentle coaxing (after two nights of fights with the previous type of med).

My son mimicking my night routine, proud of himself for being a big boy.

These small moments...

A few months ago, I started a daily planner where I would record my daily "Moments of Beauty".  I did this with a realization and also to help combat when my sub-accute depression becomes hard to deal with.  I lost the planner and haven't been recording these moments like I meant to.  Months later, I still haven't found it, so this blog will be my back up.

"Moments of Beauty" are those small things in our daily lives that, even for a second, can make life feel worth living.  They are when things, just for a moment, feel right.  Fleeting, yes.  Small, indeed.  But worth noting because there is so much darkness in life and the negative moments linger in us for so much longer, and yet so much less worthy of our time than the moments of beauty that present themselves to us so often... if we would just allow ourselves to see them!

The "Moment of Beauty" that started all of this was when I was driving to work, feeling numb from the sinking I had been experiencing for weeks... or months.  I was behind a construction truck, which had a chain swinging beneath it's back drop door (but not touching the road).  Suddenly, some cherry blossom petals fluttered between my car and the truck, and for a moment I was entranced by how beautiful they were, how the sun was shining, the green grass and trees on either side of the road looking so lush.  I felt peace.  I felt an uplifting and a reprieve.  I felt that it's those moments that really make life beautiful.

From that moment forward, I made a concerted effort to make note of these little experiences, mental at the very least (though writing them down left a stronger memory of them).  And from doing this, I was able to not only stop going further into emotional decline, but to lift out of it, slowly and effectively!