Around age 24, I thought I had chosen my path in life.

I intended to be single. I was already a professional, and I was in graduate school, pursuing a master’s degree. I knew I’d continue on to earn a Ph.D., and I was already taking steps to make that happen.

I was the proud owner of 4 cats, and I treated them like babies. I doted on them, and I liked being a slightly strange cat lady.

I wasn’t totally opposed to the idea of marriage, but I made it clear to any man I dated that cohabitation was not among my plans for the future. He needed to have his own space, I reasoned, and I needed to have mine.

God probably had a hearty chuckle at my expense, and he sent Joe to knock my plans upside down.

His plans were different.

You probably already know that story.

By our third date, I knew that Joe and I would get married, and I knew that we’d have some babies.

We got engaged on the one-year anniversary of our first date, and we were married on the two-year anniversary of our first date. About eight weeks after our wedding, we learned that I was pregnant.

He blessed me in ways that I could not imagine. Every day, I marvel at the wonderful gifts He continues to provide.

Every. Single. Day.

Last week, I read a post on Pensieve about the things that bless Robin’s heart, and my own silly heart flooded with things that cause it to smile. Here are a few of them:

• Grace has started saying My love you, too. to me and to Joe. Sometimes, it’s spontaneous.
  My love you, too, Mommy.
  “Oh, Grace, I love you, too!”
  My love you, too, Mommy.
  Those exchanges really make me laugh, but they warm my heart in a way that nothing else in the world can.
• Except maybe a smooch. She puckers for smooches. She really, really puckers and makes a huge kissy face, and she makes my lips wet when she touches me.
• Holding Gracie while she sleeps. It can be a real pain to hold her every time she naps, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t savor those moments.
• A purring cat
• My parents and sister came over this afternoon to test out a new apple crisp recipe. They spent time playing with Gracie on her own turf. I love seeing them play with her, and she loves spending time with them.
• Grace and I played on the floor most of the day yesterday. She showed me her babies. She fed them, she left them at “school” and told them that she’d be back later. She kissed and hugged them. She sang and rocked them. She read them stories. Of course, all of the action ceases as soon as I turn on my video camera, but my heart won’t forget.
• Sometimes, without being told to do so, Joe gets down on the floor and plays with Grace. They play with her People. They read books. They play ball. She feeds him and serves him tea. Watching them share a special time – without my help – blesses my heart.
  

That’s probably enough for now, Dear Reader.

What blesses your heart?

Happily submitted to 12 Days of Libbie, Sunday Favorites, Makes My Monday, Your Life, Your Blog, Miracle Monday, Weekly Inspiration,  Macro Monday, What I Learned This Week, Gratituesday, Tuesdays Unwrapped , and Saturday Show Off