Things that make me smile.

They are few and far between these days. But, there are a few things, and for that I count myself lucky.

1. I got a puppy! We've wanted one for years, but was never the right time. Last week, I sent husband a picture of a shelter pup. I told him I knew we couldn't have her, and that I wasn't asking. I just wanted to share how cute she was. But my amazing husband surprised me by telling me I should call and get more info about her. We talked a lot about potential issues with a new pet, but in the end, we decided that there was really no good reason not to. He also thought that I needed her with him gone and everything else doing on. So, last Saturday, I adopted this furball of adorableness.

Meet Paisley!

And what's funny is that as much as I already love her, I'm not all "Squee! New puppy!" It's more like she fills a hole that I didn't know was there in our family. There is the obvious hole. The constantly painful one. But this is different, and Paisley just fits perfectly. She has made me so happy already. Husband and I feel like I was meant to find her with the way things lined up so perfectly to get her.


2. My amazing friends. I brag about them a lot, but that's because they are just that wonderful. Not only have they been there for me in so many ways over the last almost year a half, but this week, they made me cry happy tears for the first time since I don't know when. I came home from a nearly 10 hours work day, exhausted, and sad from having spent 5 of those hours unpacking baby clothes.  I pulled into the driveway to see a box on my doorstep, that I assumed was delivered to the wrong house. I was so surprised when I saw it was addressed to me. Inside, I found the most beautiful, sunny, happy flowers! An arrangement of my very favorites, that make me smile every single time I walk by them. Ladies, in case you didn't already know, I absolutely love you all.

3. As always, my husband, who even while deployed has been the most fantastic shoulder to lean on. Who also experienced this loss with the chemical pregnancy, yet is still so strong for me. Who keeps me fighting for the one thing we want more than anything else. I am so lucky to be married to my best friend, and I just want him home safe and soon where he belongs.