Every month I chronicle those everyday things that give me comfort or offer a place of reflection or joy. Here are my everyday delights for January:

1. These pictures and Instagram: 

I took these pictures this past weekend and love the clarity of the blue between the branches and the intersection between the tree limbs. The next snapshot with the layers of various hues in the sky brought me back to a place of wonder and the vastness that swallow me if I pay attention. My recent obsession is everything Instagram and I love scrolling down the feeds of sunrises, sunsets and everything-in-between. Instagram helps you infuse magic into your days.

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2. Sleepover Birthday Fun:

January is my daughter’s birthday month and for the last few years she’s asked me to host a sleepover for her birthday celebration. I loved hearing the laughter of the girls underneath a makeshift tent that we created out of sheets and chairs. The girls made it into their mini-apartment. During the evening, they painted shirts, ate pizza and belted out some of the favorite tunes to the sounds of a karaoke machine. Smaller celebrations hold more meaning for my little girl and this revelation delighted me in ways I cannot explain.

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3. This book – The Invention of Wings

I read this book in two days. Sue Monk Kidd’s lyrical prose and memorable characters created a striking story that will stay with this reader for years. This line gripped me in particular:  “For a moment I felt the quiet hungering thing that comes inside when you return to the pale of your origins, and then the ache of mis-belonging.” I recommend that you read this novel because as you breathe in the words you witness every moment that she is describing.

 

4. My piece in Brain, Child: The Mother of the House:

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I am so thrilled that my piece about my mother and daughter appeared in Brain, Child.  I am grateful to the editors who accepted the piece and for reader comments and support. Thank you.

What gave you delight in January? Please share.