What I Love, Appreciate, and Admire about My Mama: Part 4.

61. She's fun to watch movies with movies with. As long as she doesn't fall asleep, she's well-engaged with the stories and characters, and we can talk about the movie afterward (I love talking about movies).
62. She asks great random questions.
63. She manages to enjoy some of my slightly questionable humor.
64. She's simply a knock-out. Don't protest, Mama. Everybody knows it's true.
65. She drives a big red truck.
66. She sometimes organizes her books by color as I do.
67. She sometimes asks me (me?!) for advice.
68. When I was pretty small and went to church camp, she sent me with little notes for each day. I treasure that memory.
69. She's so great that when I mention her to someone new, I bring the person up-to-speed with "My mom is amazing," "My mom can do anything," or "My mom is a magical person."
70. She took me to libraries.
71. When I failed a days-of-the-week spelling test and was utterly horrified, she glanced at the test and threw it in the backseat. There's that acceptance! That memory always fills me with hope.
72. She never makes me feel too old for what I enjoy, such and Disney princesses and glitter.
73. She encourages me in my friendships even if they aren't quite what she expected.
74. She has a talent for selecting wonderful birthday cards.
75. She appreciates rubber stamps.
76. She can sew and knit and all that!
77. She makes up songs on the spot.
78. She keeps art supplies in a hang-over-the-door shoe organizer.
79. She has "a room of her own" and has made it a magical place.
80. After the fire in my apartment building, the fire fighters gave Josh and Mom a few minutes inside to grab what they could. Mom grabbed a cup of my favorite pens, my makeup bag, and my glittery casual shoes. I felt seen.

Marveling at What I Already Have.

I'm a collector. I make good use of my collection, but I need to make more of a habit of appreciating and using what I have.

When I started keeping a journal in earnest, I bought my journals one at a time and filled them in about two weeks. I had a fantasy of having dozens of journals to choose from at home--all styles, colors, and designs. Now, I have that. I'll buy a journal if it is very special, but I mostly just choose from a green bin with white polka dots under my bed.

I have enough reading material to last years, so a new book has to be pretty special. I love finding good used books. I have several $1.99 e-books that don't take up any room. Having books near me, even electronically, makes me feel calm.

As an older teen, I fantasized about having fancy makeup and many expressive options. I dreamed of colors and glitter. And now, I have so much awesome makeup. Putting on makeup is play time. I don't really need anything--only an unusual color or an intensity glitter finish will tempt me.

I have pens to last a year or more. Pens are essential, and new ones are always welcome. I just occasionally add pens here and there--maybe one red Stardust Gelly Roll. I organize my pens by color and use a pouch to hold the colors I'm using in my current journal. Right now, the pouch holds pink and green pens. I love organizing anything by color. I have pens in color-coded mugs all around the house, and the pens serve as a reminder of the writer I am and the writer I want to be.

I'm thankful for all I have in these areas. They are multiple dreams come true.