things that make me smile

luci being good and thoughtful, giving from the heart. like offering her piggy bank to me willingly. "i don't want to grow up, mommy," she says often, with regard to having to go to school or leaving us behind. but she does want to grow up so she can take Communion, or, the 'Jesus bread'.

elijah playing the keyboard, intensity in his eyes. he rocks back and forth as he changes drumbeats and experiments with new instrument sounds. he touches each key the way e.t. reached out with his finger. luci was different with that keyboard; she would just find the demo button so she could dance to the pre-programmed song.

60 degree november days.
getting to say a rosary on the way to work.
luci and cousin henry getting to see a piece of the original cross.
jaden getting baptized.
having our tree up before thanksgiving.
random lunch breaks with gary.

speaking of gary, at thanksgiving dinner he put luci in her chair and encouraged her to eat. 'you've gotta try the big bird, luci.' she suddenly looked with horror at the turkey, realizing that yes, indeed, it was a bird. she clapped her hands over her eyes, then peeked between her fingers and said gravely, "i don't eat birds, daddy."