Smiling is often taken for granted. I know this for a fact.

During my first pregnancy, I developed Bell’s Palsy – temporary paralysis on one side of the face caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve. The little details of how it happened, why it happened and whether or not I experienced a full recovery are not important at this time. What is important is the epiphany I had during those 6 long months:

Smiling is a gift.

And so are the moments that compel us to smile. Moments like these…

Receiving a care package filled with local treats from Hawaii. Yummy! Thanks, Mom.

Watching my too-cool-to-smile teenage son melt to pieces by the likes of his baby sister. We’re all powerless when it comes to Alana.

Finding a dear, sweet friend in what I thought was one of the most unlikely places – the blogging world. Alicia is talented, creative and she’s an awesome photographer. Her blog, Project Alicia, is just as heart-warming and down-to-earth as she is.

Happening upon a field of wildflowers. Talk about unabashed beauty!

Having both random strangers at the doctor’s office and people in our community comment on how well-mannered, polite and respectful my children are. Who cares that they’re little monsters at home? They’re angels out in public. That’s all that matters.

Finally having a writing space of my own. My husband bought a desk, a chair and accessories galore – all so I can have my own private space to write about the stupid stuff he says sometimes. What a guy!

Watching my children thrive in our new home. Moving from Georgia to small town Missouri has been a blessing for our family. Our children are healthy, happy, adjusting well at their new school and making so many new friends. It really warms my heart.

Reconnecting with a friend I hadn’t spoken to in a while. It was great catching up with her over the phone. Despite the time and distance that separates us, it’s good to know that we can come together and pick up where we left off.

Doing the Electric Slide in my pajamas at 1am, all by my lonesome. Thank you Marcia Griffiths for the awesomeness that is “Electric Boogie”. I don’t care what any of you say, the Electric Slide is tons of fun and I’m really good at it!

“Every day you spend without a smile is a lost day.” -Unknown

I refuse to take my smile for granted and I refuse to live another lost day. Instead, I choose to smile.

Is your husband driving you nuts? Does your boss get under your skin? Welcome to “OH NO HE DIDN’T!” Tuesday, your come-and-tell-us-all-about-it headquarters! Let’s get this party started…

Living with my husband can be annoying at times. He’s from Mars and I’m from Venus, so naturally we do things differently.

One source of annoyance for me are his bathroom habits. He isn’t over-the-top messy. I mean he rarely misses the toilet and he smells good 98% of the time, but he does get somewhat careless on occasion. They’re little things really, but I’m a pain-in-the-butt to live with and therefore I feel the need to point out the err in his ways every.single.time.

OH NO I DIDN’T! (Oh yes girl, I did.)

I’m married to a wonderful man who fell in love with this once-single-mother-of-three, yet each week I sit here and complain about him. I think it’s about time the tables were flipped. What do you think?

Wouldn’t you love to read an “OH NO SHE DIDN’T!” post written by the hubby? Sound off in the comments. I’m dying to hear from you and so is my hubby.

Just when I thought this motherhood gig was going rather smoothly, reality set in and slapped me in the face.

It was a normal day, really. Well, other than the fact that my son was clinging to a rock wall and dangling from a flimsy wire, it was a pretty normal day. I nervously looked on as Andre scaled a climbing wall at the local fair here in town. I was the epitome of calm on the outside, but a great big mess on the inside.

As my oldest child – and only son - dangled from what could easily have been hundreds of feet in the air, I began to panic. My mind began to race, a million different thoughts crashing down on me at once:

What if he falls?

What if he gets stuck?

What if he gets scared?

What if he can’t succeed without my help?

My what ifs came to a screeching halt when it hit me: I am the mother of a high school student. More specifically, I am the mother of a high school student who, in a few year’s time, will be going out into the world. On his own. Without me.

I’m scared.

I’m not quite sure where the last 15 years went. Somehow they slipped through my fingers, and what’s worse is I can’t get them back.

The countless hours I spent staring dreamily into those big, brown new-to-the-world eyes? They’re gone forever.

Just like that.

Just like that, 15 years came and went.

Just like that, my little boy grew up.

Just like that, he’ll soon be ready for life on his own.

And just like that, I’ve completely come undone.

What if he falls? What if he gets stuck? What if he gets scared? What if he can’t succeed without my help?

What if…

What if I were to just…let go?

Andre will inevitably begin an adventure of his own someday. And he’ll succeed without my help.

But only if I let go.

Only if I let him fall.

Only if I let him get stuck.

And only if I let him work through his fears.

On his own.

Without me.

Just like that.

(But I’m still scared. Aren’t you?)

Thanks for linking up here at Live and Love…Out Loud. I’ll make an effort to visit as many link-ups as possible. I can’t wait to see your photos!