Did you hear the NPR piece this evening on "what made you smile today?" Please take a moment to answer this question: some days I'm not sure I smile at all, but reading about your smiles makes me smile too. What made me smile today: my sweet kitty Teddy, sunshine & redbud in full bloom, Levon Helm singing "single girl", a shared joke about pretentiousness at work. Cheers, TinaPete

My dad went for a checkup and the doctor did a mini-mental and he got every question wrong until she asked what he called my mother - Sweet Lips. That made me smile.

Wow SueGall, I was just thinking to myself, "have I even smiled today?" Then I read "Sweet lips" and smiled.
Thanks,
Jane

A lick on my face first thing from my Eskie, a nuzzle from my horse when I went to feed her and a smile from my dad when he first opened his eyes to me.

Now... if I could just get the lawn to stop growing for a while...

Taking money out of the ATM and not feeling bad about it. Also putting my dad to bed the other night and kissing him on the forehead then he was laughing his azz off and acting like a kid.

My fur babies, my two most wonderful cats. They love me.

I smile every day. Because I am in love. With someone. And with life. I can't remember the last day that I didn't smile. It's so very long ago. --Jim

My S's coming for dinner ... from the university. He emailed me yesterday, wants hamburgers, corn on the cob and tator tots. Just called to see if I need anything from the grocery on his way here ... american cheese! Can't have a burger -- he's informed me -- without american cheese. Not white american, but yellow american.

zebes

I smiled. My mother has been unhappy and miserable for along time. No matter what good thing happens shes still not happy. Well, the drywall guy is here fixing her walls, and she sounded happy...I could hear the smile on her face. It made me smile. Even though I know it will be very short lived, she was happy.

What a great thread.

The sweetlips answer is priceless. Must have made your mum's heart skip a beat ;-)

Something that makes me smile everyday ~ My youngest daughter is 3. Like every 3 yr old she has her tearful moments. She'll be sobbing one moment then blink a smile comes over her face and she declares, "Me happy now!" Just like that; she's happy and ready to face the day. I love that about her.

blessings,
Missy

I've smiled all 4 times so far today that my mom's reply to "You know, it's your birthday today" has been "It is? How wonderful", with her big smile.

Gotta love being happy all over again so many times about the same thing.

She's 91 today...

Happy birthday to your mom, Marese!
I smiled this morning when my faithful boxer Bella, said MAMA for a bisquit.
cindy

Hi everyone,
I just left the NH visiting MIL and while I was there someone came down the hallway with a old tyme popcorn machine on wheels full of popcorn and brought the smell with him. He started making bags of it for all the residents, and they were watching the scene in Titanic where they are all dancing to Irish music. Well every resident had a smile on their face with the music and when they saw the popcorn being handed to them it just made there day... And mine..

It's the little things that make me smile.

Debbie

Watching toddlers at play and smiling at the way their chubby little legs carry them bouncing willy-nilly back and forth - SO cute, so pure, the essence of love.

I smiled today when mom and I got "doggie smooches" from some pooches at the dog park. It's so great when the weather is nice and I can take her there -- petting dogs is her favorite activity and it makes her GRIN, so it makes me smile too!!

I smiled and thanks GOD when my sister told me that she had the same experience when she was going out of her house (30 minutes away from mine). We both heard a bird whistle the same way my dad used to. Blessed the birds for letting me know that God and dad are watching over us. KEEP SMILING- it is contagious

Dad smiled at me today....made me feel great!

Kisses from my two chocolate labs....
Smiles from the children I teach...and just life itself...no matter how hard it sometimes is!!

Jayne

I had two foster children last year for over 6 months, ages 1 year and 3 years old. I still get to see them as we've developed a relationship with their mom since they've been home. Every single time I see them I smile. They are absolutely wonderful!

My mother was in her right "frame" of mind (for a short time) and told me no matter what I do she will always love me, made me smile because lately she has been really angry with me.

We got our DPOA, MPOA/Advanced directives all done today. Our wills will be done at next meeting. That made me smile.

AND~ during our meeting our atty got a "beep" into the room (usually its a do not disturb type meeting) to alert him to the news that he just had a Grandson born at the hospital up the street. They didn't know the babies gender, but his son was sure hoping for a boy. The atty said, "God is SOOOO Good!" Really personalized this guy for me.

Going through some of the photos this evening of my mom with my daughters when they were babies. Made me smile. Because even though it was so long ago, it was such a happy time.

Made me cry after I visited her yesterday, and she has no clue who they are.

Thank you everyone! I wasn't sure that there would be replies to this post & am I glad there are! I need all your smiles. Love the "fur babies" thing. My kitty has a new nickname. Cheers, Tina

My mom that has AD made me smile today. When I was getting her dressed this morning after her bath, I had a brief glimpse of her old self. For a brief second I didn't see a blank stare or confusion, all I saw was MY MOM. It truly made me smile inside and out.

Watching Mom eat ice cream,on the porch,while she listened to her
favorite Dean Martin CD.She seemed like her old self,again,briefly.....

Shirlee

I know that this will sound crazy, but today when I was changing mom's bed sheets, I found these three squished brown things under her pillow. It made me jump back until I realised that she had been hiding her sugar free chocolate muffins. She must have thought that they were a sugary treat and felt that she had to hide them. Busted!!!! I just had to laugh. They weren't too appetizing after being squished under the pillow. God help me, what else is she hiding around here? Fran

Here's a web site that I still laugh out loud with:


http://www.glumbert.com/media/laugh



(I think the web site came from this forum someplace)

TinaP I feel badly becaue I started a "one good thing" thread before I saw your "what made you smile today" thread. We had similar ideas!! I'm so glad that people are posting in both.
*hugs*

Last night my ex husband called and asked me to meet him for a drink. I was very uptight because we have a son in Iraq and I had no clue what this was all about. We barely nod and wave when we see each other in town or in the gym. Anyway, to make a long story short, he wanted to apologize for all the ways he had hurt me, the way he had acted, and the many times I had suffered because of his actions. He told me he was truly sorry and the guilt was eating him alive. I was able to honestly tell him that I had forgiven him a long time ago and had made peace with the way he had been towards me while we were married, seperated, and then divorced. And that I didn't want him to suffer because of his guilt. I offered to do whatever I could to help him quit feeling so badly about himself. We left with a hug an hour later. There is no joy in someone else's pain and I could never revel in my ex husband's misery. This was a defining moment in my life and validated my own thoughts about becoming stronger in adversity without letting bitterness get in the way. This may be "heavier" than what you asked for, but I wanted to share with my new friends on the message board.

Krista:

You've taken the higher road and even though it's not always the easiest path to take, it is by far the best. Good for you and thank you, this made me smile today.

Krista, your post made me smile too. You go girl!

One other smiley moment today was when my neighbor's cat, which has adopted us as his afternoon family, was hiding under our big overstuffed easy chair. All you could see was a paw sticking out from under the upholstery skirt. It made me giggle to realize that he thought he couldn't be seen.

Ruthie-Ray:

Okay this brought a smile to me. My cat does the same thing on a hot day. She likes to lay in the sun, but when it gets too toasty, she will crawl under the love seat with just her toes sticking out. Freaks out my other cat.

My grandchildren playing out side and being silly.

I was listening to my 6 year old daughter talking to 86yrs. FIL who lives with us. It one point she asked him "Grandpa when you die can I have your bedroom?" You could hear him laugh. They have a very special bond and it also help me realize she will be alright when that sad day comes.

My daughter. Today is her 10th birthday! As she says, "I've finally hit double-digits!!"

Cindy

Every single post made me smile!!

I am still smiling from yesterday!! Mom has a UTI!!! She has been a mess the past few weeks and getting worse. The NH finally did blood work and urine test and yep. I am praying that this will settle her down. I was so worried they wouldn't find anything at all and it was just the next step, but at least I have a little hope that the medication may ease her parinoia and anxiety.

Thanks to all.
Blessings.

I love it: a uti made you smile. I have had the same experience and then antibiotics made me smile even more. And RuthieRae, we need one good thing AND smiles, the more the merrier. My smiles to you all. TinaPete

Today a photo made me smile. I had stopped the car and taken a few photos of crocus by the side of the street, sometime in early March. I didn't download the photo and look at it until today! Beautiful crocuses with glistening dew on them. You can see the photo here if you're interested:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2233/2335353773_e862a542e6_b.jpg

My mom who has Alz lives with me and my family. I frequently remind her of who I am. One day, I asked if she knew who I was-she said "No." I reminded her of how many children she has and that I am one of her daughters. I asked "Don't I look like Marla?" She said "no-you're a lot prettier than my daughter Marla" I'm not sure if that was a complement or what...but it made me smile!

I asked Gramma the other day what she was watching, she said that Bush, if he keeps talking like this we are going to end up in a war.

Today I ran into my mom's next-door neighbour. I had dropped her at church, then scooted over to her apartment, as I do every week, to count her Aricept and have a general look around while she's not there. Anyway, the neighbour told me how much he admired me, and although I'm really not comfortable with that kind of praise, it did make me smile!!

I went shopping for my Grandchildren,at the outlets,and found great bargains,on their Spring wardrobes.I saved $450.00 and derived so much joy while searching for the cutest clothes.I love them so much and my cup runneth over!!

Shirlee a.k.a. Grannie

The tiny Sunday School children came into the church to sing today. They were so darling and so funny - it still has me smiling.

About a million pine siskins (little striped, yellow-tinged finches) are in one of my trees. The whole tree is alive with their song.

I have a bird feeder that they visit in groups of four or five. The tree is the waiting lounge. Hearing that birdie choir today made me smile from ear to ear.

You can hear them sing if you go to http://birdweb.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=461

Listening to Banjo Dave sing Irish songs at the NH & how happy everyone there was. Folks were even dancing!

Still can't wipe the smile off my face!

I visited mom after work tonight. Took her in a grapefruit, already prepared, for tomorrow. She hasn't had one in 6 months. Grapefruit $1.29. Smile that lit up moms face-priceless!

Shirlee!!! I'm squeeling with laughter!!! I got to get petunias, pansy's, hibiscus, flowering wonderful pink jasmine, 2 palms, some flowering rosmary & tons of hydrangea, tulips, annuals & perinnials & pots & dirt, lots of dirt!!!! And I woke up to the birds singing in the trees this morning, finches, big old blackbirds that talk & cackle really cool, and the beautiful doves that live in the italian cypress outside our bathroom windows. Mom reacted positive to the flowers! I'm putting her in her wheelchair, taking her out on the lanai, and we are planting flowers tomorrow!! YIPPEEE!!!!
Next, we go for the lavender, sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary, basil & lemon balm herb plants.......

DianeJ I hope you'll post pics of your beautiful garden somewhere where we can see it!!
*hugs*

I took my dad's dinner over to him last night, corned beef, potatoes, carrots and cabbage for St. Patrick's day. He ate it and started talking in an Irish accent. We are Spanish, but his Irish accent is perfect.

I was so upset with my husband last night. He had been so mean to me all day long. I know he can't help it, but yesterday he just pushed all the wrong buttons. As hard as I tried this morning, I was still upset, and he sensed it. He was so sweet all morning, trying so hard to do everything just right. It made me feel guilty, but proud of him because he still on some level knows what is right and wrong.

>>> MY CHI-POM PUPSTER *POOPED* <<<

LOL: We ran him to the vet yesterday cuz he wasn't pooping, eyes flat, and wimpering. He wasn't feeling well at all. I FREAK, cuz he eats anything that hits the ground, and I fear DH dropping a pill, or he finds some other potentially toxic thing.

He's on Carafate, and on special allergy formula food. We've been giving him one teaspoon of this special canned food every two hours. He's still on and off sleepy, but had a little energy last night to play.